Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-03-28

4 also strained my eyes watching that
target. -Four black clouds of dust rose
up right in the middle of the German
column. Four direct hits-another
record for d 23S.
| THE shells kept on whistling over
head, and | had counted twenty-four
of them when the firing suddenly
ceased. When the smoke and dust
clouds lifted the destruction on that
road was awful Overturned limbers
and guns, wagons smashed up, troops
fleeing in all directions. The road and
roadside We're spotted all over with
little field gray dots, the toll of our
guns.
THE captain, in his excitement, had
Slipped off the sandbag, and was on
his knees in the mud. the glass still at
his eye. He was muttering to himself
and shaping his thigh with his olsen
gagged hand. AT every slap big
round juicy cuss word would escape
from his lips followed by:
"'Goodl Fine! Marvellous! Pretty
Work! Direct hits ALL
'"Then he turned to me and shouted:
"'Wilson, what do you think of it?
Did you ever see the like Of it in your
life? Oh fine work, call it.
"Pretty soon a look of wonder stole
over his face and he exclaimed
But who in HI gave them the
order to fire. Range and everything
correct, too. l know didn't Wilson,
did i give you any orGer for the bat
terry to open up? OF course I didn't.
did II?
81 answered very emphatically, NO,
sir you gave no command. Nothing
went through this post. / am abso-
lutely certain on that point. sir
OF course nothing Went through
he replied. Then his face fell and he
muttered out loud:
"But, by Jove, wait till Old Pep
per gets wind of this. There'll be fur
flying
Just then Bombarlier Cassell cut in
on tic wire:
Generals compliments to Captain
A.. He directs that officer and sig
Mailer report at the double to brigade
headquarters as soon as relieved. Re-
lief ROW on the way
"In an undtrtone to me, Keep a
brass front, Wilson, and for Gods
sake, stick answered with. Rely on
me, mate but was trembling all over.
/ 81 gave the generals message to the
captain, and started packing up.
"The relief arrived, and as we left
the post the captain said:
"'Now for the fireworks, and I know
they'll be good and plenty They were.
''When we arrived at the gun pits
the battery commander, the sergeant
major and Cassell We're waiting for US.
We fell in line and the funeral march
to brigade headquarters started.
Arriving at headquarters the bat
terry commander was the first to be
interviewed. This WAS behind closed
doors. From the roaring and explo-
sions of Old Pepper it sounded as if
raw meat was being thrown to the
lions. Cassell, later, described it as
sounding like bombing raid. In about
TWO minutes the officer reappearcd.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
head, and his face was the color of q
beet. He was speechless. AS he
passed the captain he ierked his thumb
in the direction of the lions den and
Went out. Then the captain went in,
and the lions were once again fed.
The captain stayed about twenty min
utes and came out. | couldn't see his
face but the droop in his shoulders
was enough. he looked like wet hen.
"Ihe door of the generals room
opened and Old Pepper stood in the
doorway. With a roar he shouted:
"Which one of You is Cassell?
On me, get your heels together
when | speak Come in here!'
"Cassell started to say, Yes SIR
"But Cid Pepper roared, Shut up!'
"Cassell came out in five minutes.
He said nothing, but as he passed me
he put his tongue into his cheek and
winlSed then, turning to the closed
and left
"Then the sergeant majors turn
came. He didn't come out our way.
Judging by the roaring, Old Pepper
must have eaten him.
"When the door opened and the gem
eral becloned to me, my knees started
to play Home, Sweet Home against
each other.
"NIy interview was very short,
"Old Pepper glared at me when
entered, and then let loose.
"'Of course you don't know anything
about it, You're just like the rest
Ought to have nursing bottle around
your neck and a. nipple in your teeth.
Solders-by CAD, you turn my stom-
ach to look Mt you. Win this war,
when England sends out sucn samples
as l have i'm my brigade! Not likely
Now. sir, tell me what you don't know
about this affair. Speak up. out with
i'll. Don't be gaping at me like a fish.
Spit it OUT
81 stammered, Sir, / know absolute
lly nothing
"That's easy to see, he roared
that stupid face tells me that. Shut
up. Get out; but 1 think you are a
do liar just the same. Back to
your battery
Il saluted and made my exit.
THAT night the captain sent for us
With fear and trembling we went to
his dugout. He was alone. After SD.
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