Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-14
GRAND FORKS HERALD MONDAY, July n. 1919.

men we're pretty well. dug In then ana
had quit digging. Then our barrage
stopped. II was about eleven o'clock
at noon. Thin9B were not bad up to
this time, but, from eleven, o'clock on
until three days. and nights later It
was terrific. I helped the machine
summers about half anl..hopr after
when We hadsjust about completed It.
over came 4 Boche airplane, to get
range on Whare we were. He dove
down close to the ground, 80 very
close that + thought the wings would
scrape the earth. He went right over
this enlightenment and nearly every
every infantrynans shot up at him.
but that was sfoolishness and we
found h 9 out later. Because only
one chance ina hundred one Of the
bullets would hit him. Well, he just
few right back to his own artillery
md gave them the .ranges9on every
thing.
We'll. It wasn't long until one shell
came whe-e-e-e-bang right in front Of
The hole about twenty-five yards, 1t
was such q big shell It shook the
who'll earth. Dirt, sticks, stones and
eve y came pounding down on
nerves are tested. The lieutenant
said. Boys, we'll have to spread out.
About ten Of s$us crawled down. the
narrow and shallow trench that led
out Of this hole. We Rugged the
ground Just as tight as We could.
Then came q shower Of shells. i
gritted my teeth and Rugged the
ground and looked for death to come
any minut What q death this would
be. I thought, to be blown up and not
know, how5it happened. one Of these
shells lit down. the trench about ff-
teen y~ardssFsIt just toresa big hole ii
the trench about, fifteen feet in diam
eter. Everything within the area was
blown up high In the air and dirt
and stones fell on US not far of.
Then I heard many voices hollerink
for first aid. Then shells, lit behind
me. I commenced to think I was
wen DIE Toeether.n 4
There Was 81 big husky msohina
gunner right next to me in the trench.
I'll never forget that boy! Gee, but
he vas a cool lad! He Also thouxht
his day had come We both feared
God that minute. Hessaid to. me,
Boy, don't worry. Just lay close to
me, and If aSshell falls here, it will
get both of us and we shall die to-
gether.' Well, I did crawl up close to
him.. We loved each other like broth
Ss AAASh o40y S1lQ6 AL LQS l68tSTs
shells dropping all around US, one
right in front, then one behind and
then on u left. Then we expected
the next to light right on us and blow
us to atoms; but it didn't.
What was this all about? The Ger
mans. were counter attacking for their
lost ground. Waves of infantry had
already started over. You could see
a few tanks coming. Our machine
guns were, shooting so steady that
thought they would break. Our ar
Is saw the German waves no more and
the tanks had also gone. Then every
gun we had opened up until finally
the German shells ceased to come.
felt better then and I drew q Ions
sigh and asked this machine gunner
Pr he thought they had quit counter
attacking. He. said yes, and that we
Then, do you know the first thing he
[did? Smoked. a cigarette. That's the
first thing a mar raves when his
nerves are shot, and he smokes a lot
of them; one after: another.
|. But Frances, I want to tell you the
truth. I prayed for my life in that
close shave. 90 "
Secs Horror After Battle.
Then I thought I would glance
around and see what damage wa
done. All around US was q mass OF
torn up ground, dead bodies, men
soldering for first aid and 50 on.
Here was An old wan not far Off. lyina
down ,cryinx like. baby. It was toe
He said: .Thts Il swfui ' to see thisi
I don't like it. I've had enough war
Well I said, Billy. you and / are .
pair Then I thought I would &c
back down the trench and into the
hole where the machine gunners were,
the place. I left when the Smelling
started. WE'LL, I did, and there was the