Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-16
No Wonder Germany Quit
NUMBER THIRTY-FOUR

I'm looking over some books and
papers which l had among overseas
equipment" said Major Frank G.
Mahin, at the Army Recruiting Sta
ton, 325 Market street, Harrisburg,
II came across a piece of diary
which l recall having picked up in
the field over there. l remember
having put it away, thinking that it
might contain some interesting notes.
1t bore no identification marks so ]
couldn't find the owner, and now l
feel free to read and quote it. on
the page dated March 21, 1918, is
the following description of the eX-
citing experience of the writer of the
diary"
1T is now May 10th, but I write
here, to record the happenings of
this day, Thursday, March 21st.
was awakened about three A. M. by
a racket-but only cussed, and roll
ed over to go to sleep again think
ing it was our batteries strafing
Boche billets as they did yesterday.
Sleep didn't come right away, and
as L lay there L heard familiar
sound which made me listen care
fully. All joyful sounds! Those
shells were coming-not going!
Well, 1 hurriedly started dressing,
and while l did so my neighbors,
Lieutenants Alexander, Duche and
Saint MieuX, rushed into my bunk
room and flattened themselves
against the front wall-was scared
Sure! Who wouldn't be-but re-
member L was the first American
these Frenchmen had seen at the
front. and l felt it was up to me to
show them at the start that their
new allies were made of good stuff,
on to myself, tried to be calm, and
joked a little as l sat on the edge of
my bunk, tying the top of my wrap
leggins. The shells were dropping
all around us, thick and fast, and
the racket! In the midst of it we
heard the fiendish whine of a she'll
and some how, as if by an extra
sense, we knew it had our names on
1t. 1t had! 1t tore down through
the roof at the other end of our lit
tie pine board shack, and blooey!-
Choking and sneezing, nose bleed
ing, splitting blood, and with eyes
stinging-I regained consciousness,
f1nding myself spilled in heap in
the corner and alone. I hardly
knew where 1 was, but in the inky
darkness 1 just naturally crawled on
hands and knees trying to find my
lying. l found it, and got into it
Pronto. 1 didn't stay in long, as l
had to shoot-what was left of my
supper of the night before. The
next half hour would have been a
treat for u gas officer. 1 showed
some speed getting in and out of
that mask-and each time of course
had to clear the mask per oft re-
peated orders.
Three hours are ages when YOU
are alone and sick, and flirting with
the old boy with the scythe, and |
sure did some thinking about my
past sins. 1t was dark, inside and
out, and 1 didn't know where the
dugout was-I had come just the
afternoon before. 1 thought it
suicidal to go hunting-so sat tight.
hugging a corner where 1 had as
much protection as possible. How
ever, l nearly went crazy sitting
there, helpless, listening to those
demon shrieks, doing nothing to pro-
tect myself, and getting bowled over
several times by the conclusion of
near hits. Finally 1 could stand it
no longer, and out / went through
the hail and hell of those shells. in
search of the dugout. 1t was a dis
NAL outlook, through gas mask
goggles, and drizzling rain in the
half light of early morning. L was
busy too, as l scurried from earth
pile to- hole, in scared-rabbit fash
ion, trying to locate the dugout.
While doing this / saw an Italian.
one of labor company stationed
back of the hill to our rear, running
in bee line. He had been work.
ing in the dugout, so L knew he was
headed for it. l put after him. on a
cross course. and when l had come
within thirty yards of him, there
was 'whoosh-and he simply dis
appeared. However, 1 had seen his
course, and / smashed records for n
hundred yards. In the bombproof-
with chamber sixty feet below tbe
surface, French soldiers were packed
like sardines, groaning, wounded.
gassed and sick, or busy attending
those who were. All who could
came out, later, when the shellin9
slowed up. and went forward into
the line. L went too. We spent the
day without food. attacked six times
by the Boche, who couldn't break
through, and were shelled all the
time. AS darkness came that night.
l was taken to the Colonels p. C.
From here they carried me in a
wagon about five miles to the
Casualty Clearing Station; then by
motor ambulance, to the hospital
once the Russian Surgical Hospital