The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-02-27
ESCAPES BOCHE-
INTERNAL TRAP
By David w. Hazen,
In Portland Telegram.

silver dollar, Lieutenant Cedric w.
Clark rode into this hillside town
this afternoon to see if he could get
chocolate creams at the divisi III
commissary. He was one of a dozen
or more officers who came here this
day for like purpose. He was one
of dozen or more officers who rode
out of LIE Theil this day very much
disappointed.
But the fact that Lieutenant Clark
was able to ride to town is something
for him to be thankful for. After a
month in the hospital, to be fit to
join ones command in the field is
really worth while. This Corvallis
law student was wounded the last
day of the war, and his injuries were
received in queer manner. He was
in charge of the supply train of the
363rd infantry when he was hit.
1t is another Audenarde story. Our
boys were some distance on the other
side OF the Scheldt, and were ready
to start the real drive for Brussels.
The Huns had destroyed all the
former bridges across the rivers in
that part of Belgium, and the cross
ings that were put up by the en-
gineers were good but narrow.
Officers watched their trains mighty
close those days. Lieutenant Clark,
who spent many years of his life in
Canyon City (Which may be called
the Jacksonville of Eastern Oregon
waited by the bridge until all his
wagons were over, then rode on
ahead.
He had proceeded only short dis
tance up the muddy road in front of
his command when his horse stepped
on German trap or grenade left by
the retreating Boche. The animal
hit the explosive with one of its hind
feet and was so badly torn that 1t
died shortly afterwards; two pieces
Of steel struck the Corvallis officer in
the shoulder, inficting painful
WOuHuD. hdJOI tNdlt oNChooh hdu
his advance dressing station some
what beyond where the lieutenant
was wounded, but the major went
down with a detail of his men,
picked up the wounded chap and
carried him back to the temporary
hospital. Major Swenson dressed the
lieutenants wounds and as soon as
possible sent him back to the Ameri-
can hospital at Roulers.
Clark went through the fighting in
the Argonne without receiving a
wound. Then he was in the big Yam
kee drive in Flanders without hit.
Was Wooing Old Blackstone.
Clark was student at o. A. c.
when he decided to become lawyer.
He began studying Blackstone in the
law Offices of McFadden & Clarke.
(The lieutenant and the lawyer are
not kinsmen the soldier has no "e'
on the rear of his name.)
Another Eastern Oregonian Is in
LIE Theil, in fact, this little town Is
Corporal Joe Mason's time-being
home. Joe is the postmaster of
lone, Morrow county. "You were
postmaster" he was asked. Eyes,
sir, were and still am" replied the
corporal He fought through the
Argonne and Audenarde campaigns
with the saith machine gun COM
pany. Men were wounded beside him
and killed in front of him.
"But | want to tell you, brother
said the lone postmaster, Il don't
want to test my luck any more. I'm
perfectly willing to beat 1t home
without gold stripes on my right
arm"
No Joy In Riding Trucks.
His company was in the fighting
in that evil forest from daybreak on
the morning of the "kick-off" until
the division, after heavy loses, was
relieved. Then he went to Belgium
and had a part in the last big show
there. About the time the Wild
Westerners were sent back for a
short rest after they had rescued
Audenarde, some of the powers that
be heard that the postmaster of lone
was machine-gunning in the divisios.
Postal clerks were needed at the
divisional post Office, and Corporal
Joe Mason was ordered to report
there. He found the stamps and
other details at Iseghem.
When he first joined this mail de-
partment he was put onto the travel
ing postal truck and saw that part OF
Flanders he missed while lighting.
Riding on one Of these almost spring
less trucks over Belgian roads that
were just as the Boche had left them
was no joke. A fellow came In from
one of these rides feeling as fresh
and fine as though he had gone
through threshing machine.
The divisional post office, to which
thousands of letters have been sent
from Oregon mothers and wives and
sweethearts during the past six
months, was located in Oostnieuw-
kerke when the Powder river" fel-
lows started to put the fear Of Yam