The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16


In August and had been rent Gown the
line to a British hospital and then TO
a convalescent camp near Boulosne
During this period, about Ave weeks,
he had seen no member Of his regI-
ment or division and had read TO story
about them in the papers. Al the hos
pital he had heard 1t rumored that III.
Twenty-seventh had gone to Doullers
TO rest up for big drive near Cambria
and that the unit had suffered in drives
at KENNEL. After a week at the rest
camp. the corporal was sent to Eu, Z
distributing point for the Second
American Army Corps. Here We're Az
sembled about 200 men OF his own
division-some from his own regiment
and company. There were rumors
here of the big attack on the linden
burg line and that 1900 casualties
alone in killed had been suffered. Sep
tember 80 an English newspaper stated
that Americans had taken part with
great gallantry in an attack near Cam
brai--New York, Tennessee and Sonh
Carolina troops-and that the allied
line had been advanced several miles.
on to RcJoin the Division.
From Eu n special train took thu
former casuals through Amiens. to Pc
rome to rejoin their division. On "a
torn streets OF the razed city OF Pc.
rome the men we're divided into units
10 be sent 10 their respective reg.
ments or organizations now living IN
cog tents and dugouts on the high
1Nf1 l1 - 10 ~ ~.
way 10 their commands they met the
supply wagons, and drivers stated that
in some units the strength was down
10 forty and fifty men, and that many
companies had suffered as many as a
hundred casualties. When the cor
poral had left In August the strength
Of his company had been $50. Men
who had taken part in the great at
tack were now in little knots alonS the
road talking over incidents OF the bat
tie. and the casuals stopped and lie
tened 10 the stories, trying to find ont
what had happened in their own COM
panies. Big attacks were being made
then along this sector. Lines Of Ger
man prisoners. their long coats swing
ing in the wind, were being brought 10
the rear along the roads under
mounted guards. while food and am
munition trucks wound up the valley
toward the front.
At the foot OF a big hill the corporal
sat down to rest. High up on its slope
he could see his company Kitchen and
little ring OF smoke drifting into the
sky. On other hills around and on
different heights OF this hill were the
other companies OF his regiment. Men
we're moving about leisurely, dirty and
tired after the battle. for they had
only moved back here to rest the IRE.
vious night.
Wondered Who Had survived.
The corporal knew all the Non ~
his own company. He wonderei VNo
was still out there in what had Neen
No Mans Land. Ten. tweuty-lo"
many We're dead, he asked himse'' ne
he rose and started forward He pasS"f
a little graveyard hanging on tho hill
side with wooden crosses and German
| names. Here on these hills t.' GER
mans had held back the Eug'i>l No.
| cause the hower OF the German arn'--
the machine gunners--could swert "a
tclear slopes down the western side mo
| corporal could see the little dus"''
cut into the hills. covered over N'h
sheetiron and boards; and h" 't, 20
be careful OF the shell holes, MN Gus
/ and deep.
There were two Of the Is.o"- IN
particular whom he thought IN
two he hoped were there At tn "'-
ment walking with the others ~ ..e
company on the hillside. Tho" va
sergeant--we will call him Ju.
genial Irishman. an old GuardsNS'.
the friend of every man, and for Na''"
| every man would risk his life 'H3'
there was one OF the younges' fe'.'"'
in the company-him we W N''
Tommy--a signalman, an athlete al
ambitious young New Yorker 'H
| friend OF every man.
| The corporal was nearly there
Coming up the hill al a fast i'"c' 80
saw the company clerk bringing .'.
from battalion headquarters the m''
ing r port that little book that = "r'
the daily life OF soldiers and '1.'
! deaths. He sat down again ana V"''.
The company clerk approach r''
shook hands with him.
shoot" said the corporal.
! We lost John and Tommy va
then the company clerk held or '"'
/ book TO the corporal and Wake"
He knew. While the planes ,.I'''
overhead patrollipg that lo'-
Tagging line that marked tho 10" ''
OF civilization tho corporal op"u6
little book and faced tn l.gS"- or
he had while overseas.