The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-03-06

Ike ants when their nest has Decn
disturbed. All our food, extra cloth
ing and blankets had been hcaped
up and soaked in gasoline. Men
were going about with buckets full
Of gasoline and throwing IL on every
thing that would burn. other men
had slcdgc hammers breaking
engines and motors Ia pieces. Gun
cotton was placed in everything
that couldn't otherwise be destroy
ed Gun cotton was also placed
under all the bridges leading into
the town. We left. A short time
after, the Germans entered Chaul-
mes, but not until everything had
gone up in smoke. The roads were
jammed with traffic. Everything
was going back, 49, except few
Scotchmen. These were 10 check
the Boschc advance till the artillery
could he removed. They checked
II but most everyone was killed. On
the road was a stream Of artillery.
Here and there one gun would stop
and send a few shells Fritzward and
again take up the retreat. Civilian
vehicles with frightened horses and
more frightened women were being
crowded out Footsoldiers, wagons,
lorries and artillery were in one
great mess. Great quantities Of food
had been dumped by the roadside.
The "Chinks" and East Indian mob
had been turned loose and told 10
beat IL. They were each carrying
a quarter Of beef or half hog on
his shoulder. On the roads thus
congested. Dutch airplane started
dropping bombs. BY going paths
and side roads we got into Morenil.
absolutely all-in. Again we were
greeted by the news that German
cavalry was approaching. This time
II proved TO be false. The next day
we went 10 Demuin and started 10
dig trenches. There we were told
that We were going 10 hold the
trenches ourselves against the Ger
man attack. Before we had had
no English rifles. and their ammu-
milton wouldn't nc in our own. By
the time our, trenches were done,
about twenty Canadian machine
gunners had joined us. We noticed
also that there was a lorry load Of
Enfield rifles and load Of ammu-
milton. one Of shovels: besides these.
there were several empty trucks.
We were told TO leave our trenches
and get into the trucks. Not even
our officers knew where we were
going. We took the main road that
leads from Amiens TO ST. Quentin.
All along the road we met Tommics
Struggling back. They were tired.
muddy and some Of them wounded.
They had never seen any American
soldiers, hut when they saw our
uniforms. everyone yelled, The
Americans have come TO relieve us"
! didn't know then what being re-
lieved from the trenches meant. We
went on past thousands Of men.
All were retreating. Directly we
came TO a few pieces Of light ar
tillery. They were firing toward
the Germans. We could see the
shells breaking: also see the shells
that the Boche sent back. Still We
went on 10 the crest in front of
Hamel. The Germans held that viii
lagc. We got of the trucks and be-
gan TO dig in. Fritz shells were
falling faster all the while. No
thing Of Importance happened that
night. Perhaps you know that the
British issue rum 10 troops in a pO-
sition like we we're placed. A serge
ant was sent back 10 get Our jug full
He brought il back inside of him
self and kept yelling that with an
other jug Of rum, he could take
Hamel single handed. The next day
the Bosche strafred us all day Dutch
airplanes were always above rs.
From the air we must have looked
formidable. Each man had as many
rifles as he wished 10 stick over the
parapet. The Fifth Army had
thrown their guns away before they
beat il 10 the rear. Besides, Ameri.
cans had not learned TO keep low
and were continually bobbing their
heads up. With so many rifles
showing and SO many heads bobbing
up the Dutchman must have thought
a whole division was blocking thei,
path 10 Amiens. There were in all
four hundred Yanks and few Jick-
eys. Others joined us later. The
second day in the trenches tried to
blow us Off the hill Shells fell 50
fast on the surrounding fields that
il reminded one Of raindrOps falling
on water. One could look in no
"A paaI ION VufIhnpI paatn.. H. -