The Bismarck tribune., 1919-04-01

mcnt and there had breakfast. We
were now near the front and could
hear the big guns and see the planes
overhead. We received "battle in
structions" that afternoon. was
given a list of airplane signals and
answers to memorize, and told what
to do under certain circumstances.
That evening we discarded everything
but our combat pack, which consisted
of our rain coats, intrenchment tools
and our rations Of hard tack and
Ground billy" and canteen full of
water. While waiting for the order
to advance the cooks shook our hands
and wished US luck.
AS it began to grow dark we started
out single file down narrow trail,
through a heavy wood. 1t soon be-
came so dark we could not see, but
kept our places by holding to the pack
Of the man in front. A pouring rain
soon added to the darkness and in
creased our discomfort. The flashes
from the big guns would tear a hole
in the dark and afford US glimpse
of each other as we stumbled along
through the mud and water, falling
and rising, wet to the skin and as mis-
cradle as we could we'll be. II Il r
At last the long night wore away
and, as the light came, the rain stop
ped and we found ourselves climbing
out of timbered valley. We were on
the edge of plain that sloped down
toward the valley, and at line of old
trenches. We were at the front. We
Immediately took position in artillery
formation. We knew what that
meant; we had been thru it before
Our Captain now spoke: "You had bet.
ter rest while you can,> fellows, we are
going over the top in ten minutes"
Oh, how those ten minutes dragged
hours, years, lifetimes. Some Of the
boys were in the shallow trench ii
front of us, on their knees, their lips
moving in prayer, some were joking
with one another, others lying quietly
thinking. | thought of more things il
those few minutes than could tell ir
the rest of my life, but mostly of the
little mother at home, waiting, wait
ing!
Everything was quiet save for the
occasional boom of a big gun and the
whine of the shell overhead, punctu
ated with the sharp "tat-tat-tat-tat'
of machine gun. To relieve my feel
ings, l turned to "Fat" who was just
behind me and asked him if his rifle
was in good working order. 4 I put
the buckle on the chin strap Of my
"tin hat" out of my mouth when
spoke. | had been unconsciouslS
chewing it, in my overwrought, ner
vous condition" "Fat" replied that
his rifle was alright, but that he hac
lost his helmet in the woods last night
! told him to get one from the frs
man that fell.
We had all unconsciously fixed bay
onets, without being told Would
those ten minutes never pass? They
did. @
With a terrific roar and crash ou1
artillery opened up with barrage
the air above US was filled with shell.
of all sizes; the artillery in our real
was firing over our heads.
1t sent thrill through me. All my
fear was gone, replaced by feeling
of power; in other words it was "a
grand and glorious feeling" l an
sure the other boys felt just the same
way. The tanks swung out in from,
of us, our captain signalled "For.
ward," and we arose and went for
ward in perfect formation.
1t was sight shall never forget
We were on level plain and as fal
to the right and left as l could SCI
were tanks and bayonets
Our barrage was tearing the terrain
up in front of us, throwing the dirt
hundred feet in the air. But we die
no have it all our own way. The Ger.
mans were. putting down a barrage
too Their shells began to burst
among us, and the boys were falling
fast. A boy fell from the squad or
the left of me and l motioned to Fat
and pointed to my helmet. "Fat" rar
over and came back with the helmet
The German barrage was terrific
from the way the shells were falling
1T seemed miraculous tina anything
living could go through it, but we
were advancing steadily at walk be-
hind our own barrage. A large shell
struck close on the right, killing sew
eral and wounding many more. One
poor wounded boys clothing caugh,
fire and l saw him burning, the am
munition exploding in his belt.
felt someone touch me in the back
1t was Fat. SCOT a match" he mo
toned? He ran ahead and got one tt
light his cigarette, then fell back tt
his place
We came to the enemy first line
&xrn 49,, al, 4