Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-09
by AN ARMY oFFIcER)

Inc Bla tAuS VI uNSbA hStA1A aHu
rapine had once cast its bloody
spume over Belgium, and had so far
advanced over France that it fouled
the waters of the Marine; then,
forced to recede, it deposited ruin,
death and Hunnish slime in its path.
Now, with intensified force, it
again smashed forward and recov-
cred much territory in France, adj
vancing hour BY hour till the heart
of mankind grew faint with appre-
hension that civilization and liberty
were to be swept into the vortex
of destruction and slavery.
At Chateau hierry the onrushing
wave of Huns had reached its full
crest, and, unchecked, it would have
accomplished the ambition for world
domination of its leader But at this
point the wave must be halted and
thrown back; and at Chateau
Thierry it was, at precisely the psy-
Geological moment, that the onrush-
ing gray food was stopped and cast
back by the valor and sacrifices of
Americas sons-regulars, marines
and Rainbow.
Friend and Foe Exhausted.
For many hours the crucible of
battle had boiled and seethed with
elements of men, gas, fame and
units of destruction hitherto un-
known. A pitiless, marrow-chilling
rain had drenched the combatants
alike, and night fell, dark, foggy and
sinister, with beams of light cross
ing and stabbing the darkness. The
many sounds of conflict bore heavi-
ly through the sodden air, and then
quickly decreased in volume and i'm
tensity.
Vigilant, though wearied to ex-
haustion, friend and foe sought
such physical comfort as time and
place afforded, each we'll knowing
that the coming of the morning
would bring to them again re-
sumption of the struggle-with
death in hideous forms, manning
and untold agony as their portion.
Success to the Huns spelled loot,
lust and RIGHTEOUSNESS; victory to
the allies preserved Christianity,
civilization and charity.
The night wore on till the faint
dawn touched the low-lying eastern
clouds; then the tumult of crashing
guns, with all the lesser chorus of
hell sounds of battle again saturated
the air. The Yanks had gone over
the top-again.
Call from the Front.
Some IL miles back on the line
of communication a telephone bell
set up a strident and intermittent
claim to attention. From different
points in the room six men gave
speedy heed to the suffering jingle,
but of this number FIVE were at
once placed in the ALSO ran" class
by one, Corporal Ames,- whose
proximity, foot ball experience and
extremely long right arm reach
gave him a four-inch lead.
ITS for the captair-from up
front. Call the captain. Burn the
air, Murphy, and get the captain.
Get move on-what the h."
The individual addressed as Muir
ply had already disappeared head
first through an open window and
was we'll on his way, by this time,
far out of range of Corporal Ames'
frst-aid remarks. Silence for about
one minute--a silence so tense that
one man volubly cursed at small
alarm clock for its blatant ticking
then the door opened and the
captain SO urgently in demand
stepped in and took over the phone.
Eyes, this is Captain Blank-I
UNDERSTANDABLE, 900 rounds-bando-
lier-just about four truck loads
rather poor roads, but there will be
no trouble on that score-I think
It can be made in about half an
hour. Yes, | know it is, but If it
can be done by man, we have the
men to do the job-can get one or
two through anyway-will do our
best"
Every Man a Volunteer.
Within three minutes thereafter
Sergeant Smith had the company as
sembled, and emitting all formali-
ties came right to the point. Men,
we've got to get ammunition up to
the front-one load must get
throughput we're going to send
four trucks. It's a mans job, for the
boches will surely give you all they
have and then some more. l want
volunteers-Step out"
Sergeant Smiths next remark is a
matter of wonder--for it is stated he
rarely made any reference to himself
IN his conversation. vet his language