Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-07-18

was therefore. necessary to enlarge
the we'll to the pumps dimensions.
placing this historic apparatus at
the bottom and connecting it with
! long rods to parallel pump beam
above the ground, with which. ii
| was successfully operated.
1t was at VinctS that the Squad
ron encountered its first Bessoncau
, Hangar, which was erected in three
days, with the aid of an Engineers
| instrument and the advice of all the
officers, Master Signal Electricians
and Sergeants in the outfit. 1t took
| about two days to erect the first Adj
rian Barracks that the men had ever
seen. ct will be we'll 10 note here
that three months later hangar
and an Adrian Barracks were erect
ed in five hours.)
Late in June, when the anticipat-
ed German drive threatened Paris
and plans for evacuation were made
by more than one French and Am
, erican outfit, the Squadron was or
dered to send detail to Cuperly,
near Suippes, the Department of the
School. This school had been To-
! Gated too near the Front for COM
fort and was now not only under
bombardment but was threatened
with capture, should the Hun lines
i, advance.
A large detail was selected to be
sent in charge of Master Electrician
Alderman. Gas drill was practiced
until the men in the detail could
don their masks in the required six
| seconds. What appeared to be a
very serious matter at the time, but
has been the cause of much joking
and laughter since, was the way in
which men left their watches and
valuables behind, in care of their
buddieS, with directions for their
disposal should they get bumped
off,
The detail was ordered to de-
mount all the barracks used by the
school and place them aboard cars
| for shipment. The men occupied
one of the barracks and proceeded
with the work in jig time.
The very first night the men were
awakened by big explosion just
outside the barracks. This was fol-
lowed by veritable bombardment
! No one waited TO discover the
cause. The "pick and shovel avia-
tors" sudden'v grew Wings and
| fairly flew to shelter. Incidentally,
! those who had boastcd of their
bravery under fire were several
jumps ahead of everybody else.
/ When it was discovered that the
whole rumpuS was caused by a
practical Joker who discovered a
cache Of hand grcnades and had
: staged the bombardmcnt for the
express benefit Of the erstvhi!c
boastful braves. there was almost
| lynching. Thereafter little was
heard about individual bravery un-
, der fire.
| However, the. methodical enemy
did drop shells into the town of
, Cuperly and the neighboring vii
lagos, Suippes and St, Hilairc, at
meal time, causing the Allied troops
the discomfort of holding Chow
Vail al llOuI cdIllcI IMAM uSual, ana
taking their after dinner sicstas in
dugouts and bomb-proofs during
the subsequent hour of Smelling.
One day an excursion party took
a little trip 70 the front line trench
es in one of the Squadron's Pack
ards which was a "vet'' from the
Border. The cloud of dust kicked
up by the truck was, to the German
artillery, like red flag to a bull. A
shell was dropped into the road
just ahead of the truck, followed
by one just behind it. Corporal
Joyce, who was driving, decided to
make tracks in the opposite direc-
ton and started to turn around.
Toniolo didn't wait for transporta-
ton He lit out for home, and he
didn't leave any footprints in the
sands of time. Mixon's tongue was
ioosened for the first land last) time
and despite the true danger of The
situation his remark: w-gucss-we'd
Observation-Disclosures" caused Il gale
Of laughter. incidentally, Toniolo
I srI,<