Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-14
OUR BOYS CARRY ON
UNDER HEAV FIRE
Soldier Chronicles the Adventures OF the Hundred and
Eighth Field Artillery, the Old Second
~ G.. p, at the Front
by ERIC SANVILIE
Battery +, 1Osth r. A.
Ill. THE FIRST NIGHT

In the gathering gloom the column
wound its way toward the front line.
There was little talking, only the steady
pound of the horses hoofs and the com
mands of the drivers being heard. A
man rode adhead to n little valley,
where gas had been reported, so as TO
order masks on if it were still there,
but the night breeze had cleared it
away. so they were unnecessary.
Suddenly there was n fash in a field
Just to the left Of the road and an cx-
plosion. followed by another. Immcdi-
ately every one Strengthened up. looked
around and made some slight remark,
although each heart was pounding. Then
word was passed back that it was
one of the Allied batteries firing, and
the nervous strain relaxed.
A slight halt was made by a hillside
and two scrceching sounds were heard.
followed by explosions. These were
shells this time but quite way OF.
The march was resumed, and Just
back of Cherry Chartreuse, where the
traffic was heavy. the three leading guns
turned left. Down the road they went
to the next crossroads and these got
caught in traffic jam with battery
of 6-inch motor rifles and truck
train.
1t was impossible TO go either way
and then Jerry opened fire on the
place. The first shell fell in field
to the right. No one knew enough to
duck. so the doughboys watched 1t
burst. sitting calmly on the horses as
the fragments flew around.
.,,;, n
can never tell. I remember standing
in the road by man from the truck
company talking. Another shell came.
A fragment struck him and horse on
the other side of me. No one was
afraid. We were too ignorant of our
danger to be afraid. I remember only
feeling a sense of unfairness in not
being allowed to get into position be
fore being fired upon.
Being on single mount had
wormed ahead for some distance and
then decided to return TO the guns
There found the men had dismounted
and were crowding against small bank
on the side of the road. l joined them
and there we got our first taste of gas.
Masks were no sooner put on than
orders were given to pull the guns to
the right of the road while the other
two passed. The rest of the column
had gone astray. so Lieutenant Rock
well set out to locate them. Finally
after much trouble the guns which had
to be unlimbered and turned by hand.
were hauled into position in field to
The right and stopped under some trees
beside ditch. We had taken our gas
masks off. as the gas was only slight.
and crouched under the shields-afraid
to take shelter in the bitches. for the
gas hangs longer in low places.
Soon Captain Walton Clark, Jr.. act
ing major. came up. He was calm and
cool and did much to steady us.
when you hear shell whistle" he
. said. "just drop down fat
AT that moment one arrived so he
gave a practical example.
Wait here he continued on rising.
and I'll be back He then went on
up through the field.
1 had been lying on the group IN
ahead of the horses and guns when a
? gun OF battery pulled in. I moved
out OF the way to give them room and
had no sooner moved than a shell fell
Just where | had been. seriously wound =
ing Charles Barker. of Harrisburg. who
was driving the lead team. This was
our first taste of the real danger. and
as the boys rushed to give first aid
and take him to the road in hopes of
picking up an ambulance, Captain Clark
came back and ordered us to take our
horses, cut across the field and find
Sha Ifop