Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-25

mani heard the ping OF rifle with
silencer attached. This means but
one thing, 'sniper.' 1 ducked. and
then peeping over the edge of the
hole I saw a sight that made my
blood boil. A German sniper clev-
erly concealed in the edge of the
wood. was taking pot shots at the
wounded man in the nearby shell
hole. The sniper did not see me. I
was unarmed but my patient had
his rifle. On the impulse of the mo-
ment tore the red cross from my
| arm, took my friends rifle and care
fully aiming fred. The sniper sniped
; no more. 1 got my HUN. On num-
erous occasions I have been marked
for fire from snipers, but have
long since ceased to wear the Red
Cross. 1t Is deadly mark.
"On Suiday morning the terrible
happened Our first aid station was
shelled, killing two of our lieuten-
ants, my best chum. about a dozen
previously wounded men. and
woundfng a dozen more. The earn
age of that scene L cannot describe.
The Telegraph mentions it on the
first page of the October issue
How l came out alive, not to mem
tton unhurt, 1 will never be able to
tell. This event left our outfit de-
moralized for the rest of the day.
Every officer was killed, wounded or
shell shocked. Most of the men that
were not hit were scared almost to
death. l was among these.
THE next afternoon (Monday),
our relief came up and we started
back through terrible shell fire. That
night we stayed on barren hillside,
f oct fro .lN 4.
food nor blankets. Next day we
walked fifteen miles, no food vet.
That night we arrived in the woods
in which We were first and had a
big meal. Rested all next day with
plenty to eat. That night we start
ed to walk again. For four days we
walked under full pack with prac-
tically no food at all. At night or
rather day break we would hunt a
deep woods and pitch our pup tents.
Here we would stay till dark the
next night. At last We pulled our
weary bones into Rupt, where we
rested two days and l got fed up
again. Then on the march, living
in the woods till we reached Ambly.
Here We rested nearly two weeks all
the time being held in reserve for
the front.
AT 6 P. NJ. on the evening of Oc-
tober 20, sudden orders came to
pack up. The Germans are going
10 counter attack was the word. All
was fever and hustle. At o'clock
l received orders to go over to Tilly
with special message. While there
a bombarding plane put in an ap-
pearance. Our battalion was to
leave at 8 o'clock. l must be back
at Ambly before they move. And
bombs were dropping all around. At
last l took chance (taking chances
is a mans main job here) and
started. BY running all the way I
made it. Then i had to get my pack
ready. At last all was ready. We
moved out on time at double quick
For three hours we kept up a neck
breaking speed. Then came the or
ders to halt. This was about mid
night. In our tracks we lay until
p. NJ. next day, then cold, hungry
and disgruntled we started back
false alarm.
AT last orders did come to move !
and at dark on the night of the 2Sd !
we left. In three hours of easy
We reached Sommebeau |
where we stayed two days and then |
made another night march to a |
woods near Verdun front. Next |
night we moved again to the old |
battle SCARED fort where we stayed |
two days and one night. That nrst |
night l was placed on guard at |
cross roads.
Next night we pulled out under |
fighting packs; We were going in |
again! Across fields, railroads and |
we went, finally arriving on
a hillside where we were told to /
dig in Morning showed US that |
t., af
That as the 3lst of October. From |
then till the Sth of November we |
lived in Deaths Valley and such a
life. l cannot describe 1t. 1t was just
plain hell.
Then on the morning of the Sth |
of November we woke to the realiza-
tion that the Huns were moving |
back. Forward we went with them. |
At first 1T was easy going then re-
sistance showed itself and the |
trouble started. ON the afternoon OF
the 10th l had a little trouble. l had |
given up all hope of ever getting |
out. 1 had been sent to the first |
battalion with a note and on the |
way l picked up another runner /
heading in the same direction. We |
got lost and finally found we were |
plump up against the German lines. !
first battalion. They were all lost |
and did not know that they were so |
near the Germans. The major was
at loss for moment and just then |
the Huns spotted us. On they came,
outnumberIng us ten to one. Dig |
in yelled the major, and dig in we |
did. Nothing but my mess kit to |
do il with, but in three minutes L |
had hole big enough 10 lie in. No |
one knows why the Huns stopped |
before every one of us was dead. |
l guess.
Next morning, November 18th,
we were in the valley between two
high hills when the order came at |
8. 80 A. NJ. to go over the top. Such |
a sight l never saw before. Up and
over they went, yelling at the top |
of their lungs charging, bayoneting,
shooting and above all YELLING. |
For an hour they went; then a run
ner came up and at 1O.45 the news |
began to spread, and at IL A. Nj. |
the major yelled down Every man |
dropped. Cease firing came next. |
Then a German stood up and yelled |
'Kammerade, LIE Guerre ist Finishe.'
(Notice he spoke in French).
THE scene then enacted would |
bring tears to the eyes of any man. |
Guns flew, men sprang up, cheers |
sounded and resounded throughout |
the valley. Then an appalling dis
covery was made. II the armistice |
had not taken effect at that moment !
not one man in the second battalion |