Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-15
". DEATH VALLEY

Got any water? I've got two.
wounded men here who need a drink.
These were the words that greeted me as
walked about a. IN. into the new gun
position where one platoon, consisting
: Of two guns, was already established.
They had only been there one day and
my heart failed me as l recognized the
speaker as one of our first aid attend
ants and Gueried, "Who's hurt"
None of our men," was the reply;
two doughboys from up the hill.
Feeling better. | found an empty dug
out and crawled in and, too weary to
open blankets, fell on the ground and
slept till daybreak.
What a wonderful position it was
At the base of high hill over 200 feet,
with the guns plumb up against the ris-
ing ground. That is the advantage of
the 155 howitzer it fires at high angle.
Behind was the valley, but 100 yards in
width, and a stream through the center,
ending abruptly in another high hill.
The hill in front of the guns looked
like a pueblo village, perforated with
rows of holes. for there lived the re-
serve line of infantry. The hill to the
rear was also perforated, but with shell
holes, the marks of the attempts of
Jerry to land on the doughbOys. To
the right of the position ran the St
GILES road in full view of the enemy
and sure to be fired on as soon as a
wagon or other vehicle appeared on it.
The valley ended at the road and when
any one came in or went out, it was a
case of go fast or you may never go
again.
The two guns that were in the valley
when / arrived reached there without
difficulty, but, alas, the rest of the bat :
tery was too late, and those already there
had gone two days without food. except
for the little they could "bum" from
the doughboys, and they, although short
on rations themselves, always did their
Sbest to help out
The second platoon had started over
the same night as | did, but numerous
delays had occurred and the first glim-
mering of dawn found them on an open
road, on the crest of hill, in full view
of the enemy, SO they hurriedly camou-
5iaged themselves in some nearby woods
and awaited the next night. They then
moved on down into the valley and took
up position. This valley was called
Death Valley" first. because of the
losses entailed in taking the place, Il
little graveyard with its wooden crosses
marking where the boys lay who had
sacrificed all: and, secondly, because oI
the constant Smelling it was still re-
ceiving, numbers being wounded or
gassed each day.
The dugouts of the battery were dug
into the very base of the hill. and in
these the men felt comparatively safe,
for most of the shells fell further uu
4 the hill or out in the valley itself.
F Battery moved in, without a cas-
ualty. II Battery was given a position
z Ip another valley further back along the
ST. Giles road near what was known
as Longeville farms. With them al
but the cook wagon and small ration
cart had arrived safely. These two We
bieles had been left back at their posi-
ton near Cherry Chartreuse with Pri
rate John Macarthur, the younges
man 10 the battery, on guard. He haG
I remained there safely at his post al
night and was just mounting his horse
70 accompany them when a shell burst
directly under him. He was killed al
4 most Instantly, and Private Richar,
6>ompton. who was finishing the load
& ~ of The wagon, was severely wounded
For the first two days there wa
: .,,leAtv Of work TO be done. Gun pit
must be dug in the sides of the bill an'
+ <&e rsieces camoudaged SO as TO be in.
= '.fbze 80 the airplanes that CONSTANT.
teI1d overhead. The dugouts of III.
a must be strengthened and tele
~ WIRES 1laid and new o. p
>lsoe x point o. the toI