Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-01-17

about two weeks ago; you know. the
one where that big church with all the
shell holes in it was right on the cor.
ner where we turned to the left to
take the road at st. A-T
We all remembered it and turned in
quiring glances in Curly's direction.
swell, this morning, when 1 went
down with the quarter (quartermaster
sergeant), to draw coal, met fellow
at division headquarters who told me
a mighty interesting story Of how he
and another fellow rounded up cou-
pie of spies.
''This bloke, through modesty, and
to cover up his own good work, tried
to make me believe that it was only
through a lucky chance that he STUN
bled over the clue which lead to the
| spies arrest, but I'm a-thinkin', and
know you'll all agree with me, that it
was not so much luck as it was clever
thinking. I'm not much at telling a
story, but I'm going to try and give it,
as far as I can remember, just the
way he handed it to me.
st seems that this fellow, who told
me the story, and another chap, had
been detailed to the divisional intelli-
gence department, and were hanging
around division headquarters waiting
for something to happen.
''Now, here's the story as he reeled
It off to me:
"'About three kilos behind division
headquarters was the old French viii
lage of B. One of our important
roads ran through it. This road was
greatly used by our troops for bringing
up supplies and ammunition for the
front line. 1t was also used by large
numbers of troops when relieving bat
talions in the fire sector.
"'Of course, on account of this road
being in range of the German guns, it
could only be used at night; other
wise the enemy airmen and observa-
ton balloons would get wise and it
would only be short time before the
road would be shelled, thus causing
many casualties.
"'For the last ten days reports had !
been received at division headquarters
that every time troops passed a GER
tain point on this road, marked by an
old church, they were sure to click |
heavy shell fire from the Boches. On |
nights when no troops passed through
there would be very little Smelling, if
any, but if a battalion or brigade hap
pened to come this way they suffered
from heavy shell fire.
"'Upon receipt of the first two or
three of these reports we put it down
as a strange coincidence, but when the
fifth report of this nature reached US
It was evident to US that a spy was
1T work, and that in some mysterious
way the information of the movements
If our troops were communicated by
him to the enemy.
myself and another bloke, who
lad been working with me for the last
wo weeks, were assigned to the task
# discovering and apprehending this
py. To us it seemed an impossible
OBJ, as there were no clues to work
lpon. AS is usual, our general, "Old
GplGI, NOlAGu 10 LIZ 1AN Sc4Os
"'"There is a spy working in the
illage of B; go get him."
'Foolishly, 1 butted in and asked
or further information. I got it. all
light. With a lowering look which
lade me tremble, he roared:
"'"Go and dig up your own clues.
What are you with the intelligence de-
artment for? Intelligence department! 6
t ought to be called the 'brainless de-
if you two are a sample of
ne rest"
"'Somehow or other we didn't stop
} argue with "Old Pepper"
At this point Sailor Bill butted in: I
"Blime me, he's just like an admiral '
e had in our navy, this old Pepper" |
A chorus of, "Oh, shut up, you're in
lie army now" cut off Bits story. We I
new Sailor Bill. If he ever got start v
! talking navy, nothing short of gas i
tack could stop him. I
Sailor Bill, with an indignant glance [
'ound the circle, relapsed into silence.
Curly Wallace exclaimed: Il
ITO ell with your admiral; do you D
ant to hear this story? II you do, s.
tut up and let me tell it." Il
$50 on, Curly, never mind; he's
lrmless," calculated Happy Hough- q
n. o.
Curly carried on, with: IL
Getting our packs and drawing u
rec days rations, we started hiking
"
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