The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-13
There Wasn't Quite Enough
Noise To Suit EN-.
NO ONE TO CARRY CASUALS
1t Is All a Joke Now, hut Not
Over in France.
But After All 1t Was a Nice
Safe Engagement.

A couple of soldiers. one a dough-
boy, the other an artilleryman. re-
Gently discharged from the Thirty
fifth division, sat on the bleachers at
the fair grounds the other evening"
waiting for the battle of ST. Mihiel to
begin.
"A year ago tonight we did a forty
kilo hike thru the mud and rain going
up to our positions back of the drive
at St. Mihiel. We passed your bat
teries that night" the doughboy said
to the artilleryman.
81 remember. 1t was a fine-night.
Lots of rain. lots of mud and lots OF
walking. Couldn't figure out what
there was about France that was
worth so much work Well, did YOU
have as good n seat for the show as
you have tonight"
mo. But say. this is the first time
I really wanted the battle to begin
OF course you always want them TO
begin so they will be over that much
quicker. But this is their fight to-
night. Wen just sit here and watch
those Red Cross nurses bring in the
casuals."
And they both laughed like casuals
were all sorts of fun.
When Casuals Came Back.
THAT makes me think OF when We
were up in the Argonne, said the
artilleryman, "our gun positions were
right by that road all the casuals
came back on. Whenever I wash t
working on the guns 1 would go up
there and look for you coming back
up the road with an arm, OF leg or
two gone"
kind of you. wasn't It? Mighty
kind. III say. I suppose you'd have
laughed like thunder If 1 had" said
the doughboy.
mo, I felt more like crying to see
those boys come back all shot up
dirty. muddy and bloody. covered with
bandages, helping each other along
Every once in a while would see some
one I knew, too. After while I won
dered If there were any doughboys left
to hold the front lines-sort Of began
to think the artillery was going TO
have to try and hold the front"
A terrific explosion split the air
they all jumpei-then laughed be-
cause they were startled. The battle
was on.
In a purely professional manner
they concentrated their attention on
the battle. picking out technical I'd
strategicai flaws. The squads were
awkward, they did not keep step, they
handled rifles like a cub bear would
handle-a typewriter. The colors of
the various nations were not give1' 4
color guard. There were plenty of
dreworks-but why didn't those guys
mix in a few OF the things they really
used in war. They wanted to see
some flares. They wanted all the
home people to see some flares. They
wanted signal lights. Three white
lights followed by a fourth. Three
red lights followed by a white light.
They wanted a signal that patrols
were coming over and to send up re-
serves. A big show was about to be
put Oh up front--the doughboys want
ed a barrage-why couldn't some one
send up the signal for the artillery
men to put over barrsge.
He Reported to MacLean.
Just then the big guns over at the
edge OF the grounds cut loose with a
tremendous noise. There she is" the
artilleryman laughed. That sure is
fine. Believe me. I love that noise
when they aren't shooting at me-
Round 1 on the way, sir Up in the
Argonne I had to walk about a mile
one night to tell that to Captain Mac
enu. When I got there nc said,
Well, heard 1t go over half an hour
ago
well. IL you can hear that good I
won't be back again." told him.
AS a battle representation it did not
please them a great deal. They went
after details too hard. Details were
not sufficient to make the illusion
complete. They figured too much that
might have been put in had been left
out.
But" said one, Il never saw any
thing like il before. I am glad I came.
It's the best and prettiest show 1 ever
saw--and a lot safer