The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1919-05-22

Bypdieats)
-
The English Lion was roaring. and
his growls could be heard all along the
western front. No doubt many q Ger
man general was stirring uneaslly In
his large concrete shell-proof dugout,
kilos behind the German front line, rs
the everincreasing laundering roar
reached his ears.
We had a closeup view Of his ma
5esty, the king Of beasts, and to us he
was a sorry-looking specimen. Patches
Of hide were worn away. while In his
tail were two big knots. II these knots
bad have been labeled IL would have
been easy to read "Neuve Chapelle"
aud "Gallipoli." The memory and
pain Of these two disasters no doubt
Increased the intensity of his thunder
The British bombardment Of the
German lines was on. a bombardment
which lasted over eight days and
nights. II wns the forerunner of the
Big Push, or Battle of the Somme."
Atwell and I were sitting In a dug
out Of the support trench. Atwell was
q great. big, lovable fellow. and was
my mate. We both had been detailed
to the divisional intelligence Depart
ment and were engaged upon spy
work"
Atweil. although Of naturally
CHEEKY disposition, occasionally re-
lapsed into Cts Of dependency.
In the light from a stump of a can
die was making out my previous
days report to turn into brigade
headquarters. Occasionally the en-
trance to the dugout would light up
with q red fare as a shell burst In the
hear vicinity. Atwell was sitting on
his pack, with his back leaning against
the wet and muddy wall of the dugout.
The rays from the candle lighted up
bis face.
Finishing my report, got out a
"fag." lighted II. and with an uneasy
feeling listened to the roar of the hell
outside. A long-drawn sigh caused
me to look In Atwell's direction.
Never In my life have ! seen such a
detected and woe-begone countenance.
This, in a way, angered me. because
I. myself, right then, had feeling Of
impending disaster. a sort Of unknown
dread. perhaps intermingled with n
fnr-away longing for the fields and
flowers at home. wanted to be
cheered. and Atwel's face looked like
Q morgue.
Forcing smile slapped Atwell on
the knee and said:
"Come out o. your trance. We've
both got a good chance for Blighty
with this bombardment on"
Atwell looked In my direction. and
In a tone Of voice which from him
had never heard before, answered:
"Yank, I've been out since II. I've
buried many mate and I've seen
many a lucky bloke on a stretcher
bound for Bllghty, and never gave It
a thought, but right now feel as II
my stay IN the trenches will be short
rve had something on my mind since
September, 1914. and It's been worry
Ing me pink. Tn goin' to tell you the
story. and I'll give you my oath that
you're the first one that's ever heard
It from my lips; but I've got to have
your promise that you'll not Judge me
too harshly. I've Just got . get It
out o. my system"
Just then a signing moan could be
heard overhead. II was one OF our
-nine-I oint-two" shells aimed In the
direction Of Berlin. We both instinc-
lively turned our eyes toward the en-
trance Of the dugout and waited for
the burst Nothing happened.
another bloomin' dud." calculated
Atwell. "a few more hundred pounds
gone to Seed" and then again the
gloomy look spread over his counte-
nance. was getting nervous and un-
easy. Trying TO hide my fear, said (:
"For tn love O. Mike, Atwcli. crnck
q smile. Give us that story OF yours,
or else I'll go bughouse. You had bet
ter get II OF or your chest, because
I'm thinking that Fritz viii soon be
replying to our strahng. and IL an
eIght-lnch shell ever hits this dugout
they'll need no wooden crosses for
us. because our names will appear un-
der the caption 'MissIng'"
Win uhotnef sign eSshpinB ITOLi
his lips. which sent q cold shiver up
and down my spinal column. he lighted
fag and started In. This Ii what he
told me:
''It was back In September. 1014
You know I came out with the frsi
hundred thousand. the time when all
the fighting was done In the open
The Germans were smashing every
thing before them In their drive on
PanA Our regiment was one Of the
few opposed to Won kluck. II was Z
case Of hold them for few hours and
then retreat-aiways retreat W.
didn't even have time to bury oui
dead. The grub was rotten. and w
were just abeut tagged out. dead tired
with NO prospect Of . relief or rest n
front Of us.
III was customary Cor smell patrol,