The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-03-07
CHAPTER viii-centinusd.

The color sergeant, . noncommis-
stoned oficer. realized that his military
career was at an end. We all felt for
him. During the months preceding this
Incident he had always associated him
self with the privates.
We never learned whether he was
brought before q court-martial. Pun
ishment for self-mutilation was q daily
event and many severe sentences were
pro0ounced and then made known to
all the others to serve a. q detorring
example. The color sergeant's place
vas conferred upon another, after
which the captain disappeared once
more In the direction Of vitry.
We marched away and halted at .
point northwest Of the village. Here
We met other pioneers who had been
gathered together from various bat
talions and our unit was once more
brought up 70 IS men. The officers
told ~ that We would not enter the
battls today. Our only duty for the
dime being was 10 keep the bridges
over the Aarne In good condition for
the German troops fighting ON the
other side. % that they could be used
In case the battle went against NJ.
We then marched to our destination,
WA was at the point where the
0aulx nows into the Marne.
We reached our destination about
ax O'Clock In the morning. The dead
lay around In heaps everywhere. We
w&e camping on q wooded height
and could overlook the country for
Nn ~n
saw shrapnel bursting by the thou
sands. Little could be seen Of the
msn Who were fighting despite the fact
that many div1sions were locked in .
death struggle.
Presently We saw the fighting line.
The Germans were about two kilome-
tess behind the Aarne, which flowed
by directly In front Of us. German
Av1lEy In great numbers was en-
camped along the banks Of the river.
Two temporary bridges in . very dilap-
idatea condition eooseFucted Of what
ever materials were at hand were 10
made 10 blow them up with Thousands
a pounds Of dynamite. The electric
fuses had been strung to the point
Wh3e We were located and 1t was up
% - 70 manipulate the switches. Con-
uected with the battle line By tele-
phnne. We were In position to destroy
the bsfdess at . moments notice.
The fighting became more lively.
We saw the French rush to attack and
sstiro again. The IRE Of muskstry in.
creased and the attacks became more
frequent. This continued for more
oan two hours.
We saw the Preach continuing to
bring up endorsements constantly
despite The German artillery IRE.
After an extended pause the French
0ado another attack, employing ssv-
seal different kinds Of formations.
0Aeh time the waves Of Offensive
TROOPS were forced hack. At three
O'Clock In the aftesnoon. under . blow
which contained the full power Of
France. our troops were forced to re-
tire. first slowly. then IN wild flight.
The exhausted Germans could not be
rallied tn the face Of this blow. With
Wild confusion an tried at the same
time to reach the bridges beyond
which lay safety.
~ sAAAo AA10so4s eAs0 SAs0AJ WAAASAA
had taken cover along the river bank
galloped to the bridge position. In .
moment the bridge was covered with
human bodies, an racing for the op-
poate bank. We could see this tenn
poragy structure trembling under this
eQ0gmous burden.
Our ofaeee saw the situation and -
oerv00sly pressed the telephone re-
esevoe 10 hia bekt ear. His right hand
Wa9 on the switch. Droathlomly he
stars1 at the Aeeing masses. II only
tAs telephone connections had not been
9cohen." he muttered to himself. He
0sW - wen - Ill the rest Of n that
- wns - act On the instant that the
1T order same over the wire.