Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-01-03

StructlOuS.
Lieutenant Newall's voice, in very
low whisper, came to us:
".Boys, the men in our trenches
have received orders not to fire on &C
count of our accommodating patrol be
ing out in front. A strong German
raiding party has just circled our left
and is making for our trench. It's VI
( TO us to send word back. We can!
/ all go, because we might make toe
much noise and warn the German par
+ ty, so it's up to one of US to carry the
news back to the trench that the raid
ing party is on its way. With this
I information 1t VIII be quite easy for
our boys to wipe them out. But its
up to the rest of MS to stick out here,
and If we go west we have done our
duty in a noble cause. Corporal
French, you had better take the news
back, because you are too valuable a
man to sacrifice
French. under his breath, an
swered:
"'Sir, I've been out since Mons. and
this is the first time that I've ever
been insulted by an officer. II this
patrol is going to click 1t, I'm going to
click 1t too. If we come OUT of this
you can try me for disobedience Of or
ders, but here / stick, and I'll be
damned If / go In, officer or no Off
cer.'
"Newall. in voice husky with emo
ton, answered:
"French, it's men like you that
make it possible for 'our Little Island
to withstand the world. You are
true Briton. and I'm proud Of you
81 was hoping that he would detail
me to go back, but he didn't. Hender-
son was picked for the job. When
Henderson left Newall shook hands
all around. felt queer and lonely.
''You see, fellows, it wils this way:
Henderson was to tell the men in the
trench that we had returned and that
it was all right for them to turn loose
on the raiding party with their rifle
and machine gunfire. without US click
ing their fire. Leftenant Newall sure
was a lad, not 'arf he weren't.
"That next twenty minutes Of wait
ing was hell. Then, from out of the
blackness, over toward our trench,
rang that old familiar ''Alt, who goes
there? We Rugged the ground. We
knew what was coming. Then, vol
ley from our trench, and four type
writer's (machine guns) turned loose.
Bullets cracked right over our heads.
One hit the ground about a foot from
me, ricocheted. and went moaning and
signing over the German lines.
Lieutenant Newall sobbed under his
breath:
"'God, we're in direct line of our
own fire. The trench-raiding party
must have circled u.s.
"Our boys in our trench sure were
doing themselves proud. The bullets
were cracking and biting the ground
all around us.
ain between our trench and our
party, curses rang out in German as
the Boches clicked the fire from the
English trench. Star shells were /
shooting into the air and dropping in 4
No Mans land. II was a great but I
terrible sight which met our eyes.
Fritz's raidlng party was sure being /
wiped out.
"ren or fifteen dark forms, the rem
nants OF the German raidlng party,
dashed past us In the direction OF the
German trench. We Rugged the
ground. IL was our only chance. We
knew that II would only be few
seconds before Fritz turned loose. II
we had legged II for our trench we
would have been wiped out by our
own fire. You see. our boys thought
We were safely In.
Then. up went Fritz's star lights,
turning night into day and hell cut
Dose. Their bullets were shipping
wigs from the hedge over our heads.
suddenly the fellow on my left,
by name, emitted a muf-
led groan. and started kicking the
TOund; then silence. lie had gone
vest A bullet through the nnpper, !
uppose. There were now five OF US
en-
Suddenly Loftenant Nownll. In
amt, choking voice, exclaimed:
They've got me, French; IT'S
through the lung and then fainter
you're IN command. See that
iia voice died away. Pretty soon he
fnricd moanlng loudly. The Germans
luHi have henrd these means. because
hey immediately turned their Ore on J
b. French called 90 me.
"'Iionney come here. my lad, our
nicer has clicked H.
n crnwiod over 10 him. He was
IiiinR on The ground with the ieftcn' .
nfs head resting IN his lap. and was =
citing out his hrat.nld packet.
I'D him 10 get low or be would click q
(. lie answered. v
"flncc when does n hloomln' lance
irpornl take orders from bloody prl'
ife7 You tell the rest ~ the boys. n q
.ey'yc not ~ yet gone west. TO lex u u
ick 10 our trench NJ the double and
4 atfeichor. ana you 20 with them.
A.. "a. 81 a