New Britain herald., 1927-06-20

those words. He realized that Rod. as did that other man whose image hung upon that cross, had the same capacity for sacrifice-the same love for his fellows.
 They marched on.
 The sun had risen-the boom of the guns grew louder. On the hori- zen an observation balloon loomed, rising-then another - and still a third.
 Phil thought he had never seen a more beautiful day. After the rain the sky was beautiful and the flow CTS were poking up their heads from the ditches by the side of the road. It didn't seem possible that just little way beyond there was war that the guns that were booming louder and louder meant that men were killing each other. A little wry smile curled his mouth. Tt !s much too nice a day. It is much too good to be alive" And he gave a sigh of appreciation. They marched on.
 The day became more beautiful. if possible. It seemed to affect the whole regiment of marching men.
 Then from out the blue noise like that of ten giant sirens cut the ether. Everybody down." someone shouted.
 At the same moment the shriek of the sirens ended with boom, as though hundreds of pounds of dyna- mite had exploded, throwing the dirt high in the air and showerlng the whole company
 A piece of hard earth changed on his steel helmet, and Phillip realized that as usual he had disobeyed orders and stood stock still in the middle of the road. trying to explain to himself what was going on. It was not fright. he concluded. when he thought of 1t afterward- it was just that he had not known what it was. It had all come so fast that he had not gotten the com mand while he was trying to place the sound of his first shell. He came to himself calling. Rod. Rod," His only fear was that some- thing had happened to his friend. His heart beat more calmly when he saw Rod rushing toward him.
 "Everything's Jake with me. old man." he assured him. And you?"
 Same here, Phil"
 Company, fall in! Forward" They marched on.
 Although Phil thought he had not only sampled, but exhausted all the smells that could assail his nostrils, he knew before he had spent one night at the front that there was no smell so terrible as that Of disin- tered bodies He also learned there was no noise so terrific as the noise at the front VI hen a barrage was on.
 Phil and Rod were immediately ordered to report to the Intelligence Department. There had been desul- tory fighting back and forth across the river all day, and Rod and Phil in headquarters company, were kept pussy lay Ing ll1eS u oIlI liC poltClNo to their headquarters and their out posts, and repairing them when the boche shell had cut the wires.
 Every day there were rumors of the mobilization of the Germans at this sector with a last do or de and get to Paris" push.
 And then one morning Phil awakened from his two-hour sleep. his ears pounding. He rolled out of his blanket and rushed to the cellar wher, the telephone station had been installed. Lieutenant An drews was there before him. '1t's come, Tracy" he said. We're in it now, and God have mercy on their souls"
 Phil did not realize that he could like anyone as well as he liked Lieutenant Andrews at that mo- ment. He seemed human. He seem- ed friendly.
 He was to remember this meet ing. when after the war he read Thomas B. Dawson's book, and he