New Britain herald., 1929-04-20

'iiHi nus uEl Ol 1lCIldS his entire right side shattered. Llu- ton had been killed by direct shell fire and the same shrapnel had put Schneider out of the war. Stray shots here and there hit more men as the days dragged slow ly on. Cannonading took place every day and into the night Airplanes sailed loftily overhead and sent their bombs on destruction bent. De- spite all. the vigil kept. Nothing came and nothing went. Patrols clashed slightly in the darkness of isolated she'll holes, still no attack was made.
 On the night of the 18th of April, orders came relieving the third bat. talion with the first to take it's place. At the appointed hour. each platoon picked Up its war kit and following ilindly after the misty form ahead, man after man came out to take i llGht-heartcd step towards the rear. No untoward sign was given of any impending storm. No premoni- ton was felt of blow about to fall. | Occasionally distant boom and Il lazy whine evoked a chuckle that the ones you hear will never kill you" With short intermissions, the piercing screech and zoom of a Minenwerfer kept the doughboys at can side attested to the watchful wakefulness of the artillerymen.
 All of this presented itself in an inky blackness. No light to be seen only the rumble of the guns so viv- idly portrayed in story and picture for years, kept the unceasing rack ct continually going.
 New Britain Men Go Forward
 Out from the marshy valley came the New Britain contingent. Up through the fog reared the gro- tesque shapes of the helmeted and d-bespattered groups with gas masks askew on sweating chests. Puttees were caked with mud for never could anyone trod the duck boards in the trenches without get ting wet. Appetites were whett-I and muscles were weary as the pioddinG legs, urged on by all awe some respect of Dead Mans Curve" between rtgimcntal head quarters at Beaumont and Mandres, carried tired bodies back to d heav- eEly rest.
 Finally the group began to dis cern the naked walls of Mandr.s, where they were 10 stop. Just q matter of a kilometre behind tn, firing line, yet, no kings palace nor royal suite in the worlds grandrst hotel could seem more welcom. than q straw bunk in cootie- in- tested dugcut.
 Twenty and thirty rect under ground, candles were cautiously lit Curses rent the air as the guard de- tails were picked and srumbliny individuals erapsed rife and am munition belts 10 pace the two nn and four off' drudgery in the un- ending vigil against surprise. Crunl f seemed. but necessary.
 Too tired even to undress, man after man flung off his pack. loos- ened the cloth binding that encas"1 his legs and flung himself headlons onto his bunk. But, again that carefulness that everything shoul be ready interrupted and caused q 1 hard boiled three-striper. the se,- Seant, 10 pass along and see that rifles were cleaned and placed where only the reach Of 2raspins fingers was needed to start them in action And u.nI1 it |. Some of the battalion were still on the road, others were just p.!ing in while cooks and mess sergean1s stoked up the field kitchens for the usual slum gullion, the puzzle cf the world, the old ,and by of l monkey meat and bully beef for the fighter. The clock showed halG past four.
 The storm Breaks
 Suddenly, like gigantic blast that fairly rocked the earth. al hell was let loose. Screeching shells started tumbling down on the hap less humans encasef in earthen dueouts %o feet below "Heinie's gone nuts" passes all along the ilII' HuS tli bJ1lllldI liltUl NIS received in the support lines.
 At the front. things were differ ent. Guides left behind to pilot the platoons to their proper laccs. couldn't get away, Hand grenad s lay hidden in spots where they couldn't be found. Fog. thick as d woollen blanket envelopcd the . .l,,.
 Suddenly co. C on the right open ed up, tn" rattle of rifles sounding like q thousand snare drums in ac- ton all at once. Then Co. D SEW the silhouctted forms creeping eyer closer and sights were pulled on n grey shapes ahead and the battle Was on.
 Under cover of the fog. the Ger man troops had crept steallhlly for ward until they were within 20 yards Of tn" battalions front. When the barrage hit, it was lifted clear of the front lines but curtaincd be- hind 10 cut off any possible help coming up from the rear.
 As the prusalans, with d wild and mighty yell, dashed forward. the olive -drab doughboys in the sunken earth. sprans to meet them. Gone was the trembling. gone vas the ter rible fear that almos chokcd as il tried 10 render a being inert. Bay onets thrust forward. 3o-3o's parked their message of death. pistols snap ped the steel jacketed 45's into sui ferine flesh.
 Here q sCrcech there a groan. Here q yell. there d grunt Down went a 'buddv' in jumped another Trench knives .ank to the hilt l5ayonets stuck and wouldn't come J T