The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-26

n1dUOefS. liSy diC AliOotlJ OOlllOuLiA-
ed little martinets.
During drill-time Kantorek gave
us long lectures until the whole OF
our class went under his shepherd
ing to the district commandment and
volunteered. I can see. him now, as
ne used to glare at us through his
spectacles and say in a moving
voice: Wont you join up, Com
rades?"
These teachers always carry their
feelings ready in their waistcoat
pockets, and fetch them out at any
hour of the day. But We didn't think
of that then.
There was, indeed, one of us who
hesitated and did not want to fall
into line. That was Josef Benin,
a plump, homely fellow. But he
did allow himself to be persuaded,
otherwise he would have been os-
TRACKED.
And perhaps more of us thought
as he did, but no one could very
we'll stand out, because at that time
even ones parents were ready with
the word coward" no one hfsi the
vaguest idea what We were in for.
The wisest were just the poor and
simple people. They knew the war
TO be a misfortune. whereas people
who were better off we're beside
themselves with joy, though they
should have been much better able
to judge what the consequences
would be.
Katczinsky said that was a result
of their upbringing. It made them
stupid. And what Kat said, he had
thought about.
Strange to say, Benin was one of
the first to fall. He got hit in the
eye during an attack, and we left
him lying for dead. We couldn't
bring him back with us, because we
had TO come back heller skelter.
In the afternoon suddenly we
heard him call. and saw him outside
creeping toward us. He had only
been knocked unconscious. Because
he could not see, and was mad with
pain. he failed to keep under cover,
and so was shot down before any
one could go and fetch him In.
Naturally We couldn't blame Kan
torek for this. Where would the
world be if one brought every man
to book? There were thousands of
Kantoreks, all of whom were con-
WINGED that there was only one way
of doing we'll, and that way theirs.
And that is just why they let us
down so badly.
For us lads of 18 they ought to
have been mediators and guides to
the world of work. of duty, of cul-
ture, of progreSs-to the future.
We often made fun of them and
played jokes on them. but in our
hearts we trusted them. The idea
of authority which they represented.
was associated in our minds with a
greater insight and man'ier wis.
dom. But the first death we saw
shattered this belief.
We had to recognize that our
generation was more to be trusted
than theirs. They surpassed us
only in phrases and in c'everness.
The first bombardment showed us
our mistake, and under it the world
as they had taught it to us broke in
pieces.
While they continued to write and
talk, we saw the wounded and dy-
ing. While they taught that duty
to ones country is the greatest
thing, We already knew that death
throes are stronger.
But for all that we were no mutt
neers, no deserters, no cowards-they
were very free with all these eX-
pressionS. We loved our country as
much as they; We went coura-
geously into every action; but also
we distinguished the false from the
true. We had suddenly learned to
see.
And we saw that there was moth
ing of their world left. We were all
at once terribly alone; and alone we
must see it through.
= n
Before going over to see KEN
merich We pack up this things; we
will need them on the way back.
In the dressing station there is
great activity; it reeks as ever of
carbolic, ether, and sweat. Most Of
us are accustomed to this in the
billetS, but here it makes one feel
faint.
We ask for Kemmerich. He lies
in a large room and receives us
with feeble expressions of JOY and
helpless agitation. While he was
unconscious someone had stolen his
watch.
Muller shakes his head: 7 always
told you that nobody should carry
as good a watch as that"
Muller is rather crude and tact
less, otherwise he would hold his
tongue. for anybody can see that
Kemmerich never will come out of
this place again. Whether he finds
his watch or not will make no diff
ference. At the most one will only
be able to send it to his people.