Evening star., 1941-12-29

We came to a spot where bridge
had been knocked out over Accotink
Creek. The creek bed was down
about 10 feet in a sheer drop, and
before I realized what was happen
ing the nose of the tank dropped
from under me and I was going
straight down.
We ploughed through the water
and suddenly the incredible tank
was climbing up the other side.
When the tank stopped, the little
guy got out and grinned.
I'VE had a medium tank down
here until this week." he said, but
We had to send it back to the Rock
Island arsenal for repairs. We did
quite a bit of damage, breaking up
obstacles here"
He Gets destroyed"
I went down and Joined the en-
gineers. who were planting a mine
field which they said the tank
couldn't get through. The mines
were smoke bombs and were planted
in such a pattern that it would be
impossible for the tank to pass over
without exploding one.
When this job was finished, I got
back in the tank.
Think we'll get through" I
asked.
"Oh, We'll pop a few. I guess"
said the little guy. Make 'em feel
good"
He raced up to the area, went
through the field, and when looked
back out of the turret I could see
the smoke Of the exploded mines.
You're destroyed" said an en-
gineer officer. Run through 1t
again, will you?"
This time We set of half the mines
in the area. Then the tank lum-
bered down to a spot where the en-
gineers were building an elaborate
road trap. I had been there earlier,
when the engineers had started the
job.
The platoon commander had told
us that this road represented a
mountain pass. He said that we
knew tanks were coming and the
only way they could get through was
to use the road. The tanks would
be there in two hours. he said. and
We would have to build our block in
that time.
Engineers Build Block.
To build the block, the engineers
had bundled some heavy logs to-
gether and pegged them down. A
few feet beyond this they had put a
bigger bundle of logs across the
road.
Then, Is feet farther on, there
was another stack Of logs, about
shoulder high. Running uphill from
the bottom of the second stack to
the top of the third stack were four
long logs, heavier than telegraph
poles.
These four logs were like a ladder,
without rungs. The tank was sup
posed to come over the bulwark and
land on these. where it would point
uphill-and without traction.
We've had some accidents here"
explained an engineer officer. mo
matter how bad we make these traps,
the damn fool tank drivers try to
bust them down"
went down to talk to my driver.
He was about to risk his neck. Fire
extinguishers and first-aid equip
ment was all set up.
He was sitting on the tank turret,
playing rummy with the other tank
men.
Exactly at the end Of two hours,
the engineers ended their labors.
Then, they all lined up along the
road, out Of dangers range. to see
what the tank would do to their
block.
The little driver came up and
looked it over.
Can you get through?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders and
grinned
TRY like hell" he said.
Governor" Catches &'!!'
He raced his engine, backed up as
far as he could, and then sped head
on, as fast as he could 60, at the
obstacle. The tank hit the first
logs with . terrific impact and It's
nose shot UP In tho air.