The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-03-14

augmentation and shock effect A
second enemy squadron was report
ed flying in.
The warning buzzed out over the
field wire to the sectors. Men were
to take cover rs best they could
More long-range artillery opened I'D.
Night became another volcanic bed
lam, the Seconds position a raging
inferno that drove men budding into
their holes to claw frantically under
a maddening impulse to dig their
way down, down out of it all. At
tack flights roared over, released
Regeneration bombs attached to
parachuteS-Small bombs that ex-
ploded on coming TO earth.
It confirmed Molc's theory that
Van HaSsek expected an American
withdrawal. This enemy blow fell
at exactly the hour the Second would
be pulling out if such had been its
intention.
In the 10th Infantry sector a bomb.
estimated a siX-hundred- FOUNDER
fell in rear of a company position
with a devastating force that re-
duced seventeen men to speechless,
trembling impotence, though no man
was wounded. Later they were re-
ported slowly recovering their wits
from the shock and we're not evacu-
ated.
Van HaSSek's planes were operat-
ing without lights. American DUR
suit hawks buzzed about, but were
ineffective in the darkness. Van Has
sek's fury rose and fell intermit-
tently, then slowly dwindled away
into a mere barking of some long
range artillery that was pounding
the roads into San Antonio.
The clash of muskctry far out in
front brought an anticlimax to the
crimson hurricane. Van Hassek pa
trolls were pressing the American
outposts, seeking information of an
American withdrawal that had not
occurred. Half dozen Van Hassek
rifiemen were gobblcd up by the 9th
Infantry outpost and shunted back
for question.
Over the field wire, Mole's staff
checked casualties at eleven o'clock.
The bombardment had killed only
II men, wounded l42. Another 80
were numbed by shock. Three had
been stripped of their wits and sent
back, in drivelpg madness, for
evacuation.
Mole nodded his head approvingly
at this small toll. 1t did not sur
prise him that he had lost so few
men to the Van Hassek strafing.
This was not Mole's first battle. In
France he had learned how frugal
can be the nights harvest of artil-
lery and bombardment.
i've been talking to Brill at San
Antonio" Mole told his assembled
staff when he had completed his
newest estimate. Fort Sam Hou-
ston took another air beating to-
night. Our air service has been
forced to abandon Kelly and Ran
dolph Fields Galveston got a dose
Of mustard gas tonight after our
69th Anti-Aircraft Regiment there
shot down an enemy bomber. It's
all unspeakably horrible-but my
mind has had so many jolts / Just
can't feel things any longer.
General Mole staggered but
caught himself. The light in his un-
quenchable eyes burned steady
through the toxins of fatigue. There
had been lapse in his memory, now
he picked up the gap.
Put the Guard infantry in reserve
just south of San Antonio. Also keep
the mechanical cavalry out to look
after our tanks. am going to turn
in for some sleep, but don't hesitate
to call me if anything important de-
velops. Otherwise call me when the
enemy preparation fire puts down on
us in the morning. Good night, gen
tlemen."