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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-27 19:06:44 -0800 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-27 19:06:44 -0800 |
| commit | ff0cc8ebb134c56b6b47f8d3cb93efbadb2d1cfc (patch) | |
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diff --git a/77797-h/77797-h.htm b/77797-h/77797-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d970d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/77797-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6620 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + Ambulancing on the French front | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1, +h2, +h3, +h4, +h5, +h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h2 { + font-weight: normal; +} + +p { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: 0.49em; +} +.noindent { + text-indent: 0em; +} + +.p1 { + margin-top: 1em; +} + +.fs200 { + font-size: 200%; +} +.fs170 { + font-size: 170%; +} +.fs150 { + font-size: 150%; +} +.fs120 { + font-size: 120%; +} +.fs90 { + font-size: 90%; +} +.fs80 { + font-size: 80%; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb { + width: 45%; + margin-left: 27.5%; + margin-right: 27.5%; +} +hr.chap { + width: 65%; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; +} +@media print { + hr.chap { + display: none; + visibility: hidden; + } +} +hr.full { + width: 100%; + margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; +} + +hr.r5 { + width: 5%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: 47.5%; + margin-right: 47.5%; +} + +div.chapter { + page-break-before: always; +} +h2.nobreak { + page-break-before: avoid; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable { + border-collapse: collapse; +} +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { + padding: 0.25em; +} + +.tdr { + text-align: right; +} + +.pagenum { + color: #a9a9a9; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.bbox { + border: 2px solid; +} + +.center { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.right { + text-align: right; +} + +.smcap { + font-variant: small-caps; +} + +figcaption p { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0.2em; + text-align: inherit; +} + +/* Images */ +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 { + width: 100%; +} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; +} + +figcaption { + font-weight: bold; +} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote { + background-color: #e6e6fa; + color: black; + font-size: small; + padding: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + font-family: sans-serif, serif; +} + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp47 { + width: 47%; +} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp47 { + width: 100%; +} +.illowp100 { + width: 100%; +} +.illowp48 { + width: 48%; +} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp48 { + width: 100%; +} + +.bold { + font-weight: bold; +} + +.corr { + text-decoration: none; + border-bottom: thin dashed blue; +} +.x-ebookmaker .corr { + text-decoration: none; + border-bottom: none; +} + +.illowe4 {width: 4em;} +.illowp70 {width: 70%;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77797 ***</div> +<div class="transnote"> +TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE + +<p>Some minor changes to the text are noted at the <a href="#transnote">end of the book</a>. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="cover"> +<img alt="Original cover" class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg"> +</figure> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<h1> +AMBULANCING ON THE<br> +FRENCH FRONT +</h1> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="002b-i" style="max-width: 25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/002b-i.jpg" alt="A man in uniform smiling with one leg propped on some stairs."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">ON THE JOB, DAY AND NIGHT.</p> + <p class="p1 noindent">A picture of the author, one of the first Americans to serve as + an ambulance man on the French front.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap fs200">Ambulancing on</span><br> +<span class="smcap fs200">the French Front</span><br> +<br> +<br> +<span class="smcap">By</span><br> +<br> +EDWARD R. COYLE<br> +<br> +<br> +<i>Illustrated</i><br> +</p> +<br> +<figure class="figcenter illowe4" id="003-title-i"> + <img class="w100" src="images/003-title-i.jpg" alt="Publisher logo"> +</figure> +<br> +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">New York</span><br> +BRITTON PUBLISHING COMPANY +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center"> +Copyright, 1918<br> +<span class="smcap">Britton Publishing Company, Inc.</span> +</p> +<hr class="r5"> +<p class="center"> +Made in U. S. A. All rights reserved. +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="TO_MY_MOTHER"> + TO MY MOTHER + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">Whose parting gift was a miniature photograph +of her own dear self upon which she had +inscribed these words:</p> + +<p>My only child who is given to the Cause of +Liberty and Freedom. May God guide him +safely so that he may help those who are unfortunate.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">His Mother’s Prayer.</span> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="AUTHORS_PREFACE"> + AUTHOR’S PREFACE + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">When I went to France there was no thought +in my mind that I should ever write a book on +the subject of my experiences over there. On +my return, however, many friends besieged me +for details of the great war, which had come +under my observation while serving in the +Ambulance Corps on the French front. It was +easy to infer from the eagerness of all that real +news was in demand, none seeming to tire of +asking questions and listening to what I had to +say in reply. From these impromptu conversations +occurring day after day, I began to +realize how much I had really experienced during +my stay abroad. Consequently, when +urged to write a book for the benefit of the +general public, I consented on the theory that +the more we Americans know about true conditions +in the War Zone the surer we are to win +victory from the most ruthless enemy ever +known to mankind. I make no pretense of +being a writer, but I know what I saw and I +hope to make myself understood on the subject +of war as it is to-day on the firing line. +Much in the way of rumor has passed for fact +in America. Propaganda has confused the +public mind. The more fact that leaks through, +not calculated to send aid and comfort to the +foe, the better for all of us. In this, my first +attempt at writing, and possibly my last, I +intend to give facts. Matters that should not +be disclosed for military reasons will, of +course, be reserved for historians of another +day.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Edward R. Coyle.</span> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS"> + CONTENTS + </h2> +</div> + +<table class="autotable"> +<thead> +<tr> +<td class="fs80" colspan="2">CHAPTER</td> +<td class="tdr fs80">PAGE</td> +</tr> +</thead> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">I</td> +<td><span class="smcap">How I Came to Go</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">15</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">II</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Ambulance Work</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">III</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Sandricourt</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IV</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Medical Care</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">V</td> +<td><span class="smcap">A Lesson I Learned</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">49</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VI</td> +<td><span class="smcap">A Visit to Paris</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">54</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VII</td> +<td>“<span class="smcap">The Front</span>”</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">61</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VIII</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Massing Before Verdun</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">67</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IX</td> +<td><span class="smcap">The Siege of Verdun</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">77</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">X</td> +<td><span class="smcap">A Visit to Baccarat</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XI</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Homeless Children</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">109</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XII</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Afternoon Tea</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">115</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIII</td> +<td>“<span class="smcap">Petit Post</span>”</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">122</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIV</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Badonviller the Martyr</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">126</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XV</td> +<td><span class="smcap">“Snipers” at Work</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVI</td> +<td>“<span class="smcap">Kamerad!</span>”</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">141</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVII</td> +<td><span class="smcap">The Art of Camouflage</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">151</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVIII</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Spies and Their Work</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">159</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIX</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Letters from the Front</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">174</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XX</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Eyes of the Army</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXI</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Anti-Aircraft Batteries</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">199</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXII</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Hand Grenade Work</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">205</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXIII</td> +<td><span class="smcap">The American Y. M. C. A.</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">215</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXIV</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Rear-Line Diversions</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">225</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXV</td> +<td>“<span class="smcap">Food Will Win the War</span>”</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">229</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXVI</td> +<td><span class="smcap">Homeward Bound</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">235</a></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"> + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent"> + <a href="#002b-i">Picture of Author—<i>Frontispiece</i></a><br> + <a href="#096b-i">The Wagon of Mercy Loading Up</a><br> + <a href="#112a-i-1">A Camouflage Road Made to Order</a><br> + <a href="#112a-i-2">A Natural Camouflage Road</a><br> + <a href="#064b-i">A “Load-Up and Getaway”—Wounded for the Hospital</a><br> + <a href="#080a-i-1">The Bivouac of the Dead</a><br> + <a href="#080a-i-2">Where the Souls of Men Are Calling</a><br> + <a href="#016a-i-2">A French Gun Much Respected by Fritz</a><br> + <a href="#048a-i-1">German Sacrilege—Christ’s Figure Decapitated</a><br> + <a href="#048a-i-2">Ruins of the Church Containing the Figures</a><br> + <a href="#160b-i-1">Sacked and Burned</a><br> + <a href="#160b-i-2">Badonviller Destroyed by the Germans</a><br> + <a href="#176a-i">Sixty Feet from a German Front-Line Trench</a><br> + <a href="#192b-i-1">Trying on the Gas Masks</a><br> + <a href="#192b-i-2">Badonviller Barricaded for Street Fighting</a><br> + <a href="#208a-i">Awaiting Orders Behind the Front</a><br> + <a href="#128b-i">Bombing the Hun</a><br> + <a href="#144a-i">French Infantry En Route to the Trenches</a><br> + <a href="#224b-i-1">A Small “Persuader” at Verdun</a><br> + <a href="#224b-i-2">Field Telephone Station Controlling the Shell Fire</a><br> + <a href="#240a-i">Ruins Along the Lorraine Front</a><br> + <a href="#016a-i-1_2">A Quick Lunch at the Front</a><br> + <a href="#016a-i-2_2">First Aid Dug-Out—Waiting for a Call</a> +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center fs120"> +AMBULANCING ON THE<br> +FRENCH FRONT +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <p class="nobreak fs200 center" id="Ambulancing_on_the_French"> + Ambulancing on the French + Front + </p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">HOW I CAME TO GO</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>If you like excitement I’d say take a steamer +for France—and join the Ambulance Corps +on the French front overlooking Verdun. A +few steps forward to the front-line trenches +and you’re in the zone of what the lamented +Charles Frohman described as “The Great +Adventure.”</p> + +<p>I was there and I bless my lucky stars that +I’m home again for a while with a whole skin +and a large and growing appetite that I brought +back with me. I served as an ambulance man, +a sort of scene-shifter in the wings of the greatest +tragedy ever staged. Now, as I write, it is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>running in its fourth year. My duties required +me to bring back from the battlefield the +maimed and dying, and deposit them in places +of comparative safety. Also to the sheltered +huts, further back, where first aid could be +given.</p> + +<p>If anyone had told me, on January 1, 1917, +that in less than sixty days I would be over +there on the French front, taking a minor part +in the biggest show on earth, I probably would +have slammed back at him, “Quit your kidding.” +Nevertheless, it all happened—I went, +and of my own volition, joined the Ambulance +section of the French Army, and stayed in the +game until my own country took over that service. +Then I came home for a visit, having +served practically nine months, but I am going +back soon, this time with Uncle Sam—I have +already enlisted.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="016a-i-1_2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/016a-i-1.jpg" alt="A man in unform eating while standing upright."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">A Quick Lunch at the Front</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="016a-i-2_2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/016a-i-2.jpg" alt="Uniformed men sitting around a camp."> + <figcaption> + <p>First Aid Dug-Out—Waiting for a Call</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Just how I made up my mind to go in the +first place is yet something of a mystery. Here +I was in New York, holding down a good position +at generous pay. New York is always +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>entertaining, and at intervals my work took me +out over the country to other cities, under first-class +conditions. Therefore, it was not from +lack of novelty or interest in my own affairs +that I went forth in search of trouble.</p> + +<p>As I think back upon it I presume I must +have talked myself into going. Notwithstanding +that we, over here, were seemingly out of +the war, everybody I knew, at home or on my +travels, talked war, and I did also.</p> + +<p>While dining with a friend one evening in +a New York restaurant we got into the war +talk game rather earnestly. He was sure he +would go over were it not that he couldn’t possibly +pass the test.</p> + +<p>“If it was Uncle Sam that was fighting I +might try to go anyway,” said he.</p> + +<p>It was at this point in our conversation that +I heard myself say:</p> + +<p>“Well, I think I’ll go and help France; she +was always good to us.”</p> + +<p>My voice sounded strange to my own ears as +I said this, and the next instant our eyes met. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>Bing! I realized that I had started something +down deep within me. Also that a hand +reached forth across the table which I took +into my own. It was the hand of James A. +Gilmore, “Fighting Jim,” as he is affectionately +known to millions of baseball fans all over +the world.</p> + +<p>“Bully for you!” he shouted. “What part +of the service will you go in for? Army—Navy—Red +Cross?” There was a wistful look +in his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Red Cross, I think.”</p> + +<p>I heard myself say this, but, as a matter of +fact, I had no thought whatever of what I +would do. To tell the honest truth, I felt as if +I had jumped off of the Brooklyn Bridge. Not +that the idea frightened me. Nothing like +that. If I had made a real decision, and I began +to feel that I had, it didn’t seem to disturb +me unduly. There was no reason why I +shouldn’t go. If there was a reluctant feeling +it was on account of my Mother—but I knew +her too well to believe that she would hold me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>back from such a righteous cause. As to my +Father, why he’d boost the game. I was sure +of that. Anyhow the conviction grew that I +had cast the die, and by the look on the face of +my friend I knew that I had committed myself.</p> + +<p>For the next half hour I sat quietly munching +my food and listening the while to my good +friend opposite. It was during this time that +he showed his loyalty to the great cause. I +was told to outfit myself and spare no expense—he +would help foot the bill. A few days +later, when I was all but on the point of sailing +away toward the great whirlpool of disaster, +he and other good friends presented me +with an auto-ambulance, fully equipped.</p> + +<p>Proud! grateful! I thought I’d drop dead +with joy before the day came to walk the gangway +of the big ship that was to bear me away +from peace to war.</p> + +<p>Recalling my sudden decision to enter the +war, on many occasions I have asked other +Americans why they volunteered. In no instance +did any of them give a solid reason right +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>off the reel. I believe the answer given by a +young Philadelphian, who was a member of +our party on board ship, fairly sums up most +cases of volunteer enlistment.</p> + +<p>“Damifino,” said he, with a shrug of his +well-set shoulders and a merry twinkle in his +eyes.</p> + +<p>Same here—his answer is mine. I don’t +know why I went, but I am glad I did. I’ve +seen things that horrified me—that terrified +me. I have been within arm’s length of the +Grim Reaper many times, but I got used to it +all. It became a part of the day’s work, but +never to the point where I failed to shoot the +gas into my motor in order to get out of reach +of the “big ones” that flew my way.</p> + +<p>But I’m getting ahead of my story. After +making my decision to go I did as everyone +else had to do—saw Eliot Norton, a New +York lawyer who contributed his time in passing +upon the qualifications of the men desiring +to enter this branch of service in connection +with the Red Cross. He seemed glad to have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>me go; therefore, I soon found myself busily +engaged in purchasing supplies and equipment +generally. I also started to “pulling the +strings” for my passport. In fact, I went to +Washington in order to get quick action, so +that I could sail on a French liner, along with +forty other volunteers. My auto was to follow +on another boat.</p> + +<p>On shipboard all hands fraternized at once. +It was a gay party withal, and democratic in +spirit. Big family names didn’t count for a +cent, much to the relief of the fine fellows who +bore them. There was a general realization +that we were bound on a serious mission +and that there was no better time possible in +which to get acquainted. Therefore, the time +passed quickly enough on our way to the port +of Bordeaux, our gateway to Paris. A surprise +awaited us there—third-class coaches, instead +of luxurious Pullmans, to which we all +were accustomed. Bare wooden seats for an +all-night ride were not so soft as a feather-bed, +but at that we were lucky, for we were told +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span>that this long ride was usually made in freight +cars. It was a mighty rocky ride, though. +There was compensation in the fact, however, +that we journeyed through the celebrated Jardin +de France, the most beautiful landscape in +all that beautiful land. But our legs and bodies +ached, almost unbearably, as we came to the +end of the journey.</p> + +<p>Arriving in Paris we went straight to headquarters, +No. 7 Rue Francois Premier, French +Headquarters of the American Red Cross in +Paris. There we signed up for voluntary +service with the French Army, and then +started out to complete our equipment and obtain +uniforms. Four glorious days followed, +for Paris is great, even in war times, and we +realized that we would not get back there for +at least six months.</p> + +<p>Then came preliminary training at Sandricourt. +This took ten days, and from thence +we were hurried forward to our Division assignment +for training near the Eastern front. +No use to go into detail concerning the red tape +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>necessary to enlistment. It is enough to say +that there is plenty of it. After every little +thing had been attended to I found myself +tagged for identification as follows:</p> + +<p class="center"> +VIII Army<br> +9th Corp<br> +17th Division<br> +French Army<br> +Edward R. Coyle. +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">AMBULANCE WORK</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Ambulance work in the French Army +comes under the heading of what is known as +the Sanitary Service. To each division there +is attached a Sanitary Section which serves +that division only. Although subject to the orders +of the Staff Officers, it is looked upon as +a part of the Medical Department, and is directly +under the supervision of the Medical +Staff. The Service, like everything else in the +war to-day, has undergone radical changes.</p> + +<p>In the early days of the war, the Sanitary +Section of the French Army proved most inefficient. +It could not cope with new conditions. +Speed in conveying the wounded soldier +to the proper hospital was vital; so also +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span>was the transfer of cases from the front-line +trenches and dressing stations to hospitals +where complete service and attention could be +given. To facilitate development in this all-important +work took time and careful thought +to determine just which course would meet the +increased demands with greatest efficiency.</p> + +<p>While the reorganization was being evolved +in the minds of the men who had these matters +in charge for the French Government, the German +Armies were most actively engaging the +French all along their frontier, and it was necessary, +for the time being, to meet the situation +in whatever make-shift way it might be possible +until the desired perfection in this branch +of service could finally be attained.</p> + +<p>The French were fortunate with the sanitary +sections they had organized up to that time +and which formed a regular part of their medical +service in connection with the army. In +order to take care of a great portion of the extra +work that was thrown upon them, it must +be acknowledged that, with the equipment they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span>had, they carried on the work in a wonderful +way.</p> + +<p>In Paris lived many people who were able to +render service to the French Government during +these days, and among them was Mr. Harjes +of Morgan & Harjes Company, Bankers. +Quick to see the need of expert ambulance work +in connection with the army, he equipped his +own automobile and donated it to the French +Government.</p> + +<p>Through his example other people in Paris +were induced to make donations of a similar +character, and thus, through the generosity of +a small group of Mr. Harjes’ immediate +friends, Sanitary Section, Unit Five, was +formed and became a permanent and famous +feature in ambulance work, setting the pace +followed later on by the French Government. +Mr. Harjes became responsible for the efficiency +of this service, spending most of his +time in the field personally conducting the +operations, and, by his untiring efforts, made it +the standard of all other units. About this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>time Mr. Richard Norton also realized the +ever-increasing demand upon the sanitary section +service of the French Army. He got into +communication with his very close friend, Mr. +Arthur Kemp, who was at that time residing +in England, and induced him to equip his own +private car and bring it over and enter the work +with him. Mr. Norton formed Sanitary Section +Unit Seven, and himself went into the field +as its head. He drove one of the cars himself +and lived with the boys at the front, as also did +Mr. Kemp.</p> + +<p>The wonderful work that was carried on by +the volunteer ambulance services quickly attracted +the attention of the French authorities. +Letters written by the boys of these sections, +describing in detail to friends in America the +work they were carrying on, resulted in a large +number of requests for a chance to serve as +volunteers. These enthusiasts proposed not +only to donate automobiles equipped for ambulance +work, but also to drive them themselves +without cost to the French Government. Soon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>there were enough of these applicants to form +Sanitary Section Number Eleven, and, at the +termination of the Volunteer Ambulance Work +in October, 1917, these volunteer sections constituted +the finest and most efficient ambulance +service in the world.</p> + +<p>By this time recognition had been given to +this service from all corners of the globe, and +the American Red Cross now became the principal +financial support of the service, which enabled +it to expand into a vitally important factor +of the French Army. Equipment and funds +in abundance were placed at the disposal of +the organization.</p> + +<p>Eliot Norton, a lawyer in New York City, +and a brother of Richard Norton, played a +large part in the success of that organization. +It was he who personally supervised the enlistment +of men for service in France as ambulance +drivers. No one was permitted to enter +this service without having first satisfied Mr. +Norton that he would be unafraid, under any +conditions, to carry the work of the American +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span>Red Cross to the battlefields of France in a +creditable way.</p> + +<p>Untiring was his devotion and unerring his +judgment. A very high official in the Medical +Corps in the English Army is quoted as having +said: “I have never seen a cleaner, more intelligent +crowd of boys than the ones who are +serving with the Norton-Harjes Ambulance +Corps in the French Army.”</p> + +<p>The organization was now taking on such +proportions that it was necessary to establish +central headquarters. This was done at No. +7 Rue Francois Premier in Paris. Messrs. +Norton, Kemp and Havemeyer were compelled +to give up the active work in the field +and take charge of the offices. Other sections +were equipped and sent out; section leaders and +assistants called chef and sous-chef, respectively, +were chosen from the older men that had +been on active duty in the field.</p> + +<p>This organization was now continually attracting +prominent people to it, one of these +being Mr. Robert Goelet, who turned over his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span>estate at Sandricourt, twenty miles outside of +Paris, to be used as a cantonment for the +American Red Cross, and as a base for training +men. Twenty automobiles were donated to +this section, which became known as the “Goelet +Section.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">SANDRICOURT</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Sandricourt, as a base for training and instructions, +was a happy choice, for it became +the stepping-stone to efficiency. It must be remembered +that all the men who had joined the +service were youngsters and of good families, +and most of them had had some business experience.</p> + +<p>In the French Army there is no such thing +as luxury, and it is very hard for a person who +has been used to butter, sugar and cream to be +deprived of them all at once. In addition to +extremely plain food, sleeping out of doors +was a very necessary preparation for the hardships +to be endured, when one might be called +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span>to sleep in any old place and under unknown +conditions.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, means were found to +divert the minds of the weary by such activities +as military drills, lectures on the care of cars, +instructions on temporary repairs, and the like. +In due time there were also established, under +Y. M. C. A. supervision, classes in French, a +working knowledge of which was very necessary, +for at the front the men had to take orders +from doctors, who spoke that language +exclusively.</p> + +<p>When Sandricourt was first taken over it +had to undergo a thorough overhauling. Mr. +Goelet had not occupied it from the inception +of the war and, of course, things were in bad +shape. The barns, which had been used for the +housing of cattle and stock, were to form the +sleeping quarters for the men, and it was necessary +to give them a most rigid cleaning before +they could be occupied.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="016a-i-2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/032b-i.jpg" alt="Uniformed men standing near a gun on a rail car on rails."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">A French Gun Much Respected by Fritz</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Some of the barns were over a hundred years +old and in an awful state of repair, but a hundred +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span>men of the Ambulance Service were dispatched +to start the work and they pitched in +with such eagerness that within four weeks’ +time Mr. Goelet himself would hardly have +recognized the place.</p> + +<p>As sections left Sandricourt for the front, +others came to take their places and carry on +the work. During their stay they received instructions +in preparation for their own departure +for the front.</p> + +<p>The fatigue work in our service consists of +such tasks as carrying water, chopping wood +for the kitchen, and waiting on table. Everyone +had to take his turn at these different duties. +It was amusing to look in on the various +groups of inexperienced boys of the different +fatigues. Many of them had never washed +a dish in their lives, but no one was exempt, +and each day brought different men to duty on +different fatigues, in accordance with a well-planned +schedule.</p> + +<p>Details were dispatched each day to help the +farmers in the vicinity with their work, all of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>which was good for the appetite, and hardened +the boys. Army food was so different, it +seemed impossible to eat at first, but it had the +appearance of a banquet at Delmonico’s after +one had been out on a haystack all day or feeding +a thrasher.</p> + +<p>Such was Sandricourt, the tempering forge +of the ambulance corp—the place where everyone +got down to bed rock and exchanged luxury +for the essentials; bloat and fat for muscle, +and irregular life for a rigid routine. Complaints +flew thick and fast at first, but, after all, +these seeming hardships were mild, indeed, +compared with what came afterward. When +enemy shell fire kept food from coming up, and +service demanded that men should sleep in their +clothes for days at a time in preparation for an +immediate call, I often wondered if there were +not a great many fellows who longed for Sandricourt, +with its vigorous, enforced rules and +discipline.</p> + +<p>In preparation for the assignment of a section +to a division, forty men were chosen from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span>Sandricourt and placed under the leadership of +a chef and sous-chef. Two men on a car and +twenty cars constituted a section. This section, +when completed, would then be sent out +to one of the large automobile parks located +somewhere along the front where cars were +supplied. Two mechanics were assigned, as +well as clerks and cooks. There was a French +lieutenant who, with the chef, took command +of the section when all the equipment necessary +for field duty was supplied. When the section +left to join the division it was assigned +to whatever position that division then occupied.</p> + +<p>After arriving at its destination the first +thing the section has to do is to establish a +cantonment. This is generally an old barn or +a demolished house eight to twelve kilometers +behind the line, and it must be central to all +the portion of the front that the division is to +occupy. In all instances these quarters are +within easy range of the enemy cannon, for it +would be impractical, for numerous reasons, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>to have this cantonment or field base too far +in the rear. The greater the distance the +greater the time required to answer emergency +calls. Instant service is the watchword of the +ambulance man, for he can never tell what a +few minutes’ loss or gain may mean in the saving +or the losing of a life.</p> + +<p>Located at different intervals all along the +front, just behind the first-line trenches, are +<i>abris</i>, in charge of which there is a doctor. +When a man is shot or otherwise injured, he is +taken to one of these dressing stations where +he receives his first treatment. If he is +slightly wounded he is kept there until night, +in the event that the nature of the terrain does +not afford security to an ambulance in coming +up to take him to the rear. If he is badly +wounded he is put in a cart and wheeled to the +nearest point back of the front line where an +ambulance can approach without becoming a +target for enemy guns. At night it is the duty +of the ambulance man to advance under the +cover of darkness up to these dressing stations, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>and convey all wounded men to the hospitals +in the rear.</p> + +<p>As many cars as there are stations to be +served at the front leave the cantonment at +noon every day for twenty-four hours’ service +at the front. The remaining cars then become +an Emergency Division. All the clearing must +be done at night. No lights are permitted on +cars. This prevents them from becoming +marks for the enemy guns.</p> + +<p>If a road is being shelled it makes passage +extremely difficult for cars without light. +Shell holes are “hell holes” to get out of, not to +speak of the likelihood of a broken axle. It is +often necessary for one of the men on the car +to get out and walk in front of it with a handkerchief +behind his back so the man at the +wheel can find his way along what is left of +the road, in and out between the shell holes.</p> + +<p>Many of the posts or dressing stations where +first treatment is given are located as close up +as 500 yards from the German front-line +trenches, which is within easy range of machine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span>guns, so that, during the day, it is impossible +for the ambulances to approach these advanced +posts if compelled to go over ground +that might be visible to the enemy. But at +night this can be done with comparative safety.</p> + +<p>It is an erroneous idea that the ambulance +man goes into “No Man’s Land” to pick up the +injured. There have been instances of where +the boys have done this sort of thing, but it is +not a part of their required work.</p> + +<p>This branch of the service is done by the +brancardier, or stretcher-bearer. In most instances +in the French Army this service is made +up of musicians. The injured are conveyed +back through the trenches and placed in the +waiting cars, which take them to the rear.</p> + +<p>The trips to the hospital with emergency +cases are sometimes very trying to a sensitive +driver. A man on a stretcher, shot through +the abdomen and suffering unbearable agony, +shouting “<i>tout doucement, mon Dieu, tout +doucement!</i>” (“Go slow, my God, go slow!”), +while another man, with both hands off at the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span>wrist, and realizing that only a quick trip can +save his life, screams “<i>Viet, Conducteur, viet</i>,” +meaning “Fast, driver, fast,” will tax one’s +powers and sympathy to the limit. Another +screams incoherently from sheer pain. It is +the desire, of course, for the man at the wheel +to do each man’s bidding, but, under such conditions, +the pleadings of the unfortunate must +be disregarded. This might seem harsh, +but when one realizes that he is doing his +very best, he becomes, after a while, hardened +to the work and automatically carries out his +orders.</p> + +<p>Each car, as it goes to the front for its +twenty-four hours’ service, is allotted food +enough for the two men, which they cook on +any such improvised fireplace as conditions +permit; but, of course, during any extensive +operation, food and sleep are two things that +one learns to do without.</p> + +<p>It is necessary for all forms of motor vehicles +in the zone of the armies to be supplied +with what is known as an <i>Ordre de Mouvement</i>, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span>which shows just which position of the front +each must occupy, and what towns and <i>Post +du Succors</i> each must serve. No one is permitted +on the road without this order, and, if +one is apprehended by a sentinel, the “order” +must be produced for identification. It’s a case +of “show me” or “skedaddle” back for the permit.</p> + +<p>If he sees fit, the sentinel can send the driver +to the rear under guard. There is seldom any +occasion for this procedure, because every man +knows it is necessary to have his order and +would not think of going up front without it.</p> + +<p>During the day, when no runs are to be +made, the time is spent at the post, within easy +calling distance in case of emergency. If one +happens to be stationed where the Boche is +shelling, the time is spent in an <i>abri</i> or dug-out +down underground, and, in all instances, men +who have gone through these bombardments +are very glad that such places exist.</p> + +<p>In the cantonment the men held in reserve +are required to make minor repairs to their cars +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>in order to insure their being able to depart +for the front at a moment’s notice. Otherwise, +their time is their own and can be spent as they +like, provided it is known at the bureau where +they can be reached in the case of an emergency.</p> + +<p>While traversing a road that is under shell +fire, it is a very strict regulation with the +French Government that no car be permitted to +stop for any reason whatever as long as it is +able to run under its own power. Irrespective +of the fact that it might not have a tire left +this regulation still holds good and the driver +must proceed to a place of safety before +any consideration can be given to the matter of +changing tires or stopping for minor repairs.</p> + +<p>Whenever a road is being shelled it generally +gives the men on the car something to think +about, and only actual experience under such +shell fire enables them to become expert in their +judgment as to slowing down or shooting in +the gas when this condition is met with. It +is not the most pleasant of experiences to be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>driving along and have a shell break alongside +of the road and cover everything with mud. +But all conditions are met in a more or less +matter-of-fact way when one is continually +forced to accept them. Life seems a matter of +fate and little attention is paid to bursting +shells.</p> + +<p>As the cars are relieved at the front at the +end of twenty-four hours’ service, they return +to the base, making calls at the different <i>Posts +du Succor</i> on the way back, picking up the <i>mallade</i> +(sick), for everyone carried in ambulances +is not always wounded. With large armies in +the trenches there are a great many cases of +sickness that must be taken back to the hospitals +in the rear for treatment.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">MEDICAL CARE</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>When a man is wounded he receives the +very best care, for experience has taught +France that for the conservation of man +power this is of the highest importance. +No matter how slight an injury may be, it is +mandatory that a man receive the proper medical +or surgical treatment, for it is the small +and seemingly inconsequential wounds that develop +blood poisoning, which means the amputation +of arms and legs or even death itself. +Consequently, the moment a man is injured +he must present himself to the doctor for +examination, thereby eliminating, as far as +possible, any chance of complications.</p> + +<p>The small percentage of infections in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span>army is surprising, in view of the conditions +that exist, which are not always the very cleanest +and best. These small wounds, to men who +live in damp dug-outs, stand watch in wet +trenches, suffer from irregularity of meals, insufficient +rest and exposure, are all things that +tend to lessen their resisting power and render +them just that much more susceptible to the +development of infection.</p> + +<p>During the first year of the war the frequency +of infection from deep wounds was +alarmingly high and all efforts of the medical +staff to cut it down seemed in vain. At this +time Doctor Alexis Carrel of the Rockefeller +Institute, after consultation with some +of the heads of the French Medical Staff, made +a study of this vexing problem and with the +backing of this wonderful institution with its +ample funds, working without the red tape that +in most instances goes hand in hand with an +endeavor of this kind, after a surprisingly +short time, developed a treatment known as +Irrigation Intermittent Carrel. The apparatus +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span>used consists principally of a reservoir or +container attached to the bed of the injured at +the proper elevation to insure a flow of the +fluid.</p> + +<p>Connected with this and inserted in the +wound itself is a rubber tube by which the fluid +is conducted to the field of injury. At regular, +determined periods during the day and night +the fluid is released from the container and allowed +to flow through the wound, carrying off +poisonous matter or arresting any infectious +condition.</p> + +<p>As it was soon seen that this was the +best method for handling deep wounds, they +set out to perfect the treatment. The fluid +used was very costly, particularly as such large +quantities had to be employed in this intermittent +irrigation, consequently there followed a +great deal of experimenting, which, however, +did result in the perfection of the treatment, +but Dr. Carrel went farther. He and +his associates compiled a chart or card, which +recorded the age of the patient, the square +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span>inches or area of the wound, and such other +facts as enabled them, through the handling of +so many cases, to establish and chart lines of +healing showing the progress of the wound +from day to day in its course of treatment, and +giving such other information as the proper +time of closing the wound and the discontinuing +of irrigation, etc.</p> + +<p>So accurate did this chart work out that it enabled +them to control all cases by its use. Thus, +in the event that a wound had not progressed +properly in its healing by a certain day to +the requirement shown on the chart, the deduction +was that the case required special treatment +and so it was immediately given the requisite +attention. One can see the far-reaching +effects from a military viewpoint of such a +system.</p> + +<p>With these charts to govern them, the doctors +at the different base hospitals could compute +very readily just how many beds in their +hospitals were occupied by cases of this particular +kind and with this method of treatment estimate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span>very closely two to three weeks in +advance how many patients would be released +and the number of beds that would be available +for new cases at any given time.</p> + +<p>Still another forward step in military medication +is in the treatment of burns. I saw in +France a man who had been working with +powder which in some way becoming ignited, +burned one side of his face very badly. He was +taken to the hospital and treated by the new +method of spraying <ins class="corr" id="TN-1" title="Transcriber's Note—original text: parrafin">paraffin</ins> over the burn and +allowing it to heal from the bottom—a method +which eliminated all the scar tissue with the +result that it was almost impossible to tell that +he had ever been burned.</p> + +<p>We see so many cases in this country of +people whose faces are covered with scar tissue +caused by burns because they had been treated +by such methods as allowed the air to get at +the field of injury, causing a scar tissue to +form, which nothing will ever remove. But by +healing from the bottom and developing toward +the surface the natural functioning of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>healthy tissue leaves the exterior appearance +practically without a blemish. This in itself is +a wonderful development. For if a person is +burned and treatment is necessary, there is +some consolation in knowing that he will not +be forced to go through life with hideous scar +tissue marrying his appearance for the want +of proper treatment. In addition to the “M. +D.,” there is, in each division, the Dental +Corps.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="048a-i-1" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/048a-i-1.jpg" alt="Damaged statues in a building."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">German Sacrilege—Christ’s Figure Decapitated</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="048a-i-2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/048a-i-2.jpg" alt="A building with a damaged roof with debris nearby."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Ruins of the Church Containing the Figures</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">A LESSON I LEARNED</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Shortly after leaving for the front there +came an order that our section was to be +inspected by one of the captains from one of +the large auto parks at the front. This meant +that the general cleaning day was at hand. +Naturally, we all started brushing and polishing +motors and revolving parts to make as +good a showing as possible.</p> + +<p>When we were given our cars we were allotted +certain equipment in tools, extra tires, +etc., all of which we had to inventory and sign +for, as each driver was held responsible for +the equipment that was distributed. I noticed, +while taking stock of what was on our car, a +little paint brush that looked as if it had the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>“mange,” but I listed one brush and threw it +into the tool chest and soon forgot that I had +ever seen it.</p> + +<p>This particular day the happy thought came +to me that with the assistance of some petrol +(kerosene) and my little mangy brush I would +be able to get at some parts of my car that I +could not clean or reach by hand. After a few +minutes’ search the brush was found and I +began work. I had not gone very far when I +noticed that the few straggly brisks that were +in the brush when I commenced had disappeared +and that nothing remained but the +handle.</p> + +<p>In true American fashion, without any +thought, I tossed the handle into a rubbish +heap and dismissed it from my mind. The +boys on the next car to me were using a brush +in the same manner as I employed mine and +were getting good results. I said to one of +them:</p> + +<p>“Have you got another brush?” to which +I received a negative answer, but one of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>boys said: “I saw some little brushes in the +Bureau” (office). As it was close at hand I +walked over and asked one of the sergeants on +duty for a brush. He asked: “Is there not a +brush on your car?” I told him that there had +been about a quarter of a brush, but that when +I used it all the brisks had come out of the +handle. He then demanded the handle.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I threw that away,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m sorry but you will have to get +along without a brush,” said he brusquely.</p> + +<p>There before me lay a small bundle of +brushes; mine was worn out, no good for further +use to anyone, and discarded, yet I could +not have a brush. I pressed my point a little +farther in a most persuasive style, but met with +not the slightest encouragement, and I soon +saw the reason for the refusal.</p> + +<p>When a new brush is issued the old one must +be turned in. There is no trouble in getting +new equipment, if needed, but the old must be +exchanged for the new, even though it were +just the handle of a brush. Any part of returned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>equipment that can be used saves just +that much in the making over of the article. +This is the thrift of the thrifty French. What +American would ever do otherwise than I did? +When a thing wears out with us it is discarded—but +not with them.</p> + +<p>Well, I set out at once for the rubbish pile +to reclaim the handle that I might get a new +brush. It so happened that at the time I discarded +the handle another of our sergeants, +standing close by, after I left for the Bureau, +walked over, picked it up, and put it under +the cushion on my car. Of course, when +I returned the handle was gone. We looked +high and low but in vain. We finished cleaning +our car minus a brush. But a day or so +later I happened to look under the cushion for +something and there was the handle. I returned +it to the Bureau and the sergeant who +had picked it up was on duty.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said he, “I thought you would be +around for a new brush, and to get it you would +have to turn in the old handle, so I picked it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>up after you left and put it back on the car.”</p> + +<p>This was my lesson. Learned early, I never +threw anything away after that. This regulation +held good on everything,—tires, tubes and +all. If you lost a spare tire enroute, it was your +funeral when you needed it for a change. +Without some part of the old one, you could not +obtain a new one. It was amusing, in a sense, +to note the effect this regulation produced +when, for example, we would change an inner +tube on the road. Before we would think of +starting again, we would check up all the lugs, +valves, nuts and caps, for we knew full well +we would get no new inner tube for the old +one unless we turned in all the parts when we +desired an exchange.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">A VISIT TO PARIS</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>To one who visited Paris before the war, +Paris of to-day presents a strikingly different +aspect—and why shouldn’t it? When we +stop to think that there is hardly a family +which has not been deprived of some member +in the terrible toll of death. The courage of +the women has been marvelous through it all. +To some it has meant the loss of a husband and +to others, sons, while to countless it has meant +both, and yet, with this sorrow to bear, they are +ever ready to make further sacrifices in order +that the outcome might be as the dear ones +they have lost would have had it. Is it any +wonder there is sadness in their faces? And +such a calm sadness it is, too. No hysteria +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>whatsoever, never a demonstration, but the +look on their faces portrays very vividly what +is in their hearts. Even the children, who are +too small to appreciate what their loss has +been, absorb from their mothers this characteristic +composure that is appalling.</p> + +<p>In little villages still within reach of the big +German guns, one grows familiar with the +night bombing raids of the Huns. They know +that the bombs are for the women and children +that are left, and at any moment may come the +knock on the door, the gathering of what few +earthly belongings they have, and escape into +the night before an attack.</p> + +<p>I have never seen children like these before, +and I never want to see any again. Some +little tots seven and eight years of age truly +look like old men and women. They reminded +me of the little men of the mountains in +the story of Rip Van Winkle. They never +smile, but wear the same emotionless expression +at all times. Games seem to be unknown +to them as they sit around on the doorsteps of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>their homes (where there are homes), and sad +is their lot if anything happens to their mothers, +for no one else in the community has anything +for them. Everyone has his own to look +out for, and it’s hard enough to do that. This +is why there are so many urchins following the +armies. There is no one to provide for them. +They have to shift for themselves.</p> + +<p>The Mont Martre, the artists’ quarters, are +familiar to all for the frivolity which has always +characterized this section of Paris. It +now bears a close resemblance to a graveyard +and it would be very hard for anyone to imagine +that La Vie Boheme (the life bohemian) +ever existed here.</p> + +<p>The Boulevard Exterior, which before the +war was a blaze of white lights that seemed +to come to life about the time Paris was retiring, +has taken on the appearance of a main +street in one of our country towns at 2 a. m. +Such places as the Moulin Rouge (Red Mill), +Rat-Mort (Dead Rat), have long since ceased +to operate as centers of life. Other familiar +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span>places to people who knew Paris before the +war and had a world-wide reputation are the +Latin Quarters and all along the Boulevard +St. Michel, where the students held forth and +where one could find almost any form of excitement, +all have passed into oblivion like a +dream. The boys are all with the colors and +thousands of them had already paid the +price.</p> + +<p>Paris is very sad. The mailed fist has +fallen and left its mark everywhere.</p> + +<p>To-day the theaters are still running; such +places as the Follies Bergere, Olympia, Café +Ambassadeurs have their evening performances, +but it is more for the diversion of the +men on leave from the front than for any other +reason. Long will these performances be remembered +by the men gathered there nights +to throw off the thoughts of war. I have seen +almost every uniform of the Allied armies at +these places in an evening, the men fraternizing, +and absorbing what gaiety there was, +trying to forget what they had left behind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span>at the front, enjoying their leisure as best they +could.</p> + +<p>But the show is over each night at eleven +and once outside the doors in the dark streets +of cold, sad Paris you find no place to go. +With dancing unheard of and all cafés closed +at that hour, Paris has locked itself within +doors to brood quietly over the happiness that +seems forever lost.</p> + +<p>Never fear that the French will forget +America after this war,—no more than America +has forgotten the French. I was in Paris +on that memorable Fourth day of July, 1917, +when the first contingent of American Oversea +forces marched through the city to the music of +great military bands, which played the martial +airs of both France and America. The +whole population was mad with joy. Persons +of all ages, from tiny children to men and +women old and bent, singing and shouting, +surged back and forth.</p> + +<p>Every nook and corner along the line of +march was occupied. Balconies, windows, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span>even roofs were filled to capacity, and the +words, “The Americans have come to help us,” +were shouted over and over again. Boys and +girls, carrying small American flags, waved +them continuously, while their elders looked on +through tears of appreciation.</p> + +<p>The procession under way, women along +the line of march showered our boys with +roses, and almost immediately a long-stemmed +American Beauty rose protruded from the +muzzle of every Springfield rifle in the parade. +Some of the men had wreaths around their +necks, flowers on their broad-brimmed hats +and in their belts, while they fairly marched +upon a bed of roses. No words can express +the full significance of this parade as it affected +the hearts and minds of the war-stricken people +along the line of march. It will go down in +history as the feature of a glorious day for two +glorious nations.</p> + +<p>Here was to be seen the real test of +friendship, the concrete proof that the greatest +of Republics had finally cast its lot with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span>those who had helped to make that Republic +possible. The whole affair was wonderfully +inspiring, and the blood rushed through my +veins in burning gratitude, for those boys +marching out there were our boys and I was +an American like them.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">“THE FRONT”</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The average person in this country has a +different idea of what the term “Front” means +to those who have been “Over there.” “The +Front” from this point of view consists of a +series of long trenches, filled with infantry, +and their personal equipment, such as barbed-wire, +for they know that exists, and back of +the trenches some cannon; but little does the +layman know about the component parts necessary +to make up a “front” and all the branches +of service that are utilized, each an individual +cog in an efficient fighting machine. I shall +enumerate some of the departments that are +not only necessary but vitally essential.</p> + +<p>In addition to the countless thousands who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>labor in the mills, factories, foundries and +machine shops, there must be supply depots, +where all this equipment goes for storage +when it is completed. These are not unlike +our warehouses. From the warehouses, supplies +are requisitioned for the different portions +or sectors of the front where they may +be needed. There are what we might term +sub-warehouse stations, generally located back +of the front near a railroad siding, where supplies +remain until needed by the army. Here +a great number of men are required for the +clerical work, stock-keeping, loading and unloading. +After this the material and equipment +must be delivered to different parts +of the battle front. This constitutes another +big branch of service in which countless auto +trucks and men are used, known in the French +Army as the Camion Service, and most of the +success of an army in either offensive or defensive +operations depends largely on this organization +and its ability to “deliver the +goods.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span></p> + +<p>Then there are the supply departments for +food; for the army has to have meals regularly. +It is difficult to realize what it means in +the way of supplies to feed an army. Each +section of the front has its base of supplies +from which the transportation department obtains +them. This is where the meat is prepared +and weighed out to the different departments +of the army.</p> + +<p>Other supplies in food stuff are measured +out the same way. After this is done, the +supplies are transported to the front, or +near the front, where the field kitchens are +located. Here it is again apportioned and distributed, +for the cooks have just so much with +which to feed so many. The cooking and +serving requires still more men.</p> + +<p>Next comes the bakery department. The +raw materials are delivered to the bakery and +the finished product taken away. One can appreciate +the size of some of these army bakeries +when you know that their capacity is +180,000 loaves of bread a day. This was the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>capacity of the one from which our bread came, +which I visited. When you consider the output +of such a bakery you realize that a great +number of men are necessary who don’t fire a +shot and yet are a vital factor in a military +organization.</p> + +<p>The telegraphic and telephone departments +constitute still another important element in +the system. They employ a great many men, +who are continually putting up new equipment +and repairing the old, for the lines of communication +must be ready at any instant, as +they control the movements of the troops and +the fire of the artillery.</p> + +<p>Then there are the Dressing Stations with +their corps, who attend the injured; the brancardiers +(stretcher-bearers) and, somewhat removed +from the first lines are the <i>Post du +Succors</i>, with their attendants and doctors. +Still farther to the rear are the base hospitals, +and after that the Army hospitals, each with its +corp of doctors, nurses and attendants, to say +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>nothing of the ambulances, drivers, laboratories +and attendants.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="064b-i" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/064b-i.jpg" alt="Uniformed men near a covered wagon for carrying people."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">A “Load-up and Getaway”—Wounded for the Hospital</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>There are the auto parks along different sections +of the front, where there are hundreds +of mechanics busy on cars of every description +undergoing repairs of all sorts, for without +these what would become of the camion service +when new parts were needed for the auto +truck? What would become of the supplies +that they convey, and what of the army that +needed the supplies?</p> + +<p>Think of the number of men necessary for +the ground work only around the hangars to +serve, say, 3,000 planes (between 30 and 40 +thousand men). What a part, for instance, of +our soldiers concentrated at the Mexican border +two years ago would be used up for just +this one seemingly small branch of the army +of to-day.</p> + +<p>There are other departments, such as Observation, +Dispatch Riders, Blacksmiths, Mechanical, +Camouflage, Road Gangs, Clerical +Forces for each division, Horseshoers, Artillery +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span>Supply Caissons, which must be utilized; +for many times guns are located off the roads +and the auto trucks cannot get through the +fields and mud, and so the caissons have to be +used, as they are horse-drawn.</p> + +<p>Last but not least is the very large and important +department—that of the engineers who +make and repair the bridges, railroads, gun +placements, roadways, and new buildings.</p> + +<p>All are most necessary for the success of +the army for each has just as an important +part as the other, and without the thousand +upon thousand of non-combatant men behind +the lines the ones at the front would count for +naught.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">MASSING BEFORE VERDUN</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>In the month of February, 1916, the German +Army initiated a drive against the fortress +city of Verdun, which in time developed +into the greatest battle that the world has ever +known. The Crown Prince was given command +of the huge forces concentrated here, +and offered the opportunity to vindicate himself +in the eyes of the people, after having +signally failed to occupy Paris eighteen months +before.</p> + +<p>Men, guns, equipment, and every possible +aid were at his disposal and service, with which +to make victory certain. The cost in men +killed was not to be considered. Vindication +after his tremendous blunders was a paramount +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span>necessity, and to be purchased at any +cost. This policy became manifest at the very +outset by the way he hurled great masses of +men forward to certain death. It is all now a +matter of history.</p> + +<p>It has been held by many reliable military +authorities that this battle was the turning +point of the war, for, with everything in his +favor, the Crown Prince had been unable to +win. In the first days of the attack on Verdun +the success of the Germans was very marked. +The reason for this partial success is no secret +now—France was not prepared. Regarding +the condition of affairs at Verdun on the day +of the attack, I have most reliable information +from two officers of high rank in the French +Army.</p> + +<p>The Germans had been massing supplies and +men before this city for weeks, in systematic +preparation for the attack. They had artillery +and shells in plenty. It was not for some time +after this concentration had been under way +that it attracted the attention of the French—so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span>busy were they on other fronts adjusting +the army as a whole to prevailing conditions. +When it was discovered that there was undue +enemy concentration in front of Verdun, steps +were at once taken to combat it, but it was too +late for extensive preparations.</p> + +<p>That is why Verdun, supposedly the most +formidable fortress in France, was gutted and +its brave defenders forced back. They were +unprepared for the onslaughts and masses of a +trained and brutal foe. Under the conditions +it is not surprising that the German Army +made such great progress.</p> + +<p>One of my informants, who is a thoroughly +capable military authority, told me just +in a few words how he viewed the situation at +the time and how most French officers felt +when the German attack was in full swing. It +was impossible for the French to take the offensive. +In the wake of their superior artillery +fire, vast waves of German infantry came on. +They arrived in droves and congregated in +swarms. As far as could be seen in front of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>the French position the ground was covered +with men in German uniforms.</p> + +<p>They came so fast and so thick it was +impossible for the French to kill them all, +though the slaughter was terrible. Yet on +they came, and so it was that the French retirement +began. Even during the retreat, the +rear guard continued raking the German +masses with machine guns and tearing holes in +the lines of the oncoming infantry. The +French fell back to safer ground. These tactics +continued throughout the first day, the +defenders in each instance holding out just as +long as it was safe, but always having to give +ground.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon my informant, who +had been from one point to another along the +line, reached the town of Verdun itself. There +he received orders from the General Staff to +take all money from the bank and proceed with +it to Bar Le Duc, far away in the rear. This +order, so he told me, confirmed his expectations +as to what was about to happen. Apparently +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span>the city was doomed. The Germans were fast +closing in on the city and defeat was in the +air. The injured were pouring in so fast it +was impossible to attend them or give them +quarters. They were laid out in cellars, barns, +wherever room could be found, until they could +get attention and be carried to the rear.</p> + +<p>In leaving town after obtaining the money +the officer started to the rear on the main road, +but the oncoming traffic was so heavy that the +road had to be abandoned. Camions, artillery, +trucks, wagons and men filled the road—all +bound for Verdun. As they went by he said +to himself, “They have come too late.” Unending +was this stream of supplies, and the +order was that nothing was to stop them. If +a motor refused to run, camion and all were +toppled over into the roadside ditch and the +procession continued uninterrupted. After a +few days of this unending stream, ever moving +up, the ditches on either side were filled +for miles with every sort of conveyance and +all kinds of supplies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span></p> + +<p>Arriving at Bar Le Duc that night he delivered +the money and securities safely. At +dawn orders came to return to Verdun. He +and his companion officer were more than surprised, +for it seemed impossible that the city +had not fallen, and even then he felt that it +would be only a question of time and long before +they could arrive. But they started back +as ordered. As they proceeded they expected +momentarily to be stopped by word that Verdun +had fallen—but that word never came.</p> + +<p>Much to their joy, upon arriving, they +learned that the French had delivered a terrific +counter attack and that great numbers of reinforcements +had arrived and had been hurled +against the enemy. For the immediate present +they were holding their own against the Boche. +Prospects brightened. News came that further +reinforcements would arrive before +night, with supplies in plenty. Things began +to look more “rosey.” The Germans had captured +one position after another, but after being +checked for a moment the necessary +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>breathing spell was afforded to the French.</p> + +<p>Although the enemy did continue to hammer +away there came a time after a while when +conditions became equalized between the offense +and defense. The French forced the +Boche to settle down into siege warfare. If +Verdun was to be taken at all it would have +to be by a siege and not by storm. Thus did +the French wrest victory from defeat, for as +each day went by without Verdun falling one +more dagger was driven into the heart of the +German campaign.</p> + +<p>Each day the French held on brought renewed +vigor and determination to hold on forever. +Every known trick was applied to the +situation by the enemy. The “nibbling” process +netted the Germans a gain here and there +but always the French exacted heavy toll for +such advances. Under ordinary conditions the +Germans would have given up the Verdun job +as hopeless, but it is not an ordinary thing to +vindicate a Crown Prince. The House of Hohenzollern +cared not how many men were sent +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span>to unnecessary death so long as absolute defeat +could be obviated.</p> + +<p>The great siege of Verdun was well upon its +second year when I struck French soil, and it +was on its scarred front that my work began, +and where I saw my first battle. It was one +of the battles that completed the final rolling +back that I shall describe, and it was the most +spectacular event I ever hope to see. The action +was on the front between Ft. Vaux and +Ft. Douaumont, which no doubt all are familiar +with, on account of the terrific fighting that +has never ceased along these particular points. +Both sides captured and recaptured each other’s +positions many times, as has been told in +detail by the press from the viewpoint of many +special writers.</p> + +<p>When I arrived at Verdun I was immediately +ordered up to Flurey. The only thing left +to mark the remains of this town was a bell +tower, which had been tumbled over, but +some fifteen feet of it still stood above the +ground. The bell had tumbled into the debris. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>We were quartered in an <i>abri</i> about twenty feet +underground. I was at once attracted by the +unusual <i>aerial</i> activity, there being a large +number of French and German planes in the +air most of the time. These I watched with +great interest, particularly one Frenchman +who was jockeying for a position of advantage, +from which to attack a two-man Boche +plane. Finally he dove for it, but missed. At +this instant a fighting plane came to the aid of +the Boches, but the Frenchman, by clever manipulation, +looped the loop, and soon was on +the tail of the newcomer. With his machine +gun he soon got in the shot that sent the Boche +plane tumbling to earth.</p> + +<p>Then began a battle royal with the two-man +machine. The French plane was smaller and +a great deal faster. It could dodge up and +down and sideways so quickly that it avoided +the machine-gun fire of the big flyer. Discouraged, +the two-man machine turned tail for +home; the Frenchman followed. The Germans +dived toward their own lines, but a well-directed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>shot hit their gas tank, and to earth they +went in a cloud of flame and smoke.</p> + +<p>The victory was complete for the moment, +but disaster came quickly on its heels, for when +the French plane was almost back in our lines, +there came swooping down from a cloud another +Boche. My heart fluttered at the sight, +for it was plain that the Frenchman was unaware +of the new danger. He had slowed up +and was leisurely picking his way home. +There was no way to warn him of his danger. +At the last second he must have discovered his +plight for he seemed to turn, but it was too late. +The German gun was singing and the next instant +saw this brilliant aviator tumbling earthward. +I shut my eyes and gasped for breath.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">THE SIEGE OF VERDUN</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>It was now six p.m. and, although the German +shells had been coming in at regular intervals +all day, they increased the intensity of +their fire now and things were pretty hot, for +they were putting lots of big ones over. We +felt quite secure in our <i>abri</i>, and after an +hour the bombardment ceased.</p> + +<p>That night we got little sleep, for the French +preparatory fire, in view of the big offensive +planned for the next day, had increased to such +violence it sounded like Hell let loose and running +wild.</p> + +<p>We were up at three a.m., ready to start at +break of day. If possible, the French fire +seemed to increase each moment. So fast were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span>the big guns discharging their deadly missiles +that it was impossible to distinguish one report +from another. It was one vast rumble. However, +we did not get away, as word came that +the Boches were putting over gas along the +road on which we were to travel, and so orders +came for us to wait. That gave us time to +get a good meal tucked away. It is always +good judgment to eat when one has an opportunity, +for the chances are that during an attack +the rarest thing that one will experience +is an opportunity to eat.</p> + +<p>It was nearly eight o’clock before we got +under way. The road over which we were +going was controlled by Boche batteries back of +Pepper Hill, and even now we were noticing +the shells landing in the roadside ahead and +behind us. Camions, dead horses and soup +kitchens were in evidence, toppled over into +the ditches, but we were not hampered and +kept right on going.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes we were stopped by a +French sentry and warned not to try to go +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span>ahead as the Boches were shelling the road in +advance quite heavily. We could hear the +shells breaking about half a kilometer further +on, so we pulled up and stopped here for about +thirty minutes. There seemed to be a lull at +the end of this time, when we again started forward, +but had not proceeded very far when we +came to an artillery caisson turned over in a +ditch and three horses lying dead in the road. +Two of the men attached to the caisson had +been killed by the same shell and were lying at +the roadside, partly covered with canvas.</p> + +<p>We were held up here for a couple of moments +until the Frenchmen pulled the last horse +that blocked the road out of the way. Five +minutes more travel brought us to a sharp turn +in the road, but just before we reached it a +shell exploded near us with a sound that convulsed +us. A quick application of the brakes +was necessary, for we found that the shell had +landed in the road just in front of a camion. +The three men who were on the camion heard it +coming and jumped to safety, but the explosion +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span>had torn their motor and the front of their car +into bits.</p> + +<p>It so happened that this truck occupied +the very middle of the road and it was impossible +for us to pass on either side of it. Bang! +a shell broke at this moment on the hillside +about one hundred feet away. Hasty examination +and inquiry soon convinced us that we +would be held up here for some time. It appeared +like a most uncomfortable place to be +stuck in, and the developments of the next few +moments justified the impression. Bang! +Bang! two shells exploded one on one side of +the road and the other just ahead. We decided +to turn our car around and get +away from this spot until the damaged truck +was removed. This was finally accomplished, +but no sooner had we turned than the shells +began bursting in and around the road in the +direction we were traveling.</p> + +<p>A Frenchman at this moment pointed out +the location of an <i>abri</i> by the roadside +where we were and into which we could crawl +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>until the shelling stopped. Ahead of us some +two hundred feet the road passed through a +sort of a cut, where the banks came up on +both sides high enough partially to protect the +car from being damaged, except by a direct +hit.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="080a-i-1" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/080a-i-1.jpg" alt="Grave sites near trees with wooden crosses throughout."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">The Bivouac of the Dead</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="080a-i-2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/080a-i-2.jpg" alt="Crosses for grave sites in some tall grass with a building behind."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Where the Souls of Men Are Calling</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The <i>abri</i> was a very welcome place and +as long as we had started for it we lost no time +in getting there. We had hardly descended +the stairs when two Frenchmen came down +supporting a third between them. I recognized +him as one of the men who had been on the +camion. His trousers were red and the blood +was trickling to the floor. His clothing was +removed at once and a gaping wound was +found in his stomach. He screamed with +agony.</p> + +<p>A doctor, who was present, stepped forward +at this moment to examine the man, +but quickly shook his head. We knew that +meant the wounded soldier did not have a +chance. At this instant a shell landed about +twenty feet from the entrance to our retreat, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>and the vibration was so violent that it almost +shook our teeth out. A great deal of loose +dirt between the beams above our heads +fell—some of it into the gaping wound of +the unfortunate man lying on the floor. I was +horrified and called the doctor’s attention to +the matter, but he said that it was of no consequence; +the man was doomed.</p> + +<p>Naturally I began to feel very nervous, for +the place in which we were quartered did not +impress me as any too safe, being only about +fifteen feet below the surface, and should a +shell land on it I felt that we would stay there +a long, long time.</p> + +<p>And the shells did come, one after another. +It appeared that they were shooting at the +dug-out instead of the road now. The place +fairly trembled. The doctor fell to his knees +and started praying a sort of chant—“My God, +my God. I have always tried to serve thee +well,” etc. I must confess that I was not +enjoying myself any too well, for I remember +having picked up an old newspaper which I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>tried to read, but merely turned the pages over +and over and whistled nervously, wondering +where the next one would land.</p> + +<p>The doctor turned sharply and addressed +me. “You fool, have you no reverence, to +whistle while a man is praying?” He upbraided +me severely. Such experiences, together +with the agonized cries from wounded +men screaming with pain, were not pleasant. +I expected momentarily to see the nose of a +Boche 105 come poking through the roof and +bury us like rats, but Dame Fortune smiled +with favor upon us, for the expected never +came. But the cries of the man who had been +so badly wounded had now ceased. He had +passed away.</p> + +<p>After the bombardment lifted we ventured +forth, expecting the worst. But there was our +car, untouched, just where we had left it. A +few moments’ work by some Frenchmen got +the auto truck off to the side of the road far +enough to enable us to pass. I do not ever +remember experiencing such profound relief +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>at leaving a place as I was to get away from +this bend of the road.</p> + +<p>Soon we came to where the French cannon +were putting over the usual preparatory fire +before the attack. We parked our car in a sort +of a gravel pit, which afforded good protection. +By this time we had passed several large +Howitzer batteries, also some large Marine +pieces, and when these guns would fire we could +hear their big shells go screaming over our +heads on their way to the front. One cannot +help wondering how any living thing could +exist within the confines of such an inferno.</p> + +<p>After about ten minutes we came up before +a field telegraphic headquarters, and adjoining +was the telephone exchange for this sector +of the front. Needless to say, this was a busy +place. Here all impending movements +shaped themselves, and communications from +the General Staff were relayed to the army +both by wire and ’phone. All the big guns +throwing shells over our heads were controlled +by this bureau.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span></p> + +<p>A captain informed us that an attack was to +be launched at twelve noon sharp. During the +time that we were here I noticed undue aerial +activity on the part of the Germans, for there +were some twelve or fifteen of their machines +in the air over the French lines, and at the +same time I noticed six observation balloons +floating behind their lines with lookouts alert. +It impressed me as rather irregular that the +French had not sent up machines to drive the +Boche planes back over their own lines in such +times as these, for it was now ten-thirty, and, +with an attack coming off at noon, they might +gather a lot of information regarding the concentrations +of the French and take steps to +counter the move.</p> + +<p>Almost at the moment that these thoughts +were running through my mind the captain +was called to the telephone, and after a short +time returned with the information that the +call was an order for the French aviators to +proceed against the German observation balloons, +regardless of cost, and to destroy them. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span>I asked if they were going after the planes, too, +to which he replied:</p> + +<p>“No—they are instructed to pay no attention +to the aeroplanes until they have completed +the destruction of the observation balloons. +The planes are to be left entirely to +our anti-aircraft batteries.”</p> + +<p>Turning toward the rear, I noticed the result +of the orders just issued, for one after another +of the French planes ascended, until I had +counted nineteen. All started to maneuver for +positions of advantage. The battle-planes +ascended to elevations where they could protect +the planes that were going after the balloons. +Over to the right of our position, within +two minutes of each other, the anti-aircraft +batteries scored direct hits, and brought two +Boche planes tumbling to earth, while overhead +a German attacked a French plane and +forced it to descend behind our lines.</p> + +<p>Time was drawing closer now when we must +go forward to take up the position we would +occupy during the attack. Already the French +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span>fire was deafening, mingled with the terrible +roar of German shells. In about twenty minutes +we gained the summit of an elevation +from which we could see the German trenches +that were to be attacked, about twelve hundred +yards in front of us, but considerably +lower, excepting one slope on the left, where +there was a steep incline leading to the top of +a small hill, on which was located the second +line defense of the Germans, the first being at +the bottom.</p> + +<p>We could see very plainly the effect of +the French fire, for there were shells of +all sizes breaking over the German positions—a +mass of shrapnel explosives. With +the aid of powerful glasses I could distinguish +that while there was some barbed wire standing +before the German trenches the accuracy +of the French artillery had resulted in reducing +it so much that there would be easy access +for the infantry.</p> + +<p>At eleven-forty-five exactly there was not a +German observation balloon in the sky. French +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>aviators were now free to engage the Boche +planes. In the next few moments two German +machines were brought to earth and with them +one French plane in combat. Immediately +thereafter a German machine fell in flames, +brought down by the aircraft batteries. I +could not help but think how wonderfully accurate +the calculations of the Headquarters +Staff had been in planning the aerial operations.</p> + +<p>Located in pits on the hill on which I stood +were the French 75’s, about forty pieces all +told, that had been placed there the night before. +Not a single shot had been fired from +them. Afterwards I learned more in detail +the part these guns were to play and the reason +for their temporary inactivity.</p> + +<p>At twelve sharp, as if by magic, out of the +ground arose wave upon wave of French infantry. +So spectacular, and so inspiring, was +the sight that we stood motionless, our eyes +fixed upon the advancing lines of blue. For +several minutes I did not see a man fall. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span>This was due to the fact that the Germans +were still in their dug-outs on account of the +intensity of the French preparatory fire, still +falling on their position.</p> + +<p>This did not last long, however. The +curtain fire raised quickly and we could observe +the shells breaking in the rear of the German +front-line trenches, instead of on them, +as they had been a moment before. The same +instant German machine-gun fire opened, and, +just as the French reached the wire in front of +the enemy position, I could see blue figures falling +all along the front, and while the buzz of the +machine guns was inaudible, due to the terrible +din of the cannon, I knew by the way the men +dropped that the machine guns were doing the +mischief.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the slaughter, more men +jumped into the gaps and on they swept. They +had now reached the parapet of the German +front-line trench and we could see them fighting +with grenades and hand to hand. A short +while thereafter the supporting columns of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span>French surged on over the first line in an +attack upon the secondary defense. Supporting +columns still filed out of the French +trenches below. How so many could come +from that source was enough to mystify one, +but here they were before our eyes, streaming +forward in surging waves. I noticed now +that the French fire had again been lifted and +was being thrown even farther to the rear than +heretofore.</p> + +<p>The shells, as we now observed them, broke +in a clearing that seemed about five hundred +yards wide, back of the secondary defense of +the Germans. It was on this stretch of ground +that all the French artillery on our hill was +trained, but as yet not a shell had been fired +from them. We could see very clearly that the +first line had been captured, for even now the +French had started back with groups of prisoners +taken from it. We could discern quite +clearly at times that they were making good +progress against the secondary defense, although +the smoke and bursting shells in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>area between were very heavy and obscured the +view. I glanced toward my left and saw caissons +going up on the run with cartridges and +hand grenades to repel the counter attack.</p> + +<p>The Germans must have anticipated this +move, for they put over a terrific fire on the +road over which these supplies had to be transported. +Just about this time word came back +that all objectives had been captured and consolidation +started. Instantaneously another +rush of caissons went forward with additional +supplies, and every gun behind us seemed to be +throwing a barrage fire back of the positions +captured. There was no lull. The French +infantry had captured all that they had started +out for,—in fact, all that there was.</p> + +<p>An under officer of the battery beside me +exclaimed, “Hurrah!” and I turned my head in +the direction in which he was looking, to see +three regiments of “Blue Devils” charging with +bayonets fixed up the steep slope that had until +now defied all thrusts. The casualties seemed +to be remarkably few for such an exposed position, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>and before we could realize what had +happened the French had gained the crest, and, +in the next few moments, had thrown the +Boches off the hill.</p> + +<p>Orders were now given for every man to +take his position. At first I could not understand +why these orders caused such activity +among the batteries that, up to now, had +shown no signs of being in the fight at all—but +I was soon to learn. Everyone seemed breathless +with impatience, but stood cool and rigid. +Finally I heard a shout, “Here they come!”</p> + +<p>I shall never be able adequately to describe +the sight. Masses of Boches surge forward in +counter attack; closer and closer they drew +toward the French positions until there was an +earth-rending crash and forty sheets of flame +burst from the mouths of the cannon beside +me.</p> + +<p>I was too stupefied to realize what had +taken place for the moment, but soon regained +control of myself. The guns never +stopped a second. Each piece was throwing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span>shrapnel at the rate of twenty-two to twenty-five +shots a minute into the oncoming ranks. +We could observe quite clearly the shells landing +among them and over them, and with each +explosion could see gaps torn in their lines and +men mowed down like so many weeds. Finally +they faltered, and the next instant fell back in +disorder to the positions they had left. The +ground was literally strewn with their dead +when the cannon ceased.</p> + +<p>It was not long that we enjoyed this lull for +the German batteries started shelling our +positions furiously. Hitherto we had not come +in for much attention, a shell every now and +then was our lot, but now their fire was directed +straight at us, and from what we received +I imagined that every gun made in Germany +was trained on this hill.</p> + +<p>Five French guns were completely destroyed, +while eight more had to re-locate positions so +that they would not be wiped out. Shells of all +sizes broke around us, but after a few minutes +the shelling subsided.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span></p> + +<p>Notice was now transmitted along the position +that the Boches were forming for a second +counter attack. Everyone was again in +place and in a couple of moments again I +heard, “Here they come!” And they did come, +and also with them came a renewal of shell-fire +on our position, when two more guns were +hit. But they were paying a terrible toll for +their advance, for their ranks were torn to bits +by the French machine guns.</p> + +<p>Nor did this stop them—they came on and on +until they gained the parapet of the French position, +and here fought hand-to-hand for it. +But the defenders were the most tenacious. +They refused to budge an inch, until, due to +superior numbers, they had to give ground. +But the Headquarters Staff had been watching +for these very conditions, so, like a flash, two +attacks were started simultaneously from the +right and left, and before the Germans knew +what had happened both bodies of the French +converged in their rear, and all Germans not +killed were taken prisoners.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span></p> + +<p>It is difficult to analyze and describe one’s +feelings in going through such an attack, and +what surprised me most, after it was all over, +was the way in which I had lost all consciousness +of what was taking place right around me, +so intense was my desire to see everything that +was transpiring out in front of our position. +Even when the shells were coming in close, and +particularly during the time when the batteries +beside me were being shelled, and even hit, I do +not remember paying much attention to what +might happen to me, for I felt that all was in +the hands of fate.</p> + +<p>On our way to the rear we came across +batches of prisoners. There appeared to be +two distinct classes of soldiers, the first not one +of whom seemed to be over twenty, while some +here were mere boys and wore looks of terror +and dread. I saw one youngster, surely not +over seventeen, with his hand tied up, evidently +wounded, the tears streaming down his +cheeks. I was informed later that these boys +were told by their officers that in the event of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span>their being captured they would be tortured, +and all manner of things would be done to them +by the French. From their expressions one +could see that they believed this to be a fact.</p> + +<p>The other class consisted of men who appeared +to be over forty years of age. Some of +them had beards in which gray hairs were +largely in evidence. All of them looked very +poor and the rations that they had been given +surely did not nourish them to any marked degree. +The class that was lacking was the strapping +young fellow of twenty-two to twenty-eight, +the connecting link between mere boys +and middle-aged men.</p> + +<p>After all these came the wounded. Brancardiers +and soldiers were now assisting at the +dressing stations. All kinds and shapes of humanity +lay in rows, one after another, awaiting +the attention of the doctors who pass along +the line examining and administering to those +who have a chance for life. To one who is +not used to such sights it would appear that +the doctors are a hard-hearted lot, as they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>make their rounds, passing by those who have +no chance. But here one must realize that the +time and attention that a vitally injured man +requires, should he have died on the way to the +hospital, might have been the means of saving +the life of the one who had a chance. Never +shall I forget the expression on the faces of +men when the doctors passed on to the next. +They realized that it was only a question of +moments before they made their supreme sacrifice. +What must that feeling be? Of course, +there are some that lose control of themselves +because of intense pain from wounds, but on +the whole the patience of these unfortunates +is most remarkable.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="096b-i" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/096b-i.jpg" alt="Uniformed men loading individuals on gurneys into a wagon."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">The Wagon of Mercy Loading Up</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>After a heavy action all such men as can +possibly get to the rear by themselves, or with +the assistance of comrades, are forced to make +the struggle, for the ambulance is taxed to its +utmost in bringing back those who are unable +to help themselves.</p> + +<p>After the lull came, with the French holding +all of their gains, I had the opportunity of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span>going over the whole area of the Verdun battlefield, +and the only expression that I can use +to fit the scene is that it was a mess. Where, +before the attack, there were beautiful trees, +nothing now remained. It was impossible to +tell or distinguish one shell hole from another, +so raked and torn was the ground, now turned +into chalk dust. First a shell lands here and +throws the ground one way, then a shell lands +there and throws it back—a continual churning +process—and when the heavy rains come +it turns it all into a quagmire of so much +mud. There have been any number of instances +where French soldiers had gotten into +such places and gradually sunk almost out of +sight before their comrades came to their rescue. +In some cases they were too late +to pull the victims out without pulling their +arms from their sockets. All that could be +done under such circumstances was to shake +hands with the unfortunate—before he was +swallowed up and sank from view in the lake +of mud.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span></p> + +<p>This has happened to horses and even to +the light field batteries. It is impossible for +one who has not witnessed these scenes to have +even a vague conception of such conditions.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Following is an interesting letter portraying +an action at Verdun:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="right" style="margin-right: 1em;"> + Verdun, —— +</p> + +<p>To-night I am sitting in the small underground +cellar of one of the public buildings of +the town, acting as a sort of timekeeper or +starter for the cars going up to our most dangerous +post, and handling the reserve cars for +the wounded in the town itself. I wish I could +describe the scene as I see it,—for a strange +world is passing before me—Frenchmen, living, +wounded and dying.</p> + +<p>A long, heavily arched corridor, with stone +steps leading down to it; two compartments off +to one side lined with wine bins, where our reserve +men and a few French brancardiers +(stretcher-bearers) are lying on their stained +stretchers, some snoring; beyond, a door that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>leads to a small operating room, and to the left +another door that admits to a little sick ward +with four beds of different sizes and make on +one side and six on the other, taken evidently +from the ruined houses nearby—and one tired +infirmier (hospital attendant) to tend and +soothe the wounded and dying.</p> + +<p>In the bed nearest the door, a French priest, +shot through the lungs—with pneumonia setting +in—his black beard pointing straight up, +whispers for water. Next to him, a little +German lad, hardly nineteen, with about six +hours to live, calling, sometimes screaming, for +his mother, and then for water. Next to him, +a French captain of infantry, with his arm shot +off at the shoulder and his head lacerated, +weak, dying, but smiling; and next to him a +tirailleur in delirium calling on his colonel to +charge the Germans. The Infirmier is going +from one to the other, soothing one and waiting +on another, each in turn. He asks me what the +German is saying, and I tell him he is calling +for his mother. “Ah, this is a sad war,” he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>says, as he goes over to hold the poor lad’s +hand.</p> + +<p>A brancardier comes in with a telephone +message,—“a <i>blessé</i> (wounded man), at Belleville—very +serious.” This is a reserve car call. +So one slides out and is gone like a gray ghost +down the ruined street, making all the speed +its driver can—no easy matter,—with no +lights. In twenty minutes he is back. The +brancardiers go out—they come in again, bearing +the wounded man on a stretcher and place +it on the floor beside the little stove. One of +them, who is a priest, leans over him and asks +him his name and town;—then, in answer to +what his wife’s name is, he murmurs: “Alice;” +while on the other side another brancardier is +slitting the clothes from his body and I shiver +with pity at the sight.</p> + +<p>The surgeon comes out of his little operating +room. Weary with the night’s tragic work—after +so many, many other tragic nights, he +doused his head in a bucket of water, then +turned to the wounded man. He looked long +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>at him, gently felt his nose and lifted up his +closed eyelid. Then, at his nod, the stretcher is +again lifted and the wounded man carried into +the operating room, and soon after that, into +the little room of sorrows.</p> + +<p>In answer to my eager question the surgeon +shakes his head. Not a chance!</p> + +<p>A brancardier and I gather the soldier’s belongings +from his clothes to be sent to his wife, +but even we have to stop for a few moments +after we see the photograph of his wife and +their two little children.</p> + +<p>An hour later, as our night’s work was slacking +down and several cars had driven up and +been unloaded, the infirmier came in from the +little room and said something to the brancardiers. +Two of them got a stretcher and in +a moment “The <i>blessé</i> from Belleville” came +past us with a sheet over him. They laid him +down at the other end of the room and another +brancardier commenced rolling and tying him +in burlap for burial. As you looked he changed +to a shapeless log. Then out to the dead wagon.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span></p> + +<p>Shortly after I went into the little ward +again to see how the others were coming +through the night, and was glad to see them all +quieted down; even the little German seemed +less in pain, though his breathing still shook +the heavy little bed he lay on.</p> + +<p>Through a window I saw that day was beginning +to break, and, as I noticed it, I heard +the Chief’s car coming in from the “Sap,” and +knew the night’s work was over.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">A VISIT TO BACCARAT</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>One day I went into a little general store in +Baccarat to make a few purchases. Having +just arrived at this sector, and not knowing +anything about the place, I engaged the woman +who owned the store in conversation regarding +the occupation of the town by the Germans. +My interest was due chiefly to the fact that this +particular store, while located in a devastated +village, had, from all outward appearances, escaped +damage.</p> + +<p>It seems that just after the Boches occupied +the town word was given out that +Paris had fallen and was then in the hands +of the Germans. The telephone and telegraph +stations were all controlled by the enemy, and, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span>of course, the statement was accepted as a fact, +for no information could be obtained other +than that which the Germans wished to give.</p> + +<p>On the fifth day of the occupation a German +captain, speaking perfect French, entered the +store and inquired for the proprietor. When +informed that he was speaking to her, he +demanded:</p> + +<p>“Madam, do you speak German?”</p> + +<p>“No,” replied the woman. “I do not speak +German, but I understand it quite well.” The +officer then asked if she spoke English, to which +she answered “No.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if you do not speak it, you surely +understand it?” he persisted, but she replied in +the negative. The officer thanked her, and, +without further comment, turned and left the +place. The woman thought this a most unusual +occurrence, especially as, without explanation, +he left as abruptly as he had entered. +Later she learned that he did the same thing +all through this district, asking people precisely +the same questions and leaving without comment, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span>no matter what their answers were.</p> + +<p>In due course the reason for the officer’s visit +came to light. The German command had +learned that on the day of their defeat in the +battle of the Marne, one of the causes therefor +had been the flanking movement of the English. +This information produced such an intense +feeling of hatred that this officer was sent +around town to find out if there were any people +who spoke English or even understood it. +If such were found their location was set down +and reported to the German command.</p> + +<p>The pressure on the town, however, soon +took on such proportions that it was seen that +it would have to be given up by the Germans. +So the compiled information of the officer’s investigation +was reviewed and those people who +spoke or understood English were visited by +the Torch Squad and everything they owned +was burned.</p> + +<p>Baccarat was by no means the only place +that received this sort of treatment, for one has +only to take a trip along the eastern front of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span>France to see a great many similar instances +of just what took place at Baccarat. Wanton +destruction seemed to be the idea of the +German command. Fruit trees were cut down +because it would be years before France could +grow them again.</p> + +<p>Houses were blown to pieces by the artillery +when the civil population had left Baccarat. +The churches seemed always to be the first +thing razed to the ground by enemy fire. Of +what military advantage this could be, I have +never been able to see, but I have heard a +theory advanced that seems plausible. The +German command knew that the peasants of +France were a hard-working people, occupied +with their farms constantly; that they are also +a home people and <i>know</i> very little of the outside +world. Sunday they believed should be +set aside for worship and rest. Brought up in +this religious way, men, women and children +attend church on Sunday with unfailing regularity.</p> + +<p>I saw the church in the village of H—— completely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>demolished by shell fire, with the exception +of the altar and the three life-size +statues behind it on the wall. The figures of +the Mother Mary and Joseph and that of the +Christ in the center were intact with the exception +that some German Hun had decapitated +the figure of Christ. The destruction of houses +of worship was intended to produce in the +minds of these peasants the thought—“God is +not with us,”—for if He were, they reasoned, +“He surely would not permit the Germans to +raze our homes and devastate our farms.” +This would cause unrest and dissatisfaction in +general with the Government, perhaps produce +a cry for peace at any price, and that is what +the Germans had hoped for. But what a mistake +they have made, for the French peasant +will make every sacrifice, even to death, for +their country.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">HOMELESS CHILDREN</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>At Saint Nicholas du Port we rested, waiting +for our division to go to the trenches. +Almost every night we were visited by Boche +aviators who would come over and drop a few +bombs to add to our comfort. It was one of the +nicest little spots one could find, for we were +quartered in an old cow barn from which we +had to shovel about two wagon loads of manure +before we could put up beds, and when we +did not have the Boche flying over us we were +busy with the “cooties” round about us.</p> + +<p>If ever conditions existed that were +cootie producing, we certainly found them +here. There was an old tile roof that was perfectly +watertight, except when it rained, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span>evidently intended for astronomical observation. +At other times our anti-aircraft batteries, +located across the road, when they shot +at the Boches caused shell fragments to drop +on our none-too-solid roof, and thereby add to +the access of small rivulets, to say nothing of +the danger of our losing about a yard and a +half of hide. But we were visited so many +times by the Boches that we ceased to pay any +attention to them. With practice one can get +used to anything.</p> + +<p>One night a little boy came up out of the +darkness and asked if he could sleep in the +driveway. He said he was very tired and had +no place to go. He had been ordered back, +for when a regiment goes into the fighting +zone no one that is not attached to it is permitted +to go along. There are hundreds of +these urchins in France that follow the armies +and live with them when they are not in the +trenches.</p> + +<p>This is just what had happened to Lombard, +for that was his name. We questioned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span>him very closely and he finally convinced +us of his truthfulness, and so we made him +comfortable for the night on a stretcher in one +of the cars. In a short time he was in slumberland. +About an hour later the Boche aviators +came over and things were soon humming. +The batteries were going full blast when I +thought of that poor child out in the car without +protection, and unable to get out.</p> + +<p>I put on my steel helmet and went out to release +our guest. I brought him into the barn +and felt much better to know that he was at +least sharing the protection we were afforded. +The air raid soon ended and all was still. In +the morning our guest was given his breakfast +and a few francs, the net result of an impromptu +collection, but he seemed to like American +hospitality and started in to cut wood and +carry water for our cook. Someone suggested +that we keep him with us to do errands and +help generally, but before this was to be considered +it was necessary to learn more about +the youngster, as we all had valuables that we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span>did not wish to lose, and coming to us as he did +no one cared to take chances.</p> + +<p>We decided to question the lad and learned +that for over two years he had been wandering +about from one regiment to another. +His home was at a place called Pont a +Meusson, and when the place had been attacked +by the Boches, his father had been killed and +his mother carried off. He had two older +brothers in the French Army, but did not know +where they were. Thus, after the cross-examining, +we decided to let him stay. We felt sure +that as long as he was to help the cook and handle +food, we might just as well have him clean.</p> + +<p>On account of the particular interest I +had shown in him, I was allotted the job +of seeing that he was cleaned up. After +taking up another collection I bought him +underwear, a clean shirt, and socks. There +were miscellaneous donations like handkerchiefs, +ties, towels and soap, so our guest +was now ready for the bath. We had some +water heated, into which we put a disinfectant +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>to help matters along, for I don’t think he had +had a bath since he left home. It is hardly +necessary to say that the bath was, at least, a +partial success.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="112a-i-1" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/112a-i-1.jpg" alt="A straight dirt road lined by trees."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">A Camouflage Road Made to Order</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="112a-i-2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/112a-i-2.jpg" alt="A straight grassy road lined by trees."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">A Natural Camouflage Road</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>He seemed more than grateful for what +we had done for him and all went well until +we were ordered to the front with our division. +Then it looked dark for Lombard, for we +must go into the fighting zone and he would +not be permitted to follow. But he seemed +so distressed and forlorn that we tucked +him away in a camion and took him with +us. We bought him a little uniform, and, +when we left our division, the American boys +who came to take our places gladly took him +in charge. We were sorry to leave this little +fellow, for he had become a part of our daily +life.</p> + +<p>It is unfortunate that all the little children +that follow the armies can not be taken +care of in some such way. There are thousands +of them straggling in the wake of the +troops over there and they have no one to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span>consider their comfort or safety. What will +become of them, beaten from pillar to post day +after day, with no one to put out a helping +hand. This is a problem for the women to +solve, since the men are occupied with other +things and have no time to adjust the matter.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">AFTERNOON TEA</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>One day in my turn I went out on service to +the small town of B——. The front-line +trenches were located just outside the village. +Upon our arrival, shortly after noon, in this +town we obtained our meal from a soup kitchen +that was tucked away in a sort of a driveway +between two demolished houses. It was an +ideal location for a soup kitchen, for, from all +outward appearances, no one would ever think +that this desolate spot would be picked out or +utilized by anyone for any purpose whatsoever. +After eating we started out for the post. +This was the first time we had gone up to the +front-line trenches covering this particular +sector of the front.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span></p> + +<p>After we had proceeded some three hundred +yards, we came to a place where the trenches +passed through a small clump of woods, in +which was located one of our advanced artillery +observation posts. Here we were met by +a sergeant major, who informed us that we had +better exercise a great deal of caution in our advance +of the next hundred yards, which was +the distance that separated us from our front +line. It was necessary to pass through a +gulley and the trench we were in was only +shoulder high. The Boche trenches were so +close to our front line that the enemy, by posting +men in the trees behind their lines, were +in a position to observe what transpired in the +gulley, we were about to enter.</p> + +<p>We climbed out of the trench, and, with the +aid of field glasses, carefully scrutinized the +taller trees to ascertain whether or not the +Boche at this time was on the lookout. As we +did not see anything that attracted undue attention, +we decided to take a chance and proceed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span></p> + +<p>Crouching, we advanced some fifty yards. +In passing one place that was particularly +low, we were observed and the next second +brought a hail of machine-gun bullets +which kicked up the dust all about us. In front +of us, some fifteen or twenty feet away, I noticed +another spot where the side walls of the +trench did not afford much protection and at +the same instant, or just long enough for a +man to proceed from one opening to another, +came a stream of machine-gun bullets in front +of us.</p> + +<p>It was a case of being between the devil +and the deep sea; all we could do was to +remain in the position where we were protected. +We finally decided that by crawling +on our hands and knees we could get past the +second opening. This we did without being +observed and the last we heard of our sniping +Boche friend was a few shots intermittently +fired in the hope of picking us off.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the front line, we proceeded +along the machine-gun positions, and, finally, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span>entered a small communicating trench which +led into the lieutenant’s dug-out. We descended +and found our friend seated at a table, +pondering over military maps and familiarizing +himself with this particular sector which +our division had just taken over. While we +were conversing, one of the under officers reported +the completion of a “<i>Petit Post</i>” (listening +post). The lieutenant inquired if I would +care to accompany him in looking it over. Of +course I would.</p> + +<p>The general direction we took immediately +impressed me as being toward the location of +our Boche friend, who was planted in a tree +based upon the angle that the machine-gun +bullets came from. But we did not have to give +much consideration to him, as the side wall of +our trench nearest to his position was over six +feet high and afforded complete cover. We +soon arrived at our destination—sixty feet +from the Boche front line.</p> + +<p>The instruction completed, two soldiers were +stationed here and became a part of the defense +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span>for this sector. We were soon on our way to +the rear. We passed through the gulley where +we had been held up on the way out without +attracting any attention. Arriving at the town +of B——, we obtained our tinned meat with +four large potatoes, sought a quiet spot and +built a fire to prepare our evening meal.</p> + +<p>Suddenly we were startled by the hum of a +shell, as it passed over us and burst in a field +just beyond. Then came a second, which burst +closer; then a third. My companion and I +looked at each other in amazement—then, +thinking that the smoke from our fire was the +cause of the shelling, we quickly stamped it +out and poured water on the spot where our +spoiled dinner had been sending up delightful +odors only a moment before. We ran as fast +as good legs could carry us into an old house +near by that afforded better protection in the +event of a shell breaking near us.</p> + +<p>The shells kept coming for about ten minutes, +then stopped. Cautiously, we returned to +where our fire had been and were considering +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span>the possible salvage when the hum of a motor +attracted our attention to a Boche aviator flying +directly over our heads. We were only +about five hundred yards back of our first-line +trench, toward which the Boche plane proceeded. +It went directly over the trench, +swooped down and raked it from one end to +the other with machine-gun fire. Circling +back, he returned as far in the rear as we were +and then again made a run for the front line +to open up with his machine gun as he dived +for it.</p> + +<p>In the open we afforded him a fine mark, +but each time as he flew back toward us we saw +to it that there was a brick wall between him +and ourselves. By this time he had attracted +the attention of our anti-aircraft guns and they +began shooting shrapnel at him as he circled, +and the machine guns in our front-line trenches +also shot in our direction as they followed the +flyer to the rear. As the shrapnel and pieces +of the exploded shells fell like rain around us, +we decided to give up our supper as a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>bad job, and went to sleep hungry that night.</p> + +<p>We walked up the street and passed the <i>Post +du Succors</i>. The stretcher-bearers had begun +to bring in the wounded. One man had lost +most of his head. Accustomed as I was to such +scenes, the sight of this man’s condition was +the last straw in the way of gruesome experiences, +and I was glad to get away and to bed.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">“PETIT POST”</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Out where the night seems the blackest, +where one is unable to see his hands before his +face, and where, in many instances, due to close +proximity of the enemy trenches, one is compelled +to be as quiet as a mouse, there is located +in a shell-hole or the like is the <i>Petit Post</i> (or +listening post), which is employed by all armies +engaged in carrying on modern trench +warfare.</p> + +<p>Out in front of even your own barb wire, +with no form of protection from the enemy, +two men must be constantly on watch, in +order to send up signals in the event that +Fritz decides to come over with his nippers for +the purpose of slashing a passage in the wire +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span>that his men may come through quickly in order +to prevent the machine guns from collecting +too much toll. It is necessary for the men at +the post to lie flat and listen for the nip of the +wire clippers. If this comes, it is their duty to +signal the front-line trench, and, with star +shells, the machine-gunners can discern the +enemy and put the finishing touches on the +wire-clipping party.</p> + +<p>The end generally comes before they even +get started. As soon as these men know that +the enemy are over, in addition to sending up +their signals, they throw out six or eight hand +grenades, and then run back to their trenches +as best they can and assist in the defense in +the case of an attack. But the thing to imagine +is lying out there in the rain and mud with absolutely +no protection, the wind cutting to the +marrow and moaning mournfully as it sweeps +over “No Man’s Land,” whistling through the +barb-wire entanglements. The night seems +just that much blacker after the star shell dies +out, for such is the blinding effect on the eyes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span></p> + +<p>There have been many instances where +enemy patrols have stumbled right into these +little listening posts while they are on patrol +duty in “No Man’s Land,” and other instances +have been known where one patrol would be +walking side by side with an enemy patrol until +someone would happen to discover the fact and +then there was always a fight. A few exchanges +of shots, a few thuds from the swinging +of butt ends of guns and all was over in a +few moments.</p> + +<p>Picture yourself on such duty where even +a whisper will bring you a present in the +form of a hand grenade, and when there are +no wire-cutting operations on, or enemy patrols +to bother you, it rains, and you wallow in mud +like an animal with your knees knocking together, +and your clothing so wet that it sticks +to your body. But this is very important work +and must be performed. Two lives out there +may mean the saving of hundreds in the +trenches.</p> + +<p>All such operations as cutting the wire +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>and patrol duty are carried on under the +cover of darkness, with only the intermittent +star shell, which is sent up like a rocket to impede +the work. When these are in the sky it is +necessary for everyone between the trenches +to lie flat on the ground because a man standing +with this light on him would be a mark for +the enemy sniper.</p> + +<p>I have known of instances where men on +patrol duty have been shot early in the +morning while inspecting the wire, and, +falling over, hung there entangled in utter helplessness. +The light coming on prevented their +comrades from rescuing them and they lay +there for days at a time with the German machine +guns trained on them. Once in a life +time on <i>Petit post</i> is enough—an abundant sufficiency.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">BADONVILLER THE MARTYR</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>In the foothills of the Vosges Mountains +just inside the Lorraine border is the site of +what was once a peaceful village. This village +suffered the most terrible devastation of any +along the eastern front in France. Not only +the town but also the civil population received +such treatment at the hands of the Boches that +it is beyond my powers to describe the atrocities +that were committed. But I shall endeavor +to set forth some of the outstanding facts in +order that the reader may understand why this +village is now known as “Badonviller the +Martyr.”</p> + +<p>When the German Army invaded France +from Lorraine this peaceful little village lay in +its path, and, after sharp fighting, was occupied +by advance troops of this army.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span></p> + +<p>The enemy entered the town at three +o’clock in the morning and marched five +abreast all through the day and long into the +night—a continuous stream of men that never +paused. On they went to the next village, +Roan L’Etape, and in its turn that village suffered +even a worse fate than had Badonviller, +as the resistance by the French here was +greater, hence the destruction was to be +greater. At this point, the German command +allowed free sacking, and applied the torch. +The homes of the inhabitants were burned and +destruction of things and pillage in general +permitted, even though of no military value +whatever.</p> + +<p>In this town the German officers caused to +be written all over the altars of churches, public +buildings and store fronts the words “Capute +Ramberviller,” the name of the next village +in the path of this army. This meant that not +a stone should be left unturned and the torch +applied to every home, store, church or building +of any kind. There was a reason for this, a +German reason.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span></p> + +<p>During the Franco-Prussian War, over +fifty years ago, the civil population in this +village of Ramberviller turned out to assist +a handful of French soldiers in holding +back some crack Prussian regiments until the +French reserves could come up and defeat +them. Fifty years of grievance, and this was +their opportunity for revenge.</p> + +<p>Think of revenge on a people most of whom +were unborn at the time because their grandfathers +defended their homes from pillage a +half century before! But the stories of atrocity +that had been handed down were borne out +by the new generation of German soldiery, the +flower of the German Army of to-day.</p> + +<p>Now this village happened to be the next in +the line of march, but the French had anticipated +what was in the heart of the Hun and +the French Headquarters Staff, knowing what +would happen to this town if captured, decided +to make a stand against the invader between +Roan L’Etape and Ramberviller. And here +history repeated itself, for the glorious poilu of +France administered a smashing defeat to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span>invading army, and Ramberviller was again +spared. But not without the toll that always +attends heavy fighting.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="128b-i" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/128b-i.jpg" alt="A uniformed man throwing an explosive."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Bombing the Hun</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>To-day the fields and the woods are filled +with crosses, black for the Allamand and the +Tri-color for the French. Thirty-five thousand +men fell in the fighting before this village. +From this point the French kept pushing the +Boche back until they got them out of Roan +L’Etape and finally back to Pexonne, just outside +of Badonviller.</p> + +<p>As the Germans were falling back they used +the upper part of a house in this town as a hospital +for officers—one large room, and a smaller +one adjoining. The smaller of the two rooms +was used as an operating room, while the +larger one became a ward where the stretchers +were placed on the floor. In the small room was +a window looking out on to a little courtyard, +and, as the arms and legs and hands and feet +were amputated, they were thrown out of this +window into a pile on the ground floor. The +woman who owned the house was forced to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>assist wherever her services might be required. +After the elapse of several days, she requested +the privilege of cleaning up the little courtyard +of its human debris. For reply she was told by +a German surgeon to mind her own business, or +she might ornament the pile also with her +“filthy French carcass.”</p> + +<p>The brancardiers, or stretcher-bearers, of +the German Army were bringing in officers in +numbers as the fighting increased, and it so +happened that in the ward to which I have alluded +there was no more room, being filled to +its capacity, except in one corner where a +young French boy was stretched out, his leg +amputated at the thigh. As the last German +officer was brought in and it was found there +was no room for him, two Boche stretcher-bearers +lifted the French boy up and threw him +out of the second-story window into the street +below, where, needless to say, he died very +shortly.</p> + +<p>To give you the history of just one of the +families here it will be necessary for me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>to go back to the first attack by the Boches +on this village. A young boy nineteen years +old, the son of the mayor of this town, was +shot and mortally wounded while defending the +village from attack. He was carried to his +home and laid at his mother’s feet, where he +soon died. (Number 1.)</p> + +<p>The following morning, with her son dead in +the house, the mother stood at her gate weeping. +The Boches were filing through the +streets in front of her home when a German +officer took notice of her. He stepped out of +the ranks, and, as he approached, inquired why +a woman should feel so badly at seeing the +glorious soldiers of the Kaiser marching by +triumphantly, and when she replied, “You have +killed my boy,” the officer drew a revolver and +shot her dead. (Number 2.)</p> + +<p>In the house we have described as used for +a temporary hospital, on the first floor was located +a large room used by some of the German +officers as a Headquarters. This room +had two large windows looking out upon the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>street. A little boy nine years old, walking +down the road, was called by one of the officers +sitting at one of the windows and given +a pitcher in which to bring some beer from a +neighboring café. The child returned in a few +moments with the beer, which he handed to the +officer, and, for some unknown reason, the officer +lifted him by the collar into the room and +shot him.</p> + +<p>As the child fell mortally wounded, he +was picked up bodily and placed on a red-hot +stove used for heating the water for the operating +room upstairs. The odor issuing from the +burning clothing and flesh soon brought the +doctor to the head of a small staircase on the +second floor. “What is that smell?” he demanded, +and the officer who had placed the +child on the stove replied, “Doctor, we are preparing +your dinner.” Whereupon, the doctor +shouted, “Take that damn stinking thing +off of there, as the smell is coming upstairs +and it will make somebody sick.” Thereupon, +the body of the boy, now dead, was taken +from the stove and thrown out of the kitchen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span>window onto the pile of arms and legs in the +courtyard. (Number 3.)</p> + +<p>Four days later a young girl was carried off +by the Boches, as they were evacuating the city +through pressure from the French, who had, +by this time, so increased in number that the +Germans saw that it would be impossible to +hold the village. What became of this girl no +one can say, but from what I know of a great +many other cases I believe it would have been +much better for her had she been killed in the +streets than to have suffered the fate that I am +sure must have been hers. (Number 4.)</p> + +<p>Her father, who was the mayor of the town, +protested to the German command regarding +the treatment his family, as well as the women +and children of the town generally, had +received, whereupon he was tied hand and foot +and mutilated, being told at the same time that +this would refresh his memory whenever he +had any thought of interfering with the supreme +command of that particular army. +(Number 5.) The total of the family.</p> + +<p>The French pressure now becoming too +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>heavy, the Boches were unable to withstand it, +and started a systematic sacking and demolition +of the village. Barricades were thrown +up in preparation for street fighting; not +even the dead were held in reverence, for +trenches were dug through the cemetery and +the bodies and skeletons were thrown up +to become a part of the embankments and +the headstones lined the parapets, behind +which the barbarians would fight.</p> + +<p>I have related the happenings that have +taken place in only one home and in one village. +I have occupied the room described +herein as the officers headquarters and prepared +meals on the same stove. There were +many such families, there were many such +operating rooms, and there were many women +known to be alive that were carried off by the +Boches. It is hard to understand how such +things are possible, but that is why this little +town is now known as “Badonviller the +Martyr.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV + <br> + <br> + <span class="noindent">“SNIPERS” AT WORK</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The “sniper” of the present war would have +been called a “sharpshooter” during the war +of the rebellion. Such men are most expert in +the use of the rifle and seldom miss their mark. +Many of them have now become proficient in +the use of the modern machine gun for the +same class of work, that of picking off the +“lookouts” on the firing platforms of the opposing +trenches.</p> + +<p>Most everyone has heard of the game bird +known as the snipe. They are very small and +hard to see, usually blending with the landscape +and shrubbery. When it is said of a man +that he can “hit a snipe with a rifle at two hundred +yards,” the last word in praise of his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>markmanship has been said. Thus the term +“sharpshooter” has been displaced by the word +“sniper” by reason of the American love of +brevity.</p> + +<p>The “sniper” of to-day is no less than a +picked marksman whose trained eye is both +keen and tireless. The “lookouts” of the +trenches may well be wary of him. They know +he is always on the job and that his far-seeing +eye, with the aid of the globe-sights through +which he constantly peers in search of his +prey, is ever on the lookout. He knows the +hatred in which he is held and that once captured +no punishment is held too cruel for infliction +upon him.</p> + +<p>There was one place in our front line where +the trench was shallow and a man of ordinary +height would have been exposed from his +shoulders up had it not been for two boards +twelve inches wide that had been placed there. +The two ends that came together were not +sawed straight and left a V shape where they +joined. Some sand bags were placed in front +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span>of the opening between the two boards, but the +V was left partly uncovered, which enabled the +Boche to peer through. The opening was so +small that it was impossible to see a man and +get a shot at him before he had passed.</p> + +<p>In front of the German trenches at this point +was a willow tree that had been pruned for the +willow industry. This means that when the +tree grows up to the required height the main +trunk is cut away and the stump sealed. Then +the dwarfed tree starts sprouting, “shoots.” +This keeps it short and bushy. Such was this +tree. From within it a man could observe the +top of a helmet in our trench on either side of +the V-shaped “peep hole.”</p> + +<p>This was just the knowledge that the +Boche wanted in order to make use of the +bad joint between the boards. A man was +placed in the willow with a machine gun, which +was strapped securely into the fork of the tree +so it would not shake. It was trained on the +V hole between the two boards. The gun was +so fastened that it did not have to be aimed, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>for each time it was fired the ball would go +straight through the V.</p> + +<p>One of the boys in the French trench unknowingly +exposed himself and was found dead +with a bullet through his brain. There was +nothing to cause any other thought than that +he had carelessly looked over the top.</p> + +<p>Later that afternoon a sergeant, in line of +duty, was going along the same trench inspecting +the machine-gun positions. Three or four +shots were heard and he was found dead with +a bullet through his head. While mystifying, +this second death did not reveal the truth. The +sergeant was tall and his death was laid to this +fact. However, the French lieutenant did +know that whoever was doing the shooting was +no amateur, and gave orders to his men to be +especially cautious, and it so happened that no +one else was hit that day.</p> + +<p>Next morning, nevertheless, brought renewed +activities, and among the first casualties +was the death of a French boy who was killed +at the same spot by a bullet through his head. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>This brought about an investigation, which disclosed +the V-shaped opening between the two +boards. A sand bag ended further trouble +from this source, but the location of the +“sniper” was yet in order. A Frenchman at +a machine-gun position thought that he had +noticed smoke issuing from the willow tree. +It was decided to keep careful watch on it and +send a scouting patrol out that night. As soon +as it was dark enough the men started out and +soon found the Boche tucked away in the tree +with his gun. Needless to say, no time was +wasted on him, several bayonet thrusts serving +to end his activities as a machine-gun sniper.</p> + +<p>In another location there was a little brook +just behind the line, and, during the summer, +the boys would go back about thirty yards and +fill their canteens with fresh, cool water—and +sometimes they failed to return. When found +they would be lying dead in the brook, which +was only a few inches deep.</p> + +<p>The roadway on the side nearest the Boches +was eight feet above the brook and everywhere +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>else perfect covering was afforded, +yet every once in a while someone was +bagged here. Finally a young fellow, who +was preparing to fill his canteen, before +doing so dropped to his knees to take a drink +from the stream. Just as he did this he heard +three bullets whistle over his head and splash +in the brook some distance ahead, which disclosed +the fact that the Boches were shooting +from a position over five hundred yards away +through a culvert in the road. When the target +showed through this culvert several bullets +sped on their way. The act of stooping over +had saved the young man’s life.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">“KAMERAD!”</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The word <i>Kamerad</i> has come to possess +a significance not at all in keeping with its original +meaning. On the western front the +French and English have probably solved the +problem of what to say and do when greeted +by this well-known form of Boche salutation. +Picture to yourself two trenches filled with soldiers, +a barbed wire in front of each and “No +Man’s Land” stretching out endless between +the two. French cannons in the rear are hammering +away with remarkable precision, dropping +deadly shells into the German lines, and all +machine guns on the French front-line parapets +manned and ready for business. At the +same instant hands go up in the German +trenches and soldiers climb out on top with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span>shout of “<i>Kamerad</i>” on their lips. Their arms +are extended over their heads in token of surrender. +They have no rifles and no side arms, +nothing with which to attack and only the expression +of joy upon their faces.</p> + +<p>At this moment a battery of machine guns +are trained upon them and ready to wipe out the +handful of Germans in less than five seconds, +but not a shot is fired as they advance. Men +in the French trenches go so far as to expose +themselves in order to assist the surrendering +enemy on their way to the rear as prisoners +of war.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, at a distance of twenty feet, +the hands of the Germans dive into their pockets +and each man cracks the cap on two hand +grenades, and, at this distance, throws them +with deadly accuracy all along the machine-gun +positions in the French trench, killing or +wounding all the occupants and disabling their +guns, thus allowing their own infantry to cross +“No Man’s Land” without danger.</p> + +<p>Does not an episode of this nature afford us +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span>some substance for a moment’s reflection? +Suppose you had been one of the occupants of +the French trench and had escaped injury, and +the following week you were again detailed for +duty in the front-line trench. Also, suppose +you were at the trigger of a machine gun when +a handful of men climbed out of a German +trench yelling “<i>Kamerad</i>.” Now what do you +think you would do? You bet you would.</p> + +<p>On a certain night when one could hardly +see six feet away, a French patrol was sent +through our wire into “No Man’s Land.” +Headquarters had information to the effect +that the German division in the lines opposite +our position had been changed, and the patrol +was to learn just what division had taken its +place. To do this it was necessary to capture +a prisoner and search him, for all men carry +numerals on their uniforms as well as certain +papers, which, even though they be of a personal +nature, serve to identify them. I might +here point out to what extent such data is of +military importance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span></p> + +<p>French, English and German troops in their +three years of war know from direct contact +on different sectors of the front just which +regiments of any army are “shocking” or attacking +troops, and which are what we term +“holding troops,”—used merely to defend +trenches after they are captured. If a man is +identified as belonging to a division of “shock +troops,” great precaution is taken by the different +commands against what may be considered +a certainty. Prepare for an attack—that’s the +rule. If he is merely of a “holding” division, +there is not so much to worry about.</p> + +<p>This is what happened that night. The patrol +was instructed to capture a prisoner if possible +and bring him in. Just after dark two +young French boys were posted in a shell +hole in “No Man’s Land” in front of the +French barbed wire to await events. They +felt quite secure of being observed from the +enemy parapet, when star shells were sent +up. They stayed in this position for quite a +while.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="144a-i" style="max-width: 25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/144a-i.jpg" alt="Uniformed men travel on foot while followed by a man on horseback."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">French Infantry Enroute to the Trenches</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span></p> + +<p>At the expiration of a half hour three +figures appeared in front of them, all walking +cautiously. Suddenly they stopped, talked very +low for a few moments, then separated. Two +men went one way and the third in exactly the +opposite direction, which was toward the position +that the boys occupied. This man was instantly +covered and could have been shot down +had either of the French boys so desired, but +he was allowed to proceed, and, at the proper +time, was challenged and commanded to halt. +The German, knowing full well that rifles were +trained upon him, and that he had not the +slightest chance to escape, called out clearly:</p> + +<p>“<i>Kamerad, Kamerad.</i>”</p> + +<p>He was commanded to throw up his hands +and advance, which he did. It was impossible +to note that slung behind his uplifted hand was +a Leuger revolver. On he came until he could +discern both figures very clearly, and, at six +spaces, fired pointblank at each.</p> + +<p>One was wounded so badly that he died soon +after, but the other so slightly that he was able +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>to get in one good smash with the butt end of +his gun, which laid the Hun low—then dragged +him into a French trench.</p> + +<p>The prisoner proved to be a German +lieutenant, and, under pressure, gave out some +valuable information. This goes to show that +the code of surrender is violated by German +officers, as well as by their men, and, while the +two Frenchmen were instructed not to shoot, +but to bring in a prisoner, no man is expected +to take the least chance with an enemy. No +bullets are fired nowadays just to wound an +opponent. They are all fired for one purpose +only, that is—to kill.</p> + +<p>Another incident which impressed me as being +a very sad one happened during an attack +in the Somme, to a young lieutenant attached +to the same division as I. He became noted +for his fearlessness and daring. He was found +in the very hottest of everything and always at +the head of his troops in a charge across “No +Man’s Land.” Not only did he enjoy the confidence +of his men, but also the confidence of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span>the government, which, in recognition of his +bravery, decorated him with the <i>Croix de +Guerre</i> (French War Cross) and the <i>Medaille +Militaire</i> (Military Medal), two of the highest +honors that can be conferred upon a soldier.</p> + +<p>One day, after a very brilliant charge, his +company captured the Boche front-line trench, +and, as he was jumping down into the trench, +he saw a German officer lying prostrate, his +head and face covered with blood. At this instant +a French poilu ran up and was just about +to put the finishing touches on the German +when the latter began yelling “<i>Kamerad! +Kamerad!</i>” The lieutenant waved the poilu +aside as the man seemed very badly wounded. +He then asked the German if there were any +men in a certain dug-out, pointing to one +leading off from the front-line trench. The +officer replied “No, but there are some in that +one,” indicating another located down a small +communicating trench toward which the lieutenant +forthwith started, revolver in hand. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>But he had no sooner turned his back when the +Boche officer rolled over on his side, whipped +out a revolver, and shot him through the back, +killing him instantly.</p> + +<p>Bravery had brought this French lieutenant +the highest honors in the army, and human consideration +for a dying man brought about his +own death.</p> + +<p><i>Kamerad!</i>—how I loathe that word in its +German significance.</p> + +<p>In another attack the French Infantry went +forward and captured all the front-line Boche +trenches on a certain sector. The artillery fire +that had been directed against their trenches +and the lines behind them rendered it impossible +to deliver rations to their men in the +front line for over two days before the attack.</p> + +<p>This situation, coupled with the terrific +strain of the intense artillery fire, had turned +them into a pitiful-looking crowd. Finally, two +Frenchmen started to bring the German prisoners +back to their own lines and at this particular +point the German trench was very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span>deep and hard to climb out of. So they foolishly +marched them along through their front-line +to a place where they could crawl out more +easily.</p> + +<p>All along in a front-line are boxes filled +with hand grenades with which to repel +attack quickly. The line of march along the +trench was zigzag, making it impossible for +the front of the line to be viewed from the rear +or <i>vice versa</i>, and, as they turned a corner in +their line of march, a couple of the Boches dug +into one of these grenade stations and killed +nine infantrymen before they themselves could +be laid low.</p> + +<p>Take another instance, one that occurred +during the recent invasion of Italy. The Austrian +command instructed their troops to do +everything in their power to gain the confidence +of the Italians, in the hope of fraternizing +with them, and when they had succeeded, +the command secretly pulled out the supposedly +friendly Austrian troops and put in their +places German “shock troops,” which fell upon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span>the Italians like a stroke of lightning, and murdered +them without mercy.</p> + +<p>The same thing occurred in Russia, and, +therefore, I hope that my countrymen will +never make the same mistake. Never take +your eye off the Boches. They are not to be +trusted under any circumstances. I know that +this is a very difficult attitude to assume, but +chances should never be taken with men whose +officers misuse <i>Kamerad</i>, and the terms of surrender. +When I read that Germans are made +prisoners I wonder why.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">THE ART OF CAMOUFLAGE</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The word camouflage has come into common +use both here and abroad and I think it might +be interesting to devote a little time to a brief +discussion of the different uses of camouflage, +or low-vision painting, and to tell you how extensively +it is used and where it is most effective.</p> + +<p>At the front there are many roads that pass +over hills to the rear of the lines, over which +supplies have to pass on their way forward,—roads +that are within sight of the enemy observation +posts, and would prove easy targets +for their guns should they be left clearly +exposed to view. Many people believe that just +because a road is camouflaged the enemy does +not know the road exists.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span></p> + +<p>This notion is erroneous in most cases, +for they do know that the road is there behind +the camouflage, but the object is to obscure +from their view whatever is passing a given +point. Otherwise it would be easy for the +watchful enemy, with glasses, to see whether +men were moving forward, or whether shells +were being transported for the artillery. +With the use of camouflage they are deprived +of this data and the knowledge of just when or +where on a road to put a shell so as to have it +reap a plentiful harvest. Do not misunderstand +me when I say that just because a convoy +is passing along a camouflaged road that +they are safe. Traffic moves along this avenue +of supply with some degree of safety.</p> + +<p>In some places the road will have camouflage +on just one side. In other places it is necessary, +in order to provide the proper protection, to +put it up on both sides, and in other instances +lines of brush are strung on wires every fifty +feet or so to break the continuous stretch of +road as it appears to an aviator from above.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span></p> + +<p>The method that is employed is that of placing +upright, twelve to fourteen feet high along +the sides of a road, something not unlike a regular +fence around a farm. Along these are +strung wires, on which brush and weeds are +hung and fastened at top and bottom so that +the wind will not blow them down or to one +side.</p> + +<p>Under ordinary conditions at the front, this +form of camouflage affords effective protection, +for without it the enemy could shoot at +convoys, etc., with some positive knowledge of +just what was passing along the roads. One +sees the camouflage roads of both sides on a +front, knowing full well that men and supplies +move along them, but just where they are at +the time a shot is to be fired is problematical, +and, with this uncertainty before them, only in +time of undue activities on the part of either +side is any attention paid to them, and then +waste or no waste they are raked from one end +to the other with shell fire.</p> + +<p>Back of the lines at various distances are the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>batteries, and it is not always possible to locate +them where they can enjoy the shelter or obscurity +of clumps of woods, so often they have +to be located in fields or in other open places. +However, a battery is always located so that +when firing the flash is obscured to the enemy, +preferably behind some little hillock or rise in +the ground, so there is never much chance to +locate a battery by other means than observation +balloons or aeroplanes.</p> + +<p>Camouflage is employed here also and +covers are so constructed that they hide entirely +the location of the battery, leaving no opportunity +for the gun to be seen. If a photograph +is taken by an enemy aviator, when developed +the battery takes on the appearance +of an ordinary clump of brush in the picture, +and surrounding it are so many just such +clumps of brush that there is nothing showing +at any particular place to give any information +as to just which is a battery.</p> + +<p>If a battery is being searched out and great +uncertainty exists here, the enemy do take +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span>chances in shooting at the different clumps in +the hope of getting a hit on a battery. This is +where the anti-aircraft guns play an important +part in keeping the observation plane up at altitudes +where photographs do not give enough +detail to reveal too much information, for, +should they be permitted to get down close +enough, they might be able to distinguish too +readily the camouflage from the real.</p> + +<p>Low-vision painting is another form used +extensively. It is unusual to see a camion +(auto truck) or any form of vehicle on the road +that is not painted up so that, at a distance, it +blends into its surroundings. Whereas, if it +were not painted up, it would stand out clearly +and the contrast to surrounding conditions +would make it a target for the enemy guns.</p> + +<p>The same condition exists on water as well +as on land. Hence we see so many boats +painted up for low vision. This does not mean +that they are always obscure to the submarine, +but with the mass broken and with the absence +of defined contrast with the sky and water, they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>do not afford such a target to the enemy observing +through a periscope.</p> + +<p>In the rear of the lines at the front are little +huts, in which are stored cartridges and shells. +They are built very small so as not to be conspicuous. +In all instances the additional precaution +is taken by painting these huts so that +it is practically impossible for enemy aviators +to distinguish them at ordinary heights. One +sees back of the lines in many places, in some +instances fifteen or twenty of these huts one +after the other like a little row of workmen’s +dwellings, and one might be struck at first with +the thought that they could be seen, but the +low-vision painting obviates all of this and they +are quite safe.</p> + +<p>An interesting experience took place at the +front recently when two French artists conceived +the idea of having some sport with Fritz. +Some old canvas, such as had been used to +cover wagons, was located and cut up in strips +and joined so that they could be rolled up on a +pole. Then, with a bucket of paint and several +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span>brushes, they set to work painting a railroad +track with the ties, rails, etc., as it would look +from above. It was painted with the purpose +of attracting attention.</p> + +<p>After working for some time, they completed +quite a stretch of “railroad.” When enough +was finished they carried their railroad out on +a pole and unrolled it, always running it from +one small clump of woods to another, so that it +would have the appearance of a battery location. +It would be left here long enough to attract +the attention of some Boche aviator and +when he started back in his machine to report +the existence of a railroad at this particular +location the Frenchmen would roll up their +“railroad” and put it away.</p> + +<p>In a little while the shells would start +coming in right where the “railroad” was. +After a short time, or when they imagined +the destruction complete, they would stop, +then the Frenchmen would quickly unroll +the “railroad” again and soon the Boche aviator +would be seen flying over the lines to observe +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span>the destruction, but it must have been +much to his surprise to see it there in the same +place untouched. He would then fly back again +and as soon as he turned his tail homeward in +would come the “railroad”—shortly more +shells. This unusual railroad could be shifted +from one location to the other at will, and, +whenever the Boche were in the air, it always +came in for its share of attention, but, unlike +most railroads at the front, this one was never +hit.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">SPIES AND THEIR WORK</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>For years we have heard of the efficiency of +the Wilhelmstrasse, or Secret Service Police +of Germany, and everything we have heard +regarding them has proved fairly accurate, +sometimes even beyond our wildest expectations. +The Spy System of the German Government +is a wonderful organization, any way +we look at it. Since 1870 it has been in the +making. Its agents are everywhere, they speak +all languages fluently. This enables them to +carry on their systematic work of uncovering +every fact, rumor, or suspicion that may be of +importance to the German Government.</p> + +<p>England and France particularly, and all +countries in general, have had convincing demonstrations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span>of the thoroughness of German Secret +Service activity for many years. Since the +war broke out, they have been doing everything +in their power to cope with the situation.</p> + +<p>Now that we are at war with Germany, it is +well to remember that in this country, as well +as in those of our Allies, secret agents of the +German Government are constantly seeking +information. Therefore, one of the greatest +injustices the people of this country can do our +Government is to impart any information to +anyone except a government representative. +Our friends who may be inclined to talk too +much should be warned in a friendly way to +say nothing. We can never tell who is sitting +next to us in a train, car, boat, or any other +public conveyance, and the little remark seemingly +of no consequence, that passes your unsuspecting +lips, may be the nucleus around +which the spider may weave his web.</p> + +<p>There is no reason in the world why your +friends or relatives in the American Expeditionary +Forces over seas should not be permitted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span>to write you in detail all those things +that form part of their daily experience. +Moreover, there is no reason for maintaining +such a thing as a censor.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="160b-i-1" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/160b-i-1.jpg" alt="Buildings demonstrating damage."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Sacked and Burned</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="160b-i-2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/160b-i-2.jpg" alt="Buildings demonstrating damage."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Badonviller Destroyed by the Germans</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>If all mail and information could be delivered +into the hands of the ones they +are meant for, I am sure there would be no +reason for such strict regulations, but there +is no assurance that letters will not go astray +and information fall into the hands of +our enemies. And, besides, there are a lot of +people who unconsciously reveal things that are +written to them, and in this way information +gets out broadcast, which, in many instances, +proves most harmful to proposed military operations. +Therefore, we have the censor who +keeps these matters under control and thereby +eliminates a very fruitful source of information +from falling into the hands of our enemies.</p> + +<p>In France one is particularly attracted by +placards on cars, station platforms, and streets, +flashing these words, <ins class="corr" id="TN-2" title="Transcriber's Note—original text: probably “Taisez Vous”">“<i>Teshez Vous</i>,”</ins> which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span>mean “Close your mouth.” In other words, +“The enemy is everywhere.”</p> + +<p>The sooner the people of this country +<ins class="corr" id="TN-3" title="Transcriber's Note—original text: probably “Taisez Vous”">“<i>Teshez Vous</i>,”</ins> the sooner they will begin to +deprive the people who are seeking information +of one of their richest sources. Remember the +enemy is everywhere.</p> + +<p>It is most surprising to find by what dark +and devious paths one may be approached when +one’s information is valuable enough to be required, +and the only sure way to keep from +dropping threads of such information is to +know nothing, and to discuss nothing with people +one does not know—we cannot rely even +on friends. We all have fool friends.</p> + +<p>Just before leaving Paris, for example, I became +acquainted with a man whom I remember +very clearly as frequenting a certain café, +posing always as a Hollander, but for a great +many years past a resident of New York City. +He manifested a great interest in American +soldiers, and I have heard him ask the boys +such questions as “How many Americans do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>you suppose there are now in France?” “How +many boys in your camp?” “Where are you +located?” “Are you specializing in any particular +branch of fighting?” and a great many +other questions along the same lines. As a +demonstration of his sincere friendship for the +American boys, he would say “Let me pay for +this check.” “Let’s have another one for dear +old America.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly he disappeared. I afterwards +learned that he had been quietly camouflaged +by the police and that he would not be around +again soon manifesting so much interest in +what America might be going to do.</p> + +<p>It is very clear now to most people what +took place in the case of a female German spy, +a conspicuous figure in Paris, always seen +in the characteristic garb of a South American +lady. She was never known to wear a +hat, and was seldom seen without the typical +mantilla, thrown over her straight, black hair. +She had plenty of money, a Rolls-Royce always +at her command, and everything that would +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span>allay the slightest suspicion that she might be +an agent of the German Government.</p> + +<p>Her game was meeting officers and seeking +information from them. Working as agents +with her were charming chorus girls from one +of the most noted theaters in Paris. It was she +who obtained the information regarding the +extensive building program of English tanks +and forwarded it to Germany. From her +jaunty appearance, she was the last one to be +suspected, but she turned out to be one of +France’s most dangerous enemies, and paid the +price with her life before a firing squad in a +French prison during the early part of last +October.</p> + +<p>When the Germans advanced on Paris in the +early stages of the war, located in the department +of the Oise some thirty kilometers from +that city was the old chateau Bornel Bon +Eglise, where was stationed a French garrison +to resist the invader at that point. As the German +Army advanced, the French garrison retired +to this chateau, in preparation for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span>stand to be made when protected by its +walls.</p> + +<p>Everything was in readiness for the attack, +when, at the psychological moment, the gates +of this castle were suddenly thrown open and +the Boches captured the chateau with very little +trouble. Upon investigation it was afterwards +found that the gatekeeper, a trusted employee +for many years, had been planted here +for just such a service should the occasion +ever arise when it would be necessary for someone +to accomplish just the thing he did.</p> + +<p>Such conditions can, without stretching one’s +imagination very far, be laid at the door of German +Secret Service Agents. That is the kind +of preparedness the Germans had been fostering +for forty years.</p> + +<p>In a little village on the eastern front of +France this year two soldiers on observation +duty in a front-line trench noticed a small +white dog roaming about “No Man’s Land.” +They followed his trail with much interest, +and the last seen of him he was going under +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>the French barbed wire toward the rear of the +lines.</p> + +<p>Nothing was thought of the wanderings +of this dog until two nights later, when +the same two men who happened to be on duty +again observed the same dog crossing “No +Man’s Land” and crawling under the German +wire. This aroused their suspicion, and, as +they came off watch, the incident was reported +to the lieutenant, but he thought nothing of +it, as with all armies there are mongrel +pets belonging to soldiers. However, a few +nights later the same dog was again seen back +in the French lines. This caused enough curiosity +to bring him under closer observation, as +it was quite unusual that a dog should frequent +“No Man’s Land” with such regularity.</p> + +<p>That same night, in the glow of a star shell, +our canine friend was seen wending his way +toward the German trenches, and so orders +were immediately issued to all the front +line not to shoot the dog, as the command +wished to investigate the haunts of the animal +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span>that seemed to choose “No Man’s Land” as his +favorite playground.</p> + +<p>A few nights later our canine friend again +appeared, and was seen crawling under the +French wire and jumping over the front-line +trenches, on his way back toward a little +French village behind the lines. A couple of +soldiers were detailed to follow him, which +they did at a distance not calculated to alarm +the dog, who walked along at a business-like +gait until the outskirts of the town was +reached. Then, with the suddenness of chain +lightning, the dog bolted around a demolished +wall down a side street and was lost to the view +of his observers. It was impossible for his +pursuers to give any information as to what +had become of him.</p> + +<p>It happened that he was again seen that same +night, returning under the wires and disappearing +behind the German line. These facts called +for carefully laid plans by the Division Headquarters +to intercept the dog in order to know +more about his peculiar movements. After +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span>waiting a few nights he was seen coming for +the French lines and was allowed to pass unmolested, +several men having been secreted +along the line that he was now known to travel +up to a certain point. On came the dog in his +business-like way until, again reaching the outskirts +of the city, he broke into a run at top +speed, dodged around tumbled-down dwellings, +side streets, over walls, and again was lost to +view. But on his return he was caught, and +tucked away in his collar was a map drawn +very small, but showing in detail the positions +of some of the French batteries behind the lines +at a certain point.</p> + +<p>The paper was put back in his collar and the +dog allowed to proceed on his way, for if he +returned to the German lines minus this paper +it would immediately cause suspicion that he +had been interfered with and might end his +visits before the one sending the information +could be caught. Orders were immediately +dispatched to the battery mentioned in the communication +to change its position. The next +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span>day brought the German shells to the exact location +where the paper in the dog’s collar had +indicated this battery to be, but, of course, no +damage was done, as the battery had been +moved during the night.</p> + +<p>A very careful watch was now kept for this +dog, and, a few nights later, he was captured +and a very fine thread tied to his collar in the +hopes that it might be traced to the place where +the information originated. The dog was permitted +to proceed as soon as the thread was +securely fastened to him, but when he felt the +weight of the thread pulling on his collar he +turned and retraced his steps. The thread was +broken and the dog released in the hope that +he would return for the information, but he +balked and was soon back in the German lines.</p> + +<p>The return of the dog without information +must have caused a change of plans, as the dog +did not appear again for several days. Finally +he appeared, and in readiness for him was a +French police dog, which was immediately put +on his trail. The police dog, being allowed to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span>go a little too soon, caught up with the German +dog at the edge of the village. Here the German +dog had always broken into a run, and, of +course, the police dog became excited and +downed the German dog in his tracks. Before +they could be interfered with, the spy dog was +very badly mutilated. Thus ended his visits.</p> + +<p>Although merely a dumb animal he seemed +to possess almost human intelligence, winning +the respect of the French army men. It was +not their intention that harm should befall him +and they were much grieved that he went back +to his own a cripple for life.</p> + +<p>Carrier pigeons are employed as messengers +in the spy service of the German Army. While +in Paris I was with a captain of English artillery +who became a very close friend. He related +to me the following account of how his +battery was sent into action on a certain sector +which I know will prove of interest.</p> + +<p>On a certain day orders were received from +his Division Headquarters to take up a position +near the village of R——. The battery +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>responded quickly and occupied the location +for two days. It was most noticeable +that very few shells came that way. On the +morning of the third day quite a little aerial +activity was evident, but nothing much was +thought of it. The position seemed to be very +secure, as it was in quite a heavy clump of +woods. But shortly after noon the shells began +breaking closer and closer until they +got so hot that the position became untenable. +Consequently the battery was moved to another +clump of woods quite a distance away, where +again all was quiet.</p> + +<p>Next morning the captain was much surprised +to see a peasant with two horses +ploughing in the field just back of the new +position and also that the Boche aviators +were again hovering over the lines. Shortly +after noon, as on the day previous, shells began +to drop around the new location and in +the field behind. It appeared to the Captain +that it must be a pretty hot place for a farmer +to be ploughing so serenely, therefore, he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span>stepped out of the woods to investigate, but +found the farmer had gone. The shells were +coming in so close to the battery position that +it was again found necessary to move, this +time to a very heavily wooded location further +on to the right. After the move was completed +all became quiet again.</p> + +<p>The following morning the Captain observed +the same peasant ploughing again in the field +and also that an unusual aerial activity had +opened near his new location. It seemed necessary +to investigate so he went back to the +location first occupied by his battery and found +a double furrow ploughed behind the old battery +position. Further observation disclosed +the same double furrow directly behind the +second location, and now the third furrow was +being run. Sure enough these furrows were +signals to the sky pilots, for shortly afterwards +shells began to land around the new location, +but the peasant was nowhere to be found. On +orders quickly given the battery was at once +moved back into the original position.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span></p> + +<p>With the morning came the same peasant +with his two horses and plough, but he had +run his last furrow on this earth the day before. +A blow with an iron wrench ended his +activities forever. That afternoon enemy +aeroplanes hovered overhead, awaiting the new +furrow that was never ploughed.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">LETTERS FROM THE FRONT</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 2em"><span class="smcap">Mort Homme</span>,</span><br> + <span style="margin-right: 1em;">August 25th, 1917.</span> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> + <span class="smcap">Dear Ed</span>:— +</p> + +<p>You no doubt think ill of me not to have answered +your letter, but I know you will overlook +my seeming neglect after you have read +this.</p> + +<p>Have you ever experienced a feeling of +complete disaster when suddenly everything +changed and you saw a decent place to get +some sleep, and a good hot meal in the bargain? +Well, that is what just happened to us after +we left “Hell” behind, but, even now, when +anyone drops anything, or yells, I find myself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span>taking to cover. No, I haven’t shell shock. I +simply cannot fully collect myself.</p> + +<p>No doubt by this time you are acquainted +with the details of the recent attack at the +Bois d’Avicourt, where the French just naturally +kicked the stuffings out of the Boches +and walked away with such positions as Hill +“304,” Avicourt, and Mort Homme (Dead +Man). But, even if you are, I know you will +enjoy some of my experiences during that fight—so +here goes.</p> + +<p>After leaving Paris we took the train to +Chalons and there we got our cars. The whole +section is made up of little Fiats, and so you +see we got a good start. We were on our way +across country passing through Bar le Duc and +on up to a little town called Erize La Petite, +about fifteen miles from Verdun. The town +was misnamed by someone, for I think they +meant to call it “La Petite Dump.” However +unfortunate that may be, we remained there +for two weeks, sleeping in an old barn, until +one night it rained so hard that we swam to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span>our cars and finished our rest, soaking wet. +We were all as disgusted as could be when +orders came that we had been assigned to the +25th Division and were to move up to join it +the following day for the attack, which was to +take place three days later. The following day +found us crawling up to the town of Brocourt, +where the hospital is located. The Boches +shelled this village with high explosives that +night. A doctor informed me that they did +this systematically every night at the same +hour.</p> + +<p>Morning came and we were ordered up farther +front. From the way the shells were +coming down on us I thought we were joining +the German Army instead of the French. We +halted in the village of Reciecourt. I want to +state right here that I was perfectly satisfied +with the place we had left, and La Petite Dump +seemed to me like “Paradise Lost,” for, on our +way up to Reciecourt, we stopped four times to +wait for the Huns to quit shelling the road +ahead of us. Upon our arrival we began hunting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span>for a house to use as a base, but the best +we could do was to find one with two shell +holes through the roof. We took it just the +same.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="176a-i" style="max-width: 25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/176a-i.jpg" alt="Three soldiers in a trench while a fourth uses binoculars."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Sixty Feet From a German Front-Line Trench</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>That afternoon Singer, who is our chief, and +Paul Hughes, our sous-chief, took two ambulances +and drove with one man from each car +up to the different posts we were to serve during +the attack. Joe Widner, you remember +him, is my teammate on our car, and I flipped +a coin to see which of us would take the ride. +I won the toss.</p> + +<p>Ten of us got into one ambulance and ten +into another. I went with Singer, and as I got +in I remember Singer threw the latch down on +the back of the car and we could not get +out, for it could be opened only from the outside.</p> + +<p>Now this was my first experience under +heavy shell fire, and I did not relish the thought +of being sewed up in this ambulance, unable to +get out if I wanted to, for I always have been +a pretty good sprinter and I felt if it got too +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span>hot I might be able to beat a couple of shells +down the road; but, with the door locked, +what a chance! As we went forward, we +passed several large French batteries beside +the road, all of them hammering away at +Fritz. The farther forward we went the more +numerous the guns, all more or less concealed. +The front of the car was open and right ahead +of us there came a terrific crash. I heard +Singer say, “That one sure came close.”</p> + +<p>“That what?” I yelled back.</p> + +<p>“That shell,” he replied.</p> + +<p>Then I realized what a cute little place we +were locked in, and, believe me, I got sick all +over. I felt that my feet were shrinking and +my shoes were falling off. My thoughts took +on some speed. How gladly I would have +changed this dirty shell-riddled ambulance for +a Broadway subway. I kept my eyes glued on +the floor of the car, with no idea of where we +were or where we were going until we jolted +around a sharp turn in the road and ran into +a fallen tree. Naturally, the car stopped, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>Singer opened up the exit and said, “This is the +first post.”</p> + +<p>My release from that car gave me a new +lease on life, and I began to take notice of the +environment, after making sure that I was +still intact. There were five or six dugouts +here; in front of one were two men seated at a +table. In front of them was a little plot of +ground containing some newly made graves. +Over to the right was a gang of men digging +a long ditch about eight feet wide and eight +feet deep. I thought it was a trench. Mills +Averill, however, suggested it was to bury +garbage. So we asked, in our sign language +mixed with Franco-American French. One of +the men looked up from his writing long +enough to say, “<i>Pour l’attack</i>” (For the attack). +Good God, Eddie, it was a grave big +enough for a regiment, and just to think that +it was for men who at that very moment were +alive and in perfect health! I cannot tell you +my feelings at this gruesome sight.</p> + +<p>At this moment a wagon drove up. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span>diggers laid down their tools and went over to +it. I am sure it was a dead man they lifted +out, for I saw his feet on the stretcher, but the +rest of the poor devil was in a burlap bag. I +did not try to see the rest of the human debris +that came out of this death cart. The men at +the tables wrote some records, and the ditch +received the mass. This was anything but a +pleasant experience for green men, and only +our first post at that.</p> + +<p>We climbed into the car and visited each of +the other posts, and as we went along the sights +that met our eyes were always worse than at +the previous place. As we pulled up in front +of what we thought was our last post Singer +said there was one more, but we couldn’t go +up in the car except under cover of darkness. +So we started out on our shoe leather, and it +was some walk. The mud was knee deep and +clingingly affectionate.</p> + +<p>Nothing ever seemed quite so good as when +we turned our faces toward the rear. That +night, in my dreams, there seemed to be all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span>sorts of little mistakes being made, such as +planting me in the hole at Post No. 1, with the +dead men. Tough stuff to dream about,—you +can imagine how much rest I had.</p> + +<p>The next day Joe and I went on duty. We +had to stay through the entire morning of the +attack, for all twenty cars were in use. Our +post began in order from Reciecourt. Going +out were P4, P2, PJ left, PJ right, P3 and R4. +There were four cars at P4 and two at PJ +right. If a car came down with wounded from +PJ, left post, it would stop at P4, and a car +would be dispatched from here to take its place. +P2 and PJ right were on the same road, so +when a car came down from PJ, right, a car +would go up from P2. The car coming in +always continued on to the hospital. P3 and +R4 were worked only on calls, and R4 only at +night, for in daylight they would have been +blown off the road. It was a sort of muddled +schedule, but the shell fire was so heavy that +no telephone wires could stand for a half hour. +So we made the best of a bad situation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span></p> + +<p>The French were bringing up guns continuously, +all sizes from 37’s to large-caliber Marine +pieces. They would take up firing positions +alongside the roads and fire over our +heads. When they let loose the ambulance +would rock with the concussion.</p> + +<p>We had two runs in from P4 during the +night, and at three-thirty a. m. the barrage fire +began and it was terrible. We could not hear +the Boche shells break. It was all one great +uninterrupted roar, made by four thousand +cannons. Can you imagine such a thing in that +small sector? Joe and I went up to PJ right +about four a. m. As we turned a corner we +found an artillery caisson that had been hit. +The horses lay dead in the road. What had +become of the men I do not know, and we did +not try to find out, for when we saw that we +could just barely get by we kept on going.</p> + +<p>As we neared a crossroad we found the +shells falling so thick we had to pull up and +wait for an opportunity to dash by. It soon +came. We did not have to listen for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span>Boche shells for we could see them break very +plainly. Ahead of us was another sharp turn +leading down into a little valley at the other end +of which was the post. Suddenly a car appeared, +running towards us like mad. As it +approached we recognized Bud Riley and +Eddie Doyle. Bud was driving, his eyes bulging +out of his head as he leaned over the steering +wheel watching the road. He never even +glanced at us. His car was full of wounded +and Eddie Doyle had to stand on the running +board. As we passed he yelled, “God be +good to you fellows for you are going into +Hell!”</p> + +<p>Joe was driving, and on receiving this news +he let up on the speed a bit, for, if we were +going where Eddie said, Joe thought we had +better take our time about it.</p> + +<p>He looked at me and I looked at him. I +finally ventured to say, “Cheerful, isn’t it?” +but Joe must have been thinking of Flatbush. +Then we turned the corner and we discovered +that Doyle was right. The whole gully was a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span>mass of dead horses and wrecked wagons and +parts of human bodies. The Germans had put +over gas and caught the wagon train in the +valley. The horses were harnessed and could +not get away. Evidently some of the drivers +stayed too long. Paul Hughes, Singer, Armstrong, +Halverson, Woodell and Colledge had +gone up ahead of us, and were cutting harness +and releasing some horses that were yet alive, +and driving them up to higher ground out of +the gas. They saved a great many by a little +head work, and the Government rewarded +them all with the <i>Croix de Guerre</i>.</p> + +<p>We stopped, as there wasn’t room to get by, +but soon Hughes came up and told us to go on +over the heads of horses that could not be +saved, which we did, and were soon at the +post. All day we ran to and from the front, +with our car full of wounded and dying. For +twenty-four hours the twenty cars never had a +rest. And, remember, we carried only bad +cases. The others walked.</p> + +<p>The attack lasted five days, the German +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span>prisoners pouring in over all the roads. Frank +Carleton was also hit by shell splinters in the +leg. He also got the War Cross pinned on his +chest. The whole attack was rotten, many suffering +from chlorine and tear gas. Singer is in +bad shape from it and I guess we all show the +strain. But we are lucky with it all, for there +was not a car in the whole lot that did not have +shell marks on it.</p> + +<p>The old Twenty-fifth Division suffered +pretty badly, but the struggle was not without +success, for Mort Homme, Avicourt and Hill +“304” are in our hands, and I hope they will +stay there. Besides, we have plenty of German +prisoners.</p> + +<p>As this is the way I have been spending my +time, you know I did not have much of an opportunity +to write letters. I must stop now and +get a little sleep. If they shell us here to-night +I hope they choke.</p> + +<p>Good luck. Ed Harding, Jim Baker, Baldwin, +Creigier, Doyle, Riley, Joe, Tom and +Armey are all O. K. and join me in sending you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span>their best. Remember me to the bunch with +you.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 2em;" ><span class="smcap">“Gus” Edwards</span>,</span><br> + <span style="margin-right: 1em;">Section 60.</span> +</p> + + +<p class="center">A LETTER FROM SALONIKA</p> + +<p class="noindent"> + <span class="smcap">Dear Ed</span>: +</p> + +<p>I have just returned here from the front, +and learned from your letter that you are in +France. You don’t know how glad I was to +hear from you. My prompt reply will bear +me out, for you know I am not much of a hand +at writing letters. Let me commence by saying +that if they ever want you to come down +here, don’t you do it, for, if there is one place +that the Lord forgot to fix up just enough to +be decent it’s this Bulgarian front, and, from +what I have seen, all the Balkan States are +no better.</p> + +<p>Once in a while we get some papers +which show pictures of the hardships the +British Tommies are enduring with artillery, +etc., in the Flanders mud. If they have anything +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span>on us they must surely be in a bad way, +because ninety-nine per cent of our front is +mud. The remainder is—also mud. They +have a roadway here and there at least. We +never see what one would call a clearly defined +path. It’s just one big field of mud.</p> + +<p>The Monastir road is the main artery of +travel out toward our front, and this has been +so cut up by the never-ending traffic and +through lack of other parallel roads that it is +about as bad as you can imagine it. At the end +of the road (this end) conditions are barely +tolerable.</p> + +<p>The town Salonika itself is located on the +sea in a sort of hollow, and around us like +sentinels are the hills, which guard every approach +to the city proper for miles. Members +high on the staff say the city could never be +taken from the land side, and from the supplies +stored here I am sure they believe this +to be a fact. I do not think it will be long +before we will come in for our share of attention +in the columns of the newspapers, for we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span>have been expecting the development of military +activity for some little time past.</p> + +<p>The sanitary conditions are much improved +here and everything is done to counteract disease. +All kinds of improvements have been +made, but the poor devils at the front are the +ones that come in for their share. Men contract +diseases here unknown to medical science, +besides those that are known. Nearly +everything reeks with malaria. I have taken +enough quinine to run a drug store in the +States six months, and while I, like many others, +pride myself on the good fortune we +are having, I am sure, in the days to come, we +will see the effects which always follow.</p> + +<p>No doubt you are familiar with the Venizelos +régime. I see him about quite often. +The men that are with him are all bright, +smart, up-to-date fellows, and with the Allies +hammer and tongs, and they are far more +loyal to Greece than the King’s party, who follow +the instructions of Kaiser Bill.</p> + +<p>Write me a long letter, for it helps a great +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span>deal in such a place as this, and if you ever +get some American newspapers you might send +them on when you are through with them. +Keep in touch with me, but don’t ever think of +coming here unless they tie you hand and foot +and send you.</p> + +<p>Take good care of yourself and hand those +wooden-headed Germans some hot ones.</p> + +<p class="center"> +Your pal, +</p> + +<p style="margin-right: 1em;" class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Joe</span>. +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">EYES OF THE ARMY</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>All military observation balloons are practically +“the eyes of the army.” They are generally +captive—always out of reach of enemy +artillery fire. Of course, they may become the +victims of surprise attacks from enemy +aviators.</p> + +<p>These sausage-shaped craft are very important +adjuncts to the fighting forces, and they +have regular habits. They go up every morning +and come down every night. In this they +are aided by the engine of some large auto-truck, +which hauls them in or lets them go up, +according to orders from the officer in charge. +Their efficiency as posts of observation may be +readily appreciated. There is nothing going +on below for miles upon miles that cannot be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span>distinguished through the use of powerful +glasses in the hands of skilled lookout men.</p> + +<p>With these fellows on watch very little can +transpire that they are not likely to discover +in a jiffy. The enemy tries to send a wagon +train of ammunition to some point of advantage, +when, bingo! some shells explode in +their path—then it’s a case of jumping and +running for their lives. Troop movements are +subject to the same kind of attack, in fact, +everything is an open book to the trained observers, +lolling about in the high altitude +breezes, alert, however, to every little thing +going on.</p> + +<p>It is most interesting to watch the work of +the observation balloon, which always anchors +close enough to the front to give it the advantage +of seeing everything, yet far enough to +the rear to protect it from being shot at by the +enemy anti-aircraft batteries. It depends upon +the contour and character of the ground, and +at just what elevation the balloon officials can +best observe. The great bag is held in place +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span>by a steel cable, and has direct telephone +communication with the artillery field station.</p> + +<p>This station is located so that all wires +from the observation posts lead into it, as +do also the wires from the field batteries +along certain parts of the front. When anything +transpires that seems of enough consequence +to deserve a few shells, the observer +phones the location as it appears on his chart, +and a corresponding chart at the artillery bureau +furnishes correct information to the officers +in charge, as though they were looking +at the very spot themselves. The range is +computed and phoned to the battery that commands +the particular location of the objective. +The range is soon found and the firing begins.</p> + +<p>It is then the duty of the gas-bag observers +to inform the bureau the moment a shell explodes, +setting forth the information that is +necessary for corrections in the event that the +shell missed; also whether it exploded before +reaching the object or passed beyond. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span>moment this information is secured corrections +in the range are immediately made, phoned to +the battery, and the second shell is sent screaming +on its way. After which corrections are +again given, until finally the observer comes +back with the word “hit.” They then have the +range and can hammer away at the position +until they have completed the necessary destruction.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="192b-i-1" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/192b-i-1.jpg" alt="Many uniformed men at various stages of operating a gas mask."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Trying on the Gas Masks</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="192b-i-2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/192b-i-2.jpg" alt="Street with multiple buildings showing defensive structures."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Badonviller Barricaded for Street Fighting</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>So accurate has this system become that, +with an observation balloon to govern and observe, +artillery fire, after the second and third +shot, will come uncomfortably close to its objective, +if it does not make a direct hit. The +accuracy of cannon-fire nowadays is remarkable, +and, although batteries may be located +in clumps of trees or even hidden by hills, they +have reached a perfection almost beyond belief. +Thus it may be readily seen that the +observation balloon plays an important part +in modern warfare. Because of these observation +balloons, there has seldom been, if +ever, such a thing as concentrations of large +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span>bodies of troops for attacking purposes, or unending +streams of caissons bringing up shells +or supplies without coming under the eye of the +observer.</p> + +<p>One day on the eastern front an artillery +commander in our division started out on a +tour of inspection. He arrived at a certain +position, where a new battery was being located +in a clump of woods just off the roadside. +In preparation for the new battery some +concrete work was being done on foundations.</p> + +<p>Pulling up on the road in a clearing, the +officer and his aide stepped out of the car, followed +by the chauffeur, and entered the woods +to review the work. At a distance, so small +that it could scarcely be seen, was a German +observation balloon. The party had no sooner +entered the woods when they were attracted by +the explosion of a shell in close proximity. This +was soon followed by a second, which landed in +the road, and then a third, which struck beside +the front end of the auto they had just left and +blew it into fragments.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span></p> + +<p>One thing that comes under the eye of a +person traveling along the military roads in +France is the large number of soup kitchens +that lie toppled over along the roadside. The +reason for this is that there are always so +many of these soup kitchens going to and +from the front along roads that can be seen +from enemy observation balloons, and they +can be shelled with deadly and unerring accuracy.</p> + +<p>It is a most rare occurrence for the drivers +of these soup kitchens to be injured or +wounded, for they can hear the shell coming +and dive off of the kitchens into the roadside +or run for their lives. Meanwhile the shell +will make a direct hit and blow the soup kitchen +to pieces.</p> + +<p>Observation balloons are a hindrance to +operations that the enemy desire to be unobserved; +therefore aviators are dispatched +against them and instructed to clear them +from the skies. Of course, there is no means +by which an observation balloon can resist successfully +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span>an attack by an aviator, even if +equipped with a machine gun, because the +aviator will always attack it from above.</p> + +<p>The best opportunity to destroy observation +balloons always comes on cloudy days, when +an aviator can circle around in the clouds until +he gets directly over the balloon, and drop, +unobserved, upon it. Then, with a machine +gun, or an incendiary bomb, he can put it out +of existence. When the observers see that +they cannot get away from the enemy aviator +their only chance is to jump from the basket +with a parachute, as the moment the bomb +strikes the gas bag and the contents ignite, it +becomes an “inferno.”</p> + +<p>Two interesting incidents took place at +Verdun in connection with observers and enemy +aeroplanes after their gas bags had been +struck and destroyed. In the first instance, +the observer jumped from the basket, and was +descending toward the earth suspended and +swinging at the end of a parachute, like the +pendulum of a clock.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span></p> + +<p>The enemy aviator, for additional exercise +and excitement, circled around and descended +along with the parachute, shooting at the observer +as he swung through the air, with his +machine gun, until he got his man. But in so +doing he descended closer to the ground than +he had contemplated doing, and a well-directed +shot from an anti-aircraft battery brought +both himself and his plane tumbling to the +earth.</p> + +<p>The second instance was where a Boche +aviator had dropped out of the clouds and an +observer, seeing there was no chance to get +away from him, quickly jumped from the +basket of his balloon with a parachute. The +bag was struck shortly after and burst into +flames.</p> + +<p>It must have been the intention of the +Boche to have some machine-gun exercise with +this observer, for he circled around and tried +to get into a position to fire. Before he could +accomplish this the observer, swinging +through the air, drew an automatic revolver, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span>and with a well-directed shot hit the aviator +and killed him.</p> + +<p>Observation balloon work is considered a +very dangerous branch of the service, inasmuch +as observers do not have an opportunity +to protect themselves from enemy aviators and +must rely chiefly on anti-aircraft batteries for +protection.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Located all along the front are batteries, +which consist principally of French cannon +that we have heard so much about, known to +the world as 75’s. While this type is most frequently +used, there are some aircraft batteries +of larger caliber, known as the 105’s. The +reason that these two types of guns are used +exclusively is due to their flexibility. They +can be changed to different angles and elevations +and be fired with the rapidity so necessary +in following an aeroplane in flight.</p> + +<p>Aircraft batteries are always located where +protection is necessary from aviators in the +rear of the lines, also in the event of the enemy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span>aviator being able to get by the batteries up +front.</p> + +<p>The guns are mounted over a pit on a revolving +platform that can complete a circle. +Counterweights are attached to the gun for +elevation so that it can be changed quickly +from the horizontal to very near a 90-degree +angle, the direction, of course, being obtained +by the shifting of the revolving platform.</p> + +<p>Some very novel contrivances have been developed +for computing ranges, and each aircraft +battery uses every available device that +is likely to assist them in making flying uncomfortable +for the Boches. Where there are +two or more of these batteries they are connected +up with each other by telephone, and, +as an enemy flyer comes within range of their +guns, the angles are phoned back and forth, +and with this knowledge they can make the +location untenable, even if they do not bring +the flyer down. I have seen many an enemy +flyer get into these pockets and rejoice at the +moment he discovered the trap that there were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span>some clouds close by into which he could dodge +and get away with his skin intact.</p> + +<p>These planes are, in most instances, observation +planes, either to see what is transpiring +behind the lines or to take photographs of +enemy positions. The bombing planes work +mostly under cover of darkness, which enables +them to come down much closer to earth.</p> + +<p>To meet this condition there is located at +each aircraft battery a device known as an +audiphone. It is a large box-shaped affair, +made of sheet metal about thirty-six inches +square. Inside are fastened four small cones, +in appearance much like victrola horns. These +are in turn connected with a vibrator similar +to that in an ordinary telephone receiver. To +this are attached two rubber tubes, identical +with the instrument used by doctors called a +stethoscope, for listening to the heart.</p> + +<p>This equipment is fastened to a post, and +can be turned in any direction. The box-shaped +device, working on a common axle, can +be elevated or lowered at will. When an aviator +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span>is in the air a lookout places the two hard +rubber tubes to his ears and turns the equipment +in the general direction of the supposed +location.</p> + +<p>He then elevates and lowers the box-shaped +device until he arrives at a position +where the clearest motor vibrations are received, +the post being marked off in degrees, +like the revolving gun-platform. The arrow +on the audiphone points to the degree indicated +on the post, and thus the direction is obtained +and the gun trained at the same degree.</p> + +<p>Then there is a second arrow with a scale +corresponding to the one upon which the gun +is elevated. When the clearest vibrations +come in, the angle at which the box rests is +indicated, and this in turn is copied by the gun. +The distance is estimated by the strength of +the vibrations coming in on the receiving instrument. +The general location is phoned to +the searchlight stations and the light is projected +to afford the batteries observation in +the event that the aviator changes the direction +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span>of his flight after the first shot is fired.</p> + +<p>These projectors in many instances depend, +of course, upon the locations where the greatest +aerial activities take place, run up as high as +four and a half feet in size, and with three or +four searchlights playing into the heavens it +is very easy to discern an aeroplane, unless it +is flying very high.</p> + +<p>The French 75’s make a wonderful anti-aircraft +gun that, with the remarkable perfection +that gunners have attained, insures an enemy +aeroplane quite a warm reception. But, at +best, machines brought down by either side by +anti-aircraft guns are very few, for no matter +how good the marksmanship the aeroplane +always has the advantage. He can take to +higher levels quickly and the higher his elevation +the greater his security.</p> + +<p>When a shot is fired at him in a certain position +he knows that it will be from eight to +eighteen seconds before the projectile will reach +his elevation. By merely changing his course +in a fast machine, four or five seconds will take +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span>him three or four hundred feet away from the +bursting shell. But the frequency of direct +hits in lower altitudes does not warrant aviators +taking chances. They’d better be on their +way.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + CHAPTER XXII + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">HAND GRENADE WORK</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>There are two kinds of hand grenades, offensive +and defensive. The first is employed +in all offensive operations and to explain its +use more clearly it is well to start with the +bombers, popularly known as the suicide club.</p> + +<p>Before an attack is made, in most instances, +a barrage fire is put over on the enemy trenches +and the length of this preparation depends on +the extent of the offensive and on the area +over which it spreads. The purpose of this +barrage fire is to blast out of existence all of +the enemy machine guns on the parapet of the +trenches that are to be attacked.</p> + +<p>It must be understood that with a heavy +barrage fire on their front-line positions the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span>enemy would be unable to keep many men in +readiness at the guns, and the machine guns +themselves would be endangered if they were +left exposed. Therefore they take to the dug-outs +with guns and all other equipment.</p> + +<p>Chosen from the regiments, there are certain +men known as bombers, who are ready, at +a specified time, with another kind of equipment—a +large basket-shaped pocket swinging +at their waists filled with hand grenades. +They are always ready in the front-line trench +to go over at the time set by the command. +The barrage fire still plays on the enemy lines +when the bombers charge across “No Man’s +Land.” It is their task to keep the enemy and +their machine guns in their dug-outs so that +they cannot drag them to the parapets of the +trenches for use against the infantry, which +invariably follows the bombers “over the +top.”</p> + +<p>The grenade used by the bombers in an offensive +of this kind is a trifle larger than a +good-sized lemon; projecting from one end is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span>a pin, on which there is a touch button.</p> + +<p>Touch the button and the pin does the rest. +It ignites a fuse on the end of which is an +explosive cap, similar in design to the caps we +use in this country for dynamite blasting. The +cap sets off the charge which is supposed to +be one of the most powerful and deadliest of +explosives.</p> + +<p>The shell of the grenade is corrugated +into little squares that break up and fly in +all directions when the charge is exploded, +and covers a large area on its mission +of destruction. Much care and skill is required +of the bomber, since he must be able +to throw a grenade with great accuracy and +always far enough to keep himself from being +injured.</p> + +<p>There is a common notion abroad that bombs +are thrown like baseballs, but this idea is +erroneous. The method employed is radically +different. Grenades are timed so that they go +off quickly after reaching their objective and +within five seconds of the time when the first +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span>throwing motion is made and the time fuse is +going.</p> + +<p>During the early part of the war the moment +a grenade was started fusing it was the +desire of the bomber to get it on its way as +quickly as possible. The Germans noticed that +the grenades did not go off for several seconds +after they landed, and, in many instances, +picked them up and hurled them back. Many +of our men were killed in this way before they +learned to measure the time accurately.</p> + +<p>All along the front, in back of the lines, are +fields where one may see companies of men +practicing daily with grenades. Their work is +a most important factor in modern warfare, +as the defenders of a trench rely chiefly on +their machine guns to resist infantry attacks. +Should the bombers contrive to hold the enemy +in their dug-outs, their own infantry can cross +over without having to face a death-dealing +stream of bullets that would be poured into +them by three or four machine guns.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp48" id="208a-i" style="max-width: 25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/208a-i.jpg" alt="A row of trucks a few yards away from some uniformed men sitting."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Awaiting Orders Behind the Front</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Strange to say, of all the men making up the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span>different branches of service around base and +army hospitals one rarely ever sees a maimed +bomber. It is one thing or the other with these +fellows. They come back whole or not at all. +A most dangerous work is that of the bomber, +as he is always the first to go over, and, of +course, offers a tempting mark for whatever +machine guns are not in the dug-outs but remain +on the parapets of an enemy trench.</p> + +<p>Defensive grenades have a different classification +and are employed in a distinctive way. +Any or all infantrymen of an army may be +equipped with this form of grenade. They +are made on a principle diametrically opposite +to that of the offensive grenade. The best of +these are manufactured by an English concern +and are very reliable. The element of +danger in its operation is very slight. They +are used principally for the destruction of +barbed-wire entanglements, in order that infantrymen +may make a quick passage over +“No Man’s Land.”</p> + +<p>Should one of these grenades land alongside +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span>of a post supporting the enemy barbed wire, +the explosion which follows is so tremendous +that it will shatter that post into bits, causing +all of the wire to drop to the ground. This +will afford enough gaps to make passage free +and easy.</p> + +<p>The defensive grenade is vastly different in +structure and function, as the jacket containing +the charge is a tin composition, very light +in construction, so that every particle of force +will be effective at a given point, without the +necessity of having to break through a heavy +iron shell. Just enough weight is used in the +body of this type; it is devoid of the pin and +the button, but has a handle held in place by +a cotter pin on the end of which is a ring. +When the ring is pulled it draws the cotter pin +from the locking device on the body of the +grenade, which holds the handle in a safe +position.</p> + +<p>Before the pin is pulled the bomber must +have the handle clamped down securely in the +palm of his hand with the grenade, for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>moment the handle is allowed to fly up the +grenade begins fusing and must be thrown.</p> + +<p>As long as the handle is held securely in its +original position, even though the pin be +drawn, it is harmless. It is, however, ready +for service in the fraction of a second, and +makes an ideal defensive weapon for instant +use. It can be thrown directly in front of a +man rushing at you with a bayonet, and it will +blow him into fragments. At the same time +there will be perfect security to the one who +launches it, but, at five times the distance, an +offensive grenade would prove a boomerang. +For cutting down enemy barbed wire, there is +nothing so effective, except heavy artillery, +which can compare with this high explosive +hand grenade for terrific power of destruction.</p> + +<p>There is a newer form of grenade now in +use, which is fired from a regular rifle. An +attachment like a cylinder is fastened to the +barrel of the rifle and a regulation cartridge +inserted into the cartridge chamber, as when +it is to be ordinarily fired. Then a grenade is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span>placed in the cylinder and the gun is discharged +while held at the height of the waist +line, the muzzle being elevated or lowered according +to the distance the grenade is to be +thrown. There is a gauge showing where the +grenades will approximately strike at different +elevations of the muzzle, and it is surprising +with what accuracy they will reach their objective. +This method is used where the distance +is too great for throwing by hand. The +ball, when fired, passes down the rifle barrel +and through the grenade, striking a contact +spring, which starts it fusing. The gas from +the explosion of the powder in the chamber +forms the propelling power.</p> + +<p>A great many other contrivances are used +for the launching of grenades, such as various +forms of spring traps. The French have a +pneumatic device,—a cylinder in which the +grenade is placed, and the pressure for launching +it is produced by means of a pump, not unlike +in design that of the automobile tire pump. +All these different devices, while serving a purpose, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span>do not meet all requirements as effectively +as does the grenade which is launched by +hand. It is a most dangerous missile and hard +to get away from.</p> + +<p>One serious danger to which consideration +must be given and into which Americans are +apt to be tempted is the collection of souvenirs +of war. All along the front one sees many +things that are of interest,—unexploded shells, +hand grenades, and the like. The inexperienced, +unsuspecting the danger of such things, +are tempted to pick them up and examine them.</p> + +<p>This has caused many a death. It is a risk +that should never be taken, for it is only another +way of courting death. Not every shell +or grenade that is sent over explodes, and many +actually lie intact for days only to explode at +some slight disturbance. One only needs to +observe the French, who are familiar with all +angles of the game through their three and a +half years’ experience, to learn what they +think about tampering with shell heads.</p> + +<p>A regular corps of men, appointed generally +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span>from some artillery battery, make it their duty +to look after unexploded shells, either by setting +them off, or by carting them away and +burying them,—likewise unexploded hand +grenades. These are collected and buried, but +many an experienced man has come to his +death while clearing up roads and fields of +these unexploded missiles.</p> + +<p>There have been instances known on different +fronts where the Germans have “fixed” +everything they leave on the field, allowing +shells and grenades to lie there for someone +to pick them up. An attractive officer’s helmet +might catch one’s eye and appear to be just +about the most harmless thing in the world. +But to touch it more than likely means death.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"> + CHAPTER XXIII + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">THE AMERICAN Y. M. C. A.</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>An honest confession is said to be good for +what ails you, mentally and physically, so here +goes with reference to my erstwhile ignorance +concerning that great and growing organization +known to all the world as the Young +Men’s Christian Association. I’ll admit my +prejudice. It goes back to the days when I +invented every possible excuse to keep from +going to Sunday-school, and so when I arrived +at maturity I found myself shying toward +the outer curbing every time. I used to pass +quickly these quiet, orderly buildings, fearful +that someone would rush out and thrust a lesson +leaflet into my hand.</p> + +<p>Once I had a friend who, when in earnest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span>conversation, would halt occasionally to point +his long forefinger and say, “Listen to the +truth!”—and that’s the kind of a gesture and +the exact words that I would use now if I +should find it necessary to raise my voice in +defense of the Y. M. C. A.</p> + +<p>I’ll never forget the first one I visited. I +was in Paris on leave of absence, along +with another young man in the same service +as myself. He suggested a visit to the +Y. M. C. A., and, so far as my pleasure was +concerned, he might just as well have suggested +the morgue. The motion was carried, +however, and I found myself being +jostled along, speechless with disgust for having +come all the way from the front-line +trenches to waste my time at such a tame sort +of a place. Visions of being met at the door +with a bundle of “tracts” and a pocket Bible +came into my mind’s eye, but, on the theory +that it never pays to be a joy-killer, I said +nothing. In less time than it takes to tell it +I found myself the worst fooled mortal of my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span>age and weight among all my numerous +friends and acquaintances.</p> + +<p>Our taxicab drew up in front of a palatial +building, which I recognized as our destination, +for I did know the triangular flag of the +Y. M. C. A. We entered a large open court, +where were several small tables and chairs, +reasons for which we learned afterwards. +Ascending a grand stairway we arrived at the +second floor, or Club Room. At once two gentlemen +stepped forward with a cheerful “Hello, +Boys,” and invited us to make ourselves “quite +at home.” Almost immediately thereafter we +were taken in tow and escorted around the +place.</p> + +<p>At this moment I glanced at the peculiar +expression on my friend’s face. We had +been there five minutes, and no one had +handed either of us a Bible—which seemed +most surprising to me. There were spacious +lounging rooms, with big easy chairs, and +tables heaped with books and magazines, also +writing rooms, smoking rooms, victrolas, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span>pianos, billiard and pool tables, just as you find +them in a genuine American club. It reminded +me of good old New York with all its +comforts and ease. The atmosphere was that +of wholesome refinement with a welcome in +every face that beamed our way.</p> + +<p>Our escorts informed us that things were not +exactly in shape as yet, but would be in full +running order very shortly. For a place that +was not in working trim I wondered what could +be done to make it more complete. I was soon +to learn that its growth since the war began +had been phenomenal. It had become the principal +rendezvous for the army boys, a home, +indeed, to which they could come at any time, +day or night, and get good hot baths and +clean up. I was completely surprised, for in +Paris, at the finest hotels, such a thing was +impossible, except on Saturdays and Sundays, +because of the conservation of fuel.</p> + +<p>Then, too, the Y. M. C. A. had established +a Bureau of Tobacco, where the boys could +obtain American cigarettes and cigars at a cost +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span>which was much less than they could be bought +even at home. The French Government would +not allow cigarettes to be sent to the boys in +service, unless the duty, which was prohibitive, +was paid on them. One has to have but a +single experience with “army issue,” the +name applied by the boys to the tobacco passed +out to soldiers, to know what a big satisfaction +it is to be able to walk up to the counter of the +Y. M. C. A. with the feeling of ease one feels +in going into one’s home-town favorite cigar +store or club.</p> + +<p>After showing us everything about the +premises, our escort finally capped the climax +by announcing, “It’s four o’clock. Ice cream +is ready to be served.”</p> + +<p>Now, say, gentle reader, suppose you had +been driving an ambulance for several months, +practically day and night for weeks at a time, +and that all you had known in the way of +“eats” was the same old stuff day in and day +out? And, I ask you again, what would you +say if suddenly you were invited to sit down +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span>beside a daintily covered table in a delightful +courtyard and found yourself confronted with +a heaping big dish of real ice cream. Never +mind your answer. You’d be found “a-hanging +around” the place at four o’clock every +afternoon of your stay in Paris. That’s what +we did, and we were welcomed each time in +that same cordial way.</p> + +<p>In the colder season, when it becomes too +chilly for ice cream, the Volunteer Canteen +Workers of the Y. M. C. A. established a tea +room, where at four p. m. hot coffee, chocolate +and such things as home-made doughnuts, +cakes and pies were served. This place did +not go a-begging for popularity, as may well +be surmised, for it was filled to capacity every +day.</p> + +<p>It would be unjust to create the impression +that the popularity of the American Y. M. +C. A. is due to the fact that it serves good ice +cream. That was only one of the many things +that hit the right spot.</p> + +<p>The biggest attraction, to my mind, was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span>the spirit of sterling good fellowship which +permeated the institution. The welcome +was sincere. There was no snobbishness, +no attitude of “look what we’re doing for +these fellows—shouldn’t they be most awfully +thankful.” There wasn’t a bit of that. +On the other hand there was plenty of +“there’s nothing too good for you boys who +are doing the job out there; we’re going to +serve you!” That is the attitude of the big-minded +business men who have thrown open +the doors of this institution in order that the +boys from “out there” might have comfort +when on furlough in Paris. It was a big +thought and it has kept many a youngster +from going to the devil in that same big city.</p> + +<p>Before I left France, the Y. M. C. A. was +making big strides in the establishment of Huts +and Canteens along the front; also around the +villages where the divisions of the army go for +rest. Here the men at the front can have an +opportunity to purchase food and supplies. +This in itself is a wonderful blessing for, in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span>the devastated towns along the front, it is impossible +to buy anything.</p> + +<p>Imagine the undying impression a man will +retain of this wonderful organization when he +recalls the day he was sent to the rear, drilled +by a Boche bullet and dragging one foot after +the other through the mud and water of the +trenches, chilled to the bone, as he turned a +corner and found tucked away in a hole in a +wall a man who handed him a cup of steaming +hot coffee; or, when that same man lies on a +hospital cot in the rear, recovering, there +comes a representative of this same wonderful +institution with words of cheer and consolation. +Such is the work that these men are doing +and such the wonderful contribution to +humanity it has proved to be!</p> + +<p>While in London I spent most of my time at +the Y. M. C. A. huts. There they serve regular +meals at a maximum cost of fourteen cents, +which consist of soup, meat, potatoes, vegetables, +bread, butter, dessert and coffee. It is +open to any of the men of the Allied armies. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span>I was particularly attracted one day to a group +of boys sitting around a piano in the recreation +room, singing and playing. An American +soldier played the piano, an American sailor +played a violin, a Canadian a banjo, and an +Englishman a mandolin.</p> + +<p>The “choir” was composed of a Belgian, a +Scotch Highlander, an Irishman, a New Zealander, +an Australian and a Frenchman—with +a dozen Americans thrown in. I inquired of +one of our sailors how he liked London? He +replied, “Well, as much as I have seen of it, +it’s fine, but we boys spend most of the time +right here at this piano.”</p> + +<p>I found this to be true, for, no matter what +time I would go there, the same crowd was +always present, and the room filled with blue +smoke thick enough to choke a Chinaman.</p> + +<p>The facts set forth are my only experiences +with the Y. M. C. A., but let me commend to +everyone the wonderful work that this organization +is doing, for if anything can hearten a +man when he is away from all that is near and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span>dear to him it is the attention paid him by big-minded, +big-hearted men who carry on the +field work of the Y. M. C. A. No one preaches +to you when you are under its roof, but there +creeps into one’s heart a new feeling that one +longs to hold on to. I’m for the Y. M. C. A. +strong.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="224b-i-1" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/224b-i-1.jpg" alt="Men stand behind a wooden wall operating machinery."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">A Small “Persuader” at Verdun</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="224b-i-2" style="max-width: 50em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/224b-i-2.jpg" alt="A struct made of sand bags or similar connected to trenches."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Field Telephone Station Controlling the Shell Fire</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"> + CHAPTER XXIV + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">REAR-LINE DIVERSIONS</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>During their leisure hours it is quite necessary +for men to have something of interest +to divert their minds; the French military authorities +have been quick to realize the value +of the old saying that all work and no play +makes Jack a poor fighter.</p> + +<p>There is with each army corps a regularly +established department devoted to the entertainment +of the soldiers. They have also +with them official kinematographers of the +French Army, who take pictures of everything +interesting that transpires in the sector. +The films of one army, through a bureau, are +exchanged with those of an army operating in +another sector, for the benefit of the men so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span>that they can see what is going on at the fronts. +The shows are generally given in some little +village at the rear, where the men who are not +in the trenches are quartered. The program +is changed each day and a sprinkling of comedies +are worked in to give the entertainment +the proper flavor.</p> + +<p>Commencing at seven-thirty to eight p. m. +the little streets are generally packed, long before +the time the doors are to open, and when +they are thrown back you are generally lifted +off your feet by the mad rush and scramble +for seats. After being jostled about like a rubber +ball, you may finally end up inside the +theater—and occasionally outside. It’s a case +of come early or you don’t see the show, because +there are no places large enough in these +small villages to afford accommodation for all +the men that are quartered there.</p> + +<p>On these occasions there is always music furnished +by the regimental bands, and this is one +of the features of the show. Many of these +bands have men who are celebrities known +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span>internationally. We had in our division two +grand opera singers and a violinist, who, before +the war, was the leader of the orchestra +at Monte Carlo.</p> + +<p>As soon as the performance began the +doors were closed to exclude all light, and +the windows covered with heavy drapery. +The minute the soldiers get inside, they light +their pipes and cigarettes and settle down +for an evening’s entertainment. In ten +minutes the place is filled with smoke, and an +hour after the performance commenced it +would seem impossible that a picture could be +thrown on the screen. But no one seems to +mind the smoke barrage so long as they are +afforded amusements to divert their minds.</p> + +<p>Other evenings, at scheduled times, big +events would come off in the form of a drama +or a comedy, produced entirely by the soldiers. +Some sketch was always presented where the +largest men in the regiments took the parts of +angels or some fellow with a beard portrayed +the part of the ardent young lover. Of course, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span>to complete the performance, it was necessary +to have a few women, and these not being +available, someone had to make-up for the +part.</p> + +<p>These were usually picked from among +the mule drivers and cooks of the regiment (or +somebody in similar positions, where daintiness +in the execution of their regular work best +suited them, in the judgment of the impresario, +for the part). There was always a king who +was a very stern ruler, likewise a fearless warrior. +The smallest man with the squeakiest +voice generally fell heir to this rôle. All in all, +the cast was usually very well selected, and it +invariably produced just the effect that the +entertainment committee desired.</p> + +<p>But the concerts given by the military bands +were the real entertainments, after all. They +were sure to exceed one’s expectation, for they +were classical and sublime. Selections from +all of the leading operas were rendered in a +most creditable way, and it was really a great +pleasure to attend them.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV"> + CHAPTER XXV + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">“FOOD WILL WIN THE WAR”</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Upon my return to this country, after having +lived as I did abroad, the billboards with +the caption, “Food Will Win the War,” was +one of the first things that caught my eye, and +I was deeply impressed with its significance, +but a few days after arriving I was also destined +to learn very soon how little these words +seemed to mean to the average American. I +visited, of course, several of the leading cafés +and hotels, and from the menus one could +hardly believe that this country is at war and +allied with people and armies that are badly in +need of food.</p> + +<p>No army can fight efficiently, laborers cannot +toil in the manufacture of equipment and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span>supplies for the armies in the field, unless they +have the proper and sufficient food.</p> + +<p>America little realizes what France has +accomplished along lines of conservation. Reflect, +for the moment, on the following facts. +Before the war, France depended largely +on this country for many foodstuffs, even when +all of her tillers of the soil were following +their agricultural work daily. Upon the outbreak +of war, all her able-bodied men of a +military age were called to the colors. There +was no one left to work the farms but +women, old men and young boys, and naturally +their domestic production fell off, though +the demand for food was ever greater. Moreover, +one must consider the territory that has +been devastated into regions of barren wastes, +for, in August, 1914, when the German armies +swept through northern France to the very +gates of Paris, all the stock on farms were +driven off and confiscated for their troops. +Then in the retreat everything that was productive +was destroyed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span></p> + +<p>It is not difficult to understand why the +internal production of France has suffered a +material decrease, and she must now lean just +that much more on our assistance in the providing +of foodstuffs. With conservation working +in this country we can give them that which +is really unnecessary to us, but vital to them. +An order has just been issued to the French +Army from Headquarters to cut down the daily +bread ration of each soldier, and I want to +say that I know what this means, for I have +lived on it, and for nourishment, at the best, it +is nothing to brag about.</p> + +<p>Some people think they are making a supreme +sacrifice in submitting to our wheatless +day regulation, but they should dwell a moment +on the thought that for over three years the +soldiers, to say nothing of the women and children +of France, have not seen a loaf of white +bread. Their wheatless day is seven days a +week and fifty-two weeks a year.</p> + +<p>I think I know the American people well +enough to feel that they would not stand aside +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span>and selfishly see men, women and children go +without food, especially when they can give it +without any great inconvenience to themselves. +I feel it is the lack of a proper understanding +that is the basic cause of food wasting in this +country, and not a disregard for the suffering +of others.</p> + +<p>Every time we sit down to a meal, either in +the home or in a restaurant, and order more +food than we can consume or need, we are +taking from the reserve which does not morally +belong to us and thereby depriving the man at +the front of sufficient food. I think everyone +will agree with me when I say that if there is +anyone entitled to a decent meal once in a +while it’s the fellow who is ready to give up +his life for his country—and all we are asked +to do is to give up those habits which are unnecessary +and wasteful.</p> + +<p>The great problem of winning this war +rests with the American people, and if each one +does his and her part, that will prove the deciding +factor in defeating the Germans.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233]</span></p> + +<p>A noted statesman of Germany is credited +with saying that Germany has not the slightest +fear of the American Army or Navy. +But when the hundred million people rise up +as a unit with undivided aim—that day will be +the undoing of Germany. Now, this simply +means that it is the American people that Germany +is afraid of.</p> + +<p>It is very difficult to bring the nearness of +the war home to each and every one of us. It +is difficult, indeed, for each to realize that we +are just as much a part of this war as the +boys who wear the uniform abroad. The only +difference is that they have given everything +they have to give and we can only approach +their one hundred per cent liberality by conserving +and rendering every assistance that is +within our power to do by word, deed, and +particularly money.</p> + +<p>Everyone should do his part as an individual +patriot, so that when our hundred million are +working as a unit, the sledge hammer blows of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[234]</span>our nation will be the undoing of a monster +that will be swept from this earth with such +force that it will never again menace liberty +and freedom.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"> + CHAPTER XXVI + <br> + <br> + <span class="fs80">HOMEWARD BOUND</span> + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>It is said to be something of a job to run +over to Europe during these war times, with so +many restrictions in the way of ocean travel, +but if anyone ever found it hard to get there +they should try <i>leaving</i> there. The day we +were given our discharge from the French +Army we started to leave. We soon found +that if it had not been for taxicabs we would +all be there to-day, for when the offices that +control the routine and formality that one has +to go through were finally located, the only +person that was considered was the taxi driver, +seemingly in order that he might come in for +his share of your roll before you go out of the +country.</p> + +<p>First it is necessary to go to the American +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span>Ambassador’s office with your passport, and +establish the fact that you really are yourself.</p> + +<p>Application must be made in writing for +your return passage and all facts about yourself +established. After this is done you get +your stamp of approval, which makes you feel +that you are fairly well started.</p> + +<p>The next in order, however, is a visit to the +United States Consulate’s office, and while this +is not such a great distance away you feel that +it is far enough. Here you get a second stamp +of approval and are directed to the French +Bureau of Military Control. This office is located +out of town, possibly in order to afford +the employees the fresh country air, and while +you’re getting there the taximeter does its +share toward making the trip interesting and +exciting, and causes one to lose all interest in +the passing scenery no matter how beautiful.</p> + +<p>At the French Bureau you surrender your +release from the Army and are given a third +stamp of approval, this time with a paper, +which must be taken to the Prefecture of Police. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span>So again you sit and watch the centimes +turn into francs, until you’re tempted to get +out and walk. But where is this Prefecture +of Police Bureau? Well, it’s about the same +distance on the other side of town as was the +Bureau of Military Control on this side. On +the theory that nothing from nothing leaves +nothing, it would seem that for a weary soldier +the only thing to do was to curl up on the rear +seat and sink into dreamland. It might have +turned out only a bad dream. I have heard +shells flying by at a fast clip, but never did anything +go so fast as the figures on that taximeter.</p> + +<p>From the looks of the records kept at the +Police Bureau I am sure they would know if +there was anything in the world to your discredit, +but if you have a clean bill you are +quickly O. K.’d and are again on your way. +When I got out of there I glanced at my driver, +who was a young fellow when we started out, +but having been gone so long I felt sure by now +he had a beard that he could trip in.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span></p> + +<p>On going back to America by way of England +it is now necessary to pay a call upon the +English Consul in Paris, who will look over the +stamps the various offices have put on your +passport in order to determine whether or not +he would care to have you go back that way. +This was my last taxi ride by way of kicking +off the shackles that held me on foreign soil. +Much as I loved France I was hungry for +home and glad to feel that I was free to go +there.</p> + +<p>The following morning found our crowd on +the train bound for Havre. As we sped along +we passed just back of the front held by the +English and, after an eight-hour trip, arrived +at our destination. After transferring our +baggage we were greeted with the pleasant information +that there had been a storm on the +Channel and many mines had broken loose. +Until the trawlers succeeded in sweeping them +back into harness no boat would leave that +port.</p> + +<p>Now the sad part of this news was that if +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span>this boat did not leave during the night we +would miss our steamer for America—and +the boat did not leave. So we slept on board, +and the next day was spent in the town. That +night we got under way, the storm kept +us company and our steamer did everything +but run upside down. It was a messy-looking +crowd that arrived in Southampton the next +morning, but we stayed only long enough to +attend a meeting of the customs officials, then +we were off for London. We had missed our +boat and must wait four days for a sailing on +another line.</p> + +<p>That night I went to the theater, and after +enjoying a good play for two hours the curtain +descended abruptly and a gentleman stepped +out on the stage to announce that there was +an air raid on, and anyone choosing to leave +could do so. There were a great many people +who got up and left for the shelters that are +provided throughout the city. In less than five +minutes the curtain went up again and the performance +was resumed. When we left the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span>theater autos and police bicycles plastered with +signs, “Take to Cover,” were speeding up and +down the street. Most people went down into +the underground railway stations, but the +Boche did not penetrate the outer defenses +and were only able to drop a few bombs on +the outskirts of the city. During the four +nights we spent in London there were three +air raids.</p> + +<p>A great many American sailors were in +London, and it happened that the Church of +Saint Martin held services while we were +there. We couldn’t miss that chance. The +King and Queen and Princess were in attendance, +as well as Field Marshall French and +Admiral Jellicoe, with other celebrities.</p> + +<p>After four days in London we left for Liverpool +to catch our boat, and sailed for dear old +America on the evening we arrived. Hard +luck seemed to pursue us, for the next morning +we found ourselves at anchor at the mouth +of the river with the consoling news that two +German submarines were lying outside the bar +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span>awaiting our departure. So we stayed there all +day in a dense fog and also that night, with +about twelve other vessels of various sizes.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp47" id="240a-i" style="max-width: 25em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/240a-i.jpg" alt="A uniformed man sitting on the remains of a wall with damanged buildings behind."> + <figcaption> + <p class="noindent">Ruins Along the Lorraine Front</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The following morning we slipped anchor +and in a few hours were well out into the +Irish Sea, the heart of the infested area. If +there is any place where U-boats are thick it is +off the Irish coast. Nothing eventful happened +that first day but our boat was heavily +armed and all the men were at their posts every +minute. Meals were served to the gun crews +at their posts.</p> + +<p>About seven-thirty that night, after we had +come on deck from dinner, there was a report +of a cannon behind us—a U-boat had come +up fifteen hundred yards astern, and, not having +a chance to launch a torpedo, took a shot +at us with a small deck gun. It was so dark +that the U-boat could not be seen, but our gunners +at the stern could see the flash of their +gun and took that for a target. Of course, we +could not see a hit if one was made, but the +U-boat did not fire any more. Probably its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span>officer did not care to try conclusions with so +watchful a foe.</p> + +<p>We did not wait to investigate. Full steam +ahead soon put distance between us. All went +well the rest of the night and the following +day, each minute making our travel safer, and +soon we were well out to sea with chances of +being attacked growing less all the while.</p> + +<p>On her trip previous the same thing had +happened to this vessel, only their opponent +was a little more persistent than ours had been. +The U-boat fired fifty-four shots at her.</p> + +<p>When three days at sea a fire broke out in +one of the holds and spread to the dynamo +room. All hands turned out to fight the flames, +and, considering that they were coming out of +the upper deck hatches for a while, things +looked pretty bad. But at last, with good work +on the part of the crew, it was under control. +It is not very easy to sleep on a boat in mid-ocean +when you know that a fire is smouldering +and likely to break through and spread at +any moment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span></p> + +<p>Four days later we fell in with the American +patrol and the sight of two American warships +was at once a comfort and a delight.</p> + +<p>The only disappointment in store for us was +our failure to arrive at New York early +enough to get up the river and land. We +missed it by half an hour and had to lie in the +Narrows in sight of home all night long! +Rotten luck. However, bad luck is sometimes +good luck, for next morning as we came on +deck there was the Statue of Liberty! I had +seen it hundreds of times but never as I saw +it that beautiful morning. And then, an hour +later, wasn’t it fine to scramble up the gangplank +to see who would be first to put foot on +good old American soil! Home again—<i>home +again</i>.</p> + +<p>What a wonderful feeling!</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <p class="nobreak center fs150 bold" id="Of_all_the_charming_books_that_may"> + Of all the charming books that may + come forth this year, none will be + more welcome than + <br> + <span class="fs150">GEORGINA’S + SERVICE STARS</span> + <br> + <span class="fs120">By Annie Fellows Johnston</span> + <br> + <span class="fs90">TO BE PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 1st</span> + </p> +</div> + + +<p>In it will be found a new story of beloved +Georgina whose Rainbow adventures led into her +tenth year. Now she is older—sweet sixteen, if +you please—and Richard, her playmate of childhood +days, is a grown man of seventeen—and as +devoted as ever. Of course he got into the great +war enough to give Georgina a second star to her +service flag; her father, being a famous surgeon, +his star is rightfully at the top. But watch out +for Richard! (Beautifully illustrated. $1.35 net.) +AS USUAL—FOR ALL THE FAMILY</p> + +<div class="bbox bold"> +<p class="fs150 center">GEORGINA of the RAINBOWS</p> + +<p class="center">Now selling in beautiful popular edition, 60 cts.</p> +</div> + +<p class="bold"> + Britton Publishing Company <span style="float: right;margin-right:1em">New York</span> +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="fs150 center bold"> + He has written another one—and + it is as good as his famous book<br> + <i>“Laugh and Live”</i> +</p> + <hr class="r5"> + <p class="fs170 center bold"> + MAKING LIFE + WORTH WHILE<br> + </p> + <p class="center"> + —that the title of <i>Douglas Fairbanks’</i> + new book to be published in early autumn + </p> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">It is written in his own inimitable style—another +book of inspiration for people of all ages and +either sex—a new vein of optimistic cheer for us +mortals of a war-worn world—another message +from the man who knows how to keep himself +happy and well, and who is willing to pass his +recipe on to others.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<i>His book makes for Success</i><br> +<i>Everybody will want it</i><br> +<br> +<b>12mo.—Beautifully Illustrated with</b> +<b>16 New Photographic Duotones</b><br> +</p> +<table class="autotable"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td><b>Cloth, $1.00</b></td> +<td><b><b>Khaki, $1.00</b></b></td> +</tr> +<tr class="tdr"> +<td><b>Leather, $2.00</b></td> +<td><b>Ooze, $2.50</b></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> +<hr class="full" style="margin-bottom: 0"> +<p class="center"> +To be published September 1 +</p> +<hr class="full" style="margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 0"> +<p class="bold noindent"> +Britton Publishing Company <span style="float: right">New York</span> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <p class="nobreak center fs150 bold" id="Over_the_Seas_for_Uncle_Sam"> + Over the Seas for Uncle Sam + <br> + <span class="fs80"> + By ELAINE STERNE, + <br> + Author of “The Road of Ambition” + </span> + </p> +</div> + + +<p>Miss Sterne is Senior Lieutenant of the Navy +League Honor Guard, which has charge of entertainment +and visitation in behalf of sick and +wounded sailors sent home for hospital treatment. +Their experiences, such as may be published at +this time, now appear in book form. This book +brings out many thrilling adventures that have +occurred in the war zone of the high seas—and +has official sanction. Miss Sterne’s descriptive +powers are equaled by few. She has the dramatic +touch which compels interest. Her book, which +contains many photographic scenes, will be +warmly welcomed in navy circles, and particularly +by those in active service.</p> + + +<p class="center bold"> + <span style="float: left">Cloth</span> Illuminated Jacket <span style="float: right">$1.35 Net</span> +</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <p class="nobreak center fs150 bold" id="Ambulancing_on_the_French_Front"> + <span class="fs80">Ambulancing on the French Front + <br> + By EDWARD P. COYLE + </span> + </p> +</div> + + +<p class="noindent">Here is a collection of intensely interesting episodes +related by a Young American who served as a volunteer +with the French Army—Red Cross Division. His book +is to the field of mercy what those of Empey, Holmes +and Peat have been in describing the vicissitudes of +army life. The author spent ten months in ambulance +work on the Verdun firing line. What he saw and did +is recounted with most graphic clearness. This book +contains many illustrations photographed on the spot +showing with vivid exactitude the terrors of rescue +work under the fire of the big guns.</p> + +<p class="center bold"> + <span style="float: left">Cloth</span> 16 Full page Illustrations <span style="float: right">$1.35 Net</span> +</p> +<hr class="full" style="margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 0"> +<p class="bold noindent"> +Britton Publishing Company <span style="float: right">New York</span> +</p> +<hr class="full" style="margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 0"> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote" id="transnote"> +<h2>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</h2> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been +corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within +the text and consultation of external sources.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in a.m., a. m., p.m., and p. m. spacing have been +retained. Inconsistent hyphenations have been left as is.</p> + +<p>Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, +and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.</p> + +<ul> +<li>Page <a href="#TN-1">47</a>. Replaced “parrafin” with “paraffin”.</li> +<li>Page <a href="#TN-2">161</a>. “Teshez Vous” is probably “Taisez Vous”.</li> +<li>Page <a href="#TN-3">162</a>. “Teshez Vous” is probably “Taisez Vous”.</li> +</ul> +</div> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77797 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/77797-h/images/002b-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/002b-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4dc2436 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/002b-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/003-title-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/003-title-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1995ec3 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/003-title-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/016a-i-1.jpg b/77797-h/images/016a-i-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c762705 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/016a-i-1.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/016a-i-2.jpg b/77797-h/images/016a-i-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b0036b --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/016a-i-2.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/032b-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/032b-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..037e1d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/032b-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/048a-i-1.jpg b/77797-h/images/048a-i-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbea667 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/048a-i-1.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/048a-i-2.jpg b/77797-h/images/048a-i-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c903979 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/048a-i-2.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/064b-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/064b-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..11bbc18 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/064b-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/080a-i-1.jpg b/77797-h/images/080a-i-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b0e08f --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/080a-i-1.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/080a-i-2.jpg b/77797-h/images/080a-i-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e8e892 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/080a-i-2.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/096b-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/096b-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e282dba --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/096b-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/112a-i-1.jpg b/77797-h/images/112a-i-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..54eca19 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/112a-i-1.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/112a-i-2.jpg b/77797-h/images/112a-i-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b607693 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/112a-i-2.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/128b-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/128b-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c06724 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/128b-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/144a-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/144a-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e6cc8a --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/144a-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/160b-i-1.jpg b/77797-h/images/160b-i-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1b1be7f --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/160b-i-1.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/160b-i-2.jpg b/77797-h/images/160b-i-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6bfb7a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/160b-i-2.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/176a-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/176a-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2944978 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/176a-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/192b-i-1.jpg b/77797-h/images/192b-i-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..426b455 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/192b-i-1.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/192b-i-2.jpg b/77797-h/images/192b-i-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd2fa3c --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/192b-i-2.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/208a-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/208a-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..65baa63 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/208a-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/224b-i-1.jpg b/77797-h/images/224b-i-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b0464f --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/224b-i-1.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/224b-i-2.jpg b/77797-h/images/224b-i-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a37811e --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/224b-i-2.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/240a-i.jpg b/77797-h/images/240a-i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9cab159 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/240a-i.jpg diff --git a/77797-h/images/cover.jpg b/77797-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a242112 --- /dev/null +++ b/77797-h/images/cover.jpg |
