The day book. [volume], August 20, 1914, LAST EDITION, Image 14

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
storm was bound to break over us.
Torpedo tubes above us
they'll spurt in a minute
they're going to fling down dynamite
and then the magnesiujn
bombs blazed out" - cries and
crashes rose wherever" we looked
then they are gone again
but we had to retire from our
trenches senselessly, like au
tomata, we marched for the whole
of thatday. I felt the goose-flesh
creeping over my skin; my nerves
ached, and if the bayonet were not
at the small of my back I should
chuck my rifle away, and roll sprawl
ing in the damp sand.
And yet four days afterward they
have contrived to get us to make a
stand again. For in our rear, on the
other bank of the river, our regiments
have crossed, and are groping for
new positions. But we have to cover
their passage at any cost
We were now drawing on our last
reserve. We were still standing with
our spades in our hands, ana throw
ing, with aching backs and arms,
more soil on the works, when in front
of us we saw figures passing up and
down on the grey, twilight field.
They were grubbing the soil up
busily, and we were putting some
thing we could not see into holes and
covering it in again.
They went about their work noise
lessly no incautious step and no un
guarded movement and when they
came back again and passed us, and
marched on, their faces were livid
and their lips dumb. They proved
themselves to be first-class moles.
They had done a good bit of work.
They had underminea the earth.
They had stuffed the ground with ex
plosives, and if the enemy comes to
night we shall repay the gifts (hey
javmueu upuu u ironi we SKy me
other day with interest. They have
arranged it all like a rat-trap.
Over there, beyond the mined field
even, two companies are lying in ex
tended order. And midway between
them, without a vestige of cover,
stands our battery on the open field.
It is planted there as if it were doom
ed to be delivered into the enemy's
hands.
And now we are lying in our long
trenches, and are peering out into
the field, with our eyes glued to the
sharply outlined silhouettes "of the
guns. The sun has set some time A
agp.
From the far distance the thin rat
tle of musketry reaches us clearly.
Wonder if it'll last much linger?
Our orders are to remain under
arms.
We have put on our overcoats. The
night is chilly, and lowering, I gaze
out over the field of death nothing
makes any difference to me now
if only it were over quickly.
A scout has come in, and delivered
his report In a whisper.
Our instructions are not to fire
before the order to fire is given, and
then to fire into the air.
In the background, far on the hori
zon, the ground rises, and the gray
skyline stands out against the cloudy
sky. The musketry fire has become
hotter from minute to minute, and
has increased to a threatening rattle.
To the right and left of us fighting is
in full swing. In front of us the
mined field lies silent, and the two
companies, too, are lying silent in
their rifle-pits.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow.) I
o o
THINGS YOU NEVER HEAR
"No, madam, these eggs are not
very fresh."
"You're sure $10 will be enough,
old man?"
"What an ugly baby? Aren't you v'
ashamed to own such a little satyr?"
Columbia State.
Pioneer days are not entirely over,
at least for women. Mrs. Belle Van
Dorn Herbert, president of the In
ternational Congress of Farm Wo
men, is the first woman to be dec
orated with the cross of the Order
of Agriculture of Belgium.