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About The Bend bulletin. (Bend, Or.) 1903-1931 | View Entire Issue (July 4, 1918)
FAOR IlKNW lJUTil.KTIN, 11KND OUKflON, TIIUHHDAY, JULY 4, MM i H jflfiH mm aSs - - - CHAPTER XXIII. Gat Attacks and Spies. Three doys after we had silenced Frltr, the Germans sent over gas. It did not cntch us unawares, because the wind had been made to order, that Is, it was blowing from the Gerninn trendies toward ours at the rate of about five miles per hour. Warnings had been passed down tho trench to keep n sharp lookout for pis. We had a new man nt the periscope, on this afternoon In question; I was sitting on tho fire step, cleaning" my rifle, when he called out to me:, "There's n sort of greenish, yellow cloud rolling along the gronud out In front. It's coming " But I waited for no more, grabbing my bayonet, which was detached from tho rifle. I gave the nlarm by banging nn empty shell case, which was hang ing near the periscope. At the same Instant, gongs started ringing down the trench, the slgnnl for Tommy to don his respirator, or smoke helmet, as wo call It. Gas travels quickly, so you must not lose any time; you generally have about eighteen or twenty seconds In which to adjust your gas helmet. A gas helmet Is made of cloth, treat ed with chemicals. There are two win dows, or glass eyes. In It. through which yon can see. Inside there Is a rubber covered tube, which goes In the mouth. Ton breathe through your nose; the gas, passing through the cloth helmet, ia neutralized by tho action of the chemicals. The foul air Is exhaled through the tube In the month, this tube being so constructed that It pre vents the Inhaling of the outside air or igaA One helmet Is good for five hours of the strongest gas. Each Tommy scarries two of them slung around his shoulder In a waterproof canvas bag. iHe must wear this bag at all times, iCven while sleeping. To change a de .ftctlye helmet, you take out the new 'one, hold your breath, pull the old one off, placing the new one over your head, tucking In the loose ends under the collar of your tunic For a minute, pandemonium reigned In our trench Tommies adjusting their helmets, bombers running here and there, and men turning out of the dugouts with fixed bayonets, to man the fire step. Ite-enforceraents were pouring out of the communication trenches. Our gun's crew were busy mounting the machine gun on the parapet and bringing up extra ammunition from the dugout. German gas la henvler thnn air and soon fills the trenches and dugouts, where It has been known to lurk for two or three days, until the nlr Is purl lied by means of large chemical spray ers. We had to work quickly, as Fritz generally follows the gas with an In fantry attack. A company man on our right was too slow In getting on his helmet ; he sank to the ground, clutching nt his throat, and ufter a few spasmodic twlstlngs went West (died). It was horrible to see him die, but we were powerless to help him. In the corner of a traverse, a little, muddy cur dog, one of the company's pets, was lying dead, with his paws over his nose. It's the anlmalB that suffer the most the horses, mules, cattle, dogs, cats and rats they having no helmets to save them. Tommy does not sympa thize with rats In a gas attack. At times gas has been known to travel, with dire results, fifteen miles behind the lines. A gas, or smoke helmet, as It Is called, at tho best Is n vile-smelling thing, and it Is not long before one gets u violent headucho from wearing it Our elghtecn-pounders were burst ing In No Man's Land, In an effort, by tho artillery, to disperse the gas clouds. The fire step was lined with crouch lng men, bayonets fixed, and bombs near at hand to repel the expected at tack. Our artillery had put a barrage of curtain fire on the German Hues, to try und break up their uttack und keep back re-enforcements. I trained my machine gun on their trench and Its bullets were raking tho parapet. Then over they came, bnyoncts glis tening. In their respirators, which have a largo snout In front, they look ed Jlko some horrible nightmare. All along our trench, rifles and ma chine guns spoke, our shrapnel was bursting over their heads. They went down In heups, but new ones took tho places of the fallen. Is'nthlng could stop that mad rush. The Germans j-eached our barbed wire, which had previously been demolished by their shells, then it was bomb against bomb, and the devil for all, Suddenly my head seemed to burst from a. loud "crack" in my. ear. Then TO II 1 WHO WENT " V)' MlfflKiWmiO MACHINE: GUNnDl.tfRYINGItffRAffC AMmmnnrrnrcv tuy hrad began to swim, throat got dry, and n heavy pressure on the lungs warned tne that my helmet was leak ing. Turning by gun over to No. 2, I changed helmets. The trench started to wind like a snake, and sandbags appeared to be floating In the air. The noise wns hor rible; I sank onto the lire step, needles seemed to be pricking my flesh, then blackness. I was nwnkened by one of my mates removing my smoke helmet. How de licious that cool, fresh air felt In my lungs. A strong wind had arisen and dis persed the gas. They told me that I had been "out" for three hours; they thought I was dead. The attack had been repulsed after a hard fight. Twice the Germans had gained n foothold In our trench, hut had been driven out by counter-attacks. The trench was filled with their dead and ours. Through n uerlscope I counted eighteen dead Germans in our wire; they were n ghastly sight In their horrible-looking respirators. I examined my first smoke helmet. A bullet had gone through It on the left side, Just grazing my ear. Tho gas had penetrated through the hole made In the cloth. Out of our crew of six we lost two killed and two wounded. That night we buried all of the dead, excepting those In No Man's Land. In death there Is not much distinction; friend and foe are treated alike. After the wind had dispersed the gas the H. A. M. C. got busy with their chemical sprayers, spraying out the dugouts and low parts of the trenches to dissipate any fumes of the German gas which may have been lurking In same. Two days after the gns attack I was sent to division headquarters. In an swer to an order requesting that cap tains, of units should detail a man whom they thought capable of passing an examination for the divisional In telligence department. Ik-fore leaving for this assignments I went along the front-line trench say ing good-by to my mates and lording It over them, telling them that I had A Qas Helmet. clicked a cushy Job behind the lines, and how sorry I felt that they had to stay In the front line and argue nut tho war with Fritz. They were envious but still good-natured, and as I left the trench to go to the rear they shouted after me: "Good luck, Yank, old hoy; don't forget to send up a few fags to your old mates." I promised to do this and left. I reported at headquarters with six teen others and passed the required ex amination. Out of the sixteen appli cants four were selected. I wus highly elated because I was, I thought, In for a cushy Job back at the buse. Tho next morning tho four reported to division headquarters for Instruc tions. Two of tho men were sent to largo towns In the rear of the lines with an easy Job. When it came our turn tho olllcer told us wo were good men and had passed u very creditable examination. My tin hut began to get too small for me, and I noted that the other man, Atwell by name, wus sticking his chest out more than usual. Tho olllcer continued: "I think I can use you two men lo great advantage In the front line. Here are your orders and Instructions, also the pass which gives you full authority us special M, P. detailed on Intelligence work. He port at tho front line according to your Instructions. It Is risky work and I wish you both the best of luck." My heart dropped to zero and A't well's fuce was a study. Wo suluted and left. That wishing us tho "best of luck" sounded very ominous in our ears; if ho had said "I wish you both a swift and painless death" It would have been more to Uig point, mm When we find read our instructions we knew wo were In for It good and plenty. What Atwell sold Is not fit for pub lication, but I strongly seconded his opinion of the war, army and divisional headquarters In general. After n hit our spirits rose. We were full-fledged spy-catchers, because our Instructions nnd orders, said so. Wo Immediately reported to tho nearest French estamluet and had sev eral glasses of muddy water, which they called beer. After drinking our beer we left the estamluet and hulled an empty ambulance. After showing tho driver our posses wo got In. The driver was going to the part of tho lino where we had to re port. How the wounded ever survived n ride In that ambulance was Inexplica ble to me. It was worse than riding ou a gun carriage over a rock road. The driver t m- hiii.uii.., . was a corporal of the It. A. M. C, and he had the "wind up," that Is, ho had tut aversion to being under lire. I wns riding on the seat with him while Atwell was sitting. In the iimbni lunce, with his legs hanging out of the back. As we passed through n shell-destroyed village a mounted military po liceman stopped us and Informed the driver to he very careful when we got out on the open rood, as It was very dangerous, becnuso the Germans lately had acquired the habit of shelling It. The corporal asked the trooper If there was any other way around, and was Informed that there was not. Upon this he trot very nervous and wanted to turn back, but we Insisted that ho pro ceed and explained to him that he would get Into serious trouble with his commanding olllcer If he returned without urdera; we wanted to ride, not walk. From his conversalon wo learned that he had recently come from Kng land with n draft and had never been under Are, hence his nervousness. We convinced him that there was not much danger, nnd ho appeared greatly relieved. When we nt last turned Into the open road we were not so confident. On each side there had been a lino of trees, but now, nil that was left of them were torn and battered stumps. The fields on each side of the road were dotted with recent shell holes, and we passed several In the road It self. We had gone about half a mile when a shell came whistling through the air and burst In a field about three hundred yards to our right. Another soon followed this one and burst on the edge of the road about four hun dred yards In front of us. I told the driver to throw In his speed clutch, as we must be In sight of the Germans. I knew the signs; that battery was ranging for us, nnd the quicker we got out of Its zone of fire the better. The' driver wus trem bling like a leaf, and every minute I expected him to pile us up In the ditch. I preferred the Germnn Are. In tlw back Atwell wns holding onto the straps for denr life, and was sing ing at the top of his voice: Wo beat you at the Marne, We beat you at the Aline, We gave you hell at Neuve Chaplle, And here we are again. Just jlit-ri w li't a st"" II t! l hole nnd nearly capsized. Upon a loud yell from the rear I looked behind, and there was Atwell sitting In the middle of the road, shaking his list at us. His equipment, which ho had taken off upon getting Into the ambulance, was strung out on the ground, nnd his rlllo wns In the ditch. I shouted to the driver to stop, and in his nervousness he put on the brakes. We nearly pitched out head first. Hut the applying of those brakes saved our lives. The next Instant there was a blinding flash and a deaf ening report. All that I remember Is thut I was flying through the air, und wondering if I would land In a soft spot. Then the lights went out. When I enrno to, Atwell was pouring water on my head out of his bottle. On the other side of tho road the cor poral waB sitting, rubbing a lump on his forehead with his left hand, whllo his right arm was bound up In a blood soaked bandage. He was moaning very loudly. I had an awful headache und the skin on the left side of my face was full of gravel and the blood was trickling from my nose. But that ambulance was turned over In tho ditch nnd wns perforated with holes from fragments of tho shell. One of the front wheels was slowly revolv ing, so I could not have been "out" for n long period. The shells were still screaming over head, but the buttery had raised Us fire and they were bursting in u little wood about half a mile from us. Atwell spoko up. "I wish that olll cer hadn't wished us tho best ' luck," Then ho commenced swearing. I couldn't help laughing, though my head was nigh to bursting. Slowly rising to my feet I felt myself all over to make suro that there were no broken bones. Hut outside of n fow bruises and scratches I was all right. The corporal was still moaning, but moro from shock thnn pain. A shell splinter had gone through the flesh of his right forearm. Atwell and I, from our flrst-nld pouches, put a tourniquet on his arm to stop tho bleeding und then gathered up our equipment. Wo realized that wo were In a, dan gerous spot. At any minute a shell might drop on tho road and llnluh us off, Tho village wo hod left was not very far, so wo told tho corporal ho had better go back to It and get his arm, dressed, nnd then report tho fact of tho destruction of tho ambulance to tho military police. Ho was well ablo to walk, so ho set off in tho direction of tho village, while Atwell and I con tinued our way on foot. Without, further mishap wo arrived at our destination, ami reported to bri gade headquarters for rations nnd bil lets. That night we slept In the battalion sergeant major's dugout. Tho next morning I went to n flrst-nld post nud had the gravel picked out of my face. Tho Instructions we received from division headquarters read that we were out to catch spies, patrol trenches, search German dead, reconnolter In No Man's Land, nud tnko part In trench raids and prevent thu robbing of the dead. I had a pass which would allow mo to go anywhere at any time In tho cV tor of the lino held by our division. It gave mo authority to stop and search uudujim muter lorries, wucous. am' even otllcors FiinT soldTeTs, whenever" my suspicions deemed It necessary. Atwell nnd I were allowed to work to gether or singly It was left to our judgment Wo decided to team up. Atueii was a good companion nnd very "itertalnlng. He had an utter contempt for danger, but was not fool hardy. At swearing he was a wonder. A cavalry regiment would have been prottd of him. Though born In F.ng land, he had spent several years In New York. He was about six feet one, ami as strong as an ox. We took up our quartern In n largo dugout of the royal engineers, and mapped out our future actions. This dugout was ou the edge of it large cemetery, nnd several times at night In returning to It, wu got many a fall stumbling over the graves of KngllMh, French and German. Atwell ou these occasions never Indulged In swearing, though at any other time, at the least stumble, ho would turn the air blue. A certain section of our trenches was held by the ltoyal Irish rifles. For several days a very strong rumor went the rounds that n German spy was In our midst. This spy was supposed to be dressed In the uniform of a British staff olllcer. Several stories had been told about an olllcer wearing a red band around his cap, who pn trolled tho front-line nnd communication trenches asking suspicious questions as to loca tion of batteries, machine-gun emplace ments, nnd trench mortars. If a shell dropped In u battery, on a machine gun or even near a dugout, this spy was blamed. The rumor gained such strength thnt an order wns Issued for nil troops to Immediately place under arrest anyone answering to the description of the py. Atwell nnd I were on the qui vlre. We constantly patrolled the trenches at night, and even In the day, but the spy always eluded us. One day whllo In a communication trench, we were horrified to see our brigadier general, Old Pepper, being brought down It by a'htg private of the ltoyal Irish rifles. The general was walking In front, and the private with fixed bayonet was following In the rear. We saluted as the general passed us. The Irishman had n broad grin on his face and we could scarcely believe our eyes the general wns under arrest. After passing n few feet beyond us, tho general turned, and said In a wrathful voice to Atwell : "Tell this d n fool who I urn. He's arrested me as a spy." Atwell was speechless. Tho sentry butted In with: "Nono o' thnt gassln out o' you. Hack to headquarters you goes, Mr. Fritz. Open that face o' yours again, an' I'll dent In your napper with the butt o' tne rifle." The general's face was a sight to be hold. He was fairly boiling over with rage, hut he shut up. Atwell tried to get In front of tho sentry to explain to him that It really vns the general he had under arrest, but the sentry threatened to run his bayonet through him. and would havu done It, too. Ho Atwell stepped aside, nud remained silent. I was nearly bursting with suppressed laughter. Onu word, und I would have exploded. It Is not exactly diplomatic to laugh ut your general In such u predicament. The sentry nnd his prisoner arrived at brigade headquarters with disas trous results to the sentry. The Joko was that the general had personally Issued tho order for tho spy's arrest. It was a habit of the gen eral to walk through the trenches on rounds of inspection, unattended by uny of his stuff. The Irishman, being new In the regiment, had never seen the general before, so when he cumo across him alone in a communication trench, he promptly put him under ar rest. Brigadier generals wear a red band around their caps. Next day wo passed tho Irishman tied to the wheel of it Umber, tho be ginning of his sentence of twenty-ono days, Held punishment No. 1. Never before huvo I seen such a woebegone expression on a man's fuce. For several days, Atwell and I mndo ourselves scarce around brigade head quarters. Wu did not want to meet tho general. Tho spy was never caught (To Bo Continued.) "OVER THE TOP" with EMPEY himself in the leading role of the 10 reel Vitagraph Super Feature. The Grcateit War Picture ever made, will be at the Liberty Theatre July 2-3-4 It comes to Bend immediately following it's remarkable Port Jand run. f Illir !" r - The man who knows the com fort of a good-tasting chew sticks toRealGravelyChewing Plug every time. Lasts longer than ordinary tobacco,- too. mB P. run- tftissssi ORDER NUMBER FOR MEN OF 21 i.orrintv iiki.d at v.hhixton HIVKM .MKN THItOl'UHOUT NA TION tiii: oitiii:u in which TIIKY AUK TO UK CAI.I.KD. (From Thursdny'n Dally.) In Deschutes county tho numbers drawn effect 41 registrants, us fol lows, tho number given the regis trant by thu local draft board ap pearing on tho right, nnd tho order In which they are to bo drawn tor military survlco appearing on tho left: 10 Fred Joseph Mnrchand 1 20 Lowlt Uoorgo Unniert 2 17 llalph Clifton Curtis 3 4 Charles Frederick l.uco, Jr. 4 28 Alexander Albert KgKloAton ft 41 August Mueller II 32 Alfred (leorge Klloff 7 16 Donald Morris 8 33 Jay P. Hponcer 9 13 Kmll Joseph Carroz 10 3 Mahlau Couch 11 35 l.awrunco Wulchnr 12 18 Karl Jcssn VnnDumark 13 39 August Johnson Yotingson 1 1 30 William Alfred Muiinol! 15 25 Clyd O. Ilauck 10 12 Jennings Ilrynu Davis 17 34 William F. Trombleo 18 2 Wnrron Kvnns 19 8 Algor W. Davis 20 4 0 Jim O'.S'oll 21 38 Froderlck II. Fngcn 22 7 Fred F. Ilreost 23 27 Lawrence Honey 24 1 Kvorott Joseph Maeo 25 ; James Arthur Harris 2D 24 Paul Didherl I.oreo 27 14 John Henry Ferroll 2S 19 Mllfred Wayno Cliitso 2D 37 Mis O. Hkjcrsuu 30 3C Iteed A. Wlnklo 31 15 Itnlph Morton McClaln 32 20 William M. Hcott 33 31 Kugono tieorgo Comstock 34 23 Herbert II. Itohlnson 35 22 Hurry Mllo Dietrich 30 21 Htanloy I.. Fish 37 9 Anion (Hon Wlmvard 38 20 Harold Hmlth 39 C Kdward Winters 40 Alfred II. Schultz 42 Fro Constipation and HIIIouniii-no. (loo. Jonnor, 410 Labor St., Han Antonio, Tox writes: "Foley Ca thartic Tablets havo proven thu best laxaflvo I havo takun and I recom mend thorn to sufferers from coustl nation or biliousness. Thoy should ho In every traveling mun' grip," Itellovo sick iKwiuaclu)- bloating or other condition caused by bud diges tion. Sold ovorywhoro. Shoes for Real Service OUH HPKCIAIrV IH TO MAUN HIIOKH THAT HTAND THIS TKHT NAP-A-TAN SHOE J. E. TILT SHOE A. HANSON LOGGER. BOND STREET R. H. LOVEN War Time Economy! Instead of Buying New Clothes, Fluve Your Old Ones Made Over und Renovated. I aUAKANTKB RATIHFACTION AT UKASONAnLK PRICKS Central Oregon Cleaning Works H. HARRIS, Proprietor n Peyton Brand Real Gravely Chewing Plug 10c n pouch and worth it Grtiitytaitiiomuchlon frit coiti homorHochtwlhananlttutryplug D. Gravely Tobacco Company Danville, Vlralnla x3 y----ll-vl MRS. IB. THAYER ANSWERS CALL PAHMI-X AWAY IN THIS CITY YKH. TF.UDAY AFTKUNOON I'l'NKIt Al HKUVICKS HIXD HATt'llDAY AITF.UNOON. (From Thursday's Dally.) Mrs. Jenslu II, Thayur, for the past four yours u resident of ileud nud DuftehutcK county passed nwny nt the homo of Mrs. Htrlngnr lu Kenwood yesterday afternoon. Funeral serv ices will bo hold at 2 o'clock Hatur afternoon at tho homo on Portland avenue. Mrs. Thayer was born In .Motnoti cnl, 111., In 18C4, and lived thuro for a numbor of years. In 1900 sho went to Montana with her two sous, later coming to Portland In 1908. In 1915 shn moved to Ilond, and located ou x homestead In tho Dry Lake country, living there until rocontly. Two sous survive her, Hhulby, who llvns In this city, and William, ho ls In tho navy. WORK OR FIGHT ORDER AFFECTS HEN I) MEN Ioejtl War Hoard Will Commeurn Iimttllgiiflnim Wlllilti l-Vw !n)x, Nii)n HaiM-r. (From Monday's Dally.) That there will bo hoiiih action tnkon by the local war hoard In thw government "work or light" onUr, which goes Into effect ovsr tho na tion today, w hunt In men of dfarnd ulasslllcatlou aro prohibited front ungating In ciirtHln clnssss of mn ploymuiit, Is tho opinion of J. II. Manor, sucrutary of tho local war board. Mr. Manor stated this morn lug that thoro woro without ques tion of doubt some men In llmid and Diischutos county who would count tilidor thu order, and an Investigation will ho communced liumedlittoly. At tho present tliiio tho local hoard Is busily engaged In segregat ing tho molt who aro to bo called during tho present mouth and lit tlu reclassification of tho mou recom mended by tho legal advisory hoard. Fmvi-r nt Health HcnortN This Ytntr. Increased expenses lu traveling and at health resorts will keep many hay fovor and asthma sufforors homo this summer. Foley's Honey nnd Tar Is recommended an tt satisfactory romody for hay fover and asthma. It hoals and soothes, allays liillamma tlnn and irritation, and eases tho choking sensation. Sold ovorywhoro. HEND OKEGON J020 Wall Street n ""xESExacr