Mayes County Republican (Pryor, Okla.), Vol. 11, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 15, 1918 Page: 3 of 8
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*
MAYES CPUMTY REPUBLICAN
OVER .THE TOP
By An American Arthur Guy Empey*
Soldier WhoWent M.chiwipunner, Saving in France
EMPEY AND A COMRADE HAVE EXCITING EXPERIENCE
WHILE ON LISTENING POST DUTY.
Bmpey g company 1. sent Into the front-line trenches, where he takes
hl« first turn on the Are step while the bullets whls overhead. Empey
learns as comrade falls, that death lurks always In the trenches
flfe^ WUh olfUl*',‘e8h by rMCUlng wonnded under hot
. ' „ th, pTck ®nd "hovel Kmpey has experience as a trench digger
In No Han s Land. Much attention Is required by wounded men from
the corps of doctors and nurses. On listening post detail
CHAPTER XIV—Continued.
—10—
If a man Is killed he Is burled, and
the responsibility of the government
ceases, excepting for the fact that his
people receive a pension. But if a man
ta wounded It takes three men from
the firing line, the wounded man and
two men to carry him to the rear to
the advanced first-aid post. Here be Is
attended by a doctor, perhaps assist-
ed by two R. A. M. C. men. Then he Is
put Into a motor ambulance, manned
by a crew of two or three. At the field
hospital, where he generally goes un-
der an anesthetic, either to have his
wounds cleaned or to be operated on,
he requires the services of about three
to five persons. From this point an-
other ambulance ride Impresses more
men In his service, and then at the am-
bulance train, another corps of doc-
bom, R. A. M. 0. men, Red Cross nurses
and the train's crew. From the train
ho enters the base hospital or casualty
clearing station, where a good-sized
corps of doctors, nurses, etc., are kept
busy. Another ambulance Journey Is
next in order—this time to the hospital
■hip. He crosses the channel, arrives
In Blighty—more ambulances and per-
haps a ride for five hours on an Eng-
lish Red Cross train with Its crew of
Red Cross workers, and at last he
reaches the hospital. Generally he
itays from two to six months, or long-
er, In this hospital. From here he Is
•ent to a convalescent home for six
weeks.
If by wounds be Is unfitted for fur-
ther service, he Is discharged, given a
^■nslon, or committed to a soldiers’
borne for the rest of his life—and still
the expense piles up. When you real-
that all the ambulances, trains and
ships, not to mention the man power,
hsed In transporting a wounded man,
could be used for supplies, ammunition
and re-enforcements for the troops at
the front. It will not appear strange
that from a strictly military stand-
point, a dead man Is sometimes better
than a live one (If wounded).
Not long after the first digging party,
our general decided, after a careful
tour of Inspection of the communica-
tion trenches, upon “an ideal spot,” as
he termed it, for a machine-gun em-
placement; took his map, made a dot
on It, and as he was wont, wrote "dig
here,” and the next night we dug.
There were twenty In tne party, my-
self Included. Armed with picks,
shovels and empty sandbags we ar-
rived at the "Ideal spot” and started
digging. The moon was very bright,
but we did not care as we were well'
out of sight of the German lines.
We had gotten about three feet
down, when the fellow next to me, aft-
er a mighty stroke with his pick, let go
of the handle, and pinched his nose
with his thumb and forefinger, at the
■me time letting out the explosion,
“Oott strafe me pink, I'm bloody well
gassed, not 'alf I ain’t.” I quickly
turned In hls direction with an Inquir-
ing look, at the same instant reaching
for my gas bag. I soon found out what
was ailing him. One whiff was enough
■nd I lost no time In also pinching my
nose. The stench was awful. The rest
of the digging party dropped their
picks and shovels and beat It for the
weather side of that solitary pick. The
officer came over and Inquired why the
work had suddenly ceased, holding our
noses, we simply pointed In the dlrec-
non of the smell. He went over to the
pick, Immediately clapped hls hand
over hls nose, made an “about turn”
and came back. Just then our cap-
tain came along and Investigated, hut
after about a minute said we had bet-
ter carry on with the digging, thnt he
did not see why we should have
stopped as the odor was very faint,
but If necessary he would allow us our
gas helmets while digging. He would
stay and see the thing through, but he
had to report back to brigade head-
quarters Immediately. We wished that
we were captains and also had a date
at brigade headquarters. With our gas
helmets on we again attacked that hole
and uncovered the decomposed body of
a German; the pick was sticking In hls
chest One of the men fainted. I was
thnt one. Upon this our lieutenant
halted proceedings and sent word back
to headquarters and word came back
that after we filled In the hole we could
knock off for the night This was wel-
come tidings to us, because—
Next day the general changed the
dot on hls map and another emplace-
ment was completed the following
Might
The odor from the dug-np, decom-
posed human body has an effect which
Is hard to describe. It first produces
a nauseating feeling, which, especially
afltr eating, causes vomiting. This re-
lieves you temporarily, but soon a
weakening sensation follows, which
leaves you limp as a dlshrag. Tour
spirits are at their lowest ebb and you
feel a sort of hopelessness and a mad
desire to escape It all, to get to the
open fields and the perfume of the flow-
ers In Blighty. There la a sharp,
prickling sensation in the nostrils,
which reminds one of breathing coal
gas through a radiator tn the floor, and
you want to sneeze, but cannot This
was the effect on me, surmounted by a
vague horror of the awfulness of the
thing and an ever-recurring reflection
that, perhaps I, sooner or later, would
be Id such a state and be brought to
light by the blow of a pick In the hnuds
of some Tommy on a digging party.
Several times I have experienced this
odor, but never could get used to It;
the enervating sensation was always
present. It made me hate war and
wonder why such things were counte-
nanced by civilization, and all the spice
and glory of the conflict would disap-
pear, leaving the grim reality. But
after leaving the spot and filling your
lungs with deep breaths of pure, fresh
air, you forget and once again want to
be “up and at them.”
CHAPTER XV.
Listening Post
It was six In the morning when we
arrived at our rest billets, and we were
allowed to sleep until noon; that is,
If we wanted to go without our break-
fast For sixteen days we remained
m
m
• A.
Entrance to a Dugout
In rest billets, digging roads, drilling,
Rnd other fatigues, and then back Into
the front-line trench.
Nothing happened that night but the
[ next afternoon I found out that a
bomber la general utility man in a sec-
tion.
About five o’clock In the afternoon
our lieutenant came down the trench
and stopping In front of a bunch of us
on the fire atep, with a broad grin on
hls face, asked:
"Who Is going to volunteer for listen-
ing post tonight? 1 need two men."
It Is needless to say no one volun-
teered, because It Is anything but a
cushy Job. I began to feel uncomfort-
able as I knew it was getting around
for my turn. Sure enough, with another
grin, he said:
“Empey, you and Wheeler are due,
so come down Into my dugout for In-
structions at six o'clock."
Just as he left and was going around
a traverse, Fritz turned loose with a
machine gun and the bullets ripped the
sandbags right over bis head. It gave
me great pleasure to see him duck
against the parapet He was getting s
taste of what we would get later out
la front
Then, of course. It began to rain. I
knaw It was the forerunner of a mta-
•rable night for us. Every time I had
to go oat ta trout it Jot naturally
rained. Old Jupiter Plavins must have
had It In for me.
At six we reported for Instructions.
They were simple and easy. All wo
had to do waa to crawl out Into No
Man’s Land, He on our bellies with our
ears to the ground and listen for the
tap, tap of the German engineers or
sappers who might be tunneling under
No Man’s Land to establish a mine-
head beneath our trench.
Of course, In our orders we were told
not to be captured by German patrols
or reconnoitering parties. Lots of
breath Is wasted on the western front
giving silly cautions.
As soon as It was dark, Wheeler and
I crawled to onr post which was about
halfway between the lines. It was
raining bucketfuls, the ground was ■
sea of sticky mud and clung to os like
glne.
We took turns In listening with onr
ears to the ground. I would listen for
twenty mlnites while Wheeler would
be on the qul vlve for German patrols.
We each wore a wrlstwatch, and ho-
lleve me, neither one of ns did over
twenty minutes. The rain soaked as
to the skin and our ears were full of
mod.
Every few mlnntes a bullet weMd
crack overhead or a machine gun would
traverse back and forth.
Then all firing suddenly ceased. I
whispered to Wheeler, “Keep your eye
skinned, mate; most likely Fritz has
a patrol out—that's why the Boches
have stopped firing.”
We were each armed with a rifle and
bayonet and three Mills bombs to be
used for defense only.
I had my ear to the ground. All of
a sudden I heard faint, dull thuds.
In a low but excited voice I whispered
to Wheeler, "I think they are mining,
listen."
He put hls ear to the ground and
In an unsteady voice spoke Into my
ear:
“Tank, that’s a patrol and It’s head-
ing our way. For God's sake keep
still.”
I was as still as a mouse and was
scared stiff.
Hardly breathing and with eyes try-
ing to pierce the Inky blackness, we
waited. I would have given a thou-
sand pounds to have been safely in
my dugout.
Then we plainly heard footsteps and
onr hearts stood still.
A dark form suddenly loomed up tn
front of me; It looked as big ns the
Woolworth building. I could hear
the blood rushing through my veins
and it sounded aa loud aa Niagara
falls.
Forma seemed to emerge from the
darkness. There were seven of them
In all. I tried to wish them sway. I
never wished harder In ray life. They
muttered a few words ta German and
melted Into the blackness. I didn’t
stop wishing either.
All of a sudden we heard a stumble,
a muddy splash, and a muttered "Don-
ner und Blltzen." One of the Boches
had tumbled into a shell hole. Neither
of us laughed. At that time—It didn’t
strike us as funny.
About twenty minutes after the Ger-
mans had disappeared something from !
the rear grabbed me by the foot I
nearly fainted with fright. Then a
welcome whisper In a cockney accent. }
“I s’y, myte, we've come to relieve
you."
Wheeler and I crawled back to our
trench; we looked like wet hens and,
felt worse. After a swig of rum we I
were soon fast asleep on the Are step j
In our wet clothes.
The next morning I was as stiff as a
poker and every Joint ached like a
bad tooth, but I was still alive, so it
did not matter.
CHAPTER XVI.
Batter?"D 238.
■nie day after this I received the
glad tidings that I would occupy the
machine gunners’ dugout right near
the advanced artillery observation
post. This dugout was a roomy affair
dry as tinder, and real cots In It
These cots had been made by the
R. E.’a who had previously occupied
the dugoot. I was the first to enter
and promptly made a signboard with
my name and number ou it and sus-
pended It from the foot of the most
comfortable cot therein.
In the trenches It Is always “first
come, first served," and this Is lived
tip to by all.
F- A- men (Rcyal Field ar-
tillery) from the nearby observation
post were allowed the privilege of
stopping ta this dngont when off duty.
One of these men, Bombardier Wil-
son by name, who belonged to Bat-
tery D 238, seemed to take a liking
to me, and I returned this feeling.
In two days' time we were pretty
chummy, and he told me how hls bat-
tery in the early days of the war had
put over a stunt on Old Pepper, and
had gotten away with It.
I will endeaver to give the story as
far aa memory will permit In hls own
words:
The Way of Sport Styles
V
if i 1
i
Ford Owners Attention!
A POSITIVE CURE FOE OIL PWQJ
Eotr- Tyto Fori
SPECIAL PISTON RINGS
(lop all carbon deposit* and
imm fouled spark plug*.
{ 1] Increase completion and speed
£ U wonderfully.
■ III »it ret TinaiLne ■■ etx aorrn
| |U *y »»’■*« ii aitouii 1IB Oil,
5 | Guaranteed to do the work or
^ 111 your money back.
W.00 PER SET OP S RINGS
Wv*b-Tyte§ mad a Id *11 iIsm for
»ato, tractor and gatolln* e0"B5£
Aak jour nearest denier or writ*
m tm nar rang inc company
• IT. LOOIS, M.
Sport clothes, having come to stay,
have their growing strength constantly
re-enforced by wonderful new develop-
ments. Designers cun be as daring us
they like so long as they know how to
turn out beautiful, if startling, new
things that are ingenious and full of
style.
Stripes and checks. In strong con-
trasts of color, made up In combina-
tion with plain color, have occupied our
field of vision this year, almost to the
delusion of the odd. brilliantly colored
figures thnt were strewn over the sur-
face of sport clothes Inst yeur. These
good style. It has a skirt of white
shantung, with panels at the side
showing broad bauds of color—in this
case a vivid green—on a white ground.
The sleeveless jacket, with narrow
belt and patch pockets, is In the same
bright green, and large buttons on the
skirt reveal how perfectly big buttons
fit In with the character of sport
clothes.
Large checks, broad stripes and
fringes have joined forces with but-
tons to give those who think up sport
clothes every possible chance of suc-
cess. The slip-over styles in sweaters
LyKO
TONIC
LYHOIimM In «rialn*l m.8-
■H* mlf, Ilk* pl*tu>* ahm.
Mafuan all aukatKtrtaa.
Hot,
Sultry Nights
rob Nature of the chance
to rebuild, by refreshing
and restful sleep, the
wasted tissues of the
body. That limp and pros-
trated feeling caused by
wakeful, restless nights is
quickly relieved by
The Great General Tonic
Sold By All Roliablo Druggi$t$
Sola Manufacturer,:
LYKO MEDICINE COMPANY
New York Kaaaaa City. Mo.
mce or sport clothes last year. These »np-o\er styles tn sweaters
checks and broad stripes are most unt* P,a>' into their hands, and
cleverly managed, and now we have i °,,ler aIlles ure llle Be'v henvy 'veaves
hats and turbans rnucle to match coats sllk nn<] the fancy shaded striped
snd skirts. One wonders where Hhwh .tr,cnts’ Long> "ilie scarfs fha* mnJ
and skirts. One wonders where these
new by-puths will lead, nt any rate,
they rim In the direction of the smart-
est Informal clothes that we have ever
known.
be worn in several ways, and scarfs
Unit are belted and pocketed to he
worn in hut one way, are made with
companion pieces In hats that match
,p. them. A white blouse and skirt find
aoSgtrs r?h“f — purtof-—~ * **
Children s Frocks for Late Summer
ClearYour Skin
Save Your Hair
liLfi
I'liWlr.
Smp, OloL. Ttloom
25c. each. Sample
Mch of “Oulcn,
Dtp*. *. tmm."
England has a rat-killing crusade.
ewSaillSffifar
Enough to Go Around.
Don’t Imagine that you’re getting
nil the hard luck or all the good luck,
because that never happened to any-
body and never will.
M
y
kfr;
5**
m
.A
Samaritaniam.
A Sunday school teacher had been
recounting to her class the story of
the Good Samaritan. When she asked
them what the story meant, one boy
said:
It means that when I am in trouble
my neighbors must help me.”
----
Familiar Name.
“Those who can speak French a lit-
tle, says an American soldier writ-
ing from France, “are constantly asked
questions by those who can't, such as.
‘Why do they call so many dogs in
France lei?’ One hates to tell them
the reason Is that ‘lei’ means ’here,’
.and of course In calling the dog they
say. 'Here, here !* ’’—Outlook.
4
hmss
For late summer and early fall wear , rmed for these. This dress is in twree-
die choice of fabrics for children s luln-blue taffeta, but the same
I ^ fr,i,'ks ,‘nrro"8 os shw>r looks well in tan or brown and m mt
I cSaa« r°Woo. r ViTM fr',m 0ase ,he Kr,‘ncl' k“ots that provide the
[ Ration '-’..I has advanced until finishing touch are made of black silk
It has reached a point where silk may twist,
be considered on a par with It so far ! -pi....... _
ns economy Is concerned For this and in i'i ' i' f' S"n'e H!U'T °°tton crepes,
for patriotic reasons, the little n.i^ C°'0rS °f ^
sr-r80 f"si,k -111 --: £* 2!
Amon.- the new model dresses there All dresses"a're 'simply''I
are taffetas, crepe de chine and fou- fanev siltchlne and kv'.n .i, l , I
............ i
colors ml » ..arrow stripes, the crepe , meager decorations, "white orgn
de chine in uniform , plain colors collars, and sometimes undersid e
foulards, with medium dark | organdie, prove a means of freshed
up these childish frocks.
Mark Had It Right
Mark Twain, so the story goes, was
walking on a Hannibal street when he
met a colored woman with her youth-
ful family.
"So this is the little girl, eh?” Mark
said to her as she displayed her chil-
dren. “And this sturdy little urchin In
the bib belongs, I suppose, to the con-
trary sex?"
“Yassah.” the woman replied; “yas-
sah, dat's a girl, too.”
Despite the excellent targeta
men are net allowed to shell
Fritx, Empey relates In next In-
•tallment
(TO B■ OOMTIMUBD.)
ami the MyjJSpS______
grounds, have small figures in white or
In white and colors printed on them.
But, of all silks, the taffetas 811 the
requirements of children’s dress in
the best manner. One of the prettiest
taffetas is shown above and is an ex-
cellent example of good designing.
This frock has a skirt in which the
fullness Is arranged in five box plaits.
It Is set on to a short bodice, and by
way of ornament It
Capes in Vogue.
Capes are much tn evidence and
pleated ones on deep yokes are very
. , good; the large collars roll over and all
. aas s“aPcnders of , but cover the yoke. Yoke collars nr*
dlk over the shoulders. They are ent to follow the yoke line exactly
Z l DT “I'*!." *• Wbere ,tey M,end ! capes are for afternoon wear
tie ow the bodice and fasten to the and are of satin or heavy silks, and
ylrt with flat pearl buttons. Small ( have vests of contrasting material at
silk-covered buttons might be substl-! the front * "
Balance!
as between POSTUM
and other table
beverages
is in favor of the
Wholesome,
Healthful
drink.
POSTUM
is all this and more.
Its most delicious.
Besides there’s no
waste, and these
are days when one
should Save. Try
INSTANT
ROSXUM
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Harding, L. D. Mayes County Republican (Pryor, Okla.), Vol. 11, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 15, 1918, newspaper, August 15, 1918; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc957193/m1/3/?q=%22new-sou%22: accessed July 5, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.