Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 214, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1917 — HARD WORK AHEAD [ARTICLE]

HARD WORK AHEAD

Men Build Railroads and Dugouts While Under Terrific Fire of Guns. TROOPS PUT DOWN STEEL ROAD Diary of Wounded Sapper Furnishes Interesting Reading, Because It Tells So Much Without Any Attempt at Flourish. His company had been laying a line over what some time ago was “no man’s land.” The British infantry had moved forward and the guns, quickfiring and heavy, had followed up. Behind them again came railway troops, patting down the steel road to facilitate the feeding of the fighting troops. This sapper had jumped into an old Herman trench and had landed on a slightly covered hand grenade, writes Victor MncLure in Chicago Dally News. The grenade exploded, and lamed film, with the result that after a smooth Journey to England he lay In bed In a London hospital. He was a splendid type of sapper, heen on his work, proud of the achievements of his fellows in France, glad that he had helped and conscious of -the value of the railways laid by the plate-laying companies to the fighting men proper. He had been in France for 28 months, unbroken except for two short leaves in England, and during that time he had kept a diary. It Is good reading, this sapper’s diary. It tells so much without flourish; It shows more than would a more scholarly report just how much had been accomplished behind the lines in France. It is written by a man who knows his work and who apparently is always eager that that to which he Bets his hand should be done in record time and In workmanlike fashion. Prepared for His Work. "He came to the army, as do so many of the sappers in the new army, with his trade at his fingers’ ends, and more than half his training done. The -work he did in France was not new to him. The conditions were different—much of the work was done* within range of the guns. Unlike-most of us, whom the war found unprepared,, his work was ready for him and he knew how to carry it out. He spent a short time in England until he knew what every sapper must learn beside his trade —how to fall into line at the word of command, when to turn and how to handle his rifle. Because the corps of royal engineers js popularly supposed to be noncombatant —a mistake, be it said—there is hardly any branch of the service where infantry drill is so carefully instilled into the men. Sapper Blank’s company arrived in France in the early days of the war and within a day of landing on French asoll had started work “on a big ordnance yard. The company was there about ten weeks, and there we were Joined by other R. E.’s.” Major Liked the Work. The major addressed the men and gaid hdw splendidly they had done the Job intrusted to them, and how much he appreciated the way in which it was carried out "I am proud of you. and am very grateful to you all!” he said. “You are a credit to the corps to which you belong and to the officers of your company. Go on, men. Do as you have been doing, and always try to bear In mind that no job is beneath you. You are doing your bit by this plate-laying and your work Is Just as important as filling a cannon or firing In the trenches.” The diary next records a route march In a way that reminds one of Pepys. The company had moved to another place for a rest. “We went for a route march to some woods adjoining the town; we had a pleasant time, picking primroses, etc. Onr officer reminded us that we should probably look back on that time in after years, when we walked in the peaceful woods, hearing the nightingale singing, when away In the distance we could hear the sound of the big guns firing in the terrible battle that was raging at Ypres.’’ The battle of which the sapper talks was the u-• * '

memorable second battle of Ypres, with the first use of gas by the: Germans. Works Under Ypres' Fire. The battle was not over when .the sapper's company moved up ' near Ypres. They laid out the material for some work allotted to the platoon to which he belonged. Following this, they commenced making formation for the roads. They completed the task as far ns construction work was concerned during May. Then followed a move nearer to Ypres. “Here we were instructed to make sufficient dugouts to shelter the whole of the company In the event of the enemy’s shell fire. When the formation took us nearly to Ypres the shell fire began to get very The shells usually came <fver just after we had a visit from enemy aircraft.” In the month of August there was another move, “and here for a little while we were occupied with route marches and daily drills and other odd jobs. Then we were taken out to certain points by motor lorries every morning to construct a light railway near a village, the buildings and cottages of which were a mass of ruins by the enemy shells. Our platoon commenced the construction of this line, and were exposed to shell fire every day. This line -was completed about three weeks after our arrival.

Reached by Shell Fire. “Our job was situated in a spot where people were living within a mile of the trenches. I do not think that I have seen dwelling houses occupied so near the firing line as at that point. Both platoons were subjected to rifle and shell fire at intervals. On one or two occasions we had to abandon work and go back to the train. Our duties in this locality were particularly dangerous, owing to the fact that we were practically surrounded by batteries of our own artillery and the enemy’s guns, assisted by his aircraft, were continually sending over shells to put these batteries out of action. During the months we were there our officers, Captain and Lieutenant , carried out their duties in a very praiseworthy manner and were very keen on the welfare of the men.” Sapper Blank then records a -narrow^ escape on the last day of this job. “It was about the nearest shave I ever experienced in France. The enemy sent over five or six six-inch shrapnel shells, two of which burst about five yards above my head. I was seated with six others, fiavingjunch. The shells came over in quick succession all around us and we considered ourselves very lucky when we gathered our wits together and found that none of us was any the worse for it.” More work in different places Is described in detail, which brings the dlnry up to Christmas, 1915. “The officers of the - company did their best to make Christmas as pleasant as possible for us and the occupants of each living van were provided with an equal share of good things by their generosity.” The captain made a Christmas speech to the men and the diarist records that he said, “This company has heen indented for a much bigger job than . It is a distinct compliment to the company, and I have no doubt that you will all do your best to carrv out the work in the .appointed time.” > Then there follows a description of the town where the “bigger job” is to place. The sapper tells us about the old buildings here. “On New Year’s day we started to work and we were informed by the captain that part of the construction was to he ready In two months.” The work was finished in record time, though the latter part of the job was hindered by floods. „