IN BOURLON VILLAGE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16168, 23 March 1918, Page 4

IN BOURLON VILLAGE.

4 _ j (By Rifleman Patrick MacGiU. author I of "Tlic Grc:«t Push/' etc;.) j "Have you a fag to spare, matey?" Tho speakers wore two soldiers ot j the B-E.F., and they were in the village of Bourbon, cui> off from their regiment, and still doing their best to hold back tho German Army. They were soldiers of tho East Surreys, and had been in the fighting ever since tho morning when the tanks crossed the ton and proceeded against tho Siegfried line, that triple system of trenches which Hindenburg had thought proof against any British attack. But the "'absolutely impregnable" Siegfried lino had been broken by the British as easily as a switch, and these two men wero now in tho little village of Bourlon fighting against overwhelming forces and holding their own. Shells were falling all round them, and away in the distance where Bourlon Wood bulked big in the darkness great fighting was in progress, the rifle fire of the men engaged in the life and death struggle clattered through the air.

Tho Germans wero now in occupation of tlio village. They had takuu it by u counter-attack, and tho British, thrust out by superior forces, were compelled to evacuate the place. But they made a dogged fight and retreated step by step, contesting every house and scrao of wall. A transport waggon which lav across the street was three times lost and three times retaken, and now the waggon was :v mere huddle of shattered shafts and axles that lay in a distorted heap on the cobbles opposite a ruined estamiuetDarkness had fallen, and tho two soldiers lit. their cigarettes. Hiding the lighted ends under cover of their hands they smoked in the ehado of an old wall, their rifles within easy reach. It was a dark and bitter night, with the wind blowing along the street and buffeting the two men with its icy breath as it whipped round the corners of the wall that sheltered them. . A rain, turning at times to sleet and snow, was slashing violently against the ruins in which the men wero hiding. "Well, .it's daiiined cold, anyway," said one of tho soldiers, hunching up his shoulders eo that the collar of his overcoat covered his cars.

"It's blooming cold, Bill," the other replied. ' And to think that we've been here since last night. Eh! what's that?' 1 As lie spoke he gazed at a bolo In tho wail that had once been a doorway. A dark figure showed there and came through, then another followed. The figures spoke- in guttural tones in a language that th© soldiers could not follow. Only of on© thing were they certain. Tho newcomers wero Germans. The two British soldiers raised their rifles with bayonets fixed, and pointed them at the enemy. The Germans were within point-blank range. "Give it to them!" said Bill in a hoarso whisper, firing even as he spoke. His cigarette wag in his mouth now, and his rifle was in his hand. What more could a m&n desire! With, a rifle and a cigarette British soldie'r can work marvels. . Four rifle shots rang out iti quick succession, and tho figures at the door pitched heavily to the ground. One man writhed aud groaned aloud. "If he doesn't hold his tongue he'll bring all his mates round here," said Bill. "There are. 110 more coming now as far as I can see. What can we do to keep him quiet, Fred?" "There's only one thing that would keep him quiet," said Fred, a very practical man. "But I can't do it and you can't do it." Ho gazed absently at his bayonet as he spoke, then at the ground, and saw his cigarette end which had fallen gleaming amidst the broken tiles. He lifted it and put it in his mouth. Then lie went across to the fallen man, Bill followed at his heels. "iliteh hurt, matey?" lie enquired, bending down besido the wounded German. "Kamerad!" shrieked the man pitcously, "Kamerad! Kamerad!" •'it's all right," said Bill. "It couldn't bo helped, yon know. It's war." He shrugged his shoulders with an air of finality, and his voice was low and apologetic. The three Germans were dead, lying 0110 on top of the other in the doorway.

Fred knelt down by the man and looked to see where he had been hit. A bullet had passed through the shoulder. : T'U dress it for yon if you iie quiet." said Fred. "But don't liiako a noise, mind." Finding the German's first iield-dress-ing he unwound it with lingers that were trembling with cold. " Bit] cut tho German's tunic across the shoulder. and when this was done Fred applied the dressing. The j<ftj was completed and the two men wero carrying their prisoner to a more socure shelter when the sound of rifle firing broke out in the street. Motion khaki rushed by and lwmbs could be heard exploding. "Our men attacking again." said Fred. -'We must go out and help them.'" Placing the wounded man down they seized their rifles and rushed out into the crowd of figures. One of the men rushing by stopped dead and looked at the two men. "Bill and Fred! ' he exclaimed. "Lord! mateys, we thought you were dead. And her e you're back again. If time was not so pressing I'd stand you a drink at tho next cafe." ' A arink won't come amiss alter this is oyer, ' shouted Bill, and with a wild whoop, Fred following at nis heels, he rushed up the street to the point at which heayy hand-to-hand fighting was taking place.