THREE DAYS IN A TANK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 9, 5 October 1918, Page 8

THREE DAYS IN A TANK

DISABLED IN HOSTILE COUNTRY

BRITISH PLUCK IN A TIGHT PLACE The morning was line but misty. The ground had been heavily crumped by an unprecedented bombardment, and tho going was difficult and heavy. Creeping through the mist, tho taiik had crossed tho German line by 5 a.m. The first target was a small concrete machine-gun .emplacement, which was giving trouble and causing lossob to the infantry. This was'soon silenced with the left-hand β-pounder gun. Thence steering by, its compass the tank was directed against its first objective, a farm in which were installed sevoral macliine-guns. Against this farm the tank directed tho fire of both its Lewis and 6-pounder. Hero again the enemy was quickly silenced, and tho infantry enabled to lake possession of tho farm without further trouble. The condition of tho ground had considerably improved, and at this point tho tank was moving freely, and it looked as if tho next objective would boreacliecl without further hindrance, but this was not, to be. When within 100 yards of the strong.point a bullet disabled the officer who. was driving. It became necessary to relieve him from his position, and whilst tho second officer was engaged in so doing the tank lurched into a shell-hole, and there was brought to a. standstill, incapable cf further movement.

Disabled but', undefeated, the tank continued to fire and forced the enemy to vacate the farm, which constituted its second objective, but further advance was impossible. Attempts to unditeh the monster were defeated by the severity of the enemy's fire, but there was no thought of anything but hammering tho Germans. ■ Tlio commander determined to remain in his now stationary fortress, and to inflict what injury ho could on such of tho enemy as might appear. A Perilous Dsvelopment.

It was now about 8 a.m., and tho situation underwent a perilous change. The English infantry, held up by the enemy's fire, were being forced to withdraw for the moment, and inl their retirement passed on either side,of the tank, which wae thus left as an isolatod outwork in front of the British lino. In less than half .an hour the watchers in _ the-tank made out the blue-grey uniforms of advancing Germans. These it was rightly assumed were scouts, ,and they were allowed to pass the tank unmolested. Presently in lines of file .appeared a body of the enemy in strength .that left, no doubt- that a counter-attack was in progress. , lu a trice every gnu of the tank was turned on tht> enemy. Many casualties were inflicted and the counter-attack at this point was unable to develop.-'Later the attempt was renewed, but again the tank was able to hold up the attack. Thus the day passed in.a tense anxiety, hut without incident. The Germans were seldom visible. Such of them as could be seen attempting to fortify a. lineof shell-holbs were persistently and successfully sniped, bub as the day drew on the commander determined to send back word to the. infantry explaining his position. About 6 o'clock," in spite of tho heavy fire, one of the crew flipped from the tank .and successfully found his way to the British line. No answer rotuiiiinc!, and there being no further means , of communication, tho crew prepared to hold their position for the night and steeled their hearts for the worst.

As night fell, the darkness grew intense. Nothing could be seen —but before long tho nerves of the tank's crow v/ro put to' a severe test, and Germans were heard approaching. Presently they were alongside, trying the loopholes, then clambering on the roof, then they would retire and throw hombs, and again advance to seo the result. Finally they manoeuvred a machine-gun to within a few yards of 'the tank, and opened fire on a single soot, with a view to forcing a hole in the plate. But hero again they were unsuccessful. . Thus the first night passed.

Sticking It Out, The ifollqwing morning both sides began shelling, and the tank was frequently struck by shrapnel, but against this the plates were proof, and the day wore qii without further adventure— the Gentians keeping out of sight, and the crew remaining on the alert ready to deal with any attack that might develop. As tho position was by no means clear, it appeared to the commander that the guns of the tank might still be useful in repelling an attack, and he therefore decided to stick to his post yet another night, and seo what the next day might bring. The daylight hours wero spent by the crow in burnishing up the interior of the tank, during the intervals of watching for the enemy. Several of the- crew wero suffering from slight wounds, but their moral was h'igh, and all were single in their resolution to remain so long as a chance of killing a Gorman was left.

The strain, the confinement, and lack of. air were now telling on the crew, but 'luckily the second nigiit passed in . comparative quiet. With tho morning it was seen that during the darkness the English had thrown out some posts to within 200 or 300 yards of the tank. The commander, seoing that he could . effect nothing more, the, enemy being invisible, and the supply of water running low, decided to evacuate tho tank when darkness Ml, and withdraw his crew to tho British lines. This was in due cotirso accomplished; and undor a heavy fire, tho crew one by one, t intervals of five minutes, left the tank, and made theiv way to the British position. Three days and nights had been passed in the , tank, and a memorable episode had passed into the history of tho Tank Corps.