THE OUTPOST LINE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 35, 5 November 1918, Page 8

THE OUTPOST LINE

A BATTLEFIELD SKETCH (By Captain li. F. W. Rees.) That morning the Germans .ran like rabbits before our advance. We attacked three villages; nnd scarcely had our barrage lifted ere they were fluttering out as hard as their legs wwlld carry them. Here and there flames burst out from a roof-tree, where some particularly daring fellow had ventured; to wait long enough to set fire i to his billet. . It was for all the world 'like a kinematograph picture: Floury, bursts of "smoke hung over the houses like giant puff : balls as our shrapnel tried to increase their maximum of speed. All we had to do-was to follow up and scupper the few strong points that they had left behind in the fond, foolish hope l of delaying our advance. Strong points? They put up their hands like a eauad of recruits doing "arms upward stretch —as it were by numbers, taking their time from the front. Their white flags were all colours but white. Anything from a i bandana handkerchief to a ma- ■ chine-gun pannier, tied to a rifle and waved frantically in the air, evidenced their sreat love for Fatherland and Kaiser, and their stern determination to hold back the foe to the death. They squealed to be taken prisoners. It was a picnic, a thing of sheer joy. We brought the min in droves; and they gave us picture post-cards of Berlin and iron crosses. They would have given us the boots from their feet or the shirts from their backs if«wo-had asked for them. All I wanted was a back collar-stud—and. I forgot to collect it! Oh, but they were a lamb-like flock of Huns!' , . That was in daylight, with n bright sun over everything, and the intoxication of unqualified success ' giving us flight hearts and lighter heads. But there came the night. That.was a different thing. We had been detailed to go forward a milo and dig-in aline of outposts'. The four of us who wero company .commanders went forward to reconnoitro the ground, and we had to go along a strange road, not knowing where the Boche might be, and wondering all l.hp time when we were going to run into an ambush. Of course, wo didn't—that goes . without /saying—but ■that didn't prevent every scampering rat from., being a Boche, and every shadow an enemy patrol. .We got to know that road too well later on; working partiesreliefs.- •'-,■'

Eventually we took our men up anrt began to dig in.. It was a pitch-black night Siting tho trenches was, no child's play,, I had five posts to fix, on the reverse alone of a ridge. A Hundred yards behind was a sort of mammoth ditch-in tho fullness of time it became known to fame as Flag llavine— and,there I decided my company headquarters should -.be. We worked hard. Dawn- was at four—and we wanted to be under cover before Jerry has any opportunity of ranging upon. us. Besides, just over the ridge was a village which he still held.' Wo were nervy] We almost opened fire upon our own covering party.' dug as we have seldom dug before or since. . Presently the first tinge of. dawn paled a. Verey light that was fired from the darkness ahead of us. Wo were deep enough by thot time for casual • cover, and more could be done to tho new trenches the next night' Wo began to put tho finishing touches on our work, and sent off a fatigue party to fetch breakfast. As the blackness greyed we saw a pretty sight. About half a mile ahoad of us a Boche patrol found another Boche patrol, and each took the otheT • for' English. There was rapid rifle fire, and a few bombs-'and then silence as each party scuttled away to safety. It was nearly five o'clock before breakfast, camo up—luke-warm tea and biscuits and cheese. , No ham and <gg spread ever possessed a better flavour, no tea out of China; a finer banquet; for we were very hungry men. We saw the men get down to it, and then meandered back to the headquarters wo had never seen to attend to our own wants. They had dug-into the bank for six feet or so on a similar frontage. They had hung a Boche waterproof sheet over the top Id form a roof, and over that had spread branches and grass—whether'as camouilace or as a protection from shell fire it would be hard to say. Another Boche waterproof sheet (rule, for soldiers; live as much as possible on the enemy) draped the front,' and offered us some degree of privacy. A faithf.ul servant had warmed up our tea. Altogether, ii seemed to U3 just then what the. estate agents call a desirable country residence. And so' we sat down to breakfast.