PLUCK INDOMITABLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 215, 30 May 1918, Page 6

PLUCK INDOMITABLE

A TALE OF THE FIGHT FOR AMIENS

(By Lieutenant J. B. Morton.) [Published by authority of the War Otiice, and circulated by the Hoyal Colonial Institute.] It was almost dark inside the British dug-out, A couple of candles on sticks stuck into the clay walls gave a fitiul light. It w;is dusk outside, and a light wind flickered up and down the trench. Tho men on the firestcps had a strained look in their eyes. Exhaustion was beginning to tell on them. They were lighting for every inch of ground; and close to them, from the mouth-of the dug-out, protected only by a blanket, canio sounila i that sometimes rose to'cries. Behind the' blanket strotcher-bcjirers moved about quickly, stooping hero and there over a body. A medical officer knelt in the corner, bandaging a man's arm. Tho Uoor was occupied by many stretchers, us close as they could be put, for it was a big dug-out that had been turned temporarily into mi aid-post. Every now and, then the blanket would be drawn asido' to let out two bearers with their burden, Roiiis down to the dressing-station.

Many of the stretchers oil the ground had purple patches on them, a deeper colour than the brown of the canvas. In the middle of the dug-out a man was drawing a blauket over a body that lay very still. On tliß next stretcher someone chattered in delirium. His lips moved tremblingly. "My guns ~ . . first time for months . , . and me a sergeant." He made a violent attempt to get up. "God! Let me go! Let me go! I'll take a rifle. Suppose . . . suppose they got through. Let me go." Sheer weakness ended his struggles, and he lay muttering for somo time. "Sir," said another weak voice. "Sir, I think if ... I think if you moved this bandage—bandage a' bit I could manage to——." "No you couldn't, old chap," said the Doctor. "You ''ie still and wait for your hot drink. Dixon, hurry up with this mail's drink!" There was a faint, clinging, unpleasant smell in the air, but the doctor moved about with a broad smile, doing his work neatly. When he guvo an order it was spoken in a quiet voice, but there, was something in the tone that brought him what ho wanted at once. Behind the blanket, whispered a little devil'in liis ear, there was cool air and starlight. But a stronger voice told him that ho could not, must not, think of that for a second. Outside, the men fired hour after hour, until their fingers ached and their legs grew cramped. The trench was blown in in places but still they fought on, patiently and stubbormy. A young officer went backwanls aad forwards, talking to each man, talkii.g in such a way that they felt the regiment would lie proud of what they were doing. "I just wanted this chance to_ show 'em wo woro tho best platoon," paid the officer.

"Wo won't lot you down, -eir," said an old sergeant. "Nor I you, ,, answered the subaltern. A man with torn clothes and a mudfitained face came crawling in over the British parapet. Through tho grime they recognised the padre, helping in a man, who had been blown out oftho trench. The mnn was in great pain. The padre took him to the dirlr dug-out, aided by another man. The doctor looked grave. "No niorf room," he said. "Not an inrh." "Must take him on, then ; " said the padre. A voice came from a corner. "'Old on, sir. Young Dick can 'ave. my place. I'm not much 'urt." He tried to get up. The orderly held him down. "Steady, owl man," he said. You re ndt fit enough to play any tricks." They managed somehow to find room for the man, and the padre went out again. He was an elderly man, but he had forgotten that. He remembered only that the strength of his body was given him for just thie purpose. That is how it seemed to him. So he worked ouj and no nmn who has soen it readily forgola the sight of a padre working in the front line among the wounded. •. The bombardment died down. The Germans were coming again. The met , on the firesteps braced themselves for a final effort. Those of tho wounded who were conscious imflercl more mental pain than physical. They knew , what was going on. And in the dug-out the doctor was beset with eager requests. Wildly they begged to lie allowed to get out and carry on witli tlu*.r mates. Some of them tried to get up. '.She orderlies had all they could do to keep them quiet. It was ouiV when the attack was beaten off that they became calmer. "I don't mind admittin' now, sir," eaid one man to the. doctor, "that I'm wounded." \ The doctor laughed. . "I don't believe you'd notice it it you weren't told," ho said.