INSIDE A "TANK."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 880, 5 December 1916, Page 6

INSIDE A "TANK."

AMAZING NARRATIVE. EXPERIENCES OF AN AUSTRALIAN LADLING OUT DEATH. The daily work of a tank on the western front has been graphically described by a young Australian soldier who was wounded while serving in one of these new engines of war. The description, in diary form, appeared in the "Manchester Guardian":— Monday.—Out for first time. Strange sensation. Worse than being in a submarine. At first unable to see anything, but imagined a lot. Bullets began to rain like hailstones on a galvanised roof at first, then like a series of hammer blows. We passed through it all unscathed. Suddenly we gave a terrible lurch. 1 thought we were booked through. Look-out said we were astride an enemy trench. "Give them hell!" was I lie order. We gave them it. Our guns raked and swept trenches right and left. Got a peep at frightened Huns. It was grimly humorous. They tried to bolt like scared rabbits, but were shot down in bunches before getling to their burrows. Machine guns brought forward. Started vicious rattle on our "hide." Not the least impression was made. Shells began to burst. We moved on and overtook some more frightened Huns. Cut their ranks to ribbons with our fire.

They ran like men possessed. Officer tried to rally them. They awaited our coining for a while. As soon as our guns began to spit at them they were off once more. Infantry rounded them up and survivors surrendered. Very curious about us. Stood open mouthed and wide eyed watching, but weren't much the wiser. "Tank" Sickness. Experience was not altogether pleasant at first. Tank sickness is as bad as sea sickness until you get used to them. Tuesday.—Off for another cruise. Peppering begun at once. Thought old thing was going to be drowned in shower of bullets. Things quiet down quickly. Silly blighters thought they could rush the tank like they would a fort. Dashed up from all sides We fired at them point blank. Devilish plucky chaps some of them, for all their madness. The survivors had another try. We spat at them venomously. More of them went down. The blessed old tub gave a sudden jerk. God in heaven, thought I. it's goodby to earth; but it wasn't. Only some Hun dead and wounded we had skidded into. The rain of bullets resumed. It was like as if hundreds of rivets were being hammered into the hide of the tank. We rushed through. Soon the music had charms, and we got to like the regular rythm of it. Suddenly a jolt, and our hearts iolted in our mouths in sympathy. Nothing doing in the mishap line. Only some unwonted obstacle. Heavier "strumming" on our keyboard outside, and more regular. Machine guns at it now. Straddled on as though we liked it. A tremendous thud. The whole outfit seemed done for. Nearly jumped out of my skin. Looked at each other and wondered what it was. Still a roof over our heads, thank God. Wednesday.—Early start. Roughest voyage yet. Waves of fire seemed to break over us. Tremendous crash. Then another, and several others at intervals. Silence for a Mine. Parly of Huns came to meet us outside the village. Very stout old gentleman in front. Thought it was the. Mayor and village bigoots to give us a civic welcome. Mistaken. They meant to give Warm reception, but not as we understood the word. Let flv with machine sains. Then tried silly boarding tactics. We laughed. Our guns answered theirs. No Trailing Clouds of Glory. Tank reception committee dispersed in a cloud of smoke and flame; no trailing clouds of glory. Fat old gentleman only visible member of deputation. Stood openmouthed. Purple with rage. Tank bore down. Old gent started to run. Funnier than a sack race. Old gent flung himself to earth with many signs to surrender. Thursday.—Got into the village, and passed down between two irregular rows of wrecked houses. Hundreds of Huns came rushing up from cellars and from behind ruins to see us. Some had eyes staring out of head. Looked surprised and even frightened. One blighter made a rush at us with a clubbed rifle. Made a terrible swipe at the tank. Smashed

; bis rifle, and made a nasty noise on our roof. Hurt himself more than he hurt us. Off for a joy ride after i some nice Huns who took to flight as we came up. Friday.—Early afloat. Usual showjers of bullets and a few shells on ithe way. Got right across a trench. ; Made the sparks fly. Went along parapet routing out Huns everywheTT." Enemy terrified. Tried to ; run, but couldn't keep it up under :our fire. Threw up the sponge and • surrendered in batches. One cheeky chap said he didn't l think it was fair to fight with such •things. We said that was our affair, j and we could stand the racket Gerimany cared to make over it. Asked jone chap if he thought we should ;have got permission from the Kaiser | before using them. Didn't see the joke. Took about two hundred prisoners. Killed and wounded as many more. Tired out when through. A Collision. Saturday.—On the move before I breakfast. Terrible crash on first go ] off. Thought we had collided with a wandering world. Weathered the I storm. Got busy on enemy trenches. j Rare good sport. Enemy tried a surprise for infantry—Yorkshiremen —advancing to attack. We tried a j surprise, too, and ours came off first. I Huns weren't pleased. Didn't think j it was playing the game according to j Potsdam rules. We waddled into their ambush for 'the attacking troops. Never saw imcn so fi'ghtened. Fled panie- ! stricken in all directions. Only a jfew chaps stayed behind and tried Ito stop us by machine gun fire, i Smashed them to bits and left their machine guns to be picked up by the I Yorkshiremen they hoped to surj prise.

Went snorting after the enemy wherever we could find them. Their losses were terrible. Later strong detachments tried to make their way back, supported by big guns. Lined up across the road and gave them hot time. Every time they tried to rush through we ripped their ranks to bits. At last they gave it up. Very wise of them.

Sunday.—Good work of frightening Huns continued. Better day, better deed. Fritz didn't think that. Blighters opened rifle fire on us at two hundred yards. It went like water off a duck's back. Fritz couldn't make it out. Kept up the fire, but got a bit nervy as the blessed old thing kept waddling up to him. Ladled out death as you might vamp out indifferent music from a hurdy-gurdy.

Fritz got fits. No fight left in him. Prisoners scared to death. Some of them acted as though they believed that we used our tanks for making sausages out of prisoners. We had a lot of trouble explaining that once they surrendered they were safe. Finished an exciting week. Got plenty of fun, but one wants a good rest after a spell with a tank.