[Sidenote: An experience of many sensations.]
It is absolutely impossible to describe the sensations that come over a
fellow when he realizes that he is going under fire. I think that you
pass through various stages that include every sensation in life. You
are frightened, you are glad to get into the fight. You are anxious to
begin--you wish you had a few weeks' longer training to become a better
shot.
I am not sure how long we stood there waiting for the return of the
French officer who was tutoring us for our baptism of fire, but suddenly
he was at my side.
[Sidenote: The first need is a signal station.]
"The battery is to be over there," he pointed through the night, "and we
will set up a signal station right here. The first thing to do is to dig
in the telephone wires, for headquarters reports that there is
considerable rifle fire about here in the daytime. Order a detachment of
men to help you!"
[Sidenote: Digging in the telephone wires.]
"Yes, sir," and I went quickly back toward where I knew the men were
waiting, happy to think that there was work to be done at once. I gave
the orders that had been handed to me, and in about twenty minutes we
were turning over the earth. While we were working others were just as
busy, for our battery was being placed in position, and some fifty feet
behind the battery the others of the signal service detachment, of which
I was a member, were setting up a receiving station. As I helped in the
digging of that small trench for telephone wires my heart sang, and I
lived again the months that I had served in order that I might be fit
for the service I was performing that minute.
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