Our Despatches from the Front (No. 138).
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A Night Run in the Vosges—An M.T.
Driver in East Africa.
WITH A FRENCH AMBULANCE UNIT.
9112. April, 1917.
(Continued front page 214.)
All goes well to Sniper's Corner, and we are almost round as a star shell goes up; we quiaken our pace and subside with a lurch into a shell hole. Out leaps the 'second driver and pushes for' his life; the little extra power is just sufficient, and the car climbs out. Cautiously we creep on down, in second gear with the engine switched off, and when we arrive at the foot of the hill and have-to tackle the exposed climb up to the barrier the engine is almost stone cold. With the carburetter popping and spitting, we climb slowly up on first, imagining that surely the noise we are mak. jag can be heard Miles away. At last she begins to warm up and we try second ; a moment's hesitation, and then she picks up. The stutter of a machine gun breaks out, but luckily it is one of ours and takes attention off the road—it is for that reason the gunner is firing. At last we reach the barrier and are under cover of the trees, but lights cannot yet be used and we feel our way up to the summit. Once this is attained we are in safety and can switch on all lights ; we feel that a cigarette has been earned, too.
Luckily the night is fine and there is a faint glimmer from the stars, • but imagine this run in bad weather, when the mountain mist or a driving rain makes the darkness -absolutely impenetrable ! We Shall b'e back before midnight, but on a bad night it is often daylight before the trip is finished. And WOe betide 'anyone who is net back in the shelter of the pine ferests before dawn breaks ! On a really fine moonlight night the journey is one that can never be forgotten, or rather should I -say that one does not wish to forget, for other unforgettable journeys one would give much to forget. The mountains and valleys are thrown into striking relief, the shell-blasted forest of 1117-becomes a thing of beauty, the fragrant odourof the pines permeates everything; one forgets the war in the beauty of Nature—and suddenly a' star shell brings one back to earth! As you will observe, I am rather down on star shells.
M.T. EXPERIENCES IS EAST AFRICA.
On the arrivalin East Africa of the M.T. company to which I belong we entrained tOVoi, 100 miles dislant from the post where we landed, and were there serVed out with 50• rounds of ammunition. The Germans were out here in small parties all along the railway, line, so we momentarily, expected
to be blown up, as their object was to wreck the trains. However, we arrived safely at .our destination,..
and waited there Ave days for the motor vehicles, which thee we spent
in drill and rifle practice. We wore the first M,T.s in Voi, and there: were only a few troops beside, so we had to build tents ourselves, there being no other accommodation. .
The first night there, I was chosen for guard. and it was not very comfortable to pass thus one's first night in a strange country. The evening watch was uneventful, . but after midnight I saw about ten . or twelve little 'blue lights coming towards Inc. They moved for a few yards. and would then stop. seething uncertain whether to aclvanee further or not. I slipped A •I'attridge into the breach. of my rifle, and continued to watch. The moving mots of 'light were about 5G • yards from mc when the moon carne omit froth behind a cloud. and I saw that I was face to face with a pack of hyena,e, and the lights I could see were their eyes shining in the dark ! I soon became accustomed 'to these beasts, and took no notice of them when again disturbed, but I shall not forget in, a hurry my first eXnerience of them.
The second night I was endeavouring to vet some eleen, when a. lizard took the rberty of running over my face. It did not feel at all nice—but to that alqo I soon became accustomed being sleepy, although we only had our overcoats for a bed spread out on the bare geound with • kit-bags for pillows. However; we were soon .provided with ground-sheets and blankets, and thus made more comfortable.