Company K (Library Alabama Classics) by March William

Author:March, William [March, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780817386870
Publisher: University of Alabama Press
Published: 2013-09-30T00:00:00+00:00

CORPORAL CLARENCE FOSTER

“THAT'S an old trick,” I said. “I remember reading about it in the papers back home before I enlisted: The Germans send men over in droves, to give themselves up, and after a while there are more prisoners back of the line than soldiers. Then the Germans make an attack, which is a signal for the prisoners to overpower their guards and come up from the rear.—It's an old gag!” I said; “and it generally works. Those Prussians are smart babies, don't ever forget that!—They've pulled that trick on the French time and time again. . . . I'm surprised you never heard about it, sergeant,” I said.

“I've heard a lot of hooey in my time,” he answered.

“Well, this is straight dope,” I said. “I've seen it all written up in the newspapers.”

“Do you believe all the tripe you read in newspapers?” asked Sergeant Pelton.

“Well, I believe that!” I said; “I wouldn't put anything dirty past a German.”

Sergeant Pelton began to laugh. “Captain Matlock said you were the right man for the job.”

“I take his confidence in me as a compliment,” I answered. . . . “Christ almighty!—This is war! . . . What did you think it was? A Sunday-school picnic? . . . Take these Germans now.—Burning churches and dashing out the brains of innocent babies.—You've got to fight fire with fire,” I said. “This is the only sort of treatment a German can understand . . . ”

Sergeant Pelton walked away. “All right. Be ready in half an hour,” he said. “Let's get it over quick.” Then I walked back to the trench where my squad was and told them Captain Matlock's orders. I realized a great many people, who did not understand the necessity for such an act, would censure Captain Matlock for shooting prisoners, but under the circumstances, there was no other way out. I expected an argument from Walt Drury and that sea-lawyer, Bill Nugent, and I got it. “Don't tell me,” I said; “if the arrangement don't suit you, tell your troubles to Captain Matlock!”

“He wouldn't dare do a thing like that,” repeated Nugent; “not a dirty thing like that . . . ”

“What do you birds think this is?” I asked. “This is war! . . . Why didn't you bring along your dolls and dishes to play with! . . . ”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.