Nelsonville High School - Saga Yearbook (Nelsonville, OH)

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 The Scarlet and Gray 5 The Final Drive It was in 1918, in the fifth year of the great World War that a meeting of all the important military authori- ties of the Allies and Americans, was held in Paris. Although very few know it, gigantic plans for a decisive drive against the Germans were being made. After several days debating and planning an order was given to make preparations. Giant airplanes one hundred feet in width were made by the hundreds as were tanks and huge guns. After about two months prepara- tion the day was set on which the great drive was to begin. When the older was given for the barrage fire to lift French, British, American, Bel- gians and Canadians went over the top” and charged toward the un- suspecting Teutons. Trench after trench was wiped out hundreds of guns and thousands of prisoners taken. Here and there large tanks moved slowly but steadily, spreading death and destruction wherever they went Over all this flew hundreds of air- planes, bombing trenches and tele- phoning gun positions to the heavy batteries in the rear. Among numerous other aviators Hew a young man named Hart and his favorite companion West. Having received orders to destroy all German craft they started in pursuit of two Boche planes that were flying high above the clouds. The Americans soon overtook the Germans but West was wounded and his pilot Hart took him to the hospital. Hart succeeded in sending one of the enemy to earth, but was himself wounded. When he reached for a new belt of shells, he was so weak from loss of blood that he dropped it in the cock pit. He was so weak he could not reach it for a long while. The German aviator thinking that he had killed his enemy, flew above the American plane, in order to get a better shot at the pilot. When Hart succeeded in reaching the shells he saw his chance and sent the Boche crashing to earth. This is but one of the many daring deeds committed by both Allies and Germans. An airplane would be flying high above a trench when suddenly it would sweep down and flying the whole length of the trench would near- ly annihilate the occupants. All this time the Red Cross had been caring for both German and Al- lied wounded. At last darkness settled on this terrible scene and the retreating Ger- mans were hopeful that the drive would stop- But giant search lights were brought out that not only made the field as light as day but also blind- ed the Boches. The drive continued for a week and on the seventh day a fleet of German war ships, in fact the whole German Navy sailed into the North Sea to protect the submarine bases that were threatened by the oncoming Allies. This offered the Allied and American fleeds a chance to bottle up the Ger- mans. The German commander saw that resistance was useless and sur- rendered without a shot The next day a fleet of five hun- dred airplanes, attacked, the Krupp Gun Factory. Guns made for the Teu- ton army were turned on the attacking planes and scores of them fell, but just then a fleet of one hundred dread- noughts of the American navy sailed up the river to Essex and laid the fac- tory in ruins. “With the main factory destroyed all lost territory regained, and the military power broken”, remarked General Pershing,” it will not be long before Peace and Democracy will rule the World.” Wilbert Hall, ’20.

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The Scarlet and Gray U Off for France “Oh! Hum!” yawned Martin, “Ain’t things dull in this town? No shows, no lights or anything else. Wish I was in France. It wouldn’t be dull there that’s a cinch.” “Hugh! If you’d hear a real gun. you’d run so fast you’d meet yourself coming back.’ All you’ do is sit and warble about it being dull,” this came from a lengthy boy called “Stiffie”. Silence reigned supreme for quite a while. Disorder of the Electric Power Plant had stopped the picture shows and done away with the little life the city had. “Well now, Stiffie!” Martin burst forth, “I’ve got an idea. You know there won’t be much doing in this town the rest of the winter and (bit- terly its a sure thing we won't be missed at school- Let’s go to France! Stiffie what'd you say? Huh?” “Shake, old boy! You’ve got a head after all. But won’t try that alone. Lets get some scouts. They’d know how to work. Now, who’ll they be? Name some.” “Well, better take Cliff, he’s Cap- tain and he’ll go sure. Then there’s Lowell Burnell and—Jokey Hall and— oh, let’s see—Tom Blake. Six of us, that will be just right. Now you call them up, Stiffie, old boy.” “Nothing doing. You can talk lots better than me.” A few minutes later four scouts rushed into the “Y”. “What’s up?” ask one evidently the captain. “Yes, lets have it added another- “Well, I’ll tell you fellows and Mar- tin’s voice dropped to a whisper while he and George told the daring plan. “Sure” said Tom and Clifford in one breath, “A long hike and then to France! Yes, Boy!” The more dignified Lowell and Wil- bert debated quite a while, but at length joined in the plans. “Well, now” continued George “We’ll have to decide upon our jobs, routes, etc. We’ll start tomorrow night and just leave a loving note for the people at home. I’ll be boss, Mar- tin chief assistant. Jokey and Low- ell can plan the route and Cliff and Tom can look out for supplies.” The next day, teachers as well as parents were surprised at the lamb- like attitude of six young sophomores, and their devotion in English was very apparent. That evening at ten-thirty four scouts and two other boys met on the dark Square. Each had a bicycle and many strange looking bundles- Noth- ing was said. Each hoped the others would suggest turning back, but no one did. They did not stop until they were above Logan. Then they lay down, almost too tired to sleep- Martin had to guard in spite of his protest. He had walked his round but twice when he decided he needed a rest and set- tled himself comfortably against a friendly tree. He was just dozing, when horrors! A cold hand seized him by the throat. Speaking of yelling—-Immediately four boys were on their feet and a flash light was turned on the scene. Then how those boys did laugh! Mar- tin was sitting against the tree, his eyes shut, his mouth open, waving his arms frantically. Tom with a set, de- termined look on his face, clutched Martin with a regular death grip When he recognized Martin, he sleep- ishly said he had waked up and heard a loud breathing like ihat of an animal. Needless to say Martin carried a grouch several days. The next evening they were just a few miles above Columbus. It was raining and had turned very cold. All were pretty much discouraged. While getting supper, Tom forgot that water, when boiling, is hot and burned his hand severely. Lowell mistook his finger for bread and cut it. France didn’t look so good after all. Continued Page 7

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4 6 The Scarlet and Gray ’Tis 7 n ill Wind That Blows Nobody Good Have you ever been awakened at 4 a. m. on a cold, gray October morning by the ting-a-ling-a-ling of an alarm clock, and while still half asleep, shm off the alarm only to hear the patter of rain on the roof just outside of your window? “Just because I had planned a day’s outing,” you will grumble. If this has ever happened to you, you can imagine the way Kathryn Joyce felt as she gave Grace Lee a hard punch, accompanied by loud wail, no more like Kate’s voice than a cat’s meow is like a dog's bow-wow. Anyway it brought Grace to a sitting posture im- mediately. “Wh-a-t did you say? Grace was not trying to stifle the yawn, but to pry her eyes out with her fists. “You old sleep-head, can’t you see its raining and has spoiled all our plans for the day’s outing?” Oh, Katey, you don’t mean it?” Grace was now wide-awake gazing with mournful eyes at the offending rain. “Of all the luck! I’m never going to plan anything again—NEVER!’ “Ditto! I can’t go back to sleep and how will we put in the time?” “Land only knows, I don’t. Come on, let’s get up.’; Silence reigned for the next half hour, the girls being too gloomy and disappointed to say a word. “Oh, the sun! Look, Kate the sun is out.” Grace was clapping her hand® h'ke a child. “Maybe our day won’t be spoiled after all. If it rains before spven it quits before eleven. “Pinch me, Grace. Is it possible? Come on, let’s go for a walk. It won’t be so damp. We can at least walk around town.” “No sir-ee! I hereby resign. I’d rather not walk at all than walk around town, especially on such a swell morning.’ “We can cut through here and get to the woods in jiffy. How’s that Miss Kathryn?” “Great! I’ll race you to that big ree.” “All right. One—here you’re ahead.” “No, I’m not. See!” “Yes, I see. Two—thr-e-e Go!” Off they ran like young deer, Kate coming in only a few feet ahead. They were now in the woods, skip- ping along like two children, although they were dignified young ladies. That they were free from all care one could easily see. They chatted, laughed and now and then sang snatches of popular songs. Suddenly both girls stopped with an exclamation of surprise. So happy had they been that the gathing dark- ness had not been noticeable till now, when the sun was completely hidden by a dark cloud. 1 bet it's going to rain again, and mother will be so worried.” “It can’t be helped. We’ll just have to make the best of the situation. If 1 remember right there’s an old de- serted log hut, that can’t be very far from here. Perhaps we can reach there before it rains.” But as fast as they ran they were only in sight of the hut when it start- ed to pour. They had been so excited and in such a hurry that neither girl had noticed the thin line of blue smoke curling above the old chimney. On entering Grace, who was first, gave a cry of surprise. “Why, Kate! Someone’s staying here, 1 wonder if they will care?” “Care—or not. I don’t care if they do. I’m going to stay till it quits laining or they put me out. I don’t know about you but I’m wringing wet. Perhaps whoever it is won’t return till after we’ve gone. Anyway that fire looks mighty good to me.” “Ditto, but so does the bacon. I’m starved. Let’s eat some. We could leave money enough to pay for it. I don’t believe any one would mind that.”