The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915Various
History
The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915
Various
World War, 1914-1918
We stood on some steps, looking down into that cellar. It was a dark
hole, illumined dimly by a lantern, I think. I caught sight of a little
heap of huddled bodies. Two soldiers, still unwounded, dragged three of
them out and handed them up to us. The work of getting those three men
into the first ambulance seemed to us interminable; it was really no
more than fifteen or twenty minutes. During that time Dr. Munro,
perfectly calm and quiet, was moving about the square, directing the
work. Lieut. de Broqueville was making inquiries about other wounded in
other houses. I lent a hand to one of the stretcher-bearers. What the
others were doing I do not know, except that Mr. Gleeson's calm face
made a clear-cut image on my brain.
I had lost consciousness of myself. Something outside myself, as it
seemed, was saying that there was no way of escape; that it was
monstrous to suppose that all these bursting shells would not smash the
ambulance to bits and finish the agony of the wounded, and that death
was very hideous. I remember thinking, also, how ridiculous it was for
men to kill one another like this and to make such hells on earth.
Then Lieut. de Broqueville spoke a word of command; the first ambulance
must now get back. I was with the first ambulance, in Mr. Gleeson's
company. We had a full load of wounded men, and we were loitering. I put
my head outside the cover and gave the word to the chauffeur. As I did
so a shrapnel bullet came past my head, and, striking a piece of
ironwork, flattened out and fell at my feet. I picked it up and put it
in my pocket, though God alone knows why, for I was not in search of
souvenirs.
So we started with the first ambulance through those frightful streets
again and out into the road to the country. "Very hot!" said one of the
men--I think it was the chauffeur. Somebody else asked if we should get
through with luck. Nobody answered the question. The wounded men with us
were very quiet; I thought they were dead. There was only an incessant
cannonade and the crashing of buildings. The mitrailleuses were at work
now, spitting out bullets. It was a worse sound than that of the shells;
it seemed more deadly in its rattle. I started back behind the car and
saw the other ambulance in our wake. I did not see the motor car.
Along the country roads the fields were still being plowed by shells
which burst over our heads. We came to a halt again in a place where
soldiers were crouched under cottage walls. There were few walls now,
and inside some of the remaining cottages were many wounded men. Their
comrades were giving them first aid and wiping the blood out of their
eyes. We managed to take some of these on board. They were less quiet
than the others we had, and groaned in a heartrending way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account