The Second Attack

By John Tisa

\Vith sixty—six American reinforcements on February 27, we ‘pre-

‘pared for another attack against the Fascists. All morning a heavy rifle

and machine-gun barrage was laid down. The Fascists did not retaliate. About noon the order came to go over the top. The sun was hot. Group by group hopped the trenches charging the Fascists who were only about 250 meters away. A few groups got over with scarcely any cas- ualties. The enemy machine-guns began their ugly work. They pitted the sand—bags all along the line in a constant staccato. Heavy firing came from both sides. Bullets sprayed in our direction like the heavy pound- ing of a riveting machine. Cross-fire from ma-ny machine-guns made an impenetrable steel wall against advance. More groups and sections went over. Soon the calls for First Aid came -and then became in«sisrt— ent. Many got wounded just as they climbed the parapet to go over. Some comrades from among the recent arrivals, uninformed and

inexperienced went over the top with full packs on their backs and

charged toward the Fascists. Many wounded men crawled back to the trenches safely; many were killed in the attempt.

Before the whole Battalion had gone over the top, a Wounded com- rade from “No-Man’s—Land” made his ‘way back to the trench, but was to-o sorely wounded to be able to «climb over the parapet into cotmparative safety, so he called for help. Paul Niepold, section leader in the Second Company heard the call and quickly ran to his aid. He lifted the wounded body over the trench and seized him with his strong, muscular arms, He pulled the groaning comrade toward him. Suddenly an explosive bullet hit Paul in the chest and he fell on his back into the trench. He lifted his head in a last gesture, his soft eyes blazed a farewell to the working class. His head snapped backward heavily for the last time.

Rudolph Tieger, coming back with a shoulder wound, halted to help another wounded comrade, and was shot through the head by a sniper.

Robert Merriman, Battalion Commander, during the charge, got a bullet through the right shoulder and had to be removed to a hospital. Our men were forced to retire. The losses of the day were great.

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