The Second Attack 

By John Tisa 

With 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 many 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 insist- 
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 
too sorely wounded to be able to climb over the parapet into comparative 
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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