German composition

Section 175 The Battle of Kassassin. — III

Soon⁠1 darkness came down rapidly upon us. The rattle and roar of⁠2 combat on⁠3 our left never ceased, and it was evident that the two thousand Infantry⁠4 at Kassassin were hard pressed. Presently⁠5 the moonlight streamed palely over the grey sand, but the clouds of dust obscured⁠6 the advancing horsemen, who sometimes trotted, sometimes⁠7 walked.

By about seven o’clock we had got in the rear of the firing⁠8, and⁠9 wheeled in that direction, advancing⁠10 very slowly to⁠11 allow the Artillery to⁠12 come up. We could see the flashes of⁠13 the enemy’s artillery gleam on the horizon like the flicker of incessant summer lightning⁠14.

We slowly drew⁠15 nearer to the scene of conflict. It was almost dark⁠16, but, unfortunately, we showed up⁠17 a black mass against the bright moonlit sky and ground⁠18, and⁠19 the sudden rush of shell through the air, followed⁠20 by an explosion far in our rear, showed that the enemy had at last discovered us. They⁠21 were about fifteen hundred yards⁠22 away, and⁠23 we saw nine flashes, one after another, at short intervals, spurt out, no⁠24 longer like sheet lightning, but in angry jets of flame. Almost simultaneously the sky above us seemed to⁠24 be torn in pieces as by (= through) a mighty hurricane. Shells screamed⁠25 and burst⁠26, and shrapnel bullets⁠27 tore up the sand on either side of us.

The brigade now moved⁠28 to the right to⁠29 disconcert their aim, and the next salvo of shell missed us. We moved quickly forward, and the gunners again saw us, and the shells burst over and around. Yet, strangely⁠30, but few were hit, though it seemed as if the storm⁠31 would mow men and horses down by squadrons⁠32.

Notes

1 = Soon after (darauf) the darkness (Dunkel, n.) of the night descended (hernie´dersteigen) rapidly upon us.

2 = of the.

3 zu.

4 Infanteristen.

5 = Now streamed the pale moonlight, etc.

6 = concealed; horsemen, Reiterei, f. Sing.

7 zuweilen auch im Schritt dahinritt.

8 = enemy; got = arrived.

9 und schwenkten der Richtung zu, aus der das Schießen kam.

10 = advanced (vor´wärtsreiten) however only very slowly.

11 to allow = to (S. 19, N. 7) give time to.

12 Inf. heran´kommen.

13 = of the hostile artillery.

14 = sheet lightning, Wetterleuchten, n.

15 to draw near, sich nähern.

16 The fact of its being dark soon after seven at the end of August is explained when we remember that there is no twilight in Egypt.

17 = we formed.

18 Erdboden, m.

19 und das Sausen einer plötzlich die Luft durchfliegenden Bombe.

20 = which exploded far behind us.

21 = He (the enemy).

22 = steps, Schritte; away, von uns entfernt.

23 Arrange this sentence literally thus: and now saw we nine at (in) short intervals one another (einander) following cannon-shots (Kanonenschüsse) spurt out (hervor´blitzen).

24 welche nicht mehr dem Wetterleuchten, sondern verzehrenden Feuerströmen glichen; to — pieces, zu zerreißen.

25 sausen.

26 platzen... in der Luft.

27 Granaten.

28 ab´schwenken.

29 um dem Ziele des Feindes aus dem Wege zu gehen.

30 sonderbarerweise.

31 der Kugelregen.

32 men and horses by squadrons = whole squadrons of (von) men (Menschen) and horses.—To mow down, hernie´dermähen.