Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-18
The Corporal Fought in a Bath Towel
by HERBERT CoRES.

!
major says that caput the average officer
assays richly in fat, but he has the power or IAN
guage.
THE C. o. heard him that time" the major with
a chucke Eve haven't told the corporal, of course.
The colonel him proper cussng out as was quite
right. But a hit with the old man at that II
corporal isn't the list of promotions the
old is due to be sorer than pup
Before the corporaTs be rightly compre-
hended trench difficulties must be viewed That
keeping clean, for example. No can keep clean
in the trenches. The them moderately clean
after few months of war the major says that the
soldier conservative about cold baths
three days, eight days, or couple OF
there is nothing doing in the way or renovation
The major himself arisocrac tendencies
because he brushes his teeth every morning
But got do it," he says rather plantively.
I'm so devilish uncomfortable unless do. Ny mind
doesn't right. Instead of thinking about the
Boches l keep thinking about teeth
The rest Of the merely get thoroughly dirty as
possible and stay that until the time comes
to spare for cleanup purposes for one thing
often days have only coffee tea TO drink and
take it from the major tea and tooth paste make a
horrid combination The trench clay gets worried INTO
their very systems. 1t is daubed in their sprounS
whiskers night they sleep in dugouts, and when it
rains-and it usually rain when sleeps in a
dugou-nud dribbes upon their heatlful slumbers all
night long other Of personal SANTA
ton in a trench may well be spared the reader
81 don't the rats" the major with feeling
but the damn bugs. All sor+s of hugs"
When go to the for rest more or
less copous opportunities offered for cleaning
Not all advantage of their chances Some are
apparently proud of their CRIME. Others careless
and not clean until example cum prcept has had
it's effect wash themselves whenever they can
and relisiously each morning The corporal is
of this sort He has positive mania for bathing
himself all over. The major clean soldiers
go He likes of steamng not baths ne has
been taking this week in Paris. But even he says the
corporal carries his liking for bathing to extreme
soldiers cleanup kit is necessarily of thu slend
crest description He carry it his back
in pack that is already laden with greatcoat and
and pair of boots and the iron ration and what
ever clothes he in for and various luXures,
such as chocolate tobacco Therefore it is cut to
a minimum 4 towel a razor soap, comb, toothbrush,
lather brush, and mirror is positive luxury. Nor is
there any lending The average military beard after
eight days the ditch would turn the edge dia'
mond cutter A saint would refuse his razor to the
possessor of such wire arocity The washed-up man
who lacks towel dries himself in the zephyrs
tine corporal" the major, carries bath
sponge towel and big tube of sort
gooey As he gets the chance he washes
himself like a buggy"
The major says it is positively embarrassing to be
in corporas vicinity during the rest camp. Look
where may, seems always to huge white,
muscular body in the of frenzied ablution, When
find pleasure of privacy the corporal takes
advantage of it. of If he cannot he battles
how In French village there only stone
horsetrough which been erected by Charles the Bold
or Mary de Nedici one in the middle
of the The corporal complained bitterly because
villagers gathered about him at his daily bath The
sight the bleted member of the Second Ca
madam battalion they gathered about
major tanks it at this village that the cor
poral enriched his vocabulary.
I'VE only half a mile back of the line one
day.. the major land the corporal was serubbng
Shells fell in the neighborhood and then,
but that buffalo the corporal He stripped
to the taow behind little piece of woods the edge
of stream he just granting with pleasure.
He mad found bucket somewhere and he lathered
to perfection. Looked like ad of somebody's soap,
then-blooie An alarm was sounded"
There any time for the corporal dress The
Germans sneaked through the wood in small
party and on the Canadians. He pulled on his
boots and cap tied towel around himself buckled on
his belt seized his rifle and for his company
shouting captain thrust them into communication
trench they the fire trenches, heads bent
communication trenches shallow. The
lathered corporal ran with the best Of them on the
way captain twisted his ankle and fell. He had to
hobbe after his at the best speed possible The
only lieutenant left to the company was temporarily
put out of action by a bit of shrapnel The corporal
found himself in command OF a squad at bad angle.
They stepped upon the firing platforms and rested their
rifles on clap and let the charging Germans
have it. The colonel came running along the trench
What the damnation' said the colonel.
Grab gum" yelled the corporal Never mind
your blignted epaulets! Grab a gum"
so the colonel grabbed a gun. Canadian colonies
grab guns often than outsiders think, according
IN the major They're out here to kill Germans and
one way of killing them is with gun. For the mo-
ment the colonels proper job of supervision in
abeyance. Germans swapping the wires
with big pliers The first thing to do
the Germans.
81 know what he would have told me if I had rea-
soned with him." said the colonel afterward, with
chuckle. HE would have told first stop the
Bocnes Then I could go command damned
The corporal had not lost his head He not ex-
cited He was simply a masterful work at a
lob he liked. Now and then he shouted commands to
his men, Twice he along the trench to reinforce
weak spot and colonel followed him, grnning.
colonel said the corporals language and
an inspiration. 1t steadied his They would take
one at the white body which the lather had dried
and listen seething talk and then the muscles
i'm their would Pickering and their rifles
would cease Pretty soon-years later-the
Germans stopped shipping the wires and
ran They behind them many little huddled gray
matches Then the colonel talked to the corporal
81 told him that of language would bring a
Judgment on us said the colonel But / don't be-
lieye he thought meant it."
The major the corporal will get his step
he could just form the habit of going into battle
swatted in a towel" says the major, he'd be a
general.
Copyright. 1915. by Herbert Corey)