The Washington herald., 1916-05-22

HlnsIeu with tne pdtnosr anu iuhhS
sights abound in every city which sends
soldiers to the front Suspended before
a certain London bookshop there bangles
a stout piece of rope. The passersby
stare at II curiously, Sut when they
read the printed notice below, they are
enlightened. 1t runs like this:
'If there is a dirty dog in this neigh
borhood who calls himself a conscientious
objector and would not fight for his own
sister, wife or children, here is the rope
and my cellar Is at his disposal, and 1
will promise not to cut him down until
he is cold
The other day in the wards Of . hos
pital, l saw a wounded Tommy. who to
all appearances was dying. The doctor
paused beside the bed, and at that mo-
ment, through maze Of bandages, the
patient spoke. "Lemme git up, doctor,
and go back to the bloomin' trenches!"
he implored
But your wounds, my manr' began
the doctor. aghast.
That's Just It," said the Tommy. "1
kin remember the blighter what done IT.,
and l want to meet i'm fore forgets the
look Of 'im!'
The new V. C.'s are men Of most amaz-
ing herolsm. There's the young lance
corporal who was badly wounded in both
arms In terrific fighting. He never
stopped. or even wavered. On, on, in a
whirl of agony, but always at the head
of his men. Retreat? Impossible! Then
came a roaring Charlie Chaplin and
his right leg was smashed OF at the knee.
! The corporal reeled over, but courage
triumphed over pain. Though his limb
was shattered, the fighting spirit of the
lad was left intact. And that is all that
really matters. With encoura ging shouts
to those behind, he crawled forward. still
at the head of his little company, and
refusing any assistance "On, quick, to
that crater fifty yards ahead"' he cried.
and managed to stagger to his feet.
Leaplng and limping over obstacles, de-
spite the agony of his wounds and the
faintness from the severed artery. he
reached his goal. For two long hours he
held his post. Issuing orders to the
men, shouting encouragement at every
sign of wavering, praising their bravery
and controlling their fire.
The enemy attacked the company from
another side. Quick as lightning the lit
tie corporal altered the placing OF his
men to withstand the new counter attack.
Though his body was broken. his brain
seemed to have taken on a double activ-
lity
It was only when the long fight was
over that the boy would permit his
wounds to be attended to, and even then
Iiniments be given to the other sufferers
I'll pull through all right, never fear
he said. forcing a twisted smile to his
paln-drawn features. Don't mind me-"
For fourteen hours he had to lie there,
for the enemy had cut them of. And all
that time he had a CHEEKY word for every
one. and sometimes sang gay snatches of
song. To his magnificent courage the
saving OF a tensely critical situation is
entirely due.
Another Of the new " C's Is a little
private who in the face of an ocean OF
enemy fire rescued his sergeant. Climb
ing the trench parapet he was the splen-
did target for a score of enemy snipers
and a hundred German guns. But on he
rushed toward the enemy lines, on over
the deadly ground OF No-Man' 's-Land. A
bullet hit him in the chest-he felt no
fpainl The shells whizzzed by him-and
lit seemed as though he smiled at them.
frying shrapnCl shattered both his jaws.
and carried off the lower part Of his face.
Still he pressed on.
Reaching his sergeant's side at last he
could not speak. Poor boy, the flying
shrapnel had done its deadly work! But
broken and dishgured as he was, he
stopped down and raised the other to his
feet. BY A series Of signs he indicated to
him that he was to lean his weight upon
the rescUer
Still with a whirl Of shells about him.
he dragged the sergeant back to life and
safety. No wonder that to him is given
a decoration of the highest order
The pain that these men face unflnch.
ingly is beyond all power OF words "l
have Crawled home" wrote an officer or
a chalky stone with a shaky finger dipped
in the blod OF his wounds His legs had
been blown off-and his one fear was that
If he did not return soon to the trenches
some gallant lad might risk his own life
in an attempt to save him.
] always feel so sorry for the men
whose doctor will not pass" them fol-
active service. Poor fellows it's a keer
disappointment. I heard one well-mean-
ing but rather tactless, surgeon quoting
poetry as a solace. They also serve
! who only stand and wait" he murmured
pacifically. "Gorblimey!" said the dis.
appointed one peevishly. I'D far rather
be shot and know I'd done my duty
Recruiting incidents are often very
humorous a big coaIheaver was yearn-
ing to Join a certain battalion. He never
had a days Illness in his life. Such a
splendid Hercules OF a man! He waited
his turn in the long line. mo need for
you to worry" sai7 his friends. THE
army will surely jump at the chance OF
getting you
But the coal-heaver seemed a little
anxious about his tate. When II came
to his turn the doctor stared at the man s
teeth, then shook his head. I'm sorry,
my lad, but I can't pass you. Your teeth
are too bad"
We'll, I'll be Jiggered!" cried the
would-be fighter. You passed the same
teeth yesterday with Big Bill, and VIC
both borrowed them for the OCCASION
much-harassed recruiting officer was
annoyed by string Of obviously unfit
attestants. Come back this afternoon
early" he said, because II this goes
on there'l be line of inyald chairs
thatn block the trafic Tor a mile
around"
The youngest soldier In the army halls
from Canada. He Is only twelve years
old, but most useful adjunct to the
forces. When war broke out. his father
Joined the first Canadian contingent. The
boy plead to go, too-but people only
laughed at him. And he was left be-
| hind.
The appointment struck deep in his
patriotic little heart. He was big and
strong, and oh, so anxious to do his
share! So one night he slipped away
from home and found the road to the port
leave. I'm go to England as a stow
away" he resolved-and forthwith
from which his fathers regiment was to
smuggled himself on board the big trans
port.