The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-10-30

ABOUT to start our voyage Dack. NY
heart sank into my shoes. I would moi
see my husband again. I was not to &C
with the Red Cross and take are Of
the boys when they were wounded
Coming over the ocean did not seem sc
wide. Now it looked like a million
miles across to me.
"Our orders are to take you to your
quarters and keep you there until We
are safe outside" said one Of my
guards. I don't remember how I got
there. I guess they half led me and
half carried me. I heard a bugle blow
ing somewhere owe in the town. II
was manned by an American. Every
note came clear across the water. The
next thing l knew l was on my berth
with my fingers stuck tightly In my
ears and my face buried In a pillow.
The boat was moving out.
On the trip over / was not afraid of
submarines. Now for the first time
was nervous about them. The ship
seemed deserted.
l paced the deck for hours at q
stretch. My guard was always with
me, the sailor on n side and the sol.
der on the other. I certainly looked
like a popular lady. Many 8. girl back
home would have envied NE this es-
cort from both branches Of the service.
I guess l almost walked the poor sen
tries to death. Once. after a long hike.
I heard the sailor complaining:
IF he don't put on the brakes my
dogs are going to be worn of right up
to the ankle. I Joined the navy because
walkin' never appealed to me. The
way I'm goin' now I might as well have
signed up with the infantry" I was
still "he" to the Jackie.
One sailor In the gun crew on the
way back kept complaining all the
time because we did not meet up with
a German sub. He was a nice boy, the
one who had picked me out as a wo-
nan on the way over when he saw me
trying to roll a cigarette. but kept it to
himself. We got very friendly.
why do you want to see a o boat?"
| asked him Aren't you satisfied with
the surface of the sea?"
WED stay on top all right with that
baby we've got to shoot" he replied.
AL We want is just a look at n
You know the gun crew that sinks a
submarine gets $1,000 from the govern,
ment to be divided among nirie men. !
guess my share of that wouldn't look
good to me and my folks back in Iowa.
besides the fun Of nicking one"
That boy typifed the spirit Of the
United States n~avy-afraid Of nothing.
filed. with supreme confidence in the
ability of the men to shoot quick and
straight.
After l landed I saw him In Hobo
ken, and be was having a romance.
1--WE got to 60 up the street to meet
my girl" he announced, proudly smil-
Ing.
Where is she?" | asked him.
"Sbe works up here at the vaudeville
theater." he answered "She gets
through now pretty soon."
l thought he had done pretty well.
grabbing an actress.
They'll be calling you a stage door
Johnny the first thing you know" |
warned. He blushed.
"Oh, she don't come out the stage
door," he defended. "She's al usher.
and she's got my wrist watch. l only
met her at 10 o'clock this morning. but
| let her wear 1t today"
You're a fast worker" I suggested.
"Oh, we've got to be in the navy" he
answered proudly, whether it's girls
or submarines. We sailors don't stay
in one place long enough to be SLOW"
He went Off up the street smiling
fine boy. typical Of the United States
navy, clean and wholesome.
The sentries were not supposed to
talk with me. but they were good fell
lows and didn't mind breaking a rule
or two when it wasn't hurting any
thing to unbutton their faces and
loosen up a bit. My doughboy outfit
was beginning to show the strain. !
had worn it all the time since we left
Douglas. 1t was cold, too, going back.
I mentioned feeling cold to n Of the
sailors. lie offered me an extra sailor
suit be- had. 1t was warmer than the
soldiers uniform. l put it On. 1t ft
as though it had been made for me.
They told me / made an even better
jackie than | did a Sammie.
All the while l kept begging the
guards to tell me why l had not been
allowed to land. They always an.
swered, Il don't Know" and then
changed the subject. Finally. after
we we're out a couple Of days, n Of
them came across.
II don't know for sure" be said, but
l heard it was General Pershing's or
ders. He said 1t would set q bad ez.
ample"
II heard that, too" volunteered my
other escort, but | also got a rumor II
was the French authorities VINO turned