The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-12-04

ulOSL OF Lneu udu Deen III MEXICO. ulu |
not look sad. but | will say there were
darned few OF them grinning as we felt
the ship slip out of that dock. The
youngsters-the boys who had just
come in the regiment on the border
and had never been east before-show.
ed it. They didn't know whether they
would ever be back again. and they
were thinking about 1t and about the
little red house with the white fence
back home and the girl and wondering
why they joined the army and wishing
they were in Arizona. But don't
want to pull any sob stuff.
This is fine way to send us Off"
complained one boy who was not more
than nineteen. very pronounced rock
lie. There are no flags. no bands. nc
cheers. no beer. nothin' It's a great
way to fight a war"
wait till you get over there. kid.
and you'll wish you were back here"
remarked Private Smithers. a grand
fighting man. but always a private. al
though an old timer in the army. His
name is not Smthers. either IL told
his real name it might get him in bad
But hold your head up. son. The
worst you can get is to be killed, and
you won't know about that" be con-
eluded
The case of Private Smithers reminds
me of an army story.
"You object to your men drinking?'
asked a friend of the colonel of a regi.
ment on the border one day. why.
Private Bill Jones has always been
drinker when on leave. and you say he
is a fine soldier"
Eyes. and he's always been a pri-
vate," answered the colonel
This fitted Smithers' case exactly
He was a good soldier and a fine fight
er, but cut from the pattern of pri-
vate and always intended for one.
Pretty soon | noticed him staring at
me closely. and ! moved away. al
though l knew Jim Smithers wouldn't
tip me off However. | didn't want
him to get on If could help it.
1t seemed risky to go on deck yet. SO
l sauntered toward my old stamping
ground, which had been so friendly to
me en- route from Douglas-the ships
kitchen.
What l really wanted TO do was page
my husband, for | hadn't caught q
glimpse of him on the Transporter
fact, had not seen him since the troops
left the trains. No sign of him.
wondered little how he would take
it when he found me still along.
THAR she blowsl' hollered a voice
We could feel the ship moving under
her own power, and by the glimpses
l caught through the portfolios l saw
we had Strengthened out in the stream
Then a panic seized me. What If my
husband was not aboard that ship
Suppose he had been transferred t.
some other regiment at the last min
, ute. They do such things in the arm,
without asking the permission o
wives. which makes the husband
harder to follow l had no way o
, knowing whether be was aboard
What if
, Hey. there. Joe. heave to and lent
, a fellow a hand will you? What d.
, you think this is-a tango tear
: The speaker was one of the kitchen
crew. When the transport started it
perilous journey to some port Il
France" be was husting crates of foo
into the storehouse down below 9th
=, ers of the men were busy with simila
/. tasks. getting things shipshape. Their
seemed to be no romance about thi
farewell. 1t was case of Settin
/ down to brass lacks. After awhile
I stole above There was no excitement
no depression now. Everything was a
| usual. Just as if the boat were boun
p for little sightseeing trip aroun
Z Manhattan isle The sentiments
= Sammy RECEIVERS quickly. Besides. tn
q men did not know how many Germa
eyes might be watching their depal
e ture, and they wanted to show the Ell
C. envy they meant business. Only whe
they passed the statue of Liberty di
T. they stop whatever they were dom
4 and stand at salute AS one of then
a wiry westerner who went into Me-
leo with Pershing, put it:
I'VE got to give the old girl the gla
y hand as we 60"
Off For "Some Port In France"
1t was right after midday mess W
/ left the pier In Hoboken. Two day
5 later we were still anchored out in I'll
z bay. The other transports were a
e around. some OF them so close the me
= could call back and forth. No on
y | knew when we would depart. | VIZ
y on deck when | saw couple OF II
other transports moving out. 1t wou
be our turn next. | went below. NJ
heart was turning all kinds of hipfop
o We were leaving for the port
d France and ! was still safe, | be