Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-08


the best seller Of the year. The re-
manning articles will tell Mir. EAnpcy's
experiences during his seventeen
months in the Grst-line trenches OF tho
British army in France. the thriilin.
great adventures" which hundreds OF
thousands OF young Americans are soon
10 pass through.)
We were sitting on Il Gre-stcp in
the front line trench. /, was bright
and sunny. and sc were bubbliuL; over
with good hum2r. There were Two rc;,-
sons Tor this: First. our battalion was
to he relieved az tha, night and
We were Going oack for a two weeks
rest. second. it was spring. We could
smell it in the air. Even the wind
blowing from tho German trenches in
our direction had sweet and "sprinsy"
smell.
About thirty Yards down communi-
cation trench tc the icf, was an or
chard. Tho trees we're SCARED from
bullets and fragments of she'll; but
even these battered trunks could not
resist the feel al spring. because here
and there n the iwigs and branches
could toe sccn bursting buds Fitting
around wcr" numerous birds, chirping
and sometimes: wransling among them
selves.
To me II seemed odd that birds could
accusiom themselves to war. Occasion
ally Il German shell, or perhaps one o.
ours. would so screaming over the
orchard. The birds did not seem to
mind the noisc-just carried on with
their nes,-bui!dinG.
In our company was an American
named Alexander Stewart. Naturally
he and were very chumm:.
Stewart and were tie chic: "amusc-
mcnt promoters" in the company. The
Tommics constantly looking TO us for
some new DIVERSION.
In tho English army a Tommy seems
TO have TIA. idea that AN Americans
chief vocation in the ruitcd States ia
TO invent and 10 keep Oh inventinE
OF course. Stewart and / did not in
any way try 10 dissipatc this idea: In
fact. We encouraged ii, and took great
pride in being looked up 10 in this
way: but. believe me. Il Kept US hust-
ling TO keep the Tommics amused
II was getting TOO warm for soccer
football, and VIC kneI- as soon as we
got into rest hiI,e;s that the issue
would be put right UP 10 US: How
are YOU going to anause, us while be-
hind the lines
Thought, Turn 10 n,,cb,u
We were Americans ana r.,
bloodcd: srrinr was IN rbc air IVA
our thoughts turned 10 wna,
American ho,. !. .hirl,;,, =, -,
arrival Of snrinr-h,sc,,,lI
,,, ,
do. ,,c,, Iii -, ,.,a ,.,,,I i''
my c,o . ,raca,,. ,,
i,,hcdIod IN ,ha r,,. r..,,. .,i
f,.,-,,r, s...,,,.,, "'o, ''''
h,u ni.,vor ,.j,h ,s,,
ra,,ber,s nit, ,;o ro,,l,t,;.
hind ,h. ,,,n nl, ,, ,.s,is
,bc ni,cbor ,,,., 49,, So.
.S.v rnn vordcr ~ ,.o .,,,Id ,n,,
The rn,u,nios hou. :, nI,y hs,oh..u...
in,mcdia;eIy ,u-rs,, !, h;. d;-o,.,;o,
IIc was ,iso s,.-;,- ,h.,, f-,,.
of snc,l
.,,
.,, '9 70
,.na,, -. SPe"''
nc s"' ~ ''sht away and detected
'''S &C. ana
~. o"' ' 'o''S -"''"" sign
','''"e Oh NY '.E nt "Ht'cd
:: o. .'' ~ Ho'"'',' ""' II
80: !" p'!e' "u' Gavin
'ooA o' o!ssust stewart
80 a." !" ''o "hu H"'"' guess you're
~. mp - wou'd DC easier 10 tcach
inc 'h'ha man French.
,oh;.sa renewed ana
.rho nov, ,s,or,on,,
w.rc si,,;n,. ~ rh',.i
,.a Ahou, mouth hnfn ..
aud bad ,,ucb. ,hc ro,,,,;a.
Mitch bo, .cs,.on. 5,ro-a ,.
.,lrv ,mo,r ,bc dir.ro,t s,r,a
.cu,d b,,in. . ,.,,,
lust then C.ornoral Watkins CANA
over to us and a.kcd. "Whcre are tho
'orscshocs? cawn't find en-"
Another Tommy answered.: "S;rafe
me pink where are your h'cycs"