The Cordova daily times., 1917-10-08
The case of Private Smithers reminds

me of an army story.
 You object to your men drinkingT asked a friend of the colonel of regi- ment on the border one day. "Why, Private Bill Jones has always been a drinker when on leave. and you say he is a fine soldier"
 "Yes, and he's always been a pri- vate," answered the colonel
 This fitted Smithers' case exactly. He was good soldier and a fine fight CT, but cut from the pattern of a pri- vate and always intended for one. Pretty soon I noticed him staring at me closely, and moved away, al- though I knew Jim Smithers wouldn't tip me off. However. I didn't want him to get on if could help it.
 It seemed risky to go on deck yet. so I sauntered toward my old stamping ground, which had been so friendly to me en route from Douglas-the ships kitchen.
 What really wanted to do was page my husband, for I hadn't caught glimpse of him on the transport-in fact, had not seen him since the troops left the trains. No sign of him. l wondered a little how he would take 1t when he found me still along.
 Thar she blows!" hOllered a voice. We could feel the ship moving under her own power, and by the glimpses l caught through the porthOles l saw we had strengthened out in the stream. Then panic seized me. What if my Husband was not aboard that ship? 1, kn1 cfarra6 n some other regiment at the last min ute. They do such things in the army without asking the permission of wives which makes the husbands harder to follow. l had no way of knowing whether he was aboard What if- AE
 Hey, there, Joe, heave to and lend fellow a hand. will you? What do you think this is-a tango teaP
 The speaker was one of the kitchen crew. When the transport started its perilous journey to some port in France" he was hustling crates of food into the storehouse down below. Oth- CTS of the men were busy with sirr''"~ tasks. getting th;ngs shipsh, pc 4 44@.t seemed to De no romance about this farewell. It was a case of getting down to brass tacks. After awhAe stole above There was no excitement, no depression now. Everything was as usual, just as If the boat were bound for little sightseeing trip around Manhattan isle. The sentimental Sammy recovers quickly. Besides, the men did not know how many German eyes might be watching their depar. ture, and they wanted to show the en' emy they meant business. Only when they passed the statue of Liberty did they stop whatever they were doing and stand at salute. As one of them a wiry westerner who went into Mex ico with Pershing, put it:
 We got to give the old girl the glad hand as we go."
 Of For Some Port In France"
 It was right after midday mess WI left the pier in Hoboken. Two day' later we were still anchored out in tht bay. The other transports were al around, some of them so close the mer could call back and forth. No ont knew when we would depart I wa! on deck when l saw a couple of tht other transports moving out. It would be our turn next. I went below. M, heart was turning all kinds of hiphops We were leaving for the port II France" and l was still safe. l haC stayed out of the way of my husband although I had seen him and knew h. was aboard. He was quartered farthe forward than l was, with the rest O K company. If luck stayed with me few hours more my goal would b gained. I would go to France with m. husband. Five minutes later we wer on our way. I was too far now fo them to put me off, and l was yer. happy. Still longed for some lingeri and a bath.
 After leaving port whether we steam ed directly for France or what we di am not permitted to say. Besides what l could tell wouldn't amount t much, because l will admit the ocea looked the same to me all over, and don't see how the captain kept froI getting lost.
 That night we settled for the set and over me was a rookie and unde me an old timer. It was quite a sanG wich, although of course neither kne, there was a girl in the bunk betwee them. Perhaps they would have bee more careful of their language at frs if they had
 The men did not undress altogethe at night, but pulled o6 their shoes an lOosened their shirts. If it had bee otherwise would have been Gone aur,