Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-06-07
A War
Masquerader
By DUDLEY CHADBOURNE.

was sent to Flanders and participated |
in the fghting that resulted from the |
German effort to occupy Calais. / |
was early made noncommissioned
officer and by the beginning of the |
third year of the war commanded nv
company. This was due to the fact
that the officers were killed off and 1
was In line for promotion.
During the first great retreat Of the
Germans-I mean the one of March,
1917-my regiment was among those
that We're pushing the enemy as it
fell back. One night, as we were
hanging on the German rear, out of
the darkness came a man, running for
dear life, followed by shots from the
eastward. After getting into our lines
and recovering breath from his run he
told US In broad Yorkshire dialect that
he had been living in Germany when
the war opened, had been forced to
Join the army and had been long
watching for an opportunity to join
his own countrymen. He wished to
enlist at once and fight for the allied
cause.
reported the case to headquarters
and was directed to enlist the man in
my company. did so, and he Joined
US under the name Of George Calkins.
He seemed quite willing to do what
was required of him, but showed great
stupidity. He explained his inability
to understand our way of doing things
NV orip hot oil b1
tary matters he had learned from Ger
man instructors
OF course In such fighting as was
taking place at the time there was
great disorder. Men were disappear
ing from the ranks every day, many
of them unaccounted for. I missed
Calkins, but did not learn whether he
had been killed or wounded or was
simply among the throng Of missing.
Ny regiment, being on the extreme
south Of the British line, would occa-
sionally get mixed in the heat of bat
tie with the French troops. One day
when one Of our many attacks on the
Germans had been repulsed and we
were being driven back in some disor-
der, mingling with a number of
French troops, I found myself retreat
ing by the side of a French. soldier
who looked enough like Calkins to be
his twin brother. Being sure that he
was Calkins himself, 1 said to him:
"Hello. Calkins! 1 thought you were
dead"
He was about to reply when one of
his comrades said something to him,
to which he replied in the French Ian
guage.
Here was a surprise-an uncouth,
stupid Yorkshire man who spoke
French. Considering that he had
come to us from the enemy, at once
grew suspicious and would have warn
ed his French comrades against him
had there been any opportunity to do
so. But when heavy fighting is going
on opportunities to do ordinary things
are not likely to occur. Before could
say anything more to Calkins or to
any one about him, presto, force
from the rear was pushed forward to
cover our retreat! We were gathered
in and showed toward the enemy.
The next time crossed Calkins'
path was one night when word was
passed that the brigade to which my
regiment belonged was about to attack
weak spot In the German army. 1t
was reported to the officers that
Massachusetts, Yankee who had been
caught in Germany when the war
broke out had come through their lines
and had told Of some ground they oc-
cupied in which a mere cOrpOrarS
guard had been left to keep fires burn
ing while their comrades were retreat
ing. The, general commanding had Or
dered an attack made, under the Yam
kee's guidance. on this evacuated po-
sition.
While we were forming for the pur-
pose our guide was pointed out to me.
What was my astonishment to see
Calkins! 1t occurred to me that the
man, whether English, French or Yam
kee, was German spy and was about
to lead us into trap. l approached
him and heard him speaking to the Off
Ger who was to lead the attack. and
he used the dialect of Massachusetts
farmer. He had not noticed my ap-
proach. and suddenly called from be-
hind him:
"Calkins!"
He turned. and seeing me- all color
left his face
General" 1 said to the officer he
was talking to. "if you follow that
man to the enemy's lines you'll never
return"
then gave an account how the man
had come in as deserter from the
enemy, how he had enlisted in my
company. how he had pretended stu |
pidity. Then told of having met him |
among the French.
Mr.. Calkins. Yorkshireman. alias Mr.. |
Peabody. Yankee-I never heard bis |
French alias-was searched. and val |
liable information as to the allied ar
mics was found on his person. 1t was