The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-08-28

e. n. McCrahon, veteranized by His
Experience, Wants TO Fight Now Un-
der old Glory-Says That Not Even
Dead Are Permitted to Rest In Their
Graves In This Awful War.
In the hope of winning an officers
commission ut PlattsDurg Edward
Howard McCrahon, twenty-four years
old, of Brooklyn, has arrived home aft.
er serving since last May as an ambu-
lance driver for the American Red
Cross on the French front.
Ever since America entered the
war;" said young McCrahon, II have
felt that l could serve my country
better on the actual fighting line
rather than driving an ambulance.
That is why am now here in an Ell.
deayor to win commission, that i may
return to the other side and help In
the battle for world freedom and de-
mOcracy."-
Before starting for the fighting front
last April McCrahon was an inspector
for the Acme Die Casting corporation
Of Brooklyn. He brought back with
him n wealth of stories Of the fighting
OH the French front.
His First Thrill.
McCrahon was hardly started on his
military career before he saw action.
He sailed on the French liner Rocham-
beau on April u. Sixty miles Off the
French coast. while standing with
group Of men Mt the port rail, he sight
ed II periscOpc. Almost at the same
instant the wake OF II torpedo was
seen. The ship was swuYg over, and
the torpedo passed about fifty feet
artern. The submarine submerged, but
again came to the surface, only to meet
u yolley of shells from the stern guns
OF the Rochambeau. A second torpedo
passed harmlessly by. Wireless calla
for help brought French destroyers on
the scene, and the submarine disap-
peared.
''rbere is plenty Of action driving
al ambulance" said McCrahon, but
| am husky and in the flush of health.
and ! think | can serve better in an
actual fighting unit. \ man slightly
crippled can drive an ambulance quite
az well as man with full physical
qualifications. think meg slightly in
jnred should be given the jobs of driv-
Ing ambulances. while those better able
To do SO take up the burden of real
fighting
II arrived In Bordeaux on April 30
and went Immediately to Paris. where
was made an ambulance driver
After Americas entry into the war l
asked for my release from the ambu-
lnnce corps, and IL was granted. | was
discharged July 2S. In that short time
saw enough to realize the horrors of
modern warfare"
Confssses Ne Was Scared.
McCrahon has the courage to con-
fess that on several occasions he was
scared.
Scared? l should say l was. But
that creepy feeling which may be de-
scribed as fright gradually wears Off
Perhaps the experience which got my
nerve more than any other was gas
attack. With my assistant, chap
named WitZel OF Newark, we were
oil the road, / at tie wheel driving.
when four poilus popped out OF the
night and yelled Gas. shook like
leaf. was semiparalyzed. But |
pulled myself together and awakened
Witzsel jast In time to don our gas
masks. A few more seconds and we
would have had our lungs fun of the
deadly stutr. The gas attack lasted
over half IN hour sweeping the whole
region.
~ had another close call. Nearly
dead of thirst from driving over dusty
roads. l took chance OH drink from
a rOadslde well. although we had been
advised against 1t. Nausea seized me
almost Immediately, and was fright.
fully weakened. | was carried to Il
hospital, where lowered between life
and death for eleven days. owe my
recovery to the untiring attention of
Miss Levy, trained nurse at one OF
the French base hospitals.
Usually in gas attacks warning is
given by shrill blasts OF horn. Shell
dodging comes as matter OF course,
Those used to the Song of the shells
can tell almost within few feet of
where they will fall. The size of the
shell can also be determined by its
shrek.
II must say kind word for the
French officers. No matter what the
surrounding conditions may be. theJ
are always the perfection of courtesy
There seems TO be n spirit OF common
brotherhood between the French officer
and his men.
Danger Turks Everywhere.
1T seems that not even the dead arc
to be permitted to rest IN their graves
IN this awful war Not far from st.
Quentin a cemetery was within range
OF cross dre between Canadian con
tingent and the German lines. The
shells tore up the graves and scattered
the bones In every direction.
ut is dangerous to touch anything
found on the ground from which the
Germans have retrpntpd To move