Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-17
''0ver the Top
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EnPEY
op1ulsht, 1917. BY Arthur Guy Empsy)
Machine Gunne, Se,oins In France

(CCpyNDoty WI, Oy Alt0uf duy oMpOV
I opened my eyes; was being car
ried on stretcher through lanes Of
people, some cheering, some waving
flags, and others crying. The flags were
Union Jacks, was. in Southampton.
Blighty at last. My stretcher was
strewn with flowers, cigarettes, and
chocolates. Tears started to run down
my cheek from my good eye. like
BOBBY was crying. Can -ou beat it?-
Then into another hospital train,
five-hour ride to Paignton, another am
bulance ride, and then I was carried
into Niunsey ward q the American
Women's War hospital and put into a
real bed.
This real bed was too much for my
unstrung nerves and tainted.
When came to, pretty Red Cross
nurse was bending over me, bathing
my forehead with cold water, then she
left and the ward orderly placed
screen around my bed, and gave me
much-needed bath and clean pajamas.
Then the screen was removed and a
) bowl of steaming soup was given me.
: 1t tasted delicious.
Before finishing my soup the nurse
came back to ask me my name and
number. She put this information down
IN little book and then asked:
"Where do you come from?" l an
swered:
From the big town behind the
4 Statue of Liberty" upon bearing this
she started jumping up and down,
clapping her hands, and calling out to
three nurses across the ward:
! 'Come here, girls-at last we have
got real live Yankee with u.s."
They came over and besieged me
with questions, until the doctor ar
rived. Upon learning that l was an
American he almost crushed my hand
in his grip of welcome. They also
were Americans, and were glad to see
me.
Z The doctor very tenderly removed
my bandages and told me, after view
Z ing my wounds, that he would have to
take me to the operating theater Inn
madiately. Personally didn't care
what was done with me.
In few minutes, four orderlies who
looked like undertakers dressed In
white, brought stretcher to my bed
and placing me. on it carried me out Of
the ward, across courtyard to the
operating room or pictures" as Tom
my calls it.
/ don't remember having the anes-
thestic applied.
When I came to was again lying in
bed in Munsey ward. One of the
nurses had draped large American
flag over the head Of the bed, and
clasped in my hand was smaller flag.
and it made me feel good all over to
again see the "Stars and Stripes"
At that time wondered when the
boys in the trenches would see the
emblem Of the "land Of the free and
the home Of the brave" beside them,
doing its bit in this great war of civil
lization.
My wounds were very painful, and
several times at night would dream
that myriads Of khaki-clothed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop, bend over me, and whisper, 1.-THE
best of luck, mate"
Soaked with Precipitation I would
awake with cry, and the night nurse
Iwould come over and hold my hand.
This awakening got to be . habit with
line until that particular nurse was
transferred to another ward.
In three weeks time, owing to the
careful treatment received, was able
TO sit up and get my bearings. Our
ward contained seventy-five patients,
loo per cent Of which were surgical
cases. At the head of each bed hung
10 temperature chart and diagnosis
isheet. Across this sheet would be
written &c. S. W." or rs. W." the for
,mer meaning gun shot wound and the
latter shell wound. The rs. W." pre-
dominated, especially among the Royal
siField artillery and Royal engineers.
4 About forty different regiments were
represented, and many arguments en-
sued as to the respective fighting abil-
tity Of each regiment. The rivalry was
wonderful. A Jock arguing with an
FRESHMAN, then strong Cockney ac-
Icent would butt in in favor of Lon
Idon regiment. Before long Welsh
Imam, followed by member of a York
shire regiment, and, perhaps, Cana
fdian intrude themselves and the argu-
Iment WAKES loud and furious. The
lpatients In the beds start bowling for
them to settle their dispute outside
land the ward is In an uproar. The
head sister comes along and with q
twavs Of the hand completely routs the
doughty warriors and again silence
ireigns supreme
7 Wednesday and Sunday Of each week
were visiting days}and were looked
forward to BY the men, because they
i,,nna ~ m reels containing fruit. sweets