Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-03-28
CHAPTER !.
From Multi to Khaki.

IL was III an ONCE IN Jersey City.
was sitting at my desk talking to
q lieutenant of the Jersey National
Guard. On the wall was a big war
map decorated with variously colored
little flags showing the position of the
opposing armies on the western front
In France. In front of me on the desk
lay New York paper with big fiaring
headlines:
LUsITANiA SUNK! AMERICAN
LIVES LOST!
The windows were open and feel
ing Of spring pervaded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains of hurdy-gurdy playing in the
STREET. Didn't Raise My Boy to Be
n Soldier"
'Lusitania Sunk! American Lives
Lostw-"Il Didn't Raise My Boy to
BE Soldier" To US these did not
seem to jibe.
The lieutenant in silence opened one
of the lower drawers of his desk and
took from 1t an American flag which
he solemnly draped over the war map
on the wall. Then, stunning to me with
o grim face, said:
"How about 1t, sergeant? You had
better get out the muster roll of the
Mounted Scouts, as think they will
be needed In the course of few days"
We busted ourselves till late in the
evening writing out emergency tele-
grams for the men to report when the
call should come from Washington.
Theli we went home.
Icrosled over to New York, and as
I went up Fulton street to take the
subway TO Brooklyn, the lights in the
tall buildings of New York seemed to
be burning brighter than usual, as If
they, too, had read "Lusitania Sunk
American Lives LOST" They seemed
to be glowing with anger and righteous
indignation, and their rays wigwagged
the message, Repay"
Months passed, the kilograms lying
handy, but covered with dust. Then,
one mo .nentous morning the lieutenant
with sigh Of disgust removed the
dag from the war map and returned
to his desk. Immediately followed
this action by throwing the kilograms
into the wastebasket. Then we looked
at each other in silence. He was
squirminY In his chair and I felt de-
pressed al uneasy.
The telt )hone rang and / answered
tt. It was business call for me, re-
Questing my services for an out-of-
town assignment. Business was not
very good, so this was very welcome.
After listening to the proposition I
seemed to be swayed by peculiarly
strong force within me, and answered,
Il am sorry that l cannot accept your
o4fer, but l am leaving for England
next week." and hung up the receiver.
The lieutenant swung around in his
chair, and stared at me in blank aston
lshment. A sinking sensation came
over me, but defiantly answered his
look with. "Well. it's so. I'm going"
And went.
The trip across was uneventful.
landed at Tilbury, England, then got
Into q string Of matchbox cars and
proceeded to London. arriving there
about 10 p. m. i took room in hotel
near st. Pancras station for five and
eix--fire extra" The room was minus
the fire, but the "extra" seemed to
keep me warm. That night there was
i Zeppelin raid, but / didn't see much
OF It, because the slit in the curtain
was too small and had no desire b,
make 1t larger. Next morning the ell
eph0ne bell rang, and someone asked,
4 Are you thereT was, hardly. Any.
way, learned that the Zeps had re.
turned to their fatbsrland, so I went
out into the street expecting to see
s scenes Of awful devastation and cow
ering p0puIAce, but everything was
normal. People were calmly proceed
ing to their work. Crossing the
street, / accosted Bobbie with:
Scan you direct me to the place of
1amageY' N
He asked me, what damagef"
In surprise, answered, why the
damage caused By the ZepsS