Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-06-28
CHAPTER XXI.
About Turn,


The next evening we were relieved
BY the til brigade, and once again
returned to rest billets. Upon arriving
at these billets we were given twenty.
Tour hours In which to clean up. had
just finished getting the mud from my
uniform when the orderly sergeant in.
formed me that my name was in orders
10 leave, and that was to report to
the orderly room in the morning for or.
oers, transportation and rations.
nearly had fit, hustled about
packing up, filling my pack with sou.
venirs such as shell heads, dud bombs
nose caps, shrapnel balls, and Prus.
sian guardsman's helmet. In fact, be.
iore turned in that night, had every.
tnlng ready to report at the orderly
room at nine the next morning.
was the envy of the whole section,
swanking around, telling of the good
ume was going to have, the places !
would visit, and the real, old English
Deer l intended to guzzle. Sort of
RUBBED 1t into them, because they all
w IT, ana now that it was my turn, ]
TOOK pains to get my own back.
AL nine reported to the captain. re.
celVlng my travel order and pass. he
asked me how much money I wanted
TO draw. I glibly answered, "Three
hundred francs, SIR" he just as glibly
handed me one hundred.
Reporting at brigade Headquarters.
with my pack weighing ton, waited,
WIN forty others, for the adjutant to
inspect us. After an hours wait. he
came out; must have been sore because
ne wasn't going with US.
The quartermaster sergeant issued
US two days rations, in a little white
canvas ration bag, which we tied to
our belts.
Then two motor lorries came along
ana we piled in, laughing, joking, and
IN the best Of spirits. We even loved
tne Germans, we were feeling so happy.
our journey to seven days bliss in
Blighty had commenced.
Inc ride in the lorry lasted about
TWO hours; by this time we were COW
cred with fine, white dust from the
road, but didn't mind, even if we were
nearly choking.
AT the railroad station at r we
reported to an officer, who had a white
Dand around his arm, which read "R.
I. u" (Royal Transportation Oficer).
10 us this officer was Santa Claus.
Inc sergeant in charge showed him
our orders; he glanced through them
and said: make yourselves comfort
able on the platform and don't leave !:
the train Is liable to be along in five
minutes-Or five hours"
1t came in five hours, a string Of
eleven match boxes on big. high
wheels, drawn by dinky little engine
with the "con." These match boxes
were cattle cars, on the sides of which
was painted the old familiar sign.
"Hommes 40, Chevaux g."
The r. T. o. stuck us all into one
car. We didn't care; it was as good
as Pullman to us.
Two days we spent on that train
dumping, stopping, jerking ahead, and
sometimes sliding back. At three sta.
lions we stopped long enough to mako
some tea, but were unable to wash. 81
when we arrived at B, where we
were to embark for Blighty, we were
as black as Turcos and, with our IN
shaven faces, we looked like a lot Of
tramps. Though tired out, we were
happy.
We had packed up, preparatory to
detraining. when r. T. O. held I'M his
nand for us to stop where we were
and came over. This is what he said ::
Boys, I'm sorry, but orders have inst
been received cancelling all leave. IF
you had been three hours earlier YOU
would have gotten away. Just stay in
that train, as it is going back. Rations
Will be issued to you for your return
Journey to your respective stations
Beastly rotten, know" Then ha Loft
A dead silence resulted. Then men
started to curse, threw their rifles On
the floor of the car; others said moth.
ing, seemed to be stupefied, while some
had the tears running down tha;r
cheeks. 1t was bitter disappointment
to all.