The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-01-31

mustache. to allow them to dope him
up with chalk. He was laid out as
neatly as any undertaken could do,
candles placed on each side of the
head of the bed and Red Cross nurses
on board taken to see him.
Poor fellow, did they have to shoot
him."
Yes, l heard the shot"
Il was there just after they caught
him. and you should have seen the
Austrian fight"
1t was some fun and it didn't do any
harm. But it was too bad that the
sailor grew tired of playing dead"
just as General Vollrath happened
along. ..
J But the, heaying of the ship and
we'll, other kinds, gave way tonight to
one big sigh of relief, heaved by ev-
eryone on board. Might as we'll be
confessed that it was big nervous
strain, this travelling through the war
zone, and smiles were in great vogue
tonight. In fact, it is nearly midnight
as am writing this and l understand
the officers and the Red Cross nurses
are still walking the decks telling how
sure they were that we would get the
war zone" in safety.
It is Now "Over Here"
Anyway, it is no longer lover there
but now "over here" and the general
sentiment is, won't the folks over
there be glad to know that we have
crossed in safety? Gee! That will be
a Christmas present worth while"
And, by the way, we had Christmas
dinner On board today Regular hon
est-to-goodness turkey, the same kind
that mother used to bake but we must
maintain that mother could give the
wellmeaniag cooks Of the army and
, navy just few lessons.
! There was dab of cranberry sauce,
gravy and smashed potatoes (the u.s.
! ual potatoes have their jackets on be-
, cause it is cold at sea), coffee, sever
al stalks Of asparagus and bread and
| bread and butter. Well, the boys GER
tainly enjoyed it, even if it did bring
thoughts of what the folks back home
were having and doing and thinking.
I But there IS a surprising lack of grun-
bling among the men. They are in
this game because they wanted to
be. Yes, and they are going to stick
by it and do their bit.
We leave this old boat tomorrow,
or the day after, or some tine Or
other.
1--WE are over here and we don't
| know is coming next but when it
comes We'll eat it up is the senti-
| ment
l intended to tell you about the
stunt pulled the first day at sea.
General Vollrath made big hit
! with the men and officers when he
, took part in the special Sunday ser
vices held in the big mess room, and
which was conducted by the chapiains
on board, the first Sunday at sea
! His part was entirely impromptu and
unexpected but it. showed keen ac1:
men and perception, and knowledge
of that little touch needed to com
plete the task of cheering up every
body.
Say what you choose, everyone on
board was trifle blue over leaving
that good old land of the Stars and
| Stripes. One OF the chaplains gave
rather lengthy prayer that helped
lift the load of indigo a trife An.
other chaplain delivered a short but
| to the point sermon and it seemed
that eyes became little brighter
and the clouds wee bit thinner az
ter the gathering had sung the old
Gospel hymn. What a Friend We
Have in Jesus"
pardon me moment" inter
rupted General Vollrath. 81 should
! like to ask that before we go on we
sing the last verse of tAmerca"
Our Fathers God to Thee,
Author of Liberty. To Thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright,
With Freedoms Holy light,
Great God our King"
Every person in the audience
seemed to unloose the letters Of sad.
! ness; the whole verse seemed to fash
through each mind and each one
seemed to grasp in an instant the full
meaning of such glorious assembly
of harmony and words, appeal and
patriotism. The rendition of pre-
vious songs had been ordinary, but
the words Of the National Hymn,
the last verse, we're sung with yer.
liable passion of JOY and Thanksgiving
and prayer and jubilation. It told
each one the meaD!ng the true mean
of the United States entrance into the
war, and it charmed away any fear
of submarines. 1t seemed, too, that
the Supreme Ruler of the nations
! destiny had taken newer hold on
! the personal thoughts and hopes OF
each man on board.
! Sometimes it is a great experience
i to stand on. the side line and watch
! some phase Of life. Men, officers,
Red Cross nurses and sailors, on en-
! tering the improvised church, ap.
peared depressed. They left smiling
and happy and swallowing Jumps
which strangely had appeared in their
threats. It was a sight and an ex.
perience that will live as long as the
memory of every one present
w. r. C. ELECT OFFICERS
At the meeting of the W. R. c.,