The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-09-17
Royal Welcome at England's
Greatest Troop Port.
'You Can't Lick Men With That Kind
of Spirit" Says Old English General
-Fever-Stricken Lad Weeps Be-
cause Surgeon Refuses to Let Him
Proceed With His company-crowds
See Them OFF.

during one month passed through a
certain English port en- route from
America to France via England. It's
h greatest troop port in the world.
Since the war began nearly 100000
soldiers of the allies have zone through
here to battle the Hun in France.
With the port commandment, an old
English general, the correspondent
watched the embarkation of 1000 Yam.
KEGS here one evening.
They had hiked 10 miles from their
camp through a drizzling rain over
muddy roads carrying a 40-pound pack
on their backs. But they reached the
pier shouting and singing with the
military band blaring "Over There"
lord, what a wonderful spirit" the
old general smiled. "You can't lick
men with that kind of spirit"
From All Sections.
From California and other Western
states they came. There were a score
or more American Indians with their
banshee yells mixing in with the gen.
eral hilarity and hubbub of the
Yanks. Even Chinese in the khaki of
Uncle Sam were in the lines.
Beside us stood Lieutenant Woods
of New York. the United States army
embarkation physician, carefully
scrutinizing every man as he filed ur
the gangplank. Suddenly he espied
a young lad, pale of face, weak and
scarcely able to wobble up the gang.
plank. 1t developed the lad had q
temperature of 103 degrees and was
burning up with fever.
Knowing his unit was going tc
France, he refused to report sich
that morning and be left behind. So
In order to go along to France with
his unit for a crack at the Boche, be
gamely made the long hike.
"Please let me go on" he begged
"Tve looked forward so much to the
time when I'd be In France with my
unit. Now, at the last moment, I don't
want to be separated from them. Tn
only a little sick now. I'll be all
right soon. Please let me CO."
The lad actually broke down an6
wept when Lieutenant Woods refused
and put him in an ambulance for the
camp.
81 just wish the kaiser could see
that kind of spirit" said the old Eng.
fish general.
81 often get 'em like that" Lieuten.
ant Woods told us. sour boys are sc
darned anxious to get at the Huns
they don't want to let sickness OF
anything else stand in the way. Every
blamed one of 'em thinks he person.
ally is going to win the war and
there's no stopping Or holding 'em
Lord, Tn proud of 'em."
of for France.
With the military band blaring and
the boys up on deck waving anC
cheering "good-by" the ship slipped out
into the harbor en- route to France.
"Good-by and good luck" waved
the old general. II hope every
blessed one of them comes back safe
but it's hell; some of them won't
ever come back"
AS We turned to leave the docks
we passed hundreds of other march.
ing, singing Yankees, embarking on
other boats. Far down the principal
street of the town the line of march
extended, fianked on either side by
cheering, ~fag-waving crowds-women
and children mostly. Pretty girls
stood along the line of march grasp.
ing the Yankees hands. Some grin.
ming lads hung on to them rather
tight and pulled them along several
steps, laughingly protesting.
From All Sections.
This great English seaport town IL
ablaze with red, white and blue. From
practically every principal building
fiutters the American flag. In the
center of the city's largest park is
located an American and British rest
camp, accommodating about 1000
The camp of about 100 galvanized
iron structures is fianked by pretty
lagoons and ponds, trees and great
bushes and flower gardens. The
Americans have turned the beauty
spot of the town into a rest camp.
Board to Aid FOE Aliens.