Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-08

| submarine, Arthur Guy Empey, an Ameri-
can. leaves his office in Jersey City and
goes to England where he enlists In the
| British army.
CONTINUED from yesterday
On my feet were heavy-soled boots,
studded with hobnails, the toes and
heels of which were REINFORCED by
| steel half-moons. My legs were in
cased in wooden puttees, olive drab in
| color, with my trousers overlapping
them at the top Then wooden khaki
tunic. under which was a blush gray
| wooden shirt, minus a collar; beneath
| this shirt wooden belly band about
six inches wide, held in place by tie
strings of white tape. On my head
was heavy wooden trench cap, with
huge earIaps buttoned over the top.
Then the equipment: A canvas belt,
with ammunition pockets, and two
Wide canvas straps, like suspenders,
| called 3D. straps, fastened to the belt
In front, passing over each shoulder,
crossing in the middle Of my back, and
attached by buckles to the rear of the
belt. On the right side of the belt
hung water bottle. covered with felt !;
| on the left side was my bayonet and
scabbard, and intrenching tool handle
this handle strapped to the bayonet
scabbard. In the rear was my in
trenching tool, carried in canvas case
This tool was combination pick and
spade. A canvas haversack was
strapped to the~l side of the belt,
while on my back was the pack, also
of canvas, held In place by two canvas
straps over the shoulders; suspended
on the bottom of the puck was my
mess tin or canteen in neat little
canvas case. My waterproof sheet
looking like jelly roll, was strapped
on<top of the pack, with wooden stick
for cleaning the breach of the rifle pro-
jecting from each end. On n lanyard
around my waist hung q huge jack
knife with can-0pener attachment.
The pack contained my overcoat. an
extra pair of socks, change of under
wear, hold all Containing knife, fork,
spoon, comb, toothbrush, lather brush.
shaving soap, and razor made of tin,
the blade; when trying to shave with
this it made you wish that you were
at war with Patagonia, so that you
could have a ''hollow ground" stamped
''Made in Germany'') then your house
wife, button-cleaning outfit, consisting
of brass button stick, two stiff
brushes, and box of Soldiers
Friend" paste; then shoe brush and
box of dublin, writing pad, indel-
ible pencil, envelopes and pay book,
and personal belongings, such as a
small mirror, decent razor and
sheaf of unanswered letters, and Tags.
In your haversack you carry your iron
rations, meaning tin of bully beef,
four biscuits and can containing tea,
sugar and Oxo cubes; couple Of
pipes and a pack of shag, tin of rifle
oil, and pull-through Tommy gem
orally carries the oil with his rations
it gives the cheese sort of sardine
taste.
Add to this first-aid pouch and
long. ungainly rifle patterned after the
Daniel Boone period, and you have an
idea of British soldier in Blighty.
Before leaving for France, this rifle
is taken from him and he Is issued
with Lee-Enfield short trench rifle
and ration bag.
In France he receives two gas he'll
NETS. sheepskin coat, rubber mack
intosh, steel helmet, two blankets, tear
shell goggles, a balaclava helmet,
gloves and tin of antifrostbite grease.
which is excellent for greasing the
boots. Add to this the weight of his.
rations, and can you blame Tommy for
growing at twenty-kilo route march?
Having served as sergeant major in
the United States cavalry, ] tried to
tell the English drill sergeants their
business, but it did not work. They
Immediately put me as batman In theil
mess. Many a greasy dish of stew was
accidentally spilled over them.
would sooner fight than be waiter,
so when the order came through from
headquarters calling for draft of
$50 re-enforcements for France, | vol
unteered.
Then we went before the M. 0.
(medical officer) for another physical
examination. This was very brief. He
asked our names and numbers and
said sFit," and we went out to fight.
We were put into troop trains and
sent to Southampton, where we de-
trained, and had our trench rifles Is
sued to us. Then in columns Of twos
we went up the gangplank of little
steamer lying alongside the dock.
At the head of the gangplank there
was an old sergeant, who directed that
we line ourselves along both rails Of
the ship. Then he ordered us to take
life belts from the racks overhead and
put them on. have crossed the ocean
several times and knew was not sea-
sick, but when I buckled on that life
belt had a sensation Of sickness.
After we got out into the stream all
could think Of was that there We're q
million German submarines with tor
pedo on each, across the warhead of
which was inscribed my name and nd
dress