The Cordova daily times., 1918-03-30
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damage"
 He asked me, "What damage?"
 In surprise, I answered, "Why, the damage caused by the Zeps."
 With a wink he replied:
 "There was no damage; we missed them again"
 After several fruitless inquiries of the passersby, I decided to go on my own in search of ruined buildings and scenes of destruction. I boarded bus which carried me through Tottenham Court road. Recruiting posters were 1 everywhere. The one that impressed me most was life-Size picture of Lord Kitchener with his finger point Ing directly at me, under the caption of Your King and Country Need You" No matter which way I turned, the accusing finger followed me. I was an American, in multi, and had little American flag in the lapel of my coat l had no king, and my country had seen fit not to need me, but still that pointing finger made me feel small and l i'll at ease. I got off the bus to try rG dlssipate this feeling by mixing with the throng of the sidewalks.
 Presently I came to a recruiting of flee. Inside, sitting at desk was lonely Tommy Atkins. I decided to in- terview him in regard to joining the British army. I opened the door. He looked up and greeted me with q s'y. nyte, want to tyke OnY
 looked at him and answered. "WelI. whatever that is, I'll take a chance at It."
 Without the aid of an interpreter found out that Tommy wanted to know If I cared to join the British army. He asked me: Did yoa ever hear of the Royal Fusiliers?" Well, in London, you know, Tanks are supposed to know everything, so I was not going to ap- pear ignorant and answered, Sure"
 After listening fer one half-hour to Tommy's tale of thcir exploits on the firing line, I decided to join. Tommy took me to the recruiting Headquarters, where I met a typical English captain. i He asked my nationality. I immedi- ately pulled out my American passport and showed it to him. It was signed by Lansing. After looking at the passport. he informed me that he was l sorry but could not enlist me, as 1t would be breach of neutrality. insisted that I was not neutral, be- cause to me 1t seemed that q real American could not be neutral when big things were in progress, but the captain would not enlist me.
 With disgust in my heart I went out in the street. I had gone about q block when a recruiting sergeant who had followed me out of the office tapped me on the shoulder with his swagger stick and said: "S'y, l can get you in the army. We have a lief tenant down at the other office who can do anything. He has just come out of the O. T. c. (Officers' Training corps) and does not know what neu- trality Is." I decided to take chance, and accepted his invitation for an in troductiOn to the lieutenant. entered the office and went up to him, opened up my passport and said:
 Before going further I wish to state that I am an Amertcan, not too proud to. fight, and want b join your army"
 He looked at ne in a nonchalant manner, and answered, That's all right; we take anything over here"
 I looked at him kind of hard and re- piled, "So I notice" but it went over his head.
 He got out an enlistment blank, and placing his finger on blank line said, "sign here"
 I answered, "Not on your tintype."
 "I beg your pardonf"
 Then explained to him that would not sign it without first reading it. read it over and signed for duration of war. Some of the recruits were lucky. They signed for seven years only
 Then he asked me my birthplace. answered. ogden, Utah."
 lie said, "Oh, yes, just outside of New York;"
 With smile replied "Well, it's up the state little"
 Then I was taken before the doctor and passed as physically fit, and was issued a uniform. When I reported back to the lieutenant. he suggested that, being an American, I go on re cruiting service and try to shame some of the slackers into joining the army All you have to do" he said, "is tt 20 out on the street and when you sec a young fellow In multi who looks ! physically fit. just stop him and give l him this kind of talk: Aren't vol |, ashamed of yourself, Britisher, phys , ically it, and in multi when your kini . and country need you? Don't vol , know that your country Is at war an' that the place for every young Britol . is on the firing lin.g Here I am, al t American, in khaki. who came fOu g thousand miles to fight for your kim - asd country. and you. as yet, have no