New-York tribune., 1918-05-28
GHmpses
By Wilbur Forrest

WV TORSC I'm FhANCC.-- why uO
you wear your cigarette case in
your left breast pocket?" asked a major of
a young lieutenant over time coffee
the other evening.
Gust habit, 1 suppose" lied the lieu
tenant
The query started a discussion, and every
body had to admit that he always wore
his metal in his left breast pocket.
Il suppose it's because you think bull
let will hit the case, save your life and
get your name in the paper" chided the
major. The major was the only one who
wasn't protecting his heart with metal at
the time, and it was only because he had
forgotten and put his case in his rear
trousers pocket.
French politeness is Unborn. This was
demonstrated the other night when several
officers of machine gun battalion were
under heavy fire. A French interpreter who
had been under heavy fire all day told the
superior officer of the party that he had
finished introducing the American relief
to the outgoing French officers and wanted
to go to the rear The officer consented
The party, plus one-the interpreter
started back. German shells seemed to be
bursting everywhere. No one wanted to
waste time chatting in the roadway, which
led to battered village. When the party
reached the village the officer changed his
mind about the interpreter. you'll have
to go backs I'm sorry" he said Most
any ordinary mortal would have growled
or at least acted trifle sullen. Going
back through a dangerous she'll zone was
not pleasant sensation. But the inter
prefer didn't. He smartly saluted each
member of the party separately, shook
hands with every one and said pleasant
Good night" before turning back to re-
sumo a sleepless night in the line. He
held up the party three minutes to do it,
He could not have done it better in
drawing room
"This is Washington. Hello, Central!
Give me Baltimore Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-
Hello! Is this Baltimore? Wot? You're
New York? Well, I didn't ask for New
York. l want Baltimore. Central, Gen.
tral, wot the -! Gimme Baltimore!
Hello, Batimorc!
Zee, ex, y, 2, 4, 6, 4, R, Pee, Get
cut Of here, Boston, I'm talkin' to Balti-
more. Did you get me, Baltimore? All
right and don't forget 7, 6, 1, F. B. H. Gett-
it. Goodby."
This ISN'T as crazy as it may sound. 1t
is only an imitation of sergeant major
talking over an army telephone in code. so
viz NCAAHduo may lISIeU Ill TO no avail
Various positions are named for cities and
the Central" is an American soldier run
ming q switchboard in a dugout.
Bathtubs in a French village are usually
very conspicuous for their absence. The
other day fine tin tub, of shape and con-
tour indicating that it had been used for
bathing, was found in a we'll shelled viii
lage by young American lieutenant. He
had 1T polished and scrubbed and built
little barricade about it. Then he found
some duckboards and a chair and ordered
the cook to heat some water Then he
took a "regular'' bath, the first known
IN the American army near the enemy.
But his secret is out To-day every Off
Ger in the battalion has been tubbed and
scrubbed IN regular peace time fashion
They are starting to bathe the bat
talon. There are about thousand men
in battalion. Thirty men are bathing
each day-under orders--and no single
bathtub in the history of France has ever
worked SO hard or under such unique con-
cltions. Unless a German shell "holes"
this bathtub, the young lieutenant respon-
slble for it will probably take it back
home some day as a souvenir
"Whoever said that a mule wasn't an
absolute essential in warfare ?" chirped q
young Missouri corporal the other day. as
he and his pair of long-eared animals
snaked high-powered staff automobile
out OF the mud. In the staff car were two
staff officers. Four privates, the corporal
the two staff officers and Correspondent
thereupon started friendly debate ere
solved, that the utility of mules in war
fare overbalances that of any animal or
machine" The debate was serious and
the affirmative won, hands down. "Tin
Lizzie" automobiles were judged second in
utility and horses third