Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-06-06

would visit, and the real, old English
beer l intended to guzz1e. Sort of
rubbed 1t into them, because they all
do 1t, and now that 1t was my turn, /
took pains to get my own back.
At nine reported to the captain, re-
ceiving my travel order and pass. He
asked me how much money 1 wanted
to draw. 1 glibly answered, "Three
hundred francs, SIR" he just as glibly
handed me one hundred.
Reporting at brigade headquarters,
with my pack weighing a ton, waited,
with forty others, for the adtutant to
inspect us. After an hours wait, he
came out; must have been sore because
he wasn't going with us.
The quartermaster sergeant issued
US two days rations, In little white
canvas ration bag, which we tied to
our belts.
Then two motor lorries came along
and we piled In, laughing, joking, and
In the best of spirits. We even loved
the Germans, we were feeling so happy.
Our journey to seven days bliss in
Blighty had commenced.
The ride In the lorry lasted about
two hours; by this time we were COW
cred with fine, white dust from the
road, but didn't mind, even IL we were
nearly choking.
At the railroad station at F. we
reported to an officer, who had white
band around his arm, which read "R.
7. o." (Royal Transportation Officer).
To us this officer was Santa Claus.
The sergeant in charge showed him
our orders; he glanced through them
and said: make yourselves comfort
able on the platform and don't leave;
the train is liable to be along In five
minutes-or five hours"
1t came in five hours, a string of
eleven match boxes on big, high
wheels, drawn by dinky little engine
with the "con." These match boxes
were cattle cars, on the sides of which
was painted the old familiar sign,
''Hommes 40, Chevaux g."
The r. T. o. stuck us all into one
c;N We didn't care; 1t was as good
us a Pullman to us.
Two days we spent on that train,
humping, stopping, jerking ahead, and
sometimes sliding back. At three sta
tons we stopped long enough to make
some tea, but were unable to wash, so
when we arrived at B, where we
were to embark for Blighty, we were
as black as Turcos and, with our I'M
shaven faces, we looked like a lot Of
tramps. Though tired out, we were
happy.
We had packed up, preparatory to
detraining, when n r. T. o. held up his
hand for us to stop where we were
and came over. This Is what he said:
"Boys, I'm sorry, but orders have just
been received cancelling all leave. If
you had been three hours earlier you
would have gotten away. Just stay In
that train, as it is going back. Rations
will be issued to you for your return
journey to your respective stations.
Beastly rotten, know" Then he left.
A dead silence resulted. Then men
started to curse, threw their rifles on
the floor of the car; others snid moth
ing, seemed To be stupefied, while some
had the tears running down their
cheeks. 1t was bitter disappointment
to all.
How we blinded at the engineer OF
that train; 1t was all his fault ESQ we
reasoned) /; why hadn't he speeded up O
little or been on time, then we would
have gotten off before the order ar
rived? Now 1t was no Blighty for us
That return journey was misery Il
us Just can't describe 1t.