Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-30

said. THAT is but one experience,
but it proves that the Huns are
making their way through the
French lines not as victors but as
captives.
Our train. the one on which I
was conductor, was used solely to
carry ammunition to the French
lighters. We carried the supplies
to --. From there it was trans
ported underground to a short dis
lance from the trenches and then
taken the rest of the way by mo-
tor transport. We seldom made
trip back from the trenches that
we didn't have load of prisoners.
One would not think they were
prisoners. They were actually hap
by and smiling practically all Of
the time. The majority were glad
TO think that they were in the
hands of the enemy because food
and protection was assured them
Chalfant has had the experience
overseas that all envy after hear
ing him talk for time Although
he has been back in the United
States for the last four months, his
return to Rock Island is the first
since his Homecoming. He was
discharged from the army but for
four months has been in a SAM
tarium in New Jersey recuperating
from the shock and weakness caus-
ed by the paralytic stroke.
On President Lincoln.
Chalfant considers himself more
than lucky in escaping death. He
served II months just behind the
firing front before a shell finally
found its way into his body. Com
ing to America he rode on the ill
fated President Lincoln, which was
sunk the next time it attempted to
pass throUe5t the war zone on its
way to the United States.
Il tried to stay in France but no
one would let me-" he said. l fig
one would let me-" he said. q fig
would help. but the government de-
creed no, and here I am. Believe
me, it sure is great to get home,
too. l didn't see a man from this
part of the country all of the time
that l was in France. The first
fellow l met who was anywhere
near American was an Elk from
New York. Believe me, we had
talk that I never will forget Where
the thirteenth was operating it was
quite a ways from the American
bases and headquarters so natural
~ the only troops we would see
would be those of the French gov
eminent for which we were work
ing"
Meets Mystery.
Chalfant met with extreme diff
ficulty on returning to this coun-
try. He no more than arrived
when he had to make out a draft
questionnnaire telling of his fitness
for war duty He secured infor-
nation in way that anyone would
like to have at the present at least
while QUESTIONABLE work is under
way. Chalfant on learning of the
draft requirements went to once to
Washington where his mother lives
and had personal talk with the
country's draft executive, Provost
Marshal General CrowdeT. who,
when learning that his visitor had
been overseas, gave him special at
tention and chatted freely about
life in France.
Draft regulations, missionaries
order numbers. etc, were a mys-
terry to Chalfant, the Thirteenth en-
gineer having left the United
States in May, 1917, a month be
fore the first registration day.
The Thirteenth was formed from
six railroads operating west of Chi
cago. On the outbreak of the war
conditions which were existing
between this country and Germany
the road officials formed the Thir-
teenth from their lines and turned
the organized unit over to the gov
eminent. 1t entrained for Franco
shortly after.
Glad for Home.
There are two things l am real
" thankful for" Chalfant said.
"One is that there is such an or
ganization as the American Red
Cross, and the other is that l have
home town to come back to. It
sure is great to get back among
people you know, even though life
in France suited me particularly