The Glenwood post., 1918-03-09


Presently I came to recruiting Of
flee. Inside, sitting at desk was q
lonely Tommy Atkins. I decided to in
terview him in regard to Joining the
British army. opened the door. He
looked up and greeted me with Il s'y,
myte, want to tyke on?"
I looked at him and answered, "Well,
whatever that is, I'll take a chance
at it."
Without the aid of an Interpreter, I
found out that Tommy wanted to know
If cared to join the British army. He
asked me: "Did you ever hear Of the
Royal Fusiliers?" Well, in London,
you know, Yanks are supposed to know
everything, so I was not going to ap-
pear ignorant and answered, Sure"
After listening for one half-hour to
Tommy's tale Of their exploits on the
firing line, decided to join. Tommy
took me to the recruiting headquarters,
where met typical English captain.
He asked my nationality. I immedi-
ately pulled out my American passport
and showed 1t to him. It was signed
by Lansing. After looking at the
passport he informed me that he was
sorry but could not enlist me, ~ 1t
would be a breach Of neutrality. !
insisted that I was not neutral. be-
cause to me It seemed that a real
American could not be neutral when
big things were In progress, but the
captain would not enlist me.
With disgust in my heart went out
block when a recruiting sergeant who
had followed me out Of the ONCE
tapped me on the shoulder with his
swagger stick and said: "s'y, can
get you in the army. We have 1ef-
tenant down at the other ONCE who
can do anything. he has Just come
out Of the o. T. 9. (Omcers' Training
corps) and does not know what neu-
trality is." decided to take a chance.
and accepted his invitation for an in
PRODUCTION to the lieutenant. I entered
the once and went up to him, opened
up uv passport and said:
Before going further wish to state
that am an American. not too proud
to fight, and want to join your army"
He looked at me in a nonchalant
manner, and answered. "That's all
right; we take anything over here"
looked at him kind Of hard and re-
piled, $50 I notice." but it went over
his head.
He got out an enlistment blank, and
r,1o hfo an H.
"Sign here"
answered. mot on your tintype."
81 beg your pardon"
Then explained to him that would
not sign it without first reading it. I
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. I
answered, "Ogden, Utah."
He said, "Oh, yes, just outside Of
New York;"
With smile, I replied. swell. It's up
the state little"
Then I was taken before the doctor
and passed as physically fit, and was
issued uniform. When reported
back to the lieutenant, he suggested
that, being an American, I go on re-
crultng service and try to shame some
Of the slackers into Joining the army"
"All you have to do" he said, "is to
go out on the Street, and when you see
a young fellow in mufti who looks
physically At, just stop him and give
him this kind of talk: Aren't you
ashamed of yourself. Britisher, phys
ically fit, and in mutt when your king
and country need you? Don't you
know that your country Is Mt war and
that the place for every young Briton
Is on the firing line? Here I am. an
American, in khaki, who came four
thousand miles to fight for your king
and country, and you, as yet, have not
enlisted. Why don't you joint Now
Is the time
"Ths argument ought to get many
recruits Empey, 20 90 out and see
what you can do."
He then gave me a small rosette Of
red, white and blue ribbon, with three
little streamers hanging down. This
was the recruiting insignia and was
to be worn ON the left side OF the cap.
Armed with q swagser stick and my
patriotic rosette, I went out into Tot
tenham Court road in quest Of cannon
fodder.
Two or three poorly dressed civil
ians passed me, and although they ap-
peared physically at, I said to myself,
"They don't want to Join the army;
perhaps they have someone dependent
on them for support" so I did not &C.
cost them.
Coming down the street I saw a
young dandy, top hat and all, with
fashionably dressed girl walking be-
side him. muttered, "You nre my
meat" and when he came abreast us
me I stepped directly in his path and
stopped him with my swagger stick,
saying:
"You would look fine in khaki; why
not chnnre Tint ton hot for n steel