New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1918-07-24
drew rations and cooked an American

square meal
It was horrible sight to look atsthe
men. They were black, clothes all
muddy and mussed up. Their eyes were
sticking out far enough for them to hang
their rifles on them. Their shoulders
were dropped to the limit with the weight
Of the packs which now seemed 10 times
as heavy as in the start. Their chins
hung lifeless down beneath their faces.
Their arms dangled and seemed to be
without stiffening. However, after sew
eral days of resting and cleaning up they
once more received the snap of the salute
for which American soldiers are famous
over here Their eyes travelled back to
their proper places, their chins took the
determined grip again and once more
we had American soldiers.
Well, to be frank with you, they treated
us fine, we were given quarters with
stove, given an orderly and we got our
bedding rolls the night we hit camp,
and oh, with bedding roll no one ever
worries or frets cause they are our COM
fort kits. Needless to say we slept
like troopers after eating dinner served
at a real table with real dishes and in
real style, four courses. 1t was the
best I have ever had or perhaps 1 had
better change it, it was enjoyed more
than any meal I have ever had.
We lust got settled nicely in our room
when the Captain told us we were to
20 to Tractor School. We went and had
a wonderful time. The school was
French school and very theoretical.
In fact, so much so that good many Of
the fellows sort Of felt out Of place at
the school. We lived as we used to live
at the training camp, like enlisted men
and we missed thestove we had at our
American camp. They promised to
feed us but they forgot it most of the
time and we had to buy extras in order
to fill up. Then when it came to settling
up we found that we were charged for
real meals as we'll as the extras we bought
ourselves. But as good soldiers always
do, they pay their bills without saying
word and are glad it off their shoulders.
l, however, came very near going back
to the U. S. A. We were loaded in a
carryall and were going to a place some
20 miles distant to see how tractors
are used in loading guns on cars. The
day was very hot, the road very dusty
and French gasoline has very peculiar
habit Of forming carbon oxide gas which
always fills up these carryalls. Well,
we stood heat and dust and gas until
we were all about ready to kick in when
I volunteered to take the side curtains
off Of the blooming thing. I did try
but the chief American instructor came
rushing up like a wild man and insisted
I STOP He rebuked me in such a manner
and with such hard words, and in a
language "unbecoming to an officer"
that l flew up in a rage and demanded
an explanation of what harm l was
doing in putting up the side curtains
which would make so officers live longer.
The reply was that was meddling with
French property. Well, that was all
I could stand and so l asked how some
of the French Officers who were seated
in an American touring car would like
riding in a place where an American
would not allow enlisted men to ride.
The French Officer overheard me, much
to my misfortune and they tried to have
lot of trouble raised. But our American
Colonel couldn't quite buck several
hundred American brother officers, so
I merely lost my weekend pass to Paris,
which incidentally saved me about
$50 francs.
We enjoyed many week-ends in Paris
and took in all it's beauties. / can t
start telling about Paris because I would
write all night telling about it, but I
will say this, it's all you hear about it
and then more. I finished the Tractor
School all O. K and started back for the
regiment. Getting back several of the
boys asked me to write little sketch
on the school so they could put it in
their books. I did and thought perhaps
you would be interested in it. If you
will pardon my butchery Of Service
I've been at school, ct acork, at play.
I've studied hard; coed many day
Yes, avorked from dam to darn, ev'n more;
And toi'ed acith Gee, acith pen, aOhat's more
Zee craWled IN boilers, pats and den,
And places uhich WeTem't fit for men;
But not until I qUe11t to 1rar
Have | ever WcrHed and studied more
About ma7aoearers, guns and cars,
Friction maps; pulleys and bars,
Than aChen I took the tractor course
And saav ho1v gas replaced the horse.