Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-05-03
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damage?"
He asked me, what damageT
In surprise, answered, "Why. the
damage caused by the Zeps."
With wink he replied:
"There was no damage; we missed
them again."
After several fruitless inquiries of
the passersby, decided to 90 on my
own in search of ruined buildings and
scenes of destruction. | boarded bus
which carried me through Tottenham
Court road. Recruiting posters were
everywhere. The one that impressed
me most was life-size picture of
Lord Kitchener with his finger point
ing directly at me. under the caption
of "Your King and Country Need YOU"
No matter which way turned, the
accusing finger followed me. l was
an American, in mufti, and had little
American flag in the lapel of my coat.
l had no king and my country had
seen fit not to need me, but still that
pointing finger made me feel small and
i'll at ease. l got off the bus to try
to disslpate this feeling by mixing
with the throng of the sidewalks.
( Presently l came to recruiting Of
| flee. Inside, sitting at a desk was II
/ lonely Tommy Atkins. decided to in
/ terview him in regard to joining the
/ British army. | opened the door. He
looked up and greeted me with II sly,
myte, want to tyke on?"
looked Mt him and. answered, "Well,
whatever that is, I'll take chance
at It,"
Without the aid of an interpreter,
found out that Tommy wanted to know
! If cared to join the British army. He
asked me "Did you ever hear of the
Royal Fusillers?" Well, in London,
you know, Yanks are supposed to know
! everything, so / 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, 1 decided to join. Tommy
took me to the recruiting headquarters,
where met typical English captain.
He asked my nationality. / immedi-
ately pulled out my American passport
and showed 1t to him. 1t was signed
by Lansing. After looking at the
passport, he Informed me that he was
sorry but could not enlist me, as II
would be breach of neutrality.
insisted that l was not neutral, be
cause to me II seemed that ren,
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
in the street. | had gone about II
block when recruiting sergeant who
had followed me out of the office
tanned me on the shoulder with his
swagger stick and said: "S'y, l can
get you in the army. We have lef'
tenant down mt the other office who
can do anything. He has Just come
out of the o. r. c. (Oficers' Training
corps) and does not know what neu
trality is" I decided ~ take II chance
and accepted his invitation for an IN
PRODUCTION 10 the lieutenant. I entered
the office and went up to him, opened
up my 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 nonchalant
manner, and answered, "That's al
right; we take anything over here"
looked at him kind of hard and re
piled, $50 / notice" but II went ovel
his head.
He got out an enlistment blank, ant
placing his finger on blank line said
"Sign here"
answered, "Not on your tintype."
~ beg your pardon"
Then | explained to him that would
not sign ii without first reading 1t.
read II 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.
answered, "Ogden, Utah
He said, "Oh, yes, just outside o.
New York;
With smile replied, "WeIl, it's VI
the state little"
Then | was taken before the doctor
and passed as physically fit, and wal
issued n uniform. When | reported
back 10 the lieutenant, he suggested
that being an American, | go on re
cruiting service and try to shame some
of the slackers into joining the army
"All you have to do" he said, sis Il
60 out on the street, and when you SEE
young fellow in multi who look
physically At just stop him and give
him this kind Of II talk Aren't yol
ashamed of yourself, a Britisher, phys
lcally fit. and in mufti when your klnl
and country need you? Don't yol
know that your country is AZ war ant
that the place for every young Brltol
Is On the firing line? Here | am, al
American, in khaki, who came fou
thousand miles To fight for your kim
| and country and you, as yet, have no