The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-11-28

M uetiyefeu IL l0 I0e cuDle OiS~
patcher could just imagine the ex-
ultation with which my mother would
receive 1t and the pride she would
feel as she exhibited 1t among her
neighbors and friends.
i could hear the volley Of II told
you SOS" that greeted her good lid
ings.
1T would talxe more than the kaiser
to keep Pat In Germany" 1 could hear
one of them saying.
Knew he'd be bpck for Christmas.
anyway could hear another re-
mark
II had an idea that Pat and his
comrades might spend Christmas In
Berlin could hear another admit
ting. but 1 did not think any other
Fart of Germany would appeal to him
very much"
Mrs O1srien, did Pat write you
how many German prisoners he
brought back with himT' 1 could hear
still another credulous friend inquir-
ing.
1t was all very amusing and graft
flying to me and l must confess l felt
quite cocky as walked into the war
department to report
Fur the next five days 1 was kept
very busy answering questions put to
me by the military authorities regard
ing what 1 had observed as to condi-
tons in Germany and behind the lines.
What ] reported was taken down
by stenographer and made part Of
the official records, but l did not give
them my story In narrative form. The
Information / was able to give was
naturally of interest to various
branches of the service. and experts
in every line of government work took
it in turns to question me. One morn
ing would be devoted. for instance.
to answering questions of a military
nature-German methods behind the
front line trenches. tactics. morale of
troops and similar matters. Then the
aviation experts would take a whack
at me and discuss with me all i had
observed of German flying corps
methods and equipment. Then. again.
the food experts would interrogate
me as TO what 1 had learned Of food
conditions In Germany. Luxembourg
and Belgium. and as bad lived pretty
Clo>C " the StfSu1u AOE tAc n<Sl DdEl
of seventy-two days l was able to give
them some fairly accurate reports as
to actual agricultural conditions.
many of the things told them prob
ably having more Significance to them
than they had to me.
There were many things had OBJ
served which have not referred to In
these pages because their value to MS
might be diminished if the Germans
knew we were aware of them, bot
hey were all reported to the authori-
ties and il was very gratifying to me
to hear that the experts considered
some of them Of the greatest value.
One OF the most amusing Incidents
If my return occurred when I called at
my bankers in London to get my per-
sonal effects 3s
The practice in the Royal Flying
,orps when . pilot Is reported mis-
sing Is to have two of his comrades
assigned to 60 through his belongings,
check them over. destroy anything
that Il might not be to his interest to
preserve, and send the whole busi-
ness to his banker or his home. as the
case may be. Every letter Is read
through. but their contents IL never
afterwards discussed or revealed In
any way. II the pilot Is finally re-
ported dead, his effects are forwarded
to his next of kin. but while he is of
icially only missing" or Is known to
,e a prisoner Of war. they are kept
either at the squadron headquarters
or sent TO Ills bankers.
In my case as soon as II was learned
that had fallen from the sky, IL was
assumed that i had been killed and
my chum. Paul Raney. and another
officer detailed to check over my ef-
fects. The list they made and to
which they affixed their signatures
as have previously mentioned, u
now In my possession and II one Il
me most treasured souvenirs OF my
adventure.
due course. and now that I was in
London I thought ! would 30 and claim
II.
When I arrived at the bank ap-
piled to the proper window for my
mail and trunk.
'who are your" I was asked rather
sharply.
We'll. / guess no one has any
greater right to Pat O'Brien's effects
than have" replied. "and wouio
be obliged to you II you would look
them up for me-"
That may be all right. my friend"
replied the clerk, but according to
our records Lieutenant O'Brien Is a
prisoner Of war In Germany. and we
emit very well turn over his effects