New Britain herald., 1918-05-02
UNDER THE RED
TRIANGLE in FRANCE
CHI APTER II.
(By Carl J. BaIliet)
The Crossing.


I suppose any ships company
crossing the Atlantic at this time
would be interesting.
Our party includes about 100 Y. M
G. A. men and women. so Red Cross
people, one u. s. Postal Service man
and a sprinkling of civilians going
across on various war missions.
Some who have crossed often in
peace times complain of the small
boat and the poor dations
But the good ship rides rough seas
like a duck, and small boat is good
for making friendships. The cross
ing has knit our men closely, and
feel that | know nearly every pas
senger aboard.
For the most part we are married
men. The average age would be
about SO.
Many have made great sacrifices of
salary and responsibility. Among us
are several presidents of corpora
tons, the managing editor of a ma
tional magazine, the secretary Of a
great national society, many retail
business proprietors, the attorney of
q big city commission several min
listers and college professors and one
politician who has held high office.
Each is ready to take any job, large
or small, that may be assigned to
him in Paris.
We have all gone to school daily on
the boat. The classes start at 9 A.
M, and run continually up to 6 P. NJ.
A sea voyage is usually a lazy trip,
but not this one.
Our chief instructor, Arthur Rud-
man, a real big man. has been with
our army wherever it has been at
.7~r since 1898. He knows his SOL
der as he knows his Bible, from COW
rr to cover. He is ali outstanding,
four square. warm blooded mana
mans man, and yet one who makes
no compromises with evil. Rudman
never hesitates to call a, thing by it's
right name. He is resourceful and
uncannily wise with men. The SOL
der boys come for his advice be-
cause they want it, and there is many
a happy home in the U. S. A. that
owes it's happiness to his guidance Of
the man away from home.
No man could travel in this COM
pany and worry about submarines,
mines or shells. The pervading spirit
in work hours is earnest faith. Ia the
few play hours this changes to gaiety.
We all seem to feel confident that we
will be spared for our work, but IL
not, Gods will be done. True, some
canny souls have rented at So for the
trip those patent floating suits made
on the principle of the thermos bot
tie, but of fear there is none appar-
ent.
Every evening there is q concert.
We have readings, fine baritone or
tenor solos, recitations and a sprink-
ling of comedy. This crowd could
put on good show anywhere on
short notice.
We near France filled with enthus-
iasm for our work.
CHAPTER III.
The Atmosphere.
I am LEI >ying for the field tomor-
row, after eight days in Paris, sad
but still a beautiful Paris.
Death has come close to every
body here. Nearly every woman I
have passed on the streets was in
mourning I am told that those not
wearing black have probably done SO
during the past three and one-half
years.
The atmosphere is of course mill
tary. A look down any street in a
busy hour is like a peep into a kaleid-
oscope, with it's weaving and shifting
strands of all the colors of the rain
bow. French, Moroccan, Hindu, Aus
tralian, English, American and Can
adam officers in dress uniform, pass
ing and repassing, present a con-
tinuous kinemacolor show against tho
dazzling whiteness of the winter snow
or the dull drab of pavements and
buildings.