Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-29
Copyright by ARTHUR GUY EMPEY

flee. Inside, sitting at desk was lonely Tommy Atkins, decided to in terview him in regard to joning the British army. opened the door, He looked up and greeted me with T sly, 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, found out that Tommy wanted to know if I cared to join the British army. He asked me: Did you ever hear of the Royal Fusilers?" We'll, in London you know, Tanks are sup posed to know everything, so I was not going to appear ignorant and an- swered, 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 I met typical English captain. He asked me my nationality. l inn mediately pulled out my American passport and showed it to him. It was signed by Lansing-Bryan had lost his job little while previously. After looking at the passport, he in formed me that he was sorry but could not enlist me, as it would be a breach
 
 not neutral, because to me it seemed that real American could not be neutral when big things were in pro- gress, but the captain would not en- list me.
 With disgust in my heart I went out | in the street. I had gone about a block when a recruiting sergeant who had followed me out of the office tap ped me on the shoulder with his swagger stick and said: "S'y, I can get you in the army. We have a lief tenant down at the other office who can do anything. He has just come out of the O. T. c. (Oficers Training Corps) and does not know what neu- trality is." decided to take a chance and accepted his invitation. l entered the office and went up to him. and said:
 l Before going further I wish to state that I 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 al right, we take anything over here" 1 I looked at him kind of hard and replied 50 I notice," but it went over his head.
 He got out an enlistment blank, anc placing his finger on blank line said | Sign here.
 I answered, "No on your tintype."
 T beg your pardon?"
 Then I explained to him that would not sign it without first reading it. read it over and signed for duration of war. Some of the recruits were lucky. They signed for seven year! only.
 Then he asked me my birthplace I answered, Ogden, Utah." He said, "Oh yes, just outside O. New York;"
 With a smile. repled, 'fWell, it's ul the state a little."
 Then I was taken before the docto and passed as physically fit, and wa issued a uniform. When I reported back to the lieutenant, he suggestet that being an American I go on recruiting service and try to sham some of the slackers into joining tn army.
 All you have to do," he said lis g out on the street, and when you SC a young fellow in multi who look physically fit, just stop him and giv
 this kind of talk: Aren't you ashame,
 of yourself, a Britisher, physically fiji
 and in multi when your King an !, country need you? Don't you knoy
 that your country is at war and tha , the place for every young Briton is O the firing line? Here I am: an Amer
 ican in khaki, who came fou ) thousand miles to fight for your Kin , and country, and you, as yet, have nc , enlisted Why don't you join? NoN , is the time
 "This argument ought to get man
 recruits Empey, so go out and SC , what you can do" } He then gave me small rosette ( red, white. and blue ribbon, with thre
 little streamers hanging down. Thi was the recruiting insigna and wa to be worn on the left side of the cal :, Armed with a swagger stick and m patriotic rosette I went out into Tot . tenham court road in quest of can 7 non fodder.
 Two or three poorly dressed civi ians passed me, and although the :; appeared physically fit, I said to my l self, "They don't want to join tf army; perhaps they have someor ] dependent on them for support" so I