The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-04-30
lover the Top"
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Machine Gunner Seroins In France
XXI
About Turn.

About Turn.
+ The next evening we were relieved
by the -th brigade, and once again
returned to rest billets. Upon arriving
lat these billets we were given twenty
-four hours in which to clean up. I had
bust finished getting the mud from my
Uniform when the orderly sergeant in
Formed me that my name was in orders
TO leave, and that I was to report to
the orderly room in the morning for or
Hers, transportation and rations.
/ nearly had q fit, hustled about
backing up, filling my pack with SOU
Fenirs such as shell heads, dud bombs,
lose caps, shrapnel balls, and a Prus-
ian guardsman's helmet. In fact, be-
ore I turned in that night. I had every
hing ready to report at the orderly
pom at nine the next morning.
I was the envy Of the whole section,
wanking around, telling Of the good
me I was going to have, the places I
Fould visit, and the real, old English
eer I intended to guzzle. Sort Of
hbbed 1t into them, because they all
it, and now that it was my turn, I
ok pains to get my own back.
At nine I reported to the captain, re-
living my travel order and pass. He
ked me how. much money I wanted
draw. I glibly answered, "Three
[ndred francs, sir" he just as giibly
nded me one hundred.
Reporting at brigade headquarters,
tn my pack weighing a ton, I waited,
tn forty others, for the adjutant to
Bpect US. After an hours wait, he
me out; must have been sore because
wasn't going with us.
The quartermaster sergeant issued
two days rations, in a little white
hvas ration bag, which we tied to
belts.
Then two motor lorries came along
we piled in, laughing, Joking, and
the best Of spirits. We even loved
Germans, we were feeling so happy.
journey to seven days bliss in
shty had commenced.
he ride in the lorry lasted about
hours; by this time we were cov-
d with fine, white dust from the
!, but didn't mind, even If we were
Fly choking.
t the railroad station at F. we
orted to, an officer, who had a white
d around his arm, which read "R.
D."'(Royal Transportation Oficer).
JUS this officer was Santa Claus.
he sergeant in charge showed him
orders; he glanced through them
said: make yourselves comfort
on the platform and don't leave;
train is liable to be along In five
ltes-or five hours"
came in five hours, a string of
en- match boxes on big, high
els, drawn by a dinky little engine
the "con." These match boxes
cattle cars, on the sides Of which
painted the old familiar sign,
nmes 40, Chevaux g."
le r. T. o. stuck US all into one
We didn't care; it was as good
Pullman to US.
20 days we spent on. that train,
ping, stopping, jerking ahead, and
times sliding back. At three sta
we stopped long enough to make
tea, but were unable to wash, so
we arrived at B, where we
to embark for Blighty, we were.
ack as Turcos and, with u I'M
n faces, we looked like a lot Of
bs. Though tired out, we were
had packed up, preparatory to
ming, when a r. T. o. held up his
for us to stop where we were
anne over. This is what he said:
J, I'm sorry, but orders have just
received cancelling all leave. If
ad been three hours earlier you
have gotten away. Just stay In
rain, as it is going back. Rations
be issued to you for your return
ey to your respective stations.
" rotten, I know" Then he left.
cad silence resulted. Then men
d to curse, threw their rifles on
bor Of the car; others said moth
kemed to be stupefied, while some
he tears running down their
It was q bitter disappointment
we blinded at the engineer Of
rain; it was all his fault ESQ we
led) ; why hadn't he speeded up a
br been on time, then we would
gotten of. before the order ar
Now it was no Bughty for US.
return journey was misery to
INST can't dascrhedk -