Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-03

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and were cluttering mp hospital tai
cilitiea when they might have OeeMI
transferred elsewhere or discharged
from service.
Into such . problem one 00AeeR
sailed IN twO-fsted fashion, with col
operation from washington. And heI
conceived the amazing idea OF hand
ling this "army neglected and ig-|
nored" not en- masse, but indivtd-
ually! He did It, too. One by one
the men were called before him and
questioned. In several days he act
ually talked separately to e7e men!
And spoke to them In either their
own respective languages or IN o.
combination Of dialects-at ali events
he made them understand: and he.
in turn. understood them! Thou
sands Of complaints were noted. clas-
sifled and either explained or adj
justed. Each man was classified as
to his nationality. loyalty. intellect.
citizenship and fitness for military
service.
Am Illustration
A little pen-picture Of what oc-
Cured Gin various diverse forms)
during this gigantic process Of indi-
vidual examination:
The Lieutenant, tall, fair-haired.
bOyish, despite his close-cropped mus
tache, slender, alert of eye and mien,
| is seated at Q bench in one corner OF
Q mess-hall. Ranged down the sides
Of the room are the men In line
some of them plainly fearful OF what
new ordeal they are to face, others
sulienly belligerent, most Of them
stupidity resigned to whatever may
come.
1t is the turn OF a young Russian.
let US say, at the head OF the line, to
step before the Lieutenant. He
makes NO effort to salute In even i'm
perfect fashion; he just stands and
stares at his feet, at the floor. at the
walls-anywhere except into the
searching steel-blue eyes Of the Of
| flcer.
"Your name?" says the Lieutenant.
He gives it-sullenly. He has re-
fused to drill. to put ON . uniform.
TO sign his naturalization papers. He
Is pacifist.
"You do not believe in fighting-
in force? You are not willing to be
q soldier?" asks the Lieutenant.
He does not. Never-never should
physical force be used. He cannot
bear even the thought of killing q
man.
"Ah! Never? You have q sister
yes? And she Is still In Russia
yes? Suppose, my peaceful friend,
you saw Q German soldier rush upon
her to assault her-what would you
do? Would you use force-would
you try to kill him even IL you died
yourself in the attempt?"
The Russian-magnificen of body,
steady Of eye-breathes hard and,
despite his apparent effort to the
contrary, hangs his head. No! He
would not use force; he would not
kill the German brute.
"What-would-yo Slow
ly, word by word. with an interval
between each of them, in q voice cold
as steel, the Lieutenant makes his
inquiry.
The man shifts his weight from
one foot to the other. He fumbles
with his hat, he tugs at his collar.
Then he answers. He-he would try
to reason with the Hun beast! He
he was doing q foul deed!
"So!" The Lieutenant has sprung
to his feet, his eyes are ablaze with
wrath and disgust, his arm IL out
stretched, accusing finger levelled In
scorn at the miserable creature be-
fore him. 80! You would! Then
you are nothing but a coward! A
cowardly dog! You ara afraid to
fight! You are pretending all this
just because you are afraid to face
German bullets! Afraid to do your
part in avenging the wrongs German
soldiers have done to your native
land-to other mems sisters there!
You dare not risk your own skin!
You are not a man! You are just q
coward! That Is all that's the matter
with you!"
The Russian now is transformed.
He, too, is alive with wrath. His
eyes also are ablaze with anger. 'Tl
am not! am not a coward" hel
shouts. II want to fight! / would
kill a man who treated my sister,
but-but-!" And he breaks off,
the tears streaming down his cheeks.
But what-my friend?" asks the
Lieutenant quietly. Tell mas Tell
me where you got this idea Of being
q pacifst? Who has been preaching
it to you? Tell me what is troubling
you. I want to Be your friend, toI
help you-but you must be q good
soldier, you must obey my orders
you must be mani Tell mel"
And the man dmom ~MaIlw