The Washington herald., 1918-03-14
CHAPTER xXvII-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER XXVII-CONTINUE
About forty different regiments were
represented and many arguments en-
sued as to the respective fighting abil-
ity of each regiment. The rivalry
was wonderful A Jock arguing with
an Irishman, then a strong Cockney
accent would butt in in favor of
London regiment. Before long a
Welshman, followed by a member OF
a Yorkshire regiment, and, perhaps,
Canadian intrude themselves and the
argument wakes loud and furious. The
patients in the beds start bowling for
them to settle their dispute outside
and the ward is in an uproar. The
head sister comes along and with a
wave Of the hand completely routs the
doughty warriors and again silence
reignS supreme.
Wednesday and Sunday Of each week
were visiting days and were looked
forward to by the men. because they
meant parcels containing fruit. sweets.
or fags. When a patient had a regu-
lar visitor, he was generally kept well
supplied with these delicacies. Great
jealousy is shown among the men as
to their visitors and many word wars
ensue after the visitors leave.
When a man is sent to GONZALES
cent home, he generally turns over his
steady visitor to the man in the next
bed.
Most visitors have autograph albums
and bore Tommy to death by asking
him to write the particulars of his
wOunding in same. Several Tommies
try to duck this unpleasant job by
telling the visitor that he cannot write,
but this never phases the owner of
the album; he or she, generally she,
offers to write it for him and Tommy
is stung into telling his experiences.
The questions asked Tommy by Wis
itors would make a clever joke book
to a military man.
Some kindly looking old lady will
stop at your bed and in a sympathetic
voice address you: You poor boy,
wounded by those terrible Germans.
You must be suffering frightfuI pain.
A bullet did you say? Well, tell me,
have always wanted to know, did
it hurt worse going in or coming out?"
Tommy generally replies that he did
not stop to figure it out when he has
hit.
One very nice-Iooking, overenthu-
siantic young thing. stopped at my
bed and asked, What wounded you
in the face?''
In a polite but bored tone 1 an
swered, "A rife bullet"
With a look of disdain she passed
to the next bed. first calculating, "Oh!
only a bullet? 1 thought it was a
she'll" Why she should think a shell
wound was more of a distinction beats
me. l don't see a whole lot of diff
ference myself.
The American Women's War Hospi-
tai was a heaven for wounded men.
They were allowed every privilege pos
siole conducive with the rules and mill
itary discipline. The only fault was
that the mems passes were restricted.
To get pass required an act of Par
Lament. Tommy tried many tricks to
get out, but the commandant, an old
Boer war officer, was wise to them
all, and it took a new and clever ruse
to make him affix his signature to
the coveted slip of paper.
As soon as it would get dark MANY a
patient climbed over the wall and went
"on his own" regardless of many
signs staring him in the face, out
OF bounds for patients" Generally
the nurses were looking the other way
when one Of these night raids start
ed. hope this information will get
none Of them into trouble, but I can
not resist the temptation to let the
commandant know that occasionally
we put it over on him.
One afternoon received a note.
through our underground channel,
from my female visitor, asking me to
attend a party at her house that
night. answered that she could ex-
pect me and to meet me at a certain
place on the road well known by all
patients, and some visitors, as "Over
the wall" I told her / would be on
hand at 7:30.
About 715 I sneaked my overcoat
and cap out of the ward and hid it
in the bushes. Then / told the nurse,
a particular friend of mine, that I
was going for a walk in the rose
garden. She winked and 1 knew that
everything was all. right on her end. |
Going out Of the ward. I slipped into
the bushes and made for the wall |
It was dark as pitch and I was CROP