Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-06-20

/ 10 the ItNttni AEil NAAliAk NAAAAWh 49,
physical examination. He reported inn
medlately, because he was afraid TO
dlsobey.
The doctor looked with approval
upon Lloyd's six feet OF physical per
lection, and thought what fine
guardsman he would make, but exam
ined his heart twice before he passed
him as physically fit;" 1t was beating
so fast.
From the recruiting depot Lloyd was
taken, with many others. in charge of
a sergeant, to the training depot at Al
dershot, where he was given an outht
of khaki. and drew his other equip
ment. He made n fine-looking soldier,
except for the slight shrinking In his
shoulders and the hdnted look In his
eyes.
At the training depot II does not
take long to find out a mans character,
and Lloyd was promptly dubbed
"wlndy." In the English army windy"
means cowardly.
The smallest recruit In the barracks
looked on him with contempt, and was
not slow to show 1t in many ways.
Lloyd was a good soldier, learned
quickly, obeyed every order promptly
never groused at the hardest fatigues.
He was afraid to. He lived in deadly
fear Of the officers and "noncoms' over
him. They also despsed him.
One morning about three months
after his enlistment Lloyd's company
was paraded and the names picked out
for the next draft to France were read.
When his name was called he did not
step out smartly, two paces to the
front, and answer cheerfully, Here,
sir" as the others did. He just faint
ed in the ranks and was carried TO bar
racks amid the sneers of the rest.
That night was an agony of misery
to him. He could not sleep. Just cried
and whimpered In his bunk, because
on the morrow the draft was to sail
for France, where he would see death
on all sides, and perhaps be killed him
self. On the steamer, crossing the
channel, he would have jumped over
board to escape, but was afraid of
drowning.
Arriving In France, he and the rest
were huddled into cattle cars. On the
side of each appeared In white letters,
"Hommes 40, Chevaux g." After hours
of humping over the uneven French
roadbeds they arrived at the training
base Of Rouen.
At this place they were put through
a weeks rigid training In trench war
fare. On the morning of the eighth
day they paraded at ten o'clock, and
were inspected and passed by General
H, then were marched to the quar-
termaster's, to draw their gas helmets
and trench equipment.
At four in the afternoon they were
time the journey lasted two days.
They dlsembarked at the town of Ere
vent and could hear a distant dull
booming. With knees shaking, Lloyd
asked the sergeant what the noise was,
and nearly dropped when the sergeant
replied in a somewhat bored tone
"Oh, them's the guns up the line.
Well be up there in a couple O. days
or So Don't worry, my laddie, you'll
see more of 'em than you want before
you get 'ome to Blighty again, that is,
If you're lucky enough to get back.
Now lend a hand there unloadin' them
cars, and quit that everlastin' shakin'.
L believe yer scared" The last with
sneer.
They marched ten kilos, full pack,
to little dilapidated village, and the
sound of the guns grew louder, con-
stantly louder.
The village was full Of soldiers who
urned out to inspect the new draft,
the men who were shortly to be their |
mates In the trenches, for they were |
going up the line" on the morrow, to |
take over" their certain sector of |
trenches.
The draft was paraded in front of |
battalion headquarters and the men
were assigned to companies.
Lloyd was the only man assigned to
D company. Perhaps the officer In
charge of the draft had something to
10 with 1t, for he called Lloyd aside
and said:
"Lloyd, you are going to a new COM
pany. No one knows you. Your bed
will be as you make 1t, so for Gods
sake, brace up and be a man. / think
you have the stuff in you, my boy, so
good-by and the best of luck to you"
The next day the battalion took over
heir part of the trenches. 1t happened
TO be very quiet day. The artillery
behind the lines was still. except for
IN occasional shell sent over to let the
Germans know the gunners were not
asleep.
In the darkness, in single file, the
slowly wendell their way
down the communication trench to the
front line. No one noticed Lloyd's