Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1918-04-12

accusing nnger followed me. l was
mn American, In mutt. and had little
American flag In the lapel Of my coat,
I had no king. and my country had
seen fit not TO need me, but still that
pointing finger made me feel small aud
III at ease. I got OF the bus to try
to dlsslpate this feeling by mixing
with the throng OF the sidewalks.
Presently came TO recruiting'of.
Ace. Inside, sitting at desk was u
lonely Tommy Atkins. decided to in'
teryiew him In regard To Joining the
British army. opened the door. He
looked up and greeted me with II sly
myte. want to tyke onr'
looked at him and answered. "well
whatever that is, I'll take chance
at It."
without the aid Of an Interpreter,
found out that Tommy wanted TO know
II cared TO Join the British army, He
asked me; 'Did you ever hear Of the
Royal Fuslliers1" Well. In London,
you know, YNnks are supposed to know
everything. 30 was not going to mp.
pear ignorant and answered. "Sure,"
After listening for one half,hour to
Tommy's tale Of their exploits 0n the
firing line. I decided to Join. Tommy
took me to the recruiting headQuaptcrs,
where met typical English captain.
lie asked my nationality, lmmedt'
ately pulled out my American passport
and showed Il TO him. IL was signed
by Lansing. After looking at the
passport. he Informed me that he was
sorry but could not enlist me. as II
would be breach OF neutrality. |
insisted that | was not neutral, he.
cause to me II seemed that Il real
American could not be neutral when
big things were In progress, but the
captain would not enlist me,
With disgust In my heart I went out
In the street. had gone about II
block when a recruiting sergeant who
had followed me out of the Office
tapped me on the shoulder with his
swagger stick and said: "S'y, I can
get you In the army. We have Hef
tenant down at the other office who
can do anything. He has Just come
out Of the o. T. G. (oficers' Training
corps) and does not know what neu.
trality H." decided to take chance.
and accepted his invitation for IN In. |
PRODUCTION to the lieutenant. entered
the office and went up to him, opened |
up my passport and said:
Before going further wish 10 state
that am an American. not too proud |
to fight, and want to Join your army"
He looked at me in nonchalant
manner, and answered, "That's all |
right; we tnke anything over here"
I looked at him kind OF hard and rc- |
piled. $50 notice" but II went over |
his head.
He got out an enlistment blank, and |
placing his finger on blank line said, |
"Slgn here"
l answered. mot on your tlntype."
II beg your pardonT
Then explained to him that would |
not sign It without first reading II. ]
read II over and signed for duration OF
war. Some Of the recruits were lucky.
They signed for seven years onlyl
Then he asked me my birthplace.
"Ogden, Utah"
He said, "Oh, yes, Just outside Of
New York;"
With a smile, replied. swell, It's up
the state llttle."
Then was taken before the doctor
and passed as physically ft, and was
Issued uniform. When l reported
back to the lieutenant, he suggested
that. being an American. go on re.
cruitlng service and try to shame some
Of the slackers into Joining the army"
"All you have to do" he said, "Is to
go out on the street, and when you see
a young fellow In mufti who looks
fit, just stop him and give
him this kind of talk: Aren't you
ashamed Of yourself. a Britisher, phys.
lcally f1t, and in muftl when your king
and country need you? Don't yOp
know that your country is at war ana
that the place for every young BrIton
Is on the firing line? Here l am, an
American, in khaki, who came four
thousand miles to fight for your king