The Washington herald., 1918-02-03
Lost His Voice But Song
Brings 1t Back
Again.
COULD NOT RESIST
CHARM OF FIGHTING
U. 5. Quartermaster Corps
Offers Field for New
Activities.

toward US. 1t Is like a solid,
straight wall of smoke. and IL
floats along close to the ground.
As soon as our commander saw
the gas coming he shouted for us
to wet our handkerchief and hold
them to our mouths-we had no
gas masks. of course. There was
no water about. but, of course.
there was mud. So we soaked our
handkerchiefs hurriedly in the mud
and held them to our faces-I sup
pose looked q frightful sight.
When the cloud reached US we fell
on the ground, "ducking." we call
that hoping 10 escape as much of
IL as possible. However, my mud
soaked handkerchief did not help
much, and 1 did not know anything
for several days. remained in a
half-dazed state until I was taken
to the hospital in Paris. / was
treated there and then was taken
to MiddleseX Hospital in London,
where IL was hoped l could be
cured. had lost my voice entirely
and the only sound 1 could make
for over a month was a sort of
gurgle. which frightened even me
when / made IL.
Aht oOSloEb NhdL
voice would never return, and my
lungs are permanently weakened
from the effects of the gas. And so
1 was given an honorable discharge.
81 was in the hospital something
over three weeks. The doctors per-
formed an operation on my throat
and nose. and about a week after I
heard my nurse-Miss Dorothy Walk
er. I'll never forget her name-I
heard her singing to a soldier across
the room from me.
Il had suffered the most awful
mental torture. for I had no idea l
would ever speak again. / could not
even whistle. But on that day-she
was singing Ave Maria" very softly.
and she had a wonderful voice. That
was a song my mother sang at home
quite frequently. And I just felt that
II l didn't join in that song / would
burst. 1 tried TO whistle. and there
came a little sound from my lips.
could have died of excitment. 1
tried to speak. At first could make
no sound. but suddenly I found my
self singing Ave Maria"-right in the
middle Of the song where the nurse
was still singing"
Aids Recruiting.
And then Victor told Of how he
jumped wildly from his bed and
wanted to talk himself to death. He
was still weak. and the nurse put
him back to bed, where he continued
10 try out his new-found voice with
everything from nursery rhymes TO
Latin declentions.
Il was too weak to return 10 the
army" said Victor. ''and a British
doctor advised me to enter the re-
cruiting service. l did so, and for
months l did recruiting service for
the British army in England,
Australia and Canada"
Several months ago the Belgian boy
went to New York from Canada, and
he liked it so well he wanted to stay.
So he secured a clerical position with
the quartermaster's department in
New York.
Enlists with Americans,
But the military atmosphere was
100 much for me-" said Victor; Il
couldn't stand it-seeing the soldiers
all about. i wanted to get back into
the fight. and thought was strong
enough by that time. / tried the artil-
lery and infantry, Tut was rejected on
account of my lungs. which are still
weak from the gas. 1 finally sue
cceded in getting in the quartermas-
ter's department. enlisted on Novem-
Der Is. and was stationed at Fort
Slocum. New York, until was sent
here last week"
Mr.. Gybels wants to get "over there
at once. He can't get in the artillery
or Infantry. but he can do his bit in
other ways. And so he is asking for
a commission as interpreter-and he
ought to make valuable one, for he
speaks six languages, all of which are
war languages.