Gilpin observer., 1918-09-26

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fighting every day, with all the horrors
and all the risks, than he a prisoner
of war In Germany. for the men IL
France have very keen realization
Of what that means.
But to return to my day in Rotter
dam.
After I was fixed up 1 returned tt
the consulate and arrangements were
made for my transportation to Eng
land at once. Fortunately there was
a boat leaving that very night and ]
was allowed to take passage on it.
Just as we were leaving Rotterdam
the boat / was on rammed our own
convoy, one of the destroyers, and In
jured 1t SO badly that it had to put
back to port. 1t would have been a
strange climax to my adventure If the
disaster had resulted in the sinking
of my boat and ] had lost my life
while on my way to England after
having successfully outwitted the
Huns. But my luck was with me TO
the last. and while the accident re-
suited in some. delay our boat was not
seriously damaged and made the trip
over In schedule time and without fur
ther accident, another destroyer hav-
ing been assigned to escort us through
the danger zone in place of the one
which had been put out of commits
sion.
When I arrived in London, the re-
action from the strain I had been
under for nearly three months imme-
diately became apparent. My nerves
were in such state that it was abso-
lutely impossible for me to cross the
street without being in deadly fear
OF being run over or trampled. stood
at the curb, like an old woman from
the country on her first visit to the
city, and I would not venture across
until some knowing policeman, recog-
nlzing my condition, came to my as
sistance and conveyed me across.
Indeed, there was a great number Of
English officers at home at all times
getting back their nerves" after a
long spell of active service at the
front, so that my condition was any
thing but novel to the London bob
bies. :.
1t was not many days, however, be-
fore regained control of myself and
relt in frst-class shape.
Although the British authorities in
Holland had wired my mother from
Holland that was safe and on my
way to England. the first thing l did
when we landed was to send her q
cable myself.
The cable read as follows:
Mrs. N. ]. O'Brien, Momence, ILL.,, U.
s. A.
Just escaped from Germany. Let
ter follows"
As I delivered 1t to the cable dis
patcher I could just imagine the ex-
ultation with which my mother would
receive it and the pride she would
feel as she exhibited it among her
neighbors and friends.
l could hear the volley of II told
you SOS" that greeted her good It'd
ings.
ut would take more than the kaiser
to keep Pat in Germany" could hear
one of them saying.
"Knew he'd be back for Christmas,
anyway" 1 could hear another re-
mark.
II had an idea that Pat and his
comrades might spend Christmas in
Berlin" l could hear another admit
ting, "but / did not think any other
part of Germany would appeal to him
very much"
Mrs. O'Brien, did Pat write you
how many German prisoners he
brought back with him?" l could hear
still another credulous friend inquir-
ing.
1t was all very amusing and graft
flying to me and must confess felt
quite cocky as walked into the war
department to report.
For the next five days ! was kept
very busy answering questions put to
me by the military authorities regard
ing what had observed as to cond-
tions In Germany and behind the lines.
What l reported was taken down
by a stenographer and made part Of
the official records, but / did not give
them my story In narrative form. The
Information / was able to give was
naturally Of interest to various
branches of the service. and experts
in every line of government work took
1t In turns to question me. One morn
ing would be devoted. for instance,
to answering questions of a military
sm sos1os
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