Catoctin clarion., 1918-10-24
WOUNDED YANKS
LAUGH AT DEATH
Fairly Itch to Get Back into
Fighting Line.
FEAR ONLY BODILY HARM
Bearing Marks Of ShrapneI Blast and
Scars Of Bullets They Jest at
Thought Of Again Going Over tho
Top-WouId Not Miss the Big Do
lnos at the Front for Anything-Re.
count Their Experiences.

Bearing the marks of shrapnel blast,
the scars of bullets or even yet bit
short Of breath from the gas, Ameri-
can dOughbOys, just out of hospital,
Jest at the thought of again going over
the top. They're glad to get away
from the tedious restrictions at the
base and welcome the greater liberty
that awaits them at the line.
A party OF these infantrymen-all
from draft units-were seen recently
at great American replacement camp,
some distance behind the front. Taps
had just blown, the lights were out and
the men were squirming about in the
hunks trying to find soft place and
hantering tach other as they pulled
the olive drab blankets around them.
The darkness must have reminded
them of the times they had lain in the
trenches waiting for the word to 60
after the Boches.
"When do we go over the top,
bOys?" asked one. Then from the
other side of the hut what is the
"zero hour?" From over in the corner
reminiscent, half-laughing voice re-
piled: Duck, boys; there comes the
barrage."
Veterans at Twenty.
These lads, some barely past twen-
ty-One, were already veterans of the
great world war. This was their last
night In the quiet and they were glad
Of it. In the morning they would en-
train for the rail head and then go on,
FIRST by auto truck and then by foot,
up to where their companies were still
holding the line
There were big doings again at the
front. Miss 1t? Not ON your life!
They looked forward to 1t with the
same anticipation they had year ago
TO vacation along the seashOre or
dshing trip through the silent noun
tain fastness.
''If I'm still on top six weeks from
cow I'll get my first service stripe"
said one Of them proudly. The long
scar on his face showed the shrapnel
had got him and gave prima facie
evidence for his wound stripe. But
he seemed more concerned for
service stripe than he did for
wound stripe. He had been sent to
France, trained, done his bit at the
front, recuperated at the hospital and
was going back for more Of 1t before
he got his first six months service
stripe.
Around the door of the barracks
they had been recounting their expert
ences after supper.
sour engineers got bungcd up
pretty bad; nervy lot them," said one.
"Driving an ammunition train is the
real SPORT" said another, Especially
where Jerry Is shelling the cross
roads,"
II like this open fighting which
we're getting now." said an infantry
man.
Dugout Comes In Handy.
"Open fighting is all right. but
nice, deep dugout comes in handy when
the heavens begin to drop" suggested
comrade.
"It's worth lying sprawled in the
mud all winter just to get up, fix your
bayOnet and at 'em," said another.
"Its fun to see the Germans run.
They won't stand cold steel, boy, they
Just won't"
"Are you glad to get back, hon
estT' asked a dubious and rather
doubling soldier who had spent all his
time In France In the rear-in the serv-
ice Of supplies.
"Say, bo," replied boyish-looking
marine. "Pd rather be up there with
my company taking my chances than
doing light duty back at the hospital
The doc didn't want to let me go, but
insisted. He said I might not get
by the final examining post, but he
decided to let me try"
Afraid? These boys! Sure! They II
tell you themselves that they've be IN
scared stiff themselves a hundred
times. Afraid Of bodily harm, but lot
afraid to die.
"You never hear the bullet that
knocks you out" said one, philosoph-