The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-05
MODERN ODYSSEY
Lieutenant Keilmann Tells of,
His Homecoming Trip.
Contrast Between Yanks Leay-
ing and POi1u to Front.
MILITARY TRAIN is CROWDED
Blue Clad French Always Sing
ing and in Happiness.
NBack From Paris, Broke
Again." Their FurlO Cry.
BY EARL D. KEILMANN.

BY EARL D. KEILMANN.
(Bormer Lieutenant American heavy ar
tillery in Franee)
s-The truck will be here for you and
your baggage ir ten minutes"
had been told that there would be
no chance to get out before evening.
Getting out in the morning meant that
I could spend the night in Paris, SO
i hustled Two other officers were
scrdered Out with me and 1 went to
Jook for them. Found both-in bed.
They had decided that one good nap
right then was worth whole lot of
wandering about saying goodbye to
the fellows whom we were to leave
behind.
A detail was hustled up and packing
and getting the baggage ready for the
truck was rushed. Then right in the
middle of the whole thing a boche
had to sail over camp and the detail
melted away like snow in June, each
man hustlinS his gas mask over his
fece and getting to his quarters. For
tunately the truck did not come for a
half hour and by that time the All
clear had been sounded.
Muddy roads and a bucking car
burctor were the cause of our missing
the noon train. More language. A
Issench captain, seeing that we were
sss- little perturbed'' offered his as
Special permission to take a military
train that would make connections
ard get US to Paris at 8 o'clock that
evening.
Military Train.
The military train pulled into the
station wheeling and groaning. One
little decrepit engine seemed to stag
ger along the track pulling twenty
four passenger coaches. 1t was en-
t.rely empty and of course we picked
~ h oh hi Il
ing that we would have the train all
&c ourselves. We did most decidedly
NOT. That train took on the most
peculiar HABITS of any train ever saw
1t speeded-if such dignity can be
gwen the pace-thru any towns that
happened 20 be on the route, and then
slowed down ane stopped at the most
deserted and out of the way place
oaa could find.
The sIrst stop of this kind was made
INST at dusk 1 looked all about and
eyen got out and walked down the
track to see if there was a wreck, but
nothing seemed to be the matter. Aft
er about ten minutes, L could near
men singing, then the rattle of equip
frsent and the tread of marching feet.
Down little path that led into a
patch IT woodland came file of
French soldiers. Still singing they
lined up alongside the train and at a
command entered the cars. each
Possessions a soldier possesses. An
officer examined the leave books of
each and the train started again.
Singing Blue-Clad Men.
@This scene was acted and react
ell at a dozen out of the way places
asong the way and soon our train, that
we thought we were going to have to
ourselves, was crowded to the limit
with a cheering. singing. scuffling but
good natUred mob of blue clad men.
Why Shouldn't they all be happy :?
They, like ourselves, were going home.
We Were the only ones on the train
1n1the least downcast. We were going
home +or good. They were coming
q part of the great force fighting for
the freedom of the world.
45s.Soon we pulled into t. terminal
swhere all would change to the Paris
and other trains. The wheels had
hardly stopped rolling when the train
was deserted, every happy Frenchman
Jumped to the platform and on a jog
trot. his equipment rafting an un-
sznusical accompaniment. We de-
escended more leisurely and then when
we reached our train wished we had
Initiated the poilu, for every seat was
taken and every Frenchman seeing
that we were to have to stand, insisted
that we take their places, even getting
off the train to do so.
Back From Paris, Broke Again.
We finally arranged ourselves and
slowly pulled out of the station, in
spite of the songs of the sirens who,
chic and pretty as they were could not
sing their pleas for us to stay with
them loud enough to drown the calls