Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-26
OVER THE TOP
By
ARTHUR GUY lJNlPEY,
An American Boy Who Went.
Copyright. 1917. by Arthur Guy Empcy.,

presently l came ~ a recruiting Of
| flee. inside. sitting at desk was u
lonely Tommy Atkins. decided TO
Interview him in regard to Joining tho
British army. opened tho door. He
looked up and greeted me with: IL sly,
myte want to tyke on?"
! looked ut him and answered: "Wcll.
whatever that is, Ill take chance
at it,"
Without the aid OF an interpreter, ]
found out that Tommy wanted to know
If cared TO join tho British army
lie asked me: Did you ever hear Of
the Royal Fuailicrs?" Well. In Lon
don you know. Sanks arc supposed
TO know everything. o was not going
to appear ignorant. and answered.
Sure.
After listening for onc-half hour to
Tommy's tale of their exploits on tho
Hiring line, decided 10 join. Tommy
tooh me 10 tho recruiting headquarters,
where | met typical English captain.
/ lie asked my nationality. I Immediate
ly pulled out my American passport
and showed il TO him. 1t was signed
! by Lansing-Bryan had lost his job r
little while previously. After looking
at the passport. he informed me that
he was sorry, but could not enlist me.
as it would be a breach of neutrality.
] insisted that ] was not neutral. be-
cause to mo II seemed tina. a real
American could not be neutral when
big things were in progress, but the
captain would not enlist me,
With disgust in my heart. vent out
in the street. had gone about block
when recruiting sergeant who had
followed me out of tho Office tapped
mo on the shoulder with his swagEer
stick and said: "S'y, can get YOU
in the army We have 'lcftenant'
down at the other Office who can do
anything. He has just come out of the
O. r. 4. tOficcrS Training Corps). and
does not know what neutrality is" /
decided to take a chance. and accepted
his invitation for an Introduction to
the lieutenant entered tho Office
and went up u 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 a nonchals Mt
manner. and answered. That's all
right. VIC take anything over here"
looked az him kind Of hard and re-
plea, so notice" hut II went over
his head
He so; out an enlistment blank. and
sign here
answered. Not on your tntype."
II beg your pardon"
Then explained TO him that 7 would
not SIGN it without first reading II I
read it over. and signed for duration
OF war Some Of the results were
lucky They signed for seven years
only.
Then he asked me my birthplace. 7
answered. Ogden, Utah"
lIe said. oh. yes, just outside Of
New York;
With a smile. l replied, We'll it's
up the State q little
Then was taken before the doctor
and passed as physically nt, and was
issued uniform. When reported
back to tbs lieutenant he suggested
that. being an American. 60 on r..
cruiting service and try to shame some
Of the slackers into joining the army.
All YOU have TO do" he said, lis to
go out on the street. and when you
SEQ a young fellow in mutt! who LOOKS
physically fit just stop him and give
him this Kind OF talk: Aren't you
ashamed Of yourself Britisher. physi-
cally tt and in multi when your King
and cou.try need you? Don't YOU know
tiaN Nphi Is AZ Wal, anu mat
the place for every young Briton is
on the hrirs line? Here I am, an
American, III khaki, who came 1000
miles TO night for your King and coun-
try and you. as yet. have not enlisted.
Why don't you join? Now Is the time
This argument ought to get many
recruits, Enpey. 50 so out and see
wha; YOU can do"
He then gave me a small rosette Of
red. white and blue ribbon, with three
little streamers hanging down. This
was the recruiting insignia. and was
TO be worn on the left side of the cap.
Armed with swageer stick and my
patriotic rosette. ] went out into Tot
tenhanl Court Road in quest OF cannon
fodder.
Two or three poorly dressed civilians
passed me. and. although they appeared
physically Mt. ] said to myself. They
don't want 10 join tho army perhapa
they have some ono dependent on them
for support" so | did not accost til em
Coming down tho street saw
young dandy. top hat and all. with a
fashionably dressed girl walking be-
side him. muttered. You are my
meat and when he came abreast Of
me | stepped directly In his path and
stopped him with my swagger stick
saying
You would look fine in khaki. why
not change that top hat for a steel
helmet Arcu', you ashamed OF YOUR
self, - husky Young chap like you in
mutLi. when men arc needed I'm the
trenches: Hero am. an American,
came 5000 miles from Ogden. Utah.