Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-07-25
dther, but it's anybody's race to


 date.
 Probably one of the most unusual canteens in the world is at Austin. Texas It might be called the first strictly aviation canteen in the world. used exclusively by aviators and only those who land while en route. A few months ago the world would have scoffed at the idea of refreshment stand for aviators exclusively.
 When the student aviator climbs into his airplane to make his first trip alone through the clouds he un 'doubtedly has thrilling experience But how much more thrilling it must be when he makes his first cross country flight word of encour- agement when he lands makes him 2 great and better aviator and main thins his morale and that of his comrades.
 "When he lands at Austin after completing the flight from Kelly field, near San Antonio, Tex, con- rades assist him out of his machine and he is satisfied with himself But soon he finds others than military men jubilant A canteen worker walks to his side and offers him a hot drink ond then invites him to the canteen, where he can rest and smoke and partake of other refresh ments. He finds he has a reception committee on hand to greet him.
 When the aviator in the making returns to Kelly field he tells the other student flyers of the reception he received and they become more lo<o ;oA tN One army officer told me that he find out the attraction and now he doesn't wonder why the students have more pep
 Oklahoma Fame in England.
 "In little town in Oklahoma there is canteen the fame of which has penetrated England. The workers at Oklahoma canteen have pledged nev- CT to miss train and the citizens of that town are behind the women workers to the last trench.
 "One of the workers at this Okla homa canteen recently received let ter telling of the arrival of certain troops in England. There were oth- CT American soldiers there and they gathered about to welcome the arriv- als. This letter tells how the sol diers exchanged greetings and how they found common conversation in speaking of the work done by this little canteen down in Oklahoma.
 Some of the men are from Colo rado and others from Missouri It didn't make much difference about what section of America they came from, all had a word for the Okla homa canteen. They had passed thru that town and had been given royal welcome"
 At the St. Louis Union Station, where the local chapter of the Red Cross maintains canteen, the scenes each day are those that instill patrio- tism in the hearts of persons unable to go to the front.
 You see the boy from the farm standing in the midway and looking about in arnazement. Never before has he been in large city and the rustic and hustle has bewildered him. And there is the chap from the North west, who had been told years ago that on the big Mississippi River was a large city. It might be true story, but he had doubted it. Now he stands in that city and new life is born in him.
 Every day or so soldiers passing through St. Louis miss their trains. The incidents that follow are in some cases striking. Some weep when they see the long line of coaches pulling out of the station and the station en- ,ploye at the gate refuses them the right to run through the train shed to leap aboard. Others are ready to fight and not a few times real wild scenes been enacted.
 There is only one place for the de- pressed soldier to turn and that is the Red Cross. He enters the canteen and asks for the canten captain or one of his aides and he tells his trouble.
 "I've missed my train and it was on the way to the coast where the boys will take ship for France. What can I do?" he says. Maybe they will not let me go to Europe and kill my share of the Germans because 1 have been so careless"
 The Red Cross worker takes charge of the soldier. He wires the comman. der and the commander wires back instructions. Transportation is fur nished and the "lost" soldier is placed on another train and sent on to join his company. And, in addition. a let ter or telegram of explanation is sent to the commander asking him to be lenient with the offender hTe real amusing kind of soldier is the serious one who fears even deatl