The Robesonian., 1918-06-03
| @ieI7 eY
IARThuR GUY Ef1pEY|
MACHINE GUNNER SERVING N FRANCE

ering populace, but everything was
normal. People were calmly proceed
ing to their work. Crossing the
street, accosted Bobbie with:
"Can you direct me to the place Of |
damage?"
He asked me, "What damage?"
In surprise, I answered, "Why, the i
damage caused by the Zeps."
With wink he replied:
''There was no damage; we missed !!
them again.
After several fruitless inquiries of
the passersby, decided to go on my
own in search Of ruined buildings and
scenes Of destruction. I boarded bus
which carried me through Tottenham
Court road. Recruiting posters were
everywhere. The one that impressed
me most was life-size picture of
Lord Kitchener with his finger point
ing directly at me, under the caption
of "Your King and Country Need You"
No matter which way I turned, the
accusing finger followed me. I was
an American, in mufti, and had little
American flag in the lapel Of my coat.
l had no king, and my country had
seen fit not to need me, but still that
pointing finger made me feel small and
i'll at ease. I got off the bus to try
to dissipate this feeling by mixing
with the throng Of the sidewalks.
Presently came to a recruiting Of
fee. Inside, sitting at a desk was a
70 IN
terview him in regard to joining the
British army. I opened the door. He
looked up and greeted me with Il s'y,
myte, want to tyke on?"
looked at him and answered, 'Well,
whatever that is, I'll take chance
at it,
Without the aid Of an interpreter,
found out that Tommy wanted to know
if cared to join the British army. He
asked me: did you ever hear Of the
Royal Fusiliers?" Well, in London,
you know, Yanks are supposed to know
everything, SO was not going to ap-
pear ignorant and answered, "Sure."
After listening for one half-hour to
Tommy's tale Of their exploits on the
firing line, decided to join. Tommy
took me to the recruiting headquarters,
where I met typical English captain.
He asked my nationality. I immedi-
ately pulled out my American passport
and showed it to him. It was signed
by Lansing. After looking at the
passport, he Informed me that he was
sorry but could not enlist me, as it
| nq
insisted that I was not neutral, be-
cause to me it seemed that 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 went out
in the street. I had gone about a
block when recruiting sergeant who
had followed me out Of the office
tapped me on the shoulder with his
swagger stick and said: "S'y, I car
get you in the army. We have 1ef
tenant down at the other Office who
can do anything. He has just come
out of the o. T. G. (Offcers' Training
corps) and does not know what neu
trality is" / decided to take chance
|
PRODUCTION to the lieutenant. I entered
the Office and went up to him, opened
up my passport and said:
'Before going further I wish to stat,
that am an American, not too prou,
to fight, and want to join your army.
He looked at me in a nonchalan
manner, and answered, ''That's al
| right; we take anything over here"
I looked at him kind Of hard and re
piled, $50 I notice." but it went owe
his head.
| He got out an enlistment blank, an
placing his finger on blank line saiG
"Sign here.''
I answered, 'Not on your tintype."
81 beg your pardon?'
+ Then I explained to him that woul
? not sign it without first reading it.
read it over and signed for duration O
war. Some Of the recruits were lucky
! They signed for seven years only!
Then he asked me my birthplace.
= answered, "Ogden, Utah."
: He said, "Oh, yes, just outside q
2 New York;"
) With smile, I replied, "Well, it's u
), the state a little.''
Then was taken before the docto
I and passed as physically fit and wa
t issued a uniform. When I reporte
] back to the lieutenant, he suggeste
e that, being an American, I go on r,
j cruiting service and try to shame som
d of the slackers into joining the army
s Cali you have to do,' he said, '1s t
n go out on the street, and when you sc
8 young fellow in mufti who look
b physically fit, just stop him and Civ
s him this kind Of a talk: Aren't 70
O ashamed of yourself, Britisher, ply
l. ically fit, and in mufti when your kin
]. and country need you? Don't yo
y know that your country is at war an
> that the place for every young Brito