Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-06-01
''0ver the Top
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Machine Gunner Sercing In France
(copyrlghL lgl7, BY Arthur Guy Empeyj

From the train we went into ambu-
lances for a short ride to the hospital
ship Panama. Another palace and more
angels. l don't remember the trip
across the channel.
1 opened my eyes; was being car
ried on stretcher through lanes of
people, some cheering some waving
flags, and others crying, The flags were
Union Jacks, l was in Southampton.
BHghty at last. My stretcher was
strewn with flowers, cigarettes, and
chocolates. Tears started to run down
my cheek from my good eye. I like
BOBBY was crying. Can you beat it7-
Then into another hospital train,
ffve-hour ride to Paignton, another am
bulance ride, and then l was carried
into Munsey ward of the American
Womens War hospital and put into
real bed
This real bed was too much for my
unstrung nerves and l tainted.
When came to, q pretty Red Cross
nurse was bending over me, bathing
my forehead with cold water, then she
left and the ward orderly placed a
screen around my bed, and gave me
much-needed bath and clean pajamas.
Then the screen was removed and a
bowl Of steamins soup was given me.
1t tasted delicious.
Before finishing my soup the nurse
came back to ask me my name and
number. She put this information down
in little book and then asked:
"Where do you come from?' I an
swered:
From the big town behind the
Statue of Liberty upon hearing this
she started jumping up and down.
clapping her hands, and calling out to
three nurses across the ward:
Come here, girls-at last we have
got real live Yankee with u.s."
They came over and besieged me
with questions. until the doctor ar
rived. Upon learning that l was an
American he almost crushed my hand
In his grip of welcome. They also
were Americans, and were glad to see
me.
The doctor very tenderly removed
my bandages and told me, after view
ing my wounds, that he would have to
take me to the operating theater i'm
mediately. Personally l didn't care
what was done with me.
In few minutes, four orderlies who
looked like undertakers dressed in
white, brought stretcher to my bed
and placing me on it carried me out Of
the ward, across a courtyard to the
operating room or pictures" as Tom
my calls 1t.
1 don't remember having the anes-
thestic applied.
When l came to was again lying In
bed in Munsey ward. One Of the
nurses had draped large American
| flag over the head Of the bed. and
clasped In my hand was smaller flag,
| and 1t made me feel good all over to
again see the "Stars and Stripes"
At that time 1 wondered when the
boys In the trenches would see the
emblem Of the land of the free and
the home Of the brave" beside them.
doing It's bit in this great war Of civil
liZation.
My wounds were very painful, and
several times at night l would dream
that myriads of khaki-clothed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop, bend over me, and whisper, The
| best Of luck, mate"
CoolyaJ mi norSYirpttOn 7 wO,1ld
| awake with cry, and the night nurse
would come over and hold my hand.
! This awakening got to be habit with
me until that particular nurse was
| transferred to another ward.
In three weeks time, owing to the
| careful treatment received, I was able
to sit up and get my bearings Our
| ward contained seventy-five patients,
| 90 per cent Of which were surgical
| cases. At the head of each bed hung
a temperature chart and diagnosis
| sheet. Across this sheet would be
| written &c. S. W." or IS. W." the for
| mer meaning gun shot wound and the
| latter shell wound. The rs. W." pre-
| dominated, especially among the Royal
Field artillery and Royal engineers.
About forty different regiments were
represented, and many arguments en-
sued as to the respective fighting abil-
ity of each regiment. The rivalry was
wonderful. A Jock arguing with an
Irishman, then a strong Cockney &C.
| cent would butt in in favor OF Lon
don regiment. Before long a Welsh
man, followed by member of York
shire regiment, and, perhaps, a Cana
dian intrude themselves and the argu-
ment wakes loud and furious. The
patients in the beds start bowling for
them to settle their dispute outside
| and the ward Is In an uproar. The
head sister comes along and with q
wave of the hand completely routs the
doughty warriors and again silence
reigns supreme.
Wednesday and Sunday of each week
were visiting days and were looked
| forward to by the men, because they
meant parcels containing fruit, sweets
| or fass. When a patient had regular
| visitor, he was generally kept well
supplied with these delicacies. Great
| jealousy is shown among the men as
to their visitors and many word wars
ensue after the visitors leave.
When q man is sent to a GONZALES
cent home, he generally turns over his
steady visitor to the man In the next