Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-02
REGIMENT OFF FOR TRENCHES
IN GOOD OLD AMERICAN WAY
Go Get En-" Spirit Marks Departure Of
Whistling, Singing Soldier Boys
for First Line Work.

we'll leave them here for the town
major to censor. The letters probably
don't say a word about where were
going, anyway. All I've censored the
last few days talked about the raid and
the mud, and ended Write soon.'"
That's a queer thing" he continued,
as the sergeant stumped off. THE men
have been writing more letters since
they knew they were going up than
they ever did before. but none Of them
try to tell their friends about it. 1
guess they just want the satisfaction
OF KNOWN they've cleaned up their cor
wrote twelve letters the other day
seven to girls"
Crack! Crack! came two sharp re-
ports from the blazing pile of straw.
and the men feeding the pile whooped
and shouted.
"Like Kids on the Fourth"
They always manage to put some
ammunition in those fires" said the
lieutenant Like kids on the Fourth"
In front of the marie an excited
gsopp was gathered about a wagon.
There were the driver and three SOL
dierS each with his pack on the
ground before him.
You got lots O. room on that OIL
wagon" said one of them as we came
up. "'Tain't fair for me to lug this
the wagon"
What's the use tellin' me that?'
asked the driver. Don't you know or
ders is to march full kit? What d'you
think you are. some congressman?
Just then the bugle blew the assem-
ply. There was hurried tramp Of
feet, and from all sides came the men,
loaded down with equipment and ready
for the road. The ranks were formed
quickly and quietly The whole long
-itl IL LII;
down the side streets were other lines
Ofhcers appeared and took their places.
Forrd-mar-r" came the command,
and Company brought it's rifles from
the order to the right shoulder and
started. B followed. then C. then d.
The first battalion was off. With much
creaking of wheels and brakes and
cracking of whips the wagons trundled
in behind, each followed by it's squad
OF eight men. There was a pause. to
allow Tor the proper road interval then
followed the second battalion, then the
third.
Goodbye. OIL De x. we're off to
berlin! God bless our home!" Were
on our way" the. men shouted as they
passed one or another landmark made
familiar by many months sojourn; the
little post office with its faded blue
sign, the tabac shop where the tabac
was always "feeneesh." the village cafe
With The dirty, broken windows stuffed
Z. "A
doors and windows old men, women,
boys and blowsy checked French peas
ant girls stood and waved and cried
back Bon chance!"
As the last battalion turned out of
muddy and swollen now from the
heavy rains. 1t passed the village
bakery, where. on rare days, one had
been able to buy little cakes. At the
door stood Suzanne, the seventeen
year-old daughter Of the proprietor, in
her shabby black dress, gray shawl and
wooden sabots.
20 revvah. maddum-zellv they shout
ed to her. waving their hands.
back. then ran into the road and shook
hands quickly with one friend and an
other as the battalion passed She
stood at the door for quite while
a.ter the last man had gone. Suzanne's
father and older brother marched away
not come back.
At the corner where the last village
street met the main road a solitary
fure Of detection. His broad shoulders
were bowed, has hands thrust deep into
his breeches pockets. On his sleeves
were the chevrons Of q color sergeant.
al! Its ola Benny Dolan," whispered the
nrst sergeant. Him an me served to-
gether in this regiment ten years. He's
been in the service thirty years an
they Just retired him. He can't go UP
front with u.s."
Then. as we came abreast of the
color sergeant: Buck up, old timer.
It's you that's the lucky one, goin;
back to the U. 8. A.
Dolan raised weather beaten face
and ran his fingers through his thin
ming gray hair. There were depths of
woe IN his gray blue eyes.
Lucky. HE'LL" he said. with the
outht goin' up there and me not with
1t! "a like to bawl. I would"
And men Of the rear guard who
passeo MIN later say they believe they
saw tears running down his f,,rrowed
cheeks as he stared at them, the last
men OF his old regiment he might ever