Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-27
"0vier the Top
By An American Soldier
Who Went ;.
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
tCor1lsht lSl7, By Arthur Guy Hmpey)
Machine Gunner SeSoins In France

1 said 1t was big happy family, ana
so it is, but as in all happy families,
there are servants, so in the British
army there are also servants, officers
servants, or 20. S." as they are termed.
In the American army the common
name for them is dog robbers" From
controversy In the English papers,
Winston Churchill made the state
ment, as far as can remember, that
the officers servants in the British
forces totaled nearly two hundred
thousand. He claimed that this re-
moved two hundred thousand excep-
tionally good and well-trained fighters
from the actual firing line, claiming
that the officers, when selecting man
for servants duty, generally picked the
man who had been out the longest and
knew the ropes.
But from my observation find that
a large percentage of the servants do
30 over the top, but behind the lines
they very seldom engage in digging
parties, fatigues, parades or drills.
This work is as necessary as actually
engaging In an attack, therefore think
it would be safe to say that the all
round work of the two hundred thou
sand is about equal to fifty thousand
men who are on straight military du-
ties. In numerous instances, officers
servants hold the rank Of lance-corpo-
rails and they assume the same duties
and authority of a butler. the one
stripe giving him precedence over the
other servants.
There are lots Of amusing stories
told Of 20. s."
One day one Of our majors went into
the servants billet and commenced
''blinding" at them, saying that his
horse had no straw and that he per-
sonally knew that straw had been is
sued for this purpose. He called the
lance-corporal to account. The cor
poral answered, "Blime me, sir, the
straw was issued, but there wasn't
enough left over from the servants
beds; in fact, we had to use some OF
the 'ay to 'elp out, SIR"
It is needless to say that the serv-
ants dispensed with their soft beds
that particular night.
Nevertheless it is not the fault Of
the individual officer, it Is just the sur
ylval of a quaint old English custom.
You know an Englishman cannot be
changed in day.
But the average English officer is a
good sport. he will sit on a fire step
and listen respectfully to Private
Jones' theory of the way the war
should be conducted. This war is
gradually crumbling the once insur.
mountable wall Of caste.
You would be convinced Of this If
you could see King George go among
his men on an inspecting tour under
fire, or pause before a little wooden
cross In some she1l-tossed field with
tears in his eyes as he reads the In
scription. And little later perhaps
bend over q wounded man on stretch
er, patting him on the head.
More than once in hospital have
seen titled Red Cross nurse fetching
and carrying for wounded soldier.
perhaps the one who in civil life de-
livered the coal at her back door. To
day she does not shrink from lighting
his flag or even washing his grimy
body.
Tommy admires Albert Of Belgium be-
cause he is not pusher of men; he
leads them. With him It's not case
of take that trench" 1t is come on
and we will take It" :
It Is amusing to notice the different
characteristics of the Irish, Scotch and
English soldiers. The Irish and Scotch
are very impetuous, especially when it
comes to bayonet fighting. while the
Englishman, though trifle slower,
thoroughly does his bit; he is more
methodical and has the grip Of bull
dog on q captured position. He is
slower to think that Is the reason why
he never knows when he Is licked.
Twenty minutes before going over
the top the English Tommy will sit on
the fire step and thoroughly examine
the mechanism of his rifle to see that it
is in working order and will fire prop
erly. After this examination he is sat
listed and ready to meet the Beches.
But the Irishman or Scotchman sits
on the fire step, his rifle with bayonet
fixed between his knees, the butt of
which perhaps is sinking into the mud
the bolt couldn't De opened with u
team Of horses it is so rusty-but he
spits on his sleeve and slowly polishes
his bayonet when this is done he also
is ready to cirque with Fritz.
ITO be Continued,