The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-10-18

fighting every day, with all the horrors
and all the risks, than. be a prisoner
Of war in Germany, for the men in
France have a very keen realization
Of what that means.
But to return to my day In Rotter-
dam.
After I was fixed up 1 returned to
the consulate and arrangements were
made for my transportation to Eng
land at once. Fortunately there was
a boat leaving that very night and l
was allowed to take passage on it.
Just as we were leaving Rotterdam,
the boat l was on 'rammed our own
convoy, one of thas destroyers, and in
jured 1t SO badly that 1t had to put
back to port. 1t would have been a
strange climax to my adventure If the
disaster had resulted In the sinking
while on my way to England after
having successfully outwitted the
Huns. But my luck was with me to
the last, and while the accident re-
suited In some delay our boat was not
seriously damaged and made the trip
over In schedule time and without fur
Their accident, another destroyer hav-
ing been assigned to escort us through
the danger zone In place Of the one
which had been put out Of commits
sion.
When l arrived in London, the re-
action from the strain l had been
under for nearly three months imme-
diately became apparent. My nerves
were in such state that 1t was abso-
lutely impossible for me to cross the
street without being in deadly fear
Of being run over or trampled. ! stood
at the curb, like an old woman from
the country on her first visit to the
city, and l would not venture across
until some knowing policeman, recog-
nizing my condition, came to my as
sistance and conveyed me across.
Indeed, there was great number OF
English officers at home at all times
getting back their nerves. after q
long spell Of active service at the
front, so that my condition was any
| AAAuS Dul uOVcA " TIC A<OAuOA WV
bies.
1t was not many days. however, be-
fore l regained control Of myself and
felt in frst-class shape.
Although the British authorities In
Holland had wired my mother from
Holland that l was safe and on my
way to. England. the first thing l die
when we landed was to send her
cable myself.
The cable read as follows:
Mrs. N. J. O'Brien. Momence, H., U
s. A.
"Just escaped from Germany. Let
ter follows"
patcher I could just imagine the ex
ultation with which my mother would
receive 1t and the pride she would
feel as she exhibited 1t among hel
neighbors and friends.
l could hear the volley Of II tolt
you SOS" that greeted her-good It'd
ings.
1T would take more than the kaise
to keep Pat In Germany" could hea
one Of them saying.
knew he'd be back for Christmas
anyway" l could hear another re
mark.
II had an idea that Pat and hi
comrades might spend Christmas II
Berlin" I could hear another admit
ting, but l did not think any Othe
part Of Germany would appeal to hin
very much"
Mrs. O'Brien, did Pat write 20
: how many German prisoners h
brought back with himT I COLD hea
still another credulous FREUD inquil
ing.
1t was all very amusing and graf
flying to me and l must confess fel
quite cocky as I walked into the wa
department to report.
For the next FIVE days l was keI
very busy answering questions put
me by the military authorities regar'
ing what had observed as to cond
] tions in Germany and behind the line
What I reported was taken dow
: by a stenographer and made part
the official records, but l did not 81,
them my story In narrative form. TT
+ information / was able to give We
: naturally of interest to vnriol
n branches of the service, and exper
{ in every line Of government work toe
1t in turns to question me. One NOR
: Ing would be devoted, for instanc
to answering questions Of militul
sx1 nor
l. A. iPosr OF