The Washington times., 1918-10-21
by BERT FORD. r.
I. n. 8. star COrreEpondent.)

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY
NORTHWEST OF vERDUN, Oct. 90
(delayed) .-BugIer BILLY" Smith, OF
Sumter, S. c., former pugilist
breezed into the back room of an
overpatronized French cafe on the
edge OF the battle zone.
The place had the atmosphere OF
the Latin Quarter. Around a giant
table sat French and American SOL
diers and newspaper correspondents.
Bugler Smith was accompanied by
his bunkie, Private Arthur Lonsing, of
Wisconsin, and Private George W.
Hilton, an artilIeryman, and the son
OF an automobile dealer in Hope, Ark.
Smith placed a bundle on the table
which he opened, revealing three
dozen muddy oysters wrapped in an
old copy of the Echo de Paris.
At the sight of the oysters Smiths
merry blue eyes bulged.
MY but how I have been dreaming
about you, my Beauties" drawled the
bugler, addressing the biyalves- while
grinned.
Dreamed Of Oysters.
81 used to close my eyes out there
in the front line and picture myself
pinching a lemon on blue points on
the half shell covering a platter as
big as this table," said Smith. Then
l would dream 1 was dipping into an
oyster stew. l reckon l would face
forty boche batteries to get oysters
or a broiled lobster. While / was
in the line / swore I would annex
some oysters the first day l got leave
- - >
pay for half a dozen of them.
BugIer Smith produced a rusty jack
knife and tried to open the shells, but.
to the amusement of the poiIus, fall
ed. Longsing got out an old cork
screw and had better success.
Hinton allowed that he wasn't 50
keen for oysters, but compromised by
eating two covered with French mus
tard.
The other thirty-four oysters us
appeared by swift gulps.
While still smacking his lips, Smith
startled the French waitress by call
ing for a meal His order. among
other things, was for a dozen eggs
for three. three beefsteaks and side
orders of roast pork, French fried
potatoes. tomato salad, cheese, jam,
land anything else that was kicking
around loose in the pantry"
Eating Comes Natural.
While waiting for the meal Smith
addressed the correspondents:
1--WE decided to have a banquet.
Army chow is FIRST class. but YOU
know how a fellow likes a change
from home cooking. Well, l decided
some time back that, as a fellow
never knows how many days, or even
hours, he has left in this life, / would
spend my spare hours and change Just
eating. / never did need a tonic to
help me eat. 1t just sort of comes
natural.
81 used to box a lot in the ring.
and ! was a auckland wing dancer
and baritone singer in vaudeville. too.
Il fought at 1872 pounds. Had the
bones in both hands pretty well bro
ken and haven't got any bones in my
nose, either"
Thereupon the bugler gave ocular
evidence by twisting his nose about
as though IT were rubber. He went
on: Been wounded twice and gassed
but I'm still on deck Our fellows
been giving Fritz hell back there.
But it's nothing to what we are going
to give him.
HOot Peace Offers.
when the fellows saw Germany's
peace offer they sure did boot. Every
damned one of them is eager to give
Fritz a knockout before peace comes.
Thought / was done for in the last
scrimmage we were in. My, but these
machine gun pills certainly did whistle
close to my head"
Some one asked Smith IL he was
going to settle down in France after
the war. Nothing doing" he replied.
II want to stick as long as there is