The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1919-03-27
PRESIDENT WILSON'S ARRI-
VAL AT BREST.
Continued from page one)

care were there TO welcome him.
When the car of Wilson passed
by, and he raised his hat in salute
to the thousands present, we
could all see that smile for which
he is famous. To the great a.
musement of the soldiers of A.
merica, hundreds of French chill
dren sang the yankee song, "Hail
Hail, the gangs all here" The
time, words and music were
just the same as that used by our
soldiers.
When the procession passed us,
the camera man was busy, and
made pictures for the thousands
of shows and millions Of people
who would want to see just what
the visit of Wilson was like.
While we were in formation, be-
fore President Wilson came by,
our Colonel passed by with a
smile on his face and we noted
that he talked with some of the
men further down the line. After
ne had gone word was passed
down the line, that our regiment
was to take passage home on the
Warships that had come over as a
protecting fleet for our President.
We learned that the orders read
that we were to leave at three
O'Clock on the following after
noon, December ID. How we wait
ed in impatience for the program
TO end, and for us to go back to
our barracks and make up our
packs ready for the final order!
Finally, all was over, and we
walked with light hearts back to
the camp, for we thought this
would be our last night there,
and we were already beginning to
nave I thoughts of how home
would be to Jus. The soldier has
learned just what Home, Sweet
Home" means since he has been
IN the army, if he did not know
before.
When we arrived at Camp or
ders were given as to how we
should make up our packs, how
the barracks should be cleaned,
and as to condition Of the grounds
BY ten o'clock all were in bed,
having spent their last waking
hour in thoughts of what the]
morrow would bring.
At eleven o'clock special mes
senger came from the Camp head
quarters with the information
that the previous order had been
Cancelled, and that we were not
to be allowed to return on the
Warships. You can imagine how
disappointed we were,. for we
were looking with fondest antici-
patlons to a voyage on an Ameri-
can warship, for we knew that !
there we would have plenty to
eat, and good places to sleep and |
not have to put up with the poor
food and accommodations that we
had on the English ships when
we came over. But now it was
on the grounds that the
Admiral of the fleet had sent
word that he was unwilling to |
transport soldiers, as his ships
were for navy men alone. Sol
persisted another prospect, and
our hopes fell a few more de-
grees.'
Our disappointment was of
short duration though, for at a.
bout noon of the same day, or
ders came down for us to leave
the next day at three o'clock, on
the George Washington, Presi-
dent Wilson's ship. We feared
that we would meet further un-
favorable reports, but ma. our
plans just the same.
We were called into formation
at little before noon, and or
dered to make all our plans to
break camp, and as no orders had
come for labor details, we began
to hope that this was not false
alarm. The grounds were put
into shape, and our regiment
passed the camp inspection. Then
all we had to do was to leave.
AS | have said, the orders read
that we should embark at three
o'clock P. M. At retreat, our first
sergeant told us not to be sur-
prised at an early breakfast, as
he was determined that we would
not again be disappointed, if it /
were in his power to prevent it.
He said more men were ordered
to ships for the following day
than the ships could accommodate
and that someone was to be left
out, and would have to wait till
IL y r..