The Carlisle independent., 1919-10-16
THE GREAT ADVENTURE
(By Ira c. Hopper, War Veteran.)
PART THREE

the towering cliffs of Wales loomed on our right as we steam ed toward Liverpool, guarded from above by dirigible balloons watching for floating or sunken mines which might have been strewn or drifted in our path. The sight of foreign land made us realize for the first time how far we were from our homes, but due to the excitement of seeing foreign land no one was home sick. As we neared the harbor we were met by pilots who guided us by circuituous paths through the nets set to ensnare subma- rines, and the little feet of mine sweepers securing the chan nel in the dangerous work of cleaning drifting and newly planted mines gave us a new wis ion of what a task had confront ed England in this war, and we became filled with anticipation to see the people and learn first handed how they had fared dur ing the submarine blockade.
 Leaving the boat was quickly accomplished and the march to the railroad station begun. Our route passed through the factory and tenement district of the city and the sunken eyes, pinched faces and hollow cheeks of the children told plainer than words what England was suffering from food shortage. Children and old women gathered from every where to watch us pass. No one cheered. Children stood and stared in solemn-eyed wonder and old women cried or waved a hand or murmured an audible "God bless you Yet we felt, We knew we were welcomed with far deeper feeling than could be expressed in words. Our backs instinctively strengthened, our step oil the pavement resounded louder, and feeling of determi- nation swept over us ever eX- rerienced before
 But where were all the men and the youn women2 The ans wer came, All men who can fight are in the trenches all oth- CTS and the young women are in the intuition factories. y And we resolved to die rather than have our country suffer as was England suffering. l think we were even little bit more sober minded and thoughtful of the act ual business ahead of us after that march through the heart of Liverpool.
 A few days were spent in so called rest camp at Winchester, but for the life of us we could not understand why it was called :" A Rest Camp" because one had les rest than when on the firing line. But we did have an opportunity to visit Winchester and see the old places of historic interest such as the Cathedral, King Ar thur s Round Table, the old jail, the old gates and tower and many relies of early English history. But we never could understand how the people held such old things s5 sacred. Why they spoke of King Arthur in an awed tone-he seemed a man dead for centuries to us. We realized a. gain what young nation we are and how separated from ancient traditions.
 To Southhamption was our next move and here we went through one of Queen Elizabeth s old cas- ties and one Henry VIII used to reside in when in that city. The old meats, walls and secret pas sages were fairly well preserved and the museum inside furnished many relics of the very earliest English history.
 Late in the afternoon, we went on boat to cross the channel to France and as we steamed at dusk from the harbor,we filed by ship after ship now topping over In the water with great holes torn in thei sides. This was evidence of the submarine ac- tivity which peculiarly impressed us. These ships, once powerful and securing the world, now rest ed here mass of twisted and rusting debris. A queer feeling seized upon us as we passed silent, , rld