The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-05-29

IN Leaion Of France III
lch Battleship Cassard IA
Dix de Cuerre III
Bsrvies liz
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
SIX men to each car. The windows In
the cars were all smashed. and every
thing about the cars was dirty.
Finally the train stopped at a town
named Alt-Damm. and there was Q
mob Of women and children around.
as usual. ready for us with bricks and
spit. They stoned US through the car
windows. and laughed and jeered at
u. but BY this time We were 80 used
to It that we did not mind much. Only.
every now and then some fellow
would get all he could stand. and
either talk back or make q pass ut
somebody. Then he would get his
either . bayonet through the arm or
leg. or . crash ON the head with q gun
butt
After an eighteen hour ride. with
out food or drink. We arrived at Neu-
strslitz. It was raining a. we pulled
in. Al We went mp the grade to the
town We could see lights about q mile
away. and We figured that that was
the camp. The rain stopped and We
remained In the cars for some time.
Then. after q while. We knew our new
guards were coming; long before We
could see them, We could hear the
racket they made. Somehow . Ger.
man cannot do anything shipshaps
and neatly. but always has to have Q
lot Of noise. and running around. and
general confusion. Fourfooted swine
are moro orderly In their habits than
the Huns.
When they came up. We were roust-
ed from the cars and drilled up the
road to the camp. When We got near
the German barracks We were halted
and counted again. and made to stand
there for at least an hour after they
had nnished counting rs, shiverins
like leaves. At last they placed N In
barracks, and those who could went
to sleep.
There were about forty barracks in
the Limey group at Neustrelitx and
two large Zeppelin sheds. The bar.
racks were Just about like those at
Swinemunde-at least, they were NO
better. Along the sides Of the rooms
were long shelves or benches. and
every three feet were boards set In
grooves. The shelves were what We
had to sleep ON. and the boards in the
grooves divided them up 30 that only
q certain number Of men could use
each bench.
The following morning We nearly
dropped dead when the Huns pulled
in large wagon full Of clothing. We
thought wo never would have any.
thing to wear but our underclotheA
They Issued to each man 4 pair Of
trousers, thin model, q thin coat
about like the seersucker coats some
people wear In the summer. an over.
coat about n warm a. II 1t had been
made Of cigarette papers. a skull cap
and q pair Of shoes, which were .
days labor to carry around. Not one
Of US received socks, shirts or under.
wear.
The toe was cut from the right shoe
Of the pair received. and a. my
wounds were In the right thigh and
my leg had stiffened up considerably
and got very sore. got pretty ann
ious. because there was nothing but
slush underfoot. and was afraid
might lose my leg. So thought that
II went to the commander and made
a kick might get good shoe. hest
tated about 1t at first. but finally made
up my mind and went to see him.
I told him that 1t was slushy outside.
and that the water ran through the
hole in my shoe and made 1t bad for
my whole leg. which was wounded.
He examined the shoe. and looked at
the open toe for some time. and I
thought he was going to put up an
argument. but would give in finally.
Then he asked me what wanted. I
thought that was plain enough to see.
but I said just as easily as I could
that wanted q shoe without q hole
In the toe.
$50 the water runs into 1t. does it1'
he said. "Well. my advice to you II to
get knife, cut q hole In the heel and
let the water out" All the other
swine in the room laughed very loud
at this. and guess this Fritz thought
he was a great comedian. But some
how or other. 1t did not strike me 10
funny that just had to laugh, and I
was able. after quite struggle. to
keep from even snickering. It was q
harder struggle than that to keep
from doing something else. thought
Our meals were just about the same
as at Swinemunde-the bread was
just as muddy. the barley coffee Just
bageless. The second morning after
we had had our barley coffee. one Of
the sentries came to our barracks.
which was number 7-B, and gave each