Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-18

ably barren and everything knocked
as nat as board. 1 won't tire you
by giving my impression of it. for
SO many people have written about
1T that L could not improve on their
description. All have to say is that
rabbit could not exist in that bar
rem, shot-up land of trenches. mud
ana barbwire. That night / got into
Paris. feeling that my journey was
nearly done. 1t was, as far as
walking was concerned, but it took
me just exactly three weeks to un-
tangle the red tape that my fall
had wrapped around me. And what's
more l had to do it all in French.
Going around to the different mill
tary officers to get papers signed
and draw nickel or SO sure did
get my goat. Besides 1 was still
pretty weak from my loss of vital
ity' while with the Huns. Why,
couldn't walk more than two blocks
without sitting down and resting.
ana say, you should have seen me
eat! oh boy! / sure had some ap-
petite. Just kept eating all the time
and never get filled up.
Events More Rapidly
More things happened to me dur
ing the last two months of the war
than during all the rest of my bird
NE put together. But first, Unjust
tell you about my trip to Stras-
burg, near which city my escadrille
is now stationed. 1t sure is some
city, but what time to get there.
| Even though 1 took an express
| train 1t took me two nights and a
day. At one time it took eight
hours to go seven miles. Fortunate
ly, L had put "a little bread in my
sack before leaving, and that Incl
dentally was all had to eat during
that time. And such a packed train
one never saw, for not only were
all the seats taken but the aisles
We're packed to standing room only.
And it was this way both going and
coming. Naturally when finally ar
| rived at my destination, l was one
hungry boy, and would you be-
lieve it. they gave me black bread
with my dinner-the very same saw
dust stuff l had eaten while I was
| a prisoner. Not only did it sour my
disposition, but stomach also, for
one has to get used to this bread,
and 1T had been some time since I
had fed on Boche grub.
And rain! Why. say, it's been rain
ign steady ever since l hit Paris.
and that was month ago, and if the
good Lord don't show a rainbow
pretty soon, I'll begin to doubt his
word about there never being an
other flood. And getting out of
Strasburg did not get me away from
the rain either. 1t only rained har-
der. But my troubles were all over
when 1 found my escadrille, and
comrades. Everyone was so glad to
! see me that i forgot my wet and
| aching fanf--T hod urallrnd
miles in the rain-and the fact that
L had had hardly any sleep for two
| nights. From the commander down
| to the lowliest mechanic, one and
| all were delighted to see me alive
and well; for 1 had been given
up as dead by every one. Every
| rumor that came in regarding my
being shot down only confirmed
: what they already knew. These ru-
mors were all different and mighty
conclusive as to what happened to
! me. One had me shot down in
! flames. That one interested me. for
although l crashed" ] did not burn,
and if anything burned around there
1t must have been that balloon. Any
way, when the commander received
my letter from Paris. he was so
glad to hear of my safety that he
gave me the benefit of the doubt
and proposed me for some more dec
orations. Here's hoping they go
| through, for / sure tried my darn
dest to get that balloon.
| A Warm Welcome
My own mechanic would not even
Nbelieve it when told 1 was in camp,
amtlsswhen he finally did see me, he
shook my hand several times ex-
ira to make sure 1 was still all
! there. Indeed, 1 had no idea how
we'll I was liked in my escadrille
until l came back. 1t surprised me
considerably. The fact that l was
an American, though. was the cause
| of most of the admiration, and /
gave this wonderful race of men
another boost by saying to all who
expressed surprise at my return
! practically from the dead-that ii
was very hard to kill an American.
The place where the escadrille
was stationed was q former Boche
| aviation school, and for a school
I have yet to see its equal. They
sure had all the conveniences. Even
the cement hangers were heated, and
the barracks were just as well
planned and built, having hot and
Geld water in every room. Heat was
not so noticeable when / was there
as they were shy on coal. 1t was,
indeed, an interesting place and /
spent a lot of time looking over
the planes 1 had often fought with.
They had all types there, even the
| famous Fokker. This particular
plane was a disappointment, con-
sidering how it could perform in
the air, for more ugly and crudely
constructed plane l have yet to see.
| COMPARED to my spad it looked like
a fat Boche "Frauleisn" beside a
"chic." Partisan nademoiselle. and
| that's some difference, believe me!
Naturally, 1 wouldn't have been an
American had not helped myself
to some souvenirs. Hope I can get
them home all right. At the es-
cadrille 1 found three letters from
YOU, I'll let you imagine the pleas
nre they gave me. for 1t indeed was
a relief to know that you had finally
heard of my success in getting
zone" You can make it three now.
I also learned where my baggage
| voc xvhere to go to collect my back