Baxter Springs news., 1919-01-03

bearers were Doiug po8tereo WIN Noe1
lions as to what chance the T0mnaies
had Of reaching their coveted seal /
believe they an enyied the man under
ether. because. with q laft foot mias-
ine, he was sure 10 b cent % nlishty.
A sergeant major Of the Royal Army
Medical corps entered the ward. The
medical men promptly stood at atten'
ton, except one or two who were
taking care Of serious cases. The ser
gcant major Ordered:
aGet this ward In shape. Tho n. O.
II coming through In i've minutes 20
inspect cases and clear OUT"
The medical men went from cot 70
cot, carefully smoothing out BLANKETS.
tucking In loose ends and picking up
stag ends" Cigarette butts).
The sergeant major left.
In about ten minutes tho door
opened again and. with q smart 'shun"
from the sergeant major Q dead si-
lence reIgned in the ward. The medi-
cal men all came to attention. then
the doctor entered, followed By q
clerk and 4 R. A. II. @. sergeant BE
stopped at each cot, carefully read
the tag on the wounded man occupy
ing Il, passed q few remarks which
the clerk jotted down on Q pad Of
paper, and as he left each wounded
soldier he made q cheering remark to
him.
When he came 70 me he asked:
sWell, how are you feeling. my
Iadr' at the same time STOPPING over
my tag.
'.Hum-three rife bullets: well. my
lucky fellow. It means England for
you"
I could have kissed that doctor.
Then he passed to the Irlshman on
my right. STOPPING over him. hs said:
"How are you. my ladf"
The Irishman answered:
"Tm ID sick and want to get
out Of here; want to get out Of here.
out Of this draft. Every tin minutes
they're openin' and a-shuttin' that
door,"
The doctor, with a wink, turned to
the R. A. N. G. sergeant and said:
"Shrapnel, left foot, knee and right
breast. I see no reason why this
man won't be ready for duty In Q
couple Of days."
The Irishman, with . YELL an
swered:
"Dooty; how the h-l can I do dooty
when can't walkf"
The doctor answered:
"That will be all right, my lad.
Wen nx you up with cushy job at
brigade headquarters. pounding q
typewriter"
The Irishman, with q groan Of dis
gust, addressing nobody In particu-
lar, sighed:
"Out since Mons, and end. up
workin' a bloody typewriter at head
quarters. Stick me In skirts and III
20 as q manicurlst."
The doctor. paying no attention to
this remark, went to the next case
and soon left the ward.
As soon as the door closed q string
Of Oaths came from the Irishman:
"Poundin' O - - typewriter
at headquarters; Just like the bloody
British army; what In HI do ! know
about one Of those writin' machinesf
Just my luck. Why couldn't that
shell have hit me In the hands. But
I s'pose If I'd lost my bloody hands
they'd made a tight-rOpe walker out
O. me. Win this war-what hOpeST
The TOmmies were eagerly Ques-
tlOning each other:
"What did he sye to your "Are
you good for Blightyi" "He marked
England on my tagT "What does
base hospital meant Does It mean
that I'm to stick II out IN this bloody
mud while you blOkes are a-goIn' to
Bllghty2" etc.
Pretty soon q stretcheP bearer en-.
tered. carrying q little oblong green
box, which, we all knew, contained
cigarettes. he was greeted with Q
chorus Of:
"GImme O fag, mate; I'm al out:
Come on, chum, don't forget me.
That's Q good fellow. Let's have
one"
Pretty soon every Tommy who was
able had q lighted fag between his
lips, and q sigh Of content went mp
a. he inhaled deep drafts Of the
smoke. I certainly enjoyed mine.
The sergeant major again entered.
The medical men came to attention.
In crisp tones he ordered:
'Get the convoy for England ready.
Look alive; the ambulanceS are Ox.
pected any minute"
The stretcher bearers entered, bus
tling about, and the ward was In an
uproar. Then, outside, could be heard
the chugging engines Of the waiting
ambulanees.
As each fortunate Tommy was car.
ried out the more unfortunate ones,
who were to be left behind ut the
base hospital. bravely wished him Q
"GoOd luck. mate; give my regards
TO TrafalgRr square. Be careful and