New-York tribune., 1919-03-10
Few Brave Rain
To Greet 9th
AT Camp Mills
Scant Thousand of $4,000
Expected Splash Through
Mud to See the Fighters
Hylan Fails to Show Up
Family Groups and Lovers
Tete-a-Tete Find Warm
Spot i'll Hostage House

CAMP MILLS. March e.-Few Wis
itors came to Camp Mills to- day. Only
scant thousand of the $4,000 New
Workers officers had estimated would
day on American soil, braved me pelt-
ing rain and high wind that whistlcd
across Hampstead Plains.
Notable among the disappointers was
no less a person than Mayor John +
Hylan. At about II O'Clock this morn
ing, according to Colonel Franklin W
Ward, Of the 106th Infantry. word
came to division headquarters that
His Honor was starting for the can
tonment
Colonel Ward passed part of the
afternoon in the Offecer' Club waiting
word from the Mayor. But at 6
O'Clock the camp gave up hope. No
message whatever came, and the Off
GERS here are wondering whether the
Mayor got lost en- route or whether he
decided that it was a bad day on which
to venture out of doors.
With 1000 of Organs doughboys
in New York on leave of absence the
camp was gloomy place.
y. W. c. A. House Cheerful
AS usual, no visitors were permitted
big Y. w. c. A. hostess house was as
cheerful as the camp was gloomy. Al
the information desk orderlies were
shouting through megaphones and an
nouncing the results of queries sent
into camp
Private Donahue on his way here"
yelled the announcers.
Corporal Meehan is coming out"
And in two groups faces would light
up in smiles.
Corporal Judson will be here in
fifteen minutes" the doughbov an
nouncer was shouting.
He wants to shake a leg" This
threateningly from a pretty little girl
who looked nineteen. Inquiring faces
turned her away.
'I've waited for that fellow year
and half and my patience is Just
about gone This by way of explain
alton to the crowd. The announccrs
raucous voice was at it again.
Private Smith cannot be found"
Sergeant Sweeney not in camp"
And IN two other groups eyes would
FIJI and mouths droop. Then they
slipped out of the door. The other
which has been staged every day since
the 27th came home, had no eyes for
them. They hung eagerly to the words
OF the OrderleS that meant happiness
or another hopeless disappointment
1t was each one for himself.
Happy family groups were scattered
through the cafeteria and the big re
ception room. In the adjoining sun
parlors, which oercd infinite possii-
bilites for tete tetes, groups OF
sweethcarts fingered.
Of in one corner little red
checked creature, with black hair
combed straight back over her fore
hea., was talking earnestly to sober
minded doughboy. She was showing
him an unadorned band of gold snugy
osconced in satin lined box.
"Heres the ring"
She smiled. 81 bought it two weeks
ago. when | heard you were coming
back Never mind what it cost. It's
for me, isn't it? Nonsense Why
shouldn't | pay for it, if ] want to?
You always did have old fashioned
notions"
Educated Abroad
Less than five feet away sat an.
other couple quarrelling. Her eyes
we're flashing fire. Half cajoling, half
angrily, he was saying:
"Up 10 your old tricks, Mamie
Well, can that stuff right here. I'm
a different man now. You can't worry
me like you used to. ! amt met ali
them French danes Tor notnlng. Moth
ing doing"
At the other end of the room
blue-eyed girl of sixteen was dis
cussing the faithfulness of man.
81 don't understand how a fellow
could forget a girl so easily she con
iided to her companion, a tall, thin
girl in black. "They are all pigs,
Estclle, all pigs This last tragically.
after all there was between US
two, and hip writing back that he'd
fallen for that girl near Brest'
81 didn't come here because I want
him back" the other rejoined. mo,
indeed | just want to tell him what
| think Of him. How does he get that
way? Why. he's a"
a red 'aced lrishman, with trench
helmet, stalkcd in, glared around, spot
ted the girl and started for her. She
never finished the sentence. Whatever
the faithless Micky was had not been
destined for recording here.
1t was smothered in kiss.