The Arvada enterprise., 1919-01-09
CHAPTER xvlll-contlnusd.

As we went ashore. the lombard
ment began. and we were not only
under IRE Of spit, II you could call 1t
that, but also Of rocks and bottles and
sticks and most anything that could
be thrown.
All this time. ''lest you forget" we
had no shoes. and no clothing-only
what had once been our underwear.
1t is all right to be 'Coney Island
snowbird and pose around in your
bathing suit in the drifts. because you
are in good condition, and last but not
least, because you do not have to do
1t. Figure out the other side Of 1t
for yourself.
They marched us into a field where
there was nothing much but guns and
ammunition and snow. and set us up
in something like sklrmish formation.
We stood there for some time. and
then we saw a lot Of Huns with the
new long rifles coming toward us.
yelling just as they did in battle, and
we thought sure We were being used
for practice targets. It is a good
thing they halted and stopped yelling
when they did, or we would have
started for them to fight 1t out, for
we were not the kind that likes to be
butchered with hands in the air, and
we would have been glad for chance
to get few of them before they got
US. But they did halt, and then sur
rounded us. and drilled us away
through swamps and woods and shall
low water or slush. The women fol-
lowed, too. and there were plenty of
bricks and spit left. Women as well
as men are the same the world over,
they say. wonder? You can Just
picture the women of, say. Rockland.
Me-. following crowd Of German
prisoners that way, can't you? Not
But Of course the women of ROckland
are pretty crude-no kultur at all
and Colt never commissioned Presl-
dent Wilson to take the lid of the
strafe pot for him.
They drilled US along the docks, and
1t looked as though the whole German
navy was tied up at Swinemunde.
We saw many Of the ships we had
heard about. among them being the
famous Vulcan, the mother.ship for
submarines. There were many sail
ors loaflng along the docks. and they
gave the women hand with their
days work. They were no better with
brick. but they had more ammunition
when 1t came to splitting. One Of them
tripped young boy by the name Of
Kelly, and as you would never doubt.
Kelly picked up rock and crushed
the sailor with 1t. He was then bay.
oneted twice in the left leg. We be-
Kan singing then. our popular favOrite.
Pack up your troubles" etc.. and
when they heard us. how the swine
stared!
Then they drilled US past the Ger.
man soldiers quarters. The men were
Mt rife practice, and guess all of us
thought how handy we would be as
targets. But when we got near them.
they quit practiclng and crowded
around US yelling: "'Raus! Zuruck I"
Finally we got to the top OF the
Hill. ind were halted near the bur.
racks while an officer read the mar.
tial law Of Germany to us. At least
we thought maybe that was 1t.
Finally they let us Into the bar.
racks. and the first thing we saw was
II great pile Of hay. That looked good
to US. aud we made u rush and Owed
into 1t. But the Huns told us to take
the hny and throw 1t In the middle Of
the road. They had to use force be.
fore we would do 1t. Finally We gave
In. however. and started to carry II
out. Some Of the young boys were
crying. and do not blame them
much.
But one Of the boys tried to hide
some Of the hay behind q box and was
caught doing It. and two sentries
ciOutcd him from one end Of the bur.
rncks to the other. His nose was
broken ind his fnce mashed to Jelly.
But there was nothing We could do.
40 we Just wandered up md down the
barracks. about NJ we did between
decks on the Moewe. trying to keep
warm.
While this marathon was on we
heard Q whistle blown very loudly.
and when we looked out we saw q
wagon piled up with old tin ems.
Then we were told to form single fie,
walk out to the wagon and ench yet
can for himself. Each nun hnd to
take the hrst cnn he laid his hunds
on. md many Of us got rusty ones with
holes In them. So that about hnlf nm
hour later. when We received hurley
coffee. and oil We had to drink II from
WIS the cans. lots Of the men hnd 10
rink theirs almost In one gulp or lose
milf Of II.
The barracks were very dirty md
mellcd horribly. ind the men were
stili not even hnlf clothed. We all
looked nlthy md sE,clled TINT way.
und where the conl dust had rubbed
on. We were very pmlc. Aud all Of us
were starved looking.
About eleven o'clock TINT morning
she whistle blew again, and We cnme
out and were given IN aluminium
spoon and 4 dish apiece. Then W.
cheercd up and snw corned beef and