The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-02-20

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In Spezia, the Italian port officials
Quarantined Us for fourteen days on
account Of smallpox. During this period
our food was pretty bad; in fact, the
meat became rotten. This could hard
II have happened on an American ship.
because they are provtsioned with
canned stun and preserved meats. but
the French ships. like the italian, de-
pend on live stock, fresh Vegetables.
ETC.. which they carry ON board. and
We had expected to get large supply
q such stun at Spezia. Long before
the fourteen days were up we were
out Of these things, and had to live on
anything we could get hold of-mostly
hardtack. coffee and cocoa.
We loaded Z cargo Of airplanes for
the italian aviators at the French ny.
ing hchools, and started back to Brest.
On the way back we had target prac-
tice. In fact, at most times on the
open sea, It was . regular part OF the
routine.
It was during one Of these practices
that the French officers wanted to
flnd out what the Yankee gunner knew
about gunnery. At q range Of eight
miles. while the ship was making eight
knots an hour. with q fourteen-inch
gun I scored three d's-that ID, three
direct hits out Of I'VE trials. After
that there was no question about It. As
q result. was awarded three bars.
These bars, which are strips Of red
braid. arc worn on the left sleeve. and
signify extra marksmanship. also
received two hundred and fifty francs.
or about nfty dollars in American
money, and fourteen days shore leave.
All this made me very angry. oh.
very much wrought up indeed-noti
saw . merry life for myself on the
French rolling wave II they felt that
way about gunnesy.
spent most Of my leave with my
grandmother In St Nazaire. except for
short trip made to q star-shell fac
tory. This factory was Just about like
one I saw later somewhere In Amer
lea. only in the French works. all the
hands were women. Only the guards
were men. and they were ''blesses"
(wounded).
When my leave was up and said
good-by to my grandmother. she man
aged . smile for me, though could
see that It was pretty stiff work. And
without getting soft, or anything like
that. I can tell you that smile stayed
with me and It did me more good than
you would believe. because It gave me
something good to think about when ]
was up against the real thing.
hope . lot Of you people who read
this book are women. because have
had It in mind for some time to tell all
the women I could q little thing they
can do that win help lot. am not
trying to be fancy about It, and hope
you will take It from mo the way I
mean It.
When you say sood-by to your son
or your husband or your sweetheart.
work up q smile for him. What you
want to do IL to give him something he
can think about over there. and some
thing he will like to think about. There
II 20 much dirt, and blood. and hunger,
and cold. and all that around You. that
you have Just got to quit thinking
about It. or you viii 60 crazy. And 20.
when you can think about something
nice. you can pretty nearly forget all
the rest for q while. The incest things
you can think about are the things you
liked back home.
Now, you can take 1t from mo that
what your boy win like to remember
the best Of all u your face with q
smile on It. He has got enough hell on
his hands without lot Of weeps to re-
member. II you will excuse the word.
But don't forget that the chances are
On his side that he gets back to you
tie figures prove II. That vil help
you some. At that, 1t will be hard
work you will feel more like crying.
and 20 win he. maybe. But smile for
him. That smile u your bit.
I WIN back smile against the wesps
in race to Berlin any time. Sol am
telling yoa. and cannot make It strong
enough him away with . smile.
CHAPTER ~.
On the Firing Line.
When I reported on the Cassard
after my fourteen days leave. was
detailed with q detachment Of the
legion to 80 to the Flanders front.
changed Into the regular uniform Of
the legion. which II about IKE that Of
the infantry. with the regimeutal
badge seven-hamed grenade.
We Travelled from Brest by rail. In
third-class cars. passing through La
Havre and St Pol. and finally arriving
"a l.