New-York tribune., 1919-02-10

Only half that number could be
spared.
The men and their former comrades,
who are now officers in the Illinois
regiment, said there would be open
discussion of their grievances just as
soon as they "bust out" of the army
Seine of them said they enlisted with
the understanding that they would be
given every opportunity to rise from
the ranks
All this, however, was of little i'm
portance in the minds Of the men yes
torady. How to evade ode -lousing" and
get home was the thought uppermost
in all minds.
was coilcd rattlesnake worked in
threads of gold on an inch square back
ground Of black cloth.
Major David A. L'Esperance, of Pei
ham Manor, who went overseas q cap
tain came back yesterday in command
of the Sd Battalion. He succeeded
Major Lorillard Spencer, when that Of
tcers was struck down in battle last
July. On the dock yesterday wildly
waving his cruches at those on the ship
with total disregard for the welfare
of his fractured leg hanging in a
leather sling was that same Major
Spencer
Touching Reunion on Deck
There was reunion on the deck of
the ship that put choke in the
throats Of ali who saw it when half a
Il 6 icp off of l,o
battalion crowded about their officer.
When last they saw him months ago
he was being carried to the rear on a
stretcher while shells tore up ground
that was being narrowed by machine
gun bullets.
Then Major Spencer went into the
dining saloon of the France and hugged
and was hugged by Major L'Esperance,
and Captains John O. Outwater, Cum
merford Mclaughlin, +. Z. Shaw and
+. A. Walton. All or them wore the
Croix Dc Gucrre. In addition Maj jor
L'Esperance displayed the red ribbon
of the legion Of honor. Moreover. he
told the, happy Major Spencer that he
honor.
Then the black fighters on the up
per decks were commanded to prepare
to so TO the dock, from which ferry
boats were to transport them to Long
Island City, whence trains carried
them to Camp Upton for muster out
They tramped over the gang plank,
trench helmets gaily aslant and teeth
showing in joyous grins. On their
backs were enormous packs and at
their belts the long triangular bladed,
rapier-like French bayonets with which
they had done much Of their bloodiest
fighting.
Major L'Esperance Welcomed.
The 80 officers and 952 men Of the
battalion, comprising K, l., M, l, and
the machine gun companies were lined
up in long column of two's. A fur
Hoated woman eluded the sentries at
the entrance to the deck. She dashed
along between the ranks of returned
soldiers until she spied the tallest fig
IRE present, that of Major L'Esper-
ance. Then with a glad cry and wide
spread arms she rushed to him, fairly
leaping into his arms. They kissed
again and again. The soldiers didn't
cheer as they always do under like
circumstances on the stage. They sim
ply stood there and gul2ed down Jumps
in their throats. Then from Cook Pc
ter Hazard Of 328 West Thirty-se sew
N-N<i AoLiect came tHcSc ueaItlclI
words:
''Um, boy, and to think those Ger
mans didn't get me. Jess another lit
tie while and III be kissing somebody
in Thirty-seventh Street"
He was answered by Private Frank
Wilson, Of the medical detachment,
whose home is in 227 East Seventy
third Street. He said:
"Ah guess All won't bs popular
when dose Yorkville folks see dis iron
cross ring Ise wearin'. Ole German
officer l took it off n won't never need
mother ring. lie was daid"
Sergeant Sherlock Paige, Of the ma
chine gun company, whose home is in
n Barrow Street, happened along
then and commanded the gossipers to
keep close to their packs and guns.
On the sergeant's coat was a glitter
ing Crolx de Guerre that was given
to him in Champagne after his leg
had been fractured by German ma
chine gun bullets. He used to be a
chauffeur for a New York family and
drive the car when the owners wife
made daily round Of calls "That
don't seem like no real business now"
said the sergeant.
Another with the Croix de Guerra
was First Sergeant Jesse A. Miller.
VINO used to drive q taxi in New York.
His home is N Pelham, where his
tather, Spencer Miller. lives at 224
Fourth Avenue.