Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-01-31

ue sent TO England. The stretcher
bearers were being pestered with ques-
tons as to what chance the Tommies
had of reaching their coveted goal. I
believe they all envied the man under
ether, because, with left foot miss
ing, he was sure to be sent to Blighty.
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 seri, Us cases. The SER
geant major ordered:
.Get this ward in shape. The M. o.
is coming through in five minutes to
inspect cases and clear out"
The medical men went from cot to
cot, carefully smoothing out blankets,
tucking in loose ends and picking up
flag ends' Cigarette butts).
The sergeant major left.
In about ten minutes the door
opened again and, with a smart "Shun"
from the sergeant major a dead ST.
lence reigned in the ward. The medi-
cal men all came to attention, then
the doctor entered, followed by a
clerk and a r. A. M G. sergeant. He
stopped at each cot, carefully read
the tag on the wounded man occupy
ing it, passed a few remarks which
the clerk jotted down on a pad of
paper, and as he left each wounded
soldier he made cheering remark to
him.
When he came to me he asked:
'Wen, how are you feeling, my
tad?" at the same time STOPPING over
my tag
"Hum--three rifle bullets; well, my
lucky fellow, it means England for
you"
I could have kissed that doctor.
Then he passed to the IriShman on
thy right. STOPPING over him, he said:
How are you, my lad?''
The Irishman answered:
'Im id sick and / want to get
out of here; I want to get out of here,
out of this draft. Every tin minutes
they're openin' and a-shuttin' that
door,"
The doctor, with wink, turned to
the r. A. NJ. G. sergeant and said:
"Shrapnel, left foot, knee and right
breast. [ see no reason why this
man won't be ready for duty in a
couple of days.
The Irishman, with a yell, an
swered:
"Dooty; how the HI can I do dooty
when 7 can't waikiki
The doctor answered:
'That will be all right. my lad.
Well fix you UP with cushy job at
brigade headquarters, pounding a
typewriter"
The Irishman, with a groan Of dis
gust, addressing nobody in particu-
lar, sighed:
"Out since Mons, and I end up
workin' bloody typewriter at head
quarters. Stick me in skirts and I'll
go as a manicurist."
The doctor, paying no attention to
this remark, went to the next case
and soon left the ward.
AS soon as the door closed a string
Of oaths came from the Irishman:
F'Poundin' a typewriter
at headquarters just like the bloody
British army; what in hi do I know
about one of those writin' machines?
Just my luck. Why couldn't that
shell have hit me in the hands. But
s'pose if I'd lost my bloody hands
they'd made a tight-rope walker out
-
The Tommies were eagerly ques-
tiOning each other:
"What did he sye to you?" care
you good for Blighty?" "He marked
England on my teg" "What does
base hospital mean? Does it mean
that I'm to stick it out in this bloody
mud while you blokes are a-goin' to
Blighty?" etc.
Pretty soon a stretcher bearer en-
tered, carrying little oblong green
box, which, we all knew, contained
cigarettes. He was greeted with a
chorus of:
Gimme fag, mate; Tn all out.
Come on, chum, don't forget me.
That's a good fellow. Let's have
one"
Pretty soon every Tommy who was
able had a lighted flag between his
lips, and a sigh of content went up
( as 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:
sect the convoy for England ready.
Look alive; the ambulances are ex-
pacted any minute"
The stretcher bearers entered, bus
Ting about, and the ward was in an
uproar. Then, outside, could be heard
the chugging engines of the waiting
ambulances.
AS each fortunate Tommy was car
ried out the more unfortunate ones,
who were to be left behind at the
base hospital, bravely wished him a
"Good luck, mate; give my regards
to Trafalgar square. Be careful and