The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-05-09
BY WILLIAM D. HINES.

AuSouA Lie army Is going nome,
1t Is going home happy. / saw g.
Of them sail for home today, and
been praising myself on my moral
age ever since. How I ever re-
d the temptation to sneak on board
them is more than l can figure
Their hilarious happiness was
ttious enough to make q stone dog
his tail.
ey shouted, they sang, they
ed. The oldest and most moss
red joke got a hearty laugh. Past
ships, dangers and troubles were
'tten; only thoughts of the Home
and all that 1t can mean to a
isick boy occupied their minds.
the docks where the big trans
are tied up. huge sheds a hun
feet wide and a thousand or more
myth have been constructed with
and sides of corrugated iron.
ecial rooms, with warm fires, have
set aside for the wounded, the
cher cases occupying one and the
ing wounded another. Here Red
8 nurses are bustling, accom-
ed with orderlies with trays of
ming coffee and sandwiches. Some
rs lift the mems heads tenderly,
a pillow beneath so they can as
: a sitting posture without effort
e eating. The others give them
pajamas, handkerchief full of ciga-
s and sweets and other comforts.
JOY Of Going Home.
the Red Cross canteen, in the
er of the room, the counters are
and piled high with sand
es. Behind the counters Ameri-
women In blue gowns and white,
shed head-dresses welcome the
with a smile as they "dig
say, can I take any word back to
OF Statue of Liberty for your"
one lad with a grin of joy that
.ches from a to ear, as the wom-
'our hot coffee and hand out the
witches.
a winding line they weave past
canteen and then are directed
IS the way to another counter.
they pass by two more Red Cross
lers. who hand them a khaki hand
hief, package Of chewing gum and
packages OF cigarettes.
Iood-by, good luck" says the
rican girl, as she hands out a
lie doughboy Is seen to use the
Immediately. A lump
contracted In his throat.
there Is a blur before his eyes.
Is only a boy, and his Joy has
he'd a climax when the American
an smiled at him and wished him
luck.
a big, strapping chap lumbers up
lie counter and holds out his hand
ar sheepishly: pleasant voyage
a fine reunion with the old folks"
the girl with a smile. The sheep
ook disappears In a flash, the big
looks grave, and with a courte-
nod, he answers: THANK you
ell the folks how fine you've been
s." It's the girls turn to choke
Caring for the Wounded.
meanwhile, the stretcher
5 and the walking wounded have
slowed comfortably aboard the
liner. Fall ini" There is n
mble for company formation and
thoughts turn to the boat. AS the
RS march down the line, giving a
inspection, eyes become a bit wor-
and fearsome. Suppose they are
ing for some n to keep back?
be the boat can't take all Of the
assigned to It!
e strain is awful. Then the order
ven to move forward to the exit
he shed and onto the gang-plank.
'ach man passes out his name Is
ked, and at the top Of the gang
k his squad Is tolled off and es-
ID to quarters.
foot, the stevedores unloose
.awsers. The band plays on the
deck. Men climb into the masts
rigging. The rails are lined with
]. They shout. they scream, they
b, they cry.
Iother regiment has gone home.
the layman it sounds easy.
Mt 1t? Two hundred thousand
a month, or approximately 65,OOO
each of the three main embarka-
ports In France-Bordeaux. Saint
ire and Brest! There shouldn't
ny difficulty about that.
ell. just listen a moment to the
ulties Of the actual work:
rst. there is the priority of wound
ZEN on the embarkation lists. Ev-
man able to stand the journey is
: sent as soon as possible to Amer
-
t a wounded or sfck. man, cannot
AIKEN Immediately from the. hos.
train at the port to the boat. And
the trains and boats
arrive together. So he must Be
q to q hospital at or near the port.
transportation from train to hos
his care there and his transpor-
q from the hospital to the boat re-
labor and time.
a handlfnp and = 20 - fha xryosruA-