The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-14
By W. R. BRIDGES

to do so and was ordered to report on ia certain date.
 As it Happened the ship dn which was to sail was in the same convoy as that in which the il-fated Otranto, our flagship, met her doom off the Irish coast, the burying ground of so many splendid ships. We ran alongside her, on her port side, during nearly the whole voyage, and it was a great shock to us when, on the morning of October 6, we saw her rammed and subsequently, learned of her fate, with the loss of so many splendid American lives. On arrival at the dock on the morning of sailing the boys" tank outfit, were just about to go aboard the ship, and as soon as they saw the ''Y' man thousand and one propositions were put up sto him. Could do this, that or the other thing for them?
 Are you going with us. nfister?
 Sure thingi"
 Gee. that's fine; don't know what we'd do without a " man, but hardly thought we'd have one going over. On board at last All hurry and hustle. 1 Gan we send letter or postcard before we start?'
 Sure. but you'll have to hurry Got postcard, sir?'
 Yes" | Hearquarters had given us good sup ply of cards and these were eagerly l sought and when these ran out we gave them writing paper and envelopes, so all were supplied and many last farewell word was sent to mothers, wives anu l sweethearts.
 | After while We got started and these 1 splendid sons of America are leaning over the rail taking a last fond look at the 1 Statue of Liberty the land we love so dearly for which these boys were gong l to fight. perhaps die, that liberty ssld l justice might live, and the women ana 1 children of America be saved from the | Hun.
 | Looking around I noticed a. young doughboy with tears in his eyes as he l faxed at the fast-receding shores went up to him and put my arm Tn his He immediately responded to the touch 1 of sympathy.
 r Pretty tough, mister. he said. ''l was married about year ago and am ieaVihs
 a wife and baby behind.
 CT understand but it's better to tight them over there than over here, and I'm leaving a wife and five children
 "Five2 How can you do 1t? You don't Ihave to- ,.,,
 "Thats very true, but don't you tnihh that makes it little harder for me
 That never occurred to- me- he said' l shake"
 | Many of the boys were very seas'eN Fortunately l had taken the precau,ion to lay in a supply of lemons while III New York, and l found these tFeae help, for the demand was inslstent TOT l just a small piece. It was ihaeeu Q nleasant experience to find the men 50 apnrecjative of and grateful Tor any little thing I was able to do for them l Unfortunately a serious epidemic or Il lSnanisb influenza broke out soon after we left New York and my duties became somewhat arduous. In this conhec,ioh q decidedly unpleasant incident oecurreu. | A number of the boys were allowed to cone aboard who were in no condition to do 50. suffering with influenza. At the first roll call the commanding offieer' d I,ia,tenant S, made himseiI eA- tremelv obnoxious by his treatment Of Ia doughboy who was so i'll he eouio nos stand and had to be supported py t"o oA his comrades He used the Vilest ian s Ip,,aee to this dying man, for l oilclaee' al inc poor fellows funeral two days later and the troops felt mighty usis
 ahout it. Thre of the four unattacheu doctors on board were taken Ill. two oi whom we brought off in a, dying con -
 ton at Liverpool; and as we nao no
 medical supplies the situation looked SC,
 rious, as indeed 1t was,. TOT We neither nurses nor chaplain. was up flaw and night I soon found myself doc, itor nurse. adviser, chaplain. father any brother It was trying work threau'.7 my way in and out among the cios " hacked men, many of whom were .e's sick. I had nothing to protect me iIou' +be fearful contagion but a little splrlts
 os "a nnbor. which I had bought in New York. and which even the doctors were -lad to use for themselves and "
 ne to use sparingly. Somebody grafteo or bungled. ~.a Down in the very bowels of the snip
 three tiers below deck to be expilc'l | I used to thread my way, vomu aho sm.tnm everywhere, day and night, eh' 1, corra gine. cabling, jollying, scolding, a' ! semed best to it the immediate neces+- } of inc case. breathing the rotten BIT
 me,, coughing in. my face, some cursins lothers praying, delirious and sane, some trough and uncouth, others the very acn'' w , 1 of refinement ana good breeding. Wa makes no distinctions. All were nerue' together worse than cattle
 l One fine, big fellow whose chum nae inst died in the bunk under him Wal
 very i'll when I discovered hinl, 'sihs
 there with just a thin undershirt on an
 Ihjs chest exposed. He was in bad shape | | nut my hand on his burning forehea' and stroked his hair. Presently he op ? a,ed his eyes and smiled fantly. Whei he recognized me he sad dazedly. oIs that you MT. Y man2 though : was boy again and it was m' : mother. o,, al, .Is there anything can do Tor Sou' oi'
 fellow" of taa r and [ don't want any mix or Susai U $ it.t he said rritably 5. 5 Don't you get that?' I asked. Fl Hell. no, We get plenty of tea, pu 7 always with this damn milk ana susa l in it. ,;a : After all. he was onls great SICK hlo . and probably never had been III | ir. his life before.
 p's1 awiil you. thoughg, he questioned I sure. I will
 n nicked my way as best ! could-l
 was very rough weather-up the supper : itadders ont into the storm. and fough
 ,nv wav to the stewards $ capfii, oniF ' { find inc place closed a full hour Wna
 was to do2 l had promised the sicl nov he should have some tea withon
 ,,,iIk and sugar There was nothing TO T i, hut to go back and tell. him he woui 4 have to wait an hour.N l went and tol I him At the end of an hour l obtaine & the tea took it fo him. put my arr around him and held it to his lips whil I he drank it, and made life friend II
 recovered and was always glad to SC I me. ! could never stay long enough wit q tin to satisfy him after that Some T times [ would catch him with his arm
 and shoulders uncovered. would loo
 ..ry severely at him and ask if h
 thought liked the bushes sof buryn
 at sea.
 This was only one of many similar in
 stances I found it necessary to scar
 tMm sometimes. It was frequent oc T currence to discover the sick boys