The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-01

and the days passed all too quickly. and suddenly I remembered that I had been away more than ten days and, without doubt, by this time was posted as a deserter.
 In time of war a soldier absent ten days without permission Is classed as deserter, and may be shot fer such desertion-although it was not done in our armies in France.
 How To Get To Spain.
 "l was standing on street corner in Paris, debating what was the best thing to do, when a civilian came up and spoke to me in English. He in troduced himself as M. Moreau. His easy manner led me to believe he was the gentleman his appearance indicated. Although he won my con- fidence. I did not question him when he told me he belonged to an or ganzation the members of which de- voted their spare time to seeing that American soldiers on leave In Paris had a pleasant time.
 He invited me first to have a drink. One drink led to another. and somehow, before I knew just what I was doing, I was telling him all about my troubles. Moreau sym pathized with me.
 "If you return to your regiment now, you may be shot for desertion,' he said. I would not like to think of friend of mine being shot. so I suggest that you escape Into Spain. After the war your government will undoubtedly pardon you, and you can then return home without trouble. l think I know of man who can as- sist you, provided you have money to pay for such assistance.
 He painted the worst so wildly that I could picture myself facing a firing squad, and my poor mother at home breaking her heart over a son who had been false to his coun- try. In desperation l agreed to al- low him to assist me, and turned over to him all the money l had. three hundred francs.
 "Moreau took me to a house near railroad yard, and there he in troduced me to a man named Nor nay. Moreau told me that Mornay would hide me in his house until the chance came to send me into Spain. While I was waiting for that time to arrive, these other two men were brought in by Moreau.
 "Shortly after their arrival we were taken out in the night and put aboard a train for Tours. We were placed in baggage car, and Moreau told us that the baggage would take care of us until we arrived at St, Pierre des Corps, where we would be met by a man who would hide us in his house until we could be passed on to the next guide.
 Sure enough when the train ar rived at St. Pierre des Corps, the man climbed aboard the baggage car and, after a few minutes con versation with the baggage man, motioned for us to follow him. Guided by the light of a lantern, we stumbled across the fields until we came to his house. Here we stayed two days and one night, and then we were put on a train for Bor- deaux, in charge of the conductor, who was to turn us over to an American negro at Bassens, across the river from Bordeaux. He was to see us cn the last part of our journey. We all fell asleep and when we awoke the conductor was nowhere to be seen, the train had stopped, and when I looked out of the window and saw that colored M. P, thought we had arrived at Bassens and that he was our guide, so l reused my two companions and we all left the train You know the rest"
 One at time. the other two prisoners were brought in and ques- toned. We first related the story as we knew it. and asked them If