Putnam patriot., 1929-06-13
THEY WENT A. W. .O.L. FOR
 PATRIOTIC REASONS

a prospect of other indignities and indefinite postponement of their ar rival in France. That wasn't to be thought of
 So Wentworth and Washington took one last fond look at the azure sky and. unobserved turned back the canvas cover of lifeboat. climbed l into the craft and carefully pulled i the cover back into place again.
 Their Plan is Upset Their plan was to remain conceal ed until the transport was well out ' to sea, then introduce themselves to i the officers who were not already acquainted with them and take their chances. Whatever happened. they reasoned, they were extremely un- ! likely to be put off the boat and told to walk back.
 But, instead cf proceeding direct to England. the transport steamed only to New York, where she waited flor her convoy. In the cramped quarters of the lifeboat Wentworth and Washington roasted by day and froze hy night and both day and night they suffered the tortures of hunger thirst and close confinement.
 They did not dare leave the lifeboat and risk being detected and sent ashore to languish in an Army hoose- gow. So they stayed where they were and made the best of it. And the best of it was very uncomfort- able.
 Five days later. with enc eye peel al Fa. .I... Aa C.. the chalk cliffs of England. II. Nj. S. Lancashire was still breasting the pillows of the broad Atlantic when two pale and haggard young men in rumpled khaki dragged their feet up the companionway leading 10 the up- per deck.
 At the foot of the stairs, they had observed n sign and the sign said in plain language No One But Off cers Permitted Upon This Deck"
 Where Nothing Mattered But Wentworth and Washington had lost all interest in signs. They had, in fact. reached a stage where nothing mattered except empty sto- macks and aching bones, At the mo- ment. they would gladly have swap HEN AflEAi WA EAi AAtAf EAbt y and heavenly bliss for one thin sand wieh and a glass of water.
 Their ascent to the forbidden re Ri0n was in accordance with a stern resolution, deliberately arrived at, and they did not intend Co be headed off.
 At the top of the companionway, their path was blocked by an officer who looked as if he had had bad night and an unsatisfactory break fast.
 It was obvious, at any rate. that he was not an official greeter.
 With a cold and helligerent eye, he toek in the rumpied condition of the strangers. the weeks growth of whis- kers on their chins. their general as- peet of want and utter misery. Moment That Seems Year
 Wentworth and Washington walt ed nervously for the officer to break the ominous silence, meanwhile ob serving from the gold eagle on hii r shoulder that they were in the augus presence cf Colonel. What are you doing here?" snarl , cd the Colonel. when he had com pleted his inspection. Didn't you SC, that sign?" Cant you read?"
 Wentworth and Washington click ed their heels and saluted.
 We're very sorry" sir" they croaked in chorus. But we're A W. O. L. from Fort Adams. w, thought you'd like to know about 1t. Col. Martingale listened with a black scowl to the dismal details There was a fine man, a good soldier whose sense Of humor had been over whelmed by his respect for Army Regulations.
 You're under arrest" he snapped You'll get yours when we get tc Liverpool"
 This grim pronouncement did not stir the culprits as deeply as it might have under other circumstances. Ever army prisoners are allowed to cal and drink and have a bunk to sleeI in.
 In Duranee Mild
 At Liverpool they were consigned to the tender mercies of the Military Police and endured confinement and three meals day-while Gen Pershing withdrew his attention frcn the battle front to concentrate or their case.
 Red tape was unwOund; cOurieri flew over the roads; the wires carried the story of Wentworth and Wash ington to C. II. C.
 The prisoners wondered whether they would be shot at sunrise or ship ped back to the clinic at Fort Adam. and decided there was little choice n the matter.
 At last, the commander of the ex- peditionary forces of the United States pronounced judgment.
 q wish" he wrote, "that had more men with the same spirit"
 Twenty-four hours later, Sergt Wentworth and Corp. Washington were on the soil of France.
 Lafayette. we're THERE they chirped-or words to that effect