The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-04

fOund on on ms tftp across
the brine.
And this is only one of the many
interesting experiences related by
Indiana veterans Of the great war
in The Times World War Story
contest. First prize for the best
story of the week is SO and second
is IS. Make them short, so all the
buddies can get in on this. All
stories that space Will permit will be
printed, with announcement Of prize
winners every Wednesday.
The first story today IS sub
mtted by Martin J. Hert, IN
dian Spring, Ind, seaman on
board u. S. s. C. 2G2, Unit IL,
Base q, Plymouth, England.
THE crew Of the o. S. S. C. 262
Il was enjoying one Of those
four-day res periods in port after
a four-day wrestle with the angry
waters Of the channel. having had
only a Neutrality-suspicious. period IN
which We dried our salt-sprayed
bedding and filed our stOmachs
with fresh cooked food to replace
our accustomed cold bill" canned
beef and bareback.
A hastv messenger COB arrived
with sailing orders. a Lima doctor
of divinity following in his wake,
who had sought and found passage
on our 262 from Plymouth to st.
Agnes in Sicily Isles.
Average weather conditions were
experienced during the voyage, but
the holy man, unable to suppress
his emotions. sought assurance of
safety from the skipper
"Oh, Captain" he cried, ARE we
In any danger?"
Mo- said the skipper, do you
hear the crew swearing?"
II do" replied the priest sadly.
'Well, as long as they keep swear
ing. there isn't any danger"
AS time wore on. the wind In
creased; green seas swept the decks
of the 262. She labored through
them bravely enough, but even the
skipper admitted it was bit rough.
Presently he was aware of a white,
scared face thrust upward through
the hatch. 1t was the doctors
wild-eyed and disheveled.
Captain" ne mOaned, how ter
rible. how terrible! Captain are the
men still swearing?"
Yes" answered the skipper,
"they are"
The good man clasped his hands
in an attitude Of prayer and thank
fitness as he vanished below decks
murmuring. Thank God, captain,
thank God"
A story of q qUdr debt IS
told by Frank d. Macy, 1901
North Lesley dUenue.
Company D. 15Oth Machine Gun
battalion of the Rainbow division,
moved into the Champagne sec
tor on the Marine, July 3, 1918,
after having rested near Chalons-
Sur Marine about a week.
Chalons was one of the few places
near the front where money was
of much account, and naturally we
all did our best to spend what we
had or were able to borrow.
Being one of the borrowing class,
I WIS lucky enough to touch" Leo
the WOO. one of our squad men, for
40 francs.
Ats2 a. m. July Is, two days after
the big scrap started, came my
trick at guard on a Sapper trench,
to one of our machine gun outposts.
1t was a bad night, so dark you
couldn't tell the sky from the top OF
the trench. and the rain beating
down so hard that the noise it made
on nv tin hat would keep me from
hearing any one coming up the
trench.
Some bomber at the rear of my
post tried three or Iour rocket |
flares. which no doubt were wet. |
AT any rate. they only whizzed out |
into the air and never ignited.
However. by the feeble light given
off by the rocket flash, l saw a
man making for my post from the
direction of our outpost.
He halted at my order, gave the
password and came up to where
stood. Right then the bomber
succeeded in getting a good flare
in the air, and I recognized stand
ing before me the 'wop." He also
recognized me.
Great guns!" he exclaimed
what next they gonna 90 to
worry me? Here they got that
Irish Rlnker that owes me IS
francs down this suicide ditch,
what I been watching all his shift, /
and now they got you on this end /
He comes of In a few minutes /
and I figured on a little rest. I tell !
YOU. if you birds ever get back to
draw your pay, and pay me up. III /
swear off of ever lOaning any more /
money until this d war is over!
I know he more than kept this
promise.
The "song of the shirt" is
sing IN brief and snappy style /
by Ernest H. Shields, r. r. 6,
Bloomington, Ind, he0dqudr-
ters company, Twentieth field
artillery.