The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-10-13


The day they didn't stop, but kept
right on marching, up the gang
plank and on to the ship, he felt
betrayed, cheated and fooled.
To Mr.. Tinker at his side he OBJ
served, "Well, guess we've burned
our gangplanks behind U.S."
Mr.. Tinker stared at him, scowl-
ing to get his meaning. Though he
didn't know the true quotation, he
appeared to find something wrong
with Mr.. Wrinkles version, or at
least with the way he spoke.
whats the matter, Pop?" he
asked. "You seasick already?"
More men poured on to the ship,
and still more marched along the
pier toward her. Mr.. Wrinkle, Mr..
Tinker and ten others were shown
below to their private stateroom. In
stead Of hunks, large cabin had
been stripped of its beds and other
luxurious furnishings and canvas
hammocks slung in tiers of three
from wooden framework.
| Mr.. Wrinkle drew one of the top
hammocks, so close to the ceiling
that it made him feel like a fly
sticking there. They slowed their
! gear and investigated the quarters.
One Of the men opened door and
stood, frozen in his tracks.
"Come here" he said in an awed
voice, land see if you see what I'm
looking at"
They crowded around him, peer
ing over his shoulders, and saw a
cleaning bathroom.
"Holy cow!" another man cried.
"Ain't our suite sweet?"
The ship would be totally BACKED
out at night, which meant no smok-
ing on deck.
No cigarette butt or scrap of pa
per was to be thrown overheard lest
it leave trail which could be fol-
lowed.
In case the ship was hit and had
to be abandoned, they were to slide
down landing nets which would be
lowered, and not jump overheard.
If a man fell overheard, the ship
could not risk stopping to pick him
up.
These instructions caused no evil
dent alarm. Normally, Mr.. Wrinkle
, should have had an acute attack OF
imagination right then and there.
But it didn't come, as it hadn't late
ly in the learning that great and
solicitous mother, the Army, looked
after his every interest. All he had
to do was to trust it, obey orders,
and, most important Of all, keep his
mouth shut.
The ship sailed that night while
some of them were asleep and some
of them were still adjusting their
bodies to the hammocks. Mr.. VIM
kle, listening, heard the deep throb
of the engines. He put his hand
against the ceiling and felt thrum-
ming there. The smell of oil became
stronger. A low, sleepy murmuring
came from other men. A forward
movement became perceptible.
That was all.
No one spoke.
If the others had Annys of their
own to think about-and he knew a
few of them had-they kept their
thoughts, as he did, to themselves.
In the morning they were at sea.
Their own and dozens of other ships
scratched a CLASSY mirror with con-
tinual, untired zigzags. The convoy
stretched into the distance as far as
the eye could see. At its outer edges
they could make out destroyers and
other warcraft, which kept up wor-
ried pacing back and forth, in and
out, and sometimes around in wide
sweeps and circles.
It was heartening to see them and
their fellow troopships. Though they
knew that death was possible any
instant from the sky or from be-
meath the water, it seemed just as
impossible that anything could touch
them.
Soldiers were everywhere on the
ship, the last inch of space being
crowded with them. If they had lit
tie privacy before, they had none
now. 1t was barely possible to step
anywhere without walking on some
body, or putting your foot into the
middle of a crap game.
Somehow they managed to move
around, for the most part good-na-
turedly. Mr.. Wrinkle marveled at
what he and other men had been
conditioned to stand. He began to
have a respect for the extent that
man would let himself be abused for
the opportunity of travelling a long
way to get killed. Despite its in
convenience and tragedy, there was
decided element of joy in war.
The favorite pastime, while stand
ing or sitting on deck, or leaning
against the rail, was specializing on
where they were going.
Australia" was proposed, land
aim to see one of them kangaroos
jumping around with her kid in her
pocket"
'No, SIR" another differed. eff
it was Australia, they'd told us. My
cousin went out there last year and
he knew from the time he left. He