I was there with the Yanks in France | Page 6

there was a clean one In these miles of men and mud.
Well, I stood there, laughing, drinking, Kidding her in bon fransay But the things that I was thinking Were a thousand miles away.
Sewed my stripe on like a mother, Gee! She was a pretty kid.... But I left her like a brother,-- Shake her hand was all I did.
Then I says: "Vous, all right, cherry--" And my throat stuck, and it hurt.... And I showed her what I carry In the pocket of my shirt.
[Illustration: "Maison Comtois"]
[Illustration: A second floor billet]
[Illustration: Outpost at Hershback Germany]
[Illustration: Madelon of the village...]
Madelon of the village, who washed our clothes--and who still has some of those we had to leave when we pulled out of the sector in the middle of the night
[Illustration: Neat but not gaudy]
Neat but not gaudy As we come home--on the transport.
[Illustration: Oran Africa 1919]
Troops coming home from Marseilles go by way of Africa and stop to coal at Oran. Here the doughboy rests the French Arab soldier with whom He fought side by side at Soissons.
[Illustration: Ready to go Home]
[Illustration: Reading the Draft Covenant for the League of Nations--Paris] Reading the Draft Covenant for the League of Nations--Paris (President Wilson, center, reads, other figures labelled as) General Bliss Colonel House Secretary Lansing M. Clemenceau Mr. Balfour
Peace Conference Feb 14 1919
[Illustration: Blue denims for the trip home]
S.S. Canada 1919
[Illustration: Outpost at Molsberg...]
Outpost at Molsberg, Germany, an ancient castle which stands just on the edge of the American occupied area and the Neutral Zone.

NOVEMBER ELEVENTH
We stood up and we didn't say a word, It felt just like when you have dropped your pack After a hike, and straightened out your back And seem just twice as light as any bird.
We stood up straight and, God! but it was good! When you have crouched like that for months, to stand Straight up and look right out toward No-Man's-Land And feel the way you never thought you could.
We saw the trenches on the other side And Jerry, too, not making any fuss, But prob'ly stupid-happy, just like us. Nobody shot and no one tried to hide.
If you had listened then I guess you'd heard A sort of sigh from everybody there, But all we did was stand and stare and stare, Just stare and stand and never say a word.

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