Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1919 — ARRIVE AFTER STORMY TRIP [ARTICLE]

ARRIVE AFTER STORMY TRIP

SQUALLS AND EXCITEMENT APLENTV FOR RENSSELAER BOYS ON MANCHURIA. “Hully gee, ain’t this great?” piped Lou to Bill, and “Hully gee, ain’t this great?” piped Bill to Lou. The eyes of the maties lighted up as they caught their first glimpse of the Goddess of Liberty from the deck of the Manchuria and 'had visions of Manhattan and the Bowery and the Bronx and thought of the bridge from which Brodie mbde has leap. “I’ve had a sufficiency,” quoth Lou, and Bill echoed in reply. ——^ —— The speakers were Louis Putts arid Will Duvall, clad in the khaki of their gaunt Uncle, as they paced the deck of the Manchuria as it crept into New York harbor with its arching sides, ten days out from Brest, France. Their joy knew no bounds, their faces were wreathed in smile? and they were as happy as a pair of kids with a inew pair of skates and plenty of See. And why wouldn’t they be happy to get back to the old U. S. A. after ten months of hell in battle-torn Europe. Lou and Bill shipped on the Manchuria on February 12 at Brest, France, as members of 70 C. A. C. T a New Ylork unit made up mostly of Indiaria men. Their troubles began “early. Only a few days out they ran into storms and squalls a-plenty and at no time was excitement lacking. They were buffeted and kicked about the foam continuously and never felt exactly at home unless their feet were in the air and their heads striking the deck. Lou opined that the elements were rather rough on them and Bill acquiesced. A Sou’wester wtould hit them, and then as a matter of variation, a Nor’wester would bump them around awhile. Finally Lou got mad and said he wouldn’t stand it much longer and Bill said that he guessed he would take bis meals less regularly. Anyway,-despite their handicap and unpleasant journey they made port on scheduled time and are now awaiting the time when they will be mustered out of the service and be permitted to rturn to dear old Rensselaer, Indiana, which they left last spring when the Big Draft hit them. After leaving Rensselaer, Louis and Will were taken to an Eastern cantonment with the rest of the Rensselaer contingent, -where they remained for several months before being sent overseas to help in the Hun hunt. Overseas they saw action and had a merry time until the armistice was signed. The boys notified their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Putts and Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Duvall, of their arrival in the States Saturday. It is hoped that they will soon be discharged from the service now that' the Hun has been squelched.