Produced by Jim Ludwig
UNCLE SAM'S BOYS WITH PERSHING'S TROOPS or Dick Prescott at Grips with the Boche
By H. Irving Hancock
CONTENTS
CHAPTERS I. Dick at Training Camp II. Greg has to be Stern III. Bad Blood Comes to the Surface IV. As it is Done in the Army V. The Camp Carpenter's Talk VI. The Enemy in Camp Berry VII. At Grips with German Spies VIII. With the Conscientious Objectors IX. Order for "Over There" X. On Board the Troopship XI. In the Waters of the Sea Wolves XII. The Best of Details! XIII. Off to See Fritz in His Wild State XIV. The Thrill of the Fire Trench XV. Out in No Man's Land XVI. The Trip Through a German Trench XVII. Dick Prescott's Prize Catch XVIII. A Lot More of the Real Thing XIX. A "Guest" in Prison Camp XX. On a German Prisoner Train XXI. Seeking Death More Than Escape XXII. Can It Be the Old Chum? XXIII. The Dash to Get Back to Pershing XXIV. Conclusion
CHAPTER I
DICK AT TRAINING CAMP
His jaw set firmly, his keen, fiery eyes roving over the group before him, the gray-haired colonel of infantry closed his remarks with these words:
"Gentlemen, the task set for the officers of the United States Army is to produce, with the least possible delay, the finest fighting army in the world. Our own personal task is to make this, the Ninety-ninth, the finest regiment of infantry in that army.
"You have heard, at some length, what is expected of you. Any officer present, of any grade, who does not feel equal to the requirements I have laid down will do well to seek a transfer to some other regiment or branch of the service, or to send in his resignation as a military officer."
Rising to their feet behind the long, uncovered pine board mess tables at which they had sat listening and taking notes, the eyes of the colonel's subordinate officers glistened with enthusiasm. Instead of showing any trace of dissent they greeted their commanding officer's words with a low murmur of approval that grew into a noisy demonstration, then turned into three rousing cheers.
"And a tiger!" shouted a young lieutenant, in a bull-like voice that was heard over the racket.
Colonel Cleaves, though he did not unbend much before the tumult, permitted a gleam of satisfaction to show itself in his fine, rugged features.
"Good!" he said quietly, in a firm voice. "I feel assured that we shall all pull together for the common weal and for the abiding glory of American arms."
Gathering up the papers that he had, during his speech, laid out on the table before him, the colonel stepped briskly down the central aisle of the mess-room. As it was a confidential meeting of regimental officers, and no enlisted man was present, one of the second lieutenants succeeded in being first to reach the door. Throwing it open, he came smartly to attention, saluting as the commanding officer passed through the doorway. Then the door closed.
"Good!" cried Captain Dick Prescott. "That was straight talk all the way through."
"Hit the mark or leave the regiment!" voiced Captain Greg Holmes enthusiastically.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Uncle Sam's Boys with Pershing's Troops by Hancock
- 2: Colonel Cleaves had informed his regimental officers
- 3: Cartwright still keeping just behind them
- 4: While Greg followed Dick into the latter's quarters
- 5: Then consider that fellow Cartwright
- 6: Mess will be on in eight minutes
- 7: But Cartwright took a second step
- 8: Thought Captain Cartwright moodily
- 9: He corrected your method of handling the platoon
- 10: Directed First Sergeant Kelly promptly
- 11: Hartley is sometimes a very slovenly soldier
- 12: A doughboy is an infantry soldier
- 13: Greg chanced to glance backward
- 14: Dissented Sergeant Mock promptly
- 15: That's calling me a liar again
- 16: Captain Cartwright forced himself to smile as he saluted
- 17: You will take a blob stick and chase Page
- 18: Private Dobson picked up a blob stick
- 19: Captain Cartwright struck at him
- 20: Yet it resembles your handwriting
- 21: Holding out his hand to Cartwright
- 22: Posts had been driven deeply in the form of a rectangle
- 23: So Prescott had chosen another road which
- 24: Private Lawrence didn't realize that
- 25: If he had treated you like he treated me
- 26: Broke in Captain Dick Prescott
- 27: Mock listening in growing astonishment
- 28: Colonel Cleaves spoke under the stress of great excitement
- 29: Other soldier prisoners interfered on behalf of Riley
- 30: And Wilhelm for his sympathies
- 31: When Greg dropped into the company office that forenoon
- 32: Making a rush at Mock and trying to seize the vial
- 33: While the pair Ebers and Biederfeld were interned
- 34: You men are all conscientious objectors
- 35: Pitson answered unhesitatingly
- 36: But aren't you at least moral slackers
- 37: Corporal Barrow stepped quickly over to Kelly
- 38: Called Corporal Barrow briskly
- 39: Corporal Barrow is a patient and competent drill master
- 40: Were marched to barracks after ten
- 41: The regiment moved forward by platoons
- 42: Captains were but little occupied on shipboard
- 43: Said Greg Holmes suddenly and ruefully
- 44: Then he named the oncoming craft
- 45: Not that any periscopes were now visible
- 46: Passing Prescott an extended field glass
- 47: Greg Holmes called to his chum
- 48: Murmured Greg in his chum's ear
- 49: The haze and mist will hinder submarines anyway
- 50: I have informed Captain Ribaut
- 51: Here comes one of our own poilus
- 52: Said Captain Ribaut rather wistfully
- 53: Explained Captain Ribaut further
- 54: Said Captain Ribaut half apologetically
- 55: Replied the French divisional commander
- 56: In case our observers can locate the Hun battery
- 57: Sat Major Ferrus and two junior officers
- 58: Protested Private Berger mildly
- 59: Interposed Captain Ribaut quickly
- 60: Inquired Captain Ribaut eagerly
- 61: De Verne whispered in explanation
- 62: Whereupon Lieutenant De Verne gripped Prescott's leg
- 63: Dimly outlined at the edge of the crater
- 64: With a nudge for Prescott the sergeant crept out of the hole
- 65: The Huns who sent up the flares
- 66: I suppose Berger grew careless
- 67: For the other is Lieutenant Noyez
- 68: A German colonel and Lieutenant Noyez
- 69: Berger and Noyez worked together
- 70: Noyez submitted to the indignity
- 71: Shouted Ribaut over the racket
- 72: Rifles resting over the parapet
- 73: A minute later the enemy barrage lifted
- 74: In time almost to bump into Captain Ribaut
- 75: Are your American regiments numbered
- 76: Objected the German officer blandly
- 77: Come under the blankets with us
- 78: I hear we are permitted straw mattresses when in Germany
- 79: I believe our flyers got what they wanted
- 80: Dick muttered disgustedly to a French officer near him
- 81: Prescott stole across another track
- 82: It was the crowing of a rooster
- 83: That Prescott went with him without objection
- 84: Welfare work explains it to a dot
- 85: Later the chums disrobed and turned in
- 86: Potatoes and the inevitable pot of coffee
- 87: And have the good fortune to slay Huns and Huns and Huns
- 88: My neighbors call me Papa Prim
- 89: In the hangars there are no sleeping places
- 90: In front of the hangars paced a sentry
- 91: Then Dick sought the small rear door of the hangar
- 92: Tom clambered over into the cockpit
- 93: Prescott realized with a thrill
- 94: Under the general's questioning Prescott and Reade
