the americanization of edward bok-第67节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
n guidance and information in future writing。 In fact； each member was explicitly told that much of what he would see could not be revealed either personally or in print。
The party embarked in August amid all the attendant secrecy of war conditions。 The steamer was known only by a number； although later it turned out to be the White Star liner； Adriatic。 Preceded by a powerful United States cruiser； flanked by destroyers； guided overhead by observation balloons； the Adriatic was found to be the first ship in a convoy of sixteen other ships with thirty thousand United States troops on board。
It was a veritable Armada that steamed out of lower New York harbor on that early August morning； headed straight into the rising sun。 But it was a voyage of unpleasant war reminders； with life…savers carried every moment of the day； with every light out at night； with every window and door as if hermetically sealed so that the stuffy cabins deprived of sleep those accustomed to fresh air； with over sixty army men and civilians on watch at night； with life…drills each day； with lessons as to behavior in life…boats； and with a fleet of eighteen British destroyers meeting the convoy upon its approach to the Irish Coast after a thirteen days' voyage of constant anxiety。 No one could say he travelled across the Atlantic Ocean in war days for pleasure； and no one did。
Once ashore； the party began a series of inspections of munition plants； ship…yards； aeroplane factories and of meetings with the different members of the English War Cabinet。 Luncheons and dinners were the order of each day until broken by a journey to Edinburgh to see the amazing Great Fleet； with the addition of six of the foremost fighting machines of the United States Navy； all straining like dogs at leash； awaiting an expected dash from the bottled…up German fleet。 It was a formidable sight； perhaps never equalled： those lines of huge； menacing； and yet protecting fighting machines stretching down the river for miles； all conveying the single thought of the power and extent of the British Navy and its formidable character as a fighting unit。
It was upon his return to London that Bok learned； through the confidence of a member of the British 〃inner circle；〃 the amazing news that the war was practically over： that Bulgaria had capitulated and was suing for peace； that two of the Central Power provinces had indicated their strong desire that the war should end； and that the first peace intimations had gone to the President of the United States。 All diplomatic eyes were turned toward Washington。 Yet not a hint of the impending events had reached the public。 The Germans were being beaten back； that was known； it was evident that the morale of the German army was broken； that Foch had turned the tide toward victory； but even the best…informed military authorities outside of the inner diplomatic circles； predicted that the war would last until the spring of 1919； when a final 〃drive〃 would end it。 Yet； at that very moment； the end of the war was in sight！
Next Bok went to France to visit the battle…fields。 It was arranged that the party should first； under guidance of British officers； visit back of the British lines； and then； successively； be turned over to the American and French Governments； and visit the operations back of their armies。
It is an amusing fact that although each detail of officers delegated to escort the party 〃to the front〃 received the most explicit instructions from their superior officers to take the party only to the quiet sectors where there was no fighting going on； each detail from the three governments successively brought the party directly under shell…fire； and each on the first day of the 〃inspection。〃 It was unconsciously done： the officers were as much amazed to find themselves under fire as were the members of the party； except that the latter did not feel the responsibility to an equal degree。 The officers； in each case； were plainly worried： the editors were intensely interested。
They were depressing trips through miles and miles of devastated villages and small cities。 From two to three days each were spent in front…line posts on the Amiens…Bethune； Albert…Peronne； Bapaume…Soissons； St。 Mihiel； and back of the Argonne sectors。 Often； the party was the first civilian group to enter a town evacuated only a week before； and all the horrible evidence of bloody warfare was fresh and plain。 Bodies of German soldiers lay in the trenches where they had fallen； wired bombs were on every hand； so that no object could be touched that lay on the battle…fields； the streets of some of the towns were still mined； so that no automobiles could enter； the towns were deserted； the streets desolate。 It was an appalling panorama of the most frightful results of war。
The picturesqueness and romance of the war of picture books were missing。 To stand beside an English battery of thirty guns laying a barrage as they fired their shells to a point ten miles distant； made one feel as if one were an actual part of real warfare； and yet far removed from it； until the battery was located from the enemy's 〃sausage observation〃； then the shells from the enemy fired a return salvo； and the better part of valor was discretion a few miles farther back。
The amazing part of the 〃show；〃 however； was the American doughboy。 Never was there a more cheerful； laughing； good…natured set of boys in the world； never a more homesick； lonely； and complaining set。 But good nature predominated； and the smile was always uppermost； even when the moment looked the blackest； the privations were worst； and the longing for home the deepest。
Bok had been talking to a boy who lived near his own home； who was on his way to the front and 〃over the top〃 in the Argonne mess。 Three days afterward； at a hospital base where a hospital train was just discharging its load of wounded； Bok walked among the boys as they lay on their stretchers on the railroad platform waiting for bearers to carry them into the huts。 As he approached one stretcher； a cheery voice called； 〃Hello； Mr。 Bok。 Here I am again。〃
It was the boy he had left just seventy…two hours before hearty and well。
〃Well； my boy； you weren't in it long； were you？〃
〃No； sir；〃 answered the boy； 〃Fritzie sure got me first thing。 Hadn't gone a hundred yards over the top。 Got a cigarette？〃 （the invariable question）。
Bok handed a cigarette to the boy； who then said： 〃Mind sticking it in my mouth？〃 Bok did so and then offered him a light； the boy continued； all with his wonderful smile： 〃If you don't mind； would you just light it？ You see； Fritzie kept both of my hooks as souvenirs。〃
With both arms amputated； the boy could still jest and smile！
It was the same boy who on his hospital cot the next day said： 〃Don't you think you could do something for the chap next to me； there on my left？ He's really suffering： cried like hell all last night。 It would be a Godsend if you could get Doc to do something。〃
A promise was given that the surgeon should be seen at once； but the boy was asked： 〃How about you？〃
〃Oh；〃 came the cheerful answer； 〃I'm all right。 I haven't anything to hurt。 My wounded members are gonejust plain gone。 But that chap has got somethinghe got the real thing！〃
What was the real thing according to such a boy's idea？
There were beautiful stories that one heard 〃over there。〃 One of the most beautiful acts of consideration was told； later； of a lovable boy whose throat had been practically shot away。 During his convalescence he had learned the art of making beaded bags。 It kept him from talking； the main prescription。 But one day he sold the bag which he had first made to a visitor； and with his face radiant with glee he sought the nurse…mother to tell her all about his good fortune。 Of course； nothing but a series of the most horrible guttural sounds came from the boy： not a word could be understood。 It was his first venture into the world with the loss of his member； and the nurse…mother could not find it in her heart to tell the boy that not a word which he spoke was understandable。 With eyes full of tears she placed both of her hands on the boy's shoulders and said to him： 〃I am so sorry； my boy。 I cannot understand a word you say to me。 You evidently do not know that I am totally deaf。 Won't you write what you want to tell me？〃
A look of deepest compassion swept the face of the boy。 To think that one could be so afflicted； and yet so beautifully tender and always so radiantly cheerful； he wrote her。
Pathos and humor followed rapidly one upon the other 〃at the front〃 in those gruesome days； and Bok was to have his spirits lightened somewhat by an incident of the next day。 He found himself in one of the numerous little towns where our doughboys were billeted； some in the homes of the peasants； others in stables； barns； outhouses； lean…tos； and what not。 These were the troops on their way to the front where the fighting in the Argonne Forest was at that time going on。 As Bok was walking with an American officer； the latter pointed to a doughboy crossing the road； followed by as disreputable a specimen of a pig as he had ever seen。 Catching Bok's smile； the officer said： 〃That's Pinney and his pork
