The Martian, journal publié par les soldats américains de l'Hôpital de Mars-sur-Allier , item 14

• November 2, 2018 15:03:01 Sara Fresi

  THE MARTIAN

  Hommes - 36-40

  Chevaux - 8

  Vol. 1 - No. 21.    SUNDAY, January 12, 1919.    Price: 30 centimes

  ----

  "GOING HOME"

  --

    The romance of the journey over is half lost in the more matter-of-fact going home after long months of service. There is a thrill at the thought of home, of course, and everything that the heart longs for lies on the other side of the ocean, yet the great adventure lies behind, not before. Still, the orders which send the men away, whether merely back to their divisions, or the beginning of the long journey home, are awaited with an anxiety and longing before which the eager days in the training camps, are pale and weak.

    Several thousand men have passed from our hospitals to the trains which distribute them either to seaboard or replacement camp. There are in every case the same farewells to be said, the same sensations, the same joy. The evacuations, however, have never become routine. Every new order is received with a burst of enthusiasm; there is the same hurried, almost feverish excitement of getting ready, the same line of onlookers when the departure is made. The soldiers who remain behind never weary of the sight, yet there is no cheering, no flag waving, no sendoff such as those which were given to the troops departing from America.

    The first evacuation of men homeward occurred some months ago, yet it will be remembered always by those who assisted in, or witnessed the event. The so called "D" cases, men totally incapacitated for further service in the army, were the only ones included. 

    The great train, immaculate in its appointments, and almost suggestive of luxury, puffed slowly into the Hospital Center. Within a few moments, long lines of litter bearers appeared from the various units. On these litters were officers and enlisted men who had faced death bravely, and who had worsted it, but at a terrible cost, - for many of them were crippled, some of them mere wrecks of the men who had come over so gallantly a few months before. Gas, shrapnel, high explosive, - every death dealing device of the enemy had ravaged among them. The agony and suffering of war became a palpable thing in the sight of these men.

    Since then there have been other trains with other men, homeward bound, but none of them so painfully alive with the horror of war. The long trains, the loaded auto trucks, the marching ranks, go out and those who remain behind watch them. Everybody is glad they are going, but it is a form of joy that is slightly tinged with envy.

    It is no unusual thing to pass these men bound for home at all hours of the day. They leave in all kind of weather, often at night; there is little comfort in the method of their going, but they are happy nevertheless. Sometimes huge auto trucks which seem to ooze men at every crevice, rush wildly through the night, with a great shout of "Goodby" for every American soldier who passes. Long lines of men march to Nevers to the replacement depot. Huge numbers pile into the ubiquitous "Hommes 40 - Chevaux 8" box cars of more than passing fame. And now and then, a small group, equipped with precious Special Orders, injects itself into nothing less than "Class 1" compartments.

  (Continued on page 2)

• November 2, 2018 15:02:55 Sara Fresi

  
  

  
  

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• November 13, 2017 19:51:10 Thomas A. Lingner

  THE MARTIAN

  Hommes - 36-40

  Chevaux - 8

  Vol. 1 - No. 21.    SUNDAY, January 12, 1919.    Price: 30 centimes

  ----

  "GOING HOME"

  --

    The romance of the journey over is half lost in the more matter-of-fact going home after long months of service. There is a thrill at the thought of home, of course, and everything that the heart longs for lies on the other side of the ocean, yet the great adventure lies behind, not before. Still, the orders which send the men away, whether merely back to their divisions, or the beginning of the long journey home, are awaited with an anxiety and longing before which the eager days in the training camps, are pale and weak.

    Several thousand men have passed from our hospitals to the trains which distribute them either to seaboard or replacement camp. There are in every case the same farewells to be said, the same sensations, the same joy. The evacuations, however, have never become routine. Every new order is received with a burst of enthusiasm; there is the same hurried, almost feverish excitement of getting ready, the same line of onlookers when the departure is made. The soldiers who remain behind never weary of the sight, yet there is no cheering, no flag waving, no sendoff such as those which were given to the troops departing from America.

    The first evacuation of men homeward occurred some months ago, yet it will be remembered always by those who assisted in, or witnessed the event. The so called "D" cases, men totally incapacitated for further service in the army, were the only ones included. 

    The great train, immaculate in its appointments, and almost suggestive of luxury, puffed slowly into the Hospital Center. Within a few moments, long lines of litter bearers appeared from the various units. On these litters were officers and enlisted men who had faced death bravely, and who had worsted it, but at a terrible cost, - for many of them were crippled, some of them mere wrecks of the men who had come over so gallantly a few months before. Gas, shrapnel, high explosive, - every death dealing device of the enemy had ravaged among them. The agony and suffering of war became a palpable thing in the sight of these men.

    Since then there have been other trains with other men, homeward bound, but none of them so painfully alive with the horror of war. The long trains, the loaded auto trucks, the marching ranks, go out and those who remain behind watch them. Everybody is glad they are going, but it is a form of joy that is slightly tinged with envy.

    It is no unusual thing to pass these men bound for home at all hours of the day. They leave in all kind of weather, often at night; there is little comfort in the method of their going, but they are happy nevertheless. Sometimes huge auto trucks which seem to ooze men at every crevice, rush wildly through the night, with a great shout of "Goodby" for every American soldier who passes. Long lines of men march to Nevers to the replacement depot. Huge numbers pile into the ubiquitous "Hommes 40 - Chevaux 8" box cars of more than passing fame. And now and then, a small group, equipped with precious Special Orders, injects itself into nothing less than "Class 1" compartments.

  (Continued on page 2)
  

  
  

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