I am glad of
this chance to tell you what the outlook is. I have been sent
over here, boys, to work directly with General Pershing. We will
be near and directly at the front all the time if our lives are
spared. I did not know this when we started. It was all in the
sealed orders that our late friend the mate was so anxious to get
into his possession. But about that later. Just what our duties
are to be I cannot tell until I have had a conference with the
General. Here is where you come in. As I understand it now, I
am to be in charge of a wing, not very many miles from
headquarters. I intend to use you as messengers. It is not a
light task. Heaven forgive me if I am the cause of bringing you
to harm! But the fact remains that as I see things, one life,
young or old, is no better than another in this great crisis. It
is up to every human being to do his or her part. Fate has led
you a long ways from home; and in spite of that coming crop of
whiskers, Porky, you are rather young. However, as I said, that
weighs nothing in the balance of necessity. Nothing! Man,
woman, child, we all must help. Man, woman, and child, we have
got to help, and now!
"I may not have another chance to talk to you privately for some
time.
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