Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-29
FIRST CONTINGENT
/ NFRANCE PRAISED
Development of Americans
Into First Class Soldiers
Declared Remarkable.
ARE GAME TO THE CORE

By the Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Wednesday, November Is
The development of the men of the first
American contingent in France in the
science of war was described today as
truly remarkable by the general COM
manding the division. who has been in
the service for years.
II have been in the Army since I was
= boy" he said. During that time
have observed many American and
many foreign soldiers. but never in my
life have I seen anything equaling the
men now here. When my division land
ed We had shock headed boys-I call
them shock headed because they were
Just that-by the hundreds. They were
clerks. mechanics. day laborers, farmer
boys. old and young, from every walk
of life Some spoke English and some
Russians. Jews. gentiies. But in this
short time they have become frst-class
soldiers, energetic to the extreme. and
have fallen into the ways of army life
rs ! never thought possible.
They are game to the core and their
one idea is to beat the Germans and
give them good beating. There isn't
streak of yellow in the whole lot. and
their morale, even in the trenches. is
fine.
Asked for go; Company Volunteered
Here is an example: One night re-
Gently an officer called for volunteers
to go patrolling in no mans land. He
asked for twenty men. The whole COM
pany volunteered on the spot. Twenty
were picked. and lampblack was provid-
ed for them to put on their bayonets
SO that the light would not shine on
them During the backing one private
who had been in the Army for four
months stopped moment. turned to a
eomrade and said: Gee, if 1 can run
this into one of those boches 1 guess
he'll get biood-poisoning, and I hope he
does The boy knew the place he was
that he might be a casualty within
thirty minutes.
AT another time had just passed a
line of soldiers walking along a road
In the rain when came across one who
was hatless. mud covered and limping.
/ stopped my automobile and asked him
what was the matter. The soldier stood
on one foot, the other being injured
He saluted and said his horse had
started to run into stone wall, so he
threw him down. but fell under him.
That's the spirit we are getting. The
man was badly hurt, but even that did
not make him forget his training of a
few weeks.
Il was returning at that time from
the hospital where saw a few wound
ed men, Some OF the mems proudest
and most valuable possessions on earth
are bullets and pieces Of shrapnel which
thoughtful surgeons saved for them on
extracting. Every man wanted to ex-
hibit the cause of his wound. Their
thoughts were all about recovering. re-
Joining their regiments and getting a
chance to pay back the enemy in his
own coin"
Four New Base Hospitals.
-Four new sites for American base
hospitals have been selected by a group
of officers who have just returned to
headquarters. Work will be begun on
the hospitals in a few weeks. At sew
modelling OF larger existing buildings;
at others entirely new buildings will be
erected. under the unit system. making
possible their indefinite expansion.
The people of this town, in which Is
situated the American general head
quarters noting the preparations that
are being made for Thanksgiving day.
have arranged entertainments for the
Americans in and about the town to-
morrow. together with celebration In
the Hotel de Vile. Similar celebrations
and entertainments have been arranged
by the French people in other towns
where American troops are Quartered.
The ranking officers OF tho American
Army in France have passed on to head
quarters Recommendations for some sort
service. It is suggested that the decora-
ton be distributed IN a manner similar to
the decoration of the French war cross,
than those for which the French medal Of
honor is given.
To Learn Of German Atrocities.
It is probable that every American SOL
qier in France soon will have turned over
ties, depredations and crimes of various
sorts committed by the Germans in the
present and formerly occupied sections of
France. Copies Of the pamphlets in
proper channel by Fnepohnnan who IL on
tbs commission gathering information. and
i has a1en suggested by American officers
that they be translated into English and
circulated among the troops. 80 that the
newcomers may obtain an adequate under
standing Of what the enemy is capable.
The uniform OF the American soldier
IL undergoing further change. 1t Is a
sandstone made necessary by condk
tons. large number Of troops have
turned in their long overcoats to re-
ceiye N exchange coats Of the same
material. but much shorter in length.
The n8N ones strike the men above the
knees. while the old ones. issued in the
United states, usually hit them at the
ankles Because OF the perpetual mud.
II was found that the long coats soon
became caked and heavy. They Topped
about the legs of the soldiers, hinder
ing the free movement of the wearers.
Many Of the troops who have not re-
ceived. the new coats have shortened
the oad.ones.
Wood Gathering Important Service.
The business of cutting and trans
porting wood has become one of first
importance with the American force
For several weeks large attachments
have been deep within the forests in
France. some near the Swiss border.
others near the coast and some far
south Products of their labor are be-
ing shipped by rail and motor to vari-
Gus localities for use in heating and
cooking.
So great has been the scarcity which
now is beginning to be alleviated that
the troops on their hikes have been
marched through nearby forests, where
every man picked up pieces of wood
to carry back to the billets. In this
way the marching troops brought into
the billet towns many cords Of wood in
short time.
American ordnance experts have fig
ured that the Germans in raids on
American trenches thus far have ex-
pended more than 100000 worth OF
ammunition alone.
GERMAN FORCE GIVES UP