Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-30
u. S. Soldiers NOW in France
Quick to Learn From P0iluS
Drilling Every Day With Seasoned Battalions
Who Praise American Intelligence and Energy
and General Condition of New Comrades.

signs of our men. I passed an Ameri-
can motor cycle whizzing along in a
cloud of white dust. l overlook convoy
wagons drawn by Missouri mules. and
met two officers on small brown horses.
| riding along with handkerchiefs knot
ted around their necks as if it were
only step from the Texan border; but
once after l had entered the first
village and long after there was no
| lack of Americans. Those tanned
young fellows in broadbrimmed hats.
belted breeches and khaki shirts
swarmed everywhere. / saw them lean
ing in all the doorways. sitting in
groups or lying asleep in the sun by
the roadside. They gathered around
the pear-shaped drinking water bags.
which the army has set up at regular
| intervals in the village lanes. They
stood in line. holding tip plates. where
camp stoves under a square Of canvas
We're giving out an agreeable odor of
| wood smoke and grilled meat.
Here was one man sousing his head and
naked shoulders from tub of water.
| There sat another in the shade of an old
well. holding board on his lap for a
desk. while hel penciled letter home.
Some were trying with small success to
communicate by gestures with old women
knitting on the doorsteps. But on quiet
stretch of the road I met a tall hand
some rascal, who apparently had over
come the curse of Babel He was stroll
ing along with n pretty French girl on
each arm. Others romped with the chill
dren. I saw one standing under a tree
showing four astonished youngsters how
to use lariat he had made for them
And one, the most pathetic figure of ALL
sat alone on a plow by barn staring
into space, with his elbows on his knees
He was dreaming. perhaps. Of the corn
fields far away in Illinois
/ passed several hours with the marines
SO far as have observed these men have
more esprit du corps than any other unit
in our army. Their pretended, or real
contempt for the regular infantry is not
only amusing, but to certain extent
commendabie. for it is just such friendly
rivalry that spurs the men to their best
efforts. Their uniform Is kind Of dark
olive gray which they call forestry green
On being told lately that they would per-
haps he put into khaki their disgust was
beyond words-that is beyond printable
works They have protested and l hope
their reasoning will be given attention
Already they are doing their best to ac
quire the art Of digging trenches, before
any of the infantry regiments do so
Surely such zeal should not be discour
aged by taking distinctive uniform from
the corps.
Marine Who Makes Biscuits.
I took lunch with the major COM
manding the ms-irs battalion. He
lives in an ancient house at the end
of n vilL:ge.
TT Belongs to a nice old lady" he
explained "She keeps one room up
stairs and I have the rest. The first
d3y she was rather suspicious OF me,
but that has passed off and now she
treats me as my own mother would.
| can have anything I want. She is
cut there now in the garden knitting
On looking around the house 1 could
understand why the old lady was not
displeased. The major had respected
her property scrupulously Even in his
living room he had made no change
except to move some hideous bric-a-
brac from the mantel to the top of
the wardrobe to make room for his
pipes and tobacco. All the soldiers
are not so careful in requisitioned bill
the major has promptly acquired a
French cook. But from my point of
view the baking powder biscuits made
the occasion memorable. You cannot
get them in France.
Your French cook never made
these" 1 said in surprise.
Il suppose not" said the major. Ed
die. who made these biscuits?"
Il did. sir" answered the towheaded,
snub-nosed marine who waited on the
table.
where did you learn"
MY mother taught me, SIR"
We'll. Eddie" said the major hear
tily. tell her that / said she began
your eQuCat1On right.
Are Getting Specialized instruction.
Throughout this region the work of
special training is continuing intensive
ly. Repeatedly I passed detachments
of soldiers marching and drilling along
the road. I watched the men of the
signal service practicing across a val
ley and once l passed a group of in
fantry learning the various ways of
carrying wounded comrades on ones
back. They laughed and joked as they
strove to lift one another. but because
of the things 1 had seen at the front a