The Delta independent., 1917-06-15

| was comparatively little opportunity
for few weeks to judge of the COM
parative merits of the men of the op-
posing armies as bayonet fighters. At
ter the battle of the Marne hand-to-
hand fighting became more common,
and as the British and the French ad-
vanced the bayonet came more and
more into use. The prediction of the
American soldier was borne out FIRE.
| quent cable messages said: "The Ger
mans do not like the bayonet."
1t Is only due to an enemy to say
that the German is just as brave as
any other fighting man. The reason
for his dislike of the bayonet Is that
he has been trained to fight, not as an
individual, but as part of a machine.
He is taught the bayonet exercise, but
the machine-like movement is evident
In his use of parry. thrust. lunge and
butt to the front
Why Germans Dislike It.
The man who in the American
army had instructed recruits in the
bayonet exercise gave his reasons
for saying that the German would be
found to be "shy" when bayonet met
bayonet. He said that In the day that
he taught recruits in the American
army there were no restrictions on en-
listments except physical restrictions,
ana that among men entering the serv-
ice were many recently landed Ger
mans who had served their time In the
army of the empire
1t was found that 1t was difficult
to teach the German recruits the use
nf hn hQ a
handle the weapon with the lightning
like speed that the man of virtually
every other nation could handle 1t.
The German was always a fraction of
a second late. He came to "a guard"
without any of the litheness of the
men Of other nationalities. and while
he feinted and thrust and lunged per-
fectly so far as movement was con-
cerned, there was an appreciable slow
ness about the thing which would be
deadly In conflict
Frances Call for Men.
From the instant that war was
declared between the United States
and Germany, American officers Of
the younger and more active ranks
have urged the necessity of send
ing troops quickly to France. II
is believed that II the original plan OF
high army officers had been adhered
to, American troops except for some
few engineer detachments would not
have been sent to Europe for many
months.
The view of the younger officers of
the American service. indorsed as II
was by General Joffre and unquestion-
ably also by the president. brought n
change in plan. although OF course II
Is not known definitely. nor will II be
published when II Is known. just how
quickly large forces OF American SOL
diers win be sent to the fighting line.
Here is copyrighted and author
lied cable In the New York Times
from Wythe Williams:
France always has kept the mum
ber of her losses to herself. She now
says quite openly that she needs men.
The Germans are still terribly strong.
and II Is therefore to America that she
is looking to help her strike harder
than ever at the Teuton's battle line
and smash It"
Relies on America.
This Indirect appeal for men which
has just come from France seemingly
is indorsed by General Petain. The
disclosure of the French army's need
for men to drive home victory probably
would not be made unless II was
thought that the appeal would be an
swered by the American army authori-
ties. France never has allowed II to
be known prior to this time that her
armies stand In need of re-enforce-
ments to enable the republic to carry
home the blows which II has been do
livering for months.
The situation In France, 1t IL held In
Washington. makes II imperative that
there be speeding up in the training OF
our oversen forces. 1t seems certain
that the early predictions made that
regulars and National Guardsmen
would be sent to the front much more
quickly than anyone had supposed will
be borne out. but the main proposition
concerns itself with the great national
army which early In September In de
tachmentss Will go into the training
camps.
II Is only necessary to go to Fort
Myer to learn that the speeding-up
process Is In operation. II Is not
known definitely here how things are
going on at the other officers reserve
training camps. but at Fort Myer what
would be called In any college In the
country 1.-THE examining system" is In
daily service. The young men across
the Potomac who are trying to learn
how to become officers OF the American
army will be given In three months In
structions and drill which ordinarily
would be spread over half a year