Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-11-29

/ do not suppose that there are very
many people in this country who know
what a large number of Americans have
been fighting the Germans in France ever
since the war began. You viii before long
nave a very big and l am sure from what
| nave seen OF them a very formidable
force in the field. But you have had for
three years and three months past a
number of brave and adventurous young
Americans putting their backs into the
war alongside of the British and the
French. That is how / am able to de-
scribe a visit to American troops on the
French front, although YOU nave not as
yet officially taken your places on that
front with the armies that YOU have
raised for the crushing of the Prussian
attempt at world domination.
In September, 1914.
The first time 7 came across Americans
at the war was in September, 1914, only
about a month after it had begun. Dur
Ing the battle of the Marine ! was billeted
in a village where there We're a number
OF dispatch riders belonging to the British
army. | was a good deal surprised to
find that among them We're many from
the United States. On their motorcycles
they We're doing excellent work and thor
oughly enjoying it.
Before this, in the very first DAYS of
the war, there had been numerous enlist
lhents of Americans in the French foreign
region. 1T seemed as if every American
young man living. or even staying as a
visitor. in Paris, felt that he must be 'in
1t These also We're rapidly turned into
good soldiers. The French nave testi-
fled over and over again to their pluck
and endurance and other valuable fight
Ing qualities.
The Flying Service.
There We're, and still are, many Amerl-
cans In the French and British flying
services American boys make very good
allynen. They ave cool heads and bold
spirits. They Very often know something
ABOUT machinery, and readily pick up that
technical knowledge of engines which is
so useful to the driver of an airplane.
l am glad to say that hundreds of
American airmen are now being trained
by British officers, With many Canadians
among them, at the great aviation camps
In the province of Ontario, Canada. In
a week or two these camps are to be
moved to Texas. where flying is possible
during the winter on account of the milder
climate and the comparative absence of
wind. There is no doubt tina this close
association of Americans and British fly
ing men Will have a good and lasting
effect.
Fought Over London.
L heard a young American pilot who has
served with the British army describe in
New York the other day how he took
part In repellins an air raid on London.
He brought down one of the enemy ma
chimes with great skill and then, unfor-
tunately, had the bad luck to be hit. He
managed to get to ground without further
mlshap, but was in a hospital for some
time, and finally had to be invaded
home. He is only one of many to whom
the British nation is grateful for their
services, given voluntarily and always
with courageous devotion.
Some few months ago I had the very
interesting experience of visiting a Cana
dian regiment in which some hundreds of
Americans We're serving. I paid this visit
by request Of Sir Douglas Haig. who has
a high opinion of these American soldiers.
Ihey We're coming out of the trenches
one afternoon, after being in them for
w horrible, muddy, dangerous weeks.
met them near the village where thew
We're to be in rest billets for a short time.
They came down a hillside through a wood
OF tall pine trees, came down with lone
steps and cheerful calls to one another
as if they had been having the easiest
happiest time in the world.
Obviously Americans,
1t was easy to see what continent they
came from. Tall they We're, and spare of
flgure, with long, serious jaws and far
seeing blue grey eyes. Release from the
cranped positions and the tension of tha
trenches, where there was water two feet
deep, and where the sllelling was almost
continuous, made them like schoolbovs
freed from their tasks. They We're covered
with mud. Some of them had their heads