Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1917-09-28

Is a n6verceasing marvel b thezn
They work like men possesscd inl
order that they may not be dis
qualified from participates In thei
American rafions and they are thu
envy Of their Less fortunate fellows q
No better idea of what tfie Germans
are told by their own officers can bsi
conveyed than BY the assertion Of q
recently made prisoner.
He was standing ID the street Of q
village In the American area when
two officers went BIZ.
"Are those Engiishmen~ be asked inl
perfectly good French Of his captor
and in the hearing q the ecrrgs
epondent.
mo, They are Americana = replied
the French guard.
The German only smiled unbeliev-
ingly. X.
"But they may be some stnif officers
on visit to the front. There are No
Americans In France, because they
told me so before was taken" per
sisted the prisoner.
Just then company OF infantry.
rifles over their shoulders, followed
by huge motortruck with "U. 8. AZ
painted on It In bold letters, swung by.
you see" grinned the 'poilu' tri-
umphantly, .there are American sol
diers."
"rhey He'd to us at home" answered
the prisoner after moments hesita-
ton.
To any who might be inclined to
ask, why do troops need TO go through
such thorough and intensive training
for trench warfare, an idea OF what
our boys have to learn would be the
simplest answer
Reoruanizlng the Army.
With the reorganization Of the
American division from its pre-war
footing Of approximately 28000 men
to the French basis Of 10000 men,
come changes that upset the whole
Idea Of war us they have learned It
and q redistribution of duties that
sounds rather formidable.
Formerly a company consisted SIM
ply Of the company commander. two
officers, two musicians, q cook and
two men. Now that is all changed.
There Is the commander and his off,
Ger Of liason, or connecting link with
the company. his lieutenants and the
II musicians and the cook, but with the
addition Of motorcycllsts, farrielE.
signal corps men, mechanics, bomb
ers, sappera automatic rifemen In
addition to the machine gun company
Of the regiment messengers, sharp
shooters, etc.
The company Is divided into
platoons. Even the platoons are sub
divided into groups The first group
may be bayonet men, who "go over
the top" and lead the charge. The
second group is the bombers. They
charge with the bayonet men, but
when the latter have attained their OBJ
jective and may stlll push forward.
the bombers stay behind to "clean up
the captured trenches, and see that
the enemy, emerging from their dug
outs, do not take the rifiemen In the
! rear.
Instead Of having a machine gun
company to each regiment, as former
ly, there is machine gun company
to each battalion. There Is com
pany Of pioneers which supports the
riflemen In their advance. Before they
are out Of their own trenches, the
, trench mortar company, O new thing
to the American army, must get In Its
work.
Each man must learn his new du
: ties and how and when to fulfill then
. to the utmost advantage. Each man
! In addition to his regular and regt
mental marking, is badged to show
, whether his post Is behind or in from
Of the anes. Messengers wear spe
cial insignia that permits them Il
pass to the rear without the slightes
! delay.
These are only few Of the thou
sand and one things that the men h
camp are learning and learning quick
ly, but II takes time to instruct then
SO that they may take advantage o
. the lessons already drilled into TIL
3 French and British soldiers, namel,
y that soldiers greatest duty is to d
. his work in such u capable manne
= that he may help In the protection o
! his own life as well as those Of hi
q comrades and associates.
) BUYS GLASSES 70 GET IN WA
IS