The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-02-28

the hillside. through the tall pine
\ trees. il did not take long for one
who has visited most of the States
OF the Union to detect. despite the
mud and fatigue, from which of the
worlds continents they came. They
were in the highest thigh spirits.
Released from the cramped tension of
the always shelled. water-logged
trenches. they came tumbling over
each other IKE schoolboys. All are
in pleasant and happy relations with
their Canadian and British officers.
which make for good fighting and do
not derogate from strict discipline.
They were paraded for a moment
or two for inspection. and as com
pany after company formed into line
could not but admire the quickness.
! encountered as they were with all
sorts of equipment and an extra
suit of caked mud. with which they
came to attention any eyes right. If
had any doubt as to the home af
these stalwart fighters for freedom it
would have been settled by steady
movement of the jaws betokening
habit which is rapidly spreading
among the English and French. and
which is said by doctors to be quite
a useful relaxation when uider the
fire of trench motars and Minenwer-
Ter Before each company was dis
missed | was allowed to make them
a short speech an dto mix and min
gle as freely as ] chose. had
brought with me a newspaper clip
ping from a German source. in which
it was said that the Americans com
Ilained of their treatment. ! had
only to read it to the first group to
have it hotly denied. I'VE are hav-
ing perfectly 'corking' time. de-
spite the mud" voiced a Californian
with a figure several times taller
and larger than Mr.. Hearst's and a
voice as resonant as Mr. Roosevelt's.
You will not find a crouch in the
whole outfit, except that we had not
expected to have to learn mud-swim-
ming and that we do not see enough
home newspaper" "As for that, re-
piled another, Il don't want to see
mine. The folks sent it along at
first, but | stopped it. for it gave only
Fritz's side of the case"
| find lack of home newspapers to
be general complaint. and any
American who sympathises with
these fine boys fighting out here
might do worse than post news
paper every week preferably one not
merely giving the German side Such
newspapers should be addressed to
the American Soldiers. care of Com
handing Officer, Royal Canadian
Regiment. British Expeditionary
Force. France. | should say that
chewing gum magazines, wollen COM
forts. tobacco. cigarettes, and any
portable and preservabe little luxu-
ries would be welcomed, though there
is no ack of anything except, as |
have said. howe newspapers.
Heroic Deeds
These American boys are proud,
and rightly proud. of the deeds of
their own American men and officers.
In the midst of this vast Army-the
British Army in France has now been
publicly stated to exceed two million
men-they occupy an anomalous, if
proud, position.
Among the heroic dead there is
no greater story than that of the
gallant officer. for twelve years in
the American calvary, who joined in
the great Canadian attack on the
Regina trench-named after the Can
adam town of Regina. Though not
engaged in that particular operation,
he could not resist the temptation to
dash over the parapet with cry of
Come on. boys" Though terribly
wounded he endeavoured to struggle
forward against the Germans. but
was carried back and then killed by
shell fire He is one of the many
Americans whose dare-devilry hsa en-
deared them to their Canadian and
British associates.
While most of the newspaper dis
patches from Washington which reach
the French and English newspapers
are full of the word peace" these
husky young American citizens vol
not hear of il. ITO h with peace
talk" said a bright-eyed boy from
Kansas City. while these slantheads
across the line there are enslaving
French and Belgian women and chill