The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-08-17
Dr.. Stratton d. Brooks.

ncrve-testing and soul searching expert
ences undoubtedly lie before them, but
there are already thousands of young
Americans in the Canadian and British
ranks who have proved themselves tra-
di,Ionally worthy in the scorchng
flames OF modern war.
Fortunate In Lessons.
The American forces are fortunate
indeed to be able to base their educa-
tion upon the bitter lessons learned by
the French and British soldiers in all
the eyentful days that have followed
that first rush of battle in 1914 Mar
vellously complete books Of instruction
have been builded upon those expert
ences and out OF these the American
soldiers will CLEAN the last word knowi-
edge that will fit them for the foremos,
trenches.
First of all, when they take their
places, will come the baptism of i've
from the noisy black high-explosive
German shells that scream in from afar
and burst with terrifying rcports--some-
tunes IN most unexpected places. The
Germans arc great believers both in
noise and high explosive They even
mix their adored HE" with their
shrapnel shells which break high in the
air and send their bullets showering
down with the whine of an angry winter
wind. The Americans soon will learn
to distinguish the individual songs Of
the various shells for there is not the
slightest doubt that the moment he dis
covers they are in the Zine" the Ger
man will turn every available calibcr of
weapon against them in a flourish OF
Introductory hate" They will come
over in order--these shricking grum-
bling missiles--ranglng in size and noise
all the way from the nasty little pip
squeaks or whiz-bangs, up through the
four -polnt-twos, the five-point mines and
then on to what the British Tommies
laconioally call the big s,uff-the
eight and eleven-inch howit,er shell,
and the projectiles from heavy calibered
long-range naval guns. known without
affection as "Whistling Percys."
There will be little opportunity to
hear a Big Bertha, for those iamou,
old 42-centime,er howitlcrs are seldom
used nowadays II is believed that the
Germans planned to lombard Arras
with them, using prussic acid shells, but
the British advance on Easter Monday
last put a stop to that particularly ne
iarious scheme against the already sad
ly battered little Artoi, cathedral city
Baptism Of Bombs.
There is also awaiting the new Ameri-
can army bounteous baptism of bombs
and hand grcnades and the still more
dismaying introduction TO the ghastly
rattle OF the machine gun and its ,inis.
ter swish OF spraying bullets sound,
well calculated TO stab with a momen, of
fear the heart OF the bravest man.
But above all the American soldiers
must equip themselves 10 endure the
lethal gas that will be sent over against
them IN poisonous, vaporish clouds, or
showered upon them in deluge of
heavily charged cylinders and shells.
Phey must prepare to deal also with
the tteacherous lachrymatory gas which
while not dangerous to life irritates the
tear ducts until one cries with blinded,
eyes for hours. The surprise
OF both these case, is their altogether
pleasant smell. the lethal variety sup-
gesting the clean odor Of a sanitary hos
pi,al ward, while the so.oalled tear "a,
has the appe,itng scent OF crushed
apples, or cider
There is also the reason shaking ter.
ror OF the "flamenwerfer," with its
roaring stream OF liquid fire flaming
with the velocity Of a high pressure
fire nozzle and with an ofpourinp of
smoke rising like black cyclone cloud
to the heavens.
Will Know Minnie
The first day OF their stay in battle
trenches the Americans will make the
acquaintance Of a very old but scarce
" cherished, friend Of the Tommies and
Polus another member oi the Werfer
family known as Minnie" Th, is the
German mine thtowct or minenwerief,
which filings over at short range great
heavy proIectlles known as flying