The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-03
ANXIOUS FOR A FIGHT
YANKEES ARE FESTIVE
y. S. Soldiers in France
4 Afaird War Will End Be-
fore They Get In.
EXPECT EARLY PEACE
Unfounded Belief Prevails
That Conflict Is Not
Going to Last Long.
EXPECT EARLY PEACE

American Field Headquarters, Aug.
1.-DGspite universal eagerness To get
:nto the trenches, curious and ap-
parently baseless impression that the
war viii be over before the American
troops can open upon the enemy has
nremeated. Pershing's SammCcs. 1t
exists only among the enlisted men,
for the officers are unanimous in the
belief that the end is far off.
Although their sources of Informal
tion are of the meagerest description,
inasmuch as, the French newspapers
mean nothing to them, and American
papers have not yet reached camp.
the Sammees appear to be imbued
with the idea that the Germans are
rapidly approaching capitulation.
Want Chance at Germans.
This theory is due wholly to Sam
mee's fear that he won't get a chance
to kill Germans. The favorite date set
for the smashup of the central en-
pires IL before Christmas, maybe"
ITS like this" sweating dough-
boy explained to me M he dived into
his noontime chow in the shade OF a
tail French poplar; the dope we get
here (what this dope is he did not
about all in. They're sick of this war.
and our being here in France already.
though there amt many Of us yet. has
made 'em whole lot sicker. It's true
the French are pretty tired of the war,
too, but the difference is the Ger
mans are fighting with half-empty
bellies, where the French have plenty
of brub.
Will BE UP Against II.
The French will have a tough time
next winter. but they know the other
fellows will be still worse up against
it. I'm afraid that just about the time
we get really on the job mean when
we know enough to take a trip
over to their trenches with n bayonet
Bill Kaiser will be yelling awful loud
for peace"
Scant sympathy is expressed for the
youth who yesterday lost his hand by
seeking to prove with a Ratchet that
no European hand grenade could hurt
a soldier of Uncle Sam. This simple
minded enthusiasts overconfidence in
American invulnerability gains him the
honor of being the first permanent
casualty in Pershing's force.
Tobacco and Candy.
If only the folks at home viii re-
member to keep him supplied with
the comforts of life--above all. tobacco
and candy-''we need both badly a
marine chaplain told me--Sammee will
be satisfied. Tell the people at home,
who seem to be thinking chiefly about
the welfare of the national guard" he
added, that we are over here in a
country where certain brands Of Amer
iaan smoking tobacco cannot be bought
at any price and where nobody ever
heard of American candy. The national
guard boys can stroll around a corner
to the nearest cigar or drug store
and get all the tobacco and candy they
want. We can't, and we will do with
out unless they keep shipping 1t over
all the time"
Free Mail in France.
The French government has ex-
tended to the American soldier free
use of the French mails. so if similar
arrangements are made in America,
the members of the United States ex-
peditionary force can send letters or
post cards home without any charge.
Ii it Is desired, there is no doubt that
similar arrangements can be made
with Great Britain, for such reciprocity
exists between Great Britain and
France already.
The soldiers rejoiced today over the
arrival of a large consignment of to-
bacco from America. French cigar
cites. cigars and Shaking tobaccos
have not appealed strongly to the
American soldiers and there was u
temporary shortage of the familiar
brands from home.