The Green Forest tribune., 1917-06-22

that soon reports would begin to come | in that the German troops did not Hike the bayonet" The German army drove it's way into France and there was comparatively little opportunity 1 for few weeks to judge of the com l Parative merits of the men of the op- | posing armies as bayonet fighters. Af- l ter the battle of the Marne hand-to- | hand fighting became more common, and as the British and the French ad- Yanced the bayonet came more and more into use. The prediction of the American soldier was borne out. Ere quent cable messages said: The Ger mans do not like the bayonet."
 It is only due to an enemy to say that the German is just as brave as any other fighting man. The reason for his dislike of the bayonet Is that he has been trained to fight, not as an individual, but as part of machine. He is taught the bayonet exercise, but the machine-like movement is evident in his use of parry, thrust, lunge and butt to the front
 Why Germans Dislike 1t.
 %hc man who in the American army had instructed recruits in the bayonet exercise gave his reasons for saying that the German would be found to he shy" when bayonet met bayonet. He said that in the day that he taught recruits in the American army there were no restrictions on en- Iistments except physical restrictions, and that among men entering the serv- ice were many recently landed Ger mans who had served their time in the army of the empire.
 It was found that it was difficult to teach the German recruits the use of the bayonet so that they could handle the weapon with the lightning like speed that the man of virtually every other nation could handle it. The German was always a fraction of a second late. He came to "a guard" without any of the lithenesS of the men of other natiOnalities, and while he feinted and thrust and lunged per | fectly so far as movement was con eerned. there was an appreciable slow ness about the thing which would be deadly in conflict.
 Frances Call for Men.
 From the instant that war was declared between the United States and Germany, American officers of the younger and more active ranks have urged the necessity of send ing troops quickly to France. It is believed that if the original plan of high army officers had been adhered to, American troops except for some few engineer detachments would not have been sent to Europe for many months.
 The view of the younger officers of the American service, indorsed as it was by General Joffre and unquestion- ably also by the president, brought change in plan, although of course it is not known definitely, nor will 1t be published when it is known, just how quickly large forces of American sol dierS will be sent to the fighting line.
 Here is a copyrighted and author ized cable in the New York Times 1Eoln W Ntne NllllulllS
 France always has kept the num- Der of her losses to herself. She now says quite openly that she needs men. The Germans are still terribly strong, and it is therefore to America that she is looking to help her strike harder than ever at the Teuton's battle line and smash it.
 Relies on America.
 This indirect appeal for men which has just come from France seemingly is indorsed by General Petain. The disclosure of the French army's need for men to drive home victory probably would not be made unless it was thought that the appeal would be an Swered by the American army authori ties. France never has allowed k to be known prior to this time that her armies stand in need of re-enforce- mentS to enable the republic to carry home the blows which it has been de- liyering for months.
 The situation ill France, it is held in Washington. makes it imperative that there be speeding up in the training of our oversea forces. It seems certain that the early predictions made that regulars and National Guardsmen would be sent to the front much more quickly than anyone had supposed will be borne out, but the main proposition concerns itself with the great national army which early in September in de- tachments will go into the training camps.
 It is only necessary to go to Fort Myer to learn that the speeding-up process is in operation. It is not known definitely here how things are going on at the other officers reserve training camps, but at Fort Myer what would be called in any college in the country "the eramming system" is in daily service. The young men across the Potomac who are trying to learn how to hecom4 officers of the American army will be given in three months in- structions and drill which ordinarily would be spread over half year. Young officers are in charge at Fort Myer.
 So long ago as the time that your correspondent was in France, when the war was only about eight months old, the possibilities that the French republic would need endorsements of men in order to carry the war to q conclusion within the territory of the l Germans already was being dis cussed It was discussed in whispers, it is true, but it was known that the man power of France had a limit line well within that of the other countries engaged. Even then the French were I...-l.i,... L., tlln Ir,,ftnl s,tntna.