New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-06
Northclife Praises
Work of American
Troops in France
Bomb Throwing and Marks
manship Admirable; Col.
House Good "Sniper"

PARIS. Dec. 5.-Viscount Northclife
has written the impressions Of his visit
to the American forces. in company
with Colonel House and others of the
American mission, for The Associated
Press. After describing his journey to
one of the great American camps, he
tells of witnessing rifle practice, at
which he says the troops from the
United States did exceptionally well.
lie continues:
"Afterward came some very accu-
rate work with certain trench NOR
tar well known to the British army. The
men have mastered the principles Of
this very handy gun quickly. Later
the spectators men and wOmcn-were
delighted at the proficiency of some OF
the bomb throwers, and noted partlcu-
larly that the throw is not the baseball
pitch. but a complete over-arm semi
circle, somewhat resembling over-arm
cricket bowling.
1--WE stood well out Of the reach of
the decorating bombs, and the throw
ers bent low in the trench after the
projection of the missile. and until its
force and detonation threw up earth
and stones in every direction.
Then came an exhibition OF trench
lighting, bayonet practice and a very
fine qUarter-hour of work with the
French los (3-inch) at a range Of "A
mile and half. The target was
small wood, and after the irst four
shots the gunners got the range al
most every time. The spottlng was
done by an airplane which hovered
overhead and indicated the hits by
wireless.
Colonel House manifested his Texas
origin by some excellent rife practice
IN the sniping school. ENceilehu
wooden models of enemy snipers are
half concealed among rocks and foliagee
at a distance of some hundreds Oh
wards. and il is the object of the puph
in this part of the war game 70 draw
sudden bead on an enemy dummy
and get it. Many Of the Americans
are already adopts at sniping.
Interesting lectures were given py
leading members Of General PershIng,,s
staff. showing that American adaptaoii-
itv has very quickly assimIlated Ihe
best points Of the British and French
training, arrived ut after three ana a
half years Of actual warfare, 20 when
have been added certain American
IDEAS and certain alterations necessary
for an army whose home base Is thou
sands of miles on the other side OF the
Atlantic"
THE one topic in the American
army at the moment is that OF SHIP
ping. Shipping has overwhelmed
every other subject Of comment with
Uncle Sans boys in khaki.
"The inter-Allied conference viii, II
is hoped, solve the difficulty. felt
some doubt as to the result Of the
conference on the first day, when sew
eral scores Of representatives. OF yari-
Gus nationalities assembled in the
great hall of the French Foreign Or
fee to try to coordinate matters.
when the president OK the confer
ence. VI. Clemenceau, rose and indicat-
ed in few sentences that business and
not speechmaking was the order Of the
day, the adroit management OF the con-
ference by Colonel House was made
visible. The whole of TIM initial pro-
ceedings occupied only few minutes
and within a half hour the technical
committees dealing with shipping
finance, aviation and other matters had
been formed.
"The absence Of parades. speeches
and banquets was due to the express
desires of Colonel House that no time
should be lost. The success Of the
gathering is a great personal triumph
for Colonel House and the able young
men who form the basic elements of his
mission"