Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-24

|ItfnN CofTf OF the Evening LcdQcT tCttH
the Amerfcdn Army IN Fronce
rfEI.D HEADQUARTERS AMERICAN
ARMY IN FRANCE Sept II.
The new organization OF an artillery
battalion makes slightly different distri-
button than was the case in the United
4 states regular army before the war.
There are three batteries to battalion
rs before. but each battery now consists
OF 2fB men. Forty animals haul their
OUTFIT. which numbers four guns, eight Gals
sons two extra powder caissons. one roillhg
kitchen. one battery wagon with forge one
store wagon, two carts Of French type IN
which most anything can be piled ana
. reconnaissance or phone wagon. The out
nj looks the real thing when on the road
and requires $500 yards Of space as II
travels.
The chaplain Of certa n regiment of
artillery IL Father-for his name is not
n-entionable in orders to correspondents
3 and this Is a pity, for he is man with
n sense OF humor. broad enough to give
and take a Joke. Yesterday | met him on
q road leading out Of camp. In his uniform
he looked AXE any other officer and in ms
Jovial face | saw the milk OF human KIND
ness
Father was endeavoring to converse with
a village cure who did not speak any more
English than the chaplain spoke trench
As in most Of the camps, have become
Recognized as an unofficial interpreter, and
as Father knew me, l was requisitioned
on the spot
Tell the padre for me that ! want TO
know how long he has been in this village
he said TO me by way OF greeting.
why padre?" I asked over here there
are no padres. but cures
"Sure there's nothing in names siilce
they all serve the Lord" answered the
chaplain ask him! -
SO obedienty | found out that NJ. lie cure
had been in charge OF flock in the village
OF - for forty-two years, and that he
could not quite understand why the Ameri-
can cure was not in a priests gown in
stead OF khaki After that was explained
] asked the chaplain to accept the cures
invitation TO dejeuner upon later date,
and then walked back to camp with the
: former.
on the way he evidenced his sense Of
humor in a story.
There was an enlisted man in our reg-
ment when we were down on the border
that was devil" he said He was my
striker and during the week he drank the
liquor I kept on hand for medicinal pur-
poses. while Sundays he served mass
for me One Sunday while l was saying
mass from the tail end Of an army wagon
a rookie came up and, addressing my
striker. said:
Mike, them lead mules hes broken
loose
Mike looked daggers at him and did not
answer
"'Eh. Mike didn't you get me-? asked
the soldier.
Mike turned toward his questioner in a
rage and blurted out:
Say. you boob. amt you got 'nough
sense to keep quiet during massT
would the censor were permitted to
allow me the mention of names. for have
run across a bunch of Phadelphans among
the officers and men of the regiments OF
artillery and infantry that have crossed my
path, or rather whose paths have crossed
Some have told me they had lived within a
stones throw Of the home ] had in West
Philadelphia when doing local work on the
EVENING LEDGER Others have known men
knew and we found something in common
on the instant. And others still just came
from Philadelphia, which was enough for
me to enter into a talksest with them To
each and all promised EVENING LEDGERs
and as l receive them ] try TO keep my
promise. | have just handed three copies
to a certain major who lives not far from
the City --all, IL you take the subway. He
is disturbed at the Philies' likelihood OF
finishing In second place instead Of first
and asked me TO tell tine sporting editor OF
the EVENING LEDGER to put a piece in the
paper explaining why 50. If said sporting
editor does, and l see it, I'll send the paper
u the major as soon as I get it.
The objectiVes upon which the artillery
Sammees firing have been given fanci-
full names by the officers. Far off in the
distance, discernable only under the glass
Is a lightning stricken tree that Is called
E.ifel Tower Other points are named Doc
tor Cook, Hlndenburg, Berlin, the neck
this latter a name chosen by an officer
whose home is south of Market street in
Philadelphia, and win ordinaire in memory.
perhaps, Of an evening with too much OF
the red ink that is the water OF a French
meal.