New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-24
An English View of Our Army
o,, Of CORRESPONDENT Recorded for His British Readers After Visit TIC
To;nioo Grounds of the American Forces in France

touch one % them, and IL was for him 70 shov
Immediately how he would attack a supposed
enemy Gin this case the sergeant) whstey.,
the defensive adopted. Precision Of bayonst.
ing is being taught by making the men s.sA
through a small ring held for them, and A
the sergeant touches one or other Of the men
he further complicated the problem by telllns
them "You have no rife" or "You have IA
bayonet," and il was then for the man 70 Al
tack best he could.
Il is in teaching the men how 10 capture 4
trench that the lesson in German killing a
most thoroughly emphasized. As we saw .hs
work there was a squad Of men assembled A.
the head of trench, and in every recess of.
were dummies representing Germans. They
crept quietly, one by one, down the trench, FOR
the theory was that il was a surprise attack
and every detail of their movements was con.
trolled and criticised. They were shown no,
to avoid letting their bayonets be seen, ara
each man was encouraged TO simulate BATH
hate as he stuck his German dummy Ana
the sergeant kept up running fire Of cons
ment, thus: "Make a good Boche, and there's
no good Boche but a dead Boche.' There are
two of them there; one has got some rum and
the other a sandwich; you take the sandwich
and I'll have the rum" Don't make a mis-.
take about it; Fritz is no fool; he'll stick yoa
il YOU don't stick him" what you've 20. %
do is to kill Fritz, az many Fritzes as yoa
can" That's it" (as a bayonet thrust went
home); pull it out and make good bayon.t
Of it again" and 60 on.
Americans Fine Physique
At the officers training ground the ,renehes
were rather more elaborate than those we sas
in the ranks, and the method of attack vas
also rather more elaborate. The grounds
were covered by some two hundred yards u
more with trenches, barbed wire, inevitable
dummies representing Germans, and 50 ford.
At the word Of command the men leaped fro.
their trench and charged yelling a war ery
and bsyoneting each dummy they came across
Toward the end of the ground there were
number of sticks on tins, and as the men 90.
near the sticks they halted for independent
fire and blazed away at the tins, bringing
dozens of them down, and eventually carrying
the final position with a rush. The accuracy
Of their fire showed how well the lesson bad
been driven home that not shot must Be
wasted, but that each must find its home ia
the body Of an enemy.
In short hurried visit it is not possible q
gain more than few general impressOns
The first and most striking point IS the spen.
did physical appearance of the men and h.
obvious robustness of their constitution
Physically they are already perfectly trained
and they are acquiring their military knos.
edge with a speed that delights and astonishs
their officers and their critics. They shov.
too, no signs whatever of staleness, but con.
slant good humor that has been proof against
the discomfort of rain and mud and Of m
provised quarters. Their discipline is free
and easy, except when actual work is coz
cerned, and at work they obey instantly an!
intelligently the order given them. Ihrougt'
out all ranks there is an eagerness 20 procee
instantly to the front. and the mems oI
view that they are perfectly prepared TO
into battle to-day, if it is fault, is fault g
the right side. They have already developed
and are developing, a determined hatred Of
the German, based for the moment on the fac.
that it is the Germans who have forced them
from their various occupations and ipterfercd
with their ordinary scheme of life.
Throughout the visit l was greatly struck
by the modesty of officers of all ranks. Their
attitude to the war here is that they ha1
come TO learn the art of warfare as Il IS
fought in modern conditions In Europe, and
they are determined that it will be neither
their fault nor the fault Of their men II they
do not give good account Of themselves
They are accepting with gratitude all assist.
ance that can be lkiven them by the French
and by the English, and they are fully con.
scious Of the weight of the task that lies b.
fore them and before the American people.