Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-09
Expedit' Ss4ry Force Shows
nestness in
Training.
I. >JNG OFFICERS
ARE ENTHUSIASTIC
Responsibility kesnly Felt But Msn
and Their Officers Hunger For Ao-
ton on Battle Front-M onths Of
Hard Preparation For Service IN
Trenehes-Army Has Great Faith ia
American Genius.
tBy the Associated Press. ]

American Training Camp in France.
Aug. 9.-The deepest impression one
gains after three weeks with the AM
erican soldiers training in France "
the absolute earnestness with which
the splendid young men Of tho army
have undertaken the task which is be-
fore them. There is no disposition on
their part or on the part Of their Of
hcers to underestimate the seriousness
Of that task.
The troops that are here feel their
responsibility keenly. They are indeed
the small but effective nucleus about
which will be built the great army and
great army machine which the United
States hopes eventually to have on the
battle fields OF France.
The men are earnest in their desire
to absorb war knowledge as quickly
and as thoroughly as possible SO when
called upon to act as instructors they
will be qualified.
Young Officers Enthusiastic.
A great deal Of this earnestneGs Is
largely the result Of the enthusiasm Of
the young officers who but recently
Joined the colors and have taken MP
the business Of war with determina-
tion that means volumes to the future
Of their country.
In return for the service Of patriot.
ism and tho sacrifices already made,
the officers and men OF the axpetii-
tionary force want to feel always that
they have an understanding OF syH,-
pathy and support Of the folks at
home" Face to face with the greatest
adventure of all, thoughts Of self are
things Of the past. There are only the
thoughts Of home and the hope In the
soldiers breast that wha. he Is about
to do will be understood and appre.
ciated there.
Hard School Of Training.
Under the best circumstances the
training OF soldiers in the ever chang
ing methods Of modern warfare Is
labor requiring months OF patient ef-
fort Six months Is the ideal train
ing period, but this rule applies to
armies which have been fighting three
years and have all the machinery es-
tablshed thru which the men are
passed smoothly and unendingly
toward the front.
The building Of this machinery-tho
great engine OF war which works be-
hind the lines--is the staggering task
now being dealt with. It Is a task In
a way greater than anything that
France or England has been called to
do, for Americas problems are those
of both countries multiplied by 5000
miles Of Atlantic ocean.
Faith in American Will.
The army here realizes all these diff
ficulties but it has mistaken faith in
American genius for accomplishment
and above all others In the American
Will. The way to the trenches Is long
and hard. The daily drills and tasks
necessarily are much the same thing
over and over again. all OF which
means a dear.h Of real news just now.
1t rs not known just how much longer
the French instructional division will
remain with the Americans. The lat-
ter are proving so apt and the training
camps are SO well established that un-
doubtedly it will be only a compara-
lively short time when but a few picked
French officers will be retained to as
sist In the training.
Americans Anxious For Action.
The latter is very essential. natural-
", but 1t is a phase of training likely
10 prove q bit irksome to troops Inn
bued with the offensive spirit as are
the Americans. They are sincerely
anxious. most of them, for their turn
in the trenches. even II at first It IL
only temporary sojourn at the front
for training purposes.
The men are eager for glimpse q
war and there Is no doubt that 1t will
add infinite zest to their future train
Ing and to their ability to train fnture
divisions. The men still are ftr
enough from the line to hear or see
little that has to do with real lighting.
Some enthusiasts at the camp have
asserted they heard the drumming of
the big guns at the front but imngina-
tion probably has something to do with
the acuteness ot their ears. n n Nh ~