Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-03
ruE ARMY IN FRANCE.

j.
that ran through America YESTERDAY
when the announcement was made OF
Tho landing of Pershing's regulars IN
France was the finest impulse that
ne,n,e of the United States have ex-
nerienced since the war began. not eX-
rant,np the satisfaction which attend
81 The oyersubscrption of the Liberty
! nan. the practical unanimity or the
Sraft registration and the wonderful
.nccess Of the Red Cross campaign for
mercy dollars.
america is not military nation, put
the wholesome respect the enure coun-
>try has for the United states resulai
army is perfectly sincere ana thoroush-
" deserved. For the regulars are men
all through and are trained by mliltary
ON GERS whose superlors 40 not nne
even in this period when most OF Tue
civilized nations have prougnt .he
scjence of warfare close 10 periectioh;
Military critics from Europe s'oou
nj the international BOUNDARY a re-"
months ago when General fershlns
lead his regulars across the line rom
Mexico and pronounced them me
abyest BODY of warriors in the worio.
General Joffre visited west roint
nhen he was touring the United States
and paid high compliment TO the 1u'
ture officers in training there
All, the men who are in France WIN
Pershing are regulars Pracucall!
every one Of them with the exception
Of the marines was with him on MS
Mexico expedition. The marines, rep
resentatiyes of branch Of the service
which Is always able to give good &C
count of itself, are seasoned veterans
who have seen recent service IN the
tropics
These are the troops who will lead
The way for many thousands OF their
fellow Americans. into the trenches al
the front. to whip the kaiser at ms
chosen game and punish his legions for
their brutality and butchery in Bel
GUM and France.
II long has been the boast OF Ameri'
cans that a regiment OF our regulars
could vanquish much larger 1orce OF
hostile troops. Pershngs men may
face the test soon, opposed to the army
of a nation which for forty years mas
devoted the tire1ess energies OF It's
strongest men to intensive military
training Of It's whole public.
II is a big task that these regulars
have tackled. but America has bound
less confidence in their ability to win.
The greatest anxiety was felt for their
safety on the sea, where they ran the
risk of wholesale murder as they ira
yersed the submarine zone. But mere
the responsibility for the enterprise
was assumed by the navy, and Win
eplendid success
n the militiamen have inspired less
confidence among Americans in the
mast than have the regulars. IT mas not
heen because OF any lack of courage
ON their part nor Of confidence in that
courage on the part OF the public.
Despite their comparative lack OF train.
ing they always have acquitted them
selves with credit and under the urge
of wars necessity they have shown
wonderful ability to hold their places,
man for man, with the veteran regu-
lars.
They will be going over to France
aeon. these militiamen. called from
their ofices and shops where we know
them as civilians. And they will go
as regulars. with the intensive tram.
ing the regulars receive, accustomed
TO the SIr1Cl QiSClpiiue duu iiuiSa w
the rough and ready life Of the regu-
lars. They will follow the regulars
themselves into battle and when they
have progressed into the veteran class
they will be reinforced by the big war
army which the selective Consumption
Is to draw from civil life.
The dispatch of the first continsents
Of Americas army for European ser
vice has been accomplished with
measure Of speed and success which is
most encouraging II argues that the
forces to follow will cross the U-boat
zone without disaster and it brings to
Americans a new consciousness OF the
wars existence and of their relation to
the fighting.
Reports from the French battle front
will assume a new significance now,
although the Americans will not imme.
diateiy take their place in the allies
line. When they do. and when they re-
eeive their baptism of fire. they will