New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
"Hate the Hun"
. Not Yet a Cry
Of the Sannies
Americans Sing "Hang the
KAISER" However, on
the March
BY FLOYD GIBBONS
fRu Cahln 70 ThA Tribunal


Controle American, France, Aug.
1.-Among the United States soldiers
in France there is a noticeable absence
Of that particular European dispo-
sition to "hate the Hun" When Yankee
doodle came to Europe it was with a
pity approaching that feeling that
goes toward a brother in distress that
no considered a foe, but not with a
violent antipathy toward all persons
and things Teutonic.
On the march the men sing Hang
the Damned Old Kaiser to a Sour APP
pie Tree" but | have never heard any
parodies sung with "Gott Strafe Ger
many" Numerous incidents indicate
that no American hymn of hate could
make the United States army in France
feel any other emotion toward Germans
in general than that of democratic
force pledged to cure Germany Of dis
ease from which she is suffering and
which she is liable TO spread to other
nations, turning the world into an
armed camp and making the war IN
ending
Yesterday a driving rain, which filled
the valley with mist and made the hills
look like mountain tops above clouds,
resulted in an abandonment OF the
usual daily drill. The Sammies spent
the day in tdeir billets, writing letters,
hearing lectures from instructors, play
ing with the French children in the
doorways of the village huts or taking
lessons in French from the native
girls, whose eyes are an inspiration TO
the dullest pupils. | spent several
hours in company commanders
quarters while he censored letters
which his men had submitted for
transmission back home.
The captain looked long at letter
in his hand, smiled and called for ar
orderly.
Letter Written in German
"Tell Blank want to see him. was
the captains order TO the man who
answered his call. Blanks name was
not quite so German as sauerkrad 1T:
but it had berger" end.
Here's letter written In German,
said the captain. BLANK is one Of
the best men in this company, and l
know that letter is harmless, but 1t IS
impossible 70 pass It when written IN
the enemy language"
The door of the room opened. and
a tall blond enlisted man stepped in,
shaking the rain from his hat. lie
saluted.
at is about this letter written IN
German" said the captain. ITO whom
is it Addressed"
"To my father in Cincinnati, sir"
replied Blank. as there anything In
this letter." said the captain, (which
the company has been ordered to orit
mentioning?"
"No, sir; I will read it to you in
English" replied Blank. He read:
Dear Father: am In good health.
| am becoming an expert grenadier.
In this village where we are billetod
there is French girl named Jermain.
She speaks German. | carry water
from the well for her, and she has
given me each day a roll of fresh
made butter for our mess. In the
evening we sit on the front seat Of
her uncle's smell carriage in the front
yard and imagine we are taking a
drive. Her uncle's horse was impressed
long ago.
"She is very anxious 10 know about
America and | have told her all about
you and mother and our home in Gin
cinnsti. She asked me what | was
going to do after the war and | told
her that ! would return to Cincinnati
to help you at the store.
"She cries, because she said she did
not know where she was going after
the war. Her father and two brothers
have been killed and her aunt and uncle
to write you about Jermain."
Wants Picture for Jermain
Blanks face seemed to redden as he
hesitated over a postscript This is
nothing" he said, 81 just asked father
to ask mother TO send me enc Of the
photographs / had taken the day en-
listed"
'For Jermain ?" inquired the captain
smiling.
Eyes, sir"
"Why didn't you write this in Eng.
lish?' the captain asked.
"My father reads only German" re.
piled Blank.
well, I'm sorry, Blank. but the
French mail regulations will not per
nit the transmission of letters writer
in German. You will have to copy II
in English and your father can have
/ some one translate it for him"
"Do you think Jcrmain could stanC
/ for Blanks name?" ! asked the cap
/ tain.
She'll probably be wearing 1t proud
/ ly around Cincinnati within a veal
after the war is over" replied the cap
Z tain