The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-07-31
EXPERIENCES Of
TERROR THE LOT.
Of OUR SAMM|ES
Baptism Of Fire To Be The
Introductory
/ Step


Associated Press)-The arrival OF the
first contingents of the American army
in France serves to recall the fact
that the United States is entering
a war already old and wise-wise
with the dearly bought wisdom OF
three long adventurous years-and
steeped in all the diahoical wicked
ness that incessant delving into the
deyiltries of destruction can brint
to 1t. 'i,.
Having escaped the first terrors OF
weapons which German science had
evolved through toiling years OF mill
tary preparation, the American diyi
sions will nevertheless plunge event
ually into ,seething cauldron when
has grown from the unavoidable poll
cv of "6phting the devil with fire.
They must quickly learn not only
to take the awful German frlghtlul
ness with calm endurance, but to re
turn it with an ever increasing meas
ure. In doing this many nerVeteSt
ing and soulsearching experiences
undoubtedly lie before them, but there
are already thousands of young
Americans in the Canadian and Brit
ish ranks who have proved them
selves traditionally worthy in the
scorching flames of modern war
The American forces are fortunate
indeed to be able to base their educa-
tion upon the bitter lessons learned
by the French and British soldiers in
all the eventful days that have fol-
lowed that first rush of battle in 1914
MarveIlously complete books Of in
structibn have been builded upon
those experiences and out of these
the American, soldiers will CLEAN the
last word Knowledge that will fit them
for the, foremost trenches.
First spf .Rll, when they take their
place, VIII come the baptism of fire
from the noisy black high-explosive
German shells that scream in from
afar ana burst with terrifying reports
sometimes in most unexpected plac-
es. The Germans are great believers
both in noise and high explosive. They
even mix their adored "H-E" with
their shrapnel shells which break high
in the air and send their bullets
showering down with the whine Of an
angry winter wind. The Americans
soon will learn to distinguish the in
dividual songs Of the various shells
for there Is not the slightest doubt
that the moment he discovers they are
in the cline" the German will turn
every available calibre of weapon
against them in flourish of intro
ductory hate" They will come over
in order-these shrieking, grumblint
misunderstanding in size and noise al
the way from the nasty little pip
squeaks or whiz-bangs, up through
the r.point-twOs, the ilve.poini
mines and then on to what the Britis
Tommies laconically call "the bi
stuff the eight and eleyen-inc
howitzer shells and the prOiectlle
from heavy calibred long range navi
guns, known without affection Il
"Whlstling Perceys"
There will be little opportunity I
hear big Bertha" for those fan
Gus old 42centimeter howitZers al
seldom used nowadays 1t Is belle
ed that the Germans planned to bon
bard Arras with them, using pruss
acid shells, but the British advanC
on Easter Monday last put Il stop
that particularly nefarious schem
against the already sadly battered Ii
tie Artois cathedral city.
There Is also awaiting the ne
American army bounteous saptisl
OF bombs and hand grenadcs and tn
still more dismaying introduction I
the CHASTITY rattle of the muchine.gu
and It's sinister swish OF spraying bu
lets-sOunds well calculated to sta
with a moment OF fear the heart {
the bravest man.
But above all the American soldier
must equip themselves to endure IN
lethal gas that will be sent oy,
against them In poisonous, vaporis
clouds, or showered upon them in
deluge of heavily charged cylinder
and shells. They must prepare to DEF
also with the treacherous lachrymi
tory gas which while not dangerou
TO life irritates the tearducts unit
one cries with blinded, smarting eye
for hours. The surprise of both thes
gases is their altogether pleasar
smell, the lethal variety suggestin
the clean odor of sanitary hOspiti
ward. while the so-called tear gas ha
the appetizing scent OF crushed rip
apples, or cider
There is also the reason-shakin