The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-10-20
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.
Washington. - Military censorship
has not forbidden the publication of
story from one of Uncle Sans great
training camps established for selec-
tive service men, To the effect that the
chances are the thousands of young
men g-thered together for the first
time in this particular cantOnment will
be sent TO France before the winter is
half over.
This story. which reaches the public
with the tacit approval of the war de-
partment. makes it seem certain that
the prospects have frightened for the
thorough equipment of all our young
soldiers at a much earlier date than it
was supposed would be the case.
The camp concerning which the
story of comparatively early depar-
ture TO France was written is located
In Maryland, but there is no reason TO
suppose that its personnel will be
further advanced In their training than
will be the case with the young men
In the other training places scattered
throughout the country. Therefore 1t
would seem that the logical military
conclusion is that Uncle Sans men of
the new National army are to go TO
France much earlier than il was
thought would be the case.
1t is said that when the story Of only
four months training on this side in
stead of the expected six months was
spread through the camp, the young
soldiers who had been in the service
only a few days at best hailed the re-
port with cheers. II still seems true
. that the spirit of the men of the new
/ army apparently is just as high as that
/ of the regulars and the National
GuardSmen.
Regulars May Be Fighting Soon.
/ In this connection ii can be said that
there is a feeling in Washington to-
day that Uncle Sans regulars now in
France probably will be found On the
fighting line before the snow begins to
bank up about the trenches. 1t was
late in June when report was received
on this side of the landing in France OF
the first large armed body of American
troops.
Our men In France under Generals
Pershing and Sibert started their In
tensive training back Of the lines about
July 1. Therefore they now have had
three months of seasoning. of bayonet
exercises, of trench digging, Of bomb
throwing and of general instruction
along all the lines which the methods
of modern warfare travel. The mer
today are at the highest pitch of theil
speed and some military men here be
leve they soon must get action or, like
athletes. they will "grow stale"
1t is the hard military logic of the
thing which leads one to say that Oul
soldiers probably will get active fight
ing service more quickly than mos
people thought would be the case. NJ
military secret is disclosed when thii
is written, because the Germans hav'
known that our troops are in France
and they. being wise as other nations
in military sense. know that mel
, cannot be kept going at top speed for
ever in a training way. They must b.
allowed to see some Of the results o
their work and so it is believed II
Washington that before long we vii
read a story Of an engagement Il
France in which our troops took part
Their Sector Not Revealed.
Nobody on this side knows. and If h
did he would not tell, on just wha
- H. tn hA vi
now in France will be given their frs
baptism of fire. The Germans unques
tionably would Ike to know becaus
IL they were given an advance motto
II is to be taken for granted the
would be met by check if not by az
tual defeat. The Germans would wor
for the moral effect as well as for tn
military effect of the thing.
Army officers seemingly wish to hav
the American people understand tha
il is terrible ordeal for troops VIII
never have been under fire TO plung
into a battlefield where the fire is cel
tain to be terrific. 1t takes all the r,
serve forces that a man has TO kee
him steady under the conditions. Late
when he is seasoned he recks little, S
, army officers say, of danger and of tn
|, noise and tumult of the battle, but O
= the old saying goes in the America
> army. at takes six months trainin
! and two fights to make a regular"
Effects of Lansine's Disclosures.
The letters and kilograms 1
punches of scores and hundreds whic
: have been coming in to the variou
p departments in Washington attes
2 so the recipients say, the bell,
of the people that the disclosure
Z: of the secretary of state concerl
d ing German intrigue within the bo
ders of this country are bearing fru
In making the American people unde
stand thoroughly that the war must I
? carried to the end of Hohenzollernisr
II In fact there are words in these lie
tiers and dispatches which make
seem that the country is aroused ,