The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-09-20
German captives Pleased.

meal.
German captives Pleased.
The few German prisoners who have
been turned over to work for the
United States I'm exchange for their
food, are fairly in rapture over their
situation. The food of the Americans
Is a never-ceasing marvel to Them
They work like men possessed In
order that they may not be dis
qualified from participating in the
American ratlons and they are the
envy of their less fortunate fellows.
No better idea of what the Germans
are told by their own officers can be
conveyed than by the assertion of
recently made prisoner.
He was standing in the street of
village in the American area when
two officers went by.
Are those EngliShmen?' he asked In
perfectly good French of his captor
and In the hearing of the CORE
spOndent.
"No. They are Americans" replied
the French guard.
The German only smiled unbeliev-
ingly.
But they may he some staff officers
on a visit to the front. There are no
Americans in France because they
told me so before | was taken per-
sisted the prisoner,
Just then a company Of infantry
rifles over their shoulders, followed
by huge motortruck with "U. S. A."
painted on it in bold letters swung by
you see" grinned the "poilu' tri-
umphantly, there are American sol
dlers."
"They lied to us at home answered
the prisoner after moments hesita-
ton.
To any who might be inclined to
ask, why do troops need to 20 through
such thorough and intensive training
for trench warfare, an idea of what
our boys have to learn would be the
simplest answer.
Recognizing the Army.
With the reorganization of the
American division from its pre-war
footing Of approximately 2S000 men
to the French basis of 10000 men,
come changes that upset the whole
idea of war as they have learned 1t,
,gIt1trfhntfAr Of 1nfiau thot
sounds rather formidable.
Formerly company consisted sim
ply of the company commander, two
officers, two musicians, cook and
two men. Now that is all changed.
There il the commander and his Off
Ger of llasOn, or connecting link with
the company, his lieutenants and the
musicians and the cook but with the
addition of mOtorcyclists, farriers,
signal corps men. mechanics, bomb
ers, sappers, automatic rlflemen In
addition to the machine gun company
of the regiment, messengers, sharp
shooters, etc.
The company is divided into
patoons. Even the platoons are sub
divided into groups. The first group
may be bayonrt men, who ego over
the top" and lead the charge. The
second group is the bombers. They
charge with the bayonet men, but
when the latter have attained their OBJ
lectiye and may still push forward.
the bombers stay behind to "clean up"
the captured trenches. and see that
the enemy emerging from their dug
outs do not take the rlilemen In the
rear
Instead of having a machine gun
company to each regiment, ms former
Is, there Is a machine gun company
to each battalion. There is com
pany of pioneers which supports the
rinemen In their advance. Before they
are out of their own trenches, the
trench mortar company, new thing
10 the American army must get in its
work.
Each man must learn his new du-
ties and how and when to fulnll them
ia the utmost advantage. Each man,
in addition to his regular and regl-
mental marking, IS badged to show
whether his post Is behind or In front
Of the lines Messengers wear spe-
cial insignia that permits them to
pass TO the rear without the slightest
delay.
These are only n few of the thou
sand and one things that the men in
camp are learning and learning quick
w. but It takes time to instruct them
sd that they may take advantage Of
the lessons already drilled into the
French and British soldiers, namely
That soldiers greatest duty is to do
his work in such n capable manner
That he may help In the protection Of
his own life as well ms those Of his
comrades and associates