The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-11-21
CAMP DODGE . =.
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ARMY LETTER
Interesting News Letter From Great
Army ,cantonment at Camp Dodge
BY Reviews Special Writer.
SOLDIERS PROUD OF FRENcHMEN

soLD,ERs PROUD OF FRENcHMEr
French Officers Have Introduced New
Word Into the Lexicon Of Camp
Dodee-It's "kill."
DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, Caml
Dodge, Nov. 20-The foundation fol
the morale Of the national army, thai
mental attitude toward the business
at hand that visualizes silver lining
even in the clouds of battle smoke, is
building the Eighty-eighth division
here today.
It is starting from a source rather
odd. Morale comes with the spirit OF
battle. The spirit of battle comes with
fighting. 1t is more than "a stiff upper
lip" and grim smile on the face OF
the fighting man as he goes over fol
the rendezvous with death. Its the
thing that makes the men who come
back from the front, fllrloughed or in
valided out of it. the most enthusiastic
in the nation for the war.
But our boys at Dodge haven't even
smelled the smoke of their own artil
lery. Yet they are getting it.
It comes from just five men in the
great cantonment. They have it. They
brought it in its fresh contagious form
from the battle front in France. They
are five officers OF the army OF France
who have fought months with their
poilus under the beloved tri-color. They
were loaned by bleeding France to
hn ~ Minnesota
North Dakota and Illinois who will
soon 70 to their country's aid, what
they have learned. They will soon be
Joined by Ave more French and ten
British officers.
TO the soldiers at Dodge the bars on
their arms are marks OF attainment
and badges Of honor. Each represents
a wound or time on the field Of honor.
And it is with pride that the khaki
clad lads draw themselves up to atten.
tion and salute the men who wear the
sky blue and red uniforms. He is not
called upon to do so. He usually
avoids opportunities to salute his own
officers IT. It can be done gracefully.
Now one sees him go out OF his way
to lift his arm TO m aa8le Of ninety
degrees a. his straight fingers touch
the brim of his Montana hat, when its
q French officer. So
'''It's an honor" said Private Lock.
wood of the 350th infantry to the writ.
er. That's the way we in our bar
racks look at it. To see him and his
service bars makes me want to do the
things he's done, to do my bit the way
he has done his. He has something
to be proud of the rest of his life. I'll
salute him and gladly, every time |
meet him. He's been there" -
The French officers have introduced
a new word into the lexicon Of Camp
Dodge that is doing its bit to lay the
foundation for morale.
It's Kill"
They use it with every opportunity.
They make no effort to soften the
crack Of 1t when they use it in CON-
mand. They use It with premeditation.
It's the key to the battle spirit, the
battle morale. It may shock sensibili-
ties of the new soldiers, their fathers
and mothers, perhaps, but sensibilities
must be sacrificed. Bayonet fighting
knows few sensbilities. The man with
the fewest Is the man who, all things
being equal, answers when the roll is
called in the evening of battle.
Kill him! Kill him!" shouts the
instructor as he demonstrates a bayo-
net thrust. There seems to be no par
ticular reason for the word or the ve-
hemence in mere demonstration. But
the instructor knows that the sooner
the mind comprehends and accepts in
a matter of course way that the act
the word describes is the goal of his
drilling, the sooner will he be fight
ing man with the "full spirit Of bat
tle."
The instructors use it lightly in
their talk. They talk og killing light.
ly. One French officer was exhibiting
German helmet
Where did you get it," an Ameri.
can asked.
Il wanted it so l killed the German
that wore it," the Frenchman answer
ed. His tone was natural. He had
been in at the death too many times
to be heavy with such things.
The stories they tell are those with
the word. And the word is finding
fertile soil.
Contrasted with this new spirit
among the white soldiers here is the
spirit OF the blackman from the
south. from Alabama.
1t seems impossible, perhaps, but it
Is true. There are scores OF negroes
who have been called to the colors that
don't know what they are fighting for
Some Of them had never heard of the
kaiser. Hundreds cannot read or
write. ..a'. D.,
Stand in the negro Y. M. C. A., build.
ing IL you come to Camp Dodge and
hear them. They want to know who
the kaiser is, who they are going to
fight, whether they are going to fight
right here, what is the cause of all the
trouble, and many things like that.
This condition has necessitated the
organization Of q publicity" board. the
duty of which is to tell the colored
men why their Uncle Sam has called
them to offer their lives.
Voluntary censorship prohibits pub.
lication of the time troops leave. With.
out saying whether they have gone or
are yet to go. $4,000 soldiers have been
ordered from Camp Dodge to other
points. Eight thousand are to go to
Camp Pike 1t Little Rock, Ark, 1900
to Camp Cody. Deming, N. NJ, 1000 to
Houston. Tex, and 1000 to the aviation
section 70 beeonae aviators. Those who
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