Mexico Missouri message., 1917-10-18
MAY See FRANCE
IN A FEW MONTHS
MEN FROM ONE NATIONAL ARMY
CAMP LIKELY TO BE SENT
OVER BEFORE LONG.
GREET REPORT WITH CHEERS
PershIno's Regulars, Trained to High
est Pitch, Probably VIII Get into
Action Soon, but In What Sector
Has Not Been Revealed.
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.

BY EDWARD B. CLARK.
Washington. - Military censorship
mas not forbidden the publication of q
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 gathered 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 1t seem certain that
the prospects have frightened for the
thorough equipment of all our young
soldiers at much earlier date than 1t
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 N4ll b
turther advanced in their training than
VIII 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 1t 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 few days ut best hailed the re-
port with cheers. 1t 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 1t can be said that
there Is 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. It 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 men
today are at the highest pitch Of their
speed and some military men here be-
lieve 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 our
soldiers probably will get active fight
ing service more quickly than most
people thought would be the case. No
military secret is disclosed when this
is written, because the Germans have
known that our troops are In France
and they being wise as other nations
In a military sense, know that men
cannot be kept going at top speed for
ever in training way. They must be
allowed to see some Of the results of
their work and so 1t Is believed In
Washington that before long we will
read a story of an engagement In
France in which our troops took part
Their Sector Not Revealed.
Nobody on this side knows, and If he
did he would not tell, on Just what
part of the line the American troops
now In France will be given their first
baptism of fire. The Germans unques.
tionably would like to know because
If they were given an advance notice
It is to be taken for granted they
would be met by check If not by &C.
tual defeat. The Germans would work
for the moral effect as well as for the
military effect of the thing.
Army officers seemingly wish to have
the American people understand that
Il is a terrible ordeal for troops who
never have been under fire to plunge
into battlefield where the fire is Ger.
tain to be terrific. 1t takes all the re,
serve forces that n man has to keeI
him steady under the conditions. Later
when he is seasoned he recks little, SC
army officers say, of danger and Of the
noise and tumult Of the battle, but as
the old saying goes in the American
army, ut takes six months training
and two fights to make regular"
Effects Of LansIng's Disclosures.
The letters and kilograms in
punches of scores and hundreds which
have been coming In to the various
departments in Washington attest
SO the recipients say, the belief
of the people that the disclosures
Of the secretary of state concern,
ing German intrigue within the Dor
ders Of this country are bearing fruit
In making the American people under
stand thoroughly that the war must be
carried to the end of Hohenzollernism
In fact there are words in these let
ters and dispatches which make II
seem that the country is aroused as
never before to the necessity of driv
ing the war to conclusive end. The
Il