Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-06-20

drove its way into France and there
was comparatively little opportunity
for a few weeks to Judge of the COM
parative merits of the men of the OPP
posing armies as bayonet fighters. AZ
ter the battle Of the Marne hand-to-
hand fighting became more common.
and as the British and the French adj
vanced the bayonet came more and
more into use. The prediction Of the
American soldier was borne out. FIRE.
quent cable messages said: 'The Ger
mans do not like the bayonet"
1t is only due to an enemy to say
that the German is just as brave as
any other fighting man. The reason
for his dislike Of the bayOnet is that
he has been trained to fight. not as an
| individual, but as part of a machine.
He Is taught the bayOneI exercise, but
| the machine-like movement is evident
in his use Of parry, thrust. lunge and
/ butt to the front.
Why Germans Dislike Il.
The man who II the American
army had instructed recruits In the
bayOnet exercise gave his reasons
for saying thai the GerTlan would be
| found to be shy" VIXEN bayOnet met
bayonet. He said that in the day that
he taught recruits In the American
army there were no restrictions on en-
| llstments except physical restrictions,
and that among men entering the serv-
| ice were many recently landed Ger
mans who had served their time in the
army of the empire.
it was found that It was difficult
to teach the German recruits the use
Of the bayOnet so that they could
handle the weapon with the lightning
like speed that the man of virtually
every other nation could handle 1t.
The German was always q fraction OF
a second late. He came TO "a guard"
without any of the litheness of the
men of other nationalltIes, and while
he Tented and thrust and lunged per-
fectly so far as movement was con-
cerned. there was an appreciate slow
ness about the thing which would be
deadly in conflict
Frances Call for Men.
From the instant that war was
declared between the United States
and Germany, American officers OF
the younger and more active ranks
have urged the necessity OF send
ing troops quickly TO France. 1t
Is believed that IL the original plan OF
high army officers had been adhered
TO, American troops except for some
few engineer attachments would not
have been sent to Europe for many
months.
The view Of the younger officers Of
the American service, Endorsed as IL
was by General Joffre and unquestlon-
ably A. , by the president, brought a
change in plan. although of course it
is not known definitely, nor will it be
published when it is known, just how
quickly large forces OF American sol
diers will be sent to the fighting line.
Here is copyrighted and author
lied cable In the New York Times
from Wythe Williams:
France always has kept the num-
says quite openly that she needs men.
The Germans are still terribly strong.
and 1t is therefore to America that she
Is looking to help her strike harder
than ever at the Teuton's battle line
and smash IT,"
Relies on America.
This indirect appeal for men which
has just come from France seemingly
Is Endorsed by General Petain. The
disclosure OF the French armys need
for men to drive home victory probably
would not be made unless it was
thought that the appeal would be an
swered by the American army authOri-
ties. France never has allowed II TO
be known prior to this time that her
armies stand In need of re-enforce-
ments TO enable the republic to carry
home the blows which Il has been de-
livering for months.
The situation IN France. It Is held In
Washington. makes 1t imperative that
there be speeding up in the training of
our oversee forces. 1t seems certain
that the early predictions made that
regulars and National Guardsmen
would be sent to the front much more
quickly than anyone had supposed win
be borne out. but the main proposition
eoacerns itself with the great national
army which early In September In de-
tachments win go into the training
camps.
II is only necessary TO go to Fort
Myer to learn that the speedlng-up
process is in operation. It is not
known definitely here how things are
going on at the other officers reserve
training camps. but at Fort Myer what
would be called In any college 10 the
country the examining system Is In
daily service. The young men across
the Potomac who are trying to learn
how 10 become officers Of the American
army viii be given in three months In
Structious and drill which ordinarily
would be spread over half a year.
Young officers are in charge at Fort
Myer.
So long ago as the time that your
correspondent was in France. when
the war was only about eight months
old. the possibilities that the French
republic would need re-enforcemeRts
Of men in order to carry the war to a
conclusion withia the territory of the
Germans already was being dis
cuSsed. It was discussed in whispers.
1t is true, but It WIS known that the
man power of France haa a limit line