davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1917-09-09

blue" uniforms that tell the story OF
weary months in the trenches, from
the fatigue of which their wearers are
resting before returning to the firing
line. The remainder, recruits in tell
tale blue and red, work ten hours each
day trying to learn the manual of arms.
But their hardest job is to lose their
sense of individual identity. which each
"grande ensemble" of the army ma
chine of which he becomes an anony-
nous. yet indispensab BILE. cog.
From among the smartest appearing
and most willing soldiers the chief OF
battalion picks a dozen each month as
candidates for the rank of corporal
In ordinary times these men go through
a course of instruction which lasts six
months. but the eNigencies of war and
the gaps which the German snipers
make in the ranks OF non-commissioned I'd
officers have increased the demand for
corporais, and, in order to increase the
supply proportionately. it has been
found necessary to shorten the course
to sixty days. Into this short time
must be crowded not only the tactical
instruction provided by the army regu-
lations. but also the innumerable prac-
tical lessons which trench war has
taught.
The corporal is the hardest worked
man in the army. 1t is he who must see
that the men comply with orders. He is
ever in direct contact with the rank and
file. shares their dangers and hard
ships and personally leads them and
proves to them that certain seemingly
impossible things can be accomplished.
He must serve their model physical
ly, as well as morally; he must be able
to march his thirty miles carrying the
seventy-pound equipment on his back,
and, when the day is done and the pri-
Yates are at liberty to enjoy a well
earned rest. he must superintend the
hivouacing and the kitchen. He must
also be somewhat of an accountant, for
the purchase of provisions and the pay
of his men fall on his shoulders.
Laut. Sadolf. instructor of the "Eleves
Caporaux" (student corporals) of the
Foreign Legion, was the right man In
the right place, possessing both tech
nical knowledge and practical expert
Evening star., 1917-09-09

many directions the civil service has
made use of the intercollegiate intel
ligence bureau. 1t has availed itself
largely of it's help in securing candi-
dates for highly technical and scien-
titic posts, as well as in securing hum
dreds of young men graduates and
undergraduates in special branches of
scholarship, science, technology and in
dustry. Chemists have been secured
by the score through this medium to
fill the many vacancies in many OF the
government departments, as we'll as IN
the munit.on plants and other war in
dustries under its auspices.
Specialists for nearly every division
of the Department of Agriculture have
coast and geodetic survey, the bureau
of mines and the reclamation service
are all divisions of the Department of
the Interior which have been enriched
by the men drawn through the bu-
reaus operation. Even the conserva-
tive Department of State has called
upon 1t to supply college men trained
as authorities in international law, and
capable. therefore. Of preparing state
papers.
The Navy Department has been sup
piled through the efforts of the inter-
collegiate intelligence bureau with ship
craftsmen and marine engine drafts
men to help fill this still aching void
in government work. and to the De-
partment of Commerce it has given
textile experts and scientific workers
Some of these men have been supplied
in small units of highly trained ex-
perts; others in larger units for less
finely specialized work.
Not only in supplying men to the
government, but also in finding them
Evening star., 1917-09-09

his corporars stripes but a few days.
has been illegally absent for forty
eight hours. l know he was not grant
ed the permission. for l refused his
application myself.
Still looking al the lieutenant, for he
seemed to know or rather to guess who
was responsible for the breach of disci-
pline. the commandant demanded of
Mouvet:
And you. corporal. what have you to
say for yourself?'
Mouvet, who realized the lieutenant's
stood at attention. His eyes met the
commandments expectant gaze squarely.
u have no excuse to offer. my COM
mandant," he said simply. II wanted
to see my mother and deliberately over
stayed the twentyfourhour leave my
lieutenant granted me-"
The lieutenant started to speak. but
checked himself. The commandant
turned to him.
Lieutenant. you will publicly repri-
band Soldier of the Second Glass Mou-
vet during roll call tomorrow. He will
then serve q month in the guardhouse
before rejoining his company at the
front as e private. l trust you will be
more careful in the future before rec
ommending men for promotion"
Next morning the demotion of Corp.
Mouvet for illegal absence" was read
to US at roll call, after which the lieu
tenant stammered 4 few words about
abandoning ones post being the worst
crime on the soldiers calender.
Have you anything to say, Private
Muvet?" he concluded in wavering
tone, as though his conscience forced
him to give the diSgraced soldier a last
chance to clear himself.
Il have nothing to say, my lieuten-
ant answered Mouvet, standing be-
tween the two soldiers who had been
designated to escort him to prison.
Il am satisfied. The sight of my
mother was worth II all"
There is a regulation in the Foreign
Evening star., 1917-09-09

ence. His squad was undoubtedly the
best drilled in camp, and even the
veteran legionaries, who are ever
Haunting their fifteen years service and
their be-ribboned breasts in the faces
of the volunteer recruits. were forced
to acknowledge that we bore ourselves
as soldiers.
Just as the legions squad was the
pick of the camp, thus incontestably y
was Oscar Mouvet the best man in the
squad Mouvet was a New Yorker, OF
French descent, who showed what stuff
he was made of before ever leaving the
training camp. An athlete, he seemed
hardly to feel the fatiguing drills and
trial marches. His memory was reten-
tive and his education beyond the or
dinary. Above all, he possessed that in
valuable magnetism which marks the
born leader of men.
At the end of our course each candi-
date was given a squad of men with
whom to maneuver before the critical
eye of the commandant. Most of US
just passed. but Mouvets work was SO
chief. AS a result his "1ivret individ-
uel" tservice sheet) was inscribed as
follows: APT for the rank of corporal
Unusually intelligent and energetic"
1t was on a Friday night that the
lieutenant informed US We We're to
leave for the front on the following
Tuesday morning, and offered US each a
twenty-four-hour permission" that we
might bid farewell to our families and
friends.
Mouvet. whose mother lived in Paris,
would not have time to go and return
within the prescribed period. He would
need at least forty-eight hours but the
lieutenant had not the authority to
grant more than twenty-four, and the
captain and the commandant were both
absent for the day 1t seemed hard
that the best man in the squad should
lose the opportunity of seeing his
mother before going to face the Ger
man bullets.
The lieutenant thought it over. Such
Evening star., 1917-09-09
Going the Rounds.

a LFRED MOVES. of making poetry
~ pay" fame. sat in the Players Club
in New York. when waiter brought
him a long. suspicious-looking en-
velope.
Mr.. Noyes opened the envelope. A
printed slip fluttered to the floor. The
poet heaved a sigh.
yet, after ALL" he said. I'm not sur.
prised to get this poem back"
MOT" said a critic.
NO" said Mr.. Noyes. You see. it's
the thirteenth time I've sent it out"
Evening star., 1917-09-09

unimportant details as the counter
signing of permissions are usually at
tended to by the commandant without
even bothering to glance at the names
of the permissionaries. The lieutenant
decided to take a chance. and handed
Mouvet a -eight-hour permission.
On the following morning Mouvet's ap-
plication for permission was placed on
the cornmandant'S desk, together with
dozens of similar slips.
The commandant was in an internal
humor The mornings mail had brought
him an unofficial notification to the eff
feet that he was about to be placed on
the retired list, and, despite the fact
his birth certificate accused him of be-
ing sixty-five years old, he felt stron g
enough to outlive and Outright "all
those dandies in the war office" He
cast his eyes on the applications for
leave Here were young men, some of
whom had never smelt powder, asking
for a few days rest from service, when
he. after forty-f1ve years. only desired
to be left in harness.
Il VIII grant no permissions today V -
he roared at the adjutant, who, blotter
in hand. stood beside him. These vol
unteers will never be soldiers. My old
legionaires had no need of more than
Sundays to get drunk in. They were
not sentimental lot like the men of
today
The lieutenant paled when he heard
of the commandant's action. He had
exceeded his authority and had render
ed himself liable to the loss of his COM
mission He could only hope the COM
mandant would not discover his fault.
Mouvets absence would not have
reached the commandants ears had not
a telegram arrived for him. As usual, it
passed through the Office where it was
given to orderly to be delivered to
him. The orderly returned and report
ed that Mouvet could not be found. The
commandant, ever n stickler for disci
pline. decided to investigate.
Sunday night the lieutenant and Mou-
vet were summoned to the command
ants quarters.
Lieutenant" began the old officer,
sternly. this man, whom you recon-
mended SO highly and who has borne
Evening star., 1917-09-09

those who have been trained in the in
dustries-can be adequately handled by
any private bureau, or whether 1t
ought not be incorporated in the gov
ernmental machinery"
The work of the intercollegiate in
telligence bureau has the hearty IN
dorsement of every government de-
partment. and it's operations have been
of material service to most of them
tention of The division chiefs OF the
War Department to the excellent quail
ity OF service it was placing at the
disposal of the government. tie showed
his personal appreciation by ca!llns
upon it for assistance at the time OF
drawing the numbers for the hrst
quota of men for the National Army.
young college men requisitioned Tor
this service was, of necessity, super
intended by Army officers. They were
asked to give two hours of their time.
said the director of the bureau. but
they willingly gave the twenty re-
quired for the work.
The Civil Service Commission works
in harmonious cooperation with this
bureau for the service of college men.
and it has drawn largely upon its
registers for its candidates for exam
nations for positions requiring ex-
perts. as we'll as looked to it for sat
isfactory proofs of ability. character
and loyalty. In all some 5000 trained
men have been supplied to the United
States government through this self
appointed medium of patriotic service.
1t is Interesting to note In how
Evening star., 1917-09-09

of selecting men for service could be
imagined and the different depart
ments served thus far have already ex-
pressed appreciation of the high type
of personnel the colleges are sending
them
Recognizing that the value OF the
concrete work which has been done
through the medium of the intercol-
legiate intelligence bureau during the
past six months should be put on
record. Dean Mcclellan has been re-
qiiested by various educators and in
stitutions to undertake a compilation
of the work which is being accomplish
ed by graduates OF colleges and tech
nicaI schools This chronicle Will cover
the \field of their scientific, profess
sional technical and industrial en-
deavor at the present time. 1t Will
rot include men who have entered the
Army or Navy for the term of the
war, from purely patriotic motives, as
out of line with the information
desired.
Evening star., 1917-09-09
The Point.

~ X-PREMIER RENE NIVIANI of the
Ia French commission has impressed
the co Intry with his eloquence.
They tell story of NJ. Vivianf's
youth. He had accepted an invitation
to address a political meeting, and be
launched into his maiden speech with
trepidation. But he carried all before
him and when he purposed to sit down
there were loud cries of:
Go on. Keep her up. Go on"
DO you really wish me to go ONT!
said NJ. Niviani.
Yes. Yes. Go on. Go on. shouted
the audience.
.Then this is the exact point. said
NJ Vfviani. where a capable speaker
sits down.
And down he sat amid greater ap-
plause than ever before.
Evening star., 1917-09-09

and the fragments and bullets descend
with little velocity. Your helmet COW
ers you against shrapnel fire well
enough if you are standing, but it is a
bad plan to lie fiat under this kind of
fire. as you increase the area of your
horizontal projection" on the ground.
These and a thousand other things
we learned at La Valbonne. from com
rades who had been through the mill
In an incredibly short time we picked
up sufficient army French to be bic to
exchange amenities with our fellows;
and a varied bunch We found them.
There was the old legionaire, veteran
of Morocco. Algeria, Madagascar, Ton
quin. China and other campaigns, his
breast covered with service medals and
his face bleared with alcohol.
There was the ex-officer from other
continental armies. who, for conduct
unbecoming a gentleman had been dis
charged and enlisted in the Foreign
Legion to seek death.
There was the canny Spaniard, who
had business in the French African
possessions and was serving his term
in order to be eligible for French citi-
ZenShip.
There was the criminal, who took
refuge in the legion in order to es-
cape the penalty of his crimes.
There was the wild boy put there by
his pare ITS to be steadied.
The enthusiast, who enlisted to serve
France and humanity, was in the mi
nority. but he existed, all right, and
was in hard luck, because his story
was not believed by his fellows. Hun
dreds of times l have been confiden-
TALLY approached by comrades. who
tried to draw out of me some fantastic
reason for my enlisting.
We all knew the reputation of the
legion at first, and were distrustful of
our fellows. Later we got to know
each other and friendships sprung up
which will be enduring.
=. x
Camp La Valbonne shelters within its
myriad rows of clumsy squat barracks
and graceful cone-shaped tents some
ten thousand soldiers. Half of these
are veterans, clad in worn horizon
Evening star., 1917-09-09
1t Was Time.

A CONGRESSMAN said the other day
"a of the embargo on neutrals' food:
.'It was time-yes, more than time
that we gave the neutrals strong
hint that we wanted them to stop feed
ing our enemies.
Yes, with our food going to the neu-
trails so that the neutrals could spnd
their own food to Germany-and 1he
war in its third year-it was quite
time for US to speak up.
I'VE were, in fact, in the position, of
the host and hostess whose guests
stayed on till 1 O'Clock in the morning.
The hest, when il struck /, saw
that something positively must be
done, so he turned to his wife with
a pleasant laugh and said:
Hadn't we better get to bed, my
love? Our friends may want to be
going.
Evening star., 1917-09-09

versity of Illinois devised a specially
designed punch which has done thor
oughly efficient service Tor the past
two months.
Dean Mcclellan pointed out another
important division of the work OF the
bureau which further decentrallZeS 1t
and renders il still more practically
efficient This department is comprised
in a series of about fifty committees OF
men of our largest cities. These COM
nlittees are large and composed mainly
of graduates of universities and col
leges and are as widely representative
of the institutions throughout the
country. as they can be made .-..
The function OF these city commit
tees is connected to great degree
with the questionaires sent out by the
government and allied bodies. They
run down problems of a confidential
nature, rather especially those dealing
with the loyalty of men drawn into the
official service through the agency Of
the intercollegiate Intelligence bureau.
Dean Mcclellan remarked that un-
doubtedIy greater organization would
be necessary in connection with the
field which the bureau was established
to cover.
AT the beginning of the war he
said. there was large amount Of
nically trained men who could be called
upon for work in the service of the
government. This large group is grad
ually being put into positions of re-
sponsibility. and the question arises as
to where the government and industry
is going to obtain the huge amount of
professional and technical labor which
will be needed for the increased de-
nlands of the war. The Department of
Labor of the United States is organ
lied to take care Of the interests of all
profitable labor. The ordinary man,
however. does not think of the tech
nical and professional man as a portion
of labor, and yet he is.
THE great question now looming up
is whether the interests of these tech
nical and professional men in their re-
lation to the government-not only
those trained at college, but likewise
Evening star., 1917-09-09

at which the French are masters. We
usually practiced with dummy bay
onets which would run into the muzzle
of the rifle. but every once in a while
we were made to fence with the real
thing, so as to get US accustomed to
cold steel. Several men We're hurt this
way. but what is a little blood more
or less in the Foreign Legion? We
were also trained to handle eplosives,
and were given practical course In
bomb throwing. Americans. in whom
base ball has developed a throwing
arm. eXcelled in this
Signaling. both by day and by night,
was very important. Every soldier
must be able to send or read such sig
mails as: 'Lengthen your range,
shorten your range" advance" re
treat" "the artillery needs the support
of infantry" enemy is approaching"
etc.
We learned how to make loopholes
in our entertainments in such way
as to be protected against the enemy
fire from in front, how to gauge dis-
tances, how to draw the enemys fire
without exposing ones self. when TO
advance by dashes and when by in
filtration. how to tell when a gas at
tack is coming and what to do to rem
der it harmless, and, most important
of ALL how to dodge shells.
A she'll is something like a Mexican
fighting bull in its habits. bull
closes his eyes when he charges. and.
if you keep your head and step aside
after he is once launched in his career,
you are safe. A big shell also has a
fixed course. You can hear it coming,
and. unless it falls right you, the
danger can be rendered negligible by
falling fiat on your face. When the
shell hits IL explodes and all the frag-
ments fly upward at an angle of about
SIS degrees. If you are within radius
of 300 yards from the explosion there
is little probability of your being hit.
When the fragments fall your steel
helmet and the padding on your shoul
ders guarantee against wounds.
Shrapnel bursts in the air above you
Evening star., 1917-09-09

WONDER if in the training camps
now being established for our new
Army. the men will receive the
q same sort of training the Foreign
Legion was put through. | much mis-
doubt II, for where are the experienced
instructors TO come from? Physical fit
ness, craftsmanship. knowledge of the
manual of arms-those can be acquir-
ed after certain amount of drilling
under our efficient young West Point
ers. But the million ruses of modern
war, which have never been compiled
in a text book, and the least of which
may spell the difference between life
and death-who will teach those to our
boys? Will they have 20 learn them by
experience at the cost of much blood,
as did the French and English?
At Camp La Valbonne We were put
on war footing from the first day of
our enlistment-no consideration be-
cause we were recruits: no explana-
tions because we did not understand
the language. We were put into the
ranks between veterans, and stood our
trick with them. If we were ordered
to do something, we did something,
though not always the right thing. The
first time we would be laughed at and
shown how, the second time we would
be sworn at and shown how, the third
time we would be deprived of a weeks
liberty and shown how. and the fourth
time we would go to the guardhouse.
But we usually were letter-perfect be-
fore the fourth time
Not knowing the language was not
such a heavy handicap after all. 1
defy any one to distinguish a word
Of military. commands barked out by a
surly sergeant even in English. After
a little drilling the soldier develops
seventh sense. which tells him what he
should do next. From the spoken COM
mand he gets the cue when to do 1t
rather than what to do
Many of the fellows in my regiment
were trained athletes. who laughed
when told that they would need
couple of months training before be-
ing physically fit. The first time they
went on a trial march. with seventy
pounds of equipment on their backs,
days we did as much as thirty-fve
miles across country, and as it was
summer time and we wore winter uni
forms-the only ones to be had-I need
IN the regiment who had any surplus
flesh on him by the time We got
through our training.
We did very little drilling. but great
deal Of digging: Ones life depends
very often on his ability to entrench
himself efflcaciously under fire. 1t is
no easy job to lie your side with
your knapsack covering your face, and
pile up the dirt in front of you. When
the pile is foot high you wiggle
into the hollow you have scooped out
and work more at ease. After your
trench is three feet deep the rest is
easy. Our instructor used to post
group of men, armed with stones, near
us when we worked. with instructions
to pot any arms or heads which might
appear Inadvertently
In those days there was none too
much ammunition in France, and we
could not do much target practice.
On the other hand much attention
was paid to bayonet practice, a play