Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-11-29
Americans Fighting in France.
Lord Northel;ffe in Tn. CHICAGO Tribune.

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do not suppose that there are very
many people In this country who know
what a large number OF Americans have
been fighting the Germans in France ever
since the war began. You will before long
have a very big and | am sure from what
i have seen of them "A very formidable
force in the field. But You have had for
three Years and three months past a
number of brave and adventurous young
Americans putting their backs into the
wan alongside of the British and the
French. Tina is how I am able to de-
scribe a visit to American troops on the
French front. although you have not as
yet officially taken Your places on that
front with the armie. that You have
raised for the crushing of the Prussian
attempt at world domination.
In September, 1914.
The first time / came across Americans
at the wal was in September. 1914. only
about a month after it had begun. Dur
Ing the battle of the Marine / was billetsd
In a village where there were a number
of dispatch riders belonging to the British
army. was a good deal surprised TO
find that among them were many from
the United States. On their motorcycles
they We're doing excellent work and thor
oughly enjoying 1t.
Before this, In the very first DAYS of
the wal. there had been numerous enlist
ments of Americans in the French foreign
legion. 1t seemed ss If every American
young man living. or even staying as a
visitor. In Paris, felt that he must be "ln
II. These also were rapid turned into
good soldiers. The French have testi-
fled over and over again TO their pluck
and endurance and other valuable fight
Ing qualities.
The Flying Service.
There were, and still are. many Ameri-
cans In the French and British flying
services. American boys make very good
airmen. They have cool heads and bold
spirits. They very often know something
about machinery, and readily pick up that
technical knowledge of engines which is
80 useful to the driver of am airplane.
am glad 10 say that hundreds of
American airmen are now being trained
by British officers. with many Canadians
among them, at the great aviation camps
IN the province of Ontario, Canada. In
a week or two these camps are to be
moved to Texas. where flying is possible
during the winter ON account of the milder
climate and the comparative absence Of
wind. There is no doubt that this close
association of Americans and British fly
Ing men will have a good and lasting
effect.
Fought Over London.
heard a young American pilot who has
served with the British army describe in
New York the other day how he took
part I'm repellihg an air raid on London.
lie brought down one of the enemy ma
chimes with great skill and then. unfor-
tunately. had the bad luck to be hit. He
managed to get to ground without further
mishap. but was in a hospital for some
time. and finally had to be invaded
home. He is only one of many to whom
the British nation is grateful for their
services, given voluntarily and always
with courageous devotion.
Some few months ago | had the very
Interesting experience of visiting a Cana
dian regiment in which some hundreds of
by request OF Sir Douglas Haig, who has
a high opinion of these American soldiers.
They We're coming out Of the trenches
one afternoon. after being in them for
two horrible. muddy. dangerous weeks. I
met them near the village where they
were to be in rest billets for a short time.
They came down a hillside through q wood
of tall pine trees. came down with long
steps and cheerful calls to one another,
rs II they had been having the easiest,
happiest time in the world.
Obviously Americans.
1t was easy to see what continent they
came from. Tall they We're. and spare of
figure. with long, serious jaws and far
Seeing blue grey eyes. Release from the
crainped positions ana the tension OF the
trenches. where there was water two feet
deep, and where the Smelling was almost
continuous, made them like schoolboys
freed from their tasks. They were covered
with mud. Some of them had their heads