The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-06-23

that soon rcpb, = ala brs n 80 come
in th"t the 6 an :ruuDS did NOT
like IN bayon The German army
drove its way into France and there
was comparatively little opportunity
for few weeks To judge of the com
parative merits of the men of the OPP
posing armies MS bayonet fighters. AT
ter the battle of the Marine hand-to-
hand fighting became more common.
and as the British and the French ad-
vanced the bayOnet came more and
more into use. The prediction of the
American soldier was borne out. Ere
quent cable messages said: The Ger
mans do not like the bayOnet."
II 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 10 fight. not aS an
! individual. but as part Of a machine.
/ lie is TAUGHT the bayOnet exercise. but
/ the maChinc-ltke movement is evident
/ IN his use of parry, thrust. lunge and
/ butt To the front.
Why Germans Dislike It,
Vie man who in the American
army had instructed recruits in the
hayonet exercise gave his reasons
for saying that the German would be
found To be shy" when bay0net met
hayonet. lie said that in the day that
he taught recruits in the American
army there We're no restrictions on en-
liSim"ntS except physical restrictions.
ana that among men cntcrin" the Sprv-
ice were many recently landed Ger
mans who had served their time in the
army of the empire.
1t WAS found that it was difficult
Ia 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 it.
The German WAS always fraction of
Il second late. He came Ia ~ guard"
without any of the litheneSS of the
men of other nationalitieS. and while
he tented and thrust and lunged Der
fectly 81 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 |
ana Germany, American officers of .
the younger and more active rank, |
nave urged the necessity of send |
Ing troops quickly to France. 1t
Is believed that if the original plan of
hlGh army officers had been adhered
10, American troops except for some
Few engineer detachmentS would no,
have been sent to Europe for many
months.
The view of the younger officers of
the American service, indOrSed as il
was by General Joffre and unquestion-
ably also by the president. brought
change in plan, although of course il
is not known definitely. nor will ii be
published when ii is known, just how
quickly large forces of American sol
dierS will be sent to the fighting line.
Here is Il copyrighted and author
lied cable in the New York Times
from Wythe Williams:
France always has kept the num-
Der OF her losses to herself. She now
says quite openly that she needs men,
The Germans are still terribly strong,
ana it is therefore to America that she
Is looking to help her strike harder
han ever at the TeutOn's battle line
and smash it,"
Relies on America.
This indirect appeal for men which
las just come from France seemingly
S indOrsed by General Petain. The
disclosure of the French army's need
or men to drive home victory probably
would not be made unless it was
hought that the appeal would be an
'wered by the American army authori-
les. France never has allowed Il to
'e known prior TO this time that her
irmies stand in need of REINFORCE
nentS To enable the republic to carry
lome the blows which it has been de-
ivering for months.
The situation in France, it is held in
Washington. makes it imperative that '
here be speeding up in the training of t
ur oversee forces. 1t seems certain {
hat the early predictions made that !
egularS and National GuardSmen |
r0uld be sent to the front much more c
uickly than anyone had supposed will {
e borne out, but the main proposition \
OncernS itself with the great national {
rmy which early in September in de- /
lchments will go into the training S
amps. S
1t is only necessary to 90 to Fort
lyer To learn that the speeding-up
recess is in operation. 1t is not .
nOwn definitely here how things are :
Ding on at the other officers reserve ;.
aiming camps, but at Fort Myer what =
ould be called in any college in the =
Duntry 1.-THE examining system is in :
ally service. The young men across :,
he Potomac who are trying to learn :.
DIV to become officers of the American
my will be given in three months in II
ructions and drill which ordinarily u
ould be spread over half year. Il
Dung officers are i'm charge at Fort =
yer. u
90 lou al