Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-17
IRISH FIGHTER STIRS
WAR "PEP" AT MEADE
Chides officers and Men Whose
punch" Wouldn't Hurt
Dying Woman
SPIRIT IS LACKING
Leaders Now See They Must Put
Real Enthusiasm Into
Men


secretaries and its coterie of French and
British instructors have reached the con-
cluslon that until the fighting men in
the Liberty Division develop a proper ap-
preclation Of Americas aims it will not
become n class A unit
Despite the willingness Of the men and
their honest efforts to construct an ef-
dclent army division there is much to
be done before the National Army outfit
from eastern Pennsylvania can take
equal rank with the crack divisions Of
England and France
In the language Of "Y'' worker who
enjoys a national reputation In the field
OF religion and government. the boys
from philadelphia and other points
from which this division draws its tim
Der must develop genuine war pep
To do that the Sammec must perform
mental gymnastics while learning to kill
an imaginary Hun at 600 yards.
every man." says the "N' worker
"musl surrender his mind 10 tho cause.
The mon have surrendered their bodies,
hut 10 round out perfect physical fight
ing machines II iS necessary to round out
efficient thinking machines.
80 MENTAL FIGHTING
Since the opening of the camp tho Of
brars have found that thousands Of men
rxhibited little interest in the war and
virtually none in the bigger issue. con-
ceruiug the wars influence upon Civili-
cation. Briefly the mon took tn" po-
eition that they werc doing their hit by
icgrniug 20 he soldiers and that il wac
not necessary for soldiers to Srapplc
with social and economic problems OF
European governments.
The Indifference of the men 10 take
advantage Of the camps educational ia
cilities and acquire an intimate tnowl.
cdre as to why America is at war ana
rs 10 what will happen to civilization IN
the event of a German victory has re-
tardcd the development Of the division
and served TO generate spirit that
does not breathe of war
What the division commanders hope
to do Is to develop a spirit that is found
in the French army a spirit that Is
built upon the knowledge that Franc"
Is I'm n death struggle with a soullcas
nation and that to avert national dis
astcr every man must fight hard.
Tho "ht-hlrd' idea Is difficult to in
rulcatc into the minds of the penusyl-
ydnia Sammces. Al heart they are
tender and while not lacking in physical
courage they do not take kindly +" tho
eordid and brutal phases ot army train
ing,
How this mental attitude reflects upon
the training program was illustrated TO
day by captain James Patrick O'Dono-
van of tho British army and now box
ing instructor At Camp Meade. The
nghtirg Grshman has class Of nearly
100 officers, all likablc chips, willing
and enthusiastic but up to date minus
the punch"
\ WEAK PUNCH
captain O'Donovan was dcmonstrat-
ing a blow and requested his pupils 10
try IT, Assuming n defensive position,
the IriShmau told his pupil to hit The
young officer an exceptionally clever
man with his fists and splcndidly cdu-
Gated, obcyed the command. O'Donovan
blocked tho blow. but even If ii had
landed flush on the lrishman's jaw he
would not have felt II.
Say" said the British army veteran,
that punch wouldn't hurt dying
woman! You fellows seem to reg Ird
this whole affair as a pink tea, but, be-
icvc me. you viii think differently when
you get over. You have got TO fight
DO you understand. you must fight aud
hit hard? Now. the place Tor YOU 10
learn is right here. Tor If YOU cant fight
on this side ot tho ocean you can't tight
on the other Throw your hrart aud
mind into the work. when YOU face mo
try to imagine that 7 am . low-doWu
numbering Hun. who VS. irving TO de
Htroy your home murder your dear ones
and enslave your neighborg, Then come
at me and hit, Just try To hit me 80
hard that il viii knock me cold, IT you
knew tho Hun aa | do YOU would aoou
develop the lighting spirit"
Then o'ponovan employed a few tao
tica that arc typical Of tho HUI lie put
over some good walloP3 on his pupil aud
kept un q running fro Of tautaliainr re-.
mlrlys
IT STINGS
The effect was magical Tor the Ma
tlonal Army soldier began 10 fight aud
tor nNe minutes proved to the British
army veteran that there was q real
lighting spirit at Camp Meade, even
though it does not appear on the sur
face.
That is the kind Of spirit that must be
cultivated by the selects, and the various
Iorces at the cantonmcut are trying to
organize It. 4 step in that direction has
been made by obtaining Jean Alcidc
Picard, French officer. 10 deliver ser
les OF intimate war talks
The Frenchman, who Is a veteran of
me Marne, Nprcs and a dozen other bat
ueS, VIII remain at Little Penn for "A
week and carry the message of France
"'Iect 10 the men, He will discuss the
var activities of France and in "A heart
to.heart manner tell the PENNSYLVANIA
s9ldlers why they have been called to
une colors Picard pictures Germany as
huge Nulturc that is menace to the
World and In sharp crisp sentences mills
uoWn tho argument that soldiers in the
anled armies cannot fight their best uu-
vi they learn the true character of ih,
Hun VI WV
Nllllam f. Cochran. tho millionaire
tristan Socialist of Baltimore and now
,no director Of education actlyi-
yes today announced that many men of
nat'onal prominence would deliver war
eytures at the camp, the most notable
gelns eN-President William Howard
IA" who will visit Little Penn on Jan
uey ss' The men, said Cochran,
must know what they are fighting for
anu the Y. NJ e. A, is determined 10
extend that knowledge"
TRANSFERS. MADE
To perfect the organization Of the
Mehty-hfth Engineers at Camp Devens
Ayer Mass, a big batch of men have
oeeh transferred from this camp The
"eh were selected because OF their 1T
ness to enter various technical units
anp made their departure so hurriedly
'nat there was no time for farewell
ceremonies. The following men were
"hlsterred TO service as.
ille Drivers Homer b. Hook. 313 In.
iien'ry; Ralph T. Morgan, David A.
nearney 314th: Raymond 4. Canery
|harles w. Connolly, 315th Charles o.
Lee. Inmaa I AIa,,,s Argt,,. TIa,v,.