Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-09-06
Our Doughboys Mean Business
When They Take the First
Line Trenches.
THEIR EFFICIENCY EVIDENT
Veterans Before They Enter the
Trenches, by Hesitate Military
+ Training II Not by Experience
Livery Man In Line Has
Personal Grudge to
Settle With Huns.

! With the American Troops In Alsace
Uorraine.-By the dim light of the
moon you could barely see the stream
OF doughboys pouring out of the shell
tering woods and scraping over the
dusty French road toward the trenches.
They said very little and trudged along
with that measured swinging tread
which enables Europe's veterans TO
carry their heavy packs almost I'M
henrd-Of distances.
The stream seemed unending, as the
United Press staff car picked its way
from squad to squad without using
lights, without falling in bitches and
without touching single doughhoy.
| Finally one section of the human
stream halted in ruined village. The
press car stopped, too, for beyond this
point everything except ammunition
and food goes on foot.
The officers gave the order To rest.
and lot of packs dropped TO the
ground. followed by doughboys. Their
rifles they never dropped. In the noon
light you could see the ground covered
with resting soldiers, mostly sitting.
There was clicking of rifles and
sounds Of tightening packs. and bits Of
gossip which could come rnlyi from
group heading for its first night in the
trenches.
Indifferent to Danger.
These were Uncle Sans citizen sol
dlers. new men just over from the
states, as they have habit of calling
home when over here. A few ques-
tons revealed the fact that year ago
these boys were clerks, carpenters,
students and whatnot In civilian
clothes. Six months ago they were in
a training camp. Now they were sol
d'ers in France, and tonight they were
making their genuine debut into the
war for civilization.
There was no wild enthusiasm nor
any evidence Of fear or even appre-
hens'on among those cltizeu-SOidiers
ms they rested before making the last
lat into the trenches. There was
nftser-of-fact sort of confidence prev.
aienr. and every man was making the
mo : Of the breathing spell 20 see th:.t
he WIS 100 per cent ready for baIrle
Interest and talk centered around the
clicking rifles and other equipment.
This old guns sure going to do
some work from now on" said one
to his pal, as he played with |
the rifle fondly. "It's the best gun in
this army"
SAY. you never shot CNis gun" re-
piled The other. 'Nobody ever did, and |
nobody will but me. It's some Boche-
getter II was made for me specially, |
Bo."
Officers went through the crowd. Civ
ing n final warning about use Of gas
masks, and attention conferred around |
masks for moment. A lot % chaps
tried them on again. Then packs again
were adjusted. and the group of dough-
boys streamed slowly on.
Ready for Business.
As they got nearer the front trenches
rhe word was passed to walk more
luietly. Conversation exeep; in I'M
1ertones stopped, and they descended
INTO trenches. All you heard was the
steady knock of hObnailed shoes on
he trench duckboards, as these Few
arrivals were quietly initiated to the
trenches in France. Quietly and with
nut connection the oficers stationed
heir men. with lookouts watching
icross moonlit No Mans Land. the
'ormer occupants Of the trenches left.
md the relief was completed.
There is something about the fear
ess quiet way these new dougbhoys
lake the trenches that makes you
eel they know lot about warfare.
they are veterans before they enter
he trenches. by first-rate military
raining If not experience. Their dis
lpline is fine, and their efficiency tells
'ou they are ready for business ,
meaning whipping Germans.
well. you can tell Kaiser Bill we're :
ere TO fight" said one doughboy. rs
e took his station. Hear the Ger
mans say we're just crowd of UNI
rained boys. Well soon show them
fe're soldiers"
II happens this doughboy's platoon
Id II very soon. The next night $50