The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-07-16
CHANGED BY WEEK
OF Trench LIFE
Boys From United States Rapidly
Turned Into Men.
ACQUIRE AIR OF VETERANS
American Troops Seemed Very Young
the Day Before They Went to Battle
Line-say Food "Is Good Enough"
and They Usually Get It on Time
French Airmen Always on Guard for
Enemy.

Enemy.
All day yesterday we watched the
American soldiers who were to 60 to
the front that night wandering about
the streets of the little village from
which the start was to be made. Other
soldiers were there, mostly men of the
French line, and Moroccans and Al
gerians, writes Herbert Corey in the
| Chicago News.
What is the difference between the
American and the French soldiers?''. we
asked each other. By and by the an
swer came.
"They look so young"
Yet they were not unduly young.
Take the Americans one by one and
they were seen to be stout, physically
matured, decidedly intelligent young
men. Their faces were full of char
acter and decision. 1t is doubtful If
they are younger collectively by day
than the men of a company of Moroc-
can shock troops who have been watch
Ing them with interest. Some of these
latter are mere kids. One had not yet
raised beard.
The explanation came to us eventual
~. The French troops were veterans.
Even though they may be.no older they
have matured in war. 1t often happens
that the veteran is a mere child in the
affairs Of civil life. These French may
not be the equals in prompt decision
and resolution and forethought of the
Americans in matters chat have not to
do with war. But in fighting they are
centuries older.
Boyish Illusion Persists.
A few hours later we saw the Amer
lean troops marching out to take their
places in the trenches. That illusion
OF boyishness persisted. Even their
gait seemed to be that of bows. al
though they wore soldiers full ac-
coutrement and carried 6O-pound
pack. Yet we know that week in the
trenches granted that they are called
on to do real fighting-will transform
them from amateurs of war into nerve
tested veterans. More time will be
needed to teach them the tricks of
their new trade, but in single week
they will have altered their personali-
ties to meet the new demands.
The village was one Of the thou
sands of tiny towns which are scattered
along the French front. Shells had
fallen in it from time to time. and
roofs here and there were crushed in,
and holes dug in tie roadway. Some
thing had happened to the church. |
40 not now remember what it was, and
yet my memory preserves a distinct
that the church was not as
1t should be. 1t seemed disheveled and
ragged. Now and then German avia-
tors flew over it, to see what was
going on. The French flyers always
challenged them.
The few inhabitants of the village
hardly looked up to watch the air
lights. They were old stories to them.
The Americans wandered about.
curiously, trying their scanty frag.
ments of French on the people and
accustoming themselves to the village
life so near the front. Their billets
nave been at a greater distance from
he line for the most part. The Ger
mans are but seven miles away here.
The front line Of trenches into which
hey will move tonight are in places
'nly five miles away.
French Airmen Always Guard.
At the outskirts of the town group
# Americans are gathered. Half of
hem, perhaps, carry the cheap double
leld glasses which are on sale every-
where. They put in hours searching
he details of the horizon where the
ierman is hiding.
Every half hour or so a Boche flyer
ries to get over the town. Perhaps he
7ants to bomb the village. What ia t
lore likely is that the Germans are I
lerely putting over the daily recon- I
aissance. They may suspect that l
oAhSthAh6 40 6OluS Ou anu are irving '
confirm the impression. Each time v
French flyer materializes in some S
Mysterious fashion. One never sees
here they come from. One is watch. t
lg the German, and suddenly one sees h
i'm veer toward the safety of his own d
mes. A vicious looking Spad is on e
Is heels. n
Toward the latter part of the after C
BON smoke begins to pour from the s
tort chimneys Of the rolling kitchen. s.
Office is being cooked-real American W
'ffee-well "doped" with condensed d
ilk and plentifully sweetened. The II
en- gather with their aluminium cups 81
I'd plates, and beans are ladled out
them. An enormous sandwich of A
hite bread and corned beef from 81
ms is handed to each. Even SOL
er's appetite is satisfied. But thew
I'VE been at the job long enough to
nrn how to kick. y
I'm off beans for the rest Of INV
e." one boy announces. 81 dream
out EN- now" -,