The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-12-27


at thousand places along the line,
Probably the hardest fighting being
done by any Americans in the final
hour was that which engaged the
troops of the 28th, 92nd, 81st and 7th
Divisions with the Second American
Army, who launched a fre-eating at
tack above Vigneulles just at dawn
on 2the 18th. 1t was no mild thing, that
last flare of the battle, and the order
to cease firing did not reach the men
in the front line until the last mo-
ment, when runners sped with it from
fox hole to fox hole.
Then a quite startling thing oc-
Cured. The skyline of the crest
ahead of them grew suddenly popu-
lous with dancing soldiers and, down
the slope, ali the way to the barbed
wire, straight for the Americans,
came the German troops. They came
with outstretched hands, ear-to-ear
grins and souvenirs to swap for Gig
arrettes, so well did they know the
little weakness of their foe. They
came to tell how pleased they were
the fight had stopped, how glad they
We're the Kaiser had departed for
parts unknown, how fine it was to
know they would have republic at
last in Germany.
No. said one stubborn little Prus-
sian, "it's kingdom we want
Whereas his own con1panions howl
ed him down.
The farthest north at II o'clock
on the front of the two armies was
held at the extreme American left up
Sedan way by the troops of the 77th
Division. The farthest east-the
nearest to the Rhine-was held by
those negro soldiers who used to
make up the old New York 18th and
have long been brigaded with the
French They were in Alsace and
their line ran through Thanh and
across the railway that leads to Col
mar.
When the great hour came, across
the trenches from our side swarned
a small army of civilians bearing food
and clothing to their kith and kin
on the other side. From the highest
steeple in Thanh the tricolor futtered
gayly, and within the church, there
knelt in thanksgiving all the old folks
form miles around.
With them, in among them, poilus
knelt and Yankee soldiers, and the
crowd so choked the aisles and steps
that the priest could not move for
Wardefor his services. But the words
that he preached from the pulpit
were such words as leave the eyes
DIM and the heart glowing.
Up TO the front, past Montfaucon
and Romagne, past Remonville and
on up, truck trundled that morning.
over the tailboard, at the endless
mud OF Argonne and Ardennes, there
gazed boy who had been drafted in
the heart of America some six months
before and who, with stop-offs for
tedious training on the way had
slowly jjourIeyed from his home to
the Ardennas. It had taken him six
months, it had put him through the
cheerless channel of the replacement
system, but it had brought him at last
to his destination-the destination of
his daydreams and his nightmares
He had reached the front.
AS he rode along he noticed a GER
tain excitement tingling everywhere
but perhaps that was Just the MOOD
of the front. When finally, the truck
stopped and he jumped out, the news
was waiting for him.
at is II o'clock. The war is
over" ...-.
HELL" he said, Il just got here.
Then he laughed a short little laugh
that was made half of relief and hall
OF disappointment. And his name was
Private George w. Legion.
Up in high observation post ar
American observer was trying to pen
citrate the mist with his German fielt
glasses. The young officer at his ell
bow asked him to, look due west
What did he see? Well, not much
the road to the forest full of traffi,
no shell fire, crippled airplane il
the field below.
! Lord, Lord, what good are thos,
glasses? Why, without them, | cal
see little house in Kansas CITY
There's NURSERY on the second foo
and the sun, shining in the window
just touches a cradle there. Insid,
that cradle, man, is my daughter.
have never seen her before. She wa
born since sailed for France"
Meanwhile, on the roads, below, th
Engineers were working with a will
No time to celebrate, for the road
must be kept in shape. But they san,
as they worked.
"Send the word, send the word owe
/ there
That the Yanks are coming, tn
Yanks are coming
! The word, in that hour, had ac
qulred new significance. While her
and there across the devastated Ian
where Yanks We're at work you couI
hear knot burst into song. And tn
burden of all the songs was this
Its home boys, home, it's home W
ought TO be,