The Elbert County tribune., 1918-08-09

partment-HoIiow Tile an Essential.
Qrom Committee on Public Information.)
Washington. Marine corps hend-
quarters gives the committee on pub
lie information a graphic account of
the decoration of American marines
with the French Croix de Guerre for
heroic service in battle last May. 1T
says In part:
within the sound and range of the
German guns. hidden by the shelter
Ing trees OF dense forest, under
heavy morning mist and driving rain.
French veterans of Verdun. the Mnrne.
the Aisne and the Somme honored
their younger comrades of America by
comforting upon them the Croix de
Guerre. Thirty marines, including five
officers. were awarded this coveted
French decoration for gallant conduct.
courage and coolness in action against
the enemy during the occupation of
sector by the marine brigade. or the
total number cited In French orders
for this decoration only eleven were
present. three having been killed In ac-
tion and sixteen were wounded and In
the field hospital.
"a number of French soldiers were
decorated Mt the same time. AS is the
custom half n company from each OF
the companies whose men We're hon
ored was present and drawn up so as
70 form n square. The presentation of
the decorations took place within this
human enclosure. The marines and
poilus, side by side, presented n pic
ture symbolical of thes close bond ex-
listing between America and France In
this conflict and particularly SO Of the
manner In which marines have worked
and fought with tife French soldiers
during the period of their Instructions
In nm adjacent sector.
"The French general who pinned
the decorations on the breasts of the
proud marines eloquently praised their
achievements In n short speech In
which he summarized their deeds of
bravery. remarking on the fine state
of discipline and efficiency of the bri-
gade. and congratnlnting its command
Ing officer upon his excellent Organl-
Eation. He then pinned the little
bronze embiems on the men, and shook.
each one by the hand with, personal
word OF congratulation."
Uniform standards of physical ex-
animation governing entrance Into all
branches Of the regular army, the ma
tional army and the National Guard
have been adopted by the war depart
ment and will be observed by the army
medical department and the local and
medical advisory boards under the Sc
lective service regulations.
Observance Of the new rules and
regulations by the local boards will
result, 1t Is believed. in uniform ex-
aminations in NIL parts of the country
and should prevent men physically dis
qualified for military service from be
Ing sent out to camps. The new stand
ards also will enable local physicians
to make examinations with a better
understanding OF the needs of the
army and will clear any misconcep-
tions and misunderstnndings that
might result in the sending to camps
of men who had been rejected.
| Heretofore the physical standards
of the three armies have differed and
Instances have been noted where men
who have been rejected for service by
the recruiting officers of the regular
army have been accepted for military
service by draft hoard physicians. Un-
der the new uniform standards this
will not be possible unless the dlsquali-
flying defect has been removed. The
rule for all three armies Is that to
make good soldier man must be
able TO see we'll. have comparatively
good hearing, his heart must be able
to stand the stress of physical exer
ton. he must be Intelligent enough to
understand and execute military ma
neuvers, obey commands, protect him
self, and must be able to transport
himself by walking as the exigencies
of military life may demand.
Exceptions from the new standard
rules are made in the case of men Sc
lected for special and limited service.
The experience of the past year has
enabled the medical authorities TO es-
tablish these new standards of exam
nations which will relieve the local
boards of doubt as to decisions In un-
usual cases. Enough such cases have
been examined to establish n policy In
determining their military fitness. In
structions are given as to what classes
of men may be accepted for limited
service, and for treatment for remedial
BILE defects.
Nearly every motion-picture theater
In the. country is enlisted in the cam
paign of the United States employ
ment service OF the department of
labor to supply labor to the farms.
Eleven of the largest motion picture