The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-17
DOUeHBOlS NEVER
GET flADbERGAST[D
Simply Pick Out What They Want
and Then Go After the
- Same.
GRAPHIC TALE OF PROGRESS
Hun Major Is Communicated to
Escort a Large Party OF Prisoners
to the Cage Far in the Rear.
BY DAMON RUNYON
(Staff Correspondent Of Universal
Seryice)

{Staff Correspondent Of Universal
Service.)
With the American First. Army,
Nov. 4.-(Delayed. a brisk youth
went busting down the road leading
to the town of Stenay this morning.
he carried hammer. Under his arm
he had bundle OF wooden signs bear
ing such admonitions as
DO your bit. To the right"
"Route--Play the game, obey the
men,"
These signs are seen by the hun
dreds along every road in the war
area of France. They are for the
benefit OF truck drivers and teamsters.
The youths part In the great war is
to tack the signs to trees and poles
as fast as new routes are opened by
the army.
He was performing his task with
enthusiasm this morning. dough-
boy who was one of the many little
groups Of doughboys strung along the
road to Stenay stopped the youth.
Where are you going?" he de-
manded
I'm going into that town 10 tacR
up my signs. said the youth.
Well, may be you'd better wait a
few minu cs until we take it," was
the mild Suggestion of the doughboy.
within five-eighths OF mile of Stenay
tonight. but so far the town hasn't
officially fallen. The patrols job is
to snoop around ahead OF the columns
and see what's doing. Its about as
unhealthy a job as there is in the
army. But patrols always get hrst
look at things anyway.
Doughboy's Ditty.
There was devilish tough job to
be done in front OF Stenay this morn
ing 1t fell to the engineers. Most
tough jobs fall to the engineers.
The infantry has song which runs:
THE cavalry and the artillery.
And the louzy engineers.
They couldn't lick the doughboys
In a hundred years"
But when the foo soldiers came to
a place and they can't get over under
or around. its always the engineers
who give them a boost.
The town OF Stenay is beyond the
river Neuse. The river Is normally
abou. as wide as the Arkansas, but
1t can spread out most abnormaily. 1t
is now nearly thousand yards wide.
The Germans have knocked out some
of the food gates, anticipating our
arrival Besides they had destroyed
all bridges.
Lgger.s infantry men who are be-
rain and mud and rivers to cross.
first made bold to attempt wading the
stream They found that impractical
BILE. The water was too deep.
The handy Andes OF the American
army got one pontcon down. A shell
knocked II into splinters The wreck
are went bobbing OF piecemeal down
the river. The engineers got another
pontoon into position. American guns
H. l..s
let's for them as they worked. The
instant there was afooting from bank
TO hank. more niatoons OF national
army regiments RUSHED across under
a smart fire from the Germans.
Finally, three pontoon bridges were
thrown over the river and on these
whole American divisions trampied
across the Mouse. Tonight Liggett's
patrols are rummaging the country
while within five Fights of a mile
OF stenay. This Is a little old provin-
eiai border town that used to have
pratense AS an Industrial burg.
Germans have made It one OF
important military centers. Mill
experts before the war believed
that II Germany every tried 20 break
through into France without violat-
ing the neutrality OF Belgium and
I4uxem burg 1t would be at Stenay.
Make Negotiations
After the engineAi3 had given the
infantry men lift at Stenay today
the doughboys ran into some hard
fighting. The Germans are trying to
hold in that vicinity but are making
a poor fight OF 1t In the face of Lig-
getts rush. Indications are that Ste
nay will be behind the American limo
before many hours.
tEo.e: Steray fell that night.)
Further up the river Is Sedan. II is