Evening star., 1918-02-19
ALL'S WELL, COMES
WORD FROM FRANCE
American Fighters Happy and
Eager for More Fighting
| With Foes of Democracy.
VETERANS TEACH CAUTION
By PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
Cablegram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, lDlS.

BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
CableSrnm to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES. Feb
ruary 1S.-I desire to transmit mes
sage of good cheer and courage from
the Americans in the trenches to those
who may be worrying about them The
particular sector I visited is being held
by National Guardsmen. 1 found them
in the best of health and spirits and as
keen as young hunting hounds They
frankly admitted they were weary OF
the monotonous months of training.
They were proud and happy to be at
last face to face with the Germans
So far as physical comfort is con-
cerned the Suardsmen say they are pee-
ter off in the trenches from neriy
every point of view than in the bore
some camps with which they had had
such long acquaintance. Folks at
home who think these boys are sur
fering must get the idea out OF their
heads. The work is hard. but no harder
than they are capable of doing.
Cases of Illness Few.
have seen the daily health reports
and cases of illness can be counted on
the fingers of one hand. There has moi
even been suffering from cold. for this
winter happens to be as mlracuiousiy
mild as last winter was phenonenaiiS
terrible. And at the front everything
intrests them, from the ARRANGEMENT
of the dugouts to the spectacle OF nurSa5 ,5
ing shells on top. There are thousano
liff1e things to be learned and they are
learning with zest-
After all. the actual front is the only
place to train soldiers Only there can
the men be made to understand the
trnportance of not standing and staring
at enemy aeroplanes lest their presence
on German photographs betray their
presence, or the Importance OF not
Speaking too freely over the telephones
lest Germans eavesdropping with spe-
cial apparatus obtain useful informa-
ton. Only there can they appreciate
fhe fundamental importance OF that
eternal digging and burrowinS which
seems so futile in the practice grounds
of distant camps.
Seek More Fighting.
The chief difficulty with our boys. as
with so many other young troops. is to
keep them from unnecessarily exposing
themselves. There is not sufficient hand
to-hand fighting to suit their taste They
the German outposts just for the fun
of the thing. However. the occasional
activity of German snipers and occa-
sional volleys of shells where men
foolishly reveal their presence are
teaching the Americans the uses of
concealment.
Association with veteran French COM
rades. who seemed to them at first alb
surdly cautious. is gradually teaching
them that caution is not incompatible
Ia r
merit in being killed in this way, it is
too easy.
In 1914 the French INDUCED in much
foolhardy bravery. but their attitude
since then has changed to such an ex-
tent that a man who now gets himself
foolishly killed is not viewed with SYM
pathy by his comrades. The moment
always comes when a certain number
Of losses must occur. but in the mean
time what is wanted is caution.
Owe It to Country.
Fl have pointed out to them" said a
general to me, that under the existing
conditions of transport and the diff
Guilty of sending men to France they
owe it to their country not to be fool
hardy, what we want is not to get
killed. but to stay alive and kill Ger
mans"
Thus far not more than two or three
American lives have been lost in this
SECTOR. OUT tnefe nave Oeen several mi
raculous escapes The other day a she'll
burst in the midst Of a group of twenty
men. not one of whom was as much as
scratched Vigilance also plays a part
in keeping down the death rate
The men have been particularly we'll
drilled against gas shells. and when. a
Few nights ago. the Germans sent a
score of these poisonous projectiles on
a certain point, and before the echo of
the first peculiar explosion had died
afohy No.
alarm and awakened the sleeping COM
rades. Everybody instantly adjusted
the mask and no harm was done.
Food Good, Plentiful.
While moving among the trenches 1
particularly inquired as to the quantity
and quality Of their food. I did not
plenty of bread and plenty of good
thick stew, which by means of soiidi-
ned alcohol is reheated after it reaches
the trenches For drink the men re-
also plenty of fresh water In short.
the physical and moral condition OF
this particular American sector could
not be better.
The system by which our men are
having their training completed at the
'front.' I am not at liberty to explain.
It IS as ingenious as is practical. 1
nave studied thoroughly with French
anu american oIncerS and feel safe in
saying that it is the best possible sys-
tenn for preparing our men for future
great battles quickly. safely and
soundly.
No soldier in the world NAV be con-
sfdered pure steel until the war no
longer holds surprises for him, ONLY
when he has learned through actual
experience the effect of every weapon
and the best method to meet every
emergency of attack and defense is he
worthy OF being called a veteran.
Profit by System.
The system we have adopted enables
us to profit by the skilled experiences Of
the French in every detail of the
trenches right back through the whole
complex organization to the general
headquarters itself, for our star ON
GERS have as much to learn and are as
quick and eager to acquire this knoWl-
edge as our troopers. Few relationships
n this war are more admirable than
mat which has grown up between our
men and the French No national differ-
ences OF habit or custom exist at the
nont, where every one leads exactly the
same life. So the only real barrier he
tween the two armies is language and
tn1S Is being overcome with such r-ood
humor, such good fellowship. such sin-
cefe admiration on the part AZ ~.
americans and such painstakinR solici-
Luoe on the part of the French that
Tor Al practical purposes this barrier
The wisdom Of those who devised and
Me generous. practical foresixht M
Shoso who authorized the adon1ion ~
me present system of comnIaf;nS