The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-26
YANKEE COMMAND,
RESPECT OF ALLIES
Attitude of Oficers to Listen and De.
fer to American opinion and
Views.
b. UNDER SPLENDID DISCIPLINE
Soldiers. I'm No Manner Regard the
Germans as Superior, But Call
Them Square-head Dummies and
Regard Them Inferior Every Way.

Washington, Aug 25.-"The Ameri-
can soldier in France sees ahead. He
sees big. He feels big"
This is the inspiring tribute to
American troops is written by colonel
now with the American expeditionary
forces in France. The letter which
will be printed this week in Going
Over" the official publication devoted
to troops bound overseas and here
given publicity for the first time is as
follows:
The big show at Chateau -Thierry
has been on all this past week and
that has attracted our attention more
than the work. The big map, show
ing the changes in the situation as fast
as the bulletins come in, is in the hall,
at the foot of the stairs, and some
times there are 200 gathered around
it.
Most of us come from some divts-
ion, and whenever one of us sees that
his division is in the fight he goes off
damning his luck, because he's not
with his outfit. Oh, you don't know
what difference 1t has made in the
morale of every one. l think they
were all disappointed at our slowness
in getting over, at the appearance and
training and equipment Of our men.
But now that we have so many here
and so many more coming, and they
have either seen or been told how
wonderfully our men fight why they
are just besides themselves with Joy.
The whole attitude of the officers
of our allies has changed toward us.
We are now the thing. No more
patronzing, no condescensions. They
listen and defer to our opinion, they
adopt our views-the people, the
pers-hoth British and French. they
now love us and believe in us, and we
are all in perfect accord and SYM
pathy. We are the new oracle the
inspiration of the moment, the big
brother, the unbeatable, the grand,
the mangnifique--for we have our men
in. lots of them, raw and untried,
but big, enthusiastic and resourceful
young America-full of confidence in
himself and his country, with faith
that right is on his side with faith In
his neighbor by his side, full OF force
and pride-he went in with his teeth
set and a etermination-not merely
to stop the boche. but to lick him. to
beat him at his own game Or to die in
the attempt. And he did it. 1t Is
done. No matter. whatever tenn porary
reFerses may come. the American SOL
der has got the boche's number
Il have talked to lots of them,
temporarily disabled, but you can see
the future in their eyes It is the
same story from all OF them. Never
mind me. They fixed me, but it's all
right. We can lick him, man for man.
we've got his goat, he won't face our
men He's licked and he knows 1T
That is what those say who have been
in the fight / can feel exactly the
American soldiers state of morale.
Its physical and mental. He sees
ahead He sees big. lie feels big.
He compares everything over here
with his own country and gives him
self the best of it. His country has
more money, more factories, more re-
sources more men, more modern
methods and appliances.
Does he credit the German with
being better soldier? Hell, MOI he
says. We can learn all them square
heads know in one fight, think of
twelve things to beat il, and invent
new tricks that he never dreamed of.
Why, hell, just you fellows wait till
we get our army all over here and
in one bunch together on the line
Why, say, you can't see them boches
for the dust
There is no discipline over here
that compares with ours. Our men
have absorbed 1t. They heard so many
lectures in the states about the wond-
erful discipline over here. They ar
rived. took one look, and started with
characteristic American spirit to beat
it--and they have. They are self dis
ciplined. They are cleaner than any
one else, they salute better. they work
harder at learning the various ways OF
fighting. They are doing it voluntarily
and they have passed their instructors
~
men. and food, and ammunition. Get
them over here and we will finish the
war. The quicker these things get
here the sooner it will be over.
I'VE got the German confirmation
today of Quentin Roosevelt's death.
We will lose lots of them, thousands,
maybe millions. But its worth 1t. and
every American over here is willing
and anxious to take the chance. The
German is q beast and a pestilence
that must be exterminated; that Is
why say It is worth it.
Sorry can't tell you some OF the
things ! hear from the front. Don't
believe rumors. unless they are con-
firmed, but remember that we are
not fighting Filipinos and We are
bound to have some losses. As old
would say. 1t Is worth it If we can keep
the hoche on the run and force him !
TO believe that his cause is hopeless, |
and that we are here as a real factor |
and one that will dominate the situa-
tion. We must make any sacrifice to |
secure this domination Of the situa-
ton. So don't be appalled, II you
should hear of losses that you had not
expected. We can stand 1t, for we are
daily gaining the initiative and will
never lose it.
Il meet officers ana newspaper men
and others here every day from all
parts of the lines, and they keep US
in touch with the pulse of the morale
of not only our own people, but our
allies--and II is all good news and
getting better daily"