Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-06-07
Y. N. c. A. MAN LAUDS MEN
American Soldiers Full Of "Pep" and
Keep Huns Guessng-Tells How
Men Were Rushed to
Picardy Line.


for the fights sake. In three months
in France, although 1 encountered
thousands Of American soldiers and
talked personally with hundreds, 1 did
not meet one who wasn't just as keen
to get to the front as-well-as a
boy is to get to the circus"
Any pacifist, pro-German, or other
nondescript laboring under the i'm
preston that the American troops are
fighting because they have to, rather
than because they want to, would be
quickly dsillusioned after a chat with
Ralph W. HARRISON, Pittsburgh busi-
ness man, member Of the national war
work council Of the Y. NJ. c. A. and
head Of commission representing
that body, which has just returned
from special mission to France.
Mr.. HARRISON spent 26 hours with
the Rainbow division under heavy fire
in a certain one Of the American Sec
tors.
''Thls used to be quiet part Of
the 'front.'" Mr.. HARRISON explained.
'"That is, 1t was quiet until the Yam
KEGS came. Among the troops who had
previously held these trenches there
had been less than O score Of casual.
ties in over a year. The Boche moved
about pretty much as he pleased
and really led placid life.
Keep Huns Guessing.
"Now things are different Yankee
ingenuity Is fairly outdoing itself to
make life miserable for Fritz. Worry
ing him is the daily-and nightly
pastime.
'The thing that you cannot get away
from is the high morale of our men.
1t fairly exudes from them. They
have lots Of pep are up on their toes
every minute and are sending over
ten shells for every three that come
our way.
'These Americans also seem to have
a monopoly on initiative. They keep
Fritz on the Jump and have him
guessing all the time. But the thing
that makes you proudest is that they
are playing the game like real sports
men and In their conversation and con-
duct even in the front lines reflect the
highest ideal Of America today"
The determination and grit Of the
men, Mr.. HARRISON said, were we'll
illustrated in the story Of the Grim
Private" He was encountered In one
Of the forward Y. M. G. A, stations
located In shell-torn village at the
end of a communication trench, and
his grimness was In striking contrast
to the gayness of the men around him.
"Frltz got my corporal yesterday" he
explained. "He was also my best
friend"
His fists clenched over the rifle Ia
his hands.
"But go back Into the trenches at
four In the morning. I'm going to get
three Boches. My corporal was
worth more than that of them, but
three will begin to even things up"
BE got them.
1t was shortly after Mr.. Harbison's
visit to the Rainbow division that
General Pershing put at the disposal
of the French the entire military re-
sources Of America "over there" Mr..
HARRISON encountered some Of the
American divisions as they were being
rushed to the front to fill what we
now know to have been almost q
breach In the allied line.
30 Y. M. c. A. Beats the Troops
In this sudden movement Of troops.
Mr.. HARRISON said, the American Y.
NJ. C. A. made a remarkable record.
In one instance orders came to GER
tain American division to proceed at
once to a point 200 miles distant. The
brigadler general In command in
formed the divisional Y. NJ. c. A. sec
retary. Fourteen Y. NJ. G. A. auto
mobile canteens were Immediately
loaded with chocolate. food, tobacco
and other supplies.
When the troops arrived at their
destination they found the Y. NJ. @.
A. men-the same ones that had
served them before in the 200-mile dis
tant camp-awaitlng them with huge
quantities of post exchange supplies
and several thousand gallons Of pip
ing hot coffee and cocoa, which was
given AWAY free,