Evening star., 1918-08-27
SHOWSREAL GRIT
IN TAKING TOWN
American Unit Makes Dra-
L,atic Progress Despite
! Adverse Conditions.
is NOW HOLDING A LINE

Is NOW HOLDING A LINE
BY JUNIUs b. WOOD.
Cablegram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News and Evidently
Heavily Censored. Copyright, 1918.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY AT
THE FRONT. August 2s.-The oficial
communiques report that on June "a
the Germans raided the American
troops near Baccarat and captured a
small number of prisoners. thereby
Identifying the unit. These circum-
stances undoubtedly make interest
ing description Of the unit which is
now holding the line near q city IA
nous the world over for its glass
ware
1t is impossible to stage 4 moro dis
NAL, more dramatic setting than that
of the marching in of these men. The
last lap of taking the trenches start
ed Wednesday. Juno 1s. A drisSling
rain was falling through the day and
night. which were gloomy and with
a chill that penetrates to the marrow
even in midsummer in this section of
France Trucks and wagons. which
had been passing through all day.
had churned the roads. worn into ruts
and pits by many months movements
of Army trains. into ribbons of mud,
through which the men sloshed ankle
deep. Ahead was the dull rumble of
artillery and flashes in the sky. which
awaiting them.
Meant Baptism Of Fire.
Every moment they were advancing
closer to the Redeemed horizon which
meant for them their baptism of fire.
Not a single man flinched. The steady
splash Of hundreds of feet was the
moving forward in the darkness like
veterans. So rhythmic was it that 1t
seemed giant machine instead of
living men who were grimly and un-
feelingly advancing to destroy the
forces Of the Prussians.
Our artillery was not long silent.
The goading of the German lombard
ment gave the newcomers exhibitions
Of how the artilleries care for the men
behind the lines. Our guns started
enemy's guns The final miles of the
hike compelled quiet until they
reached the silent. shadowy trenches.
The trip across France of this unit
from the fiat, rolling lowlands. whore
it was for a few weeks drill after
was q great experience. Where these
men are holding the front is thick
forest, with high hills, and low ra-
vines, on whose opposite sides one
can plainly see the enemy's barb wire
entanglements.
Many Italians In Unit.
They detained = certain distance
back of the fighting zone and then
hiked the remaining miles Each hour
brought them nearer to the scene of
conflict Serious and amusing Incl
dents took place en- route.
unit are of Italian ancestry. who
were much interested In other Ital-
ians, in uniform, working with picks
and shovels along the roads. They
Msr. n.,ns nnn;.h.a part sf the the army which us is
Piave. The Itsiian-Americans.w when
ever they encamped at night. talked
in their native tongue to these Ital-
ians of Italy.
why aren't you nshtins for your
own country?" ventured one in a fad
ed green uniform.
we are Americans. Why didn't you
hght whom you had the chance?"
wrathfully replied the man In khaki.
Mixture Of Nationalities.
Figured roughly. only forty-f1ve per
ancestry. Twenty-Five per cent were
Jewish. mostly Russian, ten per cent
were Germanic, ten Slavonic. with .
scattering of French, Spanish. Greek,
chinese. Armeaian and other races.
Some of the men whose acquaintance
with English is limited need interpre-
ters- The men of one company speak
seventeen languages.
All walks of life were represented
Fifteen per cent of them were from
teamsters. ten per cent came from
automobile and kindred industries
nve per cent from professions, like
lawyers, teachers. dentists. and the
elacksmiths, machinists, carpenters,
tailors. cooks, electricians, actors.
, oystermen. and one was q professional
rat catcher.
Was Once Ribbon Clerk.
Get me = strong, CONTAGIOUS man
for special duty" requested an oficer
: one DAY. A few minutes later q SER
seant reappeared with a rough look
ing soldier from a squad Of sappers
and bombers.
What did you do before you en-
tered the Army?" asked the ofieer.
was ribbon clerk in a department
eAto SoioicI. MOST OF
the men of tho sappers' and bombers'
squad which does the most periloua
work in the infantry come from a
former gashouse gang. These men
nave tne honor system in their COM
pany. and when any man is guilty of
an infraction of discipline the entire
platoon is punished. The few com
mittfng violations have been SO bad
~ beaten up by their platoon mate
that the subsequent discipline is ex-
The only man found unenthu.f..t,.
ABOUT the war was a former. chou
suey proprietor. the extent of whose
English was: War. Rats. Army no
good" ~
Noted Athletes Among Them.
One captain was a former baseman
for the New York Giants and the
Philadelphia Nationals. and another
was famous eastern foot ball star.
Inen there are officers who have
maze names in civil life. One young
sergeant was the son Of q former Su.
preme Court Justice. and . corporal
was 2 son OF partner In J. p. Nor
gan q Co. Another was a nephev of
former Secretary of State.
Insignia for jewish Chaplains.
NEW YORK. August 27.-rhe 1ov.
ernment has ordered = miniature tab.
let and the Star Of David to be worn
by Jewish chaplains In the Ifp;t.d