The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-09-06


With the American Troops In Alsace-
Lorraine.-By the dim light Of the
moon you could barely see the stream
of doughboys pouring out of the shell
tering woods and scraping over the
dusty French road toward the trenches.
They said very little and trudged along
with that measured swinging tread
which enables Europe's veterans to
carry their heavy packs almost un-
heard-of distances.
The stream seemed intending as the
United Press staff car picked its way
from squad to squad without using
lights, without falling in bitches and
without touching a single doughhcy.
Finally one section of the human
stream halted in ruined village. The
press car stopped, too, for beyond this
point everything except ammunition
and food goes on foot.
The officers gave the order to rest,
and lot Of packs dropped to the
ground, followed by doughboys. Their
rifles they never dropped. In the moon
light you could see the ground covered
with resting soldiers, mostly string.
There was a clicking of rifles and
sounds of Tightening packs, and bits of
gossip which could come rnly from
group heading for its first night in the
trenches.
Indifferent to Danger.
These were Uncle Sans citizen sol
dters. new men just over from "the
states" as they have habit of calling
home when over here. A few uues-
tons revealed the fact that year asa
these boys were clerks, carpenters
students and whatnot. in civilian
clothes. Six months ago they were in
training camp. Now they were SOL
diers in France, and tonight they were
making their genuine debut into the
| war for civilization.
| There was no wild enthusiasm nor
| any evidence of fear or even appre-
henson among those citizeu-so,diers
as they rested before making the last
Lap into the trenches. There was q
naryer-cf-fact sort of confidence prev.
alelr. and every man was making the
nor Of the breathing spell 20 see th:t
he was 100 per cent ready for balrle
! Interest and talk centered around the
clicking rifles and other equipment.
This old guns sure going to do
| some work from now on" said one
doughhoy to his pal, as he played with
the rife fondIy. Its the best gun in
this army"
Say, you never shot this gun" re-
piled the other. Nobody ever did, and
nobody will but me. It's some Boche-
getter II was made for me specially,
b."
Officers went through the crowd. Civ
ing final warning about use Of gas
masks, and attention conferred around
masks for a moment. A lot of chaps
tried them on again. Then packs again
were adjusted, and the group of dough-
boys streamed slowly on.
Ready for Business.
As they got nearer the front trenches
the word was passed to walk more
quietly. Conversation except in I'M
dertones stopped and they descended
into trenches. All you heard was the
steady knock of hobnailed shoes on
the trench duckboards, as these Jew
arrivals We're quietly initiated to the
trenches in France. Quietly and with
out commotion the officerS stationed
their men, with loOkouts watching
across moonlit No Mans Land, the
former occupants of the trenches left,
and the relief was completed.
There is something about the fear
less quiet way these new dougbhoys
take the trenches that makes you
feel they know lot about warfare.
They are veterans before they enter
the trenches, by first-rate military
training if not experience. Their dis
cipline is fine, and their efficiency tells
you they are ready for business
meaning whipping Germans.
well, you can tell Kaiser Bill we're
here to fight" said one doughboy, as
he took his station. "Hear the Ger
mans say we're just a crowd of I'M
trained boys. Wen soon show them
were soldiers"
1t happens this doughboy's platoon
did it very soon. The next night $50