The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-04
MARINE
SHARES HONORS
With REGIMENT
Officer Lauds Or
ganization to Which l..
Olwin Is Attached
u. S. MARINES
WIN REPUTATION
Cannot Blame Us If We
Stick Out Chests, " Says
FargOan

but you can guess If you try" writes
Lawrence Olwin, former student at
the North Dakota Agricultural col
lege, to his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. T..
c. Olwin of Fargo, referring TO
statement made by an English ofl-
Ger concerning certain regiment OF
the United States marine corps now
in France after reviewing the Amer
lean expeditionary forces, and which
he enclosed in his letter.
Lawrence Olwin enlisted in the
United States marines last spring
and arrived in France about the
middle of August. The regiment he
refers no doubt is the one to when
he belongs, and was called by the
English officer "a model regiment"
The officers statement follows:
81 went from one village to an
other until 1 found myself at the
very end of the American field head
quarters. My visit had fallen out
fortunately for l found what l had
been looking for in this last. Here it,
was not a case of a hundred young
soldiers strewn about. There was an
organization, atmosphere, authority;
you might be shot, but it would be
for cause and not accidentally.
Pacemaksr For Others.
81 suppose l would not be permit
ted to identify the troops to whom l
refer, but / know that General
Petain identified them. They had
waited from s o'clock in the morn
ing until o'clock in the evening to-
be inspected. When the generals
came, these troops. showing not the
faintest sign of fatigue, went through
the appropriate portions of drill with
beautiful precision and snap. What
ment and others? AS far as l could
learn the proportion of regulars and
recruits was practically the same.
The difference apparently was
chiefly in the possession by this
regiment Of a history and tradition.
The pride of the past stimulated new
men to strenuous exertions. the
suggestion was obvious that this
regiment might be probably used
as a pacemaker for other regiments.
Just az the regulars here gave the
cue to the recruits, so could the
example of the regiment as a whole
be made potent in arousing a spirit
of emulation throughout the whole
new army. Here are soldiers ready
at the blowing of the bugle to go in
against the Germans. This village
is a spotless town. They wash their
own clothes every night, their leath-
er and metal are bright with polish
ing. they move smartly and are in
deed soldiers from head to heel.
CAS- the army organization pro-
crosses. the experience of this regt-
ment, as well as all the regiments
in the English army, would seem to-
suggest the adoption Of names for
different units. Out of name there
is evolved and in it there is pre-
served tradition. Pride of individual
ity works wonders. Who can recall
without thrill such names as Cold
stream guards, Gordon highlanders, !
Dublin fusiIfers, Royal fusiliers,
Black watch and Grenadier guards?
THE only approach to a parallel
that we have in our army seems to |
have helped TO produce result
that is most excellent, even when
Judged by expert European stand |
ards. 1t was my pleasure to dine at
the officers mess Of this particular
regiment and if anything could have
increased my sense of satisfaction II
was the information ELECTED at the
table. OF the six regimental officers
present, four were Virginians'
Hears Of Sisters Buy.
Little Miss Alice Olwin when she
heard hei. parents, several months
ago, talking about the Liberty Loan
bonds and what it meant to the
United States if every home had a
bond. asked her father, Z. G. OlWin,
chief clerk of the postal mail serv-
Ice with offices in the federal build
ing in Fargo, If it would help her
brother, Lawrence, il she bought a
bond. When told that it would, she
turned her savings over to her faith
or and the next day the little Miss
OIwin was the owner of bond. Her
brother, Lawrence, evidently heard
about the purchase.
"You can tell Alice that she is one
If the biggest little patriots in the
United States of America" writes
lawrence Olwin. aTell her that when
get my bonds paid for / will send
Ter one because she is willing to do
al she can for us, and that is more
han d great many others want to
TO-"
Acquire . Reputation. II
According to the letter from the
ormer Agricultural college student,
he United States marines have ALI
'eady acquired a wonderful reputa-
ion and that every inspecting ON
,er has made the statement that thet
,egiment he is in is the best body
II marines in the United States
You cannot blame us If we stick
,ur chests out with real pride" says
he Fargo marine. we cannot all
10 our bit in the trenches, but we
would like to be there.
However. Uncle Sam must have
iomeone to keep the rest Of his SOL
Iiers in the straight and narrow
,ath so we win have to grin and
,ear it,"