The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-23
Copyright, 1913, by The Ellis
Service.)

y
Service.)
The American Headquarters in
France.-After having seen at close
range the armies of our allies, it
soon becomes evident that the
American troops are distinctive in
other respects besides physical ap-
pearance. The Yankees are differ
ent from all their fellow fighters
against the boche. They look diff
ferent. They act differently. They
think differently. They speak diff
ferently. Their lingo is not that OF
the battle-worn Tommies; the at
tempt to fasten upon them an ana
lagous name, "Sammies," is resent
ed by the soldiers. "Yanks" they
wear with pride; but they say things
about the papers that label them
"Sammies." The which is but in
dicative of their attitude in more
serious things,
The British and Colonial troops
have, during four years OF army life,
developed many distinctive usages
and phrases, and it would seem nat
ural that their comrades from over
seas would take these on bodily,
especially as the fraternization
among the forces is very real. Moth
ing of the sort has happened. The
Yanks have appraised their fellow
soldiers with shrewd eyes and they
are "for them Especially do they
find themselves akin to the Canadi-
ans and other Colonials. But still
they remain themselves, with their
own ways and vocabulary. Ameri-
can dead do not "go West; moth
ing is "napoo" with them; they do
not get the wind-up"; and so on
throughout the long line of trench
talk that the war literature has
made familiar to all readers. This
unconscious refusal to take on the
readymade manners and speech OF
their veteran associates in the great
war is one of the unexpected phe-
momena of the American EXpedi-
tionary Force
Less Radical in Religion.
In the things OF religion, | found
the British soldiers far more uncon-
ventional than the Americans have
become. 1t is to be remembered,
however, in this respect, as in all
others, that our allies have four
years OF war experience behind
them, instead of one. They have
completed certain stages OF expert
ence which the Americans are as
vet undergoing. Pershing's men are
nearer to home and old influences.
They continue under the power OF
religious forces which operate mill
tantly, because the churches in the |
States had time to make ready.
There is less departure from the ac- !
cepted standards of speech and con
duct on the part OF this latest large |
accession 10 the force of the allies. !
The Yanks are more nearly Sun
day School army-though | can i'm
agine the language of many soldiers
upon reading such statement con
cerning themselves.
There is less profanity among the
Yanks than among their associates
who speak what purports to be the
same tongue. Some would say that
the Americans are not sufficiently
gifted linguistically to reach the
heights-or depths-of colOrtul Ian
guage that their more seasoned as
sociates command. Others would
say. give them time only re
cord the present fact. More tan
gible and demonstrable is the matter
of drink Here the official practices
of the two armies may be contrast
ed. The British give their men a
tot" of rum at stand to" each
morning in the trenches during the
cold weather. Canada and America
were solemnly assured that the con
ditions OF modern warfare are such
that the men cannot get along with
out it. Yet the American troops.
some OF whom have passed a winter
in the trenches. have managed to get
along very well without drop OF
rum. Neither officers nor men are
permitted strong waters. in or out
OF the trenches. The simple fact is
that the traditional attitude Of the
British with respect to liquor was
allowed TO outweigh the convictions
OF Canada. American experience
has demonstrate the mistake of the
theory OF her great ally; and the
British army will be dry before ever
The American army goes wet. Al
ready France has ordered her en-
tire war zone dry
These two particulars are but
OF a general condition.
The war thus far-and ever the
.hree years longer experience Of our !
allies is to be held in mind-ha, |
made less difference in the Iank
than in the Tommies. the Canadians
Or the Anzacs. The Khaki-clad boys \
are more nearly as they were al
home. France has not greatly .
changed them, except by giving r
hem an enlarged horizon and an
increased independence. They have
been freed from the trammels OF
but they retain their /
former character, plus some new
concerning the work
ability OF idealism.
Us-i..-- a. IL Co-z..,