The Washington herald., 1918-07-20
MODERN WAR, MACEINE-MADE,
KNOCKS OUT SPECTACULAR
FEATURES FOR YANK BOYS
However, They Cover Themselves with Glor,
as They Learn and Practice Art of
Mass Fighting.

gees who had hurriedly evacuated
farms and hamlets and towns.
These refugees were exhausted by
fright and travel and loss Of sleep.
They were pushing wheelbarrows or
baby carriages containing all the
household treasures that they had
been able to save. while others with
more warning and greater facilities,
rode on carts great and small, piled
high with chairs and bedding and mir
rors and pictures.
Little tots slept in the eddies OF
these loads. I saw one huge load
drawn by six oxen the color of milk.
The head Of the house was driving
and his wife and four children were
perched on the load. Dangling from
the back was a bicycle. dolls car
riage, and in the latter were tucked
a toy gun and sword and a French
doll with one eye. The owner in her
mothers lap on high had her favorite
dolly clutched TO her little breast.
The child was crying and SO was
her mother. Most of the refugees
were solemn-faced, stunned, stole.
They were rattling over the roads
anywhere for safety. away from
the Hun shells and poisonous va
pors. when clouds of dust appeared
and there careened past them hun
dreds of huge army trucks and in
them were American soldiers. faces
tanned and the color Of leather and
every Lad Of them smiling or sing
ing.
They were coming to tight for
the rights and safety Of these old
men and women and little children
who crowded the free side of the
road in their fight. They were
coming to strike for democracy and
humanity and they were glad Of the
chance: impatient for battle.
Exuberanee of Men.
Their cheers and their laughter
and their snatches Of songs had q
wonderful effect on the sorrowful
refugees, who forgot their discom-
forts, losses and dangers and
cheered and threw kisses to their
defenders from overseas-from be-
loved America. Said q French Of
ficer at my side:
"The spirit and exuberance of
your men are overpowering. Our
people have been fighting four
years. Our men on the Marne have
had no time to sleep or eat. In
loaning US these American troops at
this time your commanders and
your country show they are heart
and soul in this night You have
given new life and courage to the
refugees. You have given new life
to our lighting forces. You are
coming fresh and strong with what
do you call it? Oui, the punch. 1t
is wonderful 1t is superb. 1t has
welded our people more closely
than ever"
And the French populace show
ed their gratitude in divers ways,
by the eloquent ovation TO our
wounded on their way to Paris in
ambulances, in speeches and public
prints and in streets and highways
wherever an American uniform show
ed itself.
With all due respect to the tradi-
tional ties that bind France and the
United States. there had been periods
when the populace wondered and
doubted. Four months ago when I
reached the theater of war it was
not uncommon as French troops pass
ed Americans, to hear shouts IN
French which conveyed the sally that
American troops were all right for
training camps. but had not felt the
gaff of the front line.
Savage Counter Attacks,
Then came the fights in Apremoat
Wood and Seicheprey and the carry
ing and holding of the village Of Can
tigny against a series of savage but
futile German counter attacks. and
the biggest and most brilliant Amer
ican performance of all in stopping
the drive on Paris, which nodded q
new public sentiment and a fervor Of
enthusiasm everywhere apparent.