The Topeka state journal., 1918-07-23


ties as storm troop"
There was a, vast difference between
the fighting at Cantigny and about
Chateau Thierry. On the Marne it
was first, resistance against wave after
wave of ad- ancing Germans coming
wheat fields or woods Every third
man carried a machine gun. The
American was forced to find such COW
er as he could. also in the open.
From behind a roc'1 or from a hastily
dug hole in the ground he poured his
rifle and machine gun fire into the
/ oche lines. Then he fought his way
forward and drove the enemy from
his advanta geous positions in
Roursches and Bois De Belleau. Be-
hind the fighting man the munition
men and wagons worked tirelessly to
constantly being c anged. Food was
uncertain. But the American hung
on, and is there today.
Rehearsing Canugny.
At Cantigny the American showed
his adaptability to carefully planned
movements. l witnessed a complete
rehearsal of the attack on Cantigny
days before it actually took place. 1t
was in great open field back of the
lines. French machine gunnerS played
the role of Germans. They had their
machine guns hidden in pits and else
where in the field. Other soldiers,
forming long line, waved green
branches of trees to represent the
artillery barrage. French tanks wad-
died across the field and took up po-
sitions corresponding to those they
were to take in the actual fight
French and American officers care
fully instructed the men who were to
make the attack as to just how they
We're to follow the barrage, how ma
chine gun nests were to be cleaned
out, and how they were to work in
conjunction with the tanks. Then
came the signal, the soldiers carry
ing" the barrage began waving the
green branches, the infantry and
tanks moved forward and the Ger
man" machine guns began firing. AS
the barrage moved forward, lines were
reformed and the advance continued.
The machine gun nests were cleaned
out in good shape, but the clever
French machine gunners put over"
one on the Americans that they did
not forget when it came to the real
battle.
Frenchmen in Tree.
In the center of the mimic battle
ground was a tree. One of the tanks
waddled slowly by and a detachment
of infantry dashed forward. Then,
from apparently nowhere, a fierce
rattle of machine gun fire burst on
the Americans. The officer in charge
of the detachment knew that he was
theoretically wiped out. Every man
dropped to the ground for cover, as
he would in real engagement, and
then looked for the machine gun. The
F'renchmen had roInted it in the
tree, They had also withheld their
fire until the tank had passed, and
made their play for the men-and got
them. The tank was signalled to come
IN shot into the
tree. This done, SO that they were
theoretically destroyed, the French
men climbed out of the tree in glee-
When it came to the real fight, the
Americans were as cool as in the re-
hearsal. They followed the tanks
over, and ran ahead of them in their
enthusiasm. The whitening artillery
preparation had demolished the Ger
man trenches, but the Americans went
at the job of ''mopping up" and clear
ing the village of any remaining Doche
in businesslike fashion. Then came
the job of holding on.
Counter attack after counter-attack
was hurled against the new American
| line. The artillery fire was so hot ra-
| ton parties could not come up, there
| being no communicating trenches. For
three days men and officers had little
sleep, food or water. They lived on
| hardtack and raw bacon. But they
held on. And as the Americans on the
Marine, they are there today.
Confidence Boundless.
The confidence of the American SOL
dier in his officers, in the organization
| that is going to keep him fed and
clothed, and in the doctors who are
going to care for him when he is
wounded is boundless
A wounded man arriving at a field
hospital or dressing stations displays a
| Nhild-1 -1ilyo nnnfiGanno in the doctor
who bends over him. If unspoken
written on the boys face there is al
| ways:
Now everything is all right. May
be my wound is almost unbearably
painful. Maybe 1 have been without
sleep and maybe 1 am tired; that's al
over now. Here's the man who will
take care of me-"
His wound dressed, his blood agair
sent coursing warmly thru his veins
the boy drops off to sleep.
This confidence of the fighting mer
in the organization behind him mus
not be shaken. AS the number O.
men in France increases, the problem
of food. clothing and medical attention
muldplies. The ground work of meet
ing all of these problems has beer
laid in France in the shape of a gigan
tic warehouses, railway lines and vas
docks at the seaboard. Upon the wal
organization at home falls the burder
OF Keeping them supplied.
Not All May Fight.
Insofar as manpower is concerned
it should also be remembered tina
100000 men in France does no
mean 100000 fighting men. Taking
a division as a unit it requires ap
proximately 1900 men and from
| 5000 to 5000 horses to keep 1900
| bayonets and artillery in the line
Multiply this by the number of time
. 1900 men you believe it will take t.
win the war, and you can estimate tn
total number of men who must b.
I. transported and cared for. y
Americas infantry and artillery tina
have been in action have made good
The American flyers now on the from
are using French machines chiefly
They have taken quickly to the game
German machines have been brough
down, and German towns have beel
bombed. But there are acres and acre
flFNy :, Il,