Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-10-09

OF doughboys pouring out of the shell
tering woods and scraping over the
dusty French road toward the trenches.
They said very little and trudred along
win that measured swinging tread
which enables Europe's veterans TO
carry their heavy packs almost I'M
heard-of distances.
The stream seemed unendinr. MS 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 sitting.
There was clicking of rifles and
sounds of tightening packs, and bits OF
gossip which could come only from a
group heading for its first night in the
trenches.
Indifferent to Danger.
These were Uncle Sans citizen sol
.dlers. new men just over from "the
states" rs they have habit of calling
home when over here. A few aues-
tions revealed the fact that year ngo
tfeSe boys were clerks, carpenters,
students and whatnot. In civilian
clothes. Six months ago they were in
n training camp. Now they were sol
d'ers in France. and tonight they were
making their genuine debut into the
v,.r for civilization
There was no wild enthusiasm nor
my evidence of fear or even apprc-
henson among those cittzcl-so,diers
as they rested before making the last
Ian into the trenches. There was a
nfr,er-Of-fact sort of confidence prev.
alert, and every man was making the
mo- IF the breathing spell 20 see th..t
he was 100 per cent ready for balrle
Interest and talk conferred around the
clicking rifles and other equipment.
"1his old guns sure going to do
some work from now on" said one
doughboy to his pal as he played with
the rifle fondly. Its the best gun In
this army"
Say, you never shot this gum" re-
piled the other. "Nobody ever did, and
nobody will but me. It's some Boche-
getter 1t was made for me specially,
Bo."
officers went through the crowd. Civ
ing final warning about use Of gas
masks. and attention centered around
masks for n 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 were quietly initiated to the
trenches in France. Quietly and with
out commotion the officers stationed
their men, with iookouts 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 II not experience. Their dis
cipline is fine, and their efficiency tells
you they are ready for business
meaning whipping Germans.
swell, 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. Well soon show them
we're soldiers"
1t happens this doughboy's platoon
did 1t very soon. The next night 15O
Germans came over, and fifty of these
UNFRAMED boys" withstood the attack
and stuck to their guns. The Germans
who were still alive and able to run,
retreated, double-quick time.
All In Days Work.
Speaking Of the way the newly ar
rived Americans take to the trenches
and to their duties, one brigadier gen
eral, who had just finished complete
relief, said: They're not exactly glad
to get into the trenches. I guess no
one is glad of that. But these boys
all figure it's work to be done. and
they're here to lick Germans. They're
keen to get the job done. They're con-
fident, all right. but not boastful, be
cause they know there's lot to learn"
A doughboy gave his version of how
lAo ana bic xaaic falt xrhiia ox,t fhaee