The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-08-16

United States Were UNFRAMED.
WASHINGTON, Aug. l6.-Thc fight
ing spirit of the American troops, bat
Ting with the French and British. has
now brought such unanimous and strik-
ing comment from military leaders
abroad that the war department has
made public the. gist Of official reports
Of an unusual character received on
this subject
1t IS because of reports reaching here
that Gen. Peytqn G. March, chief of
staff. referred in his talk with the news
Paper correspondents to the fact that
fthe conduct OF the American troops
continues to win highest praise from
our British and French allies. >
Coincident with cabled reports that
the king of England for the first time
| in history had personally decorated
United States soldiers for bravery. See
rotary of War Baker made public in
| formation which throws light on the
particular circumstances of this case
fand incidentally shows the real spirit
| which fires our troops.
Mr. Baker explained that American
| troops had been brigaded with the Brit
lsh Just prior to the successful British
attack ON Hamel on the Picardv front
| July f. This attack was conducted
chiefly by Australians.
The American troops were training
with the British when the rush orders
70 the British to 90 into the front line
| came as the result of unexpected Ger.
man activities. 1t was decided. how
ever that the American troops should be
relieved for the present
They were not to be exposed to actua
battle N the front line because OF then
incomplete training.
This news, according to Secretary
Baker, came as great blow 10 tn,
Americans. They pleaded TO be allowed
TO 90 and promised TO make good de
spite their lack of training if only giveI
a chance 10 get at the enemy Blu
military discipline is rigid and the dis
appointed Americans found all thei
pieadiugs in vain and, with an album
dance of profanity, exeusable under tn,
circumstances, the ''Yanks" were or
dcred relieved by more experienced
troops.
Then came the attack on Hamel il
/
themselves with so many cases O
marked heroism. The Germans wer,
beaten to standstiH and thrown on
of the village But when ii later cam,
80 counting the casualties it was foun,
chat number of these Australian
came from Chicago and other America
places in the middle West.
The Americans, according to Secro
tary Baker S advices, had put on Aus
traliah uniforms and eamouflagcd them
selves as Australians in order to &C
into the thick of the fight. The deeora
tions bestowed upon American soldier
for the cases Of marked bravery cite
in the cable reports doubtless show no,
these Americans fought despite thei
incomplete training.
/ Secretary Baker in tcliing Of Ties
| iTeTnrts admitted with smile that
HI serious breach Of discipline may hav
4 been involved when the American
/ | forced their way into the front lin
\ fighting disguised as Australians Bu
Il the Americans were brigaded with tn
| british, 50 the British viii probabl
/ have authority to deal with the lease
| The king of England appears to hav
| dealt with them by decorating tn
| | Americans amid the rousing and cnthl
/ siastie reception which accompanied ii
H ceremony.
II Gen. March revealed the fact that II
II l31st regiment of the Thirty-third Uni
H ed States division was the America
II unit which took part in the Franc
! British Offensive in Picardt. This reg
mont of Illinois troops, operating ne;
: Chipliy. captured three officers and Il
4 men and seven los calibrc guns.
"The conduct of the American trool
i continues to win highest praise from o.
4 British and French allies" said Ge
March,
In that connection, if there is OF
thing that the American soldier dislik
4 in Franco, it is to be called Sammy
4 Nobody seems to know how that ter
\ started, but on seeing the strong, viri
l men from here over there, the Briti
4 rejected it at once and they call Il
I American troops Yanks. =