The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-04-29
AMERICAN FORCES
SURPRISE AUSTRALIAN
Especially the Size of the Army and the
Enthusiasm of the Men to Get Into
the Fray--Says Germans Are
In for a Rude Awakening.

Behind the British Lines in France
April 20 Correspondence of the Asso,
ciated Press The. Germans are in for
a rude awakening if they are sincere in
discounting the American army in
France, in the opinion of f. Nj. CutIack
assistant official correspondent with the
Australian imperial force here.
The Americans he asserted, have a
spirit for which the kaiser would sacri-
flee good half of his numbers if he
could get it into his troops to-day" Re
turning from visit to the American
forces, Mr.. Cutlack wrote
"The dominant fact in the arrival of
the United States army is the huge big
ness of it. 1t is new@new as paint
and keen as raeehorse in training-or
rather a whole paddockful of race horses.
| The world viii probably not have the
chance again of seeing such spectacle
of amateur warlike earnestness, for the
Americans are learning very fast.
ut saw something Of the same sort
when the Australian war army began
long ago in l9l4-the same light hearted
enthusiasm, the same rich raw quality
all unframed and inexperienced, the same
outpouring of the very best of whole
country in an emotion of national pride,
counting neither cost nor returns. The
Americans are not soldiers yet, and no
people realize better than themselves
how much they have still to do to make
themselves soldiers, but they will be
great and powerful army in probably
shorter time than they reckon upon.
Great armies have before this been
raised for great causes, and the British |
empire has the best of reasons for know |
ing how with the vital spark in him the |
most unmilitary civilian may become a |
fine soldier. But no army you can read /
of in history ever marched with more
splendid ardor or faced great struggle /
with serener satisfaction than the Amer
lean eXpeditionary force in France. And
it is such a mighty army. They will not
tell YOU how big, and You are discour-
aged from guessing, but we ran through
all a spring day in a huge automobile
and still the American host dotted the
landscape, drilling, marching, maneuver
ing, building camps and roads.
They are learning the art of fighting
from the best soldiers of France and
Britain, and many of their officers as at
.aches OF one sort or another have seen
ot of this war from the German and
Turkish side as well. We found a major
who had watched the Gallipoli campaign
rom the top OF Bsttleship bill aud was
n the confidence of Liman Won Sanders
md the Turkish pashas He has there
one a particularly warm regard for tie
Australians.
I'VE went mp to see the American line
n Lorraine. In their khaki and round, 1
in hats among the Lorraine hills they
ouk and act very mucn like our own
aen; indeed. they might be our own fel-
ows. They have the same sturdy self
eliant look. They spread themselves
yer the country in the fashion of men
to vast spaces. They walk
fith the same easy, free-limbed carriage
heir discipline. like Ours. Is a thing
-hich force could never impose or main
ain. but Is rather contributed valuntar-
y 10 a common gBod in violation Of
smperameut and upbringing
Against these men. a. against the
len 81 the British empire, the Germans
ave no chance