Evening journal., 1918-02-18
nv c. G. LYON.
EVENING JOURNAL Reporter with the
Anerican ARMY In France

EVENING JOURNAL Reporter with the
American Army in France.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Feb. i7-The chief idea be-
hind our military censorship is to keep
The kaiser OF Germany from finding out
how .-any Of us Americans there are
over here, nsw bic a supply OF gro
ceries we have on .-snd. and how we
feel about continuing olu .lttle efair
with him.
For that reason. no war correspond
ent is permitted TO mention any Amer
lean military unit by name or number
or disclose its identity.
We have been permitted TO say that
every state in the Union is now repre-
sented by troops on French soil, but 10
Is absolutely prohibited 10 indicate that
there might be some here from Missou-
ri. or New York, or Ohio
Here's one way correspondents have
OF gently evading the censorship and
still staying in the good graces Of the
censors:
Il visited today a unit that Is
commanded by a major who is still
In his early thirties," a correspond
is the son Of a former president
of the United states. who has very
prominent teeth, who occasionally,
mind you. win drink a milk punch
lust before retiring n he has had a
particularly strenuous day, and
who Is the inventor Of numerous
phrases such as shorter and uglier
word, practical men, strenuous
life etc etc"
It's no military secret that my voting
residence is in Columbus, o, and that
I often am permitted by my boss to
spend days at a time in that beautiful
city with my family.
Now. 50 far as ! know, otlcially,
there are no troops in France from
Ohio or any other state.
But I AM INTERESTED in one OUTFIT
In particular.
Censorship rules forbid naming this
OUTFIT
BUT
70 Is commanded by a tall lanky in
dlvidual who used TO be adiutant gen
eral Of a certain state in America This
state. since The Civil War; has been
chiefly engaged in furnishing presi-
dents and candidates Tor presidents.
llIN particular NNNUutA Nu0 uIl'NlAN-
"a adiutant general by q certain gov
ernor Of one OF the States and this gov
a~n0r was large. jolly fellow who
always tucked his napkin under his
chin and whose principal cuss word
was "By Heck"
often co over % visit this OUTFIT.
The master Of ceremonies at the
-oloners headuuarters Is big sergeant /
aHIN
Tank used TO be something Of a base /
hall player. In fact, he's still on the |
~olIs Of a certain national league club /
and back in i9ii it was Lanks mighty |
swa'ting that won the worlds cham !
Next to General persbing himself. /
and few other generals. Lank is about /
The most popular soldier In France. /
When his regiment oomes swinging /
down the pike the sidelines are jam
med with other soldiers who crane |
their necks TO get a peek A him.
Lank always carries the flag. He's /
now a sergeant.
$50 that fella's Lank, the great ball
player" You can hear one "doughboy'
say 10 another "Wen. I'll be dos
roned Looks lust like any other sol
dier. don't he?"
what you expect TO see?" will as
a boy who has worshpped Lank's bsi
ting AVERAGE for 10 these many year
"Didia expect to see a fell wearin
baseball uniform and cartyin a ba'
over his shoulder? Sure that's LAM
Hello. Lank. hodia Ike soldiering?"
Lank viii look out Of the corner o
his eye and then. sure that the colon
isn't looking viii reply out of ih
corner Of his mouth
Were onto the kaiser's curves. how
Wen hit everything those Huns pic
for home runs No strike outs in ihh
game"
Lank is the life OF his regiment. In
his "stove leaGue" this winter he has
organized an kinds Of baseball leagues
and next sprinV he's going TO lead
championship team against an soldier
corners.
II General Pershing isn't too busy
IBnk win try TO get him 20 umpire
some afternoon.
Lsnk isn't very strong for the disci-
Milne stYn thev have in the army. but
he behaves himself and does every