McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1918-08-09
HOW THE MARINES
RECEIVED CROSSES
DESCRIPTION or THE CEREMONY
OF THEIR DECORATION ~
THE FRENCH NATION.
THEIR HER0IsM IS LAuDED

Dur Army Needs More chaplains and
10 Training Them--unlform Physl-
cal Standards Adopted by War De-
partment--Hollow Tile an Essential.
kFrom Committee on Public~Information.)
1 Washington. Marine corps head
quarters gives the committee on pub
Pic information graphic account OF
the decoration of American marines
with the French Croix de Guerre for
heroic service In battle last May. 1t
says In part:
s'Within the sound and range of the
German guns, hidden by the shelter
ing trees of dense forest, under a
heavy morning mist and driving rain,
French veterans of Verdun, the Marine,
the Aisne and the Somme honored
their younger comrades Of America by
conferring upon them the Croix de
Guerre. Thirty marines, including i've
officers, were awarded this coveted
French decoration for gallant conduct.
courage and GOODNESS In action against
the enemy during the occupation of a
hector by the marine brigade. OF the
total number cited In French orders
for this decoration only eleven were
present, three having been killed In ac-
tion and sixteen were wounded and In
the field hospital.
/ "A number of French soldiers were
decorated at the same time. As Is the
custom half company from each OF
the companies whose men were hon
bred was present and drawn up 80 as
TO form square. The presentation OF
the decorations took place within this
human enclosure. The marines and
poilus, side by side, presented pic
kure symbolical of the close bond ex-
Gsting between America and France In
this conflict and particularly SO Of the
manner in which marines have worked
and fought with the French soldiers
during the period Of their instructions
in an adjacent sector.
'sThe french general who pinned
the decorations on the breasts of the
proud marines eloquently praised their
achievements in short speech In
which he summarized their deeds of
bravery, remarking on the fine state
of discipline and efficiency of the bri-
gade, and congratulatlng its command
ing officer upon his excellent organi-
zation. He then pinned the little
bronze emblems on the men, and shook
each one by the. hand with personal
word of congratulation."
limitations governing entrance into all
branches of the regular army, the ma
tional army and the National Guard
have been adopted by the war depart
ment and will be observed by the army
medical department and the local and
medical advisory boards under the Sc
Hective service regulations.
Observance of the new rules and
regulations by the local boards will
result, 1t is believed, in uniform ex.
Nominations In all parts of the country
and should prevent men physically dis
qualified for military service from be-
Ing sent out to camps. The new stand
ards also will enable local physicians
ITO make examinations with a better
understanding of the needs of the
army and will clear any misconcep-
tions and misunderstanding that
might result in the sending to camps
Iof men who had been rejected.
/ Heretofore the physical standards
Iof the three armies have differed and
Instances have been noted where men
who have been rejected for service by
lthe recruiting officers OF the regular
army have been accepted for military
service by draft board physicians. I'm
der the new uniform standards this
llwill not be possible unless the dlsquali.
flying defect has been removed The
Fule for all three armies Is that to
make q good soldier man must be
Fable to see well, have comparatively
good hearing, his heart must be able
TO stand the stress of physical exer.
ltion, he must be intelligent enough to
understand and execute military ma
Ineuvers, obey commands, protect him
self, and must be able to transport
himself by walking as the exigencies
of military life may demand.
Exceptions from the new standard
rules are made In the case Of men Sc.
.lected for special and limited service
The experience of the past year has
enabled the medical authorities to es
tablish these new standards of exam
inations which will relieve the local
boards of doubt as to decisions In I'M
usual cases. Enough such cases have
been examined to establish a policy In
determining their military fitness. In
|structions are given as to what classes
lof men may be accepted for limited
service and for treatment for remedia
Eble defects.
Nearly every motion-picture theatel
FIN the country is enlisted in the cam
lpaign Of the United States employ
rnent service Of the department o
labor to supply labor to the farms
Eleven of the largest motion-pictur,
manufacturers are cooperating witt
khe farm service division in its driv'
for maximum food production. Thes
film producers are releasing to thei
Isubscribers-th Understanding pic
ture ''trailers," calling on all thos
who possibly can do so to voluntee
for harvest work and other forms o
emergency farm labor.
The bureau OF crop estimates, de