Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-10
AMAZING CHANGE since
BILL WENT TO FRANCE
Famous Artist, Captain Bruce BARNS.
father, Discusses Changes
Wrought by War.
AMERICANS ALWAYS READY
Tells OF Sturdy Cowboys From the
Planes of Texas and the Southwest,
All Of Whom Express Determine
ton TO Give Emperor Beating.
by CAPTAIN ,BRtCE uAlRNs-
FATHER,
international News Bureau. ]

Bert, All ana myself took to the mud
in that dark. humid. first winter of the
war. and dug ourselves into n slot in a
turnip field near. "plug-street." The
amazing change which has transformed
only be appreciated By those who have
been out there OF and on since the
beginning OF tho war.
1t has been NY good fortune to sea
the entire business from the front
stretching from ostcnd to the Adriatic
and the more one sees of the war TO-
day the more one becomes Stupefied by
the sight of the colossal forces that are
being brought 10 bear upon the wild
beas, in the center OF Europe. In the
old days one had. perhaps. Il couple OF
sundays with the threat that sheet
of corrugated iron might come along ~
provide roofing for the Iug-out. There
We're also II few hand grenades 10
iUgClc with.
To- day. after recent visit to the
western front. feel that if only the
Kaiser. and HindcnburE aud I.udendo,n
could make Il tour OF our lines and in
cidcntally. drop in at q. III. IL. for lunch,
they would send in their designations
The most wonderful sight OF all is
provided by those people who have
come 5000 miles.
have travelled through the country
all The way between AlSace and
Chateau Thicrry. which has been trans
West
have visited salcsns and estaminets
liens from every part OF the United
states. and al eheerfully determined
thc healthy. irdor ard buoyant spirits
OF French. English ana American light
ing men whom ! found all together iii
one Y. NJ. {. y. hut. If there are still
any people at home who are afflicted
With pessimism it would have done
chem good 10 have lived for a few
minutes IN that atmosphere of cSnilar-
atinS optimism.
They have communicated this Won
dcrful spirit 10 the French people. You
cannot walk about Paris or in the
tragic burden the French nation has
borne all these years has been percep-
tioiy liShtened by the arrival OF these
rcSolute but light hearted men. They
nave also acted like tonic on our
own imperturbablc armies.
his splendid optimism had already
man onrush towards Paris. Even in
those days none OF the fighting men
met had any doubt as TO what would
be the ultimate end 70 that huge pocket
the enemy were making on the Marine.
day ii the American trenches We're
al the foot OF the Prcsnees there would
be the same unhcStatiug confidence.
often thought Us | Travelled behind
the American lines and SAW the worlds
Dest lumherinen at work in the forests
and some OF the worlds greatest or
sanizers in charge OF the railways.
iraaFpori and the housing of the troops
mat 1t was u pity the German spy sys-
enemy would better understand the
!mmensity OF the force that is asscmb-
ing against them and they would
prolong the struggle.
One, thing you notice. about these
american soldiers who have been in
nave lost that intensely eager express
sion which betokens L thirst for inowl-
edge. They have learned "A great deal
since the!I have arrived. and they have
acquired The casual ,lisintcrestcd look
G Of me British Tommy here for the
They are vast multitude which
seems to multiply before your eyes.
GU see buildings Of huge proportions
In course Of erection which you think
may possibly play part in this war,
nut VIII certainly be ready for the
next war. You see vast camps of aero
uEo;'oS SprinEins ny and roads filling
with endless streams OF motor traffic
AMERICANS QUICKLY SIZE
u TO SITUATION
Inc lighting men seem 10 have as
sinliated all the experiences OF tho
anu I" have exactly the same outlook
ana the same feelings as the veterans
OF the allied armies, This is All The
~ tenia kan!e when You consider
orouSht modern warfare.
a" not pretend even to guess what
ior TINS mighty force in the devel-
opmeni OF the present operations. hui
having seen and talked with these men,
confident that they will do all and more
IMAM is expected from them
wd IN a certain ,r dis,ric, near vcrdun I
ing across TO the German positions on
| the Mouse. The American trcnchcs
rose in front of one of those she'll
| shattered villages with lust a churrh
and Il row Of houses, and moving nnni,i
the ruins were the soldiers OF a marine
battalion | had been TO see. Just at
~.
strate, and was Obliged to remain
lherc Tor couple Of hours. The Ger
mans wcr" Smelling the crossroads and
! certain corners and pcpperinG tho vii
laGc. hut Che Americans were moving
! casually in and out in Just the sainc
eaim, iHafcrent way as old Sill. Bert
ana All used to move about in the Ar
! hichticres and liaileul days. An cX-
| pI"sioh occurred OH road twenty
;h away from barn. and out Of
ne barn faces cautiously emerged with
| that one Eu?' "
| ] happened To hc sitting i'm a duy-
out with the colonel Of this battalion.
/ lie WAS telling me stories of tho Nox
icnn canipaign, when half ii dozen sos
%Np'9.tu III the field just in front OF
I Us l'ut he did not pause in his uarra-
villa had Just 20, twoo-ofD there,
! a an we we're following up (woo-ofD
W 'houSnt We got him IiXcd twuo-of,
! WOO "f,J, but. you see
left that place about o'clock i'm
! 80 ''t''hooI, anu ran right into the
! padre. y few shells passed overhead
ana dropped into the village. where :,
battery position happened to be. but
! ne rhdr. and The officer who Was win
nm walked steadily on in silence
( incn the padre turned to me and said:
lou know. captain people are dy-
| ing L" get into my cemetery" The Sc
men were simply fun o. the calm de-
! termination which ..aG POSSESSED oar
| nSht'ng men on the western front from
! the very beginning.
| AMERICANS HAVE GREAT
r APPETITE FOR EGGS
mat night wen, TO a particularly
large wooden clubhouse about twenty
i!iieS away and found myself in what
seemed a real Bret iIartc atmosphere.
( here Wcr" some magnificent types
0f men,, who looked as il they had
lived all their lives out in the Omen
ana had endured all manner Of hard :
shipS-unuscd 10 discipline OF any kind,
!cl mere they were All members of a.
perfectly ordered army
Ihe american appeuSe seems to have
n WondcTful capacity where eggs are
concerned. Al one American salvation
Hr!hy hut. within Two miles from Inc
front linc--!n an old barn, covered
Win rough tarpaulin-I found three