Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-08-10
Learn Quickly And Soon Adapt
Themselves to Surround
mgS.
By Frank J. Taylor,


Omitted Press staff correspondent
With the American troops in Alsaee-
Lorraine, July 2O.-(By Mail. by the
dim light of the NOON you could barely
see the stream of doughboys pouring
out of the sheltering woods, and scrap
ing over the dusty French road toward
the trenches They said very little and
trudged along with that measured
swinging tread which enables Europe 8
veterans to carry their heavy packs
almost unheard-of distances.
The stream seemed unending, as the
United Press staff ear picked its way
from squad to squad without using
lights, without falling in bitches, and
without touching single dOughboy.
Finally one section of the human
stream halted in a ruined village. The
press car stopped, too, for beyond this
poinu everything except ammunition
and food goes on foot.
The officers gave the order to rest,
and lot of packs dropped to the
ground, followed by doughboys, Their
rifles they never dropped. In the
moonlight you could see the ground
covered with resting soldiers, mostly
sitting. There was clicking Of rifles,
and sounds of tightening packs, and
bits of gossip which would come only
from a group heading for its first
night in the trenches.
Our Citizen Soldiers.
These were Uncle Sans citizen-sol-
diers, new men just over from ".the
States, as they have a habit of call
ing home when over here. A few
questions revealed the fact that year
ago these boys were clerks, carpenters,
students, and whatnot, in civilian
clothes. Six months ago they were
in a training camp. Now they were
soldiers in France, and tonight they
were making their genuine debut into
the war for civilization.
There was no wild enthusiasm nor
any evidence of fear or even eppfe-
hension among these citizen soldiers as
they rested before making the last lap
into the trenches. There was a matter
of-fact sort of confidence prevalent,
and every man was making the most
of the breathing spell to see that he
was 100 percent ready for battle. In
terest and talk centered around the
clicking rifles and other equipment.
"This old guns sure going to do
some work from now OH" said one
doughboy to his pal, as he played with
the rifle fondly, "It's the best gun
in this army"
More Silent Now.
As they got nearer the front trench
es, the word was passed to walk more
quietly. Conversation except in I'm
dertones stopped, and they descended
into trenches. All you heard was the
steady knock of hobnailed shoes on
the trench duckboards, as these new
arrivals were quietly initiated to the
trenches on the western front, some
where in France. Quietly and with
out commotion the officers stationed
their men. with lookouts watching a.
cross moonlit No Man g Land, the for
mer occupants of the tr nches left,
and the relief was completed.
There is something about the fearless
quiet way these new doughboys tak-
to the trenches that makes you feel
they know lot about warfare. They
are veterans before they enter the
trenches, by firstrate military train
ing if not experience. Their discip-
line is fine. and their efficiency tells
you they are ready for Businessmen
ing whipping Germans.
They Did 1t, Too.
1T happens this doughboy's platoon
did it very soon. The next night 150
Germans came over, and so of these
" unframed boys" withstood the at
tack and stuck to their guns. The
Germans who were still alive and able
to run, retreated, double-quiek time.
Speaking of the way the newly-ar-
rived Americans take to the trenches
and to their duties, one brigadier gem
eral who had just finished complete
relief said, "They re not exactly glad
to get into the trenches. / guess no
one is glad of that. But these boys
all figure it's work to be done, and
they re here to lick the Germans. They
re keen to get the job done They re
confident, all right, but not boastful,
because they know there s lot to
learn.