El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-05

A PICTURE in a weekly publication shows A1eIiean
n troops attending Drawn up in hollow square,
they look number about 1000 The troops surround the
coorz the stands the chaplain leading ID
tie exercises Of worship. The place is mile from the
enemys line and the horizon is bank Of cloud from
the discharge Of and the explosion Of shells Indeed
In spot Of danger where sudden concen-
trsou Of shells would wipe them out but their heads are
bowed IN devotion.
Happy 70 lucky Americans perhaps might almost
call them Treveent turning to God as they acquire c
lie experience Living almost constantly On ne oL
death their thoughts insncvely to the immortality
Of the soul and 70 the nature OF existence aeI ceah war
writer's o. other uaonaltes nave oeen saying IN tnese
past years that almost without exception soldier develops
deep religious sentiment, faith which may be crude but
the less devOut For instance, he may swear OUT
raeeouslv and stu believe In God and trust II Him. and
pray to Him And he may break the moral law but fight
Ike soldier Of the This, Of course, applies to the
rougber spirits among the troops the finer ones becoming
religious in an action well in thought
What has been the experience Of British and French
troops also becoming that Of Americans. They fight
ing with dash at first They courageous
daring determined ever but in the case Of many
thousands their religious selves are being born
very striking illustration Of this is contained just
cdeutay letter received il this country by officer
Ct the regular army Lieut. Guy S Williams Eighth machine
guH battalion Illustrating also the sublime courage and self
sacrifice Of American troops IN action;
u have Just back to the for the first time in
two months For the first time since june 2 nave taken
off ny shoes and clothes at nights for the first time since
June ?, had bath a week aga real bath
razndng company up there and when left 1t week
ago IT was not the same company took into the line
from battle, glorious battle IN the light Of
eslts but even glorious battle has its drawbacks II is
terribly rough and often finds himself wishing
b back at home IN nice, quiet railroad wreck
uilsoglycsrine explosion
Il could Write you all night about the terrible things
have seen but take It for granted that get their
heads blown off and legs separated from their torsos
So VIII lot dwell upon them. But there are also
beautiful things
u started through wood at night with % Of my men
J. under terrific sheTe, but had orders 60
through There nine Of when reached des
rna0n and three Of the nine went from there to the
hospital
4As stood the edge of the wood there was an
explosion and within ten feet Of fell With hrapnel
il his head An officer bent over him.
aTm afraid we've lost man here the officer said 10
the major The fallen Just smiled. Yes he said
family you've lost But 60 get them, sir; III be all
night
i passed him when making my way hack alone.
He lay dead IN the moonlight But the smile had impressed
itself upon his face IF destined go vest here
private did that night don't know his nas perhaps he
lies out there unbured now; but when he fell God took
bis spirit home and think left the smile there 10 show
ohers Of how die like Soldiers OF the Cross
That lad won't be there when the returning warriors
swing the avenue apres Ia guee not for him to share
the JOYS Of reunion back home But when the White Cap
leads past the Throne the comrade souls of the heroic
dead the face Of God shall light his path and angels shall
place upon his brow the laurel leaves Of victory"
Of the strain Of battle and Of the relief Of that strain
Ehich trust IN God brings, he writes:
There have been times when II seemed inst couldn't
have come right up to the swapping point sometimes
but something always happens TO relieve the tension
officers and enlisted sang Jesus Lover Of Ny Soul
looked about me at those singing, with
bound UP, With faces almost smotheIed in gauze
nearly an wounded in place.
Il thought Of the night early in the fighting when
licked down upon the dead faces Of captain and lieu