The Benson signal., 1918-08-31
YANK SOLDIERS COOL.
WILLING AND DETERMINED

Germans came over, and fifty of these
"untrained boys" withstood the attack
and stuck to their guns. The Germans
who were still alive and able to run,
retreated, double-quick time.
All in Days Work.
Speaking of the way the newly ar
rived Americans take to the trenches
and to their duties, one brigadier gen
eral, who had just finished a complete
relief, said: They're not exactly glad
to get into the trenches. l guess no
one is glad of that But these boys
all figure it's work to be done, and
they're here to lick Germans. They're
keen to get the job done. They're con-
fldent, all right, but not boastful, be-
| cause they know there's lot to learn"
A doughboy gave his version of how
he and his pals felt while out there
racing No Mans Land for the first
time. "We're not scared of the Ger
mans, and when the time comes, We'll
show them. We're going to do our
best, which is about all they ask of us.
Believe me, it's going to be a mighty
good best"
The new men in the fighting game
adapt themselves to the front quickly
as did the first Americans over. Every
night it is ''over the top" for patrols Of
them, and in few days they are en-
tirely familiar with No Mans Land.
The German front trenches next fall
IN the line Of investigation and the
Germans Snor adopt the policy Of fall
ing back TO avoid fighting.
Back of the lines on the home side,
bank clerks, BARRIERS and men Of every
profession who have temporarily be-
come soldiers soon make themselves at
home among the ruins and in woods.
more than the most delicate meal they
ever ate from a white linen covered
table and real dishes, especially If
there has. been work to do. Soldier
ing agrees with them. you can see. by
the work they do, the meals they eat
and the huskies they have become.
Chauffeur Gets "Fresh."
Discipline is fine, even if it is hard.
| A major tells how his chauffeur be-
came little "fresh" one day. Know
ing the doughboy was a good chap, the
major took him aside and talked to
him instead of "bawling him out" be-
fore the crowd. The doughboy apollo.
giZed.
"Tm sorry, major" he said. "You
see I own a couple of businesses back
in New York, and have more than
million dollars in my own name, and
it's little hard to remember my place
in the army now. But I'll do it, SOM
| how"
You think you are in an information
al army when you visit some Of the
new American units now in the lines.
One company from New York boasts
that it's members know seventeen Ian
guages, and If you wander in on them
about mess time, when talking and
plates full Of GRUB" have been emp
tied, you are convinced.
But all Of these doughboys are ar
dent Americans, and they have won
! the admiration of their comrades who
, can speak the tongue without an ac-
cent. They are all snappy looking SOL
dlers.
Sure of Success.
The new units have dragged their
clean and fresh-lOoking equipment,
such as supply wagons, camp kitchens,
machine-gun outfits and all that is
needed up into the, Alsace and Lorraine
hills. The line runs up and down steep
mountain sides and across pretty val
! leys. 1t is beautiful country and
fine place to be initiated to the front.
for the doughbOy must be on the alert
all the time. In this area there is
shell-Swept, well-wired No Mans Land
across which Germans cannot come
without being easily detected. Woods
and hills and wild country make the
place one in which only strict atten-
ton to business will keep the Germans
out.
These dOughboys in the line have no
hankering to "take things easy" Ev
cry man in the line will tell you in
confidential tones that he has a per-
sOnal grudge to settle with the Huns
for dragging the world into this nasty
| business, and the sooner aggressive
action is taken the sooner Germany is
going to be punished and war made a
thing of the past.
This is the job every doughboy fig
ures he has to do, and the confidence
with which he takes to the trenches
| tolls thu xuorld ho will s,l1nnnnd