The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-07
new SOLDIERS
DANDY FIGHTERS
Recent Arrivals In France from
America Soon Adapt Them
selves to Life at the
Front.
MILLIONAIRE FORGOT
Doughboys are Ardent Americans and
One New York Company
Speaks Seventeen
Languages.

tby FRANK j. Taylor, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WITH THE AMERICAN TROOPS
IN ALSACE-LORRAINE July 20
(By mail. )-By the dim light of the
moon you could barely see the
stream Of doughboys pouring out of
the sheltertng woods, and scraping
over the dusty French road toward
the trenches. They said very little
and trudged along with that measured
swinging tread which enables
Europe's veterans to carry their
heavy packs almost unheard-of dis.
! tances.
The stream seemed unending, as
the United Press staff car 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 vii
lage. The press car stopped, too. for
beyond this point every thing except
ammunition and food goes or 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 a clicking Of rifles,
and sounds of tightening packs, and
bits of gossip which could come only
from a group heading for its first
night in the trenches.
Our Citizen Soldiers.
These were Uncle Sans citizen
soldiers, new men just over from 1.-The
! states" as they have habit Of call
ing home when over here. few
| questions revealed the fact that q
year ago these boys were clerks. car
penters, students, and whatnot, In
civilian clothes. Six months ago they
were In training camp. Now they
were soldiers in France, and tonight
they were making their genuine de-
but into the war for civilization.
There was no Wild enthusiasm nor
any evidence of fear or even appre-
hension among these citizen-soldiers
as they rested before making the
last lap into the trenches. There
was a matter-of.fact sort Of conf
dence prevalent, and every man was
making the most of the breathing
spell to see that he was 100 percent
ready for battle Interest and talk
centered around the clicking rifles
and other equipment.
| This old guns sure going to DO
some work from now on" said one
doughboy to his pal, as he played
with the rifle fondly, Its the best
gun in this army"
SAY, you never shot this gum" re
piled the other. Nobody ever did,
and nobody will but me. It's some
Boche.getter. 1t was made for me
specially, Boz
Officers went through the crowd
giving a final warning about use OF
gas masks. and attention conferred
around masks for moment A lol
of chaps tried them on again. Inen
nacks were again adjusted, and the
group of doughboys streamed SLOWLY
I on.
More Silent Now.
AS they got nearer the front
trenches. the word was passed to
walk more quietly. Conversation ex
cent in undertones stopped, and they
descended into trenches. All you
heard was the steady knock of hob
mailed shoes on the trench duck
boards, as these new arrivals were
ouietly initiated to the trenches OF
the western front, somewhere II
France. Quietly and without com
motion the officers stationed theil
men. with lookouts watching across
moonlit No Mans Land, the formel
occupants of the trenches left, ant
the relief was completed.
There is something about the fear
less ouiet way these new doughboy'
t.ke TO the trenches that makes you