The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-08-27

$50 AAAA - AAOVP8 III <1tEdGG~
Lorraine.-By the dim light of the
moon you could barely see the stream
Of doughboys pouring out of the shell
tering 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 un-
heard-of distances.
The stream seemed unending, as the
United Press stan car picked It's way
from squad to squad without using
lights, without falling In bitches aud
without touching a single doughhoy.
Finally one section of the human
stream halted In a ruined village. The
press car stopped. too. for beyond this
point everything except ammunition
and food goes on foot.
Tit officers gave the order to rest.
. a lot Of packs dropped to the
ground. followed by doughboys. Their
rtfles they dropped. In the moon
light 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.
Indifferent to Danger.
These were Uncle Sans citizen SOL
diers. new men just over from "the
states" as they have a habit of calling
nome when over here. A few ques-
lions revealed the fact that q year ago
these boys were clerks, carpenters
students and whatnot, In civilian
clothes. Six months ago they were In
: training camp. Now they were SOL
dsers In France, and tonight they were
making their genuine debut into the
war FOR civilization.
There was no Wild enthusiasm nor
n evidence Of fear or even appre-
hensson among those c~itizcn-so,dters
a. they rested before making The last
lap Into the trenches. There was a
Tetfer~of-fact sort of confidence prev.
alent. and every man was making the
NOR Of the breathing spell 20 see th..t
hs was 100 per cent ready for battle
Interest and talk conferred around the
clicking rifles and other equipment.
This old guns sure going to do
sore work from now on" said one
doughboy to his pal, as he played with
the rifle fondly. TITS the best gun In
this army"
Say, you never shot this gum" re-
piled the other. Nobody ever did. and
nobody viii but me. It's some Boche-
eetter. It vas made for me specially,
Boz
Cancers went through the crowd. CIV
lng Z nnal warning about use OF gas
masks. and attention conferred around
MASKS Tor . moment. A lot OF chaps
tried them on again. Then packs again
were adjusted, and the group of dough-
boyD streamed slowly on.
Ready for Business.
A. they got nearer the front trenches
the word was passed to walk more
quietly. Conversation excep. In I'M
deFtones stopped. and they descended
Into trenches. All You heard was the
1teady knock Of hobnailed shoes on
the trench ~duckboards. us these Jew
Arrivals were quietly initiated to the
trenches In France. Quietly and with
out c0mmotion the officers stationed
their men. with lookouts watching
Z ACROSS m0Onlit No Mans Land, the
former occupants Of the trenches left,
and the relief was completed.
There Is something about the fear
less quiet way these new dougbhoys
take the trenches that makes you
Tel they know a lot about warfare.
Ihey are veterans before they enter
The trenches. by first-rate military
trimming II not experience. Their dis
clpllne r flne. and their efficiency tells
ron they are ready for business
meaning whipping Germans.
We'll. you can tell Kaiser Bill we're
here to neht," said one doughboy, as
be took his station. eHear the Ger.
mann ~ we're just q crowd OF I'M
Trained boys. Wen soon show them
Were oo1dierD."
e happens this doughboy's platoon
oid 4 very coon. The next night 100
Germans came over. and fifty Of these
s0nfratned boys withstood the attack
son1 ntuck 20 their guns. The Germans
40 we're still alive and able to run,
ep1ooto6. double-quick time.
~ H. Days. Work.
Doolfne Of the way the newly mr.
tiv6d AmcEicans take to the trenches
onI ~ 1Aelf dntles. one brigadier gem
es17s N1o ~ Just nnished = complete