Middletown transcript., 1918-04-06
AMERICANS ON
BATTLE From ]
France Accepts General Perish
ing's Offer.
ON PLAINS OF PICARDf
Khakj.clad Americans Singing, Marcn
Through Driving Rain And Wade
Through Deep Mud, In Order TO
Get Into Position For Great Battle.

American Army in France.-An the
American troops have been turned
over to the Allies for such use as they
see fit to make of them. American
troops may soon be fighting side by
side with their British and French
allies in the battle which is raging IN
Northern France.
It is enough to say that gerat &C
tivity of many sorts is in progress IN
the entire American zone. Miles OF
motor trucks loaded with ammunition
have passed through the towns, some
going in one direction, some in an
other. Through driving rain the
motor trucks plowed their way alons
muddy roads, the Americans singing
Many of the trucks had American
flags fastened to their tailboards.
On other roads mile after mile OF
marching Americans splashed through
the mud, which came over their
ankles. The horses were steaming
from the work they had to do. All
the men are working as hard as pos.
sible. with the realization that they
are to be of service in the common
cause and used in the present con-
dict.
Every man is thrilled to the core
by General Pershing's offer.
They show the results of their train
ing in their whole conduct, even in
the salute when staff cars passed. The
training is now over. The beginning
of the real thing is at hand. The
troops are glad to get into action,
particularly in this crucial period.
News reaching here is to the effect
that the French and British have
definitely stopped the enemy. This
is indicated even by the communique
from Berlin.
The news was received with the
| intentest joy by the Americans, who
now feel sure that they will be in the
thick of it when the tables are turned
on the foe.
Baker Approves Action.
Secretary Of War Baker gave news
| papermen, calling on him at General
Pershing's residence, the following
statement:
II am delighted over the prompt
and effective action taken by Cen
eral Pershing in placing all Amer
lean troops at the disposal Of the
Allies. In the present situation,
his action will meet hearty ap.
proval in the United States, where
the people desire the Expedition
airy Force to be of the utmost
service to the common cause.
II visited practically all the
American troops in France, some
of them quite recently, and had
an opportunity to see the en-
thusiasm with which officers and
men received the announcement
that they may be used in the pres
ent conflict. The regiments broke
spontaneously into cheer when
they were appraised of it."
Secretary Baker said he did not SCI
the American railway engineer on tn
British front.
May Be Open Warfare.
The news that the German driv'
has been definitely stopped, which
even the Berlin communique prae
tically admits, was received with tn
greatest enthusiasm by the American
troops, who had become somewha
pessimistic temporarily.
Everywhere it is realized that tim
means much more to the Allies thai
1t does to the enemy. If worst come
to worst, many Americans otherwis
regarded as unfit for the trenches be
cause of lack of lengthy training coul
be thrown into the struggle, especia
~ if the war became a campaign Q
movement instead of the old station
airy tactics Of intrenched positions.
In open war the training in trenc
warfare would not count so heavil
and the troops of lesser training Nigh
be thrown in line.