The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-08-30
CAPTAIN BAIRNSFATHER WRITES
OF THE YANKEES IN FRANCE

have much the same point OF view
about the war and what they are fight
ing for. That is to say. they have no
illusions about it; they know there Is
nothing romantic about the conditions
of warfare today. Many Of the men
1 talked with had fought In the Philip
pines. in Mexico. and in revolts IN
Hayti. and they are fully aware these
were picnics in comparison with the
sordid realism Of the trenches IN
Europe
I'VE can't have people like these
Boches running amuk like this IN
Europc," Expresses their attitude. Tncy
quite expect the war to last for years.
and they are modest about the part they
hope To play The Russian collapse Is
regarded merely as sidc-show.. OIL
though they realize what it means 10
tho western front. The antics OF the
Bolshcvikis interest them still less IL
is sufficient that America is IN the
war, that she has always fought to
finish. and that if eventually only Brit
ain and America arc left they will carry
on the fight against the Germans until
tho enemy gives in. There il some
thing tough and implacable about these
Sammics which makes you feel that
nothing can shake their determination.
That part of France where they are
cncampcd looks just as If n great chunk
Of the United States had been trans
planted At the same moment. inc
French villages with the big fellows
with their bronChn. hats 1T every street
corner are Xix" the western villages IN
the states. With all their Erimness
these Americans arc 4 CHEEKY lot They
F..h ~
boys, although highly 10 tho Sanmics
has very different significance.
. 1t is truly Il democratic army. When
off duty officers and men meet on terms
of absolute equality; there arc no dis
tinrtiona whatever. Trt the discipline
is very Strict--I was surprised To IND
it so cxactinE. Tho officers commands
arc raped out like pistol shots.
I remember ono day driving with one
OF the divisional commanders when
We met Il somewhat tired squad walk
ing along rarh"r casually.
Tho commander stopped the car. and
going UP to the SQUAD began: well.
if you ARC not E. D. toughest LOT
W tramps ever sct eyes on" The
men wcr" Intensely alert ut once. very
quick and smart IN obeyinG his conn
mnnds and took II all very GOOD
humoredly. rho talk Of both officers
and mon is full NJ that picturesque
humor. which never srcms 10 1ail inc
American wherever he goes in peace
or war. In France. Sammy rarely speaks
without making humorous nllusion 10
something Thus: | saw one lanky.
lean fellow examining with Keen IN
tcrrst the harhcd wire enclosing
Roche intcrmcnt camp. After
thoughtful silence he turned to me ana
said Ernvcly:
Wal guess could make Orleans
with \ sack Of coal on my back from
that cncamrmnnt-" In other words. he
thought that the harbcd wire wanted
strengthening.
l was in one camp and wanted TO
post letter To England and wondered
whether ought TO put it into the
French or tn" American post. so l
inquired. The reply was. Wal.
should take 1t To thc French post OF
flee because if you post in tho Aneri-
can pillar box il will he slower than
molasscs in June"
One terribly bleak day 7 vas watch
ing Some trrnch digging that was going
on in 4 barren waste or land when nnr
Of Snmics who had become rsast"rcd
with mud in the COURSE Of his "Xcrtinns
looked up ut mo and said: You would
not think ! WAS n minister's son. would
you now" Like all Americans that man
was very proud Of his home associa-
lions.
They all like TO tell you what they
were in civil Northumberland. drug
store assistants. safety razor, manufac-
turcrs clrrks--they take 4 Pride In it.
found as many interesting types as
did In tho ranks of tho old British Ar
my.
Tho "Old Fill" Of Uncle SANS army
Is a tall, tough. thin. veteran somewhere