The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-03-27
Boys From United States Rapidly
Turned Into Men.
ACQUIRE AIR OF VETERANS
American Troops Seemed Very Young
the Day Before They Went to Battle
Llne-Say Food "is Good Enough"
and They Usually Get II on Time
French Alrmen Always on Guard for
Enemy.


American soldiers who were to go to
the front that night wandering about
the streets of the little village from
which the start was to be made. Other
soldiers were there, mostly men of the
French line. and Moroccans and Al
ger.ans, writes Herbert Corey In the
Chicago News.
what is the difference between the
American and the French soldiersi we
asked each other. BY and by the an
swer came.
They look so young"
Yet they were not unduly young.
Take the Americans one by one and
they were seen to be stout, physically
matured, decidedly intelligent young
men. Their faces were full of char
acter N decision. 1t Is doubtful If
they are younger collectively by a day
than h men of a company of Moroc-
a shock troops who have been watch
Ing them with interest. Some of these
latter are mere kids. One had not yet
raised a beard.
The explanation came to us eventual.
ly. The French troops were veterans.
Even though they may be no older they
have matured In war. Ii often happens
that the veteran Is a mere child I'm the
arairs OF civil life. These French may
not be the equals In prompt decision
and resolution and forethought OF the
Americans In matters that have not to
do with war. But In fighting they are
centuries older.
6oyish illusion Persists.
A few hours later we saw the Amer.
lean troops marching out to take their
places In the trenches. That Illusion
OF boyishness persisted. Even their
gait seemed to be that Of boys, al.
though they wore a soldiers full ac-
coutrement and carried a 60-pound
pack. Yet we know that a week In the
trenches-granted that they are called
on to do real f1ghting-will transform
them from amateurs of wal into nerve
tested veterans. More time will be
needed to teach them the tricks Of
their new trade, but In a single week
they will have altered their PERSONAL
e~S w AitSt tht htW uGIluIluS.
The village was one of the thou
sands of tiny towns which are scattered
along the French front. Shells had
fallen In Ii from time to time. and
roofs here and there were crushed In,
and holes dug In the roadway. Some
thing had happened to the church.
do not now remember what Ii was, and
yet my memory preserves a distinct
impression that the church was not as
II should be. Ii seemed d~isheveied and
ragged. Now and then German avia.
tors flew owe Ii, to see what was
going on. The French flyers always
challenged them.
The few Inhabitants of the village
hardly looked up to watch the air
lights. They were old stories to them.
The Americans wandered about.
curiously, trying their scanty frag-
ments Of French on the people and
~accustoming themselves to the village
life SO near the front. Their billets
have been at a greater distance from
the line for the most part. The Ger
mans are but seven miles away here.
The front line Of trenches into which
they will move tonight are In places
only five miles away.
French Alrmen Always Guard.
AT the outskirts of the town q group
OF Americans are gathered. Half of
them, perhaps, carry the cheap double
field glasses which are on sale every
where. They put In hours searching
the details of the horizon where the
German is hiding.
Every half hour or so a Boche flyer
tries to get over the town. Perhaps he
wants to bomb the village. What Is
more likely Is that the Germans are
merely putting over the daily recon.
Nuisance. They may suspect that
something is going ON and are trying
to confirm the impression. Each time
a French flyer materializes In some
mysterious fashion. One never sees
where they come from. One is watch.
ing the German, and suddenly one sees
him veer toward the safety of his own
lines. A vicious looking Spad is on
his heels.
W. ~ AuttSA puil VI tile after
room smoke begins to pour from the
short chimneys Of the rolling kitchen
Coffee Is being cooked-real American
coffee-well "doped" with condensed
milk and plentifully sweetened. The
men gather with their aluminium ups
and plates, and beans are ladled oui
to them. An enormous sandwich OF
white bread and corned beef from
cans Is handed to each. Even n sol.
dier's appetite Is satisfied. But they
have been at the job long enough to
learn how to kick.
I'm off beans for the rest of nv
life," n boy 81 dream
about 'em now"
Not many comment on the food
however. They say briefly that 1t SIS
good enough" and that they usually
get 1t on time. Now and then some
thing goes wrong, but they take thai
as an incident Of war. They have lit.
- 70 ~ Of what Ii to ome