Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-26
SHRAPNEL.
Sidelights on the War
OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

There IL but one thing that makes
an American soldier '-madder" than
stray German shell and that Is to be
called SAMMY" In rejecting the
views Of his men ono American omoer
said:
| "Can US Tanks or Yankees BY an
means; we prefer that, but for
heavens sake and our own. drop
that word Sammy. It's like this.
Samuel Is quite . common name. No
| boy dislikes to be called Sam, but call
him Sammy and his blood runs bot
He hates Sammy. It sounds kind OF
soft IKE 'WMe,' Tor instance.
Ono Of the best descriptions q tlse
scenes encountered in the allies drive
after the retreatng Hun u tho fol-
! lowing story which has Just reached
me-:
A broksn-wmyed xeroplane lies in
the water meadows. Across the FIELDS
are scattered boxes Of "potato-masher"
bombs. belts Of machine-gun ammunf-
ton. rifles, odd pieces Of equipment,
all the evidences of a confused retreat
and hurried attempts to organize a
resistance. In the next village, its
mud and straw plastered walls crum-
bled by conclusion. Y. NJ c. A can
teen issues free cocoa and sells few
supplies where twenty-four hours
earlier a German brigade headquarters
stood.
on either hand complete batteries. The
dugouts Of the departed gunners are
ankle deep in rubbish. maps. books.
clothing, papers, letters and articles
of food. Our infantry have sampled
the latter with favorable comments. all
%y,A ry6t ~h ie fr,I
composition.
Tank tracks are everywhere, the print
Of their tread is stamped on road and
trench and field. The woods are full
Of the monsters themselves. resting
after action. Men, horses and guns
untrenched. dotted with patches Of
woodland full Of infantry shelters and
abandoned gun emplacements. Cavalry
| have been in action here. Dead horses
strew the plain singly and in groups,
and there are not wanting evidences
that the men themselves have suffered.
Strings Of prisoners pass; not few
are under or over age, but the ma
jority are stout. well nourished men.
| Squadrons Of aeroplanes drone
tered over the plain. masses of burned
and twisted wreckage. An upturned
rife or a lance stuck in the ground
marks where a Briton has fallen, and
always there are little heaps of field
gray Ittering the uncropped pasture:
east; cavalry jingle by at the trot; bat
teries of horse artillery take narrow
trench at the gallop; the road is a NOV
ling frieze of men and horses and guns
on the clear edge of the evening sky.
An unshaven chin is crime" when
British troops are on parade.
Suggestions Of private soldiers are
given consideration by the officers OF
plans around given points have been
based upon suggestions from men in
the ranks.
the front one soldier writes:
Its a trench padre for me in the
future. He's the only parson I shall
have the patience to listen to-" said
a corporal Of my regiment the other
day; .., $3.50. ,.,.. =,
religion in general may be unfair, but
lit represents the opinion Of the ma.
Ijority of men at the front There is
but one standard by which all mer
are gaughed out here. Is he taking
the same risk? Is he making similar
sacrifice?' we ask. The Jealous. hard
working pastor Of military age who is
convinced that his duty lies in his own
district, and that he is doing better
work there than he could do in the
trenches, may have a clear conscience
but he will undoubtedly have great
difficulty in persuading the average
soldier that his motives are pure.
The trench padre we admit, is &
bird Of another feather. Some Of us
fight shy of him; few ridicule him
many do not understand him. But the
worst man among us has a sort Of
sneaking respect for him."