The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-10-08
YANKEE SPIRIT
WILL WIN WAR
Declares Commander of Unit
Now Over There.
NOTHING DAMPENS kRDO2

Time of His Life-spend Week or
More in Rest Camps in England Be-
fore Going to France.
1t was dawn. A pelting rain
drenched this quaint historic English
village. Far up the muddy road over
the big hills came the mufled tones Of
a military band. They were playing
Americas popular war song, "Over
There"
Behind them marched singing. shout
ing warriors-5,000 of Uncle Sans
soldiers-marching from their rest
camp to trains on the last leg of their
journey to No Mans Land.
The rain did not dampen their ar
dor. Through the mud they waded
with grinning faces singing Hail,
hail, the gangs all here; what the
HI do we care"
ITS the spirit of American soldiers
that's going to win this war;" OBJ
served Col. e. V. Smith, c~ommandant
Of one of the units. He was a jolly
old "war horse" with the face, figure
and humor that made him look the
twin of Irwin Cobb.
81 was a classmate Of Black Jack
Pershlng at West Point" he grinned.
"Ill sure be glad TO see him over
there in France"
"some Boys" These.
He hailed from San Francisco and
his regiment comprised boys from
parts of Pennsylvania, Indiana, ILL.,
nois and Kentucky. Nothing else in
the world mattered TO him just now
but his "boys,'' and he was so proud
of them, he said, as he Joined a party
of us along the roadside watching the
boys swing past.
"See that fellow over there" he
pointed out a clean-cut, grinning
Yank, plodding along with a 40-pound
pack on his back. "He was an Illinois
coal operator and had an income Of
100000 a year until the draft got him.
Now he's getting a little better than
$500 a year and likes it. I've got more
just like him in my unit"
Near by stood a little old lady who
rushed out ever and anon to grasp
the hands Of the Yanks. "Good-by,
boys"-there was the suspicion of a
tear and her lip quivered as she
added: Hope you all get back. Good
luck and God bless you"
Mother Powell they called her,
some one said. From out the big
brown shawl thrown over her head
pnannI "A Ht4ln old Ialu fa1a gunh 40
we have expected and hoped our dead
and gone grandmothers had. She had
lost two sons in the trenches lover
there" and every morning, rain or
shine, she was out on the road bid
ding the boys good-by and Godspeed
on their journey "over there"
Some of the Yanks ceased their hi
larity long enough to grasp her hand
or shout "Good-by, mother" One
brushed her cheek with his lips and
l could see him fighting back the tears
as he plOdded on The Yanks only
stay a week or so in the rest camp
here, but they all knew her.
Rest for a Week.
E~ntraining from the boats at an
English port all the American soldiers
rest up a week or so at one or another
of the American rest camps in or
around this historic English village.
In company with three colonies and a
number of other officers / visited the
night before the largest of these
camps.
American camaraderie runs high in
England. When Yank meets Yank in
Great Britain the conventions are
dropped in the hail-fellow-well-met
fashion. In this manner l met an
American colonel at the station. He
spotted me for a Yank, thrust out his
hand and introduced himself.
81 got a tin buggy going up to the
camp shortly climb in" he invited.
We reached the camp in time for
dinner and ii was 'some" dinner. In
the galvanized iron mess hut for Of
ficers / sat down TO a real Yankee
square feed" of roast beef, potatoes,
peas, tomatoes, coffee with real UNI
skinned milk and sugar and an honest
to-Jehosaphat American apple pie.