The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-02-21
TRENCH T FIGHTING
WON 7 WIN WAR
GEN. PLUMMER SAYS TACTICS
MUST BE CHANGED
AMERICANS TO LEAD THE WAY
Once Sammies Go Over Top They Will
Stay over-When Germans Start
To Run They Will Keep On
Praises U. S. Soldiers


Des Moines, Feb. 20--"The assemb-
ling of American national army men
on the fighting line in France will
mark the beginning of the end of
trench warfare and the defeat of the
central powers"
This is the prediction of Maj. Gen.
E. H. Plummer commanding the SSth
division at Camp Dodge, who returned
to duty yesterday after spending three
months on an observation tour OF the
battle line in Europe.
They will never settle this war in
the trenches" General Plummer said,
when the American troops get on the
fighting line they will go over and
stay over. Open warfare will win
this war
General Plummer said that once the
Germans start to run and are dis
lodged from their trenches they will
not stop running.
Praises American Soldiers
The division commander had only
the highest praise for the American
soldiers now in Europe. Asked con-
corning reports that American soldiers
were seen drunk on the streets of
London and other places, Gen. Plum
mer said, There is absolutely no
foundation for such a report. | did
not see a single American drunken
soldier. The officers and men of both
the French and British forces have
only the highest praise for the Am
erican soldiers.
| The percentage of American troops
affected with social diseases according
| to report to the chief of staff of the
expeditionary forces, General Plum
mer said was four-tenths of one per
cent. .. ..
Men Are Equipped sya
| The general commanding the Ameri-
can forces now actually engaged in
the conflict told General Plummer that
the men of his command had plenty
of clothing and all of the necessary
equipment.
The mail situation is one most SER
Iious reported to General Plummer and
is the cause of much discomfort among
| the American forces. as
1t is from one to three months be-
fore the men in France receive their
mail from home General Plummer
says that some times they do not re-
ceive it at all. The English and French
forces he said receive not only their
mail promptly, but also daily papers
, the day following their publication.
| Discipline for the soldiers in training
in the United States is the one thing
of greater importance, General Plum
mer said officers in France told him.
This coupled with plenty of rifle prac-
tice and the development of the men
into expert shots are the two things
most desired of the Americans who
will eventually occupy the front line
trenches. instruction in other met
hods of warfare can be given after the
soldiers reach France in a compare
lively short time, General Plummer
said.
The First Attack
The first surprise attack on Ameri-
can forces in which several soldiers
were killed and others captured, Cen
eral Plummer said, was not the fault
of the officers or the men. The men
were taken into the trenches in the
night and had not become accustomed
to the situation before the attack came
The investigation board, the general
said, had cleared all concerned
There will be practically no changes
in the method of instruction at Camp
! Dodge according to the commander.
The course which has been persued
under his direction thus far will be
continued. ~--..