The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-10-04
FIT TO LEAD men
Soldier Tells Of Spirit Of kneri.
can Officers.
Marching Soldiers, Near Limit Of Phys
lcal Endurance, Brought 0ack -
Sense Of Discipline BY At
q eamoNeae.

There was none Of the tAsf1 q
crowded grand stands Ia the RACK that
0ergt. Harold Baldwin describes -
Holding the Line" 1t was run b.
men 70 exhausted that they could
scarcely stand. Yet In that slow, STUN
bling race there was more self-denial
moro heroism, more indomitabTe cour.
age than could 60 into the breakiug 81
worlds records.
It was midnight. Sergeant Baldwin
says. and as hot as Hades when We
started from the banks Of the User.
We had been some p days constantly
In action !: again and again we had been
launched into the line to help our ter
ribly hard-pressed French and British
comrades. Every til ,e a tornado Of
German artillery IRE opened up, We
stood ready to advance across open
ground to the front line. Judge. then,
Of our condition for q 25-mile march.
At the beginning, they sent us at the
double between batteries Of roaring
Is and 60-pounders. The awful din
was the finishing touch, and our nerves
went snap. At last we were clear.
and we settled down to q steady hike.
On. on, we tramped! Would we new
er halt? One after the other exhaust
ed men fell. Men dozed as they walk
ed, fell rs they dozed, lay where they
fell.
At last, as day was breaking, they
took US into a field. Here a drink Of
hot tea, some food and a rest Of one
hour revived us somewhat.
/ noticed that one OF the officers was
carrying a puppy in his arms. It was
only a few days old, and ! marveled
at his wonderful heart In forgetting
his own troubles and caring FOR the
poor little helpless creature.
On again, all through the blazing
heat OF the day we liked. Tommies
would walk with u.s., easing our lot
In their rough. kindly manner. They
promised us Fritz should pay dearly
for his dastardly gas attack before
they were through. On, on, till we
entered Bailleul. Thank Godi Rest,
We thought. But no, ever on.
And then the men, the limit Of en-
durance reached and mad with disap
pOintment, began to get In an ugly
mood. Discipline was sorely strained,
and we openly shouted our opinion OF
the officers to their faces.
And then we witnessed q thing that
brings tears to my eyes every time !
think of 1t. Those officers Of our
were in no better shape than our.
selves; in fact, owing to their respon.
sibility, they were in worse plight. In
stead Of marking down the offenders
for future punishment. they inflicted
worse punishment on us by making
us thoroughly ashamed Of ourselves.
Lining up r the road, they babe
us halt for a space, telling us that they
had a bet to decide. and It must be
decided at once. They were going to
run a race. Their effort was pitiful Ii
the extreme. Although they started
out bravely enough. after q few PAGES
one, then another staggered and fell ;
but they struggled to their feet and
staggered away again. After such an
exhibition of courage, what could We
do or say? Not only val It a lesson
to us. but 1t Is one Of the grandest
memories / have. There were those
battle-weary men, utterly worn out,
with nerves on edge, scarcely able tc
walk, vet to show that they were game
to the end they went through the three
fold agony Of that race.-Youth's Com
n0niOn