Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1918-06-03
BY G.. G. LYON.
STAFF Correspondent OF THE EVENING
JOIfR\AI


WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, June IA fine-featured. deli
cate-looking lad OF hardly rs was lean
ing YEARLY against the front OF a build
ing in a little French village, waiting.
along with the rest OF his battalion, FOR
the word TO advance into tho FIRST line
American trenches.
The village was Just three miles be
hind the lines. and all day the roads
leading 10 II from the south and west
had been ohoked with American sol
diers. American supply trains. Amerl-
can machine guns and American
motors.
The troops for one particular part ~
the line were TO assemble In the vii
/ lage and then go 10 their trench posi-
lions under cover Of darkness.
This is-year-old boy. leaning against
the building. attracted my attention,
because he looked so much out OF
place He lacked that hardy, rough-and
ready physique that was Characteristic
Of his fellow soldiers.
Just Out Of Bed.
Boy. said 10 him, "you don't look
very we'll What's the matter with you
sick or scared?"
lie pulled himself together In an in
slant loked me squarely In the eye
and replied:
NO. I'm not scared. But ! Just got
out OF the hospital four days ago and
haven't got my strength back Vet.
When we were up in the trenches the
first time for training one OF those
Boches put bullet through my side,
and It sort Of took the pep outsof me. IS
Then what are you doing here
now?" ] pursued why didn't you
stay in the hospital until you were full
ly recovered"
"And miss an this? Why, this is the
greatest honor that can come 20 a sol
dier-to be in the first regiment 10 be
sent into the line. General Pershing
must have thought we were the best
he had. or be wouldn't have picked US
would he?
Il lied 10 EN- AZ the hospital 7 told
EN- ! was ready for duty again. ans
they let me out say. this will be
something for me 10 talk about the
rest Of my life II come through all
rightr
This boy. better than any OF scores
OF others with whom talked that day,
expressed the spirit OF the American
troops as they waited for the word act
ually 10 60 into battle
He got out Of a sick bed and should
cred his gun, because he felt his com
mander-in-chief had honored him by
sending him in FIRST and he didn't
want 10 miss the chancel
No More JOShing.
An old sergeant-20 years in the
regular army-also gave me a clear in
sight into the morale OF our troops
that day.
These fellows know exactly what
they are going Up against" he said.
when we were back in the training
camps there was a lot Of horse-play
and ioshing, but you don't see any Of
that going on around here today, do
you?
These boys realize that 10 is up 70
them TO demonstrate that an Ameri-
can can be as good a soldier, II not bet
ter, than either a Britisher or a French
man, and the Lord knows both OF them
are wonders Every one OF Us has a
sneakin' idea that we are smarter than
a German. and that we're going to put
one over on him when we get accus-
toned to our surroundings at the
front"
Early in the afternoon a German bal
loon took a position behind the German
lines. and when the French airplanes
went up to puncture it thrilling air
battle ensued.
The balloon came down quickly 10 es
cape being DESTROYED. but the machine
gun potting Of the opposing airplanes