The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-19
DAY OF US.
SOLDIERS IN
BATTLE JUST
NOW HERE
American Troops in France
Show True Fighting Spirit
Bishop Mcconnell Tells
Chautauqua Audience.
END SOON IN SIGHT


Francis Mcconnell in his lecture at
the chautauqua Sunday afternoon.
Bishop Mcconnell visited the Ameri-
can, English and French battlefronts
and spoke of conditions as he saw
them among the troops. In speaking
of the French he said. "The entire
French nation is contributing it's
part. A large part is being done by
the women, especially in the food
production. The French women are
able to camouflage nothing into
nutritious appetizing dish.
Our war bread in this country
sometimes suggests to us that we are
at war. To me that is one of the
minor horrors of war. With the
French war foods are made into some
thing delicious.
THE French are very successful in
economizing their power. Statistics
show that from the time the war be-
gan until last April there had been
100000 French killed. Now that
they must economize their power they
are just as successful as when the
war began. They have the greatest
understanding Of the science of mill
'diy tdStiSS uAiu RAooiCiho vi IhC wal =
When these problems must be solved
the French are consulted. This ac-
counts for the fact that a French
generalissimo was selected.
Best in Losing Fight.
81 talked to Frenchman who had
been the father of eight sons and in
a solemn way he told me that every
son was dead on the battlefield.
"The English are the best fighters
in a losing fight" he said. "A
Tommy is never cheerful until things
begin to go against him. The Eng
lish soldiers are remarkably cool in
action"
The calmness and courage of the
English kept the Germans from, .get%
ting the channel ports OF Calais and
Dunkirk. The little line of the Eng
lish stood with such coolness before
the onrushing Germans that the en-
emy suspected trick had been laid
for them and did not push their ad-
vantage.
"A German minister claims that the
English stupidity keeps them from
knowing when to retreat, and as a re-
suit OF their ignorance cause great
losses to the Germans
Yanks Have Fighting Spirit.
The religious spirit Of the English
soldier Is very deep, even though it is
not OF the prayer meeting type.
THE day Of the Americans is just
dawning. They are not detected or
cast down. To be sure they get home
sick. but their spirit is that of a
wounded soldier ! met. went into
hospital and asked to see the worst
case. The man happened to be an
1rishman. He had both arms off and
his head badly cut and bruised /
told him that they were going to send
him home In few weeks, and he an
swered. that II he was to go back to
America ne hoped that he would be
able to have one more go in the
trenches before he went.
Don't believe it II you hear that the
American soldiers are going to the
devil through drink. The Americans
from John J. Pershing down are do
ing everything in their power to pro-
tect the boys. In all the time l was
with the American troops I only saw
one case of drunkenness.
Everything in material way is be-
ing done for the American men. II
ate two suppers with the men in the
trenches. They had beefsteak, white
bread, American butter. potatoes, cof-
fee with cream and sugar, and rice
with raisins in It,
Fair With Enemy.
"The English and Americans are
fine in spirit and are the hardest in
battle, but they are fair in dealing
with their opponents. One English
man told me of German gunner who
alone put out Of commission seven
English tanks. 1T was marvellous.
perfectly splendid, don't you know,
the Englishman said, and such a |
deuced shame. you know. that a ma
like that had to be killed
THE English are ready to the last
button. | was asked to eat one night
with Sir Julian Bing, who was in
command of the third army of Cam |
bai. the army which has the reputa-
tion Of never having surrendered an
essential position. The men were
waiting for an attack, and while they
waited they talked about what Col. |
Roosevelt meant when he called |
man 'pussyfooter'
THE Americans are very kind to |
their prisoners. An American went
out under fire to bring in wounded |
enemy. A German said that the Ger |
man privates were told that if the |
Americans got them they would cut |
their throats from ear to ear. He
said he only wished that all the Ger
mans might know of the treatment
he was receiving. II they did, he said,
they would all come over.
The German privates receive all the
indignity and suffering possible from
their own officers
Spirit Not Miiitaristic.
The American soldier will not bring
back a spirit Of militarism. They are
sick and tired Of war They have had
enough Of standing in the trenches for
days in mud to the hips and the lice
and rats. That is exactly why they
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