The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-02-04

Goes Forward 70 Attack With
Quiet FataIlsm,

WITH THE FRENCH ARMY IN
FRANCE. Jan a. (By Mail)-Al-
though great military operations have
come 10 q siandiliti ~ the moment
there IL no cessation Of vigilance on
say psrf af he French front.
Whether M Alsaee, Lorraine. around
Verdua. Ia ths Argonne or Cham.
payne. or no the Loan plateau. the
French soldier stands or guard, just as
keen a. four winters ago.
In mud. shell holes, In n o and al
most Arctic frosis, he watches, or when
II is tho6eht necessary 10 investigate
what the enemy opposite Is doing. he
goes over the TOP and advances toward
the German lines with the same ardor
az q the beginning OF French warfare
only TO his dash I've has added expert
cnce gained in numberless encounters
Spirit Of FAtsiism.
The correspondent OF the Associated
Press, who has been in the closest
touch with the French troops on dor
ems OF batleiields through months and
wears Of hardest fighting, has been
able TO study THE psychology OF the
French soldier both while he Is engaged
10 mortal combat and while he Is At
HI, so-eailed repose.
Nothing strikes the observer more
than the quiet fatalism with which these
troopers from the farms and factories
and Offices OF all the provinces and
cities Of France go forward to the at
Z tack
In most eases the men participating
In a big attack have been brought from
the environments 10 the rear only I few
hours before they are ordered to 60
over.
Await Order Calmly.
Arrived IN the front line they crouch
and sit, and lie down as well as they
can in the muddy and often partly de-
molished trenches and advanced saps,
waiting for their officers TO give the
word that means death or wounds for
probably many OF their number.
Meanwhile, In most cases the Ger
rsaus, made aware OF the approaching
attack ky the increase OF the French
artillery fire, are throwing into the
French front lines hundreds and thou.
ssnds.o Of high explosive shells and
trench mortar bombs.
In spite OF the heavy firing and its
accompanying casualties among the
French troops. the men awaiting the
final order remain impassive. Most OF
them have been over the top before and
Know the Inevitable cost OF AZ advance
across No Mans Land and an assault
on the enemy's lines. Their GOODNESS
i, lace Of these perils is marvellous.
Some Of them smoke: othhs take a sip
from their water bottle, still others
look TO the sights and bresehes OF their
rifles or overhaul their hand grenades'
~0ffiesu Fun Of Cheer,
All the time their non-coms and Off
GERS, lust a. cool headed as the men,
walk about among them, passing a
cheering wo,d here or giving a little
advice there. and frorA time TO time
%consultinl 'hek witches So as not to
mas tie time fixed. for the attack, for
success depends on their absolute pune
pnlity.
The pace at which the successive
waves Of infantry advances is necessa
rily slow. but, even so, the officers and
non-coms have sometimes 20 check the
i~mpetuosity II the men, who otherwise
might walk right into the curtain Of
fire from their lown al illety. which
sweeps before them gradually and
forces the enemy to seek shelter.
Consolidate Positions.
when the assaulting troops peact
their detectives they Immediately beg't
to consolidate their positions by the us'
oil pick and spade and sand bags,
Tn holding Of a captured position "
oae Of the most trying tasks tor TN
troops, for almost inevitably a counter
attack, or perhaps several, will b
launched by the Germans and it is the
that the discipline and tenaeity OF tn
men are put to the severest test.
To hold on under these ciroum
stances, taxes the strongest morale.
must be said. however, that the Frenc
generally manage to retain any pos
ton they have once captured.
Grupble Behind Line.
Any grumbling that the French ma
have TO do is left until they are r
lieved from duty in the front line ar
taken to, the rear for repose.
: Rcpose Is merely a relative teri
Tor NJ the rear the troops are kept co
stsptiy exercised either in the ordins
drill Of 4 regiment or in making sha
y attacks on situated positions or
practicing with the most recently !
vented weapons of the infantryman.
"Grurnbiing' or "grousing" is I
garded as one OF the rights of the c
soldier. aud as all the men in I
French army now are veterans, viii
ever theft age, theres is a consideral
amount Of ~grumbling behind the lin