The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-08-01
THEY CAN'T HOLD
USDOUCHBOYS'
A Doughboy, on Furlough, Tells
of Chateau hierry Fighting


of the brave Americans and We
!. spend the afternoon sitting in the
sidewalk cafes cheering the blushine
men as they walk past somewhat
shamefacedly. American soldiers
are grand fighters, but very poor
matinee idols. When women spring
from their seats in the sidewalk cafes
and thrust flowers in their hands
they look as ashamed as dog caught
stealing eggs. The most awful suf-
fering | saw in Paris was the case Of
a big husky from an infantry outfit.
A woman of great distinction had
stopped her machine in the middle of
the street while the soldier was cross
ing, and leaning out enthusiastically
had tied bright pink ribbon around
his neck. Amidst much rejoicing
from the assembled French spectators
the woman went her way and the big
soldier looked as if he was just about
to choke to death, although it was a
very thin ribbon and loosely tied.
| saw him an hour later and he still
wore the ribbon and had turned death
ly pale and was evidently in terrible
pain.
LISTEN" said the infantry husky
in hoarse whisper, "the captain said
we was TO receive any compliments
given us by the French with a smile
and show 'em we appreciated it with
smile and not hurt their feelings
by ditching it, but if | have to wear
this pink ribbon around my neck for
another hour I'll go nuts and bite my
self in the leg. For the love of Mike
do something"
| removed the ribbon from the suf-
fering soldiers neck, and after
while he grew calm and quite rational
and he told me some stories of the
front regarding the first assault of
the Americans against Chateau Thi-
cry week before.
eThey can't hold us guys" he said
"When we git started we just keep
goin'. All anybody says is jest kill
'em, kill EN-, and oh, boy, you ought
to see our lads go to it. Our fellows
are good. At first, when they shoot,
they don't do what they call over here
mass fire. that is, jest bang away in
hopes that big cloud of bullets will
hit something.
"Our fellows are trained to get their
eyes on German, and then next our
fellows are quick as cats, and they
certainly move fast. And then they
are new hands with the knife. Honest
it beats me how our fellows took to
this bayonet thing. We have never
been on the knife at home except for
eating pie and potatoes with it. May
be it's because we're so handy with it
that we're so doggoned good when 1T
comes to easing it into the boche, but
believe me our fellows are certainly
some classy in handling this bayonet
thing The Dutch are slow and clum-
sy as baby elephants compared with
'uf poyo. iHcy Sctii W nave hau al ,
over here about fight
ng with bayonets something like the
.hree-up- and-three-down style they
always use in duels on the stage.
The Dutch always make a head thrust
1t us and expect us to throw up our I
guns and parry. Well, we do that {
,ut while we're doing it we kick 'em
n the stummick. and that kind of u :
sets 'em, and then we adams apple
EN-, and after that they hain't on he
Saiser's payroll no more.
"And our boys keep on going.
vas going to tell you about that !
There at Chatty Terry the officers
we're making an awful holler about
he boys running too fast and ducking
right through the barrage and not =,
paying attention to nothing except
spearin' boches. Our colonel came
over before we started and he was
most particular like in pointing out
punch of rock where he wanted our
to halt. The major said all ,
right that he would stop his four COM
Danies right on the line of 'em rocks,
and then we started. We got it right
in the nose, from every Dutch gun in
front of us, but the boys jest yelled
and laughed and away they went.
Say, they didn't pay no more atten-
ion to the major when we came to 'erll