American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-09-24

out the predictions that this army will
be one of the finest bodies of military
men in the world. 1 recently went to
q section of France where new troops
are quartered for final training, writes
Don Martin in the New York Herald.
There l saw the vanguard of the mil
lions who were legally selected to serve
their country. A general who has
been all his life in the army fairly
glOwed in admiration of them.
"They are a splendid lot Of boys"
the officer said. They are proud to
be here. They are sorry for the boys
at home who are not to help in the
great battle for democracy. They want
to get right in the line. They realize
the dangers fully, but that doesn't wOr-
ry them. They have had their eyes
opened fully to the wonderful sacrifices
France has made. They have seen
how the villages are stripped Of every
thing but the very old and the very
young, and yet they have seen how de-
termined and cheerful the country is.
So they are proud to be here, and they
are going to make the finest soldiers
the world has ever SEEN"
S%uperlatives ordinarily are not per-
mitted by the censorship when refer
ence is made to Americans. A deeply
grounded principle Of the American
censorship is that America, while glory
ing in her own idealism and achieve
ments, must not forget that France and
England have been at war for nearly
four years and have set a very high
standard for Uncle Sam. But the SUI
perlatives INDUCED in by the general
were sincere. He actually believes the
National army will he as fine a lot of
men as ever stood in a Uniform, and
after seeing them and talking with
them in more than fifty villages
must say that I think he has prophetic
vision.
All Show Their Mettle.
To praise the National army does
not imply disparagement Of any other
wing of our military force. The mill
tia group has already, in various
clashes with the enemy, shown the
stuff of which it is made. The 104th
regiment, which halls from Massachus-
etts, has been decorated by the French
government for it's valor under heavy
fire. All the men have made good, but
all they have done will unquestion.
ably be equaled by the excellent army
of draft men. The latter have thu
physique, the initiative and the spirit
AS one Of them said, "We're not herr
because we're here we're here becausI
aAf- 49, No L.T,nn and w-hara NJ
want to be-" The training they re
ceived in the United States worke'
wonders in them.
In a little village a handsome young
ster in a p~rivate's uniform salute
with the grace and snap Of a traine
regular. He had the look of the so.
der in every line.
"Where are you frOm?" I asked.
He named a small city in the Nortl
west.
Were you ever a soldier beforeF'
"No, sir" he said, smiling. 81 nevt
did anything before but spend father
money and get arrested for speeding
"Are you glad to be here?'
st wouldn't be anywhere else fl
huNlnluE III AAT WDAi4s
Seated in front Of a small house,
wrinkled woman on one side, ar age
man on the other and two wee chi
dren playing on the ground in front
him, 1 saw another young man wi
j. would attract attention anywhere. 4
the officer who accompanied me a
d preached the young man jumped to h
feet. snapped his heels together ar
saluted as If militarism was in h
- marrow. He said he came from
is small town in the middle West.
asked him about his affairs before l
Joined the army.
OF "I was in the lumber business" Il
oy private reioined. 81 was getting aloI
~ pretty well-have a wife and two oh
III dren about like these here (pointil
to the two near his feet), but even If
knew my business was going to ruin
wouldn't go back If they'd let me. I
here To stick it out to the finish al
'oo you'll find all the boys the same way
Ia The spirit Of all is, as this you
lumber dealer said. identical. The M
,oo are here to fight for France and den
Il NFHcN. lAtl uutAtlNlAlAA tAtNAie wa
100 the issues are. They understand pl
100 cisely why the United States came
$50 TO the war and they will be disappoiI
100 ed If peace comes before every all
/. aim has been achieved.
100 Among the first ten thousand ,
s5U tional army men who came here to
in various units may be found men II
200 resentative Of every branch of citizI
200 ship. l saw motOrmen. farmers, ba
200 clerks. architects. lawyers, manuf
J00 turers. brokers, commission men, c
BOO penters-in fact, everything. TIT
ID were men with names suggestive
I'LL every nationality in the world.
)se These particular soldiers are
northeastern France, where they
going through intensive training
-. equip themselves for the front line
q Shippers in the Trenches.