The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-29
STARS AND STRIPES IS NEWSPAPER OF BOYS IN FRANCE Live Publication Reflects D0ings and Thoughts of Soldiers Over There HAS SERIOUS VEIN
 BUT RICH IN HUMOR Initial Numbers Have Been Greeted With Enthusiasm and Boys Are
 Eager for Future
 Numbers
ussued by the Committee on Public h.

formation.)
 The American expeditionary forces in France will have no drab days or dull hours if they share the brightness and breeziness of the Stars and Stripes, a seven-column, eight-page weekly edited by the soldier boys themselves, approved by the commander in chief, and printed in the Paris plant of the London Daily Mail The initial number appeared on February s, and the shouts that greeted it from delighted "Sammies'' in camp and trench can still be heard echoing through No Mans Land.
 It's genuine home paper, with all the frankness of the west, the sincerity of the east, and the warmth of the south in it's greeting. There is a metaphorical slap on the back for the fellow who wants the feel of a friendly palm; there is two-handed welcome for the boy who needs a bracing message in his own tongue; there is encouraging news from away back. home; there are earnest things for the thoughtful; much in lighter vein for those who want to forget their troubles; genuine humor wrung from the actualities of the war; a lot of excellent comic verse-in fact the Stars and Stripes is sure enough news paper that fills long-felt want and it will tighten the hearts and brighten the lives of our boys lover there"
 The first page contains an admira ble recent portrait of the commander in chief accomp panied by the following hearty indorsement of the Stars and Stripes:
 .'ln this initial number of the Stars md Stripes, published by the men of the overseas command, the commander in chief of the American expeditionary forces extends his greetings through the editing staff to the readers from the first line trenches to the base ports
 "These readers are mainly the men who have been honored by being the first con tingent of Americans to fight on Euro pean soil for the honor of their country. IL is an honor and privilege which make them fortunate above the millions of their fellow citizens at home Commen- surate with their privilege in being here is the duty which is laid before them, and this duty will be performed by them as by Americans of the past eager de- termined. and unyielding to the last.
 s.The paper, written by the men in ths service, should speak the thoughts of the new American army and the American
 
 drawn. It is your paper. Good luck to it JOHN PERSHING,
 Commander in Chief, A. F.. F." The editorial and business staff are all members of the expedtionary forces:
 Editorial, Guy T. Viskniski. second lieutenant infantry, N. A.; Charles P. Gushing, second lieutenant U. S. M. C. R.. Hudson Hawley, private, M c. Bn.; A A. Wallgren, private U. s. M. c.
 Advertising, William K Michael, first lieutenant infantry. U. s. R.
 The editors didn't waste any time in saying that the paper 'is going to fill d long-felt want, but go right and fill the hiatus. The salutatory puts the aims of the Stars and Stripes into the lowest, possible words and they are worth reprinting:
 ITO THE CoLORS."
 'tWith this issue the Stars and tSripes reports for active service with the A. E. F. It is your paper, and has but one ax to grind-the ax which our Uncle Samuel is whetting on the grindstone for use upon the august necks of the Haps- burgs and the Hohenzollerns
 The Stars and Stripes is unique in that every soldier purchaser, every sol dier subscriber, is stockholder and Q member of the board of directors It isn't being run for any individuals s profit, and it serves no class but the
  olive drab and the forest green. Its profits go to the company funds of the soldier subscribers, and the staff of the paper isn't paid sou.
 .Jf you don't find in this, your own weekly, the things in which you are par ticularly interested, write to the editors and if it is humanly possible they will dig up the stuff you want. There are so many of you over here now. and so many different sorts of you, that it is more than likely that some of your hob b.es have been overlooked in this our first number. Let us know
 i've want to hear from that artist in yonr outfit, that ex-newspaper reporter, that short story writer, that company funny man. and that fellow who writes the verses. We want to hear from all of you-for the Stars and Stripes is your paper, first, last, and all the time; for you and for those of your friends and relatives to whom you will care to send it.
 ..The Stars and Stripes Is up at the top O the mast for the duration of the war It will try to reach every one of you. every week-mud, shell holes and fog notwithstanding It will yield rights of the roadway only to troops and ambu- lances, food. ammunition and guns, and the paymaster's car. It has big job ahead to prove worthy of it's namesake but. with the help of all of you, it will in good old down east parlance. do it's gol-derndest' to deliver the goods So- forward! march!''
 CONDEMNS Y. M. C. A. SLACKERS The editors have convictions. too. and they are not afraid of losing subscribers or advertisers. They know a lot of words with the bark on and they do not hesi- tate to use them. For instance. the practice of young Americans of draft age camouflaging behind the worthy shirts of the Y. M. c. A. is condemned in viz orous terms:
 s.The spectacle of a man of draft ageh undeniably husky and fit for active serv- ice, costly situated behind counter during working hours. and when off duty enjoying all the privileges, and often wearing much of the insignia of an officer when he had not been through the training and made the sacrifices to entitle him to such treatment, has more than once galled the feelings of the enlisted man. who, far less comfortably ouartered. enjoying no privileges, knew that sooner or later he and his officers would have to take the chances up there while the Y. M man would re- main in comparative safety behind. Such CASTORIA
 For Infants and Children
 Tn Use For Over 30 Years