The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-25
Hun Rumors Flying in Paris
Are Not Disturbing French
Reports Declare Nation Gone to Bow-Wows and That
Russians Are Preparing to Fight

THE British?" Gray looks around at
the boys meaningly, and they turn
plying eyes on Brown.
Haven't you heard about the Brit
ish?" inquiries Smith. shocked that
there should be such ignorance In
Paris. Tell him. Gray"
"Oh, nothing" says Gray affecting
an extreme nonchalance of manner.
He's a rough sort or citizen, Is Gray
the kind who wears a soft collar and
fuzzy hat and speaks hard and
laughs loud. and conveys a general i'm
preston with his shoulders Of being
ready to fight at any and all times, and
Is always dragging sick cats home.
Scarcely anything, Brown! Only this,
all that remained of the British army
was wiped out at Cambrai There's
nothing left of it but the officers you
see in London and Paris. They're 60
ing to form themselves into u regiment,
and go up there for the honor of the
British nation, and all be killed off in
one last forlorn- hope dasff next Tues
day at 215 p. nj"
ITS rough that we don't get the
from the big fitting magnum with a
firm hand, though his face is still
pasty However, we're in this thing.
and we're in 1t to stay, and, by thun-
der, well do something! We're over
looking the fact that our fine husky
United States soldiers are ready to go
into action. and hungry for 1t! I've
heard, on pretty high authority that We
have something like five million here
now!"
Five what" Agonized little Ding
bat violently plucks out one of the six
hairs OF his mustache. rs that what
you're basing your hope on! Now
I'll tell you what found out. and from
very high authority. though !
wouldn't repeat 1t except here among
friends, whom l know and can trust"
His flicker of dubiousnesse toward the
man who had come over on another
boat. THE American army in France
consists Of exactly 1,A27 men! And
there isn't bean to feed 'em with!
! They have nothing but tobacco! They
| were dumped out in the freezing mud
up near the front, without arms, am
| munition, clothing or shelter; and
| they're dying of starvation and ex-
posture at the rate of 100 Il day! You
can figure 1t for yourself. In ii IA
! days.
And so it goes. Among the newly
| arrived in Paris, rumor madly follows
| humor, each more wild. more fantastic,
| more silly and absurd than the one
| upon the heels of which it treads.
These all emanate from one mysteri
GUS source; and If the police ever sue
coed in locating him. they'll swing Mr.
High Authority from a lanppost, TO,
] he Is a German agent, either by design
or accident.
| He must be a wondrous creature
this High Authority. whom no eye
| hath seen. but whom every ear hath
heard.
! AS for the F'renchman, he only
shrugs his shoulders at the buzz
ing OF the rumor bug.
He has no time for such feverisl
frivolity as the consideration of wha
might possinbly happen next Friday, il
something else. which never does
might possibly happen on Thursday.
He's been busy with this war foi
three and a half years, and he has re
duccd it's conduct to Sthree cardina
principles.
First. II is the duty of the soldie
to go ont and stand in the spot as
signed to him. and, with the SAM
| sublime courage of those who hav,
| died for his cause and the cause o
| France, which Is the cause of civiliza
ton. fight until that sacred cause il
accomplished. Second, 1t is the dut,
of the civilian. besides holding intaC
the economic and domestic institution
of the country. to send the soldier 4
the front feed him there, keep hin
clothed, put n gun in his hand, ant
| supply that gun with endless bullets
| Third II is the duty of every purveyo
of possimism. every dissemination
grotesquely terrifying maybe-sons o
might happens which would tend to i'll
terforc with steadfast purpose. ever
rumor- monger. in fact, to hand him
self over to the military authorities
and be shot for the traitor which h
undoubtedly is,
It's "A grand little idea, come to thin
ii over, for any nation which is send
ing its sons to the war.
More Tomorrow