American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-19
THE SOUL OF THE AMERICAN
SOLDIER.

ed the American soldier before he was
asked to take a share. That he had
in this an advantage over his compan-
ions in arms in the other allied forces
seems to be already apparent. Also
that the churches made good use of
the time of preparation is something
to their credit, for Mr.. William T. Ellis
reports that in things of religion he
found the British soldiers far more
unconventional than the Americans
have as yet become" He ascribes it
in a measure to the facts first stated,
though he does not also forget that
our British allies nave four years of
war experience behind them, instead
of one. "P~ershing's men are nearer
to home n old influences. They
continue under the power of religious
forces which operate militantly."
There is less departure from the ac-
cepted standards of speech and con-
duct, and he argues that the Ameri-
cans are likely to stick, since they al
ready show an independence in many
respects. They have not taken over
the distinctive usages and phrases of
the forces they have joined as COM
rades. The Yanks have appraised
their fellow soldiers with shrewd eyes,
and they are for them, " but they re
main themselves with their own ways
, and vocabulary" American dead, we
are told, do not go West: nothing is
, "napoo' with them. This unconsc-
! ious refusal to take on the ready made
: manner and speech of their veteran
, associates in the great war is one of
i the unexpected phenomena of the Am
erican expeditiOnary force" In the
e Boston Transcript Mr.. Ellis continues
these observations:
l. There is less profanityNamong the
Yanks than among their associates,
who speak what purpOrts to be the
same tongue. Some would say that
the Americans are not sufficiently
> gifted linguistically to reach the
heights-Or depths-of colOrful Ian
guage that their more seasoned asso-
Ie ciates command. Others would say.
Give them time. l only record the
present fact. More tangible and de-
mOnstrable is the matter of drink
Here the official practises of the two
armies may be cOntrasted. The Brit
4 ish give their men a tot of rum al
h. stand to each morning in the trenches
during the cold weather. Canada anC
America were sOlemnly assured tina.
- the conditions of modern warfare are
- such that the men can not get along
TO- without it. Yet the American troops
he some of whom have passed a winter
III in the trenches, have managed to ge
TO along very we'll without a drop of run
in Neither officers nor men are permit
ly ted strong waters, in or out of tn
ne trenches. The simple fact is that tn
of traditional attitude of he British wit
as respect to liquor was allowed to out
weigh the convictions of Canada. Am
in erican experience has demonstrate
the mistakes of the theory of her grea
-, ally: and the British army will be dr.
- before ever the American army goe
wet. Already France has ordered he
- entire war zone dry
- These two particulars are but j.
Illustrative of a general condition. TIL
40 war thus far-and ever the three year.
lu- longer experience of Our allies is t
ny be held in mind-has made less dill
IN ference i'm the Yanks than in the Tom
- mics. the Canadians, or the Anzaci
The khaki-clad boys are more nearl
as they were at home. France has nc
greatly changed them, except by CIV
ing them an enlarged horizon and a
III increased independence. They hav
e. been freed from the trammels of cor
-us yention. but they retain their form
character, plus some new conception
TN concerning the workability OF idealisn
lg- "One unexpected by-product of Ii
me rigid censorship that is maintaine
'ad over all mail leaving the America
Old army is that it is now possible
i've know what the soldiers are thinkin
I'VE about and saying in the intimacy
the communications home concerning II
fly war and things in general.
in ION this point l nave talked wit
mi many officers. All agree with the OF
Ind who said: 1 have been surprised
find how full the mems letters are
illusions to home, love, and God. Th'
nlv are thinking a lot more about religiC
MS than l had ever supposed There
oh not much talk of things religion
among the men; and anybody wi
=. comes over here looking for a 'reviv;
! - of the conventional sort will stra
u.s. his eyesight seriously before he i'm
lily il. In one of the Salvation Army hu
a sweet-faced lassie, whom the m
adored as a mother or sister, col
planned to me that the soldiers are n
Inc a. keen for her meetings as they a
an Tor her pies and doughnuts; and tn
:, those who do come under cOnvictic
quickly backslide. She is looking T
ipie the sort of religiOsity that she foui
-erh in her street meetings back home, a
ster fails to realize that her noble perso
mes ality and beautiful service are I
ade more religious than her stereotyp
mir phraseology."
rget A new dignity and self respect ha
lust come to the men in France, Mr.. FL
V a continues. They have discover
vfuI themselves and therefore they a
, in more averse thar ever to TALK
cen about the deeper things of their L
red ture." But
80. In the privacy of their letters
lVol g. Ahn,- cnnn Lon IN 10 disragard I