The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-07-23

instinct OF the American had onlysto
be stirred to respond. instead OF
recurring long periods OF training, he
had shown that with the instruction
he had received at home, when he
| stepped from the transport to French
soil he was ready.
On the Marine the American proved
| his worth as ., stout-hearted open
field fighter, either on defense or
offensive.
AT Cantigny he displayed his quail
ties as a storm troop
There was vast difference be-
tween the fighting at Cantigny and
about Chateau-Thierry. On the Marine
1T was first, resistance against wave
after wave of advancing Germans
coming across open country, through
waving wheat fields or woods. Every
third man carried a machine gun. The
American was forced to find such COW
er as he could, also in the open. From
behind a rock or from hastily dug
hole in the ground he poured his rife
and machine gun fire into the Boche
lines. Then he fought his way for
ward and drove the enemy from his ad-
vantage ous positions in Bourches and
DOlS be DSllStu bSIiHQ Tie hShtAiAo
man the munition men and wagons
worked tireless1y to keep him sup
piled Positions were constantly be-
ing changed Food was uncertain. But
the American hung on, and is there
today.
Rehearsina Cantigny.
At Cantigny the American showed
his adaptability to carefully planned
movements. / witnessed complete
rehearsal OF the attack on Cantigny
days before 1t actually took place. 1t
was in great open field back of the
lines. French machine gunners played
the role of Germans. They had their
machine guns hidden In pits and else
where in the field. Other soldiers,
forming long line. waved green
branches of trees to represent the ar
tillery barrage. French tanks wad-
died across the field and took up posi-
lions corresponding to those they
were to take in the actual fighting.
French and American officers careful
Iy instructed the men who were to
make the attack as to Just how they
were to follow the barrage, how ma
chine gun nests were to be cleared
out, and how they were to work in
conjunction with the tanks Then
came the signal. the soldiers carry
ing" the barrage began waving the
green branches, the infantry and
tanks moved forwards and the Ger
nan" machine guns began firing. AS
the barrage moved forward, lines were
reformed, and the advance continued.
The machine gun nests were cleaned
out in good shape. but the clever
French machine gunners put over"
one on the Americans that they did
not forget when it came to the real
battle.
Frenhmen in Tree.
In the center of the mimic battle
ground was a tree. One of the tanks
waddled slowly by and detachment
OF infantry dashed forward. Then,
from apparently nowhere, a fierce rat
tie of machinegun fire burst on the
Americans The officer in Charge Of
the detachment knew that he was
theoretically wiped out. Every man
dropped to the ground for cover, as
he would in a real engagement, and
then looked for the machine gun fire.
The Frenchmen had mounted it in
the tree. They had also withheld
their fire until the tank had passed,
and made their play for the men
and got them. The tank was signalled
to come back to put a cannon shot
into the tree This done, 50 that they
Sere theoretically destroyed, the
Frenchmen climbed out of the tree IN
gIee.
When It came to the real fight, tho
Americans were as cool as in the re-
hearsal. They followed the tanks
over. and ran ahead of them in their
-;- vii nv
preparation had demolished the Ger
man trenches, but the Americans went
at the Job Of "mopping up" and clear.
ing the village of any remaining
Boche in a businesslike fashion. Then
came the job Of holding on.
Counter attack after counter attack
was hurled against the new american
line. The artillery fire was SO hot ra-
ton parties could not come up, there
being no communicating trenches.
For three days men and officers had
little sleep, food or water. They liv-
ed on hard tack and raw bacon. But
they held on. And as the Americans
on the Marine, they are there today.
Confidence soundless.
The confidence of the American sol
der in his officers, in the organiza-
ton that is going to keep him fed
and clothed, and in the doctors who
are going to care for him when he is
wounded, is boundless.
A wounded man arriving at a field
hospital or dressing station displays
a child-like confidence in the doctor
who bends over him. If unspoken,
written ON the boys face, there is al
ways:
Now everything Is all right. May
be my wound is almost unbearably
painful Maybe / have been without
sleep and maybe I am tired; that's all
over now. Here's the man who viii
take care Of me"
His wound dressed, his blood again
sent coursing warmly through his
veins, the boy drops of to sleep.
This confidence of the fighting man
r2Hh n