Evening journal., 1918-07-23
BY FRED S. FERGUSON.


Copyright. 1918. by the United Press !
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, July 4, (By Mail)-As the
world war enters its flfth year, the
lighting forces OF America hold the
balance OF power in the greatest strug-
gle in the time OF man.
The fighting men Of America have
bsen tried on the worlds most historic
battleflelds, and have proven that for
bravery, for stamina. for all OF the
things that 1t takes to win battles, they
need bow 10 none.
The American in the field is a man OF
fighting heart.
He represents Americas balance of
power that will carry the democracles
OF the world to victory over German
sutocracy.
But how this power is administered.
how 1t is led. how IL IS equipped, how
1t is fed, how 1t is clothed, how 1t is
munitioned, how 1t is given "eyesight"
by airplanes that 1t shall not light in
the dark. how il is nursed when III and
wounded-upOn these things depends
the distance TO victory.
II may oe near, or Il may be far.
and Americans, Frenchmen, Britishers
land Germans) may know that the
A,Ierican fighting man will not con-
slider his job done, until the Allied
cause is victorious. But the distance
is not 10 be measured by the resistance
Of the German alone. Incompetence at
home. faulty leadership in any OF the
branches dealing with the war, Is going
20 mean a longer path, and a path dyed
with American blood.
Representatives OF Americas balance
OF power are arriving in France by hun
dreds hourly. As this is written more
than 100000 men have landed. Every
man brings the hour OF victory nearer,
but the administration, the leadership,
must be behind him.
have been with the Americans in
every important action to date, from
the first raids in Lorraine TO the taxing
OF Cantigny In Picardy and the second
battle OF the Msrne. The men taking
part in these actions were from every
corner OF the United States. They
rnaged from newly enlisted men 10
veterans.
But always there was the same spirit,
regardless OF the dificulty Of the task
or the hardships involved; cheerful
obedience OF orders, anxiety 10 get at
the job and complete It, and certainty in
execution and then modesv disclaim-
ers Of having done any more than was
their duty, or more than any other
American would have done.
In Training.
During the early months OF this year,
the Americans In France were merely
training. They could not be figured as
real fighting units in the intricate game
of trench warfare. First, northwest OF
Toul, then on the Chemin des Danes,
then near Luneville, and later near
Nerdun and in Alsace, American units
appeared. They were put In the line
with the French, and soldiers and Of
Ulcers alike learned from their French
instructors the tactics OF the new war
game. It was an irksome Job. Losses
were always unnecessarily heavy at
first. Then the Americans began to
learn. They learned how to take cover
during she'll fire. They learned when
20 keep quiet-in other words when II
was TO their advantage not to shoot.
They became trained, reliable troops.
When the gigantic German offensive
broke In March some were put perma-
nently into the line in the Bacarat re-
OF French divisions which were rush ]
ed away to the big battle line. Others |
followed the French, and in Picardy /
took their place in the line which they |
still hold and which they extended by /
the capture Of Cantigny.
On the Marine as bright page as is
20 be seen in American history was
written by the Americans who stopped
= rIr Hrrn ]
days they fought increasingly They met
the best divisions the German high
command could throw against them.
All were turned back Munition carriers,
ambulance men. supply men-in fact
everyone-worked or fought day and
night. 10 was the extreme test OF
American stamina to date, and was met
glorlously. The best traditions Of
America were more than fulfilled. The
German rush toward Paris was stop
ped. The morale OF the French was
raised TO new heights at the sight and
by the story OF these Americans on the
winding Marne, insisting even In the
face OF the last extremity. that the Ger
man should not cross.
America paid a price in lives OF the
best type Of men she has 10 offer In
the cause OF democracy in the fighting
on the Marne. But during those 1--WE
days when a thin line Of Americans
stood between the Germans and the
road to Paris, the entire course OF the
war for the coming months was
changed The American, despite his
lack OF technical training. had won for
himself a place in the line Of battle
alongside the seasoned troops OF the
Allies, He had demonstrated that the
Fighting instinct OF the American had
only TO be stirred TO respond. Instead