Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-19
SELECT!vE army
MEN WILL FORCE
HUNS TO DEFEAT
Major General Plummer. Back ut Camp
Dodge. Says Drafted Soldiers
VIII Win for America.
THEY'RE IN BEST OF CONDITION
Comnandant OF Cant0nment Rock Is.
land Boys Are Training at En-.
Unused Over Situation.
fSnecial 10 The Argus)

lHSt 10 see tHcS are IdItu
M the best possible manner and are
perfectly contented. The only thing |
they complain about is the scarcity of !
letters from home
This is the message of Major Gen |
eral f. II. Plummer, commander Of |
the Eighty-eighth division at Camp I
Dodge, who returned yesterday from
a months visit to the American train |
ing camps in France and the British |
front
General Plummer left shortly before |
Christmas. He went away very quiz
city and it was not generally known
that he had gone to France.
The red flag with the two stars went
whirring out Beaver road again and
the commander of the Eighty-eighth
was back at his desk in division head
quarters. |
The generals face was wreathed in
smiles as he greeted his men IN camp.
He was happy for two reascns-happy
because he was back, and because he
had received such encouraging inspir-
alton from the wonderful condition of
our fighting forces "over there"
Of the splendid spirit of the American
troops in France and Of the excellent
physical trim in which he found them
British Efficient.
He SPEAKS most enthusiastically,
too, of the efficient system in the Brit
ish army, which conserves the strength
of the men and keeps them in the best
possible fghtingstrim.
One thing is apparent the minute
you get in the midst of things over
there. and that is that there must be
no let up until we have won this war.
And that we are going to win it is as
certain as that daylight follows night"
said General Plummer. Il spent a
number of hays at the British front,
Quartared with British general in an
old chateau. l had excellent oppor-
tunity to observe the British troops
in action. We were close enough to
hear the shells whiz by occasionally.
One morning Captain Cheadle, my
canh e. Observation-Disclosures
aide. was shaving and shell sailed
by his window so close that it famed
a little of the lather off his cheek, but
it didn't disturb the rest of the party
who were breakfasting in an adjoin-
ing room.
Battling Trench Vermin.
"The British have wonderful sys-
TEN for eliminating the trench vermin
evil which has so long been such
source of distress to the soldiers. AS
soon as man comes out of the trench
es he is given disinfectant bath and
his garments are put through a solu-
ton which effectually destroys every
trace of the vermin.'
The people OF France, General Plum
mer SAYS, are cheerful and have plen-
ty to eat He has seen long lines OF
German prisoners, AS many as hfty IN
a group, contentedlv working on the
roads in France with only one guard
for the whole lot of them. Their lot,
compared with what they endured in
the German army. is so pleasant that
nothing could induce them to try to
escape.
The battlefields are the most desc
late looking places imaginable, he
declared. "All the loneliness and hor-
ror one can imagine is not too much
TO picture in thinking of battlefield
on the western front.
Villages DesOlate.
The villages which have been oc-
cupied by the Germans are desOlatlon
itself. But France in the main Is
beautiful and even looks cheerful. The
spirit of the people is wonderful
General Plummer saw two things in
France which he coveted and wanted
to bring back to America with him
. One was little French barber, whom
he declared, gave the best shave he
ever had The other was little 1ndl'
vidual coffee pot which made most
excellent kind Of coffee.
THE assembling Of American ma
tional army soldiers on the fightlne
line In France will mark the begin
ming of the end of trench warfare ant
the defeat of the central powers.
This is the prediction of Major Gen
eral Plummer.
They will never settle this war II
the trenches" General Plummer SAID
When the American troops get on I'M
fighting line they are going over ant
will STAY over. Open warfare will VIII
this war"
General Plummer said that once TN
Germans start to run and are dls
lodged from their trenches they vii
not stop running.
Praises American Soldiers.
The division commander had OIL.
the highest praise for American sol
ders now in Europe. Asked concern
ing reports that American soldiers
were seen drunk on the streets of Lon
don and other places, General rum
mer said There is absolutely n
foundation for such a report. | d1'
not see a single drunken America
soldier. The officers and men OF bot
the French and British forces nav
only the highest praise for the depor!
ment and conduct OF American Sol
diers."
The percentage OF American troop
Affected with social diseases, accord
Ing to a report to the chief OF stan G
the expedit.onary forces, Genera
Plummer said was a OF l per cent.
Men Are Equipped.
The general commanding the Amer
can forces now actually engaged
the conflict told General Plummer ths
the men in his command had plenty
clothing and all the necessary equiv
ment
The mail situation is one most sci
ious reported to General Plummer an
is cause OF much discomfort anon
Tie sAmerican forces.
nais from one to three months d
ioreH the men in France receive the
naiH from home. General Plumms