The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-05-02
US. BOYS CO TO
FRONT C"EER|NG
AMERICANS REJOICE svAEN Or
DERS COME TO IT INTO
TRENCHES FOR -TloN
DRIVE ST|fFENS THE AMI IAN NERVE
Boys Are impatient To 2 Things
Inspiring Scenes AS r.; Leave
For Active Work
BY H. c. EVANS
(COpyrighted 1879

Somewhere in France-Let it be
known in the United States that the
drive of the German .legions against
the English has stiffened the nerve of
the American soldier in France.
Nothing that has gone before has
so moved him. How impatiently we
waited during these first ten days of
the drive, and how eager were our
boys to get into the fray. Then came
the simple, eloquent statement of
Pershing that america would feel
greatly honored if her troops were en-
gagged in the present battle" and the
glorious proffer: Everything we
have is yours. Dispose of us as you
wish. Further men will come, as
many as necessary"
All. Then and there was hurry
ing to and fro" From our camps and
environments began the movements to-
ward the front. Officers and men on
detached service were recalled. Scat
ttItu uIIlS dAu iCSlllcutS WSIC. llO-
bilized. Infantry officers and men
who had been bodybuilding and in
the transport service reformed, ready
for the line.
1t was Goodbye, good luck, God
bless you" The hour had struck. The
days of waiting were passed. The air
was vocal with Pack up your
troubles in your old kit bag and smile,
smile, smile!" And the boys were
gone-gone to fight side by side with
the soldiers of their own fatherland!
Gladly and gaily they went, and with
Joy in their hearts. Strange words
these, and perhaps you doubt them,
considering where the boys were go
ing and what awaited them there.
But | set it down as a solemn fact
that these lads of ours, fully sensing
what their going meant, marched
away for the battlefields of old Pic
ardy with songs on their lips and JOY
and courage in their hearts. | know,
for these old eyes of mine saw, and
this puzzled brain of mine is not so
puzzled-yet God knows what may
happen in this land of tragedies-as
to mistake JOY for sorrow or courage
for cowardice.
And every day we "unarmed SOL
diers' bid the boys goodbye, and when
something or somebody you love has
gone out of your life-for We know
and love these fine lads of ours. 1t
may have been but yesterday we first
met, but We know each other. It
doesn't take a lifetime quite for men
to form friendships here. We have
quit asking each other from what city
or state we hail. It's sufficient that
we are all Americans. To us the
United States is simply one neighbor-
hood, and here we are all %neighbors
and brothers and comrades. With our
men there is neither east nor west,
o border nor breed nor birth"
Never was there finer comradeship
among men.
Last night our headquarters afford
ed a rendezvous for final greetings
and goodbyes, and twas then caught
the hitherto dormant love of our boys
for England.
France and her people are all
riohto avclaimad a vouno 1iautapapt
"but men, it's England and English
soldiers, our own kith and kin, the
Huns are attacking today. Germany
is appealing to her people all over
the world to come to the defense Of
their fatherland. Men, England is our
fatherland, and the Huns are striking
her-I'm ready"
l shall not attempt to record the
exact words of these American sol.
diers who were just starting for the
front in answer to England's call to
"send us men," Here, however, is the
substance of their reasoning:
The methods of the shrewd adver-
tiser in using catchy" words and
phrases extolling the virtues of pc
tent medicines and soap are exactly
the methods of Germany in creating
sentiment for the "Fatherland."
Shrewder tactics were never used by
the variest fakir to beguile the public.
One of the dearest words found in
any language is employed and applied
to the foulest governments that has