The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-08-08
NEW SOLDIERS ARE
DANDY FIGHTERS

I Germans came over. and nifty Of these
UNFRAMED boys" withstood the attack
and stuck 10 their guns. The Germans
who were still alive and able TO run.
retreated double-quick time.
Speaking of the way the newly-ar-
rived Americans take 10 the trenches
and TO their duties. one briEadier gener-
al who had Just finished a complete re
lief said. They're not exactly glad to
get into the trenches I guess no one
is glad of that But these boys ali fig
ure it's work to be done. and they're
here to lick Germans. They're keen to
get the job done They're confident.
all right. but not boastfuI because they
know there's a lot to learn"
A doughboy gave his version Of how
he and his pals felt while out there
facing No Mans Land for the first
time. Were not scared of the Ger
mans. and when the time comes well
show them. Were going to do our
best. which is about all they ask OF US.
Believe me. it's going TO be 4 mighty
good best"
They Learn Quickly.
The new men in the hghting game
adapt themselves to the front as quick
ly as did the first Americans over. Ev-
cry night II Is over JLS TOP LOT pa
trolls of them. and in a few days they
are entirely familiar with No Mans
Land. The German front trenches
next fall in the line OF investigation and
the Germans soon adopt the policy of
falling back to avoid fighting.
Back Of the lines on the home side,
bank clerks. BARRIERS. and men Of every
profession who have temporarily be-
come soldiers soon make themselves at
home among the ruins and in woods.
They eat army grub" and relish it
more than the most delicate meal they
ever ate from white linen covered ia
BILE and real dishes. especially IL there
has been work TO do. Soldering agrees
with them, you can see. by TN work
they do. the meals they eat, and the
huskies they have become.
Discipline is fine. even If It is hard.
A major tells how his chauffeur became
little fresh" one day. Knowing the
dou ghboy was a good chap. the major
took him aside and talked to him in
stead of "bawling him out" before the
crowd. The dou ghboy apologized.
I'm sorry, Major" he said. You
see I own q couple Of businesses back in
New York and have more than a mill
lion dollars in my own name. and it's
a little hard TO remember my place in
the army now. But I'll do II. somehow.
You think you are in an information
al army when you visit some OF the
new American units now in the lines.
One company from New York boasts
that its members know seventeen lang
uages. and If you wander in on them
about mess time, when talking is good
just after the aluminium mess pans and
cops full Of grub" have been emptied.
you are convinced.
But all Of these doughboys are ar
dent Americans. and they have won the
admiration OF their comrades who can
speak the tongue without an accent
They are all snappy looking soldiers.
In H1uy Country.
The new units have dragged their
clean and fresh-looking equipment. such
as supply wagons. camp kitchens. ma
chine gun outfits, and all that IS need
ed up into the Alsace and Lorraine
hills. The line runs up and down steep
mountain sides and across pretty VAL
legs. Il IS beautiful country. and a fine
place to be initiated TO the front. for
the doughboy must be on the alert all
the time In this area there IS no
shelI-swept. well-wired No Mans Land
across which Germans cannot come
without being easily detected. Woods
and hills and wild country make the
place one in which only strict atten-
ton to business will keep Germans out
These doughboys IN the line have no
hankering to take things easy" Ev-
cry man in the line will tell you in con-
fdential tones that he has a personal
grudge to settle with the Hun for
dragging the world into this nasty bus
mess. and the sooner aggressive action
is taken. the sooner Germany is going
to be punished. and war made a thing
Of the past
That is the Job every doughboy fg-
urges he has TO do. and the confidence
with which he takes TO the trenches
tells the world he will succeed.