Jackson County journal., 1918-09-13
Our Doughboys Mean Business
When They Take the First
Line Trenches.
their efficiency EVIDENT
Veterans Before They Enter the
trenches, by First-Rate Military
Training If Not by Experience
Every Man in Line Has
Personal Grudee to
Settle With Huns.


With the American Troops in Alsace-
Loraine.-By the dim light of the
noou YOU could barely see the stream
of tloughboys pouring out of the shell
terins woods and scraping over the
dusty French road toward the trenches.
They said very little and trudged along
with that measured swinging tread
which enables Europe's veterans to
carry their heavy packs almost un-
hcard-of distances.
The stream seemed unending, as the
nitcd Press staff car picked it's way
from squad to squad without using
HgHs. without falling in bitches and
without touching single dOughhCy.
Finally one section of the human
stream halted in a ruined village. The
press car stopped, too, for beyond tllis
point everything except ammunition
md food goes on foot.
The officers gave the order to rest.
and lot OF packs dropped to the
ground, followed by doughboys Their
rifles they never dropped. In the moon
light you could see the ground covered
with resting soldiers, mostly string.
There was clicking of rifles and
sounds of tightening packs, and bits Of
gossip which could come crly from
group heading for it's first night in the
t'tnches.
Indifferent to Danger.
These were Uncle Sans citizen sol
ders, new men just over from "the
states" as they have habit of calling
home when over here. few uues-
tlonS revealed the fact that year ago
n csc boys were clerks. carpenters
students and whatnOt. in civilian
clothes. Six months ago they We're in
n training camp. Now they were SOL
diers in France. and tonight they wcr e
making their genuine debut into the
VIZ for civilization.
There was no wild enthusiasm nor
any evidence Of fear or even appre-
hcns'cn among those citizc,i-sodiers
as they rested before making the last
Ian into the trenches. Thee WAS 8
nGrcerCifact sort Of confidence prev
mo- of the breathing spell 20 see tn. 4
he WAS 100 per cent ready for battle
Interest and talk centered around the
clicking rifles and other equipment.
"1'his old guns sure going to d'
some work from now on" said on'
doughboy to his pal as he played Will
the rifle fondly. Its the best gun il
this army"
Say. YOU never shot this gun" re
piled the other. "NObOdy ever did. am
nobody will but me. It's some BOche
getter 1t was made for me special!
Bo'
Officers went through the crowd gfN
Ing final warning about use Of ga
masks, and attention centered arOun
masks for q moment. A lot Of chap
tried them on again. Then packs agai
We're adjusted, and the group Of dougl
boys streamed slowly on.
Ready for Business.
AS they got nearer the front trenche
the word was passed to walk MOI
quietly. Conversation except in III
dertOnes stopped, and they descende
into trenches. All you heard, was tt
steady knock of hObnailed shoes {
the trench duckbOards, as these re
arrivals were quietly initiated to II
trenches in France. Quietly and wit
out cOmmOtion the officers station'
their men, with lookouts watchir
across moonlit No Mans Land, Il
former occupants of the trenches lei
and the relief was completed.
There is something about the fea
less quiet way these new dougbho
take the trenches that makes "
feel they know lot about warfa1
They are veterans before they ent
the trenches, by first-rate militia
training If not experience. Their q
cipline is fine, and their efficiency te
you they are ready for business
meaning whipping Germans.
well, you can tell Kaiser Bill we
here to fight" said one dOughbOy,
ha took his station. "Hear the q
mans say we're just crowd of
trained boys. Well soon show tn
We're soldiers
1t happens this dOughbOy's plato
q it very acon. The next night