New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05

that there is such disparity in years be-
tween them and the Tommy or the younger
class Of poilu but their ready, ingenious
comment their ncwncss to the Old World
10 place in .the comparison; tits the ma
turity of experience. Tommy and the poilu
have bought and paid for theirs; the Yank
is buying his. They are veterans; he is a
novice but such fine lusty specimen of
novice, with his clear, frank eyes, good
teeth, and supple, swinging body.
And beyond the average of their allies
Of the same class they have initiative and
intelligence That and their rough and
ready, care free happy so lucky attitude,
expressed by the up-roled shirt sleeves
and open collar with which they sometimes
alert interest in everything about them,
distinguish them from their confreres in
the other armies.
They are not blase. Perhaps, after the
weary years of service and hardship and
dIsappointlnents such as their ally brothers
in arms passed through, they, too, would
be- But in 1918 they are in strange land,
far from the provincial home where for
cign war service had been thought not even
remote posslbility-and they reflect it.
They are, or rather were, as one looking
! with open curious eyes upon sudden death
for the first time. Yet they accepted it,
ike true soldiers, with matter fact COM
placence--and l regard that, by the way, as
another of the American boys solderly
qualities, viz, his acceptance Of whatever
comes his way, without murmur of surprise
or protest
recall nay own agreeable surprise at the
casual reception by the boys at the bat
talon dressing station on the Chateau
lhierrySoissons battle line, where they
we're having their first experience under
fire, Of their dead and grievously wounded,
50 recently the laughing, joshing COM
panions on the mdnight march to the rem
devious where at daylight they were to go
over the top.
That to the mind is so given the power
OF this quick familiarity and accustomed
ness before the tragedies and bereavements
Of uncertain life is one Of the blessings
Ell our mysterious human machinery. Yet
S0'nc Oh It's manifestations are iolting on
OCCASION even to so weather-beaten a vet
cram as las, for example, the instance
related to me by officer who saw II Of
Tommy shaving by mirror attached n
knee protruding from trench top! At
hornc VIC all know Young Americas ;rvet.
crate habit Of joshing; no group Of hin
anywhere, in any occupation. but what the
rational tendency bubbles to the surface
1t is the trademark OF the young and tn.
exuberant-and sometimes a recourse o.
The iIl-mannered. But the soldier is usual,
good natured joshcr. ordinarily withou
ling in his raiilery-eyen to the Germal
Dsisonerg.
The running fire of josh which ripplct
A'ong the line Of boys marching TO the from
~ resting by the roadside, when squads O.
1 'efman prisoners passed through on thcil
ny 10 the rear, was immensely amusing.
once, German, as he entered this Ian,
q boys longing at rest, shouted "ms
.saerad," 10 which one boy at once shot
~ 'oh, YES, you are" calling to anothc,
~ o6wn the column: "Say, Bill here's g
asshis says he's a friend Of YOU'RE" And
SSH up and down the line swelling chorus
sTsss, 1oh, YEg, he IT," repeated oyer and
- With the accent alternating or the
.sar words. The Heinie was 10 startled by
- roar That he stumbled and eprawIcd on
~ IN seaA, wfsreupou tho chant changed to
- syst 90 ysur pants. HEINIKI"
~.