The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-09
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

l
 copy of "Alabamas Own in France"
 containing war stories of the 1e7th U $.
 infantry, by William H. Amerine, which
 sheds light on the immortal story of the
 Rainbow division.
 l The fnont cover is in colors showing
 group of national guardsmen. beneath
 which is written, Just Tin Soldiers, but
 mighty avengers of wrongs done hu-
 manity." Now, this gives in a nutshell just what Alabama's own beloved sons did.
 The frontispiece gives soldier-like pie tuce of Col. William P. Screws, and scattered through the volume are ike nesses of Lieut.. Col. Walter E. Bare. Maj. John W. Carroll. Maj. Hartley A. Moon, Mai Dallas F. Smith (promoted to lieu tenant coloneD, Maj. Everette H. Jack son, Mai Ravee Norris, Maj. Robert Joerg, Jr., Maj. Herbert B. May, Maj. John W. Watts, Capt. John Miles Smith, Corp. Sidney E. Manning, Capt. Maurice
 (French military attache) and Chaplin Emmet P. Smith. A staff of officers whose names will never die.
 The book also contains some interest ing pictures showing receptions given in honor of the homecoming of the regi- ment. There are numerous page maps and one large insert one of the battle Of Chateau Thierry. The appendices are rich in interesting matter and data. Appendix A. which gives clippings form the regi- mental scrap book, is full of good things Appendix B sets forth the citations. awards, deaths and wounds. Appendix contains a complete roster of the regi- ment. Appendix D cites the roster of off, ficers of the 1S7th infantry as of March 2s, 1913, army of occupation. Germany.
 I have given the contents in detail with the exception of the story itself in or der to show that the volume is valuable as reference work. I like the way the author begins his foreward with a scrip ture quotation: "Who through faith sub dued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lons'' This verse out of Hebrews has the heroic ring which characterized the unconquerabie march of the Alabama's own in France, and I am glad it heads the narrative.
 MT. Amerine says: Tt so happened one day at Maven, Germany, while his battalion was passing through the town, Maj Dallas F.. Smith of Opelika, after ward lieutenant general, said to me: We would like for you to write history of our regiment" He says: Future and more competent writers are to search the cold archives of the war department for a history of the great American fighting machine in Europe. I merely skim the surface of it's achievement
 Now having made this admission, I was inclined to follow him, for had he set last word about the regiment I would have immediately put aside his book, knowing full we'll that he would prove an unworthy historian, for it matters not how learned man may be or what was his opportunities for observation. he could not overcome the fact that he was too near the war to pass judgment even he served.
 So far as I am concerned, I can pa- tiently wait for an academic account of what transpired in the Chateau-Thierry drive, the Champagne defensive, the St. Mihiel offensive and the famous Argonne march, and the occupation of Germany. but the things I am impatient to know are the incidents which come fresh from the lips of the men who with the lust of battle still in their hearts pour out their rich experiences to one another with no thought of their being embalmed in dead tones to be bored over by dry as dust historians of future generations The authors object was to repeat much that was told him by officers and men on the spot, and also to gather in peace times the memories which impressed combatants He makes no effort to deal with the technical side of the great battles, and only gives so much of official history as is of the most direct connection with the matter nhand to make it in telligible Yet he has striven to be as
 accurate as possible Any errors can be 1 corrected in second edition. The volume is dedicated ITO those brave yet tender hearts, the mothers of America. who each night knelt in prayer | for the safety and success of their sons | overseas" Read the foreword, but al | though you may be man, do not skip chapter ?, which Is headed "A Word To Mothers"
 ''The bravest battle that was ever fought,
 Shall I tell you where and when? l On the maps of the world, you'll find it not;
 Twas fought by the mothers of men" | The book will take you with breathless interest through training camps here and abroad With the Fighting Fourth" you | can go to the Mexican border at Nogales and back home again. You can march with it to Camp Mills, l.. l., where it was I to become part of the famous Rainbow division, so named by Secretary of War Baker because it's units were from 26 states of the union, their locations form-
 ing an arc across the map like that of the
 natural phenomenon.