Evening star., 1919-03-13

was enhanced by the ulckerlnS IlRhtS
of an Army automobile.
"But----'' Again he made an effort
TO catch up the thread of his sentence.
Shutting his gun from one side to
the other and then letting the butt
fall sharply upon the snow covered
but seft ground. he started again
Misses MAS Lemin Pies"
yes he musingly stated, 1--WE fell
lows are not kicking On the mud
hut-Gawd, how / do miss mas leipln
pies,'
When this fighting lad from Amer
lea, who stood sentinel here on
military highway stretching from the
heart of France far into the occupied
territory of Germany that he might
guide the steady stream of supplies
for the Yanks on the Rhine, gave ut
terance to this sentiment about Mas
lemin pies" that lad gave utterance
to a thought which generally charac-
tertzes the American soldier in France
today.
These tens of thousands of Ameri-
cans who came to battle the worlds
common enemy who have seen their
comrades killed or mutiIated at their
sides and who with greatest spirit of
fortitude. courage and bravery upheld
the best traditions of American mill
tary history about st. Mihiel, at
Chateau Thierry and in the Argonne:
these lads whose hearts and nerves
are steeled to physical danger and
who scorn it are growing sentimental.
but in the right way.
These boys who left comfortable
surroundings in answer to the i'm
perative call of humanity truly are
undergoing hardships. Yes, many of
them. One going through typical
~
tary camp conditions, be they of the
best Is certain to find himself COM
batting harsh things which try the
nerves.
Wait for Treaty to End It.
But these lads know that the job
Is unfinished until the peace con-
ference in Paris ends its Iabors and
that their transportation home is de-
layed by sheer lack of ships and
other things. but they are willing to
go through the mud. the freezing
weather, the siush, snow. sleet and
Tigors of lonesome watches In wind
swept ruined towns. That is what
they have become accustomed to.
They are Bot whining. But these tens
of thousands of boys still in France
are homesick. They want to get back
to the scraggly old farm in the noun
tains of Kentucky, the plantation of
the south, the farm way out in
'Ioway," or back to civilian pursuits.
no matter where they may be, just as
long as they are in the u. s. A.
Would the average American soldier
admit he is homestck?
He viii not. In fact. with some
braggadocio, deny 1t with emphasis.
Generally speaking, be is game to the
core and shows it in every endeavof.
Mud, Coolies, What of Itp
In view of the uproar that has been
created in Washington an American
dough boy in northern France was APP
preached as to what he thought Of
camp conditions.
Mud? Sure. Cooties7 Yes, lots of
EN-. But war Is not pink tea.
We've got bowels. Wen get through.
Washington would spend some time
In pushing more ships across here so
we can get home. Honne---now that's
what I call sweet music"
One has TO but visit any army camp
and mess with these lads to find their
true opinion OF what is what. Their
conversation does not turn to the
complex problems. OF the peace con-
ference in Paris; the battles they may
have gone through; what France may
or may not do; how long armies are
to occupy the left bank of the Rhine
or just how much the borrowing gov
ernments of Europe can repay to the
Usiited States. These are questions
for others to decide though the
American doughboy when pressed will
reveal a broad knowledge of the nice
ties of international affairs. He just
Is not worrying his head about them
now. They consequently turn TO other
things around their mess and these
other things consist of---weli. here Is
an example OF what they are saying:
oh, You Knoxville Girl!
'Hey. Brad. got letter from Knox
willie. Some girl, that She-----''
"oh, chop r. "A glum looking indl-
vidual responds. we know all about
her. You talk too much in your
sleep beautiful brown eyes and
brown hair and the sweetest dispo----
Oh, Gawd, cheese it,"
"Jinks over here's got Crouch
came back another. 'His girl busted
him"
Talk about girls. oh. 30. I've got
the end of the row. She's girl that
sticks. She's my ma"
Barring the metallic clank OF spoons
and plates. there was silence for
moment Somehow or other those big
etrapping fellows seemed to swallow
a little harder just then 1t was
moment or two before the running
FIRE of conversation was resumed
''Speakin' about our mas" one lad
chipped in. Il guess mines maxim
irllnce pies out on the farm just now.
Always puts up n little rince meat
at butcherin' time. Some nice, meat
too take is from me "
Guess mines gettin' breakfast
about now another responded As
he said this he pulled back his sleeve
and glanced at hia wrist watch, Seem
fngiy comparing tho difference In
French and American time. ~Yessir.
that's right. Just about ready TO take
a pan OF pipin' hot biscuitn from the
oven. And say. boys------"
a Biscuit Chorua
He never finished hts sentence. for
there were groans of Eood-natured
derision that moment. Those boys
simply did not wish 10 make ft ep-
pear they believed there wns any
thing like piping hot. nicely butter
Drowned biscuits in niI the world
And SO the conyersation went on
land on until tho mess hour was over
and these lads gave n hunch to their
belts and wandered of to finish such
duties ms each are forced 10 perform,
IN the course Of their oftentimes mo-
notonous days routine.
--&- ~--
Navy Medal Unanimously Chosen.
Tho design which has been approved
FOR the Navy distinguished service
medal was the unanimous selection of
the Navy Department council. Secre-
IA al ERt nj -taye ,ts a p.