The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-09

as~'U sno SWoAA OIL LIG SPiIlI
AMERICAN REGIMENT
BLUFFED AUSTRIANS
Under the heading. The Yanks in
Italy scared Austrian Army with
Bluff" the Stars and Stripes. the Of
fetal publication Of the American Ex-
Force in France, in one
of it's latest Issues tells the story of
how constant moving of a small group
was used to deceive the Austro-Ger-
man forces as to the real extent OF
the reinforcements sent to Italy in
1918 by General Pershing. For one
thing a single American regiment OF
infantry was made to appear. so far
as the Austrians were concerned. as
an entire division from the A. F. r.
in France
The Austrian dream bubble" says
The Stars and Stripes. burst at the
now historic battle of the vittorio-
veneto. which rang down the curtain
on the Mitteleuropa myth on the 4th
OF the last memorable November. On
that Interesting occasion o. the col
lapse of the Eastern line, the Austrian
hordes beat 1t for the tall timber be-
hind a scrap Of white rag and double
goose stepped It to tune of The Yanks
Are Coming The Yanks sure enough
were coming too, but the funny part
OF II all was that there weren't
enough of them to make a tank town
holiday parade.
No amount of jaw-breaking Ger
man eloquence gassed out by howl
ing mad kommandanturs could con-
vince the Austrian men OF the line
that there weren't at least 1000. 600
devil-hounds. armed to the teeth.
heading due north by east to see for
themselves, doubtless, how Vienna
bread Is made in It's home town. And
thereby hangs a tale. for at this
point the Yank got away with the
biggest game OF blur of the war,
though, to be sure, it's not called
eiun now, but 'camoufiage' IT was a
good joke and well put across.
Instead Of there being half-dozen
I toughened olive-drab divisions In the
front AREAS the enemy's inte1li
gence service is said to have report
ed-there was only one solitary
American regiment in the whole
wedge OF the allied drive. Three
regular companies. a mere handful.
out they had a, rep The Austrians
had got wind OF how the line on the
western front was being tied into
all sorts of knots by yhe men thew
thought couldn't fight, and that news
promptly discounted their chances
or ever regafning the offensive i'm
their own theatre OF the war.
reports were coming in thick and
,as. mat every road leading up to the
ltaiian line was infested with o. D.
riau soldiers. The Italians, English and
freneh were more or less known
Quantities. but this new element was
something to sit up about and take
notice OF. And they were divisions
strong--so what was the use,
ne Allied Intelligence service was
no siouch In the game. 1t reported
very soon the effect upon Austrian
morale made by the presence ~ ~
Americana in the opposing line The
right dope, therefore, was evidently
20 Keep up the impression that the
aoughooys were there in goodly num-
s.nona ana all prepared to play it
so the 332rd Infantry regiment
was split up into platoons. and the
mex. Few days and nights they glori-
ousty did their bit by hiking. The
groups OF forty or fifty men were
scattered among a dozen towns near
the line. and when the enemy scout
piahes new over to observe, the signal
was given for a general move of
'he various groups toward the front
me movement was purposely
poorly hidden. Nature helped In
carrying the stunt through success
Iuiiy' Tor the Italian roads in the sec
.lon are lined on either sida with low
srses or bush Single file along about
oh 80
the easily identified American SOL
diers. To the observer above. either
on the distant mountain peak or In
me low-hying planes. the one man
visapie was the end man Of the f1le-
,hat meant young army on the road.
AL night, tired footsore and weary.
out sull plugging along, the platoons
mixed II back over the same road
with few hours OF sleep and an in
tricate disguise. such as a lightning
change from campaign hats to over
seas or from raincoats without packs
10 piouses with packs. they slowly
trudged along single file. up the road
IN the general direction of the line
IN the broad daylight-to the enemy's
eyes brand new army.
The camoufiag movement was so
Well put across that the Italians them
saws oeSan 10 lhing that at least half
or the A. r. F. had come over from
france, The English, who were there
In large number. fell for II also. II
can well be believed that it worked
good results In that way by inject
ing pep into those veterans for the
last grand drixe.
$50 badly were the Austriaps scared
by the Italians and the Tomnniee and
the poilus and the camouhagcd Yanks.
and all, that when the morning Of the
glorious Ath--of November--broke
they were running so fast on the re-
treat that the allied troops that fol-
lowed In close pursuit had to be sup
piled by airplanes as nothing else
could keep UP with them"
No Homework for Them.
We'll. the soldiers learned to sweep,
wash and COOK
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