Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-14

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gives you bit Of an idea of the terrific
The individual feels very small in the
midst OF all this majestic uproar, but
At the same time he is tremendously
thrilled and excited. He is driven by
an Irresistible urge to do something.
He wants to help; to add his mite of
strength to the cause of his comrades.
He wishes to rush ahead, right into the
thickest part of the action.
LIKE A GREAT GAME
AT the moment he feels that he is
< a player In the most absorbing game
in the world, game of fierce and IT,
tanic dimensions. He does not fear
death; he does not even think of the
possibility Of being hit. He knows what
his chances are, but for the time he
disregards his own danger.
when a man is wounded he walks
back to the dressing station If he can.
If he is too badly hurt, he lies still
until night, or crawls into a shell hole.
Not many cry out because of their
wounds. When nightfall comes, the
stretcher bearers go out Then cries
for help may be heard from the men
lying about in grain fields, or in shell
holes"
There is not a trace Of yellow in the
American army, so they tell me, and
believe 1t. Captain Burress of the
Twenty third regular infantry regiment
told me Of an incident which illus
trates the thorough gameness of our
men.
BRAVE AND MODEST
at was during heavy engagement"
he said, land as usual at such times
was wearing a private's uniform. On
my way up to the front line met enc
of the boys in my company who did rot
at the moment recognize me. The
lower part of his left arm hung only
by a thread, and he held the wrist
in his right hand hoping that some
thing might be done to save the arm.
Say, Buddy he called out to ne, can
you tell me where the dressing station
Tsp / directed him and then he recog-
nized me. He was full of contrition at
having called his captain Buddy, and
started to apologize. Think of me grit,
the gameness of lad hurt like that,
who forgot his wound in showing that
he meant no disrespect!"
1t was ten weeks after the Argonne
battle that we passed over part Of the
field where our men won deathless
glory by their willing advance against
and through obstacles that are beyond
the grasp of realization unless they are
seen. Having seen, l shall carry with
me to my last day the feeling of adj
miration for our men that was sngen-
dered there. They have given us new
reasons to be h1mbly proud of shar-
ing American citizenship with them.
THE WILDERNESS BATTLE
Late in September the allies began
their great movement to drive the Ger
mans out of France. They aimed to
push back the Germans as one would
close a door. The hinge was just north
of Verdun, and the outer edge of the
door touched the English channel. To
the Americans was assigned the task
of pushing on the sector nearest the
hinge. and In doing this they were ex-
pected to sweep through the Argonne
forest, tangled wilderness spread over
precipitous hillsides and in narrow deep
ravines.
Back in New York, news editor
on one of the evening papers insisted
upon playing up the Argonne battle
during its progress, though at the time
it did not get credit for being a very
remarkable campaign. When opposed,
he pounded his fist on the desk and
declared, II tell you the war is being
won right there!"
He was right. This say in full
knowledge of all the wonderful achieve
/ ments of our allies long before we en-
tered the war, as well as after. The
American army in the Argonne was
headed for Sedan. the chief railroad
center on the Germans southern line
Of communication. With communica-
tions cut. the German army would have
been penned up in Belgium. The Am
orleans reached Sedan on the last day
Of the war. The Germans knew when
TO quit.
OUR GREAT CASUALTIES.
Do not understand me to say that
we won the war unaided; far from it.
But do not underestimate what was
accomplished in a campaign that cost
us 10000 casualties, three times the
total losses of the Federals and Con-
federates at Gettysburg.
Today, the Argonnc battlefield is q
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