The New York herald., 1921-03-14
The Americans Come.
A French Picture of the Arrival OF
Our Men on the Fighting Line.

From &c. Q. c.. Secteur y" bp Jean dc
ftcrreJcu, for the three last pears of the
icor editor of the official Compuaiqnc
az The headquarters of the French Arn.y
The quotation printed bclo,o Is taken
from Tome II OF his interesting book.
At this time we saw appear on the
roads clouds of Americans. Toward
Coulommiers. toward Meaux they went
by in interminable files tightly packed
on the camions. feet in the air, il ex-
traordinary poses, some OF them roost-
ing on the tilt, almost all oareheaded
and deployed. singing at the top OF
their lungs the songs OF their country
in the midst OF enthusiastic crowds.
The spectacle of this magnificent
youth from overseas. Of these boys Of
twenty clean shaven. bursting with
strength and health under their new
uniforms. produced a prodiglous effect.
They made moving contrast with our
men. In wornout garments. grown thin
by so many years of war, with their
eyes filled with a sombre fire-our men,
who were by this time only bundle Of
nerves held together by the power of
heroism and OF sacrifice. Every body
got the Impression thar they were as
sisting in a magical operation Of
TRANSMISSION OF blood.
New life came in floods to reanimate
the wasted body Of France, which had
bled by innumerable wounds during four
years OF war.
Why dwell on tho statement that
these soldiers were not trained. that
they brought to us only their courage
an absurd reflection that did not come
from the soul? In sort of vision or
the event ono perceived the presence Of
this gushing force bearing all before
II because II was force.
In these days Of trial when the en-
cmy, arriving again at the border ~
the Marine. might we'll believe us dis
couraged yet by the inspiration of the
Americans an unimaginable confidence,
contrary to good sense. filed the hearts
oc the French
our soldiers went into the battle re-
stored to confidence. full OF joy and
uttering frantic hurrahs at the sight
OF their brothers In arms. They said
admlrlngly "rhey are fine boys all
the same" without spelling II b. add
ing with that Galllc candor which never
quits them, "You1l see. old fellow. your
beard won't be quite SO fresh in eight
days or So"
General Petaln especially was struck
By the sight or the Americans whom
he encountered everywhere on his
rounds. IIls mind. of kind 70 under
stand the symbolism Of things, showed
him clearly what they represented.
At this time lie talxcG Of the Aneri-
cans constantly. DC spoke of them as a
builder of impcrishahlc monurents
would sneak Or an lmpregnable engine
by which he IL enabled 70 build without
fear OF being stopped.
He constantly said thar II was use
icss 10 prolong greatly the instruction
stage or these magnificent troops, His
thought was, i seems 70 me- this these
Americans know how 10 Aght naturally,
they are combative they have only TO
SEQ the way determined fellows plunge
into the fight IN order 20 follow their
example. They would 40 TO the strug-
Gle like trappcrs after foxes. They
would understand manmuvres by In
stinct, and besides they were well ed
lie argued in truth for an immediate
amalgamation of the Americans by bat
talions or by regiments IN the Ftcnch
divisions. At FIRST this was necessary !,
later the American army would or
ranize itself 1fe dld not want 70 stu
pafy tho Americans IN the sectors. but
10 throw them Al once into battle and
let them repose afterwsrd That's what
they had como for. Llfc IN the bar-
racks or tho trenches. painful. DANGER
ous. unglorlous badly accorded with
their temperament