Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 271, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1917 — National Guardemen From Every State In France [ARTICLE]

National Guardemen From Every State In France

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, Thursday, Nov. 28. National guardsmen from every state in the union have arrived in France, it is today permitted to announce. They are among the troops now training, or lately arrived. While it is not permitted to disclose the identity of units, it may be said that all those sailed from the United States have arrived safely and that some already are in training within sound of the guns on the battle front. They are showing a spirit in keeping with the purpose of all concerned to make the American expeditionary force a homogenous army in which each division, whether regular, national guard or national armies, cannot be distinguished in efficiency from the others. The former state troops are billeted over a wide area and are pronounced excellent soldiers.

The guardsmen have been arriving in the American zone for many weeks. They are scattered somewhat, but as far as possible the units from the same state have been hept close together, except in one case. They found the regular army had made good preparation for them and while many are billeted in houses in French towns others have been quartered„ in low wooden barracks specially erected. The guardemen are all in good health. The reason it is not permitted to mention units by name is that if one is- mentioned the way is open to mention all others, which means the revealing of identification numbers and other information which is of importance to the enemy. But for the information of the relatives and families of the men, everyone who sailed from the United States has arrived safely in France.

With the American army in France, Nov. 30.—Separate units of American army engineers have been working in Certain sections of the French battle front. They are cooperating with experiencipa French engineers in the actual battle lines, mainly for the purpose of receiving instruction. American engineers have been in the front line before this, but they were attached to the American artillery and infantry forces. After a period of instruction the American engineers now in training will assist in the instruction of recently arrived or-the expected additional contingents.