Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 242, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1918 — FIT TO LEAD MEN [ARTICLE]

FIT TO LEAD MEN

Soldier Tells of Spirit of American Officers. Marching Soldiers, Near Limit of Phy*, teal Endurance, Brought Back to Sense of Discipline by Act of Gameness.. , There was none of the thrill of crowded grand stands in the race that Sergt. Harold Baldwin describes in “Holding Whe Line.” It was run by men so exhausted that they could scarcely stand. Yet In that slow, stumbling race-there was more self-denial more heroism, more Indomitable courage than could go into the breaking of world’s records. It was midnight, Sergeant Baldwin says, apd as hot as Hades when wo started from the banks of the Yser. We had been some 22 days constantly in action; again and again we had been launched into the line to help our terribly hard-pressed French and British comrades! Every time a tornado of German artillery fire opened up, we stood ready to advance across open ground to the front line., Judge, then, of our condition for a 25-mile march. At the beginning, they sent us at the double between batteries of roaring 75 and 60-pounders. The awful din was the finishing touch, and our nerves went snap. At last we were clear, and we settled down to a steady hike. On, on, we tramped! Would we never halt? One after the other exhausted men fell. Men dozed as they walked, fell as they dozed, lay where they fell.

At last, as day was breaking, they took us into a field. Here a drink of hot tea, some food and a rest of one hour revived us somewhat. I noticed that one of the officers was carrying a puppy in his arms. It was only a few days old, and I marveled at his wonderful heart in forgetting hi* own troubles and caring for the poor little helpless creature. On again, all through the blazing heat of the day we hiked. Tommies would walk with us, easing our lot in their rough, kindly manner. They promised us Fritz should pay dearly for his dastardly gas attack before they were through. On, on, till we entered, Bailleul. Thank God! Rest, we thought. But no, ever on. And then the men, the limit of endurance reached and mad with disappointment, began to get in an ugly mood. Discipline was sorely strained, and we openly shouted dur opinion of the officers to their faces. And then we witnessed a thing that brings tears to my eyes every time I think of IL Those officers of ours were in no better shape than ourselves; in fact, owing to their responsibility, they were in worse plight Instead of marking down the offenders for future punishment, they, inflicted worse punishment on us by making us thoroughly ashamed of ourselves. Lining up across the road, they bade us halt for a space, telling us that they had a bet to decide, and it must be decided at once. They were going to run a race. Their effort was pitiful in the extreme. Although they started out bravely enough, after a few paces one, then another staggered and fell; but they struggled to their feet and staggered away again. After such an exhibition of courage, what could we do or say? Not only was it a lesson to us, but it is one of the grandest memories I have. There were those battle-weary men, utterly worn out, with nerves on edge, scarcely able to walk,.yet to show that they were game to the end they went through the threefold agony of that race.-—Youth’s Companion. ‘ •