I was there with the Yanks in France | Page 2

before we got our own bakeries started.
[Illustration: The Headquarters Company...taking its bath...]
The Headquarters Company of the Reserve Mallet taking its bath at Chavigeny Farm. The tub is a tin-lined cigarette box used by the Y.M.C.A. Water is heated in the old farm fire-place.

"PREPARE FOR ACTION"
I ran into Johnny Redlegs A-sitting on his bus, And I asked him why the devil He dropped half his shells on us. He just smiles and puffs his corn-cob, As peaceful as a Persian, And, "Buddy," says he, "you can't blame me, You gotta blame dispersion."
I says to Johnny Redlegs, "If I didn't have nine lives Your barrage would have got me With those lousy seventy-fives." He grins and puffs his corn-cob, And then he winks, reflective, And, "Buddy," says he, "you can't blame me If you pass your damn objective."
I says to Johnny Redlegs (Just kidding him, you know), "The trouble with your popgun is She pops too gol-darned slow." Then Redlegs drops his corn-cob And spits on both his han's, And, "Buddy," says he, "you can kid with me And the whole damned Field Artilleree, But there'll be a dud where you used to be If you kid my swasont-cans!"
[Illustration: "I know a girl at home who looks just like you."/6 June]
[Illustration: "Johnny Redlegs"...]
"Johnny Redlegs"--guardian of the "Soixant-quinze." (the famous French "75")
[Illustration: ...and the doughboy...]
...and the doughboy who tries to keep just the right distance from the covering barrage fire.
[Illustration: "The Bugs"--Two men, French style tanks]
[Illustration: An Indian M.P. -- "A Chance to get even"]
[Illustration: A Survival of the old regular army]
[Illustration: Among the first sent across... (Negro soldier)]
Among the first sent across/They served with the French in '17
[Illustration: Reading their shirts]
[Illustration: Her boy too]
[Illustration: American and French field artillery gun crews...]
American and French field artillery gun crews camped together in a wood near Charsoney. The canvas overhead keeps the fire from being observed by aeroplanes at night.
[Illustration: The linesman at the front...]
The linesman at the front--
Same old job with just a couple percent more risk than usual
Using a shell-shocked tree for a telegraph pole.
St. Mihiel 1918
Dumb Beasts
[Illustration: (soldier in gas mask)]
[Illustration: In the Missouri draft (mule)]
[Illustration: Wagon train] bucks: "Maud" and "Mud"
[Illustration: (goat feeding from mess kit)] Former refugee--now mascot and the only man in the outfit who likes monkey meat
[Illustration: Yanks with French Type of Anti-Aircraft]
[Illustration: The Aeroplane Fight]
RELIEF
z-z-z-z-z-z-Z-Z-Z-Z-e-e-e-e-E-E-------------b Boom! There's another! God, this pack is heavy. Glad I pinched the extra willy, Guess I'll need it. And the sweater, too, out there.
-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-Z-Z-Z-Z-E-E-E-EEEEEE- - b Boom! There's another! Jesse! that was a close one. Wonder if......good Christ! Where's Charlie? Got him clean. God curse those Jerries! I'll get even,--p'raps-- out there.
z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-Z-Z-Z-E-E-E-E-e-e----------b Boom! There's another! Over! Well, if one has my name on it Then the guv'ment pays ten thousand. What's the use? I couldn't spend it. Leastways not-- out there.
z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-Z-Z-Z-Z-e-e-e-e-e-E-E-E-E----b Boom! There's another. Where'd I put that plug of Climax? Oh, I s'pose somebody swiped it. Gee, I never thought that Charlie... Glad I ain't out on the wire. This damn trench is dark--ouch! Damn it, Wait a minute.... Hell, I'm coming, I can't run in this equipment. What the hell's the rush to get-- out there?
[Illustration: The Relief...]
The Relief--
Coming up to the front lines through the communication trenches, which extend a kilometer or so. On these occasions little love is lost on "beautiful moonlight nights"
[Illustration: The roofs of Vaux...]
The roofs of Vaux after a few minutes of Yank barrage lifted--
[Illustration: "The Germans have gone!" -- St. Mihiel]
[Illustration: The Shell Hole Central]
[Illustration: On Guard]
[Illustration: The noncombatant]
[Illustration: The family with whom I lived in Soissons]
In 1870 Grandp��re was taken as a prisoner to Coblenz
Madam Framary who sewed on my buttons and who transformed miserable French army rations into marvelous dishes
Eraseme, the youngest son who starts his three years of compulsory training in the fall 1919
The eldest son. After his three years of training he was called to war. He has never come back.
Soissons--1918
[Illustration: Awaiting the signal to attack...]
Awaiting the signal to attack. The sergeant is ready to blow the whistle for his squad to follow him out through a path in the barbed wire. In another minute they will advance close behind the bursting shells of a heavy barrage which, lifting, will leave them face to face with German machine guns.
France 1917
[Illustration: "American Field Service" drivers at Longpont/1917]
[Illustration: The "Territorial"...]
The "Territorial"--the name given French poilu between the ages of 34 and 40
Vailly--1917
[Illustration: The Paris Bus...]
Noyon, 1918
The Paris Bus--many kilometers from the Place de l'Op��ra--used for transporting troops, horses, and fresh meat to the front

FATIGUE
You can see 'em in the movies, With the sunlight on their guns, You can read in all the papers Of the charge that licked the Huns, You can read of "khaki heroes" And of "gleaming bayonet," But there's one thing that the writers And the artist all forget:
That's