UNITED STATES TROOPS.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 May 1918, Page 8

UNITED STATES TROOPS.

SNEERS BY GERMANS. The German special correspondents on the Western front are repeating the methods they employed in the early days of the war in regard to British troops, in their reports on the character of the Americans. Dr. Ostorn, the Yossiche Zeitung’s special correspondent, says that the German troops take the appearance of this new opponent quite calmly, and he continues: — “Wherever one goes, our men describe the Americans as physically erfiicent, well-equipped lads, who, however, lack experience of the sharper forms of Western front fighting. They are said to be very lively, restless, and active, ready day and night for patrols, and little attacks. Their upturned felt hats, which look like the head covering of our colonial troops and field chaplains, constantly appear in the foreground, but then the same picture is always repeated. As soon as the attackers come under fire their fighting zeal is considerably damped. Infantry salvoes and machine gun fire promptly scare them back—to say nothing of the artillery barrage, which completely confuses them Our men perceive the essential nature'of these opponents. They describe them as skilful and bold sportsmen, but by no means soldiers in our sense, and such as modern warfare demands. Our men do not under-estimate the enemy from new world, but they feel themselves in every sense their military superiors.”