Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-08
STOP PEACE TALK.
URGES GEN. KUHN
Discussion Dangerous to
Morale of Drafted Men,
He Declares
EARNEST WORK is NEEDED
BY a StdG Correspondent

CAMP MEADE, ADMIRAL, Md, Sept. 8.
Despite the multiplicity Of the problems
that Major General Joseph T.. Kuhn and
his officers must solve before the selectve
army men are whipped into efficient fighting
machines. they amount to little when COM
pared with the work of impressing upon
the minds of the men that their work must
be taken seriously.
That this IL extremely difficult because
of peace talk is admitted by all who are
engaged inf the plan Of organizing the
sefctive service men into various army
units. The peace talk, according to these
officers, is serving the purpose of the Ger
mans by destroying the morale of the men.
I'VE cannot deny the fact" said one of
the ranking officers today, that the average
man has been led to believe that the war
Is nearing an end and that he will never
see actual field service. Nothing could be
more harmful, for the average American
Is unable TO put any heart and spirit into
army training unless there is prospect
of real fighting He is ready to fight for
his country, but the prospect of eight months
OF training at an army cantonment does
not appeal to him.
SHOULD END DISCUSSION
AS there is no immediate prospect of
peace, the friends of America ought to
end the discussion, for not until the peace
talk ends. will we be able to win the hearty
fighting"
General Kuhn. who has had the privilege
of viewing the German hordes in action, Is
not talking about peace or taking the peace
talk very seriously. lie is convinced that
the war is to>be continued and that America
must play major part in the war activi-
ties.
we are up against a serious proposition"
was his assertion today. land a proposi-
ha p1
lea has not awakened to a realization of
what she must do to end this war. With
these Germans taking everything and
sweeping on toward Petrograd, 1t Is ap-
parent that We must take the war seriously
and resolve to do things. Every man who
enters this camp must become mbued with
this idea and devote his entire time to the
effort of putting himself In such shape
that he can do his best when called upon
to act"
Many of the officers expressed the belief
that the Kaiser Is directing the peace talk
with the view of destroying the morale of
the new National Army and, by breaking
its war spirit, retard its development.
OFFICERS ON ANXIOUS SEAT
Although the War Department has an
nounced the plan of organization that is
being worked out by General Kuhn, no
Information concerning the assignments Of
reserve officers Is aNallaDle. Naturally,
there is considerable speculation among the
young officers in regard to these assign
ments
The officers will be distributed among the
infantry, machine gun, signal quartermas-
ter, artillery and other units to be organ
ized when the selective service men arrive.
but the one man who knows how the men
are to Ne distributed General Kuhn) is
not ready to announce the appointments.
Philadelphians who won commissions at
Fort Niagara are getting instruction from
regular army officers and also undergoing
the "tcmperamental test" 1t Is this test
that gives them cause for worry, for unless
a man exhibis the proper temperament to
command men he is hopeless as an army
officer.
The reserves appreciate the fact that
they must possess the temperament, and
that this qualification is the most essential
in the life of an officer. That many of
the men will be dropped is predicted among
the reserves but all are fighting hard to
make good in the field and retain their
commissions. They made good at Niagara
in the mental and physical tests but now
must prove their ability as leaders, and
those who fail to measure up to the army
standards of leadership will be dropped