New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-06

Who first invented the term, and when, we
do not know From its expressiveness one
fears an American origin, but hopes thae
after all the British army (Which at least
knows a good neologism when 1T sees one)
can claim its parentage. II was the army
that gave us "strafe" and "blighty' ana
"napoo" and "wind-up" and "skrimshanker'
and Swinging the lead and many another
indispensable word or phrase, and so we may
not be far wrong in giving the army
credit for "eyewash." But whether the word
is or is not Of military origin, 1t IS larry
safe to aver that the thing it connotes mas
its root in the army. IL might perhaps be
explained-obscura per obscurora-as a ca
rnouaape intended to conceal inward defects
by outer display. But accurate definition IS
not possible, since "eyewash" assumes so
many and so diverse shapes that only by
experience can one appreciate the true IN
wardness Of the term and thereby realize
it's danger.
In Its Crude Beginnings
The significance Of "eyewash" in its crudest
form was revealed to US in the early days
Of the war. A certain very famous general
was to inspect battalion Of cyclists. BE-
fore his arrival the commanding ofhcer went
down the ranks and ordered all the men
who wore spectacles or pince-nez TO remove
them. 81 don't want the general to imagine
that the battalion is made up Of blind men,"
he explained laudable sentiment, perhaps,
but it was his business to let the general
know all that was to be known about the
battalion. A few weeks later that same gen
eral inspected the same battalion. There
was little party of men, some fifteen TO
twenty, whose bicycles were undergoing re-
pairs at the time and who therefore paraded
on foot "Why are these men dismountedE'
asked the general. The reply came trlppingy
from the coonePs tongue: They are new
draft. sir. They arrived only this week and
have not yet been issued with bicycles IL
was a ib, and fairly obvious fib, for one
at least of the men was lance-coporal with
a conspicuous stripe on his sleeve. But the
general accepted the explanation readily
enough II seems to be one of the rules OF
the "eyewash" game that a senior othcer be-
lieves all that he is told This general was
a past master in the game; so expert, IN fact,
that not many months later he was
relieved of an important command owing 10
a disastrous failure. 1t was pleaded for him
that he was "let down" by his subordinates
That may be true, but commander "uo
encourages his juniors to "eyewash' HIM
will always be "let down." just as Sir Beau
champ Duff was "et down" at later date.
A Gallant Colonel
There is a colonel in England to-day who,
when his battalion goes for route march
accompanies them mounted. That IS quite
right and proper; company commanders and
senior officers are entitled to a mount. But
this colonel always sends cyclist orderly
ahead of the battalion TO scout for the brig
adler or an officer of the staff, on whose APP
proach being reported to him the colonel
dismounts and gives his horse to a man TO
lead. The gallant fellow acquires merit thus
in the generals eyes, and is complimented on
sharing the burdens of his men, This mani
festation of "eyewash" is not good for the
morale of the battalion, and that commanding
officer is by no means popular with his men.
It is different in France. Instances OF eye
wash lit is time to dispense with the in
verted commas are not easy 10 find there.
Possibly that is because the inefficient COM
manders were drastically weeded out at an
early stage. They were mostly consigned to
"cooshier" positions with training battalionS
at home But the practice is not confined to
our home forces Nor is it confined TO the
army The report of the Mesopotamla Com