New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-15
Our Artillery in France

permitted by the United States Govern
ment. that the artillery contingent has
reached the training camp OF the first eN-
pedition will bring relief to many 'hou-
sands of Americans, who for perioo Oh
many, many weeks have been kept IN 'he
dark as to the fate of those whom they
loved and knew had sailed for France
The question of the wisdom OF secrecy
50 long beyond the time of the arrival OF
American troops in France is at the least
debatable. We know as matter OF TACT
that nearly half million Canadian troops
have been transported to Europe without
the loss of a single ship or man, we know
that the customary procedure in the case
Of each Canadian expedition was to an
nounce TO the people of Canada, through
the press, the safe arrival of the expe-
dition within a few days after the troops
wore ashore on British soil. Why is it not
possible to do the same thing with refer
ence to American troops?
In the case of the artillery, many thou
sands of citizens of New York knew when
they sailed. 1t was matter OF common
report and common gossip all over TINS
town. It was not thing known only to
favored few; it was fact known to many
thousands of people whose daily Journeys
bring them to places where they might see
what was to be seen.
The ships sailed. We knew they had
zone. Thousands waited anXiously over
long weeks for a single reassurlng word
None came. At last we are told, not that
the artillery has arrived in France, but
that it has been there for many weeks at
an artillery camp easily to be identified by
ANYBODY who knows about French military
geography. and that they have now gone
I'D to ioin the American troops, whose posi-
t;on is known to many Americans and un-
QueStlonaDly u an N'i'-
authorities.
The Tribune will be the last paper IN
the world to quarrel about official secrecy.
Il regards with admiration and approval
the achievement of the government and the
Administration in sending troops to France
with SO much promptness and with such
success. But it does believe that unneces-
sary worry and unnecessary anxiety have
been occasioned in the matter of the artil-
N lery bg the course pursued by the govern
W NETT.
1t may be that there were controlling
reasons which cannot be published why 1t
was unwise three weeks ago to announce
what is known now. Yet in point of fact
thousands of people in France knew weeks
ago that the artillery contingent had
arrived They knew in what towns they
had been seen, and every one is perfectly
well aware of the fact that what is known
in France to-day is told in Switzerland to-
morrow. and when told in Switzerland it is
repeated in Berlin without delay.
In other words, within few hours after
American troops step on French soil Ger
man authorities are aware of their arrival.
II is known in France and it is known in
Germany. The only people who do not
know are the American people - the
mothers, wives and children Of the Amer
lean soldiers who have been sent across
the sea. Is this necessary? Does not this
impose one hardship more than even the
exigencies of war demand upon those who
have to stay behind?
The Tribune believes that the policy of
the British and Canadian governments
could well be followed. 1t believes that
when an expedition has safely reached
European soil and been disembarked the
United States Government should an
nouuce its arrival within a reasonable
length of time.
There may be good reasons why the
American expeditions should be yelled in
q secrecy which was not applicable for
Canadian expeditions, but the weakness of
such an argument seems to be found in
the fact that after all most of the secrecy
is imaginary and not real. 1t is matter
Of common suspicion that the sailing dates