Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-07-05
Why Moi?
(From ne New York SUM.

The day after the arrival OF the
van Of the American army In England |
a correspondent of the London Times, /
who had crossed the Atlantic with /
them, wrote of the departure OF our ]
soldiers as follows:
Toward the beginning Of lat week !
tug boat put out from Governors
Island. that small fortified dot OF land
south OF Manhattan, New York. 1t car
ried troops troops OF the
regular army who are forming the adj
yanced guard OF the first combatant
force TO leave the United States for
service I'm their own uniform and
under theiT own flag In France. The
forts gave them no farewell salute
aud OF the millions Of American citi
zons but few score knew they were
leaving or where they we're going"
Some of us have seen them drop
ping down the bay on tugs, sharing
the deck space with boxes OF rations,
pyramids OF khaki clad men survey
ing the passing ferrybcats in stony
silence, with not wave OF the hand
or the show of a handkerchief from
the commuters. who. as a matter OF
fact. do not know a regular from a
National Guardsman. But how should
they when the sight OF a militiaman
is occasional and the glimpse OF
regular rare? Not all of those unde-
monstrative men going down the bay
20 climb the side Of transport show
ing no national nag or regimental
insignia and with not a band playing
patriotic airs or inspiriting music, not
all OF them will see the Statue of Lib
erty again. They know 10 and the
oniookers know IL. but there Is no
godspeed, no farewell. II Expresses
the heart. Il seems like indifference,
but is not
Does any man in his senses doubt
that the enemy is informed Of the de-
parture OF our troops that his spies
have reported what is about TO take
place? Then why surround with mys-
terry the detraining. the march from
quarters. the crowding on the waiting
harbor craft? Why this stealth and
silence when everybody, friend aud
enemy alike, knows that our men are
going? Why a procedure that sup
presses the natural emotions OF our
people? Nothing could be more de-
pressing to them, and more discour-
aging 70 the soldiers leaving, than
this mockery of an unseen departure
for the transports, which may sail In
day OF a week-who knows?
Why not let the flag stream and
whip in the free wind OF America as
our regulars so down the bay? Why
not tho strains Of the regiments band
| playing the "Star Spangled Banner
and America" and changing into
] catchy ragtime dear to the crowd on
the river boats and familiar TO the
enlisted men? What a waving of hats
and roar OF cheers there would be.
with the ladies', between smiles and
tears. fiuttering their little handker-
chiefs. How hearts would go out to
the men in khaki and how IN every
fibre they would feel the sympathy OF
their fellow Americans who we're
wishing them godspeed and victory
on the fields OF Francel The moment
would be worth living for those who
went and for those who stayed.
A And If there was a march TO the
waterside, why shouldn't New York
ers see tho regulars swinging along
so calamity. with the Stars and
Stripes held aloft and the bands mar
tiaI airs sending the blood coursing
through the veins? What would It not
be worth TO the men going away. what