The Coconino sun., 1917-07-06

All the incisive vigor and expert authority in the personality of Secre- tary of War Baker marked his re- sponse the other day when the daring suggestion was made to him that troops destined for the European bat tlefields should be paraded before their embarkation.
 "Under no circumstances" said the director of the military affairs of the United States. And the policy will be continued of sending American sol diers on the mission from which many will never return, without the heart ening memory of farewell from the people for whom they are to fight, and without permitting the inspiring spec tacle of their departure to touch the imagination and the hearts of their contrymen.
 Even the civilian mind will acknowl- edge the wisdom of withholding in- formation concerning the actual move- ment and destination of troops. But parades of the attachments could be held at such times and places as would not disclose any facts not readily ob- tainable by agents of the enemy, and these public demonstrations would be of incalculable benefit in stimulating nationally spirit of unity and vic tory. The case has been put with striking force by an influential news paper:
 Before it's departure on foreign service every American regiment should be publicly paraded. The exact place of embarkation and the hour of sailing need not be advertised, but to deny to the troops the inspiration of an enthusiastic leave-taking and to the people the stimulus such spectac- les give can be nothing less than a blunder. The spirit that fills the ranks of armies, mans the ships and supplies the money cannot be created and maintained in darkness and mys- tery. Military concealments that hide nothing and serve only to depress the ardor of both soldiers and people have characterized this war from the first. They will be especially deplorable in this country. To renew enthusiasm and courage, to promote enlistments, to awaken the indifferent, to emphas. ize the call for service and sacrifice, why should not the people see also the glorious optimism of the nations bravest on their way to war?
 To the vast majority of Americans this will seem sound advice. What makes it remarkable, however, is the fact that it comes from the New York World, which condemned with bitter scorn the one military undertaking that would have brought the Ameri. can people into instant touch with tho distant conflict and wouldhave freC their very souls with patriotic ardor
 When Theodore Roosevelt offered tc the government the divisions he hat ready for enlistment, and urged that they be sent to carry into battle tn: flag of the United States, thrill ot real war enthusiasm was felt through out the whole country and was re fected in the Allies eager welcom of the project. Millions of men ant women here and abroad recognize, that the appearance at the front O the foremost American citizen at tn head of force of volunteers woul' mean more to the cause of Americ' and civilization than any other actiol that could readily be atken.
 President Wilson ruled that tn sending of the Roosevelt division no only would seriously interfere" wit important military plans, but "woul contribute practically nothing to tn effective strength" of the Allies Yet it appears that the French, wh are not unfamiliar with the "grim and practical" side of war, study it psychology also-they saw in tn coming of Roosevelt tremendous nor al effect. And it may be believed tha their judgment is not inferior to tha of President Wilson and the Ney York World, even though the latte comedies at last that there may b something in sentiment after all.
 At the very time when the proposi tion to parade departing troops wa awaiting his stern rejection, Secretar. Baker was moved to deplore, in [ public address, the "callousness" O the American people. 'The elemen of shock no longer arouses them," h.