Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-13
MARCH-VOLCE OF THE ARMY
By Clinton ". Gilbert
Sta6 Correspondent Of the Ereng Public Ledger nsngon

GENERAL MARCH, the first chief Of staff
VI since General Wood with real grasp
of military affairs, pervades Washington, 1t
Is a marvel what influence this man. VINO
was only n few months ago a colonel In the
army, has come to exert. In a few short weeks
he has created a general staf--a general staff.
let us say. such France might have. and let
us remember that Foch was chief Of tho
French general staff when he was called to
the supreme command of all the Allied
armies. Up till now we never had general
staff. except in name He has created a
war department. His spirit. not that OF
Secretary Baker inspires the whole organi-
zation. II speaks with his voice. Its frank
ness is his frankness Its reticence Is his
reticence.
CARRULOUS. boastful, overpress-agen'ed
" Washington tells more than it ever did
before the punishment for its own Naunting
over,ook IL, and says less 1t is General
March's maxim that this is the peoples war
and the people are entitled to know all about
IL that does no. for military reasons have to
be guarded from the Germans. He wants the
nation to know the facts, the FACTS not
ODiniOnS,
vainp,orv: but facts. There never WAS
time when It so easy to get the truth'
proyided it may be properly told as now
and there never was time when II was
20 Difficult. to get, from the army at least
propaganda, self-praise and promises
WE ARE not all Gradgrinds and the chief
r w Of stairs attitude is sometimes discon-
earring He sees the newspaper correspond
ents twice week. These meetings take place
with military precision--on the moment. The
chief of staff is the busiest man in Washing
ton hu, keeps his twice-a-week appointments
TO a dot The newspaper correspondents are,
-. oourse also the busiest men in Washing
ton They too have found out how to keep
this appointment to dot AT the second
meeting they struggled in, As each delayed
writer opened the door the chief of staff
stopped talking, looked sharply toward the
late arrival, bit his lips while the tip of
his heard. the most expressive thing abou:
his face. twtched furiously This happened
ten times on that one day. Nothing was said.
But it never happened again Now there is
almost military discipline at these confer
ences The correspondents arrive first When
the general comes in they rise and almost
give him military salute. He talks with
an unsmiling face. He makes string Of
announcements. Only once has he made a
nrediction-that we should win the war next
wear Then the general says, ANY ques-
tions?' The men whose life business 1t is
70 ask questions are dumb. Then some one
asks, Where is the Thirty-seventh Division
7, comes from his State, and his paper is
interested. The general replies, IN have it
Looked up for you" Another asks about
another division. The same answer. Then
some innocent asks: General, is II your
opinion that the Gerpans will be out OF
France before snow flies" Foolish aues-
ton No. s0s! The chief of staff has a
way of his own with foolish questons-a
WAY which is having its effect upon this
capital Of foolish questioning Didn't we
get into the national state of mind I'm which
we we're a few mouths ago by foolish ques-
,ioning and very, very foolish answering y
Well anyway, face, 10 the wall at sunrise
for the foolish question! The chief of staff
| looks at the questioner a while; just long
|. enough The pointed beard evolutes The
| general says II am not giving opinions. I"
| Hs Gays It In just the same voice In which