New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
TNCONSIDERATE criticism finds in
one drunken soldier q drunken

<<TNCONSIDERATE criticism finds in
one drunken soldier a drunken
division" remarks "The Chicago
Tribune" speaking of the sensational
charges in the interest of "prohibition
propaganda" made against the American
Expeditionary Force in France by the
Board of Temperance, Prohibition and
Public Morals" of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The press generally agrees in
deprecating the recklessness and extrava-
gance of the "clpsheet" charges without
more definite proof being submitted, back
ing up the denial of responsible officials
Connected with the Y. NJ. C. A. and with
The government, from Secretary Baker to
General Pershing. Yet review of news
md opinion following the original charges
oes disclose as yet some honest dis
agreement regarding the real conditions,
probably owing to the lack of concrete evil
dencc further than that contained in the
many vigorous denials Of bad conditions
in the Expeditionary Force.
AS originally made. the charges pre-
ferred indicted American troops on the
broad grounds of intemperance, immoral
lty and depravity. The son of former
cX-President, presumably Colonel Roose-
sct, was quoted as having said that
drunkenness, Immediately upon landing,
among both officers and men, was appall-
ing, and that conditions were so horrify-
ing that he had been made a prohibitionst
for life. "a lady writing from French
seaport" was also quoted. Further charges
we're made, though much modified in tone,
even after denials from the highest Off
GERS of the government had been issued.
A complete statement of the dcnials
would require great deal of space, but
among those vigorously refuting the "clip-
sheets" assertions may be mentioned Gen
eral Pershing, Secretary Baker, Raymond
3. Fosdick, chairman of the Commission
on War Camp Activities; Caspar Whitney,
correspondent Of The New York Tribune
Vice-Admiral Sims Of the Navy; Walter
Hines Page, American Ambassador in
London, together with his staff; high
American officer at Washington complete
ly informed on all courts-martial in
France; Secretary Daniels, G. V. Hubbard,
associate general secretary of the War
Work Council of the Y. M. C. A.; the Rev.
Dr. Robert Davis, a member of the Amer
lean Red Cross Commission; Senator
Kendrick, of Wyoming; Senator Kenyon,
of Iowa; Representative Mccormick, of IL
inois, and Representative Dill, of Wash
ington, all four of whom we're recently in
France; the chaplains of Pershing's army;
P. w. Wilson, an English journalist, and
Arthur Draper, London correspondent of
The New York Tribune.
\ rmy Defenders Are Quick to
"A Offer Refutation
A number of extracts from these denials
are worth noting.
General Pershing:
"The general charges Of drunkenness and
depravity among the soldiers are utterly
without foundation. Characterize them as
false. The fact is, the conduct Of our SOL
ders in Paris and throughout France is so
splendid that it is the subject of favorable
comment by all natonalites. There is no
army whose moral tone and whose attitude
toward vice are more commendablc."
Secretary Baker:
mo reports from General Pershing from