New-York tribune., 1918-01-27
lnarticuLate Patriotism
OF Pershing's Fighting Men
Continued from page I

our neutrality in thought and deed
cause for wonderment if now, when
we have come in, these same people
should be vague in their understand
ing Of our reasons for doing SO, or
Of our newly discovered concern with
the wars objects, or Of our relation
to it's settlement
They were first numbed to our vital
interest in the struggle, then perplexed
beyond ability to appreciate its signifi-
canoe; and, rs with that average
among our people who look to somo
one to do their thinking for them, the
home folks, like their boys, need to
be awakened and enlightened.
The spirit of the boys in France is
all right; their eagerness to be shown
is everywhere patent. and the haze
which now clouds their perception OF
the interest they and their country and
their home folks have in the outcome
of the war is an heritage from "baciS
home," and is being dispelled by Y. NJ.
c. A. workers all along the line and
through the entertaining. and illumi-
mating talks" by patriotic volunteers
at the Y NJ. C. A. huts.
Gleason and Herbert Adams Gibbons
4 u
missionaries of their we'll attested
Americanism and unselfsh spirit are
needed not alone in France but in the
United States as we'll.
In fact. such educational work ought
not to be necessary in France at all;
it should be completed in America.
There ought to be such a campaign
Of enlightenment throughout our home
training camps that no transport here
after sailing from "an Atlantic port"
could count among it's men single one
who did not know that America is in
this war to save her own ideals and in
stitutions, and that he is going cover
there" to help uphold the principles
which make our great democracy pos
sibilty.
The Y. M. G.. A.
Too much commentator cannot be
paid the Y. NJ. G. A. in France; no
york being done for clean Americanism
body and souls comparable in
value or in intelligence to what it is
doing.
1t is the Y. NJ. C. A. that heartens
the homesick boy-soldier; provides for
his canteens. for his diversion. supplies
him with lounging and reading and
game-playing and letter-writing quar-
ters, and often is his only medium Of
intercourse with the French in whose
barn he may be billeted or with whom
'or one reason or another he may wish
10 communicate.
To feel that this true-spirited and
ably managed organization is contnu-
ously on the job for the creature COM
fort and spiritual vcllbeing Of their
boys ought to bring immeasurable com
fort to faraWay mothers and wives and
Sweethearts.
Throughout it's immensely useful life
the Y. NJ. C. 4. has never given sucl.
value in practical Christianity as it is
now returning in its work among Amer
lean soldiers cover there" and it is
entitled to the confidence and the sup
port Of the American public.
Nor must | neglect to repeat the
word Of praise I heard in France for
the Salvation Army unit. which without
government help is putting up its
shacks and doing excellent, unobtrusive
service among the men.
Understanding
Another wise Y. NJ. C. A. idea is cx-
pressed in the proposed change Of
British and American lecturers ut the
huts on the respective fronts, AS
pleasing and promising method Of
binding the mutual interests and un-
derstandings of the two peoples whose
final and lasting alliance should be one
of the results Of the Boche madness.
Already strengthening of the feel
ing ing between the two is apparent in
comes back from the Flanders front
that fails to record its profound re-
spect for the smooth working, powerful
British organization or to be warm in
its praise of the Britishcrs them
selves.
Especially is there sincere praise of
the Englishman. whose only picture so
many of our lads have taken from the
ourlesquc stage. with its monocle and
drawl. but whom they have grown to
know as the most modest. efficient and
courageous of soldiers.
A returning Congressman on the
lost all that traditional "arti British"
feeling cherished as schoolboy fig
m!ent-nand by some Irish. He had
Just finished a two months tour of
all the fronts, the shortest visit on
any one-Italy being two weeks. He
had enjoyed especial facilities and had
seen, he said, "all there was to be
secn,' including Il turnover Of his own
car and miraculous escape on an
ltallan mountain road at the 'front.'
He asserted that the English "werc
fine, modest fellows" and the "British
organization by far the most imprcs-
sive of any in speed and power" Thus
does blind rcjudicc fade before knowl-
edge!
Good Work
Another organization which is intel
ligcntly and happily developing its plan
to conservo the welfare Of Young
America in France is the somewhat
recently launched American Univc crsitv
Union. It's purpose, in word, is to
provide home with the privileges of a
simple and inexpensive club for Ameri-
can college men passing through or in
Paris on furlough and so successfully