New-York tribune., 1918-03-02
General March
Home, Assails
Censorship
Chief of Staff, Back From
France, Deplores
"Muzzling"

The "muzzling censorship which keeps
this country in ignorance of The splen-
did account the American expedition
airy force in France is giving of itself
as attacked day by Major General
Peyton c. March, new Chief of Staff of
the United States Army, on his arrival
here after nine months abroad
Mindful of the limitations imposed
BY the censorship on his own words,
General March declared that the health
and morale of the American fighting
men were almost uniformly excellent;
that they were we'll paid, we'll fed well
clothed and determined to strike hard
when the time came to "go over"
against the Bochc.
General March declared that the CEN
sorshlp was "lamentable." and init
mated that he would advocate, on HIS
arrival in Washington. that the regu.
lations in this respect be. made less
would be a vital factor in keeping up
the high morale Of the American troops
IN the front line trenches.
Should Let People Know
81 think the people of this country
should be taken into the governments
confidence in some things" said Cen
era March. ''They should know what
troops are over in France and they
should know everything OF a military
nature that would not be specifically
helpful to the enemy.
'"The people of America are big
enough and broad enough to realize
the proportions Of this war. and they
should be told everything possible re-
garding the manner in which it is be
ing prosecuted. ] don't know just how
TO talk to YOU men this to the re-
porters owing to the muzzling cen
sorship. AS Chief of staff, I'm going
to advocate a general letting up in
this severe suppression of the news
II know of no gentle method of con-
Quoting war of this magnitude. No
army can expect to come through with
out great many men being hurt.
While we must show the greatest con-
sderation for the relatives of the men
in France. the public must know the
facts, even though they be painful"
Major General March, who was chief
Of artillery abroad. was accompanied
to this country by Major General S. D.
Sturgis and Major General F. H.
French. The three high staff officers
have been with General Pershing,
studying conditions on the French
front, and will report to Washington
on their observations.
L. S. Troops Are Ready
Giving brief, general survey of
what he found cover there" General
March declared, with enthusiasm, that
the American troops were so we'll
trained, and up-to- the minute in the
kinks of the war game, that they would
be able to handle themselves with en-
tire credit to the United States"
81 inspected the troops on the line
just before l left France" he said.
land they are extraordinarily cheerful
and contented, Notwithstanding the
mud and the German shells They
are remarkable for their health and
morale, far superior to what it was at
the Mexican border.
"The fact that they are in a strange
country, where everything is new and
OF interest, is great advantage in
keeping up their spirits. Our boys,
outside the United States. some never
outside their home state, are taking to
the game as lark.
"Amerca will give a good account
Of herself, now that she is under way.
Our boys are we'll versed in what has
taken place in the warfare in France
during the last three years, and aren't
going to overlook any bets when they
participate"
General March brought back word
from General Pershing that Major
General Leonard Wood, injured by a
she'll fragment, was recovering rapidly.
General March refused to go into de-
tail as to the artillery of the Amer
lean expedit' 9nary force, of which he
was in command, but said that Persh-
ing's big guns were being marshalled
in force, and that more would be added. !
General March left for Washington /
shortly after the vessel on which he /
arrived reached port. After making
his report he will go TO his home at
Fort Myer, Va, where the members of
his family are in mourning for Lieu
tenant Peyton c. March, jr.. his Oldest
son, killed recently by fall from an
airplane in Texas flying camp.