Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-12-24

to the concentration camp after being
replaced with new troops from the
states, and sent to Francs.
The commanding officer of the AM
erican air service camp during my stay
there was Major f.. c. Page, son of
Walter Hines Page. He encouraged us
lall to attend the social gatherings in
the neighborhood of the historical town
of Winchester and the result was that
we had a most interesting and enjoya,
bic time. My particular work at camp
consisted of being summary court Off
cer, judge advocate of the special court
martial, and permanent officer of the
day, and there was plenty of work to
do; but still there was also the oppor-
tunity for getting acquainted and at
itending the various functions. The
Eng fish were very hospitable, and the
young ladies, particularly the volun-
! teer nurses, many Of whom. came from
4 the land owning classes, were pleasing.
The manner in which they had settled
down to hard practical work in taking
care of the wounded Tommies was most
inspiring.
I visited London three times and
there met additional English people. At
the Washington Inn, which was requi-
sitioned by the Y. NJ. @. A. for officers,
wore large number of young ladies
of the best families working as volun-
teers, and the same was true at Eagle
Hut, which is the Y. M. @. A. hut for
enlisted men.
/ believe that all of the American
officers and men who really think have
great admiration for the English.
Their sportsmanship with their sense
of fair play, their dogged determina-
tiun, their insistenee upon individual
Liberty, their respect for the law and
their substantially are characteristics
which impress all of us that come in
contact with them.
On the other hand. L have heard in
England good many American Off
GERS express irritation at the slowness
of the English in furnishing material
and accomplishing particular jobs of en-
terprise. But as the English pointed
out, the Americans were apt to over
look the fact that the resources of the
English had been drained for four years
From reading the London Times and
other Ehgllsh papers, 1T is apparent tue
English look upon the great increase in
| American shipping with considerable
anxiety. The figures published in the
Mail show that during the war the Uh,t
led States has i.ie s.sed its tonnage oJ
about three and quarter million tons,
while the campaign by submarine has
decreased the English tonnage about
tho same aluo,tnt.
1t is an unfortunate fact of more or
| less Importance that most Of our air
service troops after serving in English
acrolromes for six months are not kind
| ly disposed towards the English with
whom they worked. Officers who were
with these troops also have good many
stories to tell OF small disagrccmcnts
with the English. The British ration
was not popular. Our men also COM
planned concerning the attitude of the
noncommissioned officers of the Eng
lish.
There developed some Jealousy on the
part of the English mechanics, as our
men were able tosdo great deal more
work per, man. OF course, the best Eng
lish mechanics and soldiers were serv-
ing in Europe, and for the most part
only washoutsn were on duty in Eng
land. The larger pay and the popular
ity of ouI soldiers among the young
ladies may have been additional causes
Of dislike towards cur men by the Eng
lish enlisted men.
/ mention all this to indicate that 1t
is my belief that the $4,000 men, who
/ J. understand have just been ordered to
return to America, will not for the most
part be preachers of good will towards
cur English flicnds. many OF them ap'
parontly are really quite bitter.
4 The Australians, canadians and tnc
South Africans apparently have about
the same attitude towards the English
as the American soldiers.
The impression that have gained
from the French during the month and
half that l have been in France il
that as whole they are graceful tc
the Americans and are very frlen0Ay
disposed towards them. The past mean'
a great deal to the Frenchman, and the
fact that we have always been friends
is great deal in our favor. Here IL
Tours, there are nearly as many Am
erican flags hung out as there are
French; while the Union Jack and the
ether flags appear only occasionally
The French apparently have no world
wide plans and hopes, but are desirou'
of being let alone to live in their OWL
fertile beautiful country.
1t is apparent that the English EN-
pire is facing gave problems witt
its 4,500,000 of organized laboi or,
in the growing independent spirit
of most Of its dominions and it 1t!
other well known problems England Z
tremendous loss Of men in this war, IL
which it has played such noble par
is another cause of worry. However
it is very apparent that England il
playing a strong hand and that her IN
tcrcsts are against the establishment OF
an international league that would in
terfere with her supremacy Of the sef
and that would offer the same protec
tion to her dominions that she now Of
! fers.
All minds are centered upon the par
that President Wilson is to play in thu
peace conference. His long study of thu
situation, his policy internationally
, thus far, and the great prestige that HI