The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-08-02
AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE.
officers and Men Have Shed Luster OF
the Name Of America.

cannot find words to express the
depth and intensity of my admiration
for the spirit, the morale and the achieve
ments Of the American army. 1t is diff
icult TO speak Of our boys and their
leaders without using language which
may sound rhapsodical, and which yet is
no more than the bald and sober truth.
| have met a great many officers and
men on the boat going over to Europe,
at our army bases, along the lines Of
communication and at the front
Everywhere ! found the same simple
and transformations, yet grim and iron
determination to hold life cheap for the
honor and glory and safety of America;
everywhere the same modest, sympathet.
ic and soldierly bearing, and keen and
quick witted adaptability; everywhere
the same note Of splendid and eager
courage Of willing discipline and service,
Of accomplishing endurance under hard
ships and discomforts, Of huoyant good
nature and humor, Of clean and kindly
thought and feeling.
There is grateful acknowledgement in
the army Of many things admirably done
for the welfare Of the men. And there
is universal thankfulness that, as far as
il is humanity possible 10 prevent IT, the
home authorities have not permitted
politics to touch the army, and that mer-
il is sought for, recognized and rewarded
! did not hear a single real complaint
except on one minor scoTe-and on that
the complaint is almost unanimous
namely, the stiff collar and general in
appropriateness of our army uniform
which, by the universal verdict Of our
own men and Of those Of other nations,
is both the least well appearing and the
least practical of all uniforms. There is
also some grumbling about the dilstori-
ness in making payment to soldiers, and
about the slowness with which mail is
handled-the latter a really serious
grievance, for prompt and frequent com.
munications from and with home is Of
great Importance to the morale of the
army.
In addition TO the magnificent record
our army has already made as a fighting
force and the promise, amply warranted,
Of further great achievement, the ca
pacity which our West Pointers in com
mand of the great army bases have dem
onstrated for far-sighted, broad -yisioned,
boldly -conceiyed planning, for construc-
tive work and for efficient business or
ganization is nothing short of marvellous.
/ am pretty familiar with big organ
ization work, but l have seen nothing
which impressed me more, and very few
things, indeed which impressed me as
much as the work planned, executed and
administered at the French harbors, at
our bases and along our line of supplies
by that great chief, Gen, Pershing, and
the officers whom he has placed in direct
charge Nor have / met any wiser or
better posted or more hard-working men
than those at the head Of special depart
ments of the army with whom | had
occasion to come into contact.
And from what have seen at Brest
and elsewhere the same spirit Of devoted
and unselfsh service and of intense, un-
sparing, ceaseless effort Pervades the
navy.
An immense debt Of gratitude and
recognition is due from the nation to its
defenders. They have won golden opin
ions wherever they have been in Europe,
they have been revelation to other ma
tions they have shed luster upon the
name of America.
No American can see what our army