Evening star., 1918-01-19
SNAPSHOT CRITICS
Of ARMY M|SSF|RE
What's the Matter With U. S.
Soldier? He's All Right,
Facts Show.
CONDITIONS IN FRANCE

whats the matter with tho Ameri-
can soldier?"
Hes all right, most emphatically.
but he suffers from two things which
are national, rather than personal
fastidiousness and steam heat"
This was the comment of an Army
officer just returned from Gen. PERISH
, ing's headquarters in France.
These are scarcely faults, since they
can be overcome, but to my mind they
explain much. They shed light on the
many stories sent back here from the
National 4Armys training camp in
France about the lack of new hats and
new clothing and about the housing
provisions over there.
Our men are as rugged and as capa-
BILE of endurance as those of any
nation. But it takes time for them to
become acclimated. While they are be-
coming SO they are most likely to
grumble in the usual American fashion
about the lack Of heat In their billets.
Undergo Hardships.
But to show how they can overcome
this one has only to study their per-
formances in the trenches in the quiet
sectors they already have occupied as a
part or their training. remember one
where the slush, muda and water were
waist deep. Our men went in, and they
We're equipped with heavy shoes and
all the clothing they should have had,
ana they came out again in no worse
condition than II they had been in their
training camps for like period
Then. again. the American young
man mas been impressed by teachers,
employers and parents with the neces-
slty OF dressing well. Neatness has
has its advantages, for it is easy to
make natty soldier of him. But when
ne thinks he needs new hat or q new
coat ne wants it and wants 1t right
ne considers it a hardship to wear an
old one.
Others Not So Meticulous,
Soldiers OF our allies have seen serv-
ice long enough not to be so meticulous.
Many OF the French wear their he'll
mets al the time The Italian is gay
bfm warm. Our men win come to that
"nen they have seen service
dont mean by this to reflect upon
the spirit Of the American soldier. His
ror.a,dae LOTT under real hardships has been
ancy never has been better exemplified
than in France. He sometimss naLea
more OF russ over little things than
over real dangers and real suffering.
Ihe only unfortunate feature Of this
trait is that some Of the remarks seem
10 nave been interpreted by correspond
ents who, came over on round-trip tick.
cts as meaning that the War Depart
ment has failed to supply men with
adequate food and clothing"
Writers There Short Time.
Recent charges. such as those cited
In The Star of Wednesday,, have been
traced to their sources by some Of the
omciais OF the War Department, which
they seem to discredit It was found
that one magazine story giving a dire
picture Of conditions in the American
expedittonary force, and accusing The
War Department Of seeking to conceal
ship abroad. had been written by = man
who spent dve days with the Ameri-
can FORCES. Another series of similar
articles. containing sweeping and
alarming allegations, were prepared by
correspondent who came homo TO
tell the inside story of the troops in
France" after being there exactly eley-
en- days.
War Department officials have no dis
position to pass the buck" to Gen
Pershing, in answering some OF the
widely circulated reports about made
quate transport. equipment, supplies
and what not. They simply point out
that no one has accused Gen Pershine
of failing to ask for what he needs:
with allied generals. and that he is de-
pended upon for reauisitfons and rec.
concentrations to . large extent.