The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-06-06
Sees Marshal Foch and Gen.
eral Liggett on Trip Down
The Rhine
DEFENDS WORK THE
Y. M. c. A. HAS DONE
American Army Ready To
Advance If Germany Re-
: fuses To Sign
Terms

lowing interesting letter from Hon. l..
Tate Cromley, Y. M, G.. A. secretary,
with the American army of occupa-
tion in Coblenz, Germany:
This has been a gala week in Cob
1enz as far as the allies are concern
ed, but as you have read, most of the
Germans are observing mourning
week" here, on account of the peace
terms. The merry-go-rounds, musical
swings and many forms ,.f amuse-
ment have been closed in pursuance
of the proclamation, but there has
been practically no excitement among
the people.
General Pershing left yesterday, af-
ter being here four days, and on Tues
day he was present for six innings at
one Of our baseball games. He surely
is fine physical specimen, and has
most striking and engaging person
ality.
Today, Marshal Foch with his bril-
liantly dressed staff, steamed down
the Rhine and, after receiving the
grand salute of 21 guns, landed and
proceeded in automobiles behind an
escort of U. S. cavalry troops. Gen.
Biggett received the French party Of
ficially, and the whole thing was very
simple and free from anything calcu-
lated to arouse German feeling.
1t was my privilege to be within 100
feet of Marshal Foch when he landed
and, like the proverbial American,
trailed beside the car for half mile
to the Third army headquarters.
There were no cheers of any kind
whatsoever. Absolutely no applause.
1 write this simply to show the atti-
tude of the victors over here. They
are doing nothing to create feeling or
antagonize the vanquished, and are
proceeding firmly but cautiously. The
visit of Marshal Fochsis supposed to
relate to allied actions in the event
the Germans refuse to sign the peace
terms. NJ
had dinner night before last with
a certain correspondent of the New
York Herald, whose>name you would
recognize, who gave me some inside
information, and you can well believe
that should hostlities be revived the
allies will not be caught mapping.
1t would surely not be treason to
intimate that Marshal Foch suffers by
comparison with General Pershing.
You will understand that ! refer to
his physical appearances only, for l
l;now nothing of anything else. His
most ardent admirers could not truly
call HIM handsome, or even possibly
good looking, and in citizens clothes
he would look anything but soldier.
That he bellies his looks, no one will
deny, bat it is interesting to have il
Ilsions dispelled, and believe me,
there is some dispelling going on over
here.
1 have just returned from hearing
Henry Morgenthau, foreign ambassa-
dor to Turkey, speak at Liberty Hut.
/ am not sure he intended to convey
the impression that he was apologize
ing for the delays of the peace con-
ference, nor would | say that it was
a campaign in behalf of President
Wilson, and yet it smacked some, but
l do distinctly remember that he call
ed an alarm in theseswords: "Do not
return and tell your people that this
war is over. 1t is not. In my opinion
it will break forth again, five, ten, fiji.
teen or twenty years, and then~Amer-
lea must do more than what she
shared in this war, for then she must
save the world"
You should have seen the soldiers
look at one another, and | could hear
several whispers i "What about the
league of nations?" 1t is to be feared
that too many of our people are blind
1y accepting the league of nations for
all future ills. Unless it has teeth,
unless it can compel compliance with
its behests, DEGREES or demands by
force.. yes brute force if you please,
instead of by Sweetness and light"
which so many people would substi-
tut, it will be mere makeshift, a
temporary breathing spell, in order to
give the combatants time to size up
the new situation, fix up their weak
points and by some secret agreement
make a division of spoils that will at.
tract the best fighting nations.
There are thousands of old tradi-
tions here that we do not understand,
and Germany and France hate, and al
ways will, each other with feeling
that we do not share. Fer can truly
say that ] have heard more hatred