New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-21

whole job was wonderfully we'll done
by our wonderful men. | must make
you understand that it was a most
stupendous task, this war, for which
our country was not prepared. Every
effort was made to get the men over
there in great numbers. That was the
need and the task, and they got them
there. The way that army has been
handled by General Pershjng and his
stair VIII be model and a marvel for
all time. In breadth of view, in scope
OF planning and in clearness of fore
sight it was marvellous.
ut is not for me, a Junior officer, to
speak in blame or praise Of General
Pershlng, but cannot help saying
something about The way he handled
and prepared those millions of un-
trained men.
"Geptlemcn. what the American pub
lie ought to be doing now is singing
paans Of victory of the work of this
wonderful army"
Eyes, that is right" said Representa-
committee making an investigation for
political reasons"
AS an illustration of how easy it is
to get false reports of battle, General
Traub said that when he was at his post
of command in a captured German pill
box a message came back from a very
capable captain that his command was
outhanked and that all the machine
guns left in the division were in dan
ger of being captured. Thcreupon the
general went in person to the spot, and
found that there was no truth in the
report. The captain simply saw things
that were not. The general had made
it point to go all over the field him
IL
his soldiers. He knew what they went
through. He had gone through it him
self.
"Gentlemen," General Traub re-
sumed, "thcy tell you about soldiers
going without food. Why, their major
general himself went without food. For
five days and nights did not sleep, and
my only food was a piece of bread, a
cup of coffee and little jam-just that
and cigarettes. There was no time for
food"
Then referring again to the Ameri-
can soldier General Traub said:
Gut, OH gentlemen. what soldiers
they were. I have had a more varied
experience with the soldiers this fair
land sent to France than any other
general officer | went over with the
10th division, | fought with the 35th,
from the Middle States, and | returned
with the dist, from the mountain and
Pacific coast states. They are all alike
all Americans, wonderful men, he
roic fighters. | never saw those splen-
did fellows of the 25th pass before me
in review that the tears didn't some
to my eyes and often run down my
cheeks
81 have seen them, stalwart and pow
erful, swing by me in review-30, 900 of
them-With every mothers son of
them, head up, looking me squarely in
the eye. saying in silent message ::
Here we are, general; count on US.
Oh, these wonderful, wonderful Amer
lean soldiers"
At t}is the committee broke into
loud applause, 0nd Mr.. Campbell eX-
planned again that there was no crti-
cism of the army, but Of the fact that
it was not supported.
"That criticism is MOI we'll founded
asserted the general
cts all the criticism of civilians who
don't know what they are talking
about" added Representative Cantrell.
"Well, III tell YOU you'll get a lot of
these stories when the A. f. f. comes
marching home' continued General
Traub. Each mans experience is to
him the greatest thing in the world.
That night he lay in the open on the
cold ground; that day without warm
food; that cold snap without an over
coat--those are terrible things-to say
nothing of the wounds and deaths.
These boys are Americans, and the
American has a terrible habit of shoot
ing off his mouth. He has got griev-
ance that he has got to get off his
chest. When he is getting it off he is
not going to belittle his own eXper-
fences
q don't want to say anything that
would injure Mr.. Campbell's feelings,
but | want to tell you that these criti-
cisms must make poor mothers and
father. of those boys frantic to think
that the suffering of their dear ones
was needless.
The losses of animals we're great
but the artillery was moved, Just the
same. The mcn did it. an war you
do anything to be at the Bothe.'
After the hearing General Traub told
Representative Campbell that he was
soon going to visit Kansas to see the
parents Of those wonderful soldiers OF
Kansas and Missouri and tell them al
about their grand boys and the great
work they did for their country, and
he added, "l'm going to call on Gov
crnor Allen. too"
"He will give you warm reception
answered Representative Campbell
81 know it, | know it," said the gen
eral, "and it will be the right kind OF
warmth too"