Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-22
America S Fit Army.

Relating some of his impressions in
France, where for several months he was
on the personal staff of President Wilson,
Lieutenant Colonel Scale Harris, a native
Georgian and brother of Senator William j.
Harris, who went into the Medical Corps
when the war came on, makes the statement
that the American troops in Europe are
probably the finest body of men that we're
aver assembled in uniform.
Their splendid physique, their wonderful
health, their fine athletic physical fitness, are
the marvel of European people in every coun-
try where they have visited. And those who
escaped without wounds are coming back
home, declares Colonel Harris, great deal
better men from standpoint of robust phys
cal manhood than they were before they en-
tered the army
At this particular time when SO much crit
icsm, or attempted criticism, is going the
rounds among Republican politicians and
G3;ile Republican newspapers in regard to
the conduct of the war under a Democratic
administration, it is we'll to remember some
Of the things on the opposite side OF the
'edger. It cannot be denied that mistakes
we're made. When in history was any war
conducted without mistakes? Did not Ger
nany, with all her vaunted iron discipline
I'd perfect military efficiency, commit mis-
2kes that ruined her prospects of conquer
10 the world? Did not France, with all her
Illus for suddenly accommodating herself
any SlludIlOn WHICH luoy arise, COmIlllI
Mistakes? Did not England, as everyone
;nows, "blunder along for weary months
and years?
Mistakes are easy to see when they are
zone like water across the dam. but human
nyenuity and human wisdom are not yet ad-
';2ced to that high point, nor will they ever
9. where every mistake can be anticipated
- prevented.
Further than this, the one outstanding
foo Of AM Sc 611ct of no war was
the fact that our Government took advantage
of all the experience gained on both sides
previous to our entrance into the war, and
in so fas as we coul, POSSIBLY avoid mistakes
we did not make them. Of course it may be
argued that this was nothing but the obvious
course to pursue, but the fact remains that
there were men who wanted us to raise a
volunteer army instead of draft army, re-
CARELESS of England's terrible mistakes, and
in many other departments of the war it was
not altogether an easy matter to convince
some congressman and senator's that proven
experience was better than experiment.
Our government laid down the PROPOSE
ton at the very outset of participation
in the war that our American army, COM
posed of American boys who had been called
away from their homes to fight for their
country, was not going to be harassed and
corrupted by the sort Of camp followers who
had always demOralized armies in previous
wars. The war department threw an iron
ring around the men in training, at home
and overseas, and in that protected zone
exerted itself to the uttermost to protect
them against the whisky peddler, the gam
bier and the sutler. 1t laid down the prOpo-
sition that this American army was not going
to tolerate vice as a necessary evil, but was
going to fight vice with an unrelenting and
implacable determination. Secretary Baker
in a public statement declared to American
mothers that they who had given their sons
to their country were entitled to have their
sons back to them as clean and unsullied as
when they went away.
And behold the result. The American
army is today the wonder and admiration OF
the world. In physical fitness and moral
cleanliness it is the finest body of men that
ever wore the uniform. 1t is a living refuta-
ton of the WORKOUT theory that armies are
obliged to tolerate vice, dissipation, gambling
and genral loose conduct. The war depart
ment of the United States by actual demon
stration has demolished the notion that these
things are necessary. 1t has proven to the
world that they can be reduced to an abso-
lutte minimum, and that all the old theories
were utterly false and utterly disastrous in
the light of modern efficiency and modern
morale.
The ex-crown prince is going to be sued
for divorce, according to his mother-in-Iaw,
showing that no militarist is a hero to his
wife