New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
The War in Retrospect
Various Phases of World Conflict Described by Colonel
Palmer, Colonel Derby, E. Requin and R. c. Usher

Palmer does not believe that the ar
mistice can be considered a military
misfortune for the American army. At
the time Of its conclusion. he says
only two fresh divisions were left, the
hospitals were full and pause in the
advance would soon have become in
evitable.
In sharp contrast with Mr. Palmer's
history, but equally excellent in its
own sphere. is Lieutenant Colone
Richard Derby's narrative of his ex-
perlences as division surgeon of the
I'd Division. Colonel Derby is a SON
in-law of the late Theodore Roosevelt
and his indefatigable energy, his capac-
ity for hard work, his contempt for
pacitism and his hatred Of the Hun are
quite worthy of his distinguished
father-in-law. Writing without any
striving after literary effect, he tells
the story of difficult task efficiently
performed. AS might be expected, the
book has a distinctly medical slant
The author expresses unbounded admi.
ration for the tremendous advance OF
French surgery during the war. This
advance was especially noteworthy in
the field of combating the infection
which used to be a terrible and we'll
nigh inevitable accompaniment of GER
tain types of serious wounds. Among
the great war surgeons the author men
tions Carrel. Dakin, Blake, De Page, LIE
Maitre and Tissier.
The army doctor has perhaps an un-
rlvaled opportunity to observe human
nature in its noblest aspects. The
soldier under the knife displays a quail
ity of herosm quite as rare and de-
49, L. ,l,1 |.
battlefield. And the work Of the men
in the medical service themselves offers
countless examples of courage and self.
sacrifice-the man of the ambulance
corps driving over ground narrowed by
shells, the stretcher- bearer going ou,
to pick up wounded under enemy fire
the surgeon operating in an advanced
post within range of hostile guns. Many
deeds of heroism are described in Colo
mel Derby's book, and the outstanding
achievements of the officers and mer
of the medical department of the &c
Division are briefly but eloquentlS
summed up in an appendix, which con
tains list of the citations given foI
distinguished courage.
The organization of the American
war machine is concisely but adequate
ly treated in "America's Race to Vic
tory" The author, Lieutenant Colone
E. Requin, was sent over to Washing
ton by the French government to offer
the benefit of his expert military coun-
sell; and his book has received the
double sanction Of Marshal Foch anc
of General Peyton c. March. Colone
Requin was shocked, as any trained
European observer might we'll have
been, at our unpreparedness in 1917
but his criticisms of conditions at thai
time only lend emphasis to his expires
sions of admiration for the people who
could develop an army capable of play
ing a decisive part in Foch's victory
offensive sixteen months after the out
break of hostilities. Colonel Reqpir
points out number Of mistakes in oul
scheme of war organization. Most o:
them, in his opinion, were due to th'
faulty organization of the War De
partment, which was incapable of with
standing the strain OF conflict waget
on gigantic scale. He also gentl.
censures the American instinct for ex