The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-22
PERsHING'S ACHIEVEMENT
Appreciation Of the Generals Work in
France.

One of the men who was closest to
Pershing throughout the war remarked
recently that a republic had always to
be afraid of being conquered by its con
quering army, but that in Pershing, hap
PLY, the nation had found soldier who
wished only to be a soldier. His record
in France is testimony to the truth Of
il. His instinct as 10 what was the true
role Of an American commander, whether
in relation TO his political chiefs, or TO
the French people, or the beaten enemy,
was superb. He organized and command
ed the American eNpeditionary force Co
operated with the allies but maintained
useful independence, and acted with
sincere understanding Of the fact that
the soldier executes but does not make
high policy, He neither Dragged nor
truckled, and though he had to endure
q fair amount Of intrigue and jealousy,
he energies untarnished and impressive
He commanded not only well but in fine
spirit. In all history there has prob
ably never been a cleaner army, more
single minded army, less fractional
army, or considering its previous prep
arations, more effective army. He did
not alone make il what it was, to be
sure, but because of him it was possible
to make il what il was. The spirit
which prevails at the top radiates
through the whole military hierarchy
Judged by the results, and they alone
count here, Pershing has proved himself
fully competent for the most delicate
command ever entrusted to an American
general He succeeds in every essential
part Of his huge task.
Ii does not matter whether he orig
mated or accepted the underlying policies
on which the American expeditionarv
force was organized The policies finally
adopted proved to be sound. The or
ganization was conceived, as il ought to
have been, on a larger scale than the oc-
casion required 1t was an organization
that through all its infinite ramifcations
produced an ever increasing and finally
overwhelming supply of battle troops.
The possibilities of fatal error were
great. In all big matters they were
avoided. Only an extraordinary grasp
of what was important and superb
imagination can account for so success
full a discrimination in the heller sketer
of advice which was thrust upon him.
There were to be sure minor failures at
many points. Examination of them will
show, we imagine, that they were due
to one of two things TO a lack Of intel
lectual preparation by the general staff
before America entered the war; and to
a vice, really the defects of virtue.
prevalent in all classes of Americans
which makes them prefer ingenuity to
experience Time was probably lost in
experimentation which should either
have taken place during the period of
neutrality or been omitted altogether
One gathers very definite impression
that somehow the experience Of the allies
was not digested soon enough, and this
was costly in time and therefore in lives.
None of this bears on Pefshing, who
throughout has been a general in the
field, except to bring into still stronger
relief the high ability which he dis.
played Through him the American part
in the war was brought to its focus on
the western front
On him the exultation is now focused
1t is meant not only for Pershing but
for multitude Of whom he is not only
most engaging representative, but in
every sense a leader Ii should extend
to Baker, who picked him and sustained
him and helped to temper him, to the
fierce energies Of March, to the finely
dependable Bliss, to the responsible and
ingenious Crowder. That it extends to
the combat troops above all others needs
hardly to be said.-From the New Re-
public.