New-York tribune., 1919-07-08
heS. O.S. Protests
By Wilbur Forrest

the official newspaper of the Ameri.
can Expeditionary Force, which arrived
here to-day, carried its editorial page
the following letter from soldier:
II notice that many of the newspapers in
the states and one or two of the American
editions over here are quoting Genera,
March as saying that the entire American
Expeditionary Force will sail for home hA
June IL, with the exception OF the Armv
Of Occupation.
"Now, know-and so do maav others
that less than one-third of the S. O. S. will
leave France by that date.
"The fact that venereals will be Aeld ovsr
here until they are cured has been given
wide publication both here and at home
and when the time comes for our sailing
as announced and we do not show up at ,
home it is going to be hard to convince
them of the misunderstanding.
II hope to see a definite announcement
in regard to this before we have TO saw
goodby to The Stars and Stripes l am
sure such an article will be preserves for
self defence by large number of the gang
who are out of luck"
\The editor Of "The Stars snd Striuas."
answering the communication, sums up thc
situation rather frankly as follows:
Nobody but the evil minded and scan.
dial mongering people, who in the fall and
winter of 1917 branded the infant Ameri-
can Expeditionary Force as a group of
venereal drunkards in order that thev
might raise funds to save the dear boys
from the perils of a wicked, wicked Franco.
would ever repeat or circulate such a
charge against you or anybody else.
although it is admittedly hard to Ae-
lieve it at times, there Is still a goodly
amount of common horse sense left in the
United States; and people with horse sense
and without axes to grind do not make such
charges"
Letters From Home
Probably this letter with its reply has
done more to assuage the sensibilities OF
the average American soldier than any
move SO far made to combat misinterpre-
tation which appears to exist at home. soI-'
diers are receiving letters here daily ask
ing them to explain why they have not re-
turned to America with their units In the
majority of cases these men were trans
terred to units in the Army of Occupation
or units in the Service of Supplies because
of desire to see the thing through or be-
cause of exceptional ability in various
lines. For this patriotic service they have
been branded, in many cases, as men guilty
of misdemeanors and forced to remain in
Europe as matter of disciplinary punish
ment. Commanding officers of regiments,
battalions and even smaller units in the
Army of Occupation have been queried
secretly of late even by mothers of soldiers
to know why their sons were not at home
l know of other cases where sweethearts Of
men remaining in France or Germany have
taken too much for granted and flown "otf
the handle" breaking engagements or long
standing friendships. To say that such
situation is heartbreakng for thousands of
men of exemplary character remaining in
Europe is putting it mildly. Many are too
proud even to refute such allegations
The Tribune correspondent recently
stopped at Romagne, France, headquarters
of the grave registration service in which
men are engaged in registering and prepar-
ing the last resting places for those who
fell in the Argonnc- Meuse battle Follow
ing a memorial service conducted by Gen
eral Pershing over the graves of thousands
of heroes, the commanding officer of the
registration service said to The Tribune
correspondent:
Dangerous Run,Or
You can do a great service for every
man working here and that is to correct a
criminal misrepresentation which appears
to be scattered broadcast at home regard
ing their character. 1 have sent che follow
ing explanatory telegram to the headquar-
ters, advance section, of the S. o. S, now
located at Neufchateau:
'Romagne, France, ---. Letters received
here by enlisted men from the United
States in this mail indicate that the opinion
IS gaining ground in the United States that
organizations on grave registration service
are composed of venereals and men being
punished for absence without leave. The
report will seriously affect the morale of
the command as this news has reached
families of men engaged on the work here.
l recommend that immediate steps be taken
to correct this report by cable. The
ereal rate Of this command is practically
nil, as shown by reports Of medical inspec-
tion.
"'(Signed) CHAPMAN, Colonel"
There is scarcely a unit remaining in
Europe to-day in which some man or men
have not had the effect of this rumor laid
before them. Our medical records show
that the American army is the cleanest
irmy in the world. SO the folks at home
can creditably give those remaining over
here the benefit of the doubt.