Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-11-05
THE MANCHESTER DEMOCRAT, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER s
TRIRUTE TO PERSHING.

TRIBUTE TO PERSHING.
An appreciation Of General Pershing
in the latest issue Of the New Republic
is one in which all his countrymen
and the people Of the allied nations
may heartily concur. In this editorial
under the caption, "Pershing," the
New Republic says:
zone Of the men who was closest
to Pershing Throughout the war re-
marked recently that republic had
always to be afraid Of being conquer
ed by its conquering army. but that
in Pershing, happily, the nation had
found soldier who wished only to
be soldier. His record in France
is testimony to the truth Of it. His
instinct as to 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
commanded the "A. e. f., co-operated
with the Allies but maintained q use7
full independ ence, and acted with sim,
cere understanding Of tn efact that the
soldier executes but does not make
high policy. He neither Dragged nor.
struckled, and though he had to en-
dure fair amount Of sintrigue and
jealousy, he energies untarnished and
impressive. He commanded not only
we'll but in fine spirit. In all history
there has probably never been clean
er army. a more single-minded army,
"a less factional army, or considering
its previous preparations, q more efec-
tive army. He did not alone make
It what 1t was to be sure, but be-
cause OF. him it was possible to make
it what It was. The spirit which pre-
walls at the top radiates through the
whole military hierarchy. Judged by
the results, and they alone count
here, Pershing has proved himself full
lily competent for the most delicate
command ever entrusted to an Ameri-
can general He succeeds in every
essential part Of his huge task
cit does not matter whether he
originated or accepted the underlying
policies on which the A. p. +. was
organized. The policies finally adopt
ed proved to be sound. The organs
zation was conceived, as II ought to
have been, on larger scale than the
Occasion required. It was an organi-
zation that through all it, infinite
rainifcattons produced an ever-in-
creasing and finally overwhelming
supply Of battle troops. The possi-
bilities Of fatal error were great. In
ali big matters they were avoided.
Only an extraordinary grasp OF what
was important and superb imagina-
ton can account for 30 successful a
discrimination In the helter SHELTER 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 q lack
Of intellectual preparation by the
General STAFF before America entered
the war, and to vice, really the de-
fects Of a virtue, prevalent In all
classes Of Americans which makes
them prefer ingenuity to experience.
Time was probably lost in experiment
tation which should either have TAX
en- place during the period OF neutral
Eity or be ommitted 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 Per-
shing who throughout has been gen
eral In the field, except to bring into
still stronger relief the high ability
which he displayed. Through him the
American part in the war was brought
to its focus on the western front.
ION him the exultation is now To-
cussed. It Is meant not only for Per-
shing but for q multitude Of whom he
IL not only most engaging repre-
sentative, but In every sense 4 lead
er. Il should extend to Baker who
picked him and sustained him and
helped to temper him. to the fierce
energies Of March, to the finely DEEPEN
dable Bliss, to the responsible and
ingenious Crowder. That It extends
to the combat troops above all others
needs hardly to be said" {
DELHI.