Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-07
Politics Behind Movement.


torials and inspired articles. that if
the war were ended through the aid
of the Americans the United States
might demand an undue compensa-
tion-which was not really feared
or that the altruism of America might
get in the way of the desires of the
victorious but exhausted allies. Such
men as Franklin -Bouillon in France
he is named merely as a typical small
time politician-sought to make CAPT.
tai at home by demanding that Amer
lea do impossible things because of
the debt she owes France" Franklin
Bouillon but few days ago renewed
the previous suggestion that the
United States formally assume a share
of the French debt.
DO this" was urged on Gen. PERISH
ing at a meeting of the joint staff.
Gen. Foch and Gen. Petain were both
present. according to the story in cir
culation at the time, but prevented
by the censorship from reaching
publicity. The amount of the pres
sure brought to bear on Pershing
can only be appreciated by those who
were behind the scenes. The most
eminent and forceful men of France
and England exerted all their power
upon him. 1t was said at the time
by representatives of the French
foreign office that Washington had
assented.
Pershing's Emphatic "No."
mo" said Gen. Pershing, beat
ing with his great fist on the table.
He tore up a written note in which
the suggestion had been made that
the American Army lose it's national
identity and threw it on the floor. In
the formal circles of diplomacy that
was almost fighting action. NO"
said he, hammering with his fist.
That settled the matter. Perhaps
II did not win the war-the war seems
to have been won by the courage and
devotion Of all the allied and associ-
ated powers. plus series of miracles
but it had direct bearing on the
winning, because the British and
French were tired when the Ameri-
cans entered the war. 1t is no longer
secret that France would not have
stayed in the lists If America had not
entered in 1917. The generalship of
the allies reflected this fatigue They
fought on the defensive solely. No
doubt 1t was all they could do, but
their plan of training American troops
was for defensive action only.
Did Not Like Hand Grenades.
Pershins changed that when he
took full command of his own
troops. for there was a preliminary
period during which the small Ameri-
can Army played very minor second
hddle. He began to teach his men
the get-at-em style of scrap. He
seems never to have had a great deal
Of confidence in the hand grenade,
which is essentially a defensive
weapon. One Of his stan officers once
described a famous battle between
French and German troops as men
hiding from each other on opposite
sides OF road and playing andy-over
with firecrackerS"
He took the Americans out of the
trenches in which they were being
taught the art of war. Trench dig
ging ceased to be the major activity
of the American Army. He taught
them the use of the rifle Rather. he
lean Army. which insist that the
American is a natural rifieman The
Frenchman regards the rife as "a
lead sQuirtgun" and the sturdy Briton
prefers to use il as a club. Neither
has any comprehension of the value
standards. His engineering corps be-
gan studying the lessons OF the war
and Pershing reversed them:
Never mind planning how to con-
duct a retreat" he ordered. You
md out how to get guns and wagons
forward over bad roads and enemy
trenches-damn quick"
Caliber of Americans.
All this was highly fret.inr to good
soldiers in the allied armies, who felt
they knew more about the war. hav-
ing fought in ii, than green staff
possibly could. These good soldiers
are not to be criticised. Too MANY of
the American military attaches in Flu
rope belonged to the Order of To.
Drinkers. They had been chosen be-
cause papa owned good coal mine