The sun., 1919-02-24
FIRST I'M THE CRUSADE.
Recognition Duo Americans Who
Fought Under Foreign Flags.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: IL
W. Starr makes tho admirable sugges-
ton In his letter of February IS that II
any Of our fighting men deserve recosni-
ton, none so fully deserve II as do those
who in this world war took service under
other flags than their own, because the
Stars and Stripes was not yet unfurieo
OF course the thought has been In the
minds of thousands who sent those hrs'
OF our crusaders forth. and OF those
other thousands who envied and tried
TO join them.
Such recognition must surely be given.
We are not an unintelligent or an I'M
grateful people.
Theirs was an experience that no other
American troops knew. They went to
the hardest sort Of battle. When our
| divisions stormed through the German
defences in the summer and fall OF 1919
they had bitter fighting, they suffered
heavy loss; but they would be the hrst
to declare that hard as was the task as
signed them. that OF the men who fought
through the three dreadful years before
was harder still.
Those met an enemy superior on land
and In the air, very superior in artillery
in machine guns and in tactical training.
On them were tested out by Germany
those diabolic weapons Of surprise, FOR
hidden to the use OF armies by the
Hague Convention. And last, but not
least. they fought In armies under d.
vided command.
Those FIRST men of ours fought them
with long odds against them; with their
backs to tho last wall Where French
men and Englishmen. Canadians. Aus
tralians, New Zealanders and African
ders were dying for the cause Of ctviliza-
ton. these. our very drst and very brave,
hurried forth to do their part They were
! not too proud to light, nor could even the
| President of the United States persuade
, them that with the cause of the world
! war they were not concerned. He might
promise to keep them out of war II they
| stayed at home. but they felt that they
couldn't look their children in the face
IL they allowed any man 30 to drug their
souls. % to delude their Judgment that
| In this the greatest of all crusades they
should. like Meroz OF old. refuse to come
| to the help Of the Lord against the
mighty.
Recognition these men should get and
will get. All over our land ono clear voice
had rung out. the voice OF Theodore
Roosevelt. Day in. day out, whether
men could hear or forbear. It cried:
"'Tis mans perdition to be safe when
for the truth no ought to die"
They heard, they believed. they went
and going accomplished more than they
knew, for they led their country and they
dragged their country's Administration
into the war.
OF course they must have recognition
But surely that recognition should be
national one. No voluntary recognition
however generous. is fitting.
They led a nation, and a national rec
ignition is their due.
Now comes the hitch. Till new Con-
gress meets there Is not the ghost OF a
chance that anything will be done. II
is only simple truth to say that the Ad-
ministration. wholly dominated by the
President. has followed with a spiteful-
ness quite extraordinary in its reach and
inclusiveness any one and every one.
small as we'll as great. who has ventured
TO differ with or criticise him. In Con-
gress to-day the Administrators will is
| law.
Soon as the newly elected Congress
meets we may look for action. And the
/ fine devotion of our knights Grant shall
receive that worldwide recognition that
every honest. 100 per cent American
knows none deserve quite as much as
they w s. RAINsFoRp.
CAMDEN, s. C.. February 2e.