Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-18
Tho Probcrs at Work

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Of material in the army establishments
in this country wthou; finding what they
want. the Republicans in Congress pro-
posing committee OF Erobers TO so TO
Europe and find out if there is not grounds
for criticism OF the War Department. Scnga-
tional reports to the eject that certain camps
in France death holes have boon
seized upon to back up the proposal. Sana-
tor Lodge and his Republican colleagues in
the House and Senate have suggested the
sending Of committee forthwith, and there
is an eagcrness among the minority members
TO be in on the junllet.
The War Department is not likely TO inter
rose any objections. It's past experience witn
the probcrs since tho United states entered
the war has given the department uo cause
for fear that il will suffer seriously as a
result oG this proposed investigation. There
Is much talk OF serious charges, but the bills
OF particulars that have been submitted thus
far have not been overly convincing. Hostile
critics have visited debarkation camps at
Ercst and other ports III France, and hayo
made sweeping assertions, and when The
claims OF most OF them arc analysed in do
tail it is found that they object 10 the mud
and To The fact that the soldiers havc had
TO stand up when eating, and have had TO
wash their owl dishes.
One is inclined to think that veteran sol
dicrs among our troops who won't iutc the
he'll OF the froEt-lne lighting viii smile at
some OF these aspcrsious Mon Who have
zone through the Kind OF fighting that took
place in France last summon, who have faced
death in its worst CUrms and lave seen tho
cntirc nation OF France whiting III the ago
MICS Of its four years struggle. must fool
that thcrc is not very serious suffering D thc
act of washing ones own dishes nj ErcSt
especially since soldiers cC every army have
washed their own dishes since Hannibal
crossed tho Alps or Alexander led his hosts
to battle.
rwcnty-cno years ago the United States.
under Republican administration. vent TO
war with Spain. Thousands Of the troops
which it raised and culippcI never LEFT the
shore" OF this country; yet thousands upon
thousands died III camps that were pest holes
OF typhoid and Other malignant diseases. and
thousands wcro fed cmbalmed beef. IN this
var tho United States sent 100000 men
5000 miles across the Atlantic and raised
and equipped 2,0oC,00o moro in this conn.,
try. Never task or such ilcl~ulCan
proportions attempted III so short a space Of
time. And tho job was done soon cuoush
and we'll enough TO save humanity NOW
Senator Lodge takes mp the time OF the Sen
;.tc and proposes junllcts TO Europe for in
veStigators because men had to stand III the
mud al mess time at Brest.
That there were deaths there is no doubt
and IL the deaths any single one OF them,
was due TO deliberate carolessness and nerl-
gcncc, the facts must be brought out But
one cannot forget the unprecedented cuudi-
lions that existed. and there is this thought
That under the magnificent scheme by which
our army was being poured into France. The
men as soon as they ,woro landed were moved
on into the interior OF France There were
no unnecessary delays. Brcst was not Il
Tampa, whore troops were allowed TO Ian
guish with never Il hope OF getting into &C
ZION. The armsticc came suddenly before
any one dreamed it WAS coming. Naturally
permanent barracks were not ready TO ac-
comnodate the backward flow Ct the troops
When the troops were landed lorries were
always in readiness to move them on IN the
backward movement there cannot Of ncces-
Sity. DO ships as readily available as motor
trucks to move them. So it has been ncces-
sary 10 hold some troops at Brcst and pend
ing the completion of the barracks, they have
had to sleep in tents and suffer discoin forts
But ii may be doubted if the veterans who
went through the real horrors of il take
the criticisms quite as seriously as tho pofj-
tcians who sit back home and hunt for cam
paign material