New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11

Reconstruction Amazing



WASHINGTON, July 10 WI atever
friction there may be about the League
Of Nations and other things, the French
people are universally friendly and
grateful to the United States" Major
General Peyton G. March, chief Of
staff Of the army, declared to-day in
denying rumors Of the existence Of an
anti=American agitation In France.
General March, who spent the month
of June in France, Belgium, Great
Britain and Germany, resumed his post
here to-day. He said the outstanding
features Of his tour of the military
fronts of western Europe were the ex-
traordinarily high standing the Ameri-
can army of occupation maintained
among other Allied troops and the gem
eral feeling of kindness exhibited
toward the United States.
"This feelings" he said, twas particu-
larly noticeable on Memorial Day, when
tribute was generously paid to the
American dead. The feeling toward
was fine, and all over Belgium it was
nothing less than overwhelming"
Marshal Joffre Enthusiastic
General March made particular ref
erence to the gratitude exhibited for
Paris. He told of the enthusiasm dis
played by Marshal Joffre over the gift
of 75,Oo0,O00 francs by individual
Americans for the support Of $4,000
French war orphans, who are being
wholesomely cared for and educated
as adopted Americans"
Amazing progress in reconstruction
was noticed by General March in his
tour of Belgium. I'm the devastated
areas" he said, wonderfully effective
steps are being taken by the Belgian
and French people. In Belgium ali the
peasants were sowing crops, and towns
which were wiped out are beginning to
show evidences of reconstruction.
France has not been so rapid in this
work, but steps have been taken to
clear the battlefelds of barbed wire
eRtanglements and other impediments
OF war"
General March laid stress upon the
organization of the Graves Registration
Service of the American Army, deciar-
ing that all the cemeteries in which
American soldiers are buried are we'll
kept, with abundant grass and flowers
growing, and white cross over each
grave. At each cemetery there is a
hostess house, where accommo dations
are available for all American visitors
who come to view the graves of their
relatives.
f25,0o0 American Bodies Abroad
t"The permanent cemeteries in
France, Belgium and England" Cen
eral March said, 'are in excellent
shape and will be maintained in good
order. There will be approximately
$4,000 American bodies which will re-
main OH foreign soil"
Conditions in the occupied area. Cen
eral March said, were excellent. He
declared that the German people were
we.3' red, had numerous children who
existed.
The American army on the Rhine.
General March declared, has won a
unique place in military history for
the high morale among the men, and
cordial relations existed between the
United States and Allied troops. Cen
eral March inspected the American
forces at Coblenz, where battle ma
neuvers were engaged in. He also re-
viewed the British, Belgian and French
forces at their headquarters.
The American army" General
March said, "did not suffer from this
comparison. A system of athletic con-
tests among all the Allied forces was
arranged, and the superiority. of
the American soldier-athletes has been
pronounced. The United States forces
had walk-away in all the contests.
and particularly were our men supreme
IN boxing contests"