Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-05
VETERAN GENERAL
F[AYS CRITICS Of
j. s. ARMY RECORD
Not a Republican or a Demo-
cratic, but an American
War; Dawes Declares, Rip
ping Out Oaths

ping Out Oaths
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-Turning
sharply upon house war Investigate
ing committees as a whole, Charles
G. Dawes. former head of army sup
ply procurement service in France.
told one of them today that the value
of their work had been rendered use
less through injection of partisan
politics.
II bitterly resent this effort to re-
fleet upon the entire. army because
some poor devil Numbered in Swift
zerland," he shouted. You cannot
put blotch on the army. What the
hell did we go in for-to steal money!
1t was not a Republican or Demo-
cratic war. 1t was an American war,
and yet, as a rule, these committees
try to bring in partisan politics.
Scores Government Waste
you could use your time invest.
eating to better advantage, rlsn'
crnment waste. You could save
more money for the people. But as
to France, you haven't got evidence
TO make a case if one existed, ana
l don't believe it does.
Representative Flood, Democrat
Virginia, told General Dawes his IDEA
of Investigation was to draw les
son for the future, If bad admins.
tration was shown to say so, ana II
there was fraud and graft to lind
it and see that the guilty were pun
ished.
"Yes," General Dawes replied, put
don't let this thing &C before the
people as a partisan fight. Every
body wants to hear something BAD
about somebody else. l am NOT mere
to make charges that would blacken
the name of soldier who cannot
come in to be heard"
Asked about grafters who followed
the American army to France, Cen
eral Dawes said
Yes, they were there, some OF
the most despicable characters on
earth, trying to help the army by
selling it things it needed at eX-
horbitant figures. There was one
man we caught and deported what
am not a muck-raker. He was
traitor and 1 wish we could have
shot him."
General Dawes praised the men,
in the army, saying it was the Iasn-
ion nowadays to condemn them
ing, but it didn't Tease the general,
who swore constantly.
Considering everything" he de-
clared, the record of accomplish
ment of the war department in get
ting ready for war was greater
ACCOMPLISHMENT than that of France
or Great Britain in the same period
of time 1 don't believe you can pick
flaws there and 1 am not speaking
as Democrat.
and gone the achievements of the
American army will stand as an ever
lasting blaze of glory. You have
tried to make a mountain out OF
mole hill, but thank God the army
was American, not Republican or
Democratic"
praises Pershing
Asserting that the people were
tired of war talk and fault-ffndlng,
General Dawes, banging the table.
said
There's no news in it. If wasn't
here strutting around and swearing
there would be no news in this
Mr.. Dawes ripped out streak of
oaths as he took up the attempt In
some quarters to criticise General
at will be rs or 80 years before
Pershing's place in history is fixed,
he said. He could not have won the
war had he sought to put popularity
above duty. And let me tell you
the doughboys now complaining will
live to see the day when they will
him
Declaring authority and RESPONSE
blity in the army should be central
ing war, General Dawes said the
American army was "deteriorating
again into bureaucracy which is
bound to prove inefficient"
you members of congress who
listen to every whipper-snapping bu-
reau chief who comes running to you
with a tale of woe are largely re-
sponsible," the witness shouted.
The general pleaded that the army
and it's officers be protected from
muck-rakers who pick fly specks,"
who are raising hall about promo
ton for men who earned them in
France They're doing it for petty
reasons. It's dirty shame |
wasn't in the regular army, but
can be fair"
The committee was told the next
war" would "break out overnight
and that the army and navy prob
ably would get into a row as tc
which was to boss the affair;
General Dawes declared the gov
eminent was purcha sing its supplies
sin the same wasteful mad disgrace
full manner" as the army did wher
the United States entered the war
The president has authority, he con
tinued, to create centralized business
control Heavy taxation and de-
sire for economy has put the public
in a frame of mind favorable to such
a change, General Dawes said. add.
ing that it might be inauguratec
during the next administration" i
"pfn-heads who would be affected
were not permitted Ito stab 1t II
the back"
General Dawes said the question
Of distinguished service medals was
the greatest~mistake of the war ano
it played hell with the service.
you opened a pandora's box and
satisfied nobody" he said. at was
a new toy and the man wearing one
on his chest wanted to lord it over
some poor devil who deserved 1t
but<. who was not eligible because
congress limited the award to meT
in high positions of responsibility.
General Dawes said he didn't be
lieve damned word" of charges
that General Pershing permitted un
necessary loss of life after the arm
istice, denounced the war depart
ment's regulations for silver service
stripes for men who did not ge
overseas, then took up promotions.