Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-12
LET'S GO MOST
POPULAR SLOGAN
USED IN A. E. F.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. 10
The most inspiring and. at the same
time, the most popular slogan used
by our troops during the world war
is embraced in the unpretentious
words Let's CO."
This is the valuable judgment of
Colonel Edward L. Munson. chief
of the morale branch, general staff,
and a discerning and appreciative
student Of soldier psychology. Colo
mel Munson as organizer and head
of this branch during the war seems
qualified as an expert on questions
of this character and he backs his
opinion in the following words:
MY conviction on this subject
a subject that is of real Importance
to students of military morales
based on the almost unanimous YER
dict of those who served with troops,
reinforced by the judgment Of many
who have looked at the question
from other angles. The appeal Lets
Co combined all tn Unnecessary psy-
Geological elements of a military slo-
gan. other popular phrases used by
our troops unquestionably had their
effect in reviving tagging spirits
and in cheering tired men, but none
seems so typically American, so
broad and so satisfying.
LETS Co stimulates at one and
the same time more of the basic in
stincts that govern human behavior
than probably any other military
catch-phrase. vt implies action, and
therefore, stirs the instinct of self
les stimulates the migratory instinct,
common to man as well as birds, an
imals and fishes-the desire to seek
new surroundings. Through commu-
nifty of such action, it rouses the in
stinct of gregariousness: AS to what
it piques the instinct Of curiosity
and embodies adventure. The COM
pletion of the task involves express
sion of the instinct of constructive
ness. of a good job to be well done.
If addressed to an organization which
is part of a larger command it brings
up concept of emulation depending
on the instinct of rival Try. The tass
is to be pushed to the end, If neces-
sary. in a fighting sense, and hence
the instinct of pugnacity is awak-
ened.
1.-THE slogan contains no word of
command, no stern admonitlon, II
does not impose itself upon the will
of the nearer. 1t calls rather Tor
companionship. for voluntary action
and contribution on the part of the
soldier for a concerted movement
prompted by mutual desire.
my analysis may not be correct
one, but correct or not, [ am GER
tain that Let's Co was used spon-
taneously under all circumstances
and always with an encouraging re-
Spouse. Other slogans were adopted
from time to time by various contin- |
gents of the Expeditionary Forces
and units serving in this country,
but none of them quite filled the
place of the one now under discus |
sion. Where do we go from here"
was not an unusual sentence during !
the war and eye-witnesses tell us
that the song by that name was sung
quite cheerfully as the transport
Tuscania. sank into the waters of the
British Channel. When do we eat?,'
Who won the WARP and Where are
the ships?" were three sentences
many times repeated by American
soldiers but they were usually used
in satirical vein and formed an
outlet for the distinct and individual
humor of our troops, but for every
day use, in rest, or battle, the slo-
gan Let's Co stands foremost as
the strongest stimulus to mind and
hence to bodily effort"