San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01
Says He Intended No Re-
Election on Bravery Of
Texas Men.
WRITES TO HULEN
Was Drawing Lesson Of
Unpreparedness as Guide
for Future.

TO Brig Gen. John A. Hulen, reserve
officer OF Houston. who during the
World War was an officer of the
| Thirty-sixth Division, Maj. Gen. Han
son r. Ely. commander Of the Army
Service Schools at Fort Leavenworth,
Kan, left no doubt as TO the high
regard for the yalor and ability OF the
men of the Thirty-sixth Division. Be
cause of report OF a speech made by
General Ely before the Kansas City
Kiwanis Club on January &c, Texas
and Oklahoma congressman criticised
the general severely. and for a short
time halted his promotion from the
rank OF brigadier general TO that of
major general.
In his speech before the Kiwanis
Club Of Kansas City General Ely,
in making a plea for preparedness,
| told of the unnecessary losses Of
American forces because Of their lack
of sufficient training. He made an
illustration Of the action Of the
Thirty-sixth Division in going into
front line positions. stating that be-
cause Of their lack Of sufficient train
| ing tie troops occupied their positions
improperly, resulting in unnecessary
losses.
Criticized in Congress.
In a report Of that speech Kansas
City newspapers represented General
Ely as having cast reflection upon
the bravery of the men of the Thirty
sixth Division. The press reports
brought forth a storm of criticism from
Texas and Oklahoma congressman,
who attempted TO halt the promotion
of General Ely.
In his letter TO General Hulen Cen
eral Ely said:
IL have seen several divisions 20
into action for the first time and
never failed TO see them take up inn
proper formations when first coming
under shell fire and machine gun fire.
This. OF course. is TO be expected and
is only natural. The longer they are
trained and the better prepared be-
forehand. the less injury will result
TO them from such action. / think no
one can deny this.
I'm my own brigade of the Second
Division, / received as requirements
some thousand or more men from the
Thirty-sizth Division. | never had
better requirements, nor more intel
ligent and courageous men, and have
no doubt the remainder Of the Thirty
sixth Division was made up of the
, same material. As far is was able
to observe at the Mont Blanc fight,
il was so made up.
AS far as closing over facts of
history is concerned. was referring
especially to the history of our wars
given TO public school children, es-
pecially that of the War of 1872,
which makes out that this war was a
credit TO us, while as o matter Of fact
its results were nothing to be proud
OF. II our people are taught that
We have uniformly been successful
In all our wars IL would be difficult 10
show them why we should be better
prepared in the future than we have
been in the past.
Praised the Troops.
The Thirty-sixth Division Is the
only one ] know OF which went into
a major engagement without ever
having been under fire before. / con-
slider that its action in the Mont
Blanc fight wa highly creditable,
and that any imperfecfions which de-
veloped early in the fight we're only
to be expected and were quickly
straikhtened out. / want to give you
two quotations from a report rendered
by Lieut.. Col. A. c. Arnold who COM
nianded the battalion Of the Ninth
Infantry. which acted as liaison bat
talon between the 141st Infantry of
the Thirty.sixth Division and the
French: No better or Drawer troops
could have been desired. except for
their tendency TO bunch up. due to
lack of experience. and As the enemy
was ranging against the hill. his right
flank became exposed to the 14lst
Infantry In the wood, and on their
own initiative the 14ist Infantry per-
formed as brilliant a bit of work as
was probably done by any small body
Of American troops in the war when
then advanced with marching fire
against the enemy's flank. As this
occurred at the same time that G Com
pany just 10 the right Of them caught
the enemy with severe right fire. his
lines retreated in great disorder, leav-
ing the field covered with dead and
wounded
Il wish to thank you and the Of
ficers Of Thirty-sixth Division for
the frank way in which they acted
when they found they were under a
mis-apprehension. This is the spirit
that is going to make US one big,
efficient army, free from jealousies
and back-biting which was all too COM
mon only n few years ago.
Plea for Preparedness.
"For couple Of days / had nominal
command Of certain elements of the
Thirty-sixth Division, in conjunction
With other elements Of the Second
Division which we're in my sector. /
am just as proud Of this command as
Of sny command ] had during the war.
and 1 would resent just as quickly
any allegations which might injufe the
good name Of the Thirty-sixth Diyi-
sion A. an allegation brought nsainst
any other division Of which was o
member"
il appears that General EIy,s men.
ton Of the Thirty-sixth Division in
his speech before the Kansas City
kiwanis Club was in no way crit
icism Of ihe men OF the division. but
rather a criticism OF the nations war
policy. I'm time OF peace prepare
for adequate national defenseS.'' was
evidently the theme Of General Ely's
speech. and he was making a plea
for future generations that they not
be subjected to unnecessary hazards
because Of insufficient training.