Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
OFFICIAL WORLD WAR HISTORY
URGED FOR USE OF STUDENTS
War Department Being Urged to Publish
Correct Version of America Part
in Conflict as School Guide.

Until the War Department pub
fishes a history of the American par
ticipation in the World War there
never will be an accurate record Tor
historians to be guided by and there
will forever be errors, both large and
small in the school textbooks from
which the coming generation Will re-
ceive it's knowledge of the great con-
fiict.
This is the opinion of observers OF
the recent criticisms lodged against
school books in use here by Coi.
Thomas Dickson, U. S. A, retired,
former A. E. F. chaplain, who, AFTER
pointing out alleged gross misstate
ments in the books, offers corrections
himself.
While Col. Dickson states what
he believes to be the true 1acts;
nevertheless in many instances dual
Interpretations can safely be placed
on the meaning of success" or
"faihlre" of a certain drive. For
axamnle: One history states that
the first German offensive of 1913
was a failure" while Col. Dickson
declares. after quoting General Perish
ing's official report, that it was not.
While the historian did not give
his reason for saying the drive was
failure" it is commonly known
fact now that the Germans desired
to drive to the channel, split the
French and British forces, Keep the
French on the left flank and wipe
ont the British on the north OF
France. But the Germans got only
as far as Amines, which, though
big advance, to them was totai
failure" while from the Aiiles
standpoint it was success, DIS
ground had been gained and captures
had been made.
At Work On Data Now.
There is now at work in the Army
War College a little group OF onlceLs
who are compiling data from WHICH
or some vet unknown date, true
history of the conflict may De
written. Every positive statement
| wade in that history will be sup
| norted by a field order, q com,
| munioue. or a statement OF some
| sort. issued at the time, together
with a comparison OF reports from
the enemy that emanated at lne
time of the operation: PatTlotic
| phases and flag waving VIII pe iaoh ;,
| ing: it will call spade space anu
will not hesitate to state thal oi'
go than one occasion the Ameri-
| CON troons were not victorious, no
matter in how minor an engagement
T,ba chins will fall where they may
hut an accurate history will be avail
| ab,e and will be clirnaxed with the
| cold but positive, documentary eVi'
| dence. that the war was won py the
| Auies. that America was part OF the
| Allies and contributed an oVerwheiIh'
| ing amount of force to bring apoul
/ the victory. ~,
Tben there will disappear from all
+extbooks in the future such state.
ments in one book that Persnlng anu
| American troops arrived IN France III
| Nav 1877. in another that he landed
"late in June; in another that Dy
July 4, "a battalion Of American
soldiers were in Paris ready to march
| to the front" 49,. ,
fiicting statements and declares .ne
official report shows that Gen. fer-
| shinp with O. small staff reached Paris
| lime 13. 1917, and was followed q
short time later by troops. he at
tacks the histories for their non-con.
formitv to a date that is a matter OF
public record without much difficulty
Picks Faulty Passages.
Another passage he finds fault with
is this: "In July the Germans struck
a terrific blow at Chateau-Thlerry
Without waiting for artillery, Pershine
struck. and in six hours had captured
as much ground as the Germans mao
snent DAYS in getting possession of
aA npiT1V
great rapidity. The Germans were
dumbfounded. They did not have
time to remove their supplies"
Col. Dickson says he fails to "iden
tifv this incident which would be 8
local engagement. in the text OF the
Anal official report" War depart
ment records show, however. that
Gen. Pershing had nothing to dc
with it. and that it was Petain, the
French marshal, who stuck" Col
Dickson takes exception to another
historians statement that the great
J est American battle was in the Ar
eonne Forest" The American line
while in the Argonne region, extended
only about 3 by miles In the
Forest. or an area about six times
that Of Rock Creek Park. the retired
chaplain says, adding this area wa:
.
sions in two days"
Col Dickson says the following con
ficting statements. regarding the ar
; rival Of Gen. Pershing and American
troops in France. are contained IL
Washington's school histories:
Historians Beard and Bagle.
, state: In May, 1917, the tramp o
American soldiers was heard il
France. Gen. John j. Pershing ar
rived with the vanguard Of a vas
army that was TO follow
! Historian Mace states: 'Whel
i Pershing with a few officers and engi
. neers first landed in France the new
[ spread rapidly
Historians Thwaites and Kendall
The first American soldiers reache
! France soon after Gen. Pershine
! They were instructed by British an