Evening star., 1928-06-10
REPORT TO OPORTRAY
/. us. IN WORLD WAR
Military Officers, Trained in
Research, Compiling Com.
pete Record for Publication.

The War Department Is adding to
its stan for the collection of historical
information staff Of Army officers
trained III research and graduated from
civilian universities to winnow out the
yellowinp documents and transmit to
the general public an entirely accurate
history of Americas participation in
the World War
In fiin1sy Shacks in the vicinity OF
Sixth and B streets. these Army his
torical experts are toiling to turn out
the first Of IS monographs that Secre--
tary Dwight F. Davis has authorized
end expects to have three published by
Christmas. One is in the process OF
printing
Lieut. Col Christian A. Bach, who
has been in charge of the historical
section OF the Army War College, which
is whipping the history into shape, soon
will be relieved from his present post
through reaching the retirement age.
and Col. s. c. Vestal will take charge.
Assisting and advising in the compila-
ton at the invitation of the Army is
sn advisory board consisting of these
eminent college profeSsors-Dr. c. j. H.
Hayes, DR. T. II. Thomas, DR.. H. c.
Bell and Dr. w E. Stevens,
Authenticity the Watchword"
Various gaps in World War infHrma-
zion are being filled by solicitation to
former service men to send in docu-
ments that will throw light Oh many
hidden phases Of the great conflict.
Detailed information is being requested
from men who saw service in the
A E, F and, as Maj. w A. Canoe,
executive officer Of the Army War Col
leges historical section put it, "Au-
1ixy &c oh
Information on the World War is not
confined 10 documents and manuscripts
alone, however. for the Army has thou
sonds and thousands Of photographs.
and the remarkable part of 1t is that
Americas former foes, the Germans,
have co-operated in exchanging Gov
e-nment, so that the viewpoint to the
battle lines from the German stand
point may be obtained.
Ten years after the war is the proper
time to write history. Maj. Canoe ex-
plains, for the country is now at the
height of intake and the material is
fresh and vital enough to secure a good
output. The mellowing distance of a
decade has enabled a less prejudiced
slant Of the events of l9l7-lS TO obtain
Care Used in Choosing Board.
AAAG pCASOu1iCl W uulek ldhC lLlAo ldSh
WAS obtained by selection with great
care from the Army, many of the his
torians being prominent writer's them
selves on their own account These will
be centered In Washington and for
some years to come will be engaged in
poring over the documents of import in
World War affairs and giving to the
public a graphic, interesting. connected
mosaic OF the war, but with accuracy
accentuated.
To print the World War records as
was done with the War of the Rebellion
records would entail millions of ex-
pepse To obviate this highly trained
technical students are epitomizing the
vast masses of historical material to
save the time OF the public and TO turn
out a picture faithfully mirroring the
eyentfui wears Of 1917 and 1913
In the fimsy shacks mentioned which
the historians declare are veritable fire.
traps and which. If burned, would wipe
out irreplaceable historical documents
reDose one of the greatest pictorial
collections In the Nation. There are
between 250.000 and 300,000 photo
HRaphs altogether in the section.
Signal Corps Photos Included.
There are 10000 Signal Corps photo
&F14sIlN LEkGn uuTlWE VIE WDEll Wdf
and subsequently, $1,000 Of them being
obtained in the field with the A. e. r.
About 5000 more photographs are be-
Ing added annually by the Army
photographers shooting" current events
of service interest. In the collection
are ioo. 900 unofhcial photographs. taken
By commercial concerns during the
war. both here and abroad, but Of these
there are no negatives.
Then there is a notable Brady COL
Section Of 5000 Civil War photographs
and those of eminent personages Of
that time. The negatives Of this erst-
while Washington photographer. who
was In the field with the Civil War
armies, was purchased for the Army
BY Congress fer $4,000.
Photographs are being exchanged
with Great Britain. France and Ger
many dealing with World War scenes.
Thus a rnany-sided view Of that con-
ylsEion In human affairs that men term
the World War Is made possible.
Officers Wen Equipped for Task.
The Army officers that viii evolve
the IS monographs speak or write two
or three languages and have passed
thyough one or two civilian universi-
Efes. as well as being graduated from
West Point. They come to their mon
unoentai task fully equipped
The tentative plan is 10 have the
Vs.an9es distributed throughout the