Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-28

Did Premier Clemenceau OF France
actually seek the removal of Gen.
Persning as commander OF the Amer
lean Expeditionary Forces during the
Autumn Of 1918?
When the report that such an Incl
dent took place was cabled to the
States from Paris a few weeks after
the death Of Marshal Foch, prompt
search Of the records OF the Army War
College In Washington was made to
reveal all official records bearing on
such an episode. officials of the Army
already knew the answer, but news
papers and other interested parties
were quick to seek all of the available
facts. The report. sensational in the
form in which it appeared In print, re-
veals so much Of the history of our
greatest military exploit that 1t Is
worth while examining exactly what
the records reveal.
The mere answer to the question OF
whether or not Clemenceau sought
Pershing's removal Is only a fragment
Of the story, but 1t is the fragment
which brings the whole story to light,
and may be considered first.
The answer Is In two parts:
Ftrst-Clemenceau never actually
sought the removal of Gen. Pershing.
Second-Clemenceau probably did
discuss with Marshal Foch the posi-
bility of seeking Pershing's removal,
and Foch probably advised against
such procedure.
The mere possibility, or probability,
that the premier of France talked about
trying to remove the American general
throws a light on the whole history of
our great expeditionary force and its
achievements which is new to the minds
OF many Americans. Most Of us have
merely accepted the basic fact that our
Army won a great victory and that the
war was brought TO prompt conclu-
sion. 1t is a shock to our ideas to learn
that anybody In high and responsible
authority was ever seriously dissatisfied
with what the A. E. F. was doing Rela-
lively few Americans know just what
that A. E. F. was doing on any especial
day In any especial place. We. knew,
and still know, that it was winning the
war. That 1t was not winning 1t at a
time or in q place or by method sat-
lsfactory to all concerned, or that 1t was
in danger Of not winning 1t at all, is
startling news. We must appreciate
our own general lack Of detailed knowl-
edge OF the war history to understand
why the headlines. "Clemenceau Want
ed to Remove Pershing," are q shock
to US.
That Clemenceau never sought to
get Pershing replaced Is easily proved.
Newton d. Baker, wartime Secretary
Of War, fastened to deny 1t. Clemen-
ceau has not bothered to deny 1t, nor
has Pershing. An examination Of the
basis Of the recent reports from Paris
reveals that Raymond Recouly, the
French writer, whose forthcoming book,
"A Memorial of Foch," Is authority for
the tale, does not say that Clemenceau
ever asked Pershing's removal. He
says only that Clemenceau talked about
such move with Marshal Foch.
No Actual Steps Taken.
Thus we quickly conclude that no
actual steps were taken. Our second
conclusion, that Clemenceau probably
did think about and talk about such
from M. Recouly's forthcoming book
same writer to the same effect, and by
other writer's since then.
Recouly wrote, in substance, the same
story in book published Immediately
after the war. 1t Is called La Bataille
de Foch," and Is not we'll known In
America. When Marshal Foch was In
this country In 1921, both he and mem
bers Of his party frequently referred tc
La Bataiile de Foch' as the best and
most authentic account Of the final
campaign Of the war, from the day
Foch was made commander of the al
lied forces until the day Of the ARMS
tice. Recouly, in fact, was for years
the one journalistic intimate Of Mar.
shall Foch, and remained so to the day
of the marshal's death.
The best basis for saying that Glen.
enceau probably spoke to Foch. In the
Fall Of 1918, about seeking Pershing's
removal, u that Recouly wrote this a,
coming from Foch within two year.
after the war, and that the statement
remained unchallenged, and was gen.