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OUR OFFICERS AND MEN IN FRANCE The country learned yesterday General Pershings opinion of the men of his command They are in his words superb soldiers What the men think of their officers has been disclosed in many let ¬ ters in which the impressionf of privates were set forth frankly and with no expectation that they would be published Practically without exception the authors of these letters have exhibited confi ¬ dence in and affection for their superiors and have recorded the kindness and consideration shown to them by those to whom they look for guidance and instruction instructionAnother Another opinion of the American Expeditionary Forces is given in a lutter recently received from an officer of the regular army a first lieutenant who has been engaged in important actions He dis ¬ cusses the feeling of the company officers for the field and general officers Of them this lieutenant informed by experience writes writesIn In regard to losses we have been fortunate lue chiefly to an intelligent considerate staff of high officers who regulate our destinies destiniesWe We get no impossible missions and every mans move is carefully planned and thoroughly supported supportedWe We are getting the best men available as our superiors and those who are incapable are being re ¬ moved regardless of connections at home homeEvery Every possible comfort is being provided by the government and the men are contented and happy to fight for a country that does so much for them themThus Thus we have the declarations of the men in the ranks that their company officers are competent and considerate the testimony of the company offi ¬ cers that their superiors are able and reasonable and the word of General Pershing that the men he com ¬ mands are superb soldiers The gigantic ma ¬ chine we have constructed is proving itself a formid ¬ able engine of war and the spirit shown by the men in it discloses the high character of those on whom the fighting falls fallsParticularly Particularly interesting and gratifying is the fact that men not up to their work are quickly re ¬ lieved of duty These removals mean that political considerations in no way influence the selection of officers for staff duty that the army is a democracy in which ability alone counts Not even the great victory that has been won over the Germans on the Manic is more gratifying than this fact New York Sun
