THE END OF THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1919, Page 4

THE END OF THE WAR.

THE LAST MILLION. Before the war the gentleman who writes under the pseudonym of lan Hay was a master in a Scottish school and the author of several novels which brought him an everincreasing reputation. On the outbreak of war he immediately joined up and described the experiences of his division in training and at the front in two books which so taithfully interpreted the spirit of the new armies that after a spell of active service he was “ pulled out ” by the authorities and attached to the Ministry of Information. One of his chief tasks was to help in the promotion of a better understanding between ■ Britain and America, and his propaganda was the more effective because the powder oi instruction was plentifully sweetened by the jam of entertainment. We may presume that “ The Last Million ” was written in pursuance of the same endeavour, and certainly the American army has been fortunate in having so tactful, sympathetic, and genial a master of ceremonies to introduce it to a British audience. Although lan Hay writes with a purpose, his appreciation is never of the made-to-order type; the official note is conspicuous by its absence ; in his desire to point a moral, the author never forgets to adorn a tale. lan Hay takes a ship load of doughboys, bound as they one and all believe for Berlin by way of England and France. There are all sorts and conditions of men, cowboys from Texas, moon-lighters from Kentucky, foreign Jews from the east side of New York. They were all as keen as mustard, but of soldiering they knew less than nothing. The recruits in Britain had at any rate some sort a military tradition and military associations. British armies were always fighting in one “ little war” or another ; the sight of a uniform was familiar. But to the Americans the simplest commonplaces of service were strange. lan Hay illustrates their ignorance by several anecdotes which are, at least, well found. One young Jew was advised to take a commission ; ** he refused on the ground that it would be too difficult to collect. He said he might not be able to keep tally of all the Germans he killed; besides the general might not believe him. Anyway, he preferred a straight salary!” And there was the military chauffeur who drove into a French village and was asked by an officer where he had come from. Without a moment’s hesitation came the reply, “ Sir, I am from Marion, Ohio, the greatest steamshovel producing centre in the world!” When the Americans got to England their first impressions seem to have been similar, to those of many Australians. They appreciated the hospitality shown to them, but found the English formal and standoffish ; later they realised that this was often due to shyness. They were amazed at the smallness of the fields and the trim orderliness of the country-side. They objected to the accent of the natives; indeed, there has been a tendency among many of the troops, British and oversea alike, to assume that the other man was talking like that merely to annoy them; They were inclined to regard the British officer as “ verging upon the Clarence class” until they learned to read “the biography which the British soldier carries upon his sleeve or breast—scraps of ribbon, service chevrons, wound stripes, and the like.” Then they understood that things, especially in England, are

not always what they seeui. The process of education was continued in France; It would be idle to suggest that the British and the Americans at once settled down into the pleasant atmosphere of a mutual admiration society—the points of view of both had to be adjusted. As a grizzled American colonel observed : “ There was a certain amount of ‘ we have come to win this war for you ’ stuff from our boys, and a certain amount of ‘you have been a darned long time about it’ stuff from yours, and all these little corners had to be rounded off. On top of that there was a lot of very insidious, very clever work by German agencies to make .trouble between them. Then they suffered from the handicap of a comtnou language. Believe me, it’s a darned sight easier to keep on clubby terms with an Ally whose language you don’t know than with an Ally whose language you do! ” But the average American was under no illusion about his work in France; he knew in his heart he was an inlant in arms beside the veterans of the Allies. The most cherished possession of one American staff is a despatch from an Australian commander complimenting them on their showing in a joint operation. It was the more appreciated because “ the Australians have a pretty high standard of their own, and don’t pin orchids on other people unnecessarily.” When the armistice was signed many Americans were frankly disappointed. They felt that after all they had contributed but little to victory ; the sufferings ol their army and their country had been infinitesimal compared with those of the Allies. “If we stop now,” said ah American colonel just before the news of the end was received, “ all that we shall have won will be tlie opportunity — and you know how our orators and patriotism-mongers will use it—to announce that America just stepped m and the war was won ! ” But the}' have gained more than that; they have laid the foundation of an enduring friendship with Britain. lan Hay would not have us misconstrue the nature of this rapprochement. He again quotes an American opinion. “Each has learned to respect and tolerate the other’s point of view. Of course they don’t understand one another, and never will. In that respect they ate three thousand miles and several centuries apart. So they have tacitly agreed to regard one another as crazy but likeable, and leave it at that. ■ In my view that is about as far as Anglo-American sentiment will ever get; and I shall be glad and satisfied if we here, who know, can maintain it at that standard—and it’s a higher standard than would appear at first sight.”