Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-05
WILLIMANTIC

width of France. In the retreat before 1 it. the Germans lost heavily and were ] forced to send men to guard the cities | in tkeir rear. France lost many men, | but enIistments sweIled her ranks so | that when the battle started the forces were more evenly divided The retreat was stopped near the Marne river, Sept. 4, and then French made plans for a decisive battle. The Germans were aware that decisive | battle was to be fought. Inspired by Papa Joffre.
 Just before the battle, General Jof- ire told his soldiers that a great of fensive battle was about to be started and that it would decide strongly the conduct of France in the future. With won the day by sheer will.
 In 1915 I had the privilege of going over this battlefield but the effects of the battle had been almost plotted out thing was the small patches, desig mated only by crosses and medals naming the dead buried there.
 Battle of Verdun
 The battle of Verdun was more in tensive than the battle of the Marne but not as extensive. The Germans realized the strength of the position and were willing to give nearly any thing to gain it. The artillery was almost beyond dreams. The horrors or the neld are 1n0oSCr1D3Dle.
 French Courage Wonderful
 The war has not transformed the French people. They meet anything without complaint or excuse. The spirit of the troops is renarl1a ble. They cheer the battlefield when they get sight of it. yet many are to lose their lives there.
 Aid for Brave Nation.
 This war brings out the good in a people and France has been found not to be lacking Yet she stands ing us for help and her call has not been passed by. The money which the Red Cross is collecting is to be used, largely, for France.
 He closed by reading the poem | France. by Henry Van Dyke, minister to the Netherlands.
 Rev. E. p. Aver Speaks Rev. E. P. Aver told what the his 1 tory of this war will show. The Ger | mans are not the only fighters. His | tory seems to be repeating itself Our l were helped by France in | gaining our independence and liberty 1 and now our boys are helping France 1 hold her liberty and are helping thu i whole world gain liberty"
 Rev. Vernon w. Cooke.
 The next speaker, Rev. Vernon Cooke of this city. said:
 We have tried to bring peace into the world and have failed. We have heard the call of France and have re- sponded.
 The Saviour once said This is thine lOur." This may be said of America now. Never has the future of tpe world depended upon a nhour as il 1oes now. Never has history depend ed upon America as it does now.
 The World Fighting Germany.
 The Germans claim to be fighting or liberty but their liberty is a diff erent kind from that for which we Ire fighting. Their freedom of the ,eas claims the right to do such deeds IS the sinking of the Lusitania: for iberty, they mean the liberty to over un countries as they have Belgium md Poland. They claimed to be at ,eace with the United States and un- fer the guise of diplomacy, they plot ed our downfall The world is fight n@ Germany to save her from her elf.
 America Responds to Call.
 The call has come to America and he has responded nObIE- Regfstration ay passed without practically any liberty Loan, and the Red Cross fund yere largely oYersubscribed, the latter ' y fl millions.
 Work of Red Cross. But the Red Crcss needs more. They i'll do many noble things Imagine l i ourSeIf III the condition or pFopie III | rance, homeless and with hardly any , lothes. The Red Cross will remedy f his. If a man knows that his family ill he cared for n case of his not aturning. he will fight all the harder When OUT flag is unfurled on the : ring line let it be backed by the ntire country and when the history f this war is written. let it be said nat the United States gave fs-eIy nd nobIy
 Afternoon Session. The afternoon session was infOr- lal. with speaking by Mir. Kflroy and :, sveral musical selections. :
 Swedish Church Picnic. Y The annual Fourth of July picnic f the Swedish Lutheran church of |