The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-01

Balfour greater pleasure than to have been present at this great, represen- tative gathering tonight. He greatly regrets the urgent nature of his busi- ness, (for the mission is really of a business character, and has not come merely to exchange courtesies and compliments,) has prevented him accepting your very kind invitation. He felt, however, that the occasion was one of great importance, and he asked me personally whther I would go to New York in order to express on his behalf and on that of all the members of his mission our profound gratitude for the generous and cor dial welcome which we have receiv- ed in this great country of yours. Be- ing soldier, obeyed, and, happily for me. duty and pleasure went hand in hand.
 You will not expect me to make a speech or to talk at any length. Talking is not encouraged in my pro- fession, but I wish to let you gentle men know how these demonstrations of welcome have given Us both sym pathy and encouragement. They have made it abundantly clear that having made common cause with tn Allies. the United States is determined to insure, by every means in her power. that the ideals of democracy, ire dom, and humanity, which our cause represents, shall be upheld The greatest asset of the Allies in this war Is that they are fighting for these ideals Had it not been so we could not have continued the struggle. Ii vas plain to us from the beginning. when, In 1914, Austria, by wantonly attacking little Serbia, and Germany py the invasion and devastation of Belgium. plunged half the world into war, 1t became our clear duty to go in and help smash the bully.
 The invasion of Belgium. a. nrac. tically defenseless country. was ac. companied, as I well know. by ar orgy of brutality-not casual out. breaks or undiscip1ined soldiery. fo1 l the German army of 1914 was the highest disciplined force the world mas ever seen, but a policy of organ. lzeo terrorism. murder. and rape. ar. son and pillage, accompanied bv the Wanton destruction of priceless nnonu. ments of the past, all sanctioned an6 ordered by the highest authorities LNe military policy of Germany was that or the Huns of Atilla. and max De summed up thus, T am mucI stronger and better prepared thar you therefore. I am going to murder you and your family and loot you, i house. Sou'
 Might Was Not Right
 we came into the war in the cause or civilization, to make 1t cIear +o +ht world' that might was moi right anf 10 make it impossible for sucb tbir,e e, ever to happen again. We do not Esne TOT territory, indemnities q, ha.lonai aggrandizement, but for ar .ueai-tne freedom of mankind anf tsht 10 i1ve of small nations. ant .aose who I1gnt for ideals will % ar s,. uhui they attain them or per that the Allies so heartily a,a,aa.s,, ,ot your great country into inc araos a war IS that you see things witb or, eyes, and following up the inestir,, h1. servlces you have rendered ne ir +h, past, you are determined to noohi1;z, your vast resources and to strike fo, .he cause or liberty, and to make n, Worio decent and a fit place to liv,
 spoke this morning with 2 orea soldier, Field Marshall Joffre Ha | man Of whom it may he ssid +ha
 ne saved the civilized worl6 at +h, Dattle or the Marne and saved oiyi1 izatlon. l was proud to think tba+ mad the honor of serving under I,ir ana that even in those early dar1 oays or the retreat from Mons we feI
 confident that his genius woula sten the tide of invasion. Now it has turn ca, and French and British so1diar fighting shoulder to shouIser . r rolling back the enemy ana freein, those portions of France and Re1oi,,n n which he has so ruthIessly deva st ted mere IS a fine old military maxin which says, When in doubt n,aro1 to the sound of the guns and i+ i there upon those fields of battle ina we should like to see the manhood . your nation, and to see the Stars an, Stripes fly beside the tricolor and in
 Union Jack.
 Allies Understand Each. Other People out here have expressed SIT prise that our friendship with tn
 French has stood the test of nearl three years war, but this is not sur
 prtsing, for the war is not a. war q races, but war of ideas, and we ar l fighting together against an arsne