Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-26

out, whereas the french army "dS VI
the great continental type. was on a
war footing, and was from the very
inception of military operations. en-
gagged in sanguinary conflict with the
common enemy.
I'VE have today coming amongst US
a mission from France. l doubt not
indeed l am fully convinced that
they will receive welcome not less
warm, not less heart felt than that
which you have so generously and
encouragingly extended to us. That
was and certainly will be increased by
the reflection that one member of the
mission is Marshal Joffre, who will go
down through all time as the general
in command of the allied forces, at one
of the most critical moments in the
worlds history
Il remember when | was here there
was a book which was given out in the
schools called The Fifteen Decisive
Battles of the World" 1 do not know
whether they all quite deserve that I'll
tie, but there can be no doubt or ques-
ton whatever that among the decisive
battles of the " rld, the battle of the
Marine was the most decisive. 1t was
a turning point in the history of man
kind, and rejoice that the hero of that
event is today coming among us and
will join US, the British nation in lay
ing before the people of the United
States our gratitude for the sympathy
which they have shown and are show
ing and our warm confidence in the
value of the assistance which they are
affording the allied cause.
'{ront lpTna T 6n believe that the
magnitude of that assistance can by
any possibility be exaggerated. 1 am
told that there are some doubling crit
les, who seem to think that the object
of the mission of France and Great
Britain to this country is to inveigle
the United Stltes out of it's traditional
policy, and to entangle it in formal al
liances, secret or public, with European
powers. | carrot, imagine any rumor
with less foundation, nor can imagine
a policy so utterly unnecessary.
Our confidence in this assistance
which we are going to get from this
community is not based upon such
shallow considerations as those which
arise out of formal treaties. No treaty
could increase the undoubted conf
dence with which we look to the United
A1t'itVS WHY, MS Noi'iN INV viz w. :"
are going TO see the war through. If
there is any certainty in human affairs,
that is certain.
1.-TWO years and half have gone
since the war began and the great re-
public on this side of the Atlantic has
been watching with deepening interest
the blood stained drama going on
across the ocean, and | am well con-
WINGED that as each month has passed,
so has the conviction grown among
you that after all it is no small or pet
ty interest that is involved in this war,
it is no struggle for so many square
miles of territory, for some acquisition.
some satisfaction of small national
ambition. 1t was nothing short of the
full consciousness that the liberties OF
mankind are really involved in the is
sue of this struggle that was animal
ing the allied countries.
with such cause the American
public has always been in full SYM
pathy and now, after watching 1T
through all these months. YOU have
found yourselves impelled to join in
the great conflict, | feel perfectly GER
tain that you will throw into it all your
uncqualled resources, all your powers
of invention. Of production. all your
manpower. all the resources of that
country which has greater resources
than any other country in the world,
and already having come to that de-
cision, nothing will turn you from it,
but success browning our joint efforts.
This expresses the sentiments with
which | have been animated ever since
came to this city-my sentiment of
gratitude, my sentiment of hope. do
not know that have anything Of value
to add.
ALLOW me to thank you most heart
lily again for having come here for this
brief interview, and to express my
gratitude for what you have done and
my firm confidence that all of you will,
welding the great power you do, eXer-
else it in the convincing cause of jus
tice, truth and peace"