The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1918-06-11
STATEMENT is MADE
BY SECRE TARY BAKER
EG wvpy
Two Hundred Thousand Men Have
Been Sent Overseas Since seere-
American Army a Few Weeks Ago.


Washington, June 10.-More than
100000 American soldiers have gone
overseas to carry back to France the
encouragement and assistance which
Lafayette and Rochambeau brought to
America, Secretary Baker told the
French Alpine Chasseurs in bidding
them farewell here today at the base
OF the Washington monument.
The war secretary's last announce
ment some weeks ago concerning the
size of the Americsl forces abroad
was that 100000 men had sailed for
the battle front.
The Alpine Chasseurs, better known
as the Blue Devils" of France. came
TO America last month to assist in
the third Liberty loan campaign and
since have toured the south and mid
die west. They were reviewed and re-
ceived by the secretary of war to-
day before leaving for Baltimore.
Newark, New York and Boston en-
route back to their native land
You soldiers of France" said Mr.
Baker in addressing the chasseurs,
"came to this country in order that
the people of America might see with
their own eyes in your persons the
kind of men who have written a new
page in the record OF human heroism
and success. You were welcomed in
this country from one end Of it to the
ether. The hearts OF the people went
out to you and to your people. AS
the embodiment of the determination,
the courage and the heroism of France
you have been accepted and received.
Nearly all of you, / am told, are bat
tle-scarred veterans. You are repre-
sentatives OF a people who would
rather die than not be free.
you are going back to your own
country-still, thank God, your own
and when you get there you will find
that the small beginning of our army
which you left there has grown into
mighty manifestation. When you
left France, the American army was
there in small representation, but now
more than 100000 Americans have
sailed from their shore to carry back
to your army and your people the en-
couragement and the assistance which
Lafayette and Rochambeau brought
to America in the early and struggling
days of American freedom.
"They are trying to learn from you,
emulating the virtues which you ex-
emplify learning the art of war as you
have learned it in the hard school of
experience. They and you are about
to accomplish the great part of win
ming a great war, to stamp mankind's
approval upon the true theory of civ
ilization.
Instead of belieyeing in mere ply
sical force, hereafter we are going
to believe in the strength of moral
force, instead of divorcing the things
Of a material character from their
moral intent and purpose, we are col
lecting now for the children of men
everywhere a civilization which will
rest on moral foundations.
Il trust you will have a safe and
pleasant Journey home. ! know where
. your hearts are. They are In the
trenches where danger lies and no
doubt many OF YOU will return 10 those
exhlerating experiences which sol
diers have. / trust that when this
great war ends each of you viii be
alive and we'll 10 share the glory OF
YOUR success and 20 bid a kindly and
friendly farewell to the American sol-
diers who leave your country to re-
] turn home in order that as you speed