The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-15
has 10000 IN FRANCE.
SECRETARY BAKER MAKES M
PORTANT STATEMENT CON.
CERNING ARMY.
Secretary Reviews Battlc-scarrcd
Warriors of France AMI Tells Them
OF Help We Arc Sending.


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 today here at the base
, OF the Washington monument.
The secretary's last announcement
some weeks ago concerning the size
OF the American forces abroad was
that 100000 men had sailed for the
battle front.
The Alpine Chasseurs. better known
.as the blue DEVILS" came to America
last month to assist In the third lib
erty loan campaign and since have
toured the South and Middle West
They were reviewed and received by
the secretary of war today before
leaving for Baltimore, Newark, New
York and Boston en- route back to
their native land. Attending the ex-
ercfses we're M. Jusserand. the French
ambassador. representatives Of the
French high commission. Mr.. Bakers
stan and many prominent officials.
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 e. new
page In the record OF human heroism
and success. You were welcomed in
this country from one end OF II to the
other. The hearts OF our people went
out to you and to your people. AS
the embodiment Of the determination.
tho courage and the heroism of
France you have been accepted and
received. Nearly all of you. am told.
are battle-scarred veterans. You are
members OF an army which has new
or known defeat. and you are repre-
sentatives Of people who would rath-
% ofo thon nut oc LTee.
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
n 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 encouragement and assistance
which Lafayette and Rochambeau
brought to America In the early and
struggling days OF American free
dom.
They are learning from you. emu
iating the virtues which you exempli-
fy. learning the art OF war as you have
learned II. In the hard school of
strenuous experience. They and
you are about to accomplish the great
wonder In the world Of winning o
victory which will forever put the
stamp OF mankind's approval upon
the true theory OF civilization.
Instead OF believing i'm mere physi-
cal force. hereafter we are going to
believe In the strength of moral
force: instead OF divorcing the things
OF material character from their
moral intent and purpose we arc 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. I know where
your hearts are. They are in the
trenches where danger lies. and no
doubt many of you will return to
these exhillarating and euobling ex-
periences which soldiers have. 1
trust that when this great war ends
each of you will be alive and we'll to
share the glory OF your success and TO
bid kindly and friendly farewell to
the American soldier who leaves your
country to return home in order that
as you speed the parting guests. you
may emphasize the emotion which
have tried to express that always In
the future. as In the past. the French
people and the French army, the
American people and the American
army are copartners in liberty and
equality and valorous defenders of
the principles OF freedom"