Meade County news., 1918-03-14

miles back of the lines, prepare the
meals and through the firing and
shelling carry them back to the
trenches. l was never without meal
while the boy cooked for me. asked
him once how he happened to become
such a good soldier and he told me
how one day going through a little
village he saw old men with tears in
their eyes when the flag passed by
and young mothers and girls kissing
the flag, the young boys following it
as far as they could see it and then
he realized he had indeed something
to fight for.
"In a little town near the Texas
border, little boy wanted to know
about the Croix de Guerre which l
wear and about the little red star. l
explained that the cross was awarded
for valor and the little star was for a
wound. oh yes, he said, The cross
is what you did to the Germans and
the little star is what they did to you"
Watched Americas Entrance
"My message is to bring to you to-
night my warmest greetings from
France who saved the liberty of the
world at the Marne, at Verdun and at
Ypres-a message from the million
lost for democracy in those early days
of the war when France looked long
ingly across the seas at her sister
republic hoping her sons had not sac
rificed in vain. Then one morning a
new flag came out in the conflict in
those glorious colors you all love SC
well, the red, the white the blue. And
mighty voice spoke "Long live, long
live the United States 1t was the
voice of heroes in every town and ev-
cry city in France, the voice of every
liberty loving country in the world
1t was happy day to me when
first saw over the trenches the stars
and stripes.
"When l left America in August
1914, Dr. Giddings of Columbus Uni.
versity presented me with small
silk flag saying, "Many will follow
soon He had clear vision of the
future and the part America must play
and the part America must play ir
the mighty conflict. But they did
not come soon. Allied officers would
ask me when the United States was
coming and l told them to be patient
you were coming soon. When you
would come, and join us.
Early Days of War
"France looks on this nation as a
spiritual child, regards her as twin
sister. France has always stood ready
to shed her blood for Christianity and
civilization She has always rushed
to the defense of any nation fighting
for her freedom. France has loved
to excess. When one of the most
powerful military nations which the
world has ever seen, conceived her
program for world power and sover-
eighty and proceeded to carry it out,
France, in burst of superhuman
strength, made living wall of the
breasts of her children in Belgium.
"France then, was dreaming, dream
ing dreams of peace and like the
United States, was totally unpre-
pared. That wall crumbled under
the monster, but God heard the silent
prayer of His liberty loving people
and the greatst miracle of modern
times was performed. Mile after mile
of sacred soil was given to the enemy
| Then General Joffre sair retreat was
over and it was victory or death. 1t
was glorious victory for France, for
you and for all the world. You will
never know, my friends, you can never
know. what France endured in those
three long years of war.
France, like England, was unpre-
pared, when she heard of the destruc-
tion Of the north French cities, the
desecration of cathedrals and art
treasurers, of her women ravaged,
children mutilated and her population
enslaved.
Honor to French Women
/ "The trenches are trenches of ag-
ony where there is long and anxious
waiting. Back of them are the women
and to them, all honor is due. They
have prayed, they have toiled in the
fields, mothered the orphans, worked
in the factories. There are no men in
the homes any more. France, since
the beginning of the war, has mobiliz-
ed seven million men. The United