The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-02
THOMPSON GIVES
V|DP|CTURE Of
WESTERN FRONT

In simple words and in convinc-
ing manner, Congressman Joseph
Il. Thompson OF Pauls Valley last
night delivered his message from
the front to an audience that COM
Ifortably filled the main floor OF Con
vention Hall. Mr.. Thompson's per
sonal observations on the western
front formed a most entertaining and
inspiring text for one of the most
forceful appeals for the purchase OF
Liberty Loan bonds that has been
heard in Ardmore.
Walter 5. Gilbert called the meet
ing to order and presented {. W.
Richards, superintendent OF schools
who introduced the speaker by pay
ing tribute TO the Garvin county
representative record in the ma
tional house. Mr.. Thompson, after
a brief preliminary, launched into
the relation of his impressions on the
fighting 'front.' He was a member OF
the congressional commission that
sailed shortly after July !, and re-
mained in northern France during
the first drive which showed the
mettle and courage OF the Amer
lean soldier.
Mr.. Thompson sketched the his
torical setting of Chateau-Thierry
pointing out that it had been the
western center OF activities when
Caesar, as pro-consul, invaded Gaul
and traced its military history
through the periods of Attla, the
Turkish INVASION, and the Napoleon
ic wars, down to the battle OF Cha
teau Thierry which, he declared, was
the turning point of the great war.
Mr.. Thompson yiyidly pictured the
American soldiers and marines as
they quietly took over the French
sectors and with their glorious vic
tories put new heart into the allies
and made it possible for the more
recent advances which brought
about the elimination of Bulgaria,
10 be effected.
AS preface to his story of the
battle, Mr.. Thompson read a poem
written by an American soldier, il
Illustrating the minds of the French
and British, who had been so often
driven back by the Germans that
they were about convinced that the
Hun was invincible. when you
think you're beaten, you have lost"
was the pith of the poem. The
Americans knew they could win and
when the French and British saw
them winning they themselves be-
gan to think they could win and all
the allies have been winning ever
since" said Mr.. Thompson.
Mr.. Thompson related many in
cidents illustrating the fortitude Of
wounded American soldiers he has
observed in the hospitals and spoke
ioi their eagerness to return to the
front. He spoke OF many instances
in which the soldiers has inquired
about the attitude of the people of
the United States, seeking to learn
whether those "over here" are stand
ing firmly behind the boys "over
there.
The battle line is not alone in
France, in Belgium, in Italy and in
the Far East" said Mr.. Thompson.
1T is also over here You are SOL
diers, as much as they, and it is your
duty to go to the front during the
coming Liberty Loan drive. We have
the opportunity to beat the Ger
mans here and giving them such a
sound beating as they are daily get
ting in northern France and in Bel
gium. | know that in view of what
Carter County has done in the past
that admonition is not necessary. Let
us unite to the last dollar and the last
effort and show those boys that we
are standing firmly behind them"
Mr.. Thompson spoke to the pu-
pills OF Ardmore high school at chap
Fl this forenoon and LETT on an early
afternoon train for Marietta where
he spoke this afternoon.
While in Ardmore, Congressman
Thompson was the guest at the
home of his brother, !. c. Thomp-
son. 211 {, street. southwest