The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-14

are as resolute as our soldiers are
brave.
Whatever the result of the peace
I proposals the war department must
proceed at full speed with men and
supplies"
Secretary Baker then told OF seeing
the two battles at st. MihieI.
The battle Of st. Mihiel," he said.
started the present triumphant ad-
vance of the allied armies. From
fortified hill overlooking the battle
neld. saw General Pcrshings army
advancing into the salient, while
more than two thousand big guns 81
fenced the German artillery and point
ed the wedge which finally cut off the
alent and rescued from German &C.
lcupation French soil which for four
years had been tn their possession.
The next day ! went into ST Mihiel and
saw the people. at the end of their cap
ttvity. singing the national songs of
France and having festival of thanks
giving for their defE*erance. The blow
was sudden and the victory complete
Visits Old villa.
(" Before the battle however, Secre-
tary Baker had talked with Count De
Chambrun, descendant of Lafayette
and brother law of Representative
Nicholas Longworth, who had villa
in 81. Mihiel. He had told Secretary
Baker ne would like to show him
that villa Secretary Baker mentioned
it to General Pershing, saying he
would like to go into the town with
the count as he was so nearby. Cen
erai EerShing said IL could not be
done. Then, pausing a minute. he
said he might arrange visit for the
morning And he arranged it.
The Germans were forced out that
night, following IN unprecedented
bombardment that was as continuous
in sound. said Secretary Baker as
Niagara Falls. and the air was shat
tertd so that his railroad car. in
which he sat, swayed and trembled as
If making high speed over rough
road be L.
Making entrance into the town only
a few hours after the last German
had left the French inhabitants
+ signalling their dellverance by beck
oning across the mcuee to the Amer
/ leans and French. secretary Bakers
! chauffeur had to clear away German
/ defenses Of barbed wires and other
! distances till they found clear road,
The town itself already WIS gay with
! rejuicinr. Secretary Baker noted par
I ticularly that almost every person
wore a little French flag or had one
| at their windows. He asked where
they could have gotten them SO soon,
anu WAS ,olo tney '."sSs NAV ny
| 'i'e,'i' I't"'tNli avn - ~ 80 va
caPuNlty' sure oi 'i'e huu' VI
ahce "l'eh t'leF eo"'' i'o''e' ''ie'" III
vac sun "S'fn'
! Children Injured 10 War.
The little children on the streets.
barely old enough to talk" said Sec
Iretary Baker, stood at salute as we
passed and babe us bon Jour / ex-
pressed nv wonderment at the un-
VARYING and uniform poiiteness of
these children-and wondered more
when + learned that this had been
taught them for protection from the
Germans SO that each child would
Istep to tho curb and placate the In
vader bv salute and salutation
Il asked one small boy il tho Ger
mans had been cruel He made the
nrecIse and precoctous response that
they had heen strict. hut not unkipd.
; Questioned further he told me the
Cprmans had used the small chill
. dren II, the trenches mainly as food
carriers
! cnrrcta,y s.t.nr to1a ~ eo}nr with
Count az chan,hran tn Inc Iatter,s
villa, which they found intact, except