The Colorado statesman., 1918-12-07
WILSON'S ADDRESS
TO CONGRESS

Wilson's address to Congress Dec. 2
follows:
"Gentlemen OF the Congress: The
year that has elapsed since ] last
stood before you to fulfill my consti-
suiional duty to give the Congress
from time to time information on the
state OF the union has been so crowded
with great events. great processes and
great results that I cannot hope to
give you an adequate picture of its
transactions or OF che tar-reaching
changes which have been wrought in
the life of our nation aud of the world.
You have yourselves Witnessed these
snlngs as have. It is too soon to as
aess them: and who stand In the midst
~ them and are part of them are less
qualified than men o; another genera
tion will be to say what they mean
oc even what they have been. But
some great outstanding facts are un-
euistakable and constitute in sense
oart of the public business with which
Il Ia our duty to deal. To state them
IL to set the stage for the Legislative
and executive action which must grow
out Of them and which we have yet to
ohape and determine.
"a year ago we had sent 145,91S
uten overseas. Since then We have
aent 1.950.51S. an average of 1852
Zach month. the number. in fact. rising
"a May last to 2i6,951. in June to 27S.
!60. In July to 307 .l82. and continuing
20 reach similar figures in August and
e;eptember-in August 2S9.570 and in
t5eptember 57,438. No such movement
vt troops ever took place before across
1000 miles OF sea, followed by ade-
,Iuate equipment and supplies and car
ried safely through extraordinary dan
gers of attack-dangers which were
alike strange and infinitely difficult to
guard against In all this movement
only 75S men were lost by enemy at
tacks. $50 of whom were upon a single
english transport which was sunk near
che Orkney Islands.
Unity Made Task Possible.
Il need not tel, you what lay back
of this great movement of men and
material
ut is not inyidious to say that back
ot 1t lay a supporting organization of
the Industries of the country and all
its productive activities more com
piete. more thorough In method and eff
sective In results. more spirited and
unanimous In purpose and effort than
any other great bclligerent had ever
been able to effect We profited
greatly by the experience of the ma
Cor nearly three years in the exigent
and exacting business, their every re-
source and every executive proficien-
cy taxed to the utmost We were the
oupils. But we learned quickly and
acted with a promptness and readi-
oess of cooperation that Justify our
great pride that we were able to serve
the world with unparalleled energy
and quick accomplishment.
But 1t Is not the physical scale and
executive efficiency OF preparation.
supply. equipment and dispatch that
would dwell upon. but the mettle and
quality OF tho officers. and men we
sent over, and OF the sailors who kept
the seas, and the spirit of the nation
that stood behind them.
mo soldiers, or sailors, ever proved
themselves more quickly ready for the
test OF battle or acquitted themselves
with more splendid courage and
achievement when put to the test.
Those of us who played some part in
directing the great processes by which
the war was pushed irresistibly forward
co the final triumph may now forget
all that and delight our thoughts with
the story of what our men did. Their
officers understood the grim and ex-
acting task they had undertaken and
performed with audacity. efficiency
an unhesitating courage that touch
the story of convoy and battle with
,mperishable distinction at every turn,
whether the enterprise were great or
small-from their chiefs, Pershing and
Sims, down to the youngest lieutenant;
,tnd their men were worthy of them
such men as hardly need to be COM
nanded, and go to their terrible adven-
lure blithely and with the quick intel
ilgepce of those who know Just what
It is they would accomplish.
81 am proud to be the fellow country
man of men of such stuff and valor.
Those of us who stayed at home did
our duty; the war could not have been
won or the gallant men who fought it
given their opportunity to win 1t 9th
erwise; but for many a long day we
shall think ourselves 'accursed' we
we're not there, and hold our man
hoods cheap while any speaks that
Fought with these at 81 Mihiel or
Thierry. The memory OF those days
of triumphant battle will go with these
fortunate men to their graves; and
each will have his favorite memory.
old men forget; yet all shall be for
got. but he'll remember with advan-
tapes what feats he did that day