The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-12-12

- ;. - sse's7o and IN
Itpa4 loace hefore. across 5000 miles
~ followed by adequate equip
lo1I 'end supplies, and carried safely
tskeu6h' extraordinary dangers q ut.
tAek- k-dangers which were alike
stsange and Infinitely more difficult to
guard against. In all this movement
only 7sS men were lost by enemy at
taciss-GSO Of whom were upon q
sinsie English transport which WIS
sunk near the Orkney islands.
need not tell you what lay back
Of this Heat movement Of men and
material. 1t is not Invidious to say
that back of It lay supporting or
ganlxati0n of the Industries OF the
country and all Its productive activI-
ties more complete. more thorough in
method and effective In results. more
spirited aud unanimous In purpose
and effort than any other great bel
llgerent had ever been able to effect.
We profted greatly by the experience
of the nations which had already been
engaged for nearly three years In the
exIgent and exacting business, their
proficiency taxed to the utmost. We
were the pupils.
Y. 8. Learns Quickly.
But We learned quickly aud acted
with prOmptness and readiness of
cooperation that justify our great
pride that we were able to serve the
world with unparalleled energy and
quick accomplishment.
But It Is not the physical scale and
executive efficiency OF preparation.
supply, equipment and dispatch that
would dwell upon. but the mettie
and quality Of the officers and men
we sent over and Of the sailors who
kept the seas. and the spirit of the
nation that stood behind them.
No 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 irresistibiy for
ward to the final triumph may now
forget all that aud delight our
thoughts with the story of what our
men did.
Proud Of Y. 9. Hsress
Their officers understooi the gnn
and exacting task they had undertnk
en- and performed with audacity. ETH
cheney and unhesitating cOuras- that
touch the story OF convoy and battle
with imperishable distinction at every
turn. whether the enterprise were great
or small-from their chiefs. Pershing
and Sims. down to the youngest lieu
tenant: and their men were worthy Of
them-such men a. hardly need to be
commanded. and 60 to their terrible
adventure blithely and with the quick
intelligence OF those who know Just
what It Is they would accomplish. I
am proud to be the fellow c0untryman
Of men OF such stun aud vaior.
Those Of us who stayed at home did
our duty; the war conld net have heen
won or the gallant men who fought II
given their opportunity to win It other
wise but for many long day we shnll
think ourselves "accursed we were not
there and hold our manhoods cheap
while any speaks that fought"
with these at st. Aiihiel or Thierry.
The memory Of those days Of triumph
ant battle will go with these fortunate
men to their graves; and each will
have his favorite memory. ~Old men
forget yet all shall be forgot. but he'll
remember with advantages what feats
he did that day!'
Why to es Thankful.
What we all thank God for with
deepest gratitude is that our men went
in force into the line Of battle just at
the critical moinen. when the whole
fate Of the world seemed to hang In
the balance and threw their fresh
strength into the ranks cf freedom in
time to turn the whole tide and sweep
of the fateful struggle-turn 1t once
for all, so that thencefOrth It WAS back,
back, back for their enemies, always
back. never again forward! After that
1t was only scant four months before
the commanders Of the central empires
knew themselves beaten; and now
their very empires are In liquidation {!
Aud all hnvy dvo tho