The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-02

The president said
Gentlemen OF the congress.
The year that has elapsed since
last stood before you to fulfill my con-
stitutiona duty to give to the con
gress from time Ia time information
on the state OF tho Union has been so
crowded with great events, great pro
Cesses and great results that can
not hope to give you an adequate pic
ture of its transactions or of the Tar
reaching changes which have been
wrought In the life of our nation and
OF the world. You have yourselves wit
messed these things as ! have. II Is
too soon to assess them and We who
stand in the midst Of them and are
part OF them are less qualified than
men Of another generation VIII be to
say what they mean or even what they
have been But some great outstand"
ing facts are unmistakahe and consu-
business with which II IL our duty to
deal To state them Is to set the stage
for the legislative and executive ac-
ton which A1nust grow out Of them
and which we have yet to shape and
determine,
"A year ago we had sent l45,olS men
overseas. Since then we have sent
l,s5Obl6 an average Of l62,S42 each
month, the number, In fact. rising in
May last to 2t5,9 PSI, in June to 27S,760.
in July to 3O7,lS2 and continuing to
reach similar figures In August and
September August 2S9,570 and In
September 257, 43S No such movement
Of troops ever took place before, across
1900 miles Of sea, followed by adequate
equipment and supplies, and carried
safely through extraordinary dangers
Of attack--danEer which were alike
strange and infinitely difficult to guard
against In all this movement only
75S men we're lost by enemy Attacks
$40 Of whom were upon single Eng
lish transport which was sunk near
the Orkney islands,
Nation Behind Boys.
81 need not tell you what lay back
Of this great movement Of men and
material 1t liz not inVidiOus to say
that back of II lay supporting or
ganization OF the industries OF the
country and all its productive activi-
ties. more complete. more thorough in
method and effective in results. more
spirited and unanimous In purpose and
effort than any other great belligerent
had ever been able to effect We
prOfited greatly by the experience OF
the nations which had already been
engaged for nearly three years in the
exigent and exaCting business, their
every resource and every executive pro-
,
the pupils, But we learned quickly
and acted with promptness and a
readiness Of cooperation that Justify
our great pride that we were able to
serve the world with unparalleled en-
ergy 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 mettle 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 irresistihly for
ward to the final triumph may now for
get all that and delight our thoughts
with the story OF what our men did,
Their officers understood the grim and
exacting task they had undertaken
and performed with audacity, efficiency
and unhestatng courage that touch
the story Of convoy and battle with
imperishable distinction at every turn.
whether the enterprise We're great or
small-from their chiefs. Pershmg and
Sims, down to the youngest lieutenant;
and their men were worthy of them
such men as hardly need to be COM
manded, and 20 to their terrible ad-
venture hlithely and with the quick in
teliEence of those who know just what
it is they would accomplish.
Proud of Yanks.
Il am proud to be the fellow coun-
trynAsn OF men OF such stuff and valor.