Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-19
PRESIDENT WILSON
OPENS RED CROSS
DRIVE |NNEW YORK
Nations Chief Greeted by
Thunderous Applause
When He Appears.
WILL RUSH MEN OVERSEAS
AS FAST AS SHIPS CAN LOAD
Marches Afoot at Head of Cheer
ing Multitude Through
City's Streets.
PLAN TO RAISE 100000, 900
National Anthems OF France, Great
Britain, Italy and America Sung
by Gathered Tlrong.
WILL RUSH MEN OVERSEAS
AS FAST AS SHIPS CAN LOAD
PLAN TO RAISE 100000, ZOO
rpr Associated Press.l

tBy Associated Prcss.]
NEW YORK. May 1S.-To win the
war the United States is determined to
set no restrictions on the number OF
men to be sent TO France. President
Wilson declared here tonight in a
speech reafhrming the purpose Of Amer
lea to set no limit on its effort
As many men will go overseas as
ships can be found 10 carry them the
President said. after referring to state
nents that have been made that 5000
600 should go.
The United States, ne said. will not
be diverted by insinccre talk OF peace
from the TeutonIc powers. Their pro-
posals. he declared. spring from a de-
sire to have a free hand in the cast
II intend TO stand by Russia. as well
as France" he said
The American Red Cross drive for
second ;lo0,0Ooooo war fund was
opened here tonight. The President
was given great denomination when
ne entered the hall at $50 r. ". The
President was introduced by Cleveland
II. Dodge.
Before the speaking began the Metro
pol,tan Opera House chorus. conducted
by Giulio Sctti, sang the national
anthems OF France. italy. Great Brit
1!n and the United States.
The President was preceded by Henry
p. Dawson. chairman OF the Red Cross.
who spoke OF the work Of tho organ
izatlon. Mr.. Dawson referred TO the
President as the lsa1lng figure Of the
world.
"wo arc come here.ssid-sf Dodge
ito infuse our hearts and minds with
new enthusiasm and purpose for the
great adventure which we are under
taking beginning tomorrow. purposing
to raise tho largest sum which has
ever been raised in the history of the
world for humanitarian purposes. And
when | say The largest | do not for
get what we raised a year ago. we
have named a minimum figure of $780,
600, 900, but think. MIR. Dawson. am
sure will be very much disappointed
IL we do not. we'll. nifty or one hum
dred oversubscribc.'
PRESIDENT MARCHES AFooT
IN GREAT STREET PARADE
In introducing tho President Mr..
Dodge said that the President had
asked toT the ". '''"'N'''''S
in to-day's parade when none OF the
committee had dared TO invite him.
The President. Mr.. Dodge declared.
is the spok of all the great
spiritual forces OF the world.
The President started speaking at
$50 o'clock. lie began by saying he
AID not come to New York TO tell OF
the work of the Red Cross. hut to tell
mo
There are two duties with which
= we are face to face" he said The
6rst duty is to win the war. The sec.
ond is to win IT greatly and worthily."
~ have heard men say said he,
"that we must put 5.ooo,oa0 men in
France Why limit it to that number?
The full text of President Wilson's
specch is as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Countrymen:
men:
should he very sorry to think that
MFR. Dawson in any degree curtailed
his exceedingly interesting speech for
fear that he was postponnE mine, he
cause I am sure YOU listened with the
same intent and intimate interest with
which ! listened to the extraordinarily
vivid account he gave of the thiag-
which he had realized because he had
come in contact with them OIL the other
side OF the waters. We compass them
with our imagination: he compasSed
them In his personal experience. anc
am not come here tonight to review
for you the work OF the Red Cross.
am not competent to do SO. because
have not had tho time or the oppor-
tunity to follow 1t in detail. I have
come here simply to say few words
TO YOU as to what it all seems to me to
mean, and 1t seems a great deal.
TWO GREAT DUTIES THE
E AMERICANS ARE FACING
There are two duties with which
we are face to face. The first duty is
to win the war (grcat applause). And
the second duty that goes hand in hand
with it is to win 1t greatly and worth
ily (applause). showing the real quail
ity of our power not only, but the real
uuality Of our purpose and Of our
selves OF course, the first duty. the
duty that must keep in the fore
ground. of our thought until 1t is ac-
: complished is to win the war. l have
heard gentlemen recently say that We
|; must get 100000 men ready. Why
limit 1t to 100000? Great applause.)
I have asked the Congress Of the
! United States TO name no limit Zap
plause), because the Congress intends,
am sure, as we all intend that every
ship that can carry men or supplies
shall go laden upon every voyage with
every man and every supply she can
carry fapplause). And we are not to
he diverted from the grim purpose OF
-TC-ont tJnI,e5 ~, ISIa1,on3L Do 90 -