New-York tribune., 1918-03-21

previously been Inspected and CONFER
cnces with various high officials
In an informal address to the RAIN
bcw Division, officially known as the
42d Division. the Secretary took occa-
sion to explain to the army, as we'll as
to the people of America the reasons
for the military secrecy which deprlves
the soldiers and the population at nome
of news of each other during the pres
ent stage Of the preparations.
"While it was in training at home
saw good deal of the Rainbow Dlvl-
SION" said the Secretary. "rhen- one
day it was gone to France, where 1T
disappeared behind the curtain OF
military secrecy which must be drawn
unless we choose to sacrifice the lives
of our men for the sake of publicity.
The cnemys elaborate intelligence sys-
tenn seeks at any cost to learn the
strength the preparedness and the
character of our troops. Our own in
teligence service assures us that the
complete knowledge of our army IN
France which some assume to exist
does not exist. At least, we would
make him work for his information and
spare no pains to keep him as confused
as possible.
"If we were to announce the identity
of each unit that comes to France then
we would fully inform him of the num-
Der and the nature of our forces. Pub
lished details about any division are
most useful to expert military intel
igence officers in determining the
state of the divisions training and
the probable assignment of the divi
sion to any section.
"But now it is safe to mention GER
tain divisions which were first to ar
rive in France and have already been
in the line. This includes the Rainbow
Division, famous because it is repre-
sentative of all parts of the United
States, which, however, as a military
unit, is to be Judged only by it's eff
cheney against the enemy, regardless OF
its origin. At the same time. this
division should find in it's character an
; inspiration to the esprit de corps and
scious of it's mission as a symbol oil
national unity.
7 "The men of Ohio know as Ohioans
and | am proud that they have beer
worthy of Ohio. A citizen of another
0 state represented in this division will
: find himself equally at home in some
other group Of this division. and the
e gauge of this states pride will be ths
:, discipline of that group as soldiers, it:
0 conduct as men, its courage and skill
s in the trenches.
n France; you may learn lessons from
: France, whose unity and courage hav'
h been bulwark against that siniste
e force whose character you are learnin.
n IN the trenches. The Frcnchman is
first Of all, Frenchman, whicn stimu
n lates rather than weakens his pride il
Il Brittany as a Breton, in Lorraine as
e Lorrainer, and his loyalty and affection
:. for his own town or village and hi
In ho f,fr,+ for I, IN,
', lily and his home when he fights fo
d France and civilization against tn
principle Of the ruthless conquest O
!, people. of other races and culture.
Il "Thus you will fight best and serv
- best by being first an American, wit
p no diminution of your loyalty to you
"a state and your community.
- 'Though you have come three O
a. four or FIVE thousand miles to the bat
T. tie ground of France you, too, are fight
" ing for your home, for your family, 70
all that you value as men and for fut
ure generations in this conflict, who's
influence no part Of the world can re
a sist and whose result is the concer
a Of every human being in the worlt
lr With us at home the development c
new national unity seems vagu
as process compared to the concrete proc
,c ess you are undergoing. You a,
y uniting East, West, North and South i
re action. We aim to support you wit
&c ell our resources to make sure that yo
e.. do not fight in vain.
to ~ thought you marched we'll an
ar drilled we'll when | last saw you, b,
what | have seen of you to-day give
me a new standard of comparison. TT
mark of the thorough system of OF
so army in France is upon you. | fe
n n you have all grown to greater manhoc
" and that the steel Of your spirit no
s. has the fighting edge. To your rel
~ tlves scattered over the states I ser
sc the message that you are we'll led ar
gs that you want for none of the suppl.
la and for no attention which safeguar,
cy your health. Your own communiti
on and the nation as a whole may
&C. proud of your good conduct and cles
living. which go with clean. hard figh
10 ing and the principles for which ye
| fight"