Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-10-13
THE AMERICAN SOLDIER.

THE AMERICAN SOsDiEh'
The deeds of the American soldier
in France speak for themselves But
eloquent as they are, they do not by
any means tell the whole story Of
what the American Intervention has
already accomplished. Even greaterl
than the strategic effect of victory
won by American troops, or by French
and British troops with whom Ameri
can units co-operated, is the moral
effect that has followed this creation
of Pershing's army on the other side
King George expressed this recent
ly when, making use of bit of Amer
lean slang that has an odd sound COM
ing from royal lips, he said
"The Americans are very wonderful.
1t is an inspiration and an earnest
of victory simply to look at them.
Their great heighth, their project
physical fitness, Neir fresh young
faces. and their boundless enthusiasm
are very stimulating to us who have
had to endure four years of the brunt
and the horror of war. What the
Americans have really done for us
is, perhaps, best expressed in their
own idiom. They have put pep into
us They have given to us and to
the French of their pep, and we know
now that we cannot lose this war"
Similar testimony comes from
many authoritive sources Premier
Clemenceau, after seeing the Ameri-
cans for the first time engaged in
the battle of Belleau Wood, said
1.-THE victory was peculiarly Ameri-
can in its conception and execution.
I am much impressed with the mag
nificent discipline. daring and bravery
of the American troops.p
General Maurice, the English war
critic, put it this way:
1T would be impossible to over
rate the valde of the infusion of fresh
and vigorous life into the allied ranks
in the fifth year of war, when it was
natural tendency of those who have
borne the heat and burden of the
day to go stale. The Americans en-
anate keenness and vitality which is
! infectious"
Prime Minister Lloyd George, after
his return to London from the front,
said:
| 1--WE know that whenever they APP
I Wi
! i'm a way worthy OF the great tradi'
| tons of their great country. This
is in itself a source of support, susie
nance and announcement to all those
! who, with anxious hearts, are watch
! ing the conflict ..a
General Mangin, the brilliSlt
| French commander who sharpened
his spearhead against the Germans
with American troops in the attack
south of scissors which forced the re-
treat between the Marine and the
| Aisne wrote a general order thanking
them in these words:
"Your magnificent dash upset and
surprised the enemy, and your in.
domitable tenacity stopped counter
attacks by the fresh divisions. ] am
proud of having commanded you dur
I ing such splendid days and to have
fought with YOU for the deliveranc'
of the world"
Testimonials such as these might
easily be multiplied from many
sources. The American army now in
France appeared in the nick of time
1t is not much to say that it brought
about the turning point in the war, no
less by its valor and dash than by thu
new spirit it instilled into the war.
weary legions of the allies. Genera
Pershing himself has stated the cast
glowingly in his own general orders
wherein he paid this tribute to thu
: First and Third corps:
"You came to the battle field at
Crucial hour and the allies cause. Fo
almost four years the most formid
able army the world has yet seel
pressed its invasion of France an
stood threatening its capital. At n
time has that army been more pow
erful and menacing than when, o
July Is, it struck again to destroy i
: one great battle the brave men or
: posed TO it and enforce its brutal wi
upon the world and civilization"
n Three days later, in conjunctio
: with our allies, you counter-attackeC
n The allied armies gained a brilliar
victory that marks the turning poir
of the war You did more than
give the allies the support to which
e as a nation, our faith was pledge
= You proved that our altruism. on
pacific spirit and our sense of justic
ie have not blunted our virility or OF
Z courage.
"You have shown that American II
y tiative and energy are as fit for tn
tasks of war as for the pursuits Q
le peace. You have justly won 'unstinte
D. praise from our allies and the eterni
l. gratitude of our countrymen."
Some testimonials And the millio
. and a half Americans now in Franc
are the forerunners Of other million
= Just as good. who will follow Their
It is a black fate but one richly d.
served, that Germany now faces.