Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-24
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Especial to The Bulletin.)

Washington, D. C., Sept. 2S.-Gen-
 eral Pershing said: 'I want those fine
 boys of ours to understand the ideals
 for which they are fighting; l want
 them 10 know that they are crusaders
 from over the sea entrusted with the
 noble task of saving the civilization of
 this earth" said Congressman Reayis
 of Nebraska to The Bulletin corTe-
 spoRdent today MT, Reayis is just
 back from France, where he spent a
 number of weeks In the war zone, and
 was the over night guest of General
 Pershing at the fine old chateau which
 is now his headquarters. 'The gen.
 eral added" said Mir. Reavis, above
 everything except winning the war.
 want those who return to be better
 men physically ard morally than when
 they were sent me. l need more
 charlains if ] am to accomplish this,
 for many of the boys are away from
 parental restraint for the first time
 and need direction and advice. l
 have so much to do that I need chap
 lains for this work Mir. Reavis com
 mented on the remarkable traits he found in the great general, saying
 q have never known a better fighter nor a more religious man. He believes in the direct interpretation of the Lord in the affairs of men. Most officers ] have met were very nnaterialistic and n full accord with the Napoleonie theory that the Lord is on the side of the largest battalion. but General Per shing reverses this and believes that a
 just and righteous cause attracts de- lenders, so in the end it is the largest battalion that is on the Lords side. Our soldiers are the best and bravest set of men to be found on earth, and T +I, I1vy 1n4 only a great general but a man so human that their individual needs are constantly in his mind. He believes l the war is being fought to preserve | human rights. and while it is seing on | he proposes that everyone within his 1 reach shall get them, whether it is one l of his men or the poorest peasant by | the roadside. I've seen his chauffeur turn aside to keep from killing a it- tie chicken which had straYed from | the old peasant woman whose only | treasure it was. And chickens are l real treasures over there. He eX- poets his men to spare neither them
 selves nor the enemy in actual com=
 bat, but he won't tolerate cruelty to 1 harmless persons or animals. And his
 men know it and respect it.'
 1 Mir. Reavis had just addressed the l house in one of the most eloquent war 1 speeches made in congress. Other
 members returning from France have 1 dwelt on the movement of troops, the gains or losses and the general con l ditions of warfare. But Reavis talked
 of the soldiers and the principles laid
 down for the conduct Of the men by l General Pershing. He wasn't talking for effect or playing to the galleries; he was just telling plain, simple story of the boys'' as he found them and he was telling it to his colleagrsS 1 in congress, many of whom, like him self, wear service stars for sons at the
 front He didn't talk of guns and munitions, but of the glory of victory
 and the splendid courage with whicf our men are facing death. Reavis has a wonderful speaking voice.. is ma g. netic and was uneensciously dramatic
 as he talked of the boys as he saw them in camp, trench and hospital. He told of their privations and fortitudei of their charges over the top, of theil
 shattered bodies and gaping wounds It was to his own red 7headed boy 1T the trenches that his thoughts turned
 when he saw other 'hoys maimed ant
 dying. So he told of the simple ant homely things. of their everyday life
 of their unfiinehing courage and heroi death-and he told it so eloauentl.
 and so simply that there wasn't dr, eye among that great group of con gressmen. When he finished the Yhol house rose and applauded, and as h : l passed up the aisle hundreds of hand
 were outstretehed to grasp his.
 Congressman GilIett of Massachu setts, republican floor leader of tn house, made a stirring speech in call ing attention to the great patrioti
 work done by the republican party no , only in following the president in hi war policies but also in leading, whel , the democrats in the house failed t ! fellow the wishes of the administra tion. MT. Gillett deplored that Scot
 Ferris, chairman of the congresSiona : democratic committee, had chosen t ipterjeet a political partisan speech i I the proceedings of the house sflor 9 time ago. MT. Gillett stated that un
 til that time no partisanship had bee : apparent. 'ln no previous war" sai V MT. Gillett, ''has there ever been sue unanimity or such suppression c :, criticism And I think it is not unfai I for me to suggest that at least one S half the credit for that rests with tn
 republicans. Under the system of ou ? government it is one of the mai 2 functions of the minority party t :, criticize and attack. But we hay :, upheld an administration whose cleo | ton we strenuopsly opposed and whic has never consulted pr hefriended US. 7. MT. Giliett expressed a warm appre y citation of the eordiality and coRsid r eration of the democratic side of tn , house during the year he has bee :, aeting floor leader. MT. Gillett spok of MT. Ferris speech "as trying [
 monoopolize as a democratic asset tn II patriotic war spirit which now inspire