Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-16

them without a Liberty bond In thsiA
pocket or some other evidence OF aid "a
the government would be looked upof9
by the soldier as q hiss and by.word fon
generations to come
He said this was a personal war and
he described the conditions Of Belgiunf
and Russia, urging that our citiaenshiui
be kept keenly alive. We must proS
duce. conserve. DO things and do them
now. If Belgium had not for three days
stopped the advancing Huns woo would
have come. We are in the war and must
not stop until success comes. It will re-
quire the sacrifice Of blood and flesh
and take years.
He made a very feeling reference to his
two sons now with the colors in France,
and read short letter from one Of them.
He thanked God for having two boys to
aid In the salvation of the country, and
closed with an eloquent peroration Of
which service and sacrifice were the keys
notes.
FREDERICK c. WOLCOTT.
The principal address Of the evening
was by Frederick C. Wolcott Of New
York city. who first conveyed a message
from Mr. Hoover expressing the heartisst
appreciation of what Vermont has done
in food conservation. Mr.. Wolcott then
passed on to tell Of his experiences and
observations in Europe during the early
years OF the war. and dwelt specially on
the conditions in Poland He gave an in
teresting account Of his attempts to re.
lieve the starving people and the action
along this line by the several governments,
which all came to naught finally by the
action Of the German government which
embarked on a policy Of starvation to get
the industrial people Of Poland out Of
their own country and into Germany for
economic reasons.
He gave a most graphic description Of
the military manoeuvres Of the attack
OF the Germans on the Russian fronts,
and the latter's forced retreat after the
destruction of a citadel. along three
different roads. One hundred thousand
men surrendered at tho citadel and the
defeat led to splitting UP along tho
three roads. one Of which came under his
personal observation. He had a glimpse
of the southern road with refugees scat.
tered all along. Poland which IL three
fourths agricultural and one-fourth in
dustrial. suffered almost beyond descrip.
ton in some sections. not q house stand.
ing nor an animal to be seen in the
fields. II was estimated that 100000 had
been made homeless and 10000 had died.
He saw thousands upon thousands Of
refugees suffering from various diseases,
many dying along the roads. men With
rent clothing. women carrying starving
children. etc. His picture Of these scenes
must have created the deepest impression
as 1t was put before his auditors and he
observed that 1t was doubly hard because
the Polish people were naturally high
strung people and In this connection he
named persons Of that race who had
achieved worldwide reputation along var
ious professional lines.
The demand has been upon US, for
Frances strength, though not bled white.
has been waning. and England though
making many mistakes at first has now
surpassed Germany in efficiency a. the
war has progressed. The line may bend
here and there, 1t would be insane to
think that It would not. but the only way
to end the war is to kill as many Germans
as possible. A great responsibility Is on
our shoulders for we must share our
food, live simply and institute in our
homes a new regime. All this will have Q
great effect on the winning OF the war.
AS General Wood said we must hurry
hurry. hurry" and Pershing observed I'VE
are here" as he stood before Lafayette's
tomb. BY a coordination work all must
unite and join together to save our
country.
3" Pathetic scenes Of destruction were do.
scribed among all classes, not mere
restitution. but starvation Of women and
children. and pitiable indeed was It for
him to see a country Of Is, 900 crushed
with no hope for the future.
At this point the speaker observed
that the German people do not look on
these things as we do. He invited the
attention Of a German general to this sad
plight of the Polish people only to be
informed that this policy of starvation
had been agreed upon. because Of its
effectiveness in driving industrial work.
ers out Of the country. The Prussian
idea is that might 10 right. and they
frankly believe 1t, or in anything or
everything that will uphold the German
state.
This Prussian system must be stopped.
added the speaker, and then he took up
the matter Of food riots in the different
countries and how In the retreat of the
Italians the bridges were packed by
refugees. This led the speaker to Q
discussion Of the food question In the
different countries and detailed account
Of the various requests made from the
allies. The whole thing Is on our hands
sugar. etc. Emergencies had frequently
arisen and in every instance the reply
Of the United States had been, I'VE will
send the wheat" and 1t was done, and
from now on when q great emergency
occurs across the water you can rely %
the American people. Ae
Mr.. Wolcott spoke Of the great WORT
accomplished by the food administration,
and the whole burden Of responsibility
Is now on our shoulders. The setting OF
the price Of wheat at $40 was to help
the producers and at the same time the
interests Of the unskilled workmen had
to be safeguarded. Sacrifice must b
made by the well.to-do and the problem
was being worked out most satisfactorily.
figures being given as to wheat supply.
etc.. to justify the assertion.
Governor Graham presided at the eve.
ming meeting. In introducing the hrst
speaker he stated that when this contest
Is over 1t will be for all time. that right
will make might and might can not make
right.
The Rev. NJ. NJ. Watt gave . detailed
story of trench life which was listsns1
to with marked attention. N