Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-05
Our Men of Battle.

Gen. Pershing highly praises the
American soldiers in his preliminary
report to the Secretary of War cover
ing In brief outline the operations of
the American e1peditionary forces in
France. His concluding words. are:
~ pay the supreme tribute to our
officers and soldiers of the line. When
think of their heroism, their patience
under hardships, their unfiinching
spirit If offensive action, l am flied
with emotion which l am unable to ex-
nress. Their deeds are immortal, and
they have earned the eternal gratitude
of our country
The American people have follow
ed as best they could under the condi-
fiens imposed by the necessities of war
fare the performances of their repre-
sentatives in the field of battle. They
have learned with pride and joy of
their uninterrupted successes. They
have seen them take place along
side Of the veterans of Eng
land, France and Italy in the crisis of
the conflict, and the needfully restrict
cd reports of their achievements have
thrilled the country. Gen. Pershing
sets forth in terms that have been here
tofore unpermitted the exact part that
these men have played in the winning
Of the great victory.
That our troops reached the front
in sufficient force to be effective at the
hour of greatest need is evident from
this report. They were an important
factor in holding back the German
drive in the spring. They helped to
thwart the enemy in the secondary
phase of the great offensive. The part
they played on the Marne was one
of the chief causes of the German de-
feat there, which definitely turned the
tide at the beginning of the 100 days
of allied counter offensive. At st.
Mihiei and later in the Mouse valley
they were constantly in the thick of
the fighting, suffering heavy casual
ties, but inflieting still heavier losses
upon the enemy, and eventually driv-
ing him from his stronghold and thus
FORCING his withdrawal along the
northern sectors on the western line.
Gen. Pershing's praise is restrained,
rs becomes the commander of forces
allied with others who bore a much
larger part in the great battle. That
which fills the American heart today
is his declaration that in every task
assigned to them, whether of defen-
Five or an offensive character, our men
did their duty fully, intelligently,
eourageously, with no thought save for
winning their detectives or holding
their positions. Comparatively new to
tho work, these men, many of them
fresh from business pursuits, but a
few months before diseharging the
routine duties of civil life, found no
task too difficult or too dangerous, en-
aufcu INC udfuSulpS VI thC nSiu III
compiainingly, went forward with de-
termination and altogether bore them
selves with gallantry that won the
highest praise from the leaders of Eu-
ropean forces alongside of whom they
fought.
Now these men form the army of
occupation. Many of them are now on
German soil or on the borders of the
enemy's country. They are holding
many miles Of the line which is to be
maintained while peace is under dis
cussion. They will not return for
some months, but when they do, when
they are released from their present
duties and cross the seas, they will be
received as the heroes they have proved
themselves to be. And their COM
1nander, who now commends them SO
highly, and to whose skillful leader
ship their success is so largely due,
will himself be welcomed with the un-
stinted plaudits of grateful and ap-
preeiative country.