The Washington herald., 1918-11-14
WAR DECIDED
BY US. ARMY,
SAYS J0FFRE
Declares American Forces
Made Glorious Victory
of Allies Possible.
HONORED BY, PERSHING
General Acts for President
in Conferring Medal on
French Hero.

Paris, Nov. I3.-The American
army was the deciding factor in
the allies great victory, Marshal
Joffre told Gen. Pershing.
The occasion was the tender
ing of an American distinguished
service cross to Joffre by PERISH
ing, acting for President Wilson.
The ceremony took place at
the war academy. The American
commander was met at the foot
Of the staircase by staff officers
attached to Marshal Joffre.
Addressing the French hero,
Cen. Pershing said in part:
This medal is a symbol OF our
respect for your noble character
and our admiration for the great
work you achieved. During your
visit in the States you brought
us most enlightened advice, which
guided us during the first days of
the war. For this reason your
name will be always associated
with the results which we OBJ
tanned"
THANKS PRESIDENT.
Jofre, asking that his heartfelt
thanks be transmitted to Presi-
dent Wilson, said:
I am very proud of this high dis
tinCtiOn. 1t brings me still nearer
the American army and people. 1t
will recall to my memory my visits
70 the States and my talk with
President Wilson.
Besides, 1 am very proud for hav-
hE been godfather to the noble
Am riCan army which has been the
deciding factor in our present great
victory. Thanks to il, we were able
to finish the war as we wanted 1
love the American soldiers as If they
were my own"
With the American First Army.
Nov. 12-Delayed)- was un-
Ill forty-eight hours ago the west
-rn battle front" glowed with fires
Of peace last night. Signal rockets
both Germans and Americans and
ammunition boxes and waste wood
served for the making Of huge bon
ores. which painted the sky red with
the glow of victory and peace.
TI.- screeCh of rockets and songs
and shouts from the troops were the
only sounds to disturb what was
otherwise the stiIIest night in four
years. The silence that followed the
suspension Of hOstilities was uncanny
in fts intensity. For the first time
since the Yankees took up their po-
sitiOn on the firing line there was no
earth-shaking cannOnsding-
Now The Yankees exchange greet
ings with the Germans who were but
a few hours before their deadly enc
mics. At many places along the
front a narrow strip of rough. wired
ground separates our men from the
TcutOns There was some swapping
of souvenirs and cigarettes. but no
|. frattrnizing.
&~The Germans revelled all night in
song and laughter. The sounds of
their merriment reached the ears OF
the doughbOys. who were celebrating
themselves. The implements Of war
= and the great ammunition dumps sud
denly seem strangely superfiuouS and
out Of place Officers and men were
either feasting or sleeping. Banquets
galore were held One monstrous din
ner was given by the 147th Air Squad
ron. 1t was attended by several hun
dred aviatOTs. riggers, armorers and
mechanicians.
At Belgian Army Headquarters,
Nov. II Cdelayed).-Ghent was occu-
pied this morning, three hours after
the signing of the armistice
Tales told by the Belgian citizens
Of Ghent after the liberation of the
city shed a new light upon the
Kaiser's flight and the establishment
OF a German republic. They show
that the German army morale had
been rapidly declining for the past
two months, the soldiers becoming
more and more imbued with the revo-
Iutionary spirit