The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-30
AS They Celebrated Thanksgiv-
ing in Camps Over There.
All Unnecessary Military Du-
ties Suspended for Day.
PERSHING TALKS TO- BOYS
Says Only Soldiers Know the
Cost of the Gift
Which Is Now Presented to
People in a Victory.

tBy the Associated Press)
American Headquarters in France,
Nov. 30.-yictory won by the Ameri-
can soldiers in hard fighting and at
the cost of great sacrifices was the
Thanksgiving day gift to the Ameri-
can nation and the American army,
General Pershing declared in a
Thanksgiving day address at general
headquarters. The debt of gratitude
to Lafayette had been paid and the
invader has been driven back in de-
feat.
The American commander-in-chief
paid tribute to the dead and wounded,
and urged the soldiers to thank God
for the victory, and declared that a
new vision of duty to God and country
had come to all American mothers,
he said. await with loving hearts the
home coming of their gallant sons.
Where possible Thanksgiving day
was observed thruout the war zone by
the American forces, all unnecessary
military duties being suspended The
day found many troops marching or
entrained for ports. but in canton
ments and fixed camps services were
held and an effort was made to pro-
vide some substitute for the traditional
American dinner. An impressive serv1
ice was held at. the great general head
quarters.
arms and the officers and men held
meeting which was/attended by local
dignitaries and the members of allied
military missions here. The Rev.
Chas. Henry Brent, former. Protestant
Episcopal bishop for the Philippine
islands. and now working among the
American troops, read the presidents
proclamation announcing Thanksgiv-
ing day.
The text Of General Pershing's ad-
dress follows:
Hearts Are Full.
"Fellow soldiers: Never in the his
tory of our country have We as a peo-
pie come together with such full
hearts as on this greatest of all
Thanksgiving days. The moment
throbs with emotion, seeking to find
full expression. Representing the
high ideals of our countrymen and
cherishing the spirit of our forefa-
Tiers who first celebrated the festival
of Thanksgiving, we are proud to have
repaid a debt of gratitude to the land
of Lafayette and to have lent our aid
in saving civilization from 'destruc-
ton.
1.-The INSCRIPTIONS invader has been
driven from the devastated scenes of
his unholy conquest. The tide of con-
flict which during the dark days of
midsummer threatened to overwhelm
the allied forces has been turned into
battle die away and the beaten foe
hurries from the field, it is fitting that
the conquering armies should pause to
give thanks to the God of battles who
has guided our cause Alright
Victory was our goal. 1t is a hard
won gift of the soldier to his country.
Only the soldier knows the cost of a
gift we now present to the nation. As
soldiers inspired by every spiritual
sentiment, we have each silently
cd h1 hn nf icr1,t
ness should be ours. Today with
~thankfulness we humbly acknowl-
edge that His strength has given us
the victory. We are thankful that
the privilege has been given to us to
serve in such a cause.
I'm this hour of Thanksgiving our
eternal gratitude goes out to those
heroes who loved liberty better than
life who sleep yonder where they fell;
to the MANNED, whose honorable scars
testify stronger than words to their
splendid valor and to the brave fell
lows whose strong, relentless blows
finally crushed the -enemy's power.
Do Not Forget Widow.
Nor in our prayers shall We forget
the widow who freely gave the hus-
b? nd, more precious than her life, nor
those who in hidden heroism have
Impoverished themselves to enrich the
cause, nor our comrades who in more
obscure posts here and at home have
furnished their toll to-the soldiers at
the front.
ITO many fame has come. New
names have been inscribed on the roll
of the immortals. To all have come
a new outlook on life, a clearer per-
spective regarding it's obligations, a
more exalted conception of duty and
honor and a deeper sense of RESPONSE
bility to the nation and to God.
That UnseIfish Service.
MAY we give thanks that unse fish
service has given us this new vision,
that we are able to return to our fire
side and our country with higher aims
and a firmer purpose alike ennobl-
ing to ourselves and to those who have
held long vigil and have prayed for us
that we might worthily represent
them.
This spirit that has won the vic
tory is to become permanent and
Indispensable mainstay of peace and
happiness. 1t is not a matter of indi-
vidual choice but of obligation that we
should proudly carry it back with US.
II the glory of our military service
has been a spontaneous offering of
loyalty it is too priceless to be cast
aside by indulgence and too sacred not
to be cherished always.
,f"Our nation awaits the return of its