The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-28
President Does Not Find Any
Difference Among Allied
Leaders as to Settlement.
SPEAKS AT THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS TO MEN
Tells Pershing's Men America
Is Proud of Them and a Warm
Welcome Awaits Them.

Welcome Awaits Them.
Chaumont, Dec. 25.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press).-In his address to the
American soldiers today President
Wilson said that he did not find in the
hearts of the great leaders with whom
he was cooperating any difference oi
principle or fundamental purpose.
Immediately after the reception at
the Hotel de Vile President Wilson
and Gen. Pershing and party motored
to Humes, where the president re-
viewed a detachment Of the First
American army Of the American expe-
dictionary forces. Addressing the
troops, Gen. Pershing said:
Mr.. President and Fellow Soldiers:
I'VE are gathered here today to do
honor to the commander Of our arm
les and navies. For the first time an
American president will review an
American army on foreign soil-the
soil Of sister republic beside whose
gallant troops we have fought to re-
store peace to the world.
Speaking for you and your COM
rades I am proud to declare to the
president that no army has ever moro
loyally or more effectively served its
country and none has ever fought in
q nobler cause.
..You, Mr.. President, by your con-
4dence and by your support have
made the success Of our army. and to
you as our commander-in-chlef, MAJ
row present the nations victorious
army. y
In replying President Wilson said:
.ssGen. Pershing and Fellow Com
rades: + wish that I could give to
each one of you the message that !
know you are longing to receive from
those at home who love you. can
not do that, but can tell you how
evev one has put his heart Into IT.
So you have done your duty and some
thing more You have done your
duty and you have done it with a
spirit which gave it distinction and
glory.
.tAnd now we are to hail the fruits
of everything. You conquered, when
you came over, what you came over
for. sand you have done what 1t was
appointed for you to do. know what
you expected of me. Some time ago
a gentleman from one Of the coun-
tries with which we are associated
was discussing with me the moral as
poets of this war, and I said that If
we did not insist upon the high pur-
pose which we have accomplished
the end would not be justified.
Everybody at home is proud Of
you and has followed every movement
: Of this great army with confidence
and affection.
''The whole people of the United
States are now waiting to welcome
you home with an acclaim which
probably has never greeted any 9TH
er army, because our country is like
this country, we have been so proud
Of the stand taken (of the purpose)
for which this war was entered by
the United States.
you knew what we expected Of
y>u, and you did it, I know what you
and the people at home expected OF
me, and am happy to say, my fel-
low coutrymen, that I did not find III
the hearts O.: the great leaders with
whom it is my privilege now to coop
crate any difference of principle Or
of fundamental purpose.
.'It happened that it was the privi-
lege of America to present the chart
for peace, and now the process Of set
element has been rendered compara-
tivly simple by the fact that all the
nations concerned have accepted that
chart, and the application OF these
principles laid down there will he
their application. The world will now
know that the nations that fought
this war as we'll as the soldiers who
represented them, are ready to make
good, make good not only in the as
sertion Of their own interests. but
make good in the esta OF
peace upon the permanent foundation
OF right and of justice.
Because tkis was not a wa N
which soldiers of the free nations have
obeyed masters. You have command
ers, but you have no masters. Your
very commanders represent YOU i'll
representing the nation. Of which YOU
constitute SO distinguished part.
ana, everybody COiiCSluSo lAA eii~
settlement knows that it must be
peoples peace and that nothing must
be done in the settlement OF the is
sues of the war which is not as hand
some as the great achievements of the
armies of the United States and the
allies.
sIt is difficult. very difficult men.
in any normal speech like this 70
show you my real heart. You men
probably do not realize with what
anxious attention and care we have
followed every step you have ad-
vanced and how proud we are that
every step was in advance, and not
in retreat; that every time you So
your face in any direction you kept
your face to that direction.
"a thrill has gone through my
heart. as it has gone through the
heart of every American. with al
most every gun that was fired an'l
every stroke that was struck in the
gallant lighting, that you have done.