Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-12-13

To state them is to set the stage for
the legislative and executive action
which must grow out of them and
which we have yet to shape and de-
termine.
Tells of Troop Shipments.
A year ago we had sent 145,91S men
overseas. Since then we have sent.
1,950,513, an average Of 162,542 each
month, the number in fact rising in
May last to 245,951, in June to ,760,
in July to O7,192, and continuing to
reach similar figures in August and
September-in August 2S9.570 and in
September 257,43S.
No such movement of troops ever
took place before, across 5000 miles
Of sea. followed by adequate equip
men. and supplies, and carried safely
through extraordinary dangers of at
tack-dangers which were alike
strange and infinitely more difficult to
guard against. In all this movement
only 73S men were lost by enemy at
tacks-630 Of whom were upon
single English transport which was
sunk near the Orkney islands.
I need not tell you what lay back
of this great movement of men and
material. 1t is not invidious to say
that back of it lay supporting or
ganization of the industries of the
country and all its productive activi-
ties more complete, more thorough in
method and effective in results, more
spirited and unanimous in purpose
and effort than any other great bel
ligerent had ever been able to effect.
We profted greatly by the experience
of the nations which had already been
engaged for nearly three years in the
exigent and exacting business, their
every resource and every executive
proficiency taxed to the utmost. We
were the pupils.
U. S. Learns Quickly.
But we learned quickly and acted
with a prompness and a readiness of
cooperation that justify our great
pride that we. were able to serve the
world with unparalleled energy and
quick accomplishment -
But it is not the physical scale and
executive efficiency of preparation,
supply, equipment and dispatch that
1 would dwell upon, but the mcttle
and quality of the officers and men
we sent over and of the sailors who
kept the seas, and the spirit Of the
nation that stood behind them.
No soldiers or sailors ever proved
themselves more quickly ready for the
test of battle or acquitted themselves
with more splendid courage and
achievement when put to the yest.
Those of us who played some part in
directing the great processes by which
the war was pushed irresistibly for
ward to the final triumph may now
forget all that and delighy our
thoughts with the story of what our
men did.
Proud of U. S. Heroes.
Their officers understood the grim
and exacting task they had undeftak.
en- and performed with audaciey, eff
cheney and unhesitating courage that
touch the story of convoy and battle
with imperishable distinction at every
turn, whether the enterprise were grea1
or small-from their chiefs. rershins
and Sims, down to the youngest lieu
tenant; and their men were worthy oi
them-such men as hardly need to bt
commanded, and go to their terrible
adventure blithely and with the quicl
Intelligence of those who know jus
what it is they would accomplish,
am proud to be the fellow ccuntrymaI
of men of such stuff and valor.
Those Of us who stayed at home di,
our duty the war could not have beel
won or the gallant men who fought
given their opportunity to win it other
wise; but for many long day we shal
think ourselves "accursed we were no
there and hold our manhoods cheal
while any speaks that fought
with these at st. Mihie: or Thierry
The memory of those days Of triumph
ant battle will go with these fortunat
men to their graves; and each vii
have his favcrite memory. "Old me
forget; yet all shall be forgot, but he1
remember with advantages what feat
he did that day!"
Why to Be Thankful.
What we ALL thank God for wit
deepest gratitude is that our men wen
in force into the line of battle just q
the critical moment when the Who'll
fate of the world seemed to hang i
the balance and threw their fres
strength into the ranks of freedom i
time to turn the whole tide and swee
: of the fateful struggle-turn it ono
t for all, SO that thenceforth it was bacl
back, back for their enemies, alway
5 back, never again forward! After tha
: it was only scant four months befor
the commanders of the central empire
$ knew themselves beaten and now thei
e very empires are in liquidation!
5 And throughout it all how fine th
: spirit of the nation was. What unit
4 Of purpose, what untiring zeal! Whs
. elevation of purpose ran through all il
e splendid display of strength, its unit
: ing accomplishment. I have said this
e those of us who stayed at home to d
4 the work of organization and suppl
r will always wish that we had been wit
Y the men whom we sustained by OF
. labor; but we can never be ashame,
e 1t has been an inspiring thing to b
e here in the midst of fine men who ha
h turned aside from every private inte
est Of their own and devoted the who
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