The Sauk Centre herald., 1918-06-13
OVER 700,000AMER.
Jeans in FRANCE
SECRETARY BAKER STATES
THAT 100000 WERE TRANS
PORTED LAST MONTH.
THOUSANDS ARE GOING DAILY
TRANSPORTS LOSE POI MEN
UNCLE SAM PAYING DEBT
OF EARLY DAYS.

Washington, June II. - More than
700, 900 Americans have been sent over
seas to join the Allied forces and to
set up a civilization which will rest
on moral foundations, Secretary of
War N. D. Baker told the famous
''blue devils" today on the eve of their
departure for France.
The secretary's statement was the
first official announcement of the
strength of the American force in
France. 1t means that 100000 men
have been added within a month to the
100000 Americans who, according to
the secretary's announcement early in
May, had been transported safely
overseas.
Transport Loss 291 Men.
In this great movement of troops
to France only 291 soldiers have been
lost at sea, through the sinking of the
transports Tuscania and Moldavia.
The secretary of war addressed the
"blue devils at the official reception
arranged for them. on their return
from their tour of the United States
in behalf of the Liberty Loan and Red
Cross drives.
Standing in the shadow of Washing
ton monument, Mr.. Baker paid his
tribute to the soldiers of France and
assured them "the small beginning of
our army which you left there has
grown into a mighty manifestation. y
Paying Debt of Early Days.
"When you left France" Mr.. Baker
said, "the American army was there in
small representation. Now more than
100000 Americans have sailed from
this shore to carry back to your army
and your people the encouragement
and the assistance which Lafayette
and Rochambeau brought to America
in the early and struggling days OF
American freedom.
They are there learning from you
emulating the virtues which you ex-
emplify, learning the art of4war as you
have learned it in the hard, school of
strenuous experience.
Armies Are Closely United. rs
They are united with you, some
times being added in your divisions,
sometimes fitted into your army corps
by divisions of american troops, but
all of you fighting for a common
cause, fighting withsal indiscrimnate
recklessness of the value Of human
life as compared with the more eternal
value of human liberty, and they and
you are about to accomplish the great
wonder in the world of winning a
victory which will forever set the
stamp of mankind's approval upon the
true theory Of civilization.
Instead of believing in mere
physical force, hereafter, we are going
to believe in the strength of moral
force; instead of divorcing the things
of material character from theil
moral intent and purposes, we are col
lecting now for the children of mer
everywhere a. civilization which will
rest on moral foundations.
We are establishing for the worlc
the rule of righteousness, and wher
our army, cooperating with youl
army and those of our other associate:
shall have established and set up these
great things in the world, they vii
leave your shores and return home
full of admiration for the splendie
courage of the soldiers of your army
.eTheir minds will be filed with {
realization of the value of cooperation
among free peoples everywhere, botl
to make and keep the world free ant
SAFE"