Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-10
ALLIES RELY UPON
PRESIDENT WILSON
So Robert Pennington Told His
Audience at New Century
Club, Last Night.

s'People of the Allied nations look to
President Wilson as TO a friend and
counsellor, leader of a great nation, that
went to war for an ideal, representative
of the United States, the power that
wants neither territory nor monetary
gain out of the war" This was the climax
of his impressions gained during three
months in Europe, and presented by
Robert Pennington, before an audience of
New Century Club members and guests
last evening. The other impressions that
he took with him, when leaving the
greatest drama of the worlds history,
were the wonderful spirit OF our soldiers
and their comparison with trained, con-
scripted armies OF Europe; the enduring
spirit of the French and English; the bond
OF affection among soldiers of the Allies;
and the manner In which the English and
French were impressed with courage and
devotion of the men and women who went
over with'our several welfare organizations
to add to the comfort and well being not
only of american soldiers, but OF the
Allies.
American efficiency won the war, Mr.
Pennington said; he found it to be the
special admiration of the French and
British, in both London and Paris he
heard praise of American valor, and par
ticillar appreciation of the Division OF
Marines that turned the tide ut Chateau
Thierry. II was Pershing who urged upon
Foch the undertaking of the offensive
that brought on the German route. Our
men fought TO Kill after they saw what
German atrocities had done for France.
Mr. Pennington described, IN a most
entertaining manner, his trip from begin
ming to end There were many interesting
people on the Rochanbeau going over, and
about every language except German was
spoken French classes were going on
continually. 1t took 10 hours to go from
Bordeaux to Paris, and when they arrived
IN Paris at night, Mr. Pennington said, the
the darkness made it look like New
Castle when something's wrong at the
powerhouse There are 50 many Ameri-
cans In Pans, that English is heard as
much as French.
There were air raids and big Bertha
explosions while Mr. Pennington was in the
French capital, and when Bertha knocked
the head off statue of John the Baptist,
a Parisian wit suggested they change her
name to Salome. In both London and
Paris, the speaker ran across many people
he knows. At southampton he found
Harry Bangs, acting as the American
Intelligence officer.
By special permit Mr.. Pennington was
allowed to visit the front In the Chateau
TThierry sector.
The French are much amused by
American reconstruction schemes, and
are afraid that American architecture is
going to be forced upon them, and they
don't understand the adopting Of towns
and villages thst is being taken up over
here.
Some interesting figures anent the cost
Of restoring devastated France were given
by Mr.. Pennington, such as $3.50 900, ,ooJ
FOR the coal mines and $50, 900 900 for the
iron industries. France has lost 400, 600
man and 1000 600 are manned for HE,
yet she not only supplied her own army
but helped supply her Allies with nu-
nitions, airplanes and other supplies.