Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-15
FOgDECK PAYS GLOWING
TRIBUTE TO u. 8. FIGHTERS


'The American Army b disttns
gutshed from the French and the
British By the thorough attention
paid to matters Of comfort and
recreation. Our boys are well takes
care Of: every family in America can
be certain OF that. And do not doubt
that this care and attention. wia0ws I'm
their morale by contagious enthn-
siasm and aggressive fighting spirit.
/ was In the fighting sector when they
stormed Vaux In July, and | say
them at the business we trained fhens
for. They are the finest group o.
men have ever seen, and / ana Will
Ing to lace up the boots Of any one Of
them" -
This tribute to the proves OF
American fighting men I'm action was
paid TO Raymond b. FOsdfck, Chair
man Of the War and Navy Depart
mentg Commissions on Training
Camp Activities, when he returned TO
Warrington to make an oAlclai re-
port to Secretary Baker np0n Amer
lean training camp activities IN
France and England. go
The millions Of dollars which the
American people have given 70 the
organizations that are making life
livable for our fellows Over ThegegH
Mr.. Fosdiek said, constitutes the
nearest approach to our paying the
unpayable debt which We owe them.
Il IL hard 10 avoid superlatives In
speaking Of the way the Red Cross
has handled the refugee problem or
the manner In which, with General
Petain's assistance, 1t is giving aid 20
the needy families of French poiIua
at the front. 1t has Allied the heart
Of France. The French can scarcely
speak OF the work without show Of
emotion. Instead, the tears rolled
down the cheeks of French Diyi-
sional Commander as he told me ok
Ito eleetrifying effects npon the
morale Of his men. I speak with the
same enthusiasm OF the Young Mems
Christian Association. the knights OF
Columbus and the Salvation Army,
which are Joining in q common pro-
gram to meet the recreational and
amusement needs Of our army. They
are carrying on the same fine work
Over There as they are In and about
the camps on this side i'm conjunction
with the Jewish Welfare Board ana
War Camp Community Service and
the Y. w. C. A.
"As for the moral conditions a
our army abroad, they are excellent,
Our soldiers and sailors are strong
men with their minds filled with the
high purpose OF winning the war. Is
IL not question Of whether they are
worthy Of us and our traditions. The
question ID whether we. az country.
are worthy Of them. :
The interest they take I'm singing
and sports 10 remarkable. I hare
seen long tines Of eoldlerB ON the way
to the trenches. singing ~ thar
swung along the road. I have seen {
these sans soldiers after & EGO" q
the frOnt-iine trenches return 60 their
rest billets and immediately begin %
play baseball. qmctts and engage II
wrestling and boxing bOnts. Our
boys will never forget the atsietln
training they received in America.
They are spOrtemen Of the finest cali.
bre. and their sportsmanship is mani
tested in everything they do.
Zone Of the most inspiring flainea
to be noticed in France IL the Aeen
attachment which the American sOIe
diers on French soil have for their
home and country. To Thousands 0e
our troops the statue OF liberty which
they may have seen only once in fhear
Mves, has come to mean The Girl I
Lett Behtnq Me- They yearn for
anything which brings them news
from America. We can we'll writn
three times as many letters e Ne
do: every one Of them will be eagerly
snatched up"