Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-02

SlSJlDlS lOTWdTu 10 lH6 IudI
triumph. may now forget all that
and delight our thoughts with the
story of what our men did. Their
officers understood the grim and
exacting task they had undertake Il
and performed with audacity, effic-
ienCy and uufIinching courage that
touch the story of convoy and
battle with imperishable distinc-
ton at every turn, whether the
enterprises were great or small
from their chiefs, Pershing and
Sims, down 10 the youngest lieu
tenant; and their men were worthy
CT them-such men as hardly need
tC be commanded, and go to their
terrible adventure blithely and
with the quick intelligence OF those
who know just what il is they
v Ould accomplish l am proud to
be the fellow countryman OF men
of such stuff and valor. Those of
Us who stayed at home did our
duty: the war could not have been
won or the gallant men who fought
il given their opportunity to win it
otherwise; but for many a long day
We shall think ourselves acCuTSed
we were not there, and hold our
manhoods cheap while any survive
that fought with those at St. Mi
hiel or Thierry. The memory of
those days of triumphant battle
will go with these fortunate men
to their graves; and each will have
his favOrite memory.
old men forget. vet all shall be
forgot. but he'll remember with ad-
vantages what faith he did that
day.
Voices Gratitude.
What we all thank God with
deepest gratitude is that our men
v ent in force into the line of battle
;ust at the critical moment when
the whole fate of the world seemed
TO hang in the balance and threw
their fresh strength into the ranks
of freedom in time 10 turn the
whole tide and sweep off the fate
fuI struggle it once for all,
so that thenceforth it was back,
back, back for their enemies, al
ways back, never again forward.
After that it was only a scant four
months before the commanders Of
the central empires knew them
selves beaten; and now their very
empires are in liquidation
Praises Those at Home.
And throughout it all how fine
the spirit of the nation was. What
unity OF purpose, what untiring
zeal? What elevation of purpose
ian through all its splendid dis
play of strength, its untiring &C
complishment | have said that
those Of US who stayed al home to
do the work of organization and
supply will always wish that we
had been with the men whom we
sustained by our labor; but we can
never be ashamed. II has been an
inspiring thing 10 be here in the
midst OF fine men who had turned
aside from every private interest or
their own and devoted the whole OF
their trained capacity to the tasks
that supplied the sinews for such a
great undertaking. The patriotism.
the unSelfishness, the thorough
going devotion and distinguished
capacity that marked their tOllsome
labors- day after day. month after
month have made them nj mates
and comrades of the men in the
trenches and on the sea. And not
the men here in Washington only.
They have but directed the vast
achievement Throughout lnnum
cradle factories. upon innumerable
farms. in the depths OF coal mines
and iron mines and copper mines.
wherever the stuffs of industry
were to be obtained and prepared,
iH the shipyards. on the railways,
at the docks. on the sea. in every
labor that was needed 10 sustain
the battle lines. men have Wed with