The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-08
TAKING Of SEDAN
MOST NOTED FEAT
IN ]. 5. HISTORY
Half Million Americans
Answer. Charge Pa
triotism Is Dead.
HERCULEAN. TASK
Ranks With Efforts By
Any Army That Has
Opposed German
Machine.
HERCULEAN TASK

Washington, Nov. s.-On the
eve OF peace. the American army
In France. the greatest armed
force evcr operating together N
the field under Old Glory. achfev-
ed in the capture Of Sedan the
most notable feat OF arms ever
recorded In the pages of the
nations history.
Army officers here today con
firmci dispatches OF last nign'
that in the operations successfully
carried to n conclusion by General
per~hing, three army corps, total
ing. half a million fighting men.
have made reply forever to the
charge that American patriotism
was lead and that the spirit OF
I American liberty had been us
solved I'm the sordid pursuit OF
H~ieTCchary greed.
Secretary of War Baker was over
toyed by the news OF the taking OF
Sedan. He said:
The news OF the taking of Sedan
is very good news, II is a great mill
rary achievement. At u last report
The Americans were a distance, be-
lie.e. of Ave or six miles from sedan
IN the most difficult country along the
western front, except the ffooued ter
ritory In Flanders,
The advance OF Pershings army
from the twenty+eighth day or sep
teri her to the first OF November, SLOW.
difficult. in the face of tremendous
opposition and against the s'rohses.
Kinds of positions, and its
very much more ra pid .~sdyance, ~
ela5sz- s..e taksnG ct Sesa=, tss@s
place actually has fallen, is as me q
military achievement in a limited
area as has taken place in the war AT
any time"
American and allied army officers
here. who have ilrst-hand knowledge
or the nature of the country through
which the Yanks were forced 10 con
vey their artillery snd supply trains.
and who know the Herculean en-
beavers which must be put forth by
every man. from com handing ofncer
10 the last muleteer. To carry on an
advance proceeding with the dispatch
Of that by the American forces. were
a unit In agreement with Secretary
Baker tina the achievement ranks
with any effort put forth by n army
that has opposed the German army
Enieien~y seldom Equaled.
prominent army officer of an al
lied nation said:
seThs stan work OF the American
forces must have reached a point IN
efficiency seldom equaied by a modern
army. 1t Is beyond words to attempt
to picture the great problems which
must be solved to bring o the ad-
vance of a force Of half "a million men
through a hilly and difficult country
such as that which has confronted the
american forces during their recent
marvellous advance.
with the coming of the day oil
peace. the American military mar has
shown for all time that he has the rare
ef~x Of organization and the spirit OF
conquer or die without which no nation
N the past has long been able to sur
yiye from the encroachments OF greedy
and martial neighboring nations, In a
few short months. too. the American
doughboy has shown that he has the
courage. the daring and the
fulness of his forefathers. for he Is now
M to be ranked as a fighting man with
anv of the chosen veterans of any al
lied army"
The celebration here OF the reported
siening of an armistfce o from the
public the realization Of what the vic
tory at Sedan represents. Army oni-
GERS, however. coo1ly awaiting for def
mite and conclusive confirmation OF the
ending OF hostilities, gave most careful
attention to the reports from the battle
front and viewed the day ~ one that
will Ions live as one on which tht
newer and courage Of the American ma
fton reached a high tide,