Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-12
j. s. ARMY "F|TTEST"
is BAKERS PRAISE
Gritty and Never Whimpered
Secretary of War Tells Hard
ware Manufacturers.

Atlantic City, Dee. 12.-Newton ID.
Baker, secretary of war; was the pr IN
cipal speaker at the joint session OF the
American Hardware Manufacturers AS
sociation and the Hardware Jobbers
Association, held here yesterday. Mr..
Baker paid tribute to the cheeriulness
and grit of the American soldier, and
praised industry for the way 1t had
stood back of the troops.
1T would make every American
heart swell with pride, said Mr.. Baker,
''if he could see the American soldier
in France as | saw MN. lie IS young,
smooth snavcn. tanned Virile IN health
and 1.-THE, always animated by the IN
spration of his ideals and sometimes
orimy. for they are pilleted everywhere,
always in manner tnat would cause
the least inconvenience to the French
people wnom they were living among.
found that the American soldier is al
wavs gentleman. When we saw him
Mt nCme in the factory, or the gram
field. we never suspected what were his
thoughts. 1t required the composite
arm to dcvelope the spirit which has
knitted the American people closer to-
gether and made each section better ac-
quainted with each otner
He told story OF an incident that
happened while his train was halted
near rest camp. \ grlmy soldier who
we ascertained. had been living IN the
woods with his command for a month,
stuck his head in the window and re-
marked, THIS is pretty soft for you:
The war secretary replied w ould
you change places Not on your HE,
was the instant reply. That, he SAID.
gives YOU an insight Of the feelings OF
the soldiers OF America. Nothing had
impressed linn more than the prevail
ing checrfulncss.
Whether | saw the soldier who
rnmpcd across No Mans Land, the
same individual recovering in a hospital,
on the march. or at drill nc was CHEEKY,
happy. brave. and knew what he was
in France for and tho object Of the war.
ne said IT was truly smiling army
Never did | hear q complaint; never
hrnper
"tmcrica loved this army and was
solicitous for its welfare There were
evils which many thought were ines
G pable. there were dangers and perils
from which they could not be spared,
bat NC owe to the cooperation of the
communities and to their organizations
the record that d different story is told
We hid our faces from he evils. yet the
high patriotism Of the nation won IN tins
contest Ours is a composite army Of
all people and il became the fttcst army
to fight thc httc>t t. live. and the tittest
to become good citizens that ever trod
the earth.
1T has performed its duty, made its
sacrifice Now what are We going 10
do for them? never lost courage or con
fidence. hut ! al times contemplated the
sacrifices that were demanded Of the
soldiers and wondered WHY i should be
These men don't want TO be coddlcd:
they don't like If
The only time the soldier had re-
treated in france was when | was in
troduced 10 men who had won the ser
vice trophies for galIantry When they
were before me and their acts were
recounted tears came into their eyes,
abashed, and some of them actually
ran away. When they return they will
tell the stories Of tho campaigns and
their personal experiences, and they will
be thrilling and Will not only glorifv
the soldiers but also tho American
nation.