Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1919-06-05
COL. KNOWLES DELIVERS
FAREWELL TALK TO men
S16th Commander Tells Mem Of
His Great Pride in His
Regiment.

Col. Alden G. Knowles, the veteran
commander of the 315th Infantry,
"saluted" the officers and enlisted per-
sonnet of his command with a fare
Wen address before the regiment de-
barked from the transport Santa Rosa.
1t was issued in typewritten form,
and will be embodied in the history Of
the regiment to be published.
mo words OF mine can convey to
you the mingled emotions that over
come me as attempt these parting
words" said Col. Knowles
MY thoughts revert back TO the
time / came to you shortly after the
arrival of the regiment in France I
fully appreciated the great privilege
that had been conferred upon me. /
realized che great responsibility that
was attached to this privilege.
Conception Of Mighty Task.
II had some conception Of the
mighty task that faced us. realized
also that the game we were to pre-
pare for called for human lives In
: the winning; and that unquestioned
obedience, loyalty. strong bodies, alert
minds, initiative and courage were in-
dispensable factors in the games
game in which every officer and man
must become a member of and work
for the team, his team. his regiment,
so that 1t might in turn play its part
creditably. successfully and honor
ably.
with these thoughts in mind the
standard of the regiment was placed
high-a standard that had for it's ulti-
mate end regiment without a blem-
ish on the pages of its laistory-a
regiment that each and every one OF
us would refer to with pride, and
one OF the knowledge of whose ex-
ploits would remain with US forever
cherished memory.
Made Unblemished History.
Now that our task is done, can
freely acknowledge the pride that
think Of you. You nave have ~ whe your de-
votion to duty. in all that that phrase
implies, made for your regiment an
unblemished history. You have been
privileged to share q mighty task in
behalf Of civilization. humanity and
right. and you have done it faithfully.
modestly and well.
You, the relatives of the men Of
the Slbth, may well be proud OF the
loved ones. proud that you had him
90 give. and that you had the strength
: to do it bravely. You have in no
small measure suffered the anxiety
and sacrifice that weigh SO heavily
upon those who remain behind. You
have oftentimes, even though your
own burden was great helped to make
MS lighter with cheering news. In
these things you also have played
your part.
Spirit Of Fortitude.
ITO You who have lost your ali. I
feel the most profound sympathy and
respect. Never q word of hopeless
grief utter despair or desolation. but
spirit rejecting acceptance of the
inevitable, i'm a way that could only
spring from the heart of one who al
though broken with grief, can vet and
comfort and consolation in the knowl-
edge that he died in q cause that
called fof the best blood and man-
nood OF our country, and that his
blood eanctifes the soil in which he
was laid to rest. his courage and his
example, an Inspiration to his con-
redes who bring back to you the story
Whenever think Of the 315th In
fantry it win always be with the
warmest affection for those oficers.
those N. G. O.s., and men who con-
tr1Duted to its splendid achievements
and succees.'s