Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-14
GENERAL EDWARDS
TALKS TO HIS BOYS
Commander of Yankee Division
in France, in Burlington for
Inspection of Fort Ethan Allen,
Greets Those Who Fought
with Him cover There"

L have met many mothers with gold
stars on their arms in my travels
through New England: and not a COM
plant. They have come up to me and
thanked me for doing all that | could
for their boys over there"
The speaker was Major- General Clar-
ence r. Edwards, commander of the
department of the northeast. formerly
In command of the Goth (Yankee) Divi-
sion. and he was speaking to about 40
of his boys of that division in the
Hotel Vermont Monday evening These
boys were there at his request He
sent out word soon after his arrival in
the city Monday afternoon that he
wanted to see all of the former mem
bers of the 26th who could be at the
Hotel Vermont between $40 and 900
clock in the evening.
General Edwards is making trip
over the section of the country of
which he is now in command, includ-
ing the New England States. with the
idea of getting in closer touch with the
situation in the various military posts
of the northeastern department He
visited Fort Ethan Allen Monday af-
ternoon and made an informal inspec-
ton of the Post. talking to the men
in the most unofficial manner and try
ing to f1nd out from the soldiers them
selves what the conditions are and
what they think could be done to make
things better, IL they had any COM
pla ints.
When asked Monday evening by Free
Press representative how he found
things at the Post, General Edwards
threw back his head and said with
the emphatic utterance of his SOL
dierly accent:
Fine. Everything is fine. Good
morale. Only one man in the guard
house Just one trial. Post well kept
up. Men seem to be we'll fed and we'll
clothed"
II Is evidently the purpose of General
Edwards on this trip to get the viewpoint
Of the enlisted men, so far as possible,
for he talked chiefly to the privates
while at the fort Monday, asking many
personal questions about the canteen
| service, food and clothing, and other
things which make up the everyday life
of the common soldier. From the an
| swers obtained, General Edwards hopes.
as head of the department. to improve
his command in a way which will work
particular benefit to the enlisted man.
GREETs HIS BOYS
| General Edwards greeted the boys Of
the Yankee Division at the door of the
Hotel Vermont, shaking hands with
each man personally and asking
questions about their units, the battles
In which they fought in France and the
common experience through which they
| had passed When the men we're all in
side the lobby. the general told them
| to gather around him in a circle. and
he talked In a low voice for nearly half
| an hour. asking questions. making witty
| remarks and giving them good advice
| about how they should conduct them
selves now that they are out of the
| army.
| Telling OF some of his own experiences
in meeting other men of his command,
he said that not one Of them whom he
| had met would exchange their expert
ences on the battlefields of France for
any money. and yet everyone Of the boys
| said never again"
But said the general with a twinkle
| in his eye, when I have asked them
what they would do II told them that
! l had permission to raise a division of
men to go into Mexico and clean things
up. provided that could get the men
within "A hours. the boys have all de-
clared that they would be ready to fol-
|
before we would all be back here with
the job finished up in the right shape"
General Edwards proposed plan to
the Yankee Division men Monday
which met with hearty approval. This
was that the men of the 26th Division
In Boston form a Yankee Division club
and secure rooms In Boston, which would
be used by the members in that city, and
which also would be at the service of
other members of the Yankee Division
whenever they were in Boston.
In closing his talk to the mon, General
Edwards said:
| II have yet to find a bunch Of men
who can lick you"