Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-02-13

hall was thronged with many visitors
in addition to the members of the
LeRi stature this evening when the
Hon. John Barrett. Director General of
the Pan american Union, and a native
Of Vermont. delivered an address be-
fore the Joint Assembly Lieut.. Gov.
Mason S. stone, presided at the as
sembly and appointed as a commit
tee to escort the distinguished guest
70 the hall. Mr.. Belknap OF Rocking
ham. Mr. Estee Of Montpelier. and Mr.
Stowell of Grafton.
Mr.. Barrett was often Interrupted
with applause during the hour and a
half of his address. Contrasting his
emotion at this time in being called
back to his native state to adore As
such an assembly after his many
wanderings throughout all the
| countries Of the world. the speaker
declared that he considered to-night's
opportunity to speak to the people of
his native state the greatest honor
| yet bestowed upon him as native
son of Vermont.
! In the spirit of the occasion, Mr..
Barrett reviewed briefly hts boyhood
in Vermont, his departure from the
| State to take trip around the world
soon after leaving college. his work
4
coast. his appointment es minister to
Siam. and other interesting events Of
| his early life.
| Speaking of women having the right
, to vote. he declared: Every woman
in the land should have it. II it were
| based on the wisdom Of my mother"
! In telling of his early ambitions
when he started out to SEQ something
of the world after his graduation from
Dartmouth College, he said: "I had a
dream of some day coming back to
Vermont and becoming editor Of the
Rutland Herald, the Burlington Free
Press or the Montpelier Argus. You
see I had been editor Of my college
paper"
Although the main theme of Director.
General Barrett's remarks was ''The New
| Pan-Americanism and what it means tc
Vermont and New England" ne paid
special tribute to the splendid achieve.
ments Of the Vermont and New Eng.
land boys on the firing line In France and
urged that each State should erect noble
permanent memorials In honor of those
who sacrificed their lives in the war.
GENERAL PERSHING's MESSAGE
Under date Of Great Headquarters
American Expeditionary Forces. Febru-
!
| rector-General Barrett as follows:
Replying to your cablegram, it gives
| me pleasure to send you a message about
| Vermont and New England troops
Briefly stated. they merit the warrnes'
praise by the people they represent. They
| have maintained the best traditions Of
their New England ancestors and tn,
spirit of '76 has been theirs. They have
| played their full part in the splendid
! achievements of American arms on thu
battlefield and in the supporting serv
ices"
SECRETARY BAKERS STATEMENT
On the same date, the Hon. Newton d
Baker. secretary of war. wrote Mr.. Bar
| rett as follows:
II have just received your note Of tn,
first.
1.-THE 18th. or New England. Division
includes tho 102nd Regiment Of Infantry
the l0lst. 102nd and 103rd Machine Our
Battalions. In each Of these organi1a
tons there are components Of the ole
First Vermont. In order, therefore, Il
have any adequate appreciation OF tn,
services rendered by the Vermont soidieri
in this war It la necessary to follow tn,
fortunes OF the 26th Division which wen
into the line on July Is and fought a
Chateau Thierry. Torcy and Bellea,
Woods. In September this division occu
pied the left of the American army IL
the attack on st. Mihiel. and closed tn,
gap between the two American attack
ing wedges. cutting off the right Of tn,
Germans at midnight OF the first day o
that battle. Immediately after the st
Mihiel victory. the 18th was moved int,
the line east of the Meuse. where 1t re
manned in active combat until the sign
ing Of the ar1nistice. With the First an,
the Second Regular Army Divisions an,
the And. or Rainbow Division. the 2stl
is numbered. they being considered tn
nrst four veteran divisions Of our grea
American Expeditionary Forces. and
would be glad to have the people OF New