Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-02

beside President Higgins. The
cheers and applause continued for
some minutes. Gen. Edwards stand
ing with his hand raised in salute.
President Higgins then introduced
Governor Milliken. who was given a
reception that lasted until he was
The Governor said:
Gentlemen Of the Convention and
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t so happened that it was my priv
ilege to accompany our distinguished
guest. General Edwards. when he
stood on Wonder hill and got his first
sight Of the boys of the I'd Maine. af-
terward to become the 1880 Infantry.
(Applause).
The boys. whose commander he was
TO be. who were to render such a
signal service in the great war oyer
seas. He was to be their commander
and was. And the admiration OF
both sides. the commander for the
boys and the boys for the comnan-
der. was mutual and great. We little
knew then the great part they were
to play, how important and how vital
q part they were to take in the great
struggle and we don't fully know yet
how great their part was. but VIC do
know about their service and his and
recognize it in all its greatness.
He was a gallant soldier. a jealous
commander and a red blooded man.
who was looking all the time after
the welfare Of his men. And history
will not be complete until II is known
how much he had to do with the vel
fare of his boys of the 18th overseas.
Gentlemen, If gives me great pleas
IRE TO present to you Major General
clarence r. Edwards.
General Edwards has many q time
heard more voices raised in cheers
and shouts Of welcome, but never
could he have heard q more cordial
reception than was then given him.
the cheering and applause continuing
until checked by him. He said in
pant:
Gen. Edwards Speech
Gentlemen of the Legislature, His
Excellcncy the Governor. and Ladie.
and Gentlemen:
ON behalf Of those stoUt-hcaTteG
lads whom it was my great good
fortune TO command, / thank You
for this generous reception and con-
graduate o also on the immediate
prospeSt of having back with YOU the
fellows of the Yankee Division. |
trust that it will be your pleasure
for as many of you who can prac-
tically TO do so to accept the invi-
tation of the Commonwealth Of
Massachusetts and be present at the
parade and reception. for in no other
way viii YOU be able to appreciate
the power of the organization you
contributed to winning this war. It
will not be 50 miles long as on the
roads of France. nor will it have all
the impediments, such as great guns.
trench motors. supply and ammuni-
ton trains o any Of the thousand
and one things now used in war. OF
which the Civil War veteran has no
idea OF their use. But you will see a
lot OF husky young men, your own
blood perhaps, marching by and as
the Governor said. I'll never forget
the inspiration. the delight ! had
when | saw that 1000 men modified
for the first time on that hill.
II said &c myself: Give me those
men for three months and ] can lick
their weight in wildcats. (.Applause)
They were great big awkward.
r~idiculously modest boys. self-con-
scious, a characteristic of Americans
when first spoken to. with no poise:
lacking the sense Of proportion. and
initiate and dash, which was and is Q
heritage of Americans and a factor.
which claim. is a factor that ex-
GELS. the factor hat made the Boche
army feared by every soldier in the
world.
Il talked to about 1000 Of those
boys. the Governor being very pa
tent and some amused at what ]
said TO them. I said to my staff:
~ expect to sec those men dive
over u own wire and get across No
Mans Land and | see it in their eyes
when going and they'll ultimately
get their fingers on a Boche throat.
That $ what I'll tell them about and
I'll give them bayonet and rife prac-
ticc.'
II said to their cl'onel CHume):
If you don't get resllts in a few
"'ths. w tdh' IA o''I IL
ranks and displace you.' And he
said. looking through those great
rnagnifying glasses of his: 1 believe
in them as much as you do n if |
don't get results. why put me away
Gentlemen, he succeeded CAP
plause.)
He was not Il trained soldier. he
was a hit slow. not a bit self-confi-
dent. bnt he was a man who apprc
ciatcd his deficiencies. and my. How
he shaved and studied! At every
criticism he smiled and acquiesced
and went at il. The best thing
about him was that he had the On
fidence Of his men. He looked after
their kitchen and their food. looked
after the boys night and day and
gained their respect and love and
any general who has camr"ig1e will
waive the other little things for a
man like that, and SO l held on 10
him.
Il sensed early tina we had the
material and the tradition and if !
could put the soul into them. if VIC.
were called, as | knew We would be,
if | could supply them with soul and
confidence they would be all right,
so worked to that end. Why. go along
to those lads, no n knew how to
salute nor to stand at attention-it
was ~laughablc. and those two things
arc the basis Of discipline. When |
was studying methods at the British
front could compare my raw ma