South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-27
GARDINER TALKS
TO SOLDIERS IN
BIG AUDITORIUM
South Bend Preacher Expects
to Leave BreSt for Home
in Short Time.
PRESENT AT TREATY SIGNING
BY JAMES l.. GARDINER. d. d.

ST. MALO, France. July 7.-CBy
Mail)-I had the pleasure yester-
day of speaking in the city hall Of
st. Malo, the city officials having
placed the magnificent auditorium
of this building at the disposal of
the Y. VI. c. A.
81. Malo is situated on the north
ern coast Of western France. where
me English channel broadens into
tho ocean. This city has been a sea-
port of renown for a thousand years.
Ii is today one of the most beautiful
summer resorts of France. During
the war and since, it has been a
leave area" for American soldiers.
/ have met here Lieut.. Paul Mac
Donald. whose home is on Lasalle
ST. South Bend. who is spending
sometime with soldier friends at this
place, on a few days leave" after
some months study in one of the
universities of Paris.
VIII Return Soon.
Tomorrow / expect 10 return to
Brest for a week or ten days, after
which I expect to sail, as soon as l
can secure transportation, for New
York, and hence hope 10 reach
South Bend soon after the publ
cation of this letter.
Saturday. June %, 1919, will al
ways stand out in my memory as
one of the truly great days in my
life as on that day ! was privileged
TO be present in Versailles, when
the treaty was signed in the famous
hall of mirrors.
Al O'Clock in the morning DR.. j.
6. Ladd Thomas and the writer
found ourselves in the city of Yer
saiiles. For three or four hours we
visited the park. the gardens. the
fountains and other interesting
places in this historic city. At 1870
D. m. We took our position at the
entrance gate Of the Chateau of
Versailles. as we knew that through
this gate the delegates must pass TO
reach the hall Of mirrors, where the
treaty was to be signed.
We saw the representatives of the
nations, great and small, that have
been arrayed against Germany pass
through the gate and enter the his
toric hall TO put their names TO a
document, which was forever to
sound the death knell Of Prussian
autocracy and militarism.
Sees ClemenCcau in France.
We recognized Clemenceau as he
bowed in response 70 the cheers of
the people. who loudly acclaimed
never lost hope for France and who
fought strenuously against the sub
tie intrigues of a few OF his coun-
trymen who would have surren-
dered their cause 10 Germany. The
Tiger" appeared 10 be the Idol OF
the thousands Of Frenchmen, who
witnessed his entrance into the hall
of mirrors, where as president Of the
peace conference he was to say to
the two German delegates, Sign"
Grects President Wilson.
Only few minutes after Clemen-
ceau passed through the gate. Pres't
Wilson appeared. He too. was quick
" recognized for I heard the name
of Wilson" Wilson" pass from
lin to lip as he entered the chateau
The president Of the United States
was easily one Of the most impress
sive personalities in that long list OF
dignitaries He had the calm and
dignihed bearing of the scholar and
the statesman. His countenance
seemed TO indicate that he was con-
scious of the great burden, that was
resting upon his mind and heart as
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