The Washington herald., 1919-07-11
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

q somber foreboding of disas-
ter. The war ended in Novem-
Der. eight months ago, but you
have only to recall what was
feared in midsummer last. four
short months before the armi-
stice. to realize what 1t was
that our timely aid accom-
piished alike for their morale
and their physical safety. That
first. never-to-be-forgot &C.
ton at Chateau Thierry had
already taken place. Our re-
EQUITABLE soldiers and Marines
had already closed the gap the
enemy had succeeded in OPEN
ing for their advance on
Paris-had already turned the
tide of battle back toward the
frontiers of France and begun
the rout that was to save
Europe and the world. There
after the Germans were to be
always forced back. back. were
never to thrust successfully
forward again And yet there
, was no confident hope. Anx-
ious men and women. leading
spirits of France, attended the
celebration of the Fourth of
July last year in Paris out of
generous courtesy-wtth no
heart for festivity. little zest for
hope. But they came away with
something new at their hearts;
they have themselves told US so.
More Than Mere Incident.
. The mere sight of our men
OF their visor. of the conf
dence that showed itself in ev-
cry movement of their stall
wart figures and every turn of
their swinging march. in their
steady, comprehending eyes
and easy discipline. in the in
domitable air that added spirit
TO everything they did-made
every one who saw them that
memorable day realize that
something had happened that
was much more than a mere in
cident in the fighting, some
thing very different from the
mere arrival of fresh troops a
great moral force had flung it.
self into the struggle. The fine
physical force OF those spirited
men spoke of something more
than bodily viEOr. They car
i, ried the great ideals of a free
people at their hearts and with
that vision were unconquerable.
Their very presence brought re-
assurance: their fighting made
victory certain.
They were recognized as cru
saders. and as their thousands
swelled to millions their
strength was seen to mean sal
walton. And they were fit men
10 carry such a hope and make
good the assurance it forecast.
Finer men never went into bat
tie, and their officers were
worthy of them This is not
the occss sion upon which to ut
ter euIOEy of the armies
America sent to France, but
perhaps. since 1 am speaking os
their mission. 1 may speak also
f. of the pride / share with ey-
cry American who saw OF dealt
with them there. They were
the sort of men America would
wish TO be represented by; the
sort of men every American
would wish to claim as fell
Iow-countrymen and comrades
in a great cause.
Terrible in Battle.
They were terrible in battle. and
gentle and helpful out of it, re-
membering the mothers and the
sisters, the wives and the little
children at home. They were free
men under arms, not forgetting
their ideals of duty in the midst of
tasks of violence. / am proud to
have had the privilege OF being as
ISOLATED with them and of call
ing myself their leader.
But / speak now of what they
meant to the men by whose sides
they fought and to the people with
whom they mingled with such ut
ter simplicity. as friends who
asked only to be of service They
were for all the visible embodi-
ment of America What they did
made America and all that she
stood for a living reality in the
thoughts not only of the people
of France. but also of tens of mill
lions of men and women through
out all the toilinC nations OF a
world standing everywhere in
peril of its freedom, and of the loss
of everything it held dear. in
deadly fear that its bonds We're
never to be loosed. it's hopes for
ever to be Knocked and disap-
pointed.
And the compulsion of what
they stood for was upon US who
represented America at the peace
table 1t was our duty to see to
il that every decision we took part
in contributed. % far as We were
able 10 influence it. to quiet the
fears and realize the hopes OF the
peoples who had been Lying in
that shadow. the nations that had
come by our assistance to their
freedom II was sur duty to do
everything that il was within our
power to do to make the triumph
of freedom and of right a lasting
triumph in the assurance of which
men might everywhere live with
out fear.
EntanEIements in Way.
Old entanElementss of every
kind stood in the way-prom-
ises which governments had
made to one another in the days
when might and right were con-
fused and the power of the vic
tor was without restraint. En-