Jackson County journal., 1919-05-09
SlST Division TO
COME HOME soon

was written by Private S. Lewis
Powers, of that city, who is now in
France with the 81st.
Buncey, France, April 1.-The
81st division is coming home soon.
This is no rumor, although the army
is one place where one can hear al
most anything but the truth. Iheard
from General Pershing with my own
ears when he said that the S1st was
booked for an early return home.
1t was yesterday that we held
our big and final review before the
commander-in -in-chief. The e tir e
division was formed on the big avi-
alton field at Chdttillion- -swi-seine.
After wait of about two hours,
General Pershing and staff arrived
about 3 o'clock. He spent nearly
five hours inspecting the men and
equipment, going through the ranks
of every company and looking at
every horse, car, machine gun and
piece of artillery. After the inspec-
ton was finished the division pass
ed in review with fixed bayonets.
Every man was in step, and it looked
like the whole earth was moving in
perfect harmony with the big band
of over two hundred pieces. After
the review, General Pershing made
what is likely to be his farewell ad-
dress to the 81st. | was standing
at the edge of the platform and
drank in every word he said.
After pause of fully thr min
utes he began by praising the divis-
ion for its achievements during the
war He called it great and grand
organization, and said that every
man did his best from the most
humble to the highest, and that he
was proud of such division in the
A. E. F. He said that the Ameri-
can army came in the conflict at
time when the military experts of
Europe were in doubt as to whether
or not they could win from the CEN
trail empires, and that our coming
gave them new hope and courage,
especially after they found out what
kind of stuff we were made of.
He said it was due to the deter
mined spirit Of the American off
GERS and men that the war ended
on November 18th. In closing his
talk, General Pershing said the
American army had won two great
victories, one On the battle field and
one great moral victory. He said
the latter was as important as the
other and that America and Ameri-
can WomanhOOd should feel proud
OF the fact that every returned
American soldier will be as clean
as he was the day he entered the
army.
After telling the men that the
eighty-first was booked for an early
return to the states, and that he
wished them good luck and God
speed, General Per,hing took off his
cap and waved his hand to the
thousands of Wild Cats that we're
cheering as if they really were wild.
Ex-Governor Manning, of South
Carolina, was present and witnessed
the review. He made speech to
some of the men before General
Pershing arrived. A great m any of
the men think that Mr.. Manning
came to France after the eigh y-frst
and that ne succeeded in getting it
promised home away ahead of time
Ii this be true, it is needless to saw
that Mr.. Manning can get any office
ne desires if the votes of the SOL
diers from South Carolina in the
elghty-frst has anything to do with
the election there.
The weather here has turned
warm at last, and the army seems
to have quit drilling and hiking, and
gone to playing baseball. Boxing is
favorite sport and we see some
good bouts.
The show business is another