Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-03-08
MAJOR GENERAL EDWARDS
ADDRESSES LEGISLATURE

The general assembly convened in
joint session in the hall of the house
al $50 Friday afternoon, the senators
occupying chairs, surrounding the
speakers rostrum, every seat in the
body of the hall had its occupant, and
spectators occupied chairs in the sides
and rear of the hall, and special chairs
We're filed on both sides of the rOs-
trum. There were perhaps five hun
dred men and women in the hall when
General Edwards, escorted by the
governor and staff, entered the hall,
following a street parade. The party
was preceded by men of the Twenty
sixth division in uniform, and all We're
greeted with enthusiastic applause
Just bit Of merriment was injected
before the general arrived by the ap
plause given to Senator Brooks when
he came into the house in uniform as a
major on the governors staff.
Temporary Speaker Leete called the
house to order. and on motion of Mr.
HuXford the speaker appointed Mr..
HuXfOrd OF Stamford and Mr.. Healey
of Waterbury, a committee TO notify
the senate that the house was in read
mess for q Joint session in honor of
General Edwards, who was guest of
the state. The coHmittee performed
duts promptly and We're discharged.
|...' Itleltatit llC mousse WAS NeliPeC
.nIL the senate was in readiness Tor
Joint session by Senators House and
li7hop. When the senators arrived.
the Joint convention was called to or
der ly Lieutenant Governor Wilson
and prayer was offered Ivy Chaplain
pulfcr OF the senate a committee
! composed of Senator Klett and Repre-
! =ontatives Huxford and Healey We're
appointed TO notify the governor and
| General Edwards that the joint con
/ Vcution was in session mad awaiting
! their coming. The committee reported
: that within a few minutes the COVER
/ nor and the general would arrive.
{ Lieutenant Governor Wilson il
I opening said Connecticut was prout
Of the part taken in the making of true
4 history and We glory in the achieve
1ients. While we rejoice with tht ST
/ who returned, and we revere the mem.
C,y of those who did not Eejurn. He
s7oke of the splendid soldiery and tru,
/ citizenship of General Edwards, anC
| he respect in which he was held by tn
men who served with him and with tn,
whole people
General Edwards said he was par
tiCularly honored III being permitted t,
speak of the brave hearted lads he hat
the honor to command. Comparison
]
the division. He could not tell whicl
vas the best regiment; he could no
DO it. He could go into each com
runity and say his hearr and interes
was in the regiment of tint location
He said he never speekS about an,
other division. that he knew the Twen
ty-Sixth, as lie organized that divi
sion and the Rainbow Division was a
| excellent co. worker. None believe
? IL possible to send so many men owe
as we sent IN such a short time. Their
vas unity in command. and this mad
| for encouragement and enheartened u
, | all. There was no DOUBT that W
( would be ultimately Succc ssful. T
] put soul in q division, we must hav
! tradition and that we had. Show tn
r enlisted man that you try 20 be fail
E and that commendation is preferable t
I condemnation. Let men feel that the
e are men and you cannot fuel then
:. After men are taught to stand at at
70 tention and salute, comes the course {
! training, that by a signal that com
!. p-ny of men can become machin
q gun, and train their fire in the quick
4, est time possible. Il is point t
s gain superiority and the enemy be
{ cones inferior. quick action count
y ana the soldiers are so trained Il
n used to tell the Yanks that when the
e went over the tor he wanted them .t
20 get at the Germans throat and pu
ont their windpipe. He told his me
that il one of them couldn't lick fly
N Germans he was not fit TO ge in til
h division, and some proved they cou1
4 conquer many more. Take a la
when at nineteen and tJry, him over
the government, teach h!m self-rt
spect, and he would prefer his sc
have a military TO a college educatio
= if he could not have both, and in or
r. year his fitness would be known.
does not take five years to make
! soldier he said.
g The Yankee Division was organize
= IN twenty-fo1r hours ana made up
New England troops. We had Il
problem of taking ten regiments al
n making one where in comparison
p company was made as hig rs a ba
+ TALON. ana SC on. He rofcrred
- many organizations that went TO NAL
y up a division. When he arrived
France he went TO the frcnt and w;
y satisfied that the American troo
:. would be called into action before Il
=, iallotted six months. in two or thr
lo months: the problem was can W
take these green men against the be
: drilled and equipped army in Il
IS world? The allies said we could NJ
y He referred 70 the trench warfare
n the sewer warfare, and we we
ie up against aviators and the machi-
guns at the start. Then came Il
/ matter Of selecting the cOlonels al
d, other officers 70 head the several cor
)r mands, and ne felt responsible to h
10 Master in this regard T-e said he tai
r ! ed to his men and always insisted