The Coconino sun., 1919-02-14
"PRIVATES WON THE
 WAR;" SAYS CAPTAIN

To the American private, the en- listed man of all branches of service, is given full credit for winning the European war, by Capt. E. M. Robison, son-in-law of Mir. and Mrs. William H. Ivens, and for mer Milwaukee dentist. Capt. Robi- son arrived this week for a brief visit before entering the government hospital, Haywood, H., to which in- stitution he has been invalided as a result of injuries sustained in the Champagne drive while leading an American battalion attached to the French army when the real beginning of the end of the powerful German fighting machine had its inception.
 ''The American private is the great est fighting man on earth today, m my estimation" says Capt. Robison. "If it were possible to put some rep resentation of him in the halls of im- mortals it should be done.
 ''There is just one monument that should be erected in America to cOm- memmOrate the war and that mOnu- ment should be one of an American private, for he is the man who won 
 the war.
 Powerful Army of All Classes.
 Second, I want to pay tribute to the American Red Cross. Its work has been wonderful and invaluable on the field and in the hospital.
 ''The third feature to which l would pay tribute is the wonderful spirit of the American people in supporting the country and inspiring soldiers with the remarkable spirit that car: ried them on to victory. l wish might express vividly to you how feel relative to the private. Words fail me in my attempt to pay him just and deserving tribute, to tell you of the respect, admiration and love l have for these boys.
 "Why, you can take the son of the millionaire, the son of the day labor CT, the son of the minister, the son Of the liquor dealer and the sons of fathers in a score of other walks Of life and weld them into the most pow erful, most daring and most effective military organization the world has ever known, one that has no equal in spirit, determination and morale
 Won Service Cross.
 Capt. Robison spoke with reluc- tance of the part he played in the Champagne drive, wound scars, how ever, across the scalp above and down the front of the right ear and about the right cheek are testimony of his contact with bursting shrapnel. And too, there is that which he prizes highest, the distinguished service cross. The official citation in the Paris edition of the New York Her ald reads: Capt. Edward M. Robi- son, Three Hundred and Seventy second infantry-For extraordinary heroism in action near Monthois, France, Oct. 3, 1918. Although he was severely wounded, Capt. Roblson remained with his battalion for two days continuously under heavy shell and machine gun fire, encouraging h's meg and inspiring them by his exam ple. He lead them to the attack un- til he collapsed from effects of his Home address: Mrs. Mabel Iyens Robison, wife, 3227 St. Paul avenue, Milwaukee, Wis"
 Nothing Left of Germans.
 When the famous Champagne drive was started Sept. 26, Capt: Rob ison was west of the Argonne Forest In speaking of the drive, Capt: koo. ison says the artillery activities ot tbe French and Americans beggars description. He says the cannonading was so intense that one could not dis individual explosions. It was more like one long continuous roll of a base drum and the havoc created within the German lines and more es- pecially about the enemy's trencnes can never be described. When the cannonading ceased at dawn there was nothing left of the opposition. Hardly a shot was fired as the Amer jeans and French scuttled across no mans land and promptly the firing had ceased the enemy, ready and giad to surrender, came pouring m py thousands.-Milwaukee Journal, Feb. i st