New-York tribune., 1919-09-09


ago." Secretary Baker said, "by the
Presidents direction. l had the
honor of designating you to lead
the armies of the United States in
France. To-day you return-your
mission accomplished, with victory
written on the banners Of the great
est army the nation has ever had,
and with the priceless foundations
Of liberty and freedom saved for
us and for the world as the re-
suit Of our participation in the world
war.
THE task intrusted to you required
all the imagination, all the energy
and all the genius of a great COM
mander. From the first you had the
complete confidence of the President
and the Secretary of War. This conf
dence remained unshakcn to the end.
From the beginning you had all the
support the people of the United
States could give. You and your great
army embodied for them their country
and their country's cause. They worked
with devotion and self sacrifice to sus-
tain and supply you with troops and
equipment. Their hearts were over
seas with you and their prayers for
your welfare and that of your men
were constant. Doubtless the conf
dence and affection of your fellow
citizens were an inspiration to you
in the hours of preparation and in the
hours of battle, as the superb ex-
ploits of the army under your COM
mand were in turn an inspiration to
our national effort.
Back to Peace Again
"The great victories are now won.
Your magnificent army has returned
and the soldiers who once marched
through the thickets of the Argonne
are citizens again. filled with high
memories of great deeds and carrying
into life the inspiration which men,
bership in that great company and
sacrifice for that great cause en-
gendered. Your return closes the his
tory OF the American EXpeditionary
Forces. The President had hoped to
be here personally to speak on behalf
Of the nation word of welcome In
his enforced absence he has directed
me to speak it.
II bid you welcome, gratefully. on
behalf of the country you have served
and on behalf of the people whose
sons you have led. The confidence
with which we sent You away you
have sacredly kept. Wherever there
is soldier or friend of a soldier,
wherever there is q lover of liberty,
wherever there is u heart which re-
Jolces at the deliverance of mankind
from its hour Of peril, you and your
great army are remembered and loved
You return not only to American soil
but to the heart of the country.
Message From Wilson
"The President has directed me to
read to you this message:
My Dear General Pershing: / am
distressed that l cannot greet you in
person. 1t would give me the greatest
pleasure TO grasp your hand and say
to you what is in my heart and in the
hearts of all true Americans as we
hail your return to the homeland you
have served SO gallantly. Notwth-
standing my physical absence may
not, as your commander in chief and
as spokesman of our fellow country
men. bid you an atfcctioaate and en-
thusastic welcome-a welcome warmed
with the ardor of genuine affection
and deep admiration? You have served
the country with fine devotion and
admirable efficiency in war forever
memorable as the worlds triumphant
protest against injustice and as it's
vindication of liberty-the liberty of
peoples and of nations. We are proud
of you and of the men you COM
manded. No finer armies ever set
their indomitable strength and uncon-
querable spirit against the forces of
wrong. Their glory is the glory of
the nation and it is with thrill of
profound pride that we greet you as
their leader and commander. You
have just come from the sea and
from the care of the men of the
navy, who made the achievements of
our arms on land possible and who
so gallantly assisted to clear the seas
of their lurking peril. Our hearts
go out to them, too. 1t is delightful
to see you home again, we'll and fit
for the fatigues you must endure be-
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