The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1919-07-18
.YANK TROOPS
ADDRESSED BY
RICHARDSON


w. P. Richardson, formerly of Alaska,
now commanding the American troops
in North Russia, summary of which
was received in our Associated Press
service some time ago. The speech
was delivered on the occasion of the
visit Of General Richardson to the
American troops along the railroad
front, and was as follows:
81 did not come up here to make a
formal inspection of the troops in a
military sense, but more to get &C
quainted with you in the most infor-
NAL way possible-to let you see the
sort of man that has been sent up here
as your commanding general in North
Russia, to hear his voice and know
who he is. I came up here to see you,
to look you in the face, see how you
stood last winter, and in a sense to
tget acquainted and get in touch and
sympathy with you. However, your
commanding officer, Major Nichols,
formed you for inspection this morn
ing, which | was very pleased to see
out reservation, that | was agreeably
surprised to find you in as good shape,
healthy, and presenting such a clean
and neat appearance; standing up like
soldiers, the way you stood up this
morning; and was very glad to see
you in ranks. While your uniforms
were not new, having been worn all
winter it shows you have done your
duty.
when I was detailed to come to
North Russia, General Pershing, COM
mander in chief Of the American ex-
peditionary forces, told me that he
desired me to come up to command
the troops, help out if I could, and to
cheer them up, as he had an idea that
you thought you had been overlooked
and forgotten, and were not part
of the A. E. F. When I arrived here
found telegram from General Per-
shing stating briefly all | could have
said, more and better, and l only want
to emphasize to you that which was
sent out and published, that your com
rades in France have been doing won
derful work just as we'll as you have
up here. Your people are pleased and
proud of you; they have not forgotten
you, nor has the A. E. F. in France
They want to see you come home as
soon as you can with the right spirit
and without any act by company or
individual that you will be ashamed
of. You are here to do a certain duty
determined by the highest authority
of our country, and in others of our
allies, and by the best minds in the
world, in connection with this great
world war which we have been waging
and were drawn into through no fault
of our own.
''While the 339th and other detach-
ments that have come with them to
perform share of the work in North
Russia seemed far away and at times
you perhaps felt lonely, and that you
were not getting the same considera-
ton, you still were as much a part of
the game, as far as forces stand, as
any portion of the western front.
II know that you have performed
your duty we'll. If there are any things
you have failed in they have been mi
nor matters, and they will be forgotten
and corrected; but want to charge
every one of you that you must not
and should not do any single thing
during these last weeks that you will
have to regret in the future or tell to
your friends at home
"The American soldier has made a
great name for himself in France and
in Russia, and the folks at home will
receive you back with open arms; it
is not necessary for me to tell you or
remind you that you would feel very
badly and very much ashamed to re-
ceive that honor when you felt there
was something you left behind that
you would not like to tell.
Zone particular thing that I think
you ought to know, and l am author
lied to tell you, is that there is no
question about your going home once
the time arrives-that is, as soon as
possible when navigation is open and
transports arrive to take you. There
has been some doubt expressed on
that subject, discussions, etc. Incl
dentally, perhaps, you have not felt
that it was settled. 1t is settled. but
whether others will come to take your
place is for someone else to deter
mine. I have the assurance of your