South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-03

has developed many dramatic
phrases. slogans. terse epigrams. or
laconic statements. Looking back
over the perspective OF four years
Of lighting it appears that the ma
jority of these grew out Of tense
crises in battles, or marked historic
moments when the fate OF nations
hung in the balance.
Take for example the slogan.
They shall not pass" During the
tremendous lighting in front Of YER
dun when the Germans made their
great desperate drive TO break
through the French battle lines In
1916. this saying passed from lip 20
lip among the French soldiers gath
cred there in a long drawn battle 10
check the terrific onslaught OF the
Germans How IL originated is not
clear. Some have attributed il TO
Marshal Joffre. others 10 Marshal
Petain, who was in command of the
French fighting forces at Verdun.
Others believe the saying originated
with the men in the ranks. At any
event they adopted il and for
months while the Germans vainly
threw their battalions upon the
stubbornly defended forts around
the French city. the saying. They
shall not pass" became the watch
word at Verdun. And they did not
pass.
PerShing Utterancc Famous.
To Americans the sententious ut
terance of Gen. Pershing when he
placed a wreath on the tomb Of La
fayette in the Picpus cemetery in
Paris conveyed a significance and an
inspiration Lafayette. we are
here" was all he said. but TO the
American as we'll as to the French
man il was better than oratory. II
meant TO the American, I'VE are
here for business and our business
is 10 fight" II thrilled the hearts of
Gen. Pershing's people at home and
the modesty Of it filed them with
a glow of satisfaction.
Another dramatic phrase which
stirred the patriotism of the Ameri-
can people was that attributed TO
an American commander at Chateau
Thierry, when he responded 10 the
advice of the French commanders
TO retreat by declaring: THE Ameri-
can Flag has been compelled to re-
tire This is uncomfortable. We are
going to counter attack" These
statements have been attributed to
both Maj. Gen. Robert L. Billiard
and TO Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy Some
observers have regarded this Incl
dent as the turning point of the war.
From that time the Americans ad-
vanced The victory Of Chateau
Thierry followed and thereafter the
German army retreated.
Vice Admiral William S. Sims.
commanding the American naval
forces in European waters, was ask
ed when the first Yankee warship
arrived in England early in May.
1917. when will you be ready for
business ?" He replied, I'VE can
start at once. We made our prep
arations on the way over"
Tells Huns to Go TO -
The retort Of Mai Charles Whit
tlesey. commander of the lost bat
talon" OF the American army In
the AIBOIft lOIeSls MItll the yer
mans surrounded his isolated COM
mand and their commander demand
ed its surrender, was one Of the wars
historic phrases. Go TO hell" he
replied.
The first great battle OF the war,
the battle that stopped the Germans
at the Marine, elected from the lips
of Marshal Joffre the historic words:
THE hour has come to advance at
all costs: to die where you stand
rather than give way"
General. afterward Marshal Pc
tain. inspired his weary troops at
Verdun by an order OF the day con-
Guiding with the words. Courage.
we will get them"
Gen. FOch, commanding the
French army in the first battle of
the Marine, had been almost over
whelmed by the onward sweep of
the German forces. In a memoir
able message 10 Joffre he said: my
right is crushed My left is in re-
treat. I am attacking with my CEN
ted" He did attack and drove a
wedge through the German lines that
started their retreat TO the Aisne.
The people of Paris We're stunned by
the rapidity with which the German
advanced in their first rush toward
the French capital. The railway
stations were besieged but the great
majority of the people knew they
must remain. In this tragic moment
Gen. Gallieni. military commander
OF the city, inspired confidence and
cheered the faint-hearted with his
watchword. "Jusqua bout" or ITO
the very end" The populace took
up the cry and Gallieni with his
army played a signal part in hurting
back the legions OF Won Kluck at
the Marine.
No less inspiring but born Of less
tragic circumstances was the saying
Of Gen. GOuraud who, upon entering
Strassburg after the liberation of
Alsace and Lorraine declared: The
day OF glory has come"
Haig i'm Stirring Appeal.
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