The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-29
SAM KELLEY TALKS
.' ABOUT WORLD WAR
Entertains His Brother E1ks With IN.
~tcresting Account of Services
Broad.

That the League of Nations Is the
great bulwark between right and
wrong, justice and injustice, that it
represents the hope of the future.
and that the efforts of President Will
son have made for the good of the
world, was the statement made by
Samuel l.. Kelley, past exalted ruler.
overseas Knights of Columbus secre-
tary by fellow members of Richmond
Lodge, No. As, B. p. o. E. in the
Elk home last night.
Had the president been actuated by
selfish motives, he would nav re-
manned in America and would have
continued to enjoy the prestige which.
reluctantly, to admit, has waned
somewhat on account of the long
drawn-out deliberations OF the peace
conference.
When he went to Paris, and entered
the peace conference, Mr.. Kelly con
tinued, Dir. Wilson threw popularity
to the winds and risked all h a man
could risk. Notwithstanding the fact
that the people have expected toe
much of Mr.. Wilson. declared Mr..
Kelley, the verdict of the next twelve
months will place him back on the
pedestal as the worlds foremost citi-
zen.
In describing the reception accord
ed the president in Paris, the speaker
said that 1t differed vastly from h a
accorded mere petty kings Wilson,
upon his entry into Paris. he said.
was easily the foremost figure in the
world. He was looked upon as the
Moses who was to lead the people out
of the darkness into the light. His
views and principles, he said. repre-
sent right and justice.
Mr.. Kelley was in Paris when the
president, the King of England, King
Emanuel of Italy, and King Albert OF
Belgium were received. He was in
Brussels when, after four years OF
enemy occupation. the hro was re-
stored to Belgium's ruler and he made
his triumphant re-entry into the city,
Following signing of the armistice,
said the speaker, the thoughts OF
every American who was on the other
side instantly reverted to America, to
the hores OF New York, to the
own thoughts. to Richmond and the
city hail. LAS our transport pulled
into New York harbor," he said, 81
Will admit that the Statue of Liberty
looked good to me, but it didn't look
half as good as the spires of the city
hall. ! didn't feel that | was at home
until | was back in Richmond"
iht NlNdhSi tfidttu SVitt OIL ms fN-
periences on the other side. He saw
a great deal OF the battle front. in
fact, practically all of it from Lor.
raine and Metz to Belgium. He was
with the Thirty-seventh division. com
posed chiefly OF the Ohio Nationa
Guard. Upon reaching France he
was detailed TO duty on the extreme
eastern end Of the battle line, in Lor'
raine in the Vosges mountain section
He likened the Vosges to our owr
Blue Ridge mountains. Signing OF
the armistice found him in Belgium
He went through one big battle
the Argonne-Mause struggle. He toic
of preparations for the big battle
when hundreds OF thousands OF sol.
diers and thousands Of runs were
moved only under the v of dark
ness. He told OF raids-both In the
air and on land-throuEh which he
went--ald lived to tell the tale.
In time. he said. he became accus.
toned to shells bursting around him
and to the oar of artillery. and wa.
able to sleep within q hundred feet OF
q French battery in action. Tho only
alarming feature OF bursting shells
Just whore the o one would ex.
plode.~ He saw q German shell strike
= machine gun OF the allies. shAtter II
and kill several Of the crew, in add.
ton to wounding others.
So terrific was the din Of allied
guns in action that 1t waa impossible
to distinguish one gun from another
The cannonading was constant roar
which continued without lctup from
l1:30 at night until daybreak the mex
day.
He had a word Of commentator
to say for all OF the welfare orEani.
xations which ministered to the needl
tariss. soms Of them attschsd to I IN,
Y. M. G. A., were killed. while other
were wounded.
4 h bespoke 4 kindly reception fol
tAtafntne neJdt0tn. Dome ~ then. n
ee4es VA peleaM1a1Min ~ AaeSll,