The Alaska daily empire., 1919-07-09
General w. P. Richardson's
 Address To Yankee Troops

, stand, as any portion of the Western Front.
 q know that you have performed your duty well. If there are any things you have failed in they have been minor matters and they will be forgotten and corrected. but want to charge everyone of you that you must not and should not do any single thing during these last weeks that you will have occasion to re- gret in the future or tell to your friends at home,
 ',The American soldier has made d 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 receive that honor when you felt there was something you left behind that you would not like to tell
 "One particular thing that I think you ought to know and I am auth orised 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 transportes arrive to take you. There has been some doubt OK pressed on that subject, discussions, etc. Incidentally perhaps you have not felt that it was settled. It is settled, but whether others will come 10 take your place is for someone else to determine, I have the as- surance of your President that he wants you out as soon as possible n the spring and that you have done all that is expected of you. Accidentally I want to say that YOU will probably go earlier from North Russia to your homes than you would have returned from France f you had gone there The 85th Division has gone home in theory md skeleton. having been taken and dispensed over France as Replace nent Units. Divisions go back in he order in which they came over; hose that arrived late will be the last to go back and will probably not return from France until mid summer It took long time to bring 2,000000 men to Europe. It will take a long time to take them back, but they are moving them pack as promptly as they can, so ,,,;, dc to plain. Every consideration has been md will be given in that connection | put I think it right that you should | lnow it. I think that men are more contented if they know definitely what is going to be done and that | somebody is thinking about them. "I am up here not to criticise and l find fault, but, in the last few weeks | hat you will be here, to help you in every way that I can, to put you in | shape when the time comes for you | to go, and arrange facilities in order 10 have you go home as soldiers, feeling like soldiers and looking like soldiers, so that the people in the | States will be proud of you and say: | There goes Regiment of Americans who spent the winter in North Rus sa, look at them and be proud of | them.
 You will have an opportunity to get together as a Regiment on the | drill or parade ground, with new 1 clothes, reasonable amount of rest, J and the necessary facilities to give
 yourselves the appearance, charac- ter and bearing of soldiers.
 'T am glad to see you and to tell
 you why I am here, to look after
 your interests, obligations. etc., and
 10 take our men back home in good
 shape healthy, and in the condition
 that the people back home expect.