The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-06-05

quietly, and without thought or hope
of praise or reward rendered in his
own home and town. | am conyinc-
ed that no other people have thrown
themselves more completely or more
unselfishly into winning the war than
have the Americans, and with I'M
speakable pride, we boys who stand
before you today know that no people
in this great Country of ours have
been more patriotic or made more
sacrifices than our own people here
in Somerset.
We know that you lived on poorer
and less food in order that our fight
ing men could be better nourished,
we know that you made US warm
stockings and wooden garments and
surgical supplies and everything else
that was suggested to you for our
comfort and strength; we know that
you unhesitatingly gave your savings
to your Country to provide us with
the tools of war; we know that you
gave, gave, gave and never questioned
YOU stood steadfast behind the gov
eminent in Washington and never
h,ndered or impeded it by asking why
or wherefore. No President or gov
eminent has ever received such loyal
support Every other nation in this
great war, including our gallant Al
lies has been torn and handicapped
by political wrangles. This war has
been the supreme test of the solidity
and the greatness of our form of gov
eminent and of our people.
With no provision in our law for
The automatic raisn of an army,
America, without friction or delay or
dered every able bodies man to the
colors. and the greatest and most
powerful truly National Army in the
history of the world came into being.
Our wonderfully efficient little regu-
lar army and gallant National Guard
held the bridge until this mighty
National Army was ready. Nov 18th,
1918, America was the most powerful
military force in the world. In two
months she had fought and Won the
two greatest and most important bat
y
she had stopped the seemingly certain
march of the Germans to Paris, and
at ST Mihiel and the Forest of Ar
gonne she brought the Germans to
their knees; and America had only
just begun to fight. She was still
borrowing aeroplanes, artillery, tanks
and gas from her friends. But Ger
many knew that we had ready for
shipment all of these engines OF war,
and another National Army of as
brave men, who shot as straight and
were not afraid to die, as the men
they had been facing, and she knew
only too well what another six
months, ave, even three months would
bring to her. Little wonder that she
decided to give up fighting the sol
diers of the allies, bound together in
the glorious brotherhood of blood, and
to try her hand with the politicians
of Europe and America.
Every man who wore the KHAKI
shares in the glory of the victory we
celebrate today. The measure OF
their giving and their sacrifice is the
measure of their glory. To the boys
who left their homes and their work
and endured the drudgery and hard
ships Of training in the Cantonments
and were denied the privilege of go
ing to France, we to whom Fate was
more kind extend the right hand of
comradeship, and insist that their just
share Of credit and glory be given. To
you great hearted men and women
who Kept the Home Fires Burning
who furnished the sinews of war,
shamed the Stacker and forced the
government to utmost endeayor, we