The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-09-30
Record for ValOr as Good as
That Made BY Southerners
In Any War
LIVE LONG AS HISTORY
Chief Executive Calls Upon
The Veterans to Assume
Leadership in Their Respec-
tive Communities.


Columbia. S. c., Sept. 29.-"Your
record for valor and devotion to duty
is as good as that made by the South
ern soldiers in the Revolutionary war.
or in the Mexican war, or in the civil
war, during which conflicts soldiers
from the Southern States made rec
ords which will live as long as his.
tory lives"
These words We're used by Cover
nor Cooper in statement given out
here in welcoming the men of the
Thirtieth division to Greenville.
where the initial reunion OF the men
who broke the Hindenburg line will
be held today and Tuesday.
Governor Cooper's statement was
replete with commendation for the
fortitude. endurance and achieve
ment of the men of the Thirtieth iii
vision.
The Governor said in part:
unnecessary Effort"
Il have been asked to say a few
words Of welcome to the Thirtieth di-
vision. 1t is pleasure to do this.
and yet it is an unnecessary effort. for
the members OF this division know
they are welcome in every home in
South Carolina. They were assured
nf
Charleston last spring on their return
from France, where they made such
glorious history, and the welcome has
been extended and repeated every day
ever since, everywhere they have
gone. And this welcome will endure
and grow warmer. If possible, through
the years and at each succeeding re-
union, wherever it may be held. these
heroes will be given the same enthu-
siastic and full-hearted greeting that
is being given them by the people Of
South Carolina today.
"As Governor of one of the States
which furnished the officers and mon
of the Thirtieth division / have felt
the greatest pride and satisfaction In
the record made by this organization
To say that the record made on the
field of battle by this division was not
surpassed by any other division is a
very modest and conservative state
ment, indeed. 1t is also true 10 say
and it is something to be proud Of
that you young men have lived up to
the best history and traditions of your
sires. Your record for valor and de
votion to duty is as good as that
made by Southern soldiers in the Rev
olutionary war, or in the Mexican
war, or in the civil war. during
which conflicts soldiers from tbs
Southern States made records which
will live as long as history lives
another Record"
You have made another record
which / would like to be lost zfi
which would not like to be lost sight
OF. Wherever the Thirtieth division
was stationed, in this country or in
'HiiNS' 'iiV p'St vi uiSClpllHt ana the
best OF morale prevailed. You were
not professional soldiers. and had no
thought Of being such, yet the dis
cipline OF this division was as good
as that of the most highly trained
troops the world ever saw. With this
discipline there was nothing of mill
tary autocracy, but the most cordial,
and even affectionate. feelings be-
tween officers and men, and men and
officers. There was at all times cheer.
full and whole-hearted devotion to
duty, a contempt for danger, and
aside from the ordinary duties OF sol
diers there was in evidence every
where and at all times good order
and gentlemanly conduct in all things.
In short, the Thirtieth division was.
as we knew II, and others knew il,
the perfection of citizen soldiery. and
that Is the highest type of soldiery in
the world. The Thirtieth division was
a moral force, force for law and or
der, as well as an irresistible force
upon the field of battle
And the record which you made IN
this respect emboldens me to make
a suggestion and a request There
a.