The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-11

NVne the less ne ID entitled 10 the plauditf
OF his countrymen, and these he will as
suredly receive.
May God continue TO raise I'D among
US men Of sterling character, Of un.
haunted courage, Of love for liberty and
humanity, like Washington. Jefferson
Lincoln, Grant. Roosevelt Wilson and
last but not least the Greatest Of great
Generals, John J. Pershihg."
History of Army's Growth.
Secretary Baker began his euiogy of
Gen Pershing with a review of Amer.
ica's participation In the war, touching
upon the modest expectation OF Marshal
Joffre and his advisers on their visit
here ne to the Americans share in the
war and the belief among French and
British Generals in the early days that
II America succeeded in getting 100000
rren across she would be doing very well
indeed. Then. after relating the growth
and triumph of the final army OF s,000,-
COO, the Secretary said:
| IF / may speak In Gen. Pershing's
presence OF his share Of II he had the
imagination OF great commander. He
foresaw what none Of those around him
had foreeeen-that when America really
put her shoulder to this wheel 1t would
move uphill to the top and then down.
|
Archbishop Hayes bore the message
Of the church to Gen. Pershing in this
wise:
Tonight Gen. Pershing, after you
have been honored by peoples and by
kings, after you have been proclaimed
hero, you might say throughout this
world, while even tonight America II
honortng you. there In a greater honor
for you. 1t IL the blessing OF God Him
self, greater than any nation and any
people"
After DR.. William C. Carl Of the Gull
mont Organ School played The Star
Spangied Banner Rodman wanamaker
delivered a speech in presenting forty
nine silk American flags to the General.
These banners, which were borne into
| the hall by a guard of honor from the
| police reserves, represented the grateful
good will OF the forty-eight States. The
| forty ninth, the largest Of all, was given
as a special emblem for the General
| himself. and Mr.. Wanamaker wrapped
the folds Of 1t about Pershings shoul-
ders as he said:
Gen. Pershing. you have received the
decorations, the highest honors of all
the European countries that you have
been In. We have regard for our deco
ration as the only one that really ex-
lists In this country, and would like to
say to you. sir, that on behalf Of this
nation. on behalf OF the citizens from
Maine to California, as represented in
this great city of New York. the greatest
city In the world. We wish to give you
the decoration Of all America, our flag"
IN addressing the assembly Gen. Per-
shing said
Il beg to thank you for this generous
welcome. which more than overwhelms
II IN
which Is worth more to me than all the
decorations In the world put together.
l, Is indeed gratifying to set foot again
upon American soil and be again among
my own people. My associates and /
have been deeply moved by the recep-
ton that Is accorded us, exceeding as
1t does anything that we could have
imagined during the month that we
have been making preparations to re-
turn to you.
Mr.. Secretary. your presence here is
signal courtesy which I appreciate
very much, being fully aware that you
and the officials Of the State and city do
honor to the American Expeditionary
Forces. officers and men, by your pres
ence on this occasion.
when We entered the war the mill
tary spirit OF the American people was
thoroughly aroused by a ruthless in
'ecaoh VI ana the ma
ton had engaged itself fully in the
cause OF civilization. The energy. the
initiative and the resources of the
United States were concentrated to that
cause in no uncertain fashion. Some
thing over two years and three months
ago l left New York with a handful of
officers with orders to prepare plans
Tor the organization and employment
and to assume command of an army
10 -
which was not then IN existence
Under the carefully considered echeme
OF the War Department, however, the
ranks were soon filled with the flower
OF our vigorous young manhood Eager,
aggressive and patriotic, these earlier
contingents Of stalwart men were, by the
most persistent EFFORT, made ready to
meet the crisis in midsummer 1918, and
all at length, through the actual expe-
rience ofwar. were moulded into a DOW
erfui, aggressive force, commensurate
with the might of the nation.
Morale IL Barometer.
The morale of an army is n barometer
or the morale of the people behind n
Its inspiration comes from the people.
Our armies have carried with them to
the battleneids Of France the patriotism
and the spirit of sacrifice of our people
at homo; and It 10 not too much to say
That never In the history of war has
any army been more loyalty or patriot
tcaliy supported by its Government and
by its people.
II is not my purpose to recount here
to-niSht the deeds OF our armies in
france. The republic entered the war
thoushuully and with high purpose, free
from self-interest or the lure of gain.
always sustained by an abiding faith
In Almighty God. Our troops fought
without lust OF conquest, but with The
proud consciousness OF righteous
cause. Jcining our gallant but war
worn Allies, then threatened with fall,
ure, we gave them new courage and
finally shared with them the complete
and glorious victory.
The State OF New York NAV we'll
be proud of the part taken by rs SOL
diers. scattered as they have been
throughout the various units of the
American Expeditionary Forces. Wise
foresight has fostered in your National
Guard patriotic spirit that carried for
ward with impetuous dash your splendid
Twcnty-seventh Division while serving
with the British army, and added new
laurels to American arms. This same
Epirlt welded together the Seventy-sev-
enth Division, in whose cosmopolitan
personnel were many nationalities and
some eighty religious beliefs 1t made
of that division fighting unit whose
proud record I'm the Meuse-Argonne bat
tie has become part OF the history OF