Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-08
WRITE FINIS
after STORY
OF The A.E.F.
President Welcomes Gen
eral by Letter Through
Secretary Baker.


ing General Pershing this morn
ing, Secretary Baker said:
About two and one-half years
ago, by the presidents direction, I
had the honor of designating you
to lead the armies of the United
States in France. Today you re-
turn, your mission accomplished,
with victory written on the ban
ners of the greatest army the ma
ton has ever had and with the
! priceless foundation of liberty and
| freedom saved for us and for the
world as the result of our partici-
patton in the world war.
THE task entrusted to you re-
quired all the Imagination. all the
energy and all the genius OF a
you had the complete confidence
of the president and the secretary
of war. This confidence remained
mistaken to the end.
Supported by People.
From the beginning you had all
the support the people of the Unit
ed States could give. You and
your army embodied for them their
country and their country's cause.
They worked with devotion and
self-sacrifice to sustain and sup
ply you with troops and equip
ment. Their hearts went over
seas with you and their prayers
for your welfare and that of your
men were constant.
Doubtless the confidence and af-
fection of your fellow citizens
were an inspiration to you in the
hours of preparation and in the
hours of battle. and the superb ex-
pIoits of the army under your COM
mand Salread. in turn, an inspira-
, ton to our national effort.
Closes History of Expedition.
THE great victories arc won.
Your magnificent army has re-
turned and the soldiers who once
marched through the thickets of
the Argonne are citizens again,
filed with high memories of great
deeds and carrying into life the in
spiration which membership in
that great company and sacrifice
for that great cause elgendered.
Your return closes the history of
the American expeditionary forces.
The president had hoped to be
here personally to speak on behalf
of the nation a word of welcome.
In his enforced absence he h. g di-
rected me to speak it.
"I bid you welcome, gratefully,
on behalf of the country you have
served, and on behalf Of the peo-
pie, whose sons you have led. The
confidence with which we sent you
away you have sacredly kept.
Wherever there is a soldier or
friend of a soldier there is low
er of liberty, wherever there is a
heart which rejoices at the deliv-
erance of mankind from its hour
of peril you and your great army
are remembered and loved. You
return not only to American soil
but to the heart of the country.
Letter from President
THE president has directed me
to read you this message:
my Dear General Pershing:
al am distressed that l can not
greet you N person. 1t would give
me the greatest plea1Ure to grasp
your hand and say to you what is
in my i'eart, and in all he hearts
of all true Americans as we hail
your return to the homeland you
have served so gala w. Notwith- /
standing my physical absence, may |
l not, as your commander-in-chief
and as spokesman of our fellow
countrymen, bid you an affection !
ate and Enthusiastic welcome, a |
welcome warmed with the ardor |
of genuine affection and deep ad-
miration? You have served the |
country with fine devotion and ad-
mirable efficiency in war forever
memorable as ne worlds trium- !
phant protest against injustice, J
and as its vindication of liberty
the liberty of people and of ma
tions.
Fought Forces of Wrong.
1--WE are proud of you and of |
the men you commanded No finer |
armies ever set their endomitable !
strength and unconquerable spirit |
against the forces of wrong. Their (,
glory is the glory of the nation and
it is with a thrill of profound pride !
that We greet you as their leader
and commander. You have just |
come from the sea and from the |
care of the navy who made the !
achievements of our arms on land |
possible and who so yallantly as
sisted to clear the seas of their
lurking peril Our hearts go out
to them too.
cit is delightful to see you
home again, well and fit for the
fatigues you must endure before
we are done with out welcome. I /
will not speak now of our assets
on the other side of the sea. 1t
will be delightful on many oc-
casions to speak their praise.
speak now only of our personal
joy that you are at home again and
that we have the OppOruniIy to