Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-02
SIBLEY SPEAKS AT
LEGION MEETING
Tells Why General Edwards Has Not
Yet 1een Decorated

MONTPELIER. Aug 30-Frank F Sih-
ey of the Boston Globe was the fea
:ure tonight at the opening Session of
he state meeting Of the Vermont de-
oa.rtment of the American Legion be-
Il g held tonight and Tuesday in Barre.
Mr. Sibley told the members of the Lee
zion why General Edwards, the favor
te of Vermont and the bows of this
section, has not as yet been decorated
~ the war department for the services
re performed in France, second to none
IF the generals, and why the depart
11ent appears to be following up its
actions starting in France when the
GENERAL was transferred from his com
nand
The meeting was called to order at
eight o'clock by DR.. John NJ, Thomas
Of Middlebury. who, after two selec-
tons by the Barre hand called upon
Rev. c. A. Adams of Danvlle as chap
lain to offer prayer Mayor +. E. Lang
ley of Barre then turned the keys of
the city over to the Legion delegates.
some 800 Of whom are present. Dr.
Thomas responded in which he said
that the boys had come here for their
convention and the city was theirs and
hat they could remain as long as they
wanted to He said he appreciated the
open door which Barre had given them
The following We're appointed com.
11ittee on credentials: ] P. Estey. Brat
tleboro; Is. A. Thomas Johnson, l.. F.
Wing. Rutland; NJ E. Aston, st, Johns
bury; John Wood, St. Adams Harold
Marcy Springfield.
DR. Thomas read telegram and let
er from General Edwards expressing re-
rret at not being present and in which
We
among the best in the war. He paid
!pecial compliment to the Barre boys.
most of whom were in the 1olst Ammuni-
Ion Train.
Mr.. Sibley spoke of the 26th as being
he best division in the war and told his
audience why he could prove that He
gave the history of the drive at Chateau
rhierry in which the 101st Ammunition
Train kept the ammunition for the fol-
owing divisions because some of them
lid not have artillery enough and that
he train did not lose single car. He
old the legion that the reason General
Edwards was transferred was because
# Chaumont and the fact that he fought
here for his boys. He went farther and
iaid that the whole treatment of the
;eneral dates back to when President
Taft promoted him from colonel over
many others to brigadier-general and
% a service that he filled we'll. and that
his treatment has followed him since
'esultng in his not getting the decora.
Ton that England and France has asked
o have given him. He also went into
ietails in the difference between General
edwards form of fighting and the regu~
ar army style. He told how England and
French generals had learned but that
he regular army would not learn from
,hese generals and insisted in breaking
~ divisions. He charged the high ot.
icers with having other objects in view
han winning the war namely, promo.
Ions and friends. He said that wine
vas freely obtained when new towns
were reached which brought applause
He said the censorship was a Joke and
declared he would go into detail farther
were 1t not for III. fact tnat he would
"a set down as sorehead newspaper
nan. but he added hs could provo his
TtatementH