The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-11-01
FOCH'S ADDRESS
Continued from page y

"In order 10 arm you and camp you
the American manufactures worked
without respite and Supplied all your
needs.
Admirable effort also in transport
tatiOn; You swept away every Cb-
stacle which interfered with bringing
your. units from the centers of in.
struction to the ports of embarka-
ton.
In France. you improved the ports
or dcbarkation, created new installa-
lions, increased the traffic of the rail
rad system by work of all kinds and
multiplied your storehouses and hos
pitfalls.
Your shipyards were organized
fer intensive production in such away
shat when the war ended you utilized
tor your ocean transportation almost
tour millions of marine tonnage, in
stead OF $4,000 available at the be-
ginning of the war.
"And meanwhile your splendid war
fleet. thanks to its vigilance and its
fine military qualities, protected with
an efficiency to which | am happy TO
pay triLute here, the transportation
of your troops and material
"A prodigious effort On the part OF
your entire nations intelligence, will
power and energy. A prodigious ef
fort which has filled your associates
with. admiration and gratitude and
cCafcunded YOU enemy.
Record in France
"This splendid spirit OF an entire
ration we fird again on the battle
fields of France where it was blazon
ed in the admirable virtues of bravery
and heroism.
1T was the spirit of the second and
third American army divisions which
one month later took part in the bat
tie of the Malnc and distinguished
themselves Immediately in operations
Ground Chateau Thelry and Bel Gu
Wood. Again it was the spirit of
these five divisions which, on the
eighteenth Of July participated in the
Victorius counter offensive of the
tenth and sixth French armies be-
tween Alsne and the Marine and con-
tributed in great measure to that vic
tory.
FINALLY it was that spirit which
animated all the American army
when on the 24th of July, Gen. Per-
shinS formed your splendid units
under his own direct command.
"On the twelfth of September, 1918,
the first American army delivered its
first battle on the soil of France. 1t
dislCdged the enemy from the st.
Mihiel salient where he had en-
trenched himself for nearly four
years, and threw him Lack beyond the
i 81, III -
the very first the American army en-
tered INTO glory. How many further
laurels was it yet to win?
The ST. Mihiel operation was
nearly ended when the American
army attacked on a new front. On
he 18th of September it was engaged
On the right wing of the vast allied Of
fensive. The point of direction as
signed to it was Mezierez, on the
| NIeuse.
"Deployed from the left bank of
\ the Mouse to the eastern confines of
Champagne, it had three army corps
III line on Il front of nearly 40 kilO-
metres.
Before it stretched the region G.
the Argonne, formidable emplacement
OF the German defense, wooded ter
rain, rugged, difficult In its very ma
ture and rendered more SO by all the
defensive organizations which had
been accumulated there during the
last four years.
"No.hlng could discourage or check
your army. 1t threw itself with gen.
erous ardOr INTO the immense mele.
The task was rude one but it was
carried out to thorough finish.
Night and day fer a month you ad.
vanced in spite OF numerous pitfalls
and counter attacks OF the enemy IL
succeeded from pure tenacity and de-
termination. Alter st. Mihlel | now
irscribe upon its proud banners the
name OF the Argonne.
"Un the 10Th OIL October, this great
task finished, it joined hands with the
fourth French army In the deti.e o.
Grand Pre-. In consequence OF this
The enemys resistance was severeiy
shaken; the moment had arrived to
give him the final blow
4 "On the first of November, just
three years ago today, the first Amer
lean army again attacked and, in a
spieLdld advance, reached BuZancy,
pSHCti dlllS IuS bcl man llle lUT HlJTe
than 10 kilometres.
The enemy this time retired def :
nitely; the Stars and Stripes at once
took up the pursuit and, six days
later, rloated VIGOROUSLY over the
Mouse reconquered.
GlOry TO the American Army
After ST. Mihiel, after the Ar
gonne the American banners now
pore the name of the Meuse. In a
few days you had taken $4,000 pris-
oners and 1,400 cannon from the
enemy. Glory to the First American
army! Glory also to those OF. your
divisions which, distributed among
the French and British armies con-
tributed in great measure to the final
success, whether with the Fifth
French army to the northwest of
Rheims, or with the Fourth French
army, in which they carried in mag
nificent assault, the strong positions
OF Orfeuilles; or again with the Brit
ish armies for the capture of the IA
nous Hindenburg line or with the
grOun nf arfniac of Eloudorc m