, 1922-08-31

striking distance of the enemy. As they passed
the retreating French they were met with cries of.
You're zigzag; you're crazy. Sure death ahead
There is no hope: 20 back" But these eager,
smooth-faced Americans. who had never smelled
the smoke of battle were not made of the stu1
that goes back when the enemy is in front. In
perturbed. they landed in the mud. and under
cover OF the woods formed their lines and calmly
waited for the dawn. when about 1900 Americans
met and held and stopped five German divisions.
tApplause.l So fierce and unfaltering was the
attack that the enemy took 1t for granted that
there were unlimited reserves in the rear.
The miracle was performed. the march on Paris
stopped. the incoming hordes turned back. the
Ch~ateau-Thierry drive begun. the destiny OF civil
Iization changed. [Applause.l
THE soul of America had won because It had
broken the cocksure spirit of the enemy. had re-
kindled in the breasts OF the dropping allies a
morale that run from one end OF the lines to the
other. For the supersoldler of the world. with
tremendous advantage of numbers. had been out
supered by a few simple. modest. unframed Ameri-
cans: and these same Americans were here in
great numbers, and they were coming by the thou
sands. The war could end in but one way. At the
height of the Chateau-T hierry drive. when the pail
Of that terrible certain daily advance, when the
Smelling of Paris and the nightmare of air raids
was too recent to be forgotten, not a soul could
he found in the ranks Of any army or in any walk
in life so base hut he was free to admit that IL was
the American soldier who won the war turned the
tide. saved them when they had thei- backs TO the
wall. Yet now. when II is all safely over. there
are those who ungratefully say. we would have
won. anyway They would. like HI tAnplausel
"our boys were far from their homes. It put
shame inrp the hearts of men who were fighting
for their very hearth sides and families to see
such daring and spirit In lads who needed no spur.
II began June G AT Belleau Wood and continued
through the Aisne-Niarne drive, the Somme cam
paIen. 81. MIhiel. Ypres-Lys. through the Meuse-
Argonne. clear up TO November IL. Six months
and the Job was done.
Reared on American soil. ImbibIng her prin-
ciples OF freedom. the American soldier did not
need years of intense trimming. He was used to
thinking and deciding. In a pinch. every man was
an officer The intelligence of the American
eouInped him to understand the war game quickly.
Heroes every one. they dared TO move apart
twenty, thirty. fifty, sixty feet they dared to fight
alone and die alone. The average run Of the Eu-
ropean soldier has not the private initiative to
fight alone and die alone He fights best in mass
where he sees the form Of his companion ahead.
feels the rub OF the elbow Of his pal at his side.
hears the tread Of his comrade In the rear. He must
have a crowd TO give spirit and soul to do and die.
The American soldier, because OF his individual
development has soul power that dares stand alone.
The European must group this soul power TO pro-
duce the necessary courage. The American soldier
Is a lion who dares forage alone. Wolves hunt in
hacks The American soldier Is an eagle who
dares soar aloft in the awful solitudes. Swallows
hover in thousands. The American soldier dares
TO die right now, The European soldier tomorrow.
Ask the German soldier or officer who won the
war. and he VIII tell you that II was the Ameri-
cans. That 1t was the Americans who advanced
into no mans land without hesitation. and came
on with that logged determination thnt sharp
shooter. machineEun nest. ambush. hand grenades.
rifles. concealed mines. gas shells. curtnins Of fire.
small and biz artillery. the blasts Of hell itself
could not stop. tApplausel
III Is the soul In the breasts OF these boys up
here In the gallery that Is going to count. II Is the
soul that measures the size OF the man. whether
On the battlefield or In the conflict Of life. and our
blind friends in the gallery have been tried and
found not wanting"