New Britain herald., 1923-11-12


 the high powers of Germany told Ambassador Gerard that we could not go to war with Germany because the, had 100000 Germans in America who would support their own countr, and would not be loyal to America Girard replied. That may be so, but we have 1O.000,001 telegraph poles or which we will string them up
 Another lesson we have learned is that when this war came on we were not prepared with army or navy. To- day we are more or less prepared We have the standing army, then we have the navy we have the national guard and the officers reserve corps who in the last analysis are trained for immediate service and could train others. We have 10 chances to get ready when he had one before.
 Friends, we capnot expect that wars are over. While the whole world is keyed up to such a pitch that if some one touched a lighted match to a magazine 1t would go over into war again, if there was anybody left in the world who could fight and ] America. The dominant characteris- ties of the nations of the world is selfishness and as long as France l thinks in the terms of France, Ger l many in the terms of Germany, Eng | land in the terms of England and Italy in the terms of Italy and Ameri- 1 ca in the terms of America, as long as we are thinking selfishly and only | of ourselves, there is always a danger of misunderstanding and of war,
 Father Sullivan's Address
 At the dedication exercises at Me- morial field in the afternoon, Father Sullivan spoke as follows.
 1 When the legions of mighty Rome returned to the ancient capital in .tri- umph, the mistress of the world was wont 10 erect triumphal arches un- der which her invincible soldiers proudly marched.
 Many of you boys. during your stay in Paris. saw the stately Arch de Triomphe. near the Bois dc Boulogne. which commentaries the victories of the peerless French general Napoleon Bonaparte.
 ''Ilero in America. in many Of our cities after the manner of Rome and Paris, we have erected triumphal arches, commemorating the deeds of our heroic soldiery. in every war from the Revolutionary down to the late war in Europe.
 New Britain, not content with erecting that beautiful and unique memorial on Walnut Hill to the mem ory of Her Boys goes n mighty step further, when she planned and brought to successful completion this magnificent athletic field, fitting memorial 10 her sons. more lasting than the bronze shafts or marble mansoleums of kings.
 "If our boys could speak today, if we could summon them from that country from which no traveller rc- turns I know they would rejoice. I know they would commend us for conceiving a memorial so dear to their hearts, so dear 10 the hearts Of every true red.blooded young American.
 For next to the field of battle, where has young America won the laurel crown so frequently. where has young America distinguished himself so rloriously as on the athletic field?
 "If tho American legions, in the late war swept across the western front with the irresistible onslaught Of a tidal wave, or with the crashing power of an earthquake, it was moi because they were trained and fash toned within the mechanical walls of a military school or barracks.
 Free man as he is, compulsory military training was ever a noxious plant that never thrived on American soil.
 And so in the exbilarating air or sthe athletic field, the sun, the wind and the rain, Gods own elements conspired 10 fashion and mould him till tho American athlete has become the despair Of European contenders.
 "Yes, truly was the American sol- dier and sailor trained when the storm of the World War engulfed Us in its rushing swirl; and Europe has yet to recover from the shock she experience cd when the Dough Boys and the Devil Dogs ran wild on the western front.
 With bodies trained and toush- snod. with minds keen and alert, once the objective was sensed. not all the fnries of hell. unleashed by the cen. trai empires, could halt their irresist- ible advance.
 Religion and education have long since. here in America, realized the importance Of athletic framing. as an auxiliary in the rounding out Of a well alanced Christian gentleman.
 "Furthermore, it has been proven from experience that localities. equip ped with athletic fields. have gone a long way toward solving the problem of juvenile and adult delinquency.
 The war is over; the stage was set at Versailles. some four or five years ago, but the Angel Of Peace seems rather timid about appearing on the scene.
 Hatred and envy. strife and dis sensions, like a malignant plague are still devastating the fsirest portions of Europe.
 "Billions of dollars that could be spent on reconstruction and restora- ton are being handed over 10 the god of battle, while the mills Of Mars are grinding away in a feverish e6ort 10 turn out new engines for the de- struction of humanity.
 If Eurom would take a page from our history tbrief though it beb. and invest a fraction Of the money she squanders on her war preparations. fin erecting athletic fields. and stage a few -a.x s-E