The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-22

| the preponderance of force vitality nee.
eSSary to outweigh the tremendous
increase in the strength of the Ger
mans on the western front, due to the
collapse of Russia and the consequent
release Of German divisions employed
| against her. From the military point
Of view we began to aid the allies
early in 1918, when our divisions, with
insufficient training to take active part
in battle, were sent to the inactive
front to relieve French divisions. that
they might be used in the lighting
line.
The assistance we gave the allies
in combat began in May, with the sue
cessful attack of one of our divisions
at Cantigny. This was followed early
in June by the entrance into battle
of the two divisions that stopped the
German advance on Paris, near Cha
teau-Thierry, and by three others that
were put in the defensive line.
In July two American divisions,
with one Moroccan division, formed
the spearhead of the counter-attack
against the Chateau-Thierry salient,
In which nine of our divisions par
ticipated. There was a total of ap-
proximately 100000 American troops
engaged in this Second Battle Of the
Marine, which involved very severe
fighting, and was not completed until
the Germans were driven beyond the
Vesle in August.
In the middle of September an army
of $4,000 Americans reduced the st.
Mihiel salient. The latter part of Sep
TENDER our great battle of the Meuse-
Argonne was begun, lasting through
Al days of intense fighting and ending
brilliantly for our First and Second
armies, November IL, after more than
100000 American soldiers had par
ticipated.
A Time to Forget Hardships.
1t was time to forget the hard
ships and difficulties, except to record
them with the glorious history of our
achievements. In praise and thanks
for the decisive victories of our arm
les and in guidance for the future,
the following order was issued:
&c. II. Q.
American Expeditionary Forces.
General Orders No. 203
France, Nov. ~, 1918.
1.-THE enemy has capitulated.
1t is fitting that l address myself
in thanks directly to the officers
and soldiers Of the American ex-
peditionary forces who by their
heroic efforts have made possible
this glorious result. Our armies,
! hurriedly raised and hastily
trained, met a veteran enemy, and
by courage, discipline and skill al
ways defeated him. Without COM
plant you have endured incessant
toll, privation and danger. You
have seen many of your comrades
make the supreme sacrifice that
freedom may live. / thank you
for the patience and courage with
which you have endured. I con-
graduate you upon the splendid
fruits of victory which your hero
ism and the blood of our gallant
dead are now presenting to our ma
ton. Your deeds will live forever
on the most glorious pages of
Americas history.
"These things you have done.
There remains now harder task
which will test your soldierly
| &n kho at, eA To-
this and little note will be taken
and few praises will be sung;
fail, and the light of your glorious
achievements of the past will sad
ly be dimmed.
"But you will not fail. Every
natural tendency may urge to-
ward relaxation in discipline, in
conduct, in appearance, in every
thing that marks the soldier Yet
you will remember that each off,
Ger and each soldier is the repre-
sentative in Europe of his people,
and that his brilliant deeds Of
yesterday permit no action Of to-
day to pass unnoticed by friend
or by foe.
"You will meet this test as gal
lantly as you have met the tests
of the battlefield Sustained by
your high ideals and inspired by
the heroic part you have played,
you will carry back to our people
the proud consciousness of a new
Americanism born of sacrifice.
"Whether you stand on hostile
territory or on the friendly soil Of
France, you will so bear yourself
in discipline, appearance and re-
spect for all civil rights that you
will confirm for all time the pride
and love which every American
feels for your uniform and for
you.
JOHN J. PERSHING,
General, Commander in Chief.
"Official:
ROBERT G. DAVIS.
"Adjutant General"
The experience of the World war
only confirmed the lessons of the past.