The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-11
"A sMILE,s THE TAtNo.
Good evening.

the magic of his words came dollars to Liberty loans and welfare campaigns. And since the termination of the great conflict, 1t has been heard in councils of the vevterans. Calm, cool, deliberate, 1t point ed to many pitfall, prevent cd many Q mistake. When
 others were forgetting, his was the duty of remembering. And down the corridor of years he has marched with the veterans, often Q strong support on which they leaned. I toss my garlands to Pete Shea, knowing tho stuff of which he is made. At the same time I ask . prayer for Jim Clancy, who left us after doves had rested in the mouth of cannon. Here were two men in the line of support who never wavcred and kept the caInions of hope and courage moving to the front.
 o-O-o
 I recall a day in France, much the same as any day over there. Stretched on the floor of a billet, after the evening dispensation of slum, came the welcome chatter of the mail. Names were called. Soldiers listened with abated breath. Came the last card. I heard the magic of its address and leaped forward to get 1t. That postcard was sent to me by Jim Clancy. The rain beat outside, the billet smelled of human flesh. | was wet to the skin, hungry, tired, sort of weary with 1t all. And then I read the message, Keep going, we're all behind you over here.
 0-O-o
 HWc're all behind you over here" 1t was cryptic messages of this kind that kept the A. ID. F. going. There were times when the song in its heart de- generated to almost g moan. There were times the spear head of attack seemed flat tened by the resistance 1t met. There were times when the two million Tanks over there wondered if it were worth the sacrifice. Life tonight, death at dawning. Thoughts of loved ones hack home, niem- Ories of brighter days. Twenty and twenty-One tender ages, too young for men to die.
 o-O-0
 I have seen men stick a piece of candle on top of a tin hat, take q small Bible from 8 breast pocket and read the story of another great figure marching to death at Golgotha. The thunder and the that. marked His death was repeated in the roar of car- non and flash of bursting shell. Men get pretty close to God when death gets pretty close to them.
 That was IA years ago, when a great khaki horde swept the fighting plains of sister re- public. YOu wnold have been proud of the Tanks, had yOu seen them over there. Proud of the way they carried their heads, proud of what they did in the lines. They seemed to dominate every situation, have control of the complicated machinery of war. Even when 8 black wall stopped mOmen- tary advance, they caught the spark of the entire plan, kept going, and fear died abOrning.
 o-O--o
 Those of us who were over there on Armistice day enjoy hearing the events that marked it over hero. the subject last night t.A vpn a Or>n phic picture of Waterbury at 4 o'clock in the morning of Novem- ber 11th. Pete had. left Jim Clancy in Exchange place about telling Jim he was go- Ing home for a Title sleep. I'm going to stick around" said Jim. ''this thing is going to break" When it did, Pete hustled down town.
 o-O-o
 He found thousands of peo- plc in Exchange place, milling around. The H~hts about the green were out. Pete went up to the late Sergeant Tehan and told the sergeant the lights should be turned on. "YOu turn them on Pete if you know how." answered the sergeant. So Pete went to the control box, forced 1t open. The fuse was resting on the bottom of the box. Pete made the contact and 10, the lights went on. A great cheer went up.
 o--O-o
 Ed Maloney, telegraph editor of the Dem, told me this morning that at S:30 the Dem had an extra on the streets, telling this part Of a then cockeyed world that the big parade was over.
 o-O-o
 After this fashion came the Armistice to Waterbury. Over there 1t was different. Men died at the stroke of eleven. Others went west as late as half an hour after the ap- {. pointed time. It was tmpos- slble to make liaison with them.
 That night, La Belle Francais was the sweetheart of the Ameri- can soldier. In every hamlet, and town. Americans cele- brated. And 1t Is safe to say that more win rouge, win blanc, cosnac and allied spirits were consumed than in any similar period In the history of France. Men. in the habit of drowning their sorrows In liquor, sfloated. the peace ship on a. sea of alcoholics. Who cared.
 o-O--o
 Jim Clancy's card to me in France carried the challenge of America, "Keep Going.p And during August, while in ] the Veslc. sector. there came to use . continuation of that challenge. The immortal Captain Isahey was leading the Vcsle river. The Americans were driving ahead when TAt.n~r RnlH zsaf.4folIv xUnufaiIQU