The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-10

Northrup, Mrs. Lura Dutton, Mrs.
Minnie Chapman.
Spanish War Veterans: Joseph
Monaghan, @. H. Rudolph.
Jewish War Veterans: DR.. Louis
Weinberg.
British War veterans-David H
Craig.
TO the School Children Of Water
Subject: why We Celebrate Armis-
Day.
On November II, 1896, we will
celebrate the eighteenth anniversary
Of the signing Of the World War
Armistice. It Is called the World
War because the greatest and larg-
est countries Of the world were In
volved, and we as Americans are
interested because 1t was our help
that stopped this most terrible war
In the history of the world.
On the 9Th Of April, 1917, Presi-
dent Wilson received authority from
the congress Of the United States
to declare war against Germany,
because the submarines of that
country had been sinking unarmed
ships. BY declaring war against
Germany, the United States aligned
itself with group Of nations called
1.-THE Allies, consisting Of France,
Belgium, italy, England, Russia,
Japan, Serbia, Portugal, Rumania,
Greece and several other countries.
Germany had on her side o group
Of nations known as the Central
Powers, consisting Of Austria Hun
gary, Turkey and Bulgaria. The war
had been going on about two years
when the United States joined the
conflict.
In 1917 our country was not pre-
pared to enter such a gigantic
struggle that had been going on In
Europe, but In few short months
we were training men and women
by the million, manufacturing war
supplies by the billion; everybody
was feverishly doing his or her bit
to help win the war. Our soldiers
were going across the Atlantic II,
transports escorted by our Navy
ships to protect them against the
enemy submarines. The terrible war
went on and our soldiers were fight
Ing alongside the Allied soldiers
our Navy ships were sinking sub
marines and helping to keep the
ocean clear Of enemy ships. The
people at home, our fathers, mo-
theirs, sisters and brothers who
were not at the front fighting or
training, were working hard to
keep the fighters supplied with the
necessary food, clothing and war
supplies. The American Red Gross
had thousands Of men and women
working hard to make hospital sup
plies for our wounded and sick.
In tho fall OF 1918, the Central
Powers were hard pressed. The war
had been raging violently for four
years and our armies had been Win
ming some hard fought battles Our
soldiers and marines were In the
thick Of 1t oil, and many Water
bury men lost their lives or were
wounded In the famous battles OF
the Marne, Chateau-Thierry Ar
gonne Woods, st. Mihiel and Bel
leau Woods and many others. The
famous Hindenburg Line had been
smashed and Germany was the
only country left to fight because
her allies had been forced to sur:
render. That Is why on the 18th OF
November, 1918, at II o'clock, an
Armistice was signed by the Allies
and the Central Power, Germany
to stop fighting and arrange for
peace
The terrible nerve shattering bat
ties: the deafening noise Of the
millions Of shells exploding; the
cries Of the dying and wounded
and the lust to kill, suddenly came
to an end on that November morn
ing eighteen years ago. There was
greater rejoicing throughout the
world, because peace was again on
earth. That Is why we should cele-
brate the 18th Of November IN q
fitting and appropriate manner to
commemorate the cessation OF the
most terrible war this world has
ever seen.
Armistice Day eighteen years ago
was O great day and will go down
the years to come as marking the
day when rejoicing and happiness
gave the world another period OF
peace Suffering. distress and pain
gave way to gladness and gaiety.
Peace instead Of war once more
reigned on earth. That, Is Why We
Celebrate November 18th, AS Arm
istice Day.
Signed,
ApA6rcrrCr nav GENER AT.