Evening star., 1942-11-15
Kill Or Be Killed


The tollouing address BY Gen.
McNdir tC1s deltDered as an Armtstice
Day message to the soldiers OF the
Army ground forces through the Na-
tional Radio Forum OF the Blue Net
1Uork. 1t is such an extraordinarily
fine address that it is reprinted here
in fuH so that those Dho Jailed to
hear it may read it.
Armistice Day has been observed vari-
ously through the years since 1918. This
year it is hardly appropriate to think of
the day as the end of great war, for
after all it was only an armistice. In
less than a month will come the first
anniversary of Pearl Karbor, when the
armistice ended for us. We are fighting
again, a fercer, more desperate struggle
than he other one: our men are over
seas cncc ROC, end s"e dying. AS a
Nation. we are just beginning to fight.
Amid such events, am thinking no. SO
much of the Armistice Day that we have
obcerved for so many years, but of an
other day close by-November g. 1917
not 19l8-25 years ago. On that day,
three American soldiers died on the
battlefields of France-our first battle
deaths in that war. The drama enacted
then carries special appeal today.
At that time. the 1st American Division
very green-was serving at the battle
front on what might be called an in
structional tour The division was par
celed out among the French troops, gen.
orally by battalion, under the French
high command A particular battalion
of infantry had gone into line for the
first time during the night of November
2-3. At about o'clock in the morning,
the Germans delivered terrific artillery
bombardment on certain point of the
line held by this battalion smothering
the trenches and pinning down the de-
tenders. The fire was followed quickly
by the German infantry in the assault,
and in a short time the enemy was in
the American trenches The Germans
withdrew at once, taking with them an
American sergeant and 10 privates as
prisoners, which was the purpose of the
raid, Three American soldiers were left
dead in the trench.
The funeral was at the nearby French
town of Bethelemont, war-wrecked and
within sound of the guns. The French
general, under whose command the
Americans we're serving, spoke as
follows:
THE death of this humble corporal
and these privates appeals to us with
unwonted grandeur. We will ask. there
fore, that the mortal remains of these
young men be left with us forever. We
will inscribe upon their tombs, Here lie
the first soldiers of the United States to
fall on the fields of France for Justice
and liberty The passerby will stop and
uncover his head. The travellers of
France of the Allied countries, of Amer
lea, and the men of heart. who will come
to visit our battlef1elds of Lorraine, will
go out of their way to come here to bring
to these graves the tribute of their re-
spect and gratitude. Corpl Gresham,
Pvt. Enright and Pvt. Hay, in the name
of France, I thank you. God receive
your souls"
Thus we have the picture Of war
hardened enemies pouncing on green
American troops, taking every possible
advantage of our lack of training and
battle experience. Pearl Harbor was
another such case.
1t is fitting from a sentimental view
point that we memorialize today those
who already have lost their lives in this
war, and that we hail our fighting Allies
who have borne and are bearing the
burden while we train and cross the
seas. But tits more practical and real
istic to take stock of the situation ahead
of us, and ask ourselves what we are
going to do about it. Just how are we
American soldiers going to do our part
IN crushing our enemies and winning the
war?
1t is in order first to look over our
enemies-as they are, not as we wish
they were
Both Germany and japan are military