Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-06-18

ticularly food and fuel. Even now.
although the guns are silent, the
urgent necessities Of our redeploy-
ment to the Pacific make it fmpos.
stble to do all that We would wish
toward improving the trying condi-
tons in which French people live.
Liberated Nations Need Aid.
This feeling extends also. to Bel.
GUM, Holland and Luxembourg.
which endured four years Of Ger
man tyranny and which supported
effective resistance movements. In
the Netherlands, during the last few
months of conflict, real starvation
prevailed in certain sections, where
the German garrisons refused as.
sistance. Our sympathy was aroused
and tons Of food were dropped III
parachute to alleviate their suffer.
Ing. Those countries still need, and
deserve, our help.
And now, because this meeting
typifies, for me, the spiritual unity
OF the American home and battle
fronts, I address word to that re-
lationship.
The American fighting man has
never failed to recognize his de-
pendence upon you at home. am
grateful for this opportunity to
stand before the Congress and ex-
press my own and the thanks of
every soldier, sailor and airman to
the countrymen who have remained
devoted to their tasks.
This feeling goes beyond the
tangible things-guns, ammunition.
TANKS and planes-although in these
things you have sent us the most
ana the best. 1t extends to such in.
tangibles as the confidence and SYM.
pathetic understanding which have
nlied the letters written by families
and friends to the men up front. For
a Few moments. simple words of
anection and cheer blot out the
danger and loneliness and hard
ship which are the soldiers life.
They send him back with renewed
vlgor and courage to his inexorable
task OF crushing the enemy.
Soldiers Grateful
l hope you realize that all you
have done for your soldiers has been
truly appreciated. Never have they
felt absent from your anxious care
and warm affections. The Red
Cross-to name just one outstand-
ing organization-stands high in
their admiration. The Red Cross.
with its clubs for recreation, its
coffee and doughnuts in the for.
ward areas, its readiness to meet
the needs Of the we'll and help min
lister to the wounded-even more.
important, the devotion and warm
hearted sympathy of the Red Cross
girl! 1t has often seemed to be-
the friendly hand of this Nation. :
reaching across the sea to sustain
its fighting men. I
The battle front and the home.
'front.' together we have found the
victory! But even the banners of
victory cannot hide from our sight
the sacrifices in which victory has
been bought. The hard task of a
commander is to send men into
battle knowing some of them-often
many-must be killed or wounded in
oroer that necessary missions NAV
De achieved. 1t is a soul-killing
task!
MY sorrow is not only for the fine
young lives lost or broken. but if
is equally for the parents, the wives
and the friends who have been be-.
reaved. The price they pay is pos-s
sioly the greatest for the victory,
won. The blackneSs of their grief
can be relieved only by the faith
tnat all this shall not happen again!
Preservation of Peace.
Because feel this so deeply \,
hope you will let me attempt to
express thought that I believe IL
today imbedded deep in the hearts
of all fighting men. It is this T7he
soldier knows how grim and dark
was the outlook for the Allies ia
1871 and AZ. He is fully aware al
the magnificent way the United
Nations responded to the threaf
TO his mind the problems of peace
can be no more difficult than the
one you had to solve more than
three years ago, and which, In one
battle area, has now been brought
to successful conclusion. H3
knows that in war the threat Of
separate humiliation tends to hold.
Allies together: he hopes we carr
find in peace a nobler incentive Ia
produce the same unity. =.
He passionately believes that. with
the same determination, the same
optimistic resolution and the same
mutual consideration among Allies
that marshalled In Europe forces
capable Of crushing what had been
the greatest war machine of his
tory, the problems of peace can and
must be met. He sees the United
Nations strong but considerate: hu-
name and understanding leaders in
the world to preserve the peace he
Is winning.
The genius and power Of America
nave, With her allies, eliminated one
menace to our country,s freedom
even her very existence. Still an.
other remains to be crushed in the
Pacific before peace will be restored.
Speaking for the American men and
women have been so honored to
command, I know that they would
say this with me to you today: In
our minds and hearts there is no
slightest doubt that our peoples
spirit Of determination, which has
buoyed us up and driven us forward
IN Europe, will continue to IRE this
Nation through the ordeals Of battle
vet to, come. Though we dream Of
return to our loved ones, we are
ready, as We have always been. to
do our duty to our country, no mat
ter what 1t may be. In this spirit
we renew our pledge Of service to
our Commander in Chief, President
Truman, under whose strong leader
ship We know that final victory is
certain.
Two Damaged Liberties.