Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], November 21, 1918, Page 4, Image 4

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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4
WILSON TO ATTEND
PEACE CONFERENCE
CREATES A PRECEDENT
aSXIED PREMIERS URGE HIM
List of Delegates From This Coun
try Will Be Announced
Soon
President Wilson will attend toe
opening sessions ot the peace con
ference. This was announced at
Washington Monday night officially.
He will go immediately after the con
vening of the regular session of Con
gress on December 2. This official
statement was issued at the White
House: —
"The president expects to sail for
France immediately after the open
ing of the regular session of Con
gress, for the purpose of talcing part
in the discussion and settlement ot ■
the main features of the treaty of
peace. It is not likely that it will be
possible for him to remain through
out the sessions of the formal peace
conference, but his presence at the
outset is necessary in order to obviate
the manifest disadvantages of d's
cussion by cable in determining th?
greater outlines of the final treaty
about which he must necessarily oe
consulted. He will, of course, be ac
companied by delegates who will sit
as the representatives of the United
States throughout the conference.
"The names of the delegates will be
presently announced.”
May Bo Gone a Month
How long the president will remain
abroad he himself probably cannot say
now. The time for the convening of
the peace conference has not yet been
announced, but the general belief at
Washington is that it cannot be as
sembled before la'e in December, at
the earliest. If such proves the case,
the president will l»e absent from the
country for at least a month and
probably longer.
What plans the president may have
for his trip, other than to attend the
opening of the peace conference and
to participate in the discussions amonc '
the representatives of the associated
nations which will precede it have
not been revealed. He undoubtedly
Will be accompanied by Mrs Wilson,
end it is expected at Washington
that besides visiting Paris, where the
peace congress probably will be held,
he will go to London and possibly to
Brussels and Rome.
Establishes Precedent
Mr Wilson is expected to receive
abroad a reception such as has been
accorded but few men in public life.
He will be welcomed not only as the
president of the United S ates and the
commander-in-chief of its army and
navy, but also as the champion of
world democracy.
In visiting Europe, the president
will establish a precedent. He will
be the first chief executive of the
United Sta'es to parti flpate in a
peace, conference for the settling of
issues growing out of a war in which
this country participated.
Influenced by Premiers
Tn reaching his decision to attend
the peace conference. President Wil
son is understood to have been largs-
Iv influenced by representations from
Premiers Lloyd George of England and
Clemenceau of France, and other
statesmen of the entente countries. The
principles and terms of settlements
enunciated by the president have been
accepted by both the associated na
tions and the central powers as the
basis upon which peace is to be re
established and it is understood that
it is for the working out of the appli
cation of these principles that his
presence is so earnestly desired by the
allied statesmen.
Since the president is to sail for
France early next month, it seems
certain that he will reach Paris some
time before the peace congress as
sembles. His purpose is believed at
Washington to be to participate in the
conference now proceeding at Ver
sailles as the preliminary to the meet
ing of the peace commissioners. Ha
thus will have the opportunity to dis
charge in person for the first time the
duties- of bis membership in the su
preme war council, in which he Is now
represented by Co! tE. If. House.
In the general View at Washington,
the sessions of the supreme, war coun
cil, which bring together the entente
premiers with the representatives of
the United States, are of first .mport
ance. for in all probability it wiil be at
these sessions that the general pro
gram which is to govern the peace
congress will be arranged.
In all probability the president rill
cross the Atlantic on an American
ship, probably on one of the navy’s
newest dreadnoughts. While on such
a ship, it is claimed., he is on American
territory, and technically would he
absent from the country only for such
time as he actually is on foreign soil.
Does Not Create Vacancy
If the president intends to delegate
any of the functions of his office to
Vice-President Marshall, the vice
president has not been so Informed,
•nd this fact tn itself was accepted
In some quarters as eieariy Indicating
that the president has decided that his
physical absence from the country does
not create such a vacancy in the office
bs to fall within the section of the con
stitution which clothes the vice-presi
dent with authority to discharge the
duties of the office during the inability
®f the president to act.
The question of what effect th
preeldent's absence will have on the
work of Congress was freely discussed
Monday in congressional circles.
Many held that the president could not
approve or veto legislation while ab
sent. as the actual signature of the
president Is required. Under the re
visions of the constitution, if bills are
hot acted upon by the chief executive
Within 10 days after their passage
they automatically become effective.
Very little important business will
be transacted by Congress in Decem
ber under the program as now out
lined. No pressing legislative mat
ters now pending or in prospect are
likely to be completed before the ex
pected adjournment of Congress for
ever the Christmas holidays. And if
Congress does adjourn it will not
reassemble until early in January ami
the president probably wiil return
Borne »oon afterward.
Delegates May Go With Fcesident
There was no statement Monday
•s to whether the American delegates
to the peace conference actually will
accompany the president or will fol
low at a later date. In some quar
ters it was regarded as likely that
they would make the trip with the
president so to have the advantage
of conferences with representatives of
the allied nations before the peace
BPOgress convenes.
Secretary Lansjng undoubtedly will
f head the American commissioners.
Others regarded as probable selec
tions as delegates are Col House.
Louis D. Brandeis, associate justice
cf the supreme court, and Elihu Root,
fermer secretary of state.
Gen Tasker H. Bliss, former chief
of staff and military representative ot
the United States on the supreme war
council, is expected to head the mili
tary representatives from this coun
try who will assist in the work at the
peace conference while Vice-Admiral
Sims probably will be selected to head
the naval delegation. Besides the
delegates and military and naval rep
resentatives. there will be a secretary
tc the delegation, and a number of
assistant secretaries, and clerks.
WHY WILSON GOES
President Believes World-Wide
Organization Against War Is
Even More Important Than
Weighty Domestic Problems
By David Lawrence
Special Dispatch to The Republican
WASHINGTON. Monday. Nov. 18
Analyzing the many and varied
opinions which have been expressed
as to the wisdom of Mr Wilson's go
ing. the majority of those that op
pose the trip are concerned over the
need for the president's participation
in numerous reconstruction confer
ences at home. Unless there is a
much more weighty reason than has
hitherto been expressed, the news
papers and individuals who have
made public comment on the pro
posed journey aro inclined against it.
But there is a more weighty reason,
beside which even pressure of do
mestic affairs is relatively unim
portant. That reason is the forma
tion. once and for all, of a league of
nations.
So much has happened to bring re
lief from the bloodshed of four and
a half years that the public mind has
become for the moment concentrated
on the settlement of perplexing ques
tions growing out of this war, and
less attention has been given to the
fundamental causes of this and othei
wars. The peace delegates themselves
will be invested with the duty of
working out the details of the settle
ment of this war; Indeed, it is a mere
matter of enforcing the terms which
the entente and the United States
will have decided. But there is a
larger question, interesting not sim
ply belligerents, but neutrals. the
’’■orld over and that is the composi
tion ot the league of nations.
The president wants to see the
league of nations organized not after
the peace settlement itself is effected
as a kind of academic combination
cf nations, such as The Hague con
ference proved to be, but as a living
association of peoples who will have
bound themselves to prevent war by
mutual co-operation. Neutrals will
have to be admitted to the discus
sion. too. Mr Wilson has been re
garded as the spokesman not merely
of the thought of the United States,
but of the pan-American family of
nations.
The president has been asked by
European statesmen to come to Eu
rope. They realize as much as he
does the need for some kind of asso
ciation. They do not know how far
President Wilson would be willing to
go to see a league established that
would insure peace. How would ths
Ptace be insured? Shall there be
large standing armies and large na
vies. or a gradual reduction ot both?
America goes to the conference not
an a weak partner. The trouble with
the disarmament problem heretofore
has been that strong nations were un
willing to reduce their military or
naval power. These things involve
practical discussions. But once the
general principles are agreed upon,
the details can be worked out oy the
delegations to the peace conference.
The European statesmen feel that
resident Wilson will understand .heir
point of view better through a per
sonal visit. The president is of open
mind as to the manner in which .he
league of nations shall be organized.
He wants to talk the thing over with
tile heads of European governments,
anr when he comes back to the Unit
ed States will have an opportunity of
going before the people of this country
and submit for their approval or .is
aiproval th? principles of a world
organization In which America will be
asked to pity a leading part.
It is the peace of the world, and •
America’s part in maintaining it so. )
that another world-wide war will be i
impossible, which induces Mr Wilson
to make a trip to Europe. It is un
precedented, but so is everything <ion
i.ected with the present emergency.
The premiers of European govern
ments vested with executive responsi
bility will b? there. No delegation hat
Mr Wilson could appoint would be.
after nil. responsible to the people In
the same sense as the chief execu
tive. How long he will ramain can
rot be forecast, but certainly, long
enough to see an agreement reached
cn the fundamentals of an enduring
peace.
[Copyright 1918, by the New York
Evening Post, Inc.]
KING AND PRESIDENT
Exchange Congratulations on the
Signing of the Armistice
King George on the signing of the
armistice sent a message of congratu
lation to President Wilson and of
thanks to the people of the United
States for their aid in the war, says
a dispatch from London. President
Wilson replied expressing warm ap
preciation. The king’s message fol
lows :—
"At this moment of universal glad
ness I send you, Mr President, and
the people of your great republic, a
message of congratulation and deep
thanks in my own name and that o!
the people of this empire. It is in
deed a matter of solemn thanksgiving
that the peoples ot our two countries,
akin in spirit as in speech, should to
day be united in this greatest of
democracy’s achievements. I thank
you and the people of the United
States for the high and noble part
which you have played in this glo
rious chapter of history and free
dom.”
President Wilson’s cablegram to
King George follows: —
“Your generous and gracious mes
sage is most warmly appreciated,
and you may rest assured that our
hearts on this side of the Atlantic are
the more completely filled with joy
and satisfaction because we know
the great partnership of interests
and of sentiments to which we belong
We are happy to be associated in this
time of triumph with the government
and people upon whom we are so
sure we can count for co-operation
in the delicate and difficult tasks
which remain to be performed in or
der that the high purposes ot the
war may be realized and established
in the reign of equitable Justice and
lasting peace.”
One correspondent notes that be
side the West Pointer Pershing. Mar
shal Foch had rather the look of a
civilian. The marshal, however, could
get a certificate of professional com
petence from such high authorities as
Gen von Ludendorff.
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1918
MANY NATIONS IN IT
UNCLE SAM NOT A NOVICE
THIS ONE GREATEST OF ALL
First Treaty Signed by United
States After the Revolutionary
War—Germany's Treatment
of France in 1871
By Herbert George Macauley
In all the capitals of the most
Important nations preparations are
now under way for the drafting and
the signing of the greatest treaty cf
peace the world has ever known. The
time and place are yet to be desig
nated, but the most notable states
men of the age are already engaged
in the preliminary work that must
precede this momentous event. It
will be the greatest scrap of paper
since the dawn of civilization, and its
effect is likely to be felt for hundreds
of years.
It would be idle to attempt to
speculate upon the character of this
remarkable document, but it is enough
to say that it will have a bearing
upon the government of all existing
countries, and of others that are now
in course ot formation. Generations
yet unborn will be influenced by its
terms, and, so far as humanly pos
sible it will aim to prevent wars in
the future, and will plan to settle
international disputes bv the rule of
reason, instead ot by the sword.
A Task Without Precedent
The far-reaching character of the
business may be partially understood
when we consider the number of na
tions that have either been fighting
the German-Austrian alliance, or that
have declared war against that com
bination. They include the United
States of America. France. Belgium,
Great Britain. Servia. Montenegro,
Japan. San Marino, Portugal, Italy,
Rumania, Cuba, Panama. Greece.
Slam. Liberia. China, Brazil, Ecua
dor. Guatemala. Haiti. Honduras and
Russia. The cellapse of Russia, in
stead ot removing that unfortunate
country from the list of those con
cerned in the coming treaty of peace,
only serves to make that part of the
task all the more difficult. So. on the
other side the breaking up Of other
countries, the revolutions and assas
sinations and th? breaking down ot
national lines in countries like Bul
garia. Turkey and what was once
Austria-Hungary, make a problem that
will require the best brains and the
most astute statesmanship of the
world.
A review of the greatest treaties
the world has hitherto known only
goes to prove the immensity ,of the
present task in comparison. Now that
the Germans are vanquished the nat
ural instinct will be to inquire how
the Germans acted when they were
the victors. In order to obtain an
answer to this question it is oniy
necessary to turn back to the Franco-
Prussian war. At that time the king
of Prussia established his headquar
ters in the splendid palace at Ver
sailles. and It was in this place that
Bismarck dictated the terms of peace
to. the defeated French. He was not
very gentle about it. either, and the
proceedings were enlivened by his
ponderous Prussian sense of humor
which must have been very galling to
the quick-witted French.
A Heart-Breaking Exodus
By the terms of that treaty France
agreed to give up all of German
speaking Lorraine, with the impor
tant fortress of Metz and the whole
of Alsace. France also bound herself
to pay war damages to the amount
of 5.000,000.000 francs, an enormous
sum in those days, and especially to
tho vanquished nation. In order that
there be no mistake about it a large
part of the German army camped on
the soil of France until the debt was
paid. It is to be presumed that when
Germany’s war debt has been ascer
tained, that the allies will leave a
sufficient army in the "fatherland’’
until the score has been paid in full.
France paid that debt to the last sou.
That was regarded as part of the fate
of a loser. But what wrung the
hearts of all true Frenchmen was the
less of Alsace. On September 30. 1872.
the inhabitants of that place were
compelled to choose between becom
ing German citizens or of leaving the
province. The intense loyalty of the
people to their own country may be
understood when it is stated that
50.000 of them decided to sacrifice all
the material wealth they possessed
and to go Into France.
That' was one of the saddest pil
grimages in history—that procession
of bareheaded, and in some cases,
barefooted French men, women and
children giving up the very roofs that
sheltered them rather than to swear
allegiance to the king of Prussia.
Their needs were so urgent that col
lections had to be taken up for them
in all parts of the world. The United
Slates was one of the first to respond.
New York city alone sending 40,000
francs.
Bismarck is Brutal
During the negotiations for peace
between France and Germany Bis
mark never permitted an opportunity
to pass to show his contempt for the
French.
Bismarck had kindly feelings to
ward M Thiers, who came several
times to negotiate for favorable terms.
He describes the second interview:
“When I demanded (Certain terms)
that of him, though he is usually well
able to control himself, he rose to
his full hight and said, ‘That is an
indignity!’ I would not allow myself
to make a blunder, but I spoke to him
in German what to make of it. Then
he began in a querulous tone —'But
M Le Comte, you are aware that I
know no German!’ I replied to him,
this time in French, “When you spoke
just now of indignity I found that I
did not understand French suf
ficiently, so I proceeded to speak In
German, when I know both what I
say and hear? He at once caught my
meaning and as a concession wrote
out what P had proposed and what
he had formerly considered an in
dignity.” Thiers afterward described
Bismarck as an amiable barbarian.
Garibaldi had helped the French
and thereby Incurred Bismarck’s dis
pleasure. He excluded the Italian
from the armistice, and in reply to
Jules Favre’s remonstrance Bismarck
bluntly said, “As tor this foreign ad
venturer with his cosmopolitan re
public and his band of revolutionaries
from all quarters of the globe, I could
not recognize his rights.”
Favre asked what he would do with
Garibaldi If caught. "Oh, we will show
him about for money, with a placard
round his neck labelled 'lngratitude.”’
“With the French,” he remarks,
"everything lies In a magnificent at
titude. a pompous speech, and an im
pressive theatrical mien. If it only
sounds right and looks like some
thing, the meaning is all one. . . .
Ths gift of oratory has ruined much
In parliamentary life. Time is wasted
because everyone who feels ab'lity in
that Une must have his word, even
THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION
President Wilson in a proclamation yesterday designated Thurs
day, November 28, as Thanksgiving day, and said this year the
American people have special and moving cause to be grateful and
rejoice. Complete victory, he said, has brought not only peace, but
the confident promise of a new day as well, in which ‘‘justice shall
replace force and jealous intrigue among the nations.”
The proclamation follows: —
“By the president of the United States of America.
A PROCLAMATION
“It has long been our custom to turn in the autumn of the year
in praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for his many blessings
and mercies to us as a nation. This year we have special and mov
ing cause to be grateful and to rejoice. God has in his good pleasure
given us peace. It has not come as a mere cessation of arms, a mere
relief from the strain and tragedy of war. It has come as a great
triumph of right. Complete victory has brought us, not peace alone
but the confident promise of a new day as well, in which justice shall
replace force and jealous intrigue among the nations. Our gallant
armies have participated in a triumph which is not marked or stained
by any purpose of selfish aggression. In a righteous cause they have
won immortal glory and have nobly served their nation in serving
mankind.
“God has indeed been gracious. We have cause for such re
joicing as revives and strengthens in us all the best traditions of na
tional history. A new day shines about us in which our hearts take
new courage and look forward with new hope to new and greater
duties.
“While we render thanks for these things, let us not forget to
seek the divine guidance in the performance of these duties and divine
mercy and forgiveness for all errors of act or purpose, and pray that
in all that we do we shall strengthen the ties of friendship and mutual
respect upon which we must assist to build the new structure of
peace and good will among the nations.
“Wherefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States
of America, do hereby designate Thursday, the 28th day of Novem
ber next, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, and invite the people
throughout the land to cease upon that day from their ordinary occu
pations and in their several homes and places of worship to render
thanks to God, the ruler of nations.
“In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused
the seal of the United States to be affixed.
“Done in the District of Columbia, this 16th day of November, in
the year pf our Lord 1918, and of the independence of the United
States ot America, the 143 d.
“WOODROW WILSON.”
By the President, ROBERT LANSING, Secretary of State.
if he has no new point to bring for
ward. Speaking Is too much in the
air, and too little to the point. Every
thing is already settled in commit
tees; a man speaks at length, there
fore. only for the public, to whom he
wishes to show off as much as pos
sible. and still more for the news
papers which are to praise him. Ora
tory will one day come to be looked
upon as a generally harmful quality,
and a man will be punished who al
lows himself to be guilty of a long
speech.”
One of the most important treaties
of peace between two nations took
place in this country at Portsmouth.
It was the settlement of the Japanese-
Russian war. But how many person-,
know that the war came within an
ace of being renewed? Col Roosevelt
was president then, and it was largely
through' him and Melville Stone, tho
veteran manager of the Associated
Press, that the catastrophe Was
averted.
The Japanese through a Mr Ka
neko had promised the president that
Japan would not ask for an indem
nity. and on the strength of that the
peace treaty was to be signed. But
the Japanese commissioners unex
pectedly renewed the demand for an
Indemnity and then Count WMte pre-
T-ared to cable a single word code to
St Petersburg which would have
meant a battle .involving a million
men. If the demand for the indem
nity was pressed Witte was io leave
the conference room at 11.50 a. m.
and to say to one of his secretaries,
* Send for my Russian cigarets.” That
was the signal agreed upon. Thar
was the plan on a certain Monday
night.
"On Tuesday morning." says Mr
Stone. “Roosevelt received a message
from Komura assuring him that Ka
neko was a quite responsible gen
tleman, and that we had made no
mistake in receiving and dealing with
nim. With this we awaited the result
from the naval stores room at Kit
tery Point, five miles from Ports
mouth. with intense interest.
Up there it was a situation that. In
point of dramatic interest, has rarely
been equaled. The conference met.
The utmost secrecy respecting the
proceedings prevailed. Then the fatc
frl hour of 11.50 arrived. And Witte
came from the room—but not to ask
for his Russian cigarets. Instead,
with flushed face and snapping eyes,
he uttered, not the expected five Rus
sian words, but two—"Gospoda, mir! '
—Gentlemen, peace!
Grant’s Kindness to Lee
After the civil war—or rather in
tile midst of the civil war—the terms
of peace were negotiated at Appoma
tox. With Grant it was a dictated
peace. He called for unconditional
surrender. But when the question ot
horses came to be considered. Grant
told the confederate chieftain that he
should keep them. "Thev will be
needed for spring plowing? l he said
in his quiet way. It was this spirit
of conciliation that helped to bring
about harmony between the North an!
the South'. “Let us have peace” was
tho cry of Grant and it was echoed
throughout the land and made him as
well beloved in the South as in the
North.
The Mexican Peace Treaty
The Mexican war collapsed with the
abdication of Santa Ana. a provi
sional government was establ.sbed at
Queretaro and began negotiations for
peace with Mr Trial, who was the
United States representative. With
peace in sight the Mexican Congress
delayed over trifles to such an extent
that the negotiations were broken oft
and Scott with a strongly reinforced
army started to move into the in
terior. The Mexican commissioner
quickly signed the treaty—the his
toric event taking place in the town
of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2,
lb IS.
By this treaty Mexico ceded to the
United States New Mexico, upper Cali
fornia »nd Texas to the Rio Grande,
in return for the payment of $15.-
000,009. It was agreed that $5,000,009
of this should be paid in cash and
the remainder on instalments. This
country agreed to take care of unpaid
claims of American citizens against
Mexico and to keep our Indians from
making raids across the frontier.
These annoying conditions were after
ward rescinded a few years later by
the payment on the part of the United
States of an additional $10,000,000.
It is interesting to note, however,
that the war did not end when the
combatants "ceased firing.” There
were nil sorts of difficulties before the
armistice was signed, and after that
a prolonged debate in the Senate on
the peace terms. The southerners
wanted additional slave territory ant
the New England statesmen, led by
Webster, wanted none at all. Between
them it looked for a time a s If the
war would be renewed—ano ir It had
been Mexico would pave been wiped
out as g nation. President Polk, how
ever, advocated a middle course, and
the treaty was finally ratified on March
1, 1848.
We had 100 000 men in the Mexi
can war and that was considered
"some nrmy" in those days. Only
1400 fell in battle or were wounded
hut more than 10.000 died from dl«
ease. The cost of *he war was SIOO.-
000,000 which must seem like a flea
bite when, compared with the stupen
dous sums expended by the United
States in this, the world’s greatest
war.
An Experienced Treaty Maker
Your Uncle Samuel is hot new to
the business of making trea’ies. It
began after the Revolution when
Great Britain signed the scrap ot
paper that gave all of the country be
tween the Atlantic and the Mississippi
to the new United States of America.
In 1795 we made a treaty, with Spain
whereby we were allowed to use New
Orleans as a port of deposit. The
same year we signed a pact with Al
giers by which these pirates were
paid sso,ooo and an annual tribute
cf $23,000 on the promise not to dis
turb American sailors.
After the war of. 1812 We signed
another treaty of peace with Eng
land. It took place at Ghent in Bel
gium, December 24, 1814. but the
news came to this country after the
ftmous battle of New Orleans, which
was fough' on January 8. That war
cost the United States $200,000,000.
but it was cheap at the price.
It was the treaty which the United
States made with Japan on May 31,
1854. which led to the wonderful de
velopment of that country. It Oc
curred during the administration of
Pierce. At that time the only port
op»n to the world was Nagasaki. Tn
1853. Commodore Perry went with
letters to the Japanese government
asking them to onen commercial re
lations with the United States. He
anchored outside of Yokohama. He
was told that he would have to go
to Nagasaki, but refused and said he
would stay there until his letters were
accepted. They were accepted in the
end.
The last notable treaty signed by
the United States was the outcome of
the Spanish-American war. When
Spain sued for peace, commissioners
were appointed, and they met in Paris
in the latter part of 1898. On De
cember 10 of that year the treaty, of
peace was finally signed. By the
terms of that document Spain lost
Cuba. Porto Rico, the Philippines and
Gaum in the Ladrones. The United
States acreed to pay Spain $20,000.-
000 for the Philippines. This treaty
was ratified by the Senate, February
6, 1899.
AIMS OF THE NEW NATION
Territory of the Jugo-Slav State
Will Approximate That of Italy
in Size
[Correspondence of Associated Press’
LONDON. Friday. November 8
If the Jugo-Slavs achieve their as
pirations they will have a state of
about the tame area as Italy. Dr
Ante Trumbig. president of the Jugo
slav committee, which has Just ar
rived in London, gives a comprehend
sive outline' of his people’s aims, the
first of which is that all the Jugo
slav lands shall be liberated from
Austria-Hungary and united with the
independent kingdom of Servia and
Montenegro into one .Tugo-Slav state.
"Our state," he said, "should com
prise the territory bounded on the
east by Bulgaria and Rumania, on
the north by Hungary, on the west
by the Adriatic, on the northwest by
German-Austria, and on the south by
Greece and Albania.”
These boundaries take in about
100,000 square miles, with a popula
tion of 12,000.000.
“I cannot say,” he continued, “what
place we should make our capital nor
the kind of government we are likely
to establisr. When we are liberated
there will be a Constituent Assembly
■which will settle everything in regard
to government and administration,
“Our industries are in ah embryonic
stage. We have not been able to de
velop them because, our oppressors
have always tried to concentrate our
Industries in their hands. They have
exploited our land by taking the raw
materials. Our country is rich in ag
ricultural products, wood, iron, cop
per, aluminum and coal. The Aus
trian took our wood from Bosnia and,
Croatia and gave us nothing for it
The wood known in commerce as
Austrian oak all comes from Croatia.
“We came under the Austrian yoke
as far back as 1A27. when the Croa
tians chose the Austrian Emperor
Ferdinand I for their king. They ex
pected great help from him in ex
pelling the Turks, who had already
conquered Servia. Bosnia and part of
Croatia. The Crontians were to re
main a fully autonomous people. In
course of time the Austrians, almost
suppressed our- autonomy. In 11)08
they broke their agreement by mak
ing our country an Integral part of
thel territory, and this nearly caused
a European war.”
Referring to the act of Croatian In
fantry In disarming the Magyur
honved garrison at Flume. Dr Trum
,blg said It was a slgnlflbant fact that
’ the Croats thus word the first to raise
armed rebellion in Austria-Hungary.
"This Croatian regiment.” he went on.
"has vindicated the right nt Croatia
to Flume, which was stolen from the
Croats."
GEN ED WARDS ON26TH
NEW ENGLAND REGIMENT
6000 CITED FOR BRAVERY
Has Fought Without a Single Best
Period—lo4th the Only Regi
ment to Be Decorated
by French
. The story of the heroism of the 26th
division, of which the 104th regiment
is a unit, was told by Gen Clarence
R,‘ Edwards, its former commander,
in an interview in Washington Satur
day with M. E. Hennessy of the Bos
ton Globe, and published in the Globe
that evening. The story is in part as
follows:—
In a two-hours’ talk I had to-day
with Gen Clarence Edwards, late
commander of the Yankee or 26th
division of the American expedition
ary forces in France, made up of
New England men, I heard the story
us the wonderful deeds of daring of
the men of this division from the
lips of the man who organized it,
sailed with it to France and for the
past year led it in more than a score
of bloody encounters with the Hun.
Gen Edwards landed in New York
yesterday (Friday), but until to-day.
when the war department gave its
permission to him to tell the story
of the fighting Yankees in France,
his lips had been sealed.
The department also granted Gen
Edwards leave to visit Bos .on, where
at a public meeting he will relate to
♦lie people of New England some
thing of their heroic sons.
6000 Men Cited
"The saviors of Paris.'' the French
people call the Yankee division. “Tho
shock troops of the American forces
in France,” it has been called by
others.
More than 6000 of its men have
been cited for bravery. One regi
ment. the 104th infantry, made up of
the o.d 2d Massachusetts and parts
of the historic 6th and Sth Massa
chusets. commanded at one time by
Col George H. Shelton, was decorated.
No other regimsnt has been thus hon
ored by the French.
More than 700 of the division have
won the distinguished service medal
and the croix de guerre.
Tho 26th division has been on the
fighting front nine months, and in
all that time it has not had a single
rest period. Promised it three times,
it was about to go into a quiet sector
when it was ordered back to the
iront. because of the activities of the.
boches.
First of National Guard to Go Over
Some newspapers and some army
officials have claimed that the 42d,
or Rainbow division, made up. like ■
the 26th, of former members of the
national guard, has seen the longest
service in France of former state
troops, but that is not true. That
honor belongs to the Yankee divi
rion. which left New York September
5. 1917, landed in France September
2(>, and at once went, into quarters at
Ne ufc bateau.
After one month’s training it went
Into the Chemin des Dames sector,
where it saw its first fighting Febru
ary 1, IHIB.
The New England boys have been
fighting ever since and were in the
thick of it in the Verdun sector when
the Germans,, no longer able to with
stand the terrific onslaughts of the
troops of the allies, hoisted the white
flag and begged for a truce.
Such, in brief, is the record of the
26th division. It is a thrilling story,
as related to-day by its first com
mander in the parlor of his bereaved
home on Eighteenth street; this city.
He and his wife had just returned
from a visit to the grave of . their only
child, a beautiful young woman, who
gave her life nursing the soldiers sick,
with influenza at Camp Meade. She
had a military funeral, an honor s.elr
dom paid a woman by the army.
What Germans Thought of 26th
Present when Gen Edwards told the
story were his aid. Maj Hyatt, and ex-
Lieut William L. Drohan, who was in
valided home some time ago. Lieut
Drohan, when leaving France, prom
ised Gen Edwards that he would be on
the dock to meet him when he returned
home. He missed him by a few hours
in New York yesterday. Finding that
the general had left for Washington,
Drohan took the midnight train for
this city and he is the guest of his
former commander.
"There he is." said Drohan, with a
wave of the hand as the general cifilie
into tho room, "the finest man in the
American army, bar none, and the. only
friend the national guard had over
there.”
"No man ever commanded a flitef
body of troops than the 26th division,"
declared the general. ” ‘The preniler
American regiment,’ our French
friends called it, and I had the satis
faction of having a German officer ask
me how many 26th divisions there
were in the American expeditionary
forces. I told him only one, and ho
replied that there must be more, be
cause he had met the division so many
times on the most stubbornly-contest
ed ground.
“The 26th was among the first
over,” went on Gen Edwards, "and
we had to do a great many things that
later arrivals were not called upon to
do. Our men had to do railroad and
other building work. It was neces
sary, and they 1 did it as cheerfully as
they did everything they were ordered
to do.
"At my request the entire division
was moved up to the Chemin-des-
Dames sector. We stayed there 46
days. We then entrained under heavy
shell fire at Soissons and took posi
tion at Bar-sur-Aube. From there we
went to Rencourt for a training pe
riod.
"The day we arrived there was
trouble in the Toul sector. We did our
bit by taking over IS kilometers of
front, by far the biggest sector given
any American force up to that time.
Stay In Ton! Sector
"We remained there three months,
when we were ordered to Fanton, a
suburb of Paris, and several neigh
boring villages. Soon after that we
were ordered to relieve the 2d divi
sion. We took over that sector July 9.
"On the 18th of July the infantry
wont over the top.-The artillery went
over on the 25th. On August 4 we
were in the Meuse sector and we were
ordered to Chatlllon. After 10 days ot
hard .carrtpaigning we were ordered to
the St Mthlel salient, taking over two
sectors.
"Right at this spot In 1915 30.000
brave Frenchmen laid down their
Ilves to stem the German tide, which
was rushing onward, engulfing 15
French divisions in the attack. Now
mark you. We went over the top on
the 12th ot September. After this we
were ordered to take over what we
culled the Naw England sector, but
Which the French called the Troyon,
part ot the highta ot the Meu»e. Thera
we remained from September 14 to
October 5, and then we moved up into
the Verdun sector.
“Saviors of Paris”
"Let the good people of New Eng
land remember that the only sol
diers between the boche and Paris in
the terrific fighting In July last were
the boys of the 26th division, the
only American regiment to be deco
rated for bravery was the l()4th regi
ment of the Yankee division com
manded by Col Shelton—ll 7 of them
were given the croix de guerre and
personally decorated by a famous
French general.
"When any of our boys went to
Paris after they had saved , that city
the girls used to kiss them and hall
them as the saviors of Paris. That
proves, I think, what kind of a record
the Yankee division made on the soil
of France. Is it any wonder that I
am proud of it?
"I regarded them as under my care
and I went among them at all times.
And the way they would salute! It
would do you good to see them. Head
erect and snap in their every move
ment.”
"Let me tell you a little story which
I think illustrates the spirit of those
boys.” broke in May Hyatt. "I think
the general will recall this. A private
was dying in tho hospital, and ho
asked to see Gen Edwards. You know
there wasn’t a man in that division
who wanted to see Gen Edwards and
had any kind of an excuse for asking
this privilege but what had his re
quest granted.
“I’m sorry to say that Gen Edwards
did not arrive at the hospital until
after the poor fellow passed away, and
he regretted it very much. The chap
lain told him that when he told the
soldier that he was going to die. the
fellow perked up and said: 'Chaplain,
don’t feel so bad about it What in
hell do you think I came to France
for. anyway?* ”
At another time in the interview Maj
Hyatt interrupted to show Gen. Ed
wards and myself a letter just re
ceived from E. V. Rickenbacher of
the 94th aero squadron, saying that
everybody in France knew that, the
Yankee division was the finest division
over there.
The Brave Chaplains
"And such a bunch of two-fisted
chaplains as we had in that outfit,”
went on the general. "Every one of
them a real man. Poor Danker of
Worcester was killed. Rollins, no long
er with the division, I am told, has
been wounded. Father Murphy is still
the division chaplain. Every one of
the chaplains. I believe, have won the
croix de guerre.
"I would match our motor corps
against any other riders in the entire
American army. The night I was
notified- that my dear daughter was
dead I'wanted to get a cable through
to Mrs Edwards. The roads were bad
and it was raining hard. The nearest
office where I could file the dispatch
was 14 miles distant.
"Every one of them volunteered to
get the message through. I shall never
forget the youngster who started off
with that sad message. He had worked
hard for many hours, but. as always,
when their general wanted them to do
anything they were there with willing
hands and stout hearts.
Men Won honors on Their Merit
“If one will read my general orders
issued from time to time one will get
an excellent idea of What th? Yankee
division did in France,” continued Gen
Edwards. “It is a brief and official ac
count, which is a part of the records
of the American expeditionary forces
It tells the story better than I can
do it now, as it was set down from
day to day.
“Nothing is exaggerated. No man
was recommended for honors of any
kind unless he was entitled to it, and
only after such recommendations from
his company commander or higher of
ficers were rigidly inquired into.
Therefore. I can say without fear ot
contradiction that every man who was
cited, decorated or promoted won hi?
honors and got them on his merits.
Praised by French Generals
“From the outset the French ad
mired nnd recognized the Yankee di
vision as brave conjrades-in-arms.
worthy of the highest honors they
could bestow
“We were first associated, with the
11th army corps of the French forces,
commanded by Gen Maudhuy, who, on
March 15. when we were leaving their
sector, issued an order to his troops In
which he praised the men of the 26th
division ani announced that the com
.manffing general of the Yankee divi
sion -had been pleased to consider the
11th corps as godfather to the 26th
division,
. " ’Tho 11th corps feels proud? wroto
Gen, Maudhuy, ‘of the marked honor,
being sure that, wherever he may be
sent, the godson shall do credit to the
godfather.’
"And I’d like the fathers and
mothers, wives and sweethearts' ot
these brave boys of the Yankee divi
sibn to read what -that great French
Commander. Gen Passage, said of our
lf4th infantry in decorating the mem
bers of that splendid fighting unit.
The decoration was conferred, he
said, ‘for the greatest lighting spirit
and self-sacrifice during action of
April 10. 12 arid 13. Sufftrlng from
the very heavy bombardments anj
attacked by very strong German
forces, succeeded In preventing thelr
dangerous advance and with greatest
energy reconquered at the point oftthe
IjSiyohet the few ruined trenches which
had to be abandoned at the first out
set, at the same time making pris
oners.’
"Not long afterward Gen Gerard,
ccmm.wder of the Sth corps of ths
French army, complimented the 101st
infantry, commanded by Col Logan,
for its brilliant and successful raid
on the Camp du Moulin.
“Again on June 20 Geh Passaga
recognized the splendid work of the
lo3d infantry of this division at
Xivray and Seicheprey. The enemy
was everywhere thrown back, leav
ing numerous prisoners in the hands
of the Americans. ‘This brilliant ac
tion does the greatest honor to the
Jtlth division, and particularly to the
103 d Infantry, Col Hume command
ing.’ said the French general in his
announcement.
“When we were leaving the 324
French corps. Gen Passaga issued the
following order:—
“ ’At the moment when the 26th
ditision of infantry of the United
States is leaving the 32d French
corps, I salute its colors and thank
it for the splendid services it has ren
dered here to the common cause
"'Under the distinguished com
mand of their chief, Gen Edwards,
the high-spirited soldiers of the Tan
kee division have taught the enemy
some bitter lessons, at Bois Brule, at
S'Jcheprey. at Xlvray-Marvoisln;
they have taught him to realize the
stanch vigor of the sons of the great
republic, fighting for the world's
ft eedom.
“‘My heartiest good wishes will ac
company the Yankee division always
in its future combats.'
“Regarding the fighting by the 2<ith
at Chateau Thierry and Solsaons.
Gen Degoutte, commander of, the sth
army, said: ‘I cou.'d not have done
better In a similar oacaslon with my
lest troops.’
The 2«th at R» Mlhie)
“The part which the Yankee divi
sion played In the terrific fighting in
the Mihlel salient' is particularly
gratifying to me," the general vonln-
ued. “We captured 8400 prison/rs.
much ammunition, stores of ewery
kind, released many civilian prison - i
ers and occupied a dozen or more
surrounding towns to the great-' de
light of the inhabitants.
"After the fighting of September
25 Gen Blandlat, commander of the
2d colonial army corps, asked that
the Ist battalion of the 102 d be cited
for the heroism at Bois re Chauffor
to Mesnil, saying, among other
things—
“ 'The spirit of sacrifice and mag
nificent courage displayed by the
troops of the 26th United States di
vision on this occasion were certain
ly not in vain; they serin to me
worthy of recompense and praise;
therefore, I directed the general com
manding this division to address
propositions to me on this subject.
Just befoic Gen Edwards was re
lieved from command, Gen Andlauer,
commanding the 18th French division
of Infantry, wrote him as follows:—
"At the moment that the 18th divi
sion of infantry fs relieved in its sec- .
tor by the 26 D. I. U. S„ I wish to I
send you mv heartiest thanks for the
support given to its comrades of the
77th regiment by the 104th infantry,
which since its arrival in the sector
attacked with tanks and succeeded,
thanks to a stubborn infantry bat
tle in forcing the evacuation of half
of the edge of tho Bois D’Haumont
by the enemy.”
The day Gen Edwards -was relieved,
Gen Claudel, commanding the 17th
French army corps, wrote him the
following letter:—
"General —The reputation of your
division preceded it here far ahead.
"To all its titles of glory gained in
fierce struggles, and only recently ata
the signal .of Hattonchatel, it ha 6
added on the 23d of October a pag/e
which perhaps is more modest, bolt
still does it great honor.
"In a few hours, as at a maneuver,
it has gained all the objectives as
signed to it in the difficult sector of
the woods of Houppy. Httayes and
Bellea. This operation is evidence in-j
deed of superior instruction, mobility!
and will, 1
"I do not know how to thank youj
sufficiently for your assistance. deaJ
general, and it is my great desire tfl
express to you all our grateful acM
miration for your splendid divisiq/1
which thus has added its name to J I
of those who have fought to hurl / I
enemy back from the outskirts* I
Verdun.” J! 1
WE’RE GOING TOO FAST
ALLIES ARE STILL AT WAR.
All They Have So Far Is Only a
Scrap of Paper — Must Be
Beady to Enforce Armi
stice Conditions
By Elent-Col Repington
[By Cable to the New York World.]
Special Dispatch to The Republican
LONDON. Sunday^ November 17
We seem to be going too fast In
our plans for demobilization and the
shutting down of military measures.
We are still at war. What we have
secured at present is a scrap of paper
signed by Erzberger, Oberndorf?,
Winterfeldt and Von Salow, but the
execution of the conditions laid down
in the armistice have scaroely begun
and need not be completed until De
cember 12..
In case of any infraction of the
terms, the- armistice is liable to be
renounced at 48 hours' notice. Up to
December 12 , the associated allies’
governments have time to agreo
among themselves concerning the de
tails of peace conditions laid down'
by Wilson, and only then can the
peace conference take place. I hope
at this conference we may deal with
each enemy state separately as we
did In the case ot the armistice, hot
on this subject nothing yet has been
announced.
The armies of the associated pow
ers. under clause 11. are to keep pace
with the German evacuation. There
are several points in the French text
which have been omitted from the
text printed in England, notably
clause 34, which In the French text
shows that the principles of a per
manent international armistice com
mission have been adopted.
As we have not demanded the de
mobilization of the German armies,
and as the character and intentions of
the German government which will
be iji power by December 12 are most
uncertain, the military strength of
the associated powers must not be
diminished and must remain so ar
ranged that the war may be resumed
at any moment.
I do not personally think it is I
right or prudent to relax any of our
military precautions in France or at
home until all the conditions of 'he
a"mlstice have been exactly executed^
and even after that time demobiliza
tion can only follow the German
practice, while we shall leave behind
us allied armies of occupation which
will. I assume, only retire zone by
zone as peace conditions, and notably
payments for damages done during
tho war are carried Into effect.
Enemy Must Be Impressed
The overwhelming strength and
efficiency of the allied armies must
be Impressed upon the enemy in bls
own territory. Therefore I am not nt
al! in favor of any relaxation of < ur
pieparations until the armistice con-1
ditfons are carried out, until the Ger-1
man armies are demobilized and >-e-l
duced to the smallest possible police!
establishment, and until we feel as-j
sured the intentions of tha new Ger J
man government are good and tha»
the feeling of the German people if
in conformity everywhere with thesT
good intentions J
(Copyright, 1918, by the Press FuW-
lishing Company.) [
PARIS FOR CONFERENCE
Expectation That Great Peace
Meeting Will Be Held There
[By the Associated Press.] j
PARIS, Wednesday, November 14 i
The general -feeling .of the assoi
ciated governments is that Versailles,
Paris, is the moat convenient place to,
hold the peace, conference and if th: J
were decided upon it also would serv>»"
as a recognition of the paramomft
position of France in the War. /
In addition tc these considerations
there are certain practical ones of
telegraph and cable facilities and
easy communication between ‘ the
capital and the ample living accom
modatlons, as compared with those m
the smaller Holland and Swi.zerUmlf
cities. /
Agents ot the various allied coun
tries already are seeking large housed
Mr Paris for their delegations. Tii»l
American represi-ntation will movO
from the smell ne.sidenee which til
Hoii b and h's'Staff now occupy S
one much larger. K