ction as a separate unit under the direct command of its
great chief, General Pershing, Marshal Foch allotted them ten days for
the accomplishment of the task set for them, i.e., the ejection of the
German army from the strongly fortified St. Mihiel salient, which the
enemy had held for four years. They did it in thirty hours, and made a
complete and perfect job of it.

I have had the privilege of seeing these splendid boys of ours, in all
situations and circumstances, from their camps in America to the front
in France--the boys and their equally splendid leaders. The sacred
inspiration of what I have thus seen will stay with me to my last day.

I confess I find it hard to speak of them without a catch in my throat
and moisture in my eyes. I see them before me now in the fair land of
France--brave, strong, ardent; keen and quick-witted; kindly and clean
and modest and wholly free from boasting; good-humored and
good-natured; willingly submissive to unaccustomed discipline;
uncomplainingly enduring all manner of hardships and discomforts;
utterly contemptuous of danger, daring to a fault, holding life cheap
for the honor and glory of America. What true American can think of
them or picture them without having his heart overflow with grateful
and affectionate pride?

As I observed our army "over there," I felt that in them, in the mass
of them, representing as they do all sections and callings of America,
there had returned the ancient spirit of knighthood. I measure my
words. I am not exaggerating. If I had to find one single word with
which to characterize our boys, I should select the adjective
"knightly."

A French officer who commanded a body of French troops, fighting
fiercely and almost hopelessly in Belleau Wood near Chateau-Thierry
(since then officially designated by the French Government as the Wood
of the Marine Brigade), told me that when they had arrived almost at
the point of total exhaustion, suddenly the Americans appeared rushing
to the rescue. One of the American officers hurried up to him, saluted
and said in execrably pronounced French just six words:
"Vous--fatigues, vous--partir, notre job." "You--tired, you--get away,
our job." And right nobly did they do their job!

[1] "They shall not pass!" "We will get them."

*******************

Almost every soldier who goes into battle leaves a letter to be read in
the event of his death. Sturgis ("Spud") Pishon, a former famous
college