THE INDIAN #14

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The war is ended!

Victory is ours!

The Angel of Peace has spread her wings over the stricken fields of France and Belgium.

The curtain has fallen on the last act of the greatest drama in the history of the world.

Your task is now finished, and with the proud consciousness of duty well done, you can now turn your faces homeward.

The events of the past five years have revolutionized the thought of our people. No person living on this earth would have ventured the prediction a little over five years ago that, in 1918, America would place an army in Europe, which would engage in battle and decisively defeat the armies of what was then regarded as the most redoubtable military nation in the world; still less, would any one have ventured to predict the presence of a victorious American army on the east bank of the Rhine, or that, in 1919, the President of the United States of America would join with the plenipotentiaries of nearly all the nations of the world in writing the most momentous treaty ever penned by the hand of man.

Yet these things have been done!

The officers and men of the Second Division have just cause to be proud of the part played by them in the historic events which led up to the conclusion of peace. In the prosecution of this great adventure of our nation, the Second Division has won imperishable renown.

It fought almost continuously from March 15 to November 11, 1918.

It defeated the enemy in five great battles, or series of battles, and while its casualties were grievously heavy, yet the sacrifice was not in vain, as its victories had the most far-reaching results.

In March, April and May, 1918, it held the Toulon-Troyon Sector, near Verdun.

In June it attacked the then victorious enemy, northwest of Chateau Thierry, stopped his advance on Paris, and drove him back step by step until he had relinquished his hold on the Bois de Belleau, Bouresches and Vaux.

In July, it, together with the First American and First French Moroccan Divisions, thrust a spear point deep into the western flank of the great Marne Salient, near Soissons, and forced the retreat of the huge enemy army to the north bank of the Marne, and thence to the Vesle.

In August it served in the Marbache Sector, near Pont a Mousson.

In September it took part in the battle of St. Mihiel, over-ran the enemy's lines and captured Thiaucourt and Jaulny, together with 3,300 prisoners and 120 cannon.

In October it attacked with the Fourth French Army in the Champagne, broke through the hostile lines, seized Blanc Mont Ridge and St. Etienne-a-Arnes, freed Rheims, and forced the retirement of the German army to the north bank of the Aisne.

In November, having rejoined the First American Army, it penetrated the enemy's lines in the Meuse-Argonne, demoralized his forces, and precipitated his retreat to the east bank of the Meuse. It led the advance to that river, and on the last night of the war-its leading battalions crossed the Meuse under a heavy fire, and established a bridgehead on the east bank.

In November and December, it participated in the advance of the Allied Armies to the Rhine, and it was selected to form a part of the garrison of the bridgehead on the east bank. There it has continued to serve, during the long months of vigil, patiently, cheerfully, and with high spirit.

Officers and men, you have given yourselves completely to the patriotic duty of defending your country's honor, but I believe that you have received much in return. I believe that when you take up once more your former pursuits, you will be better, truer, more unselfish, and more patriotic men, by reason of the hardships and the sufferings you have

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This is the last number of The Indian to be published by the Second Division while on active service. It is the final number to be gotten out by the present staff. And in this connection the editors wish to express to the men who have labored so long and faithfully in the work of making this paper, their deep appreciation.

This applies not only to the members of the staff, but to every man in the division who did anything toward drawing sketches and cartoons, writing stories, or selling and handling the circulation .

These men have worked long and hard. Men who have done most of the cover design work are Claggett Wilson, DeLong J. Murray, Dean C. Barnum, W. B. Calkins, E. L. Palmer, Grant Powers, G. M. Robertson and Evan T. Wilson, while many fine cartoons and sketches have been produced by Frank Druen, Bill Kenney, James A. Wallace, J. Keating, N. H. Haugen, A. J. Neukert, Louis P. Fox, Joseph Lange, W. G. Norwood, and many others.

The writers have been legion. One whose real name has thus far been hidden under a pen name has been "York Spur." York Spur is in reality Douglas H. Spencer, pharmacist's mate, third class, United States Navy, who is the "Navy man serving with the division," and whose philosophy each week has been one of the best features of the magazine.

And this leads us to remind the men of the division this is the first time the Army, Navy and Marine Corps have been combined in the field in one division. The three branches of the service, "United Services" for sure, have fought side by side all through this war.

endured, and the dangers you have faced. I believe, too, that our appreciation of our country and our admiration for its people and its institutions have grown greatly during our sojourn in Germany. I believe that until our dying days, whenever we recall to our minds the memory of our glorious flag flying over the Fortress of Ehrenbreitstein and over the cities of Germany, we will feel a thrill of patriotic emotion in every fiber of our being.

There is another point of view to be considered, too. While we are justly entitled to feel great pride in our own accomplishments, yet we must not allow ourselves to forget the heroism of our allies. They fought for about one-half as many years as we did months; over 1,000,000 Frenchmen, 700,000 British, and over 400,000 Italians laid down their lives to stem the advance of the almost victorious enemy. When we bid farewell to France, let us carry with us the memory of the lion-hearted men and women that we have there seen and known; and let us always cherish a feeling of genuine affection and sincere admiration for the dauntless men who held the enemy at bay against fearful odds, while America prepared itself in security to play its part in the great struggle.

At this hour, too, we bid farewell to our heroic comrades, who lie buried on the battlefields of France. It is meet, right, and our bounden duty, to pause for a brief space, say a prayer for them, and promise them that we will never fail our country in its hour of need, whether it be in peace or whether it be in war.

The Second Division is, once more, moving to another area. We don't have to ask the Regulating Officer what that area is. It is the spot of which we have ever thought and dreamed since we landed in France. It is the place where our hearts have always been. It is HOME.

There our dear ones are waiting to welcome us with outstretched arms. There we will begin life anew. I hope that all your fondest expectations may be realized, and I wish for you great success in all your undertakings and much joy and true happiness in the years to come.

I trust, however, that you will not forget the Second Division, but that you will assemble in great numbers at each of its annual reunions to renew the old ties of friendship, and to keep alive the spirit which inspired it and made it invincible.

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