His operations since that time are well remembered.  Down to the day when at President Wilson’s earnest urging he was placed in supreme command of the allied armies on all fronts, March 29, 1918, he had been steadily victorious.  The week before, the Germans had begun their last and most powerful “drive.”  The manner in which General Foch sold terrain to them for the highest price they could be made to pay in German lives is understood now, and admired.  When he had teased them along and worn them down, he sharply altered his strategy and attacked with a force and continuity so terrific that it practically destroyed the German armies, and compelled Germany to beg for the armistice that ended the war.  From July 18, 1918, down to November 11, he pounded and powdered the enemy without cessation.

It is a matter of which Americans may well be proud that Marshal Foch, with keen judgment and knowledge of military values, selected the first and second divisions of the United States regular army to strike the first blow in that tremendous assault.  The only other troops participating were those of a French colonial division, from Morocco.

GENERAL PERSHING’S THANKSGIVING ADDRESS

Thanksgiving Day, 1918, was celebrated in the most befitting manner at the American Army headquarters in France.  After Bishop Brent’s benediction, a band concert was given.  General Pershing then addressed his victorious army as follows: 

“Fellow soldiers:  Never in the history of our country have we as a people, come together with such full hearts as on this greatest of all Thanksgiving days.  The moment throbs with emotion, seeking to find full expression.  Representing the high ideals of our countrymen and cherishing the spirit of our forefathers who first celebrated this festival of Thanksgiving, we are proud to have repaid a debt of gratitude to the land of Lafayette and to have lent our aid in saving civilization from destruction.

“The unscrupulous invader has been driven from the devastated scenes of his unholy conquest.  The tide of conflict which during the dark days of midsummer threatened to overwhelm the allied forces has been turned into glorious victory.  As the sounds of battle die away and the beaten foe hurries from the field it is fitting that the conquering armies should pause to give thanks to the God of Battles, who has guided our cause aright.

“VICTORY OUR GOAL”

“Victory was our goal.  It is a hard won gift of the soldier to his country.

“In this hour of thanksgiving our eternal gratitude goes out to those heroes who loved liberty better than life, who sleep yonder, where they fell; to the maimed, whose honorable scars testify stronger than words to their splendid valor, and to the brave fellows whose strong, relentless blows finally crushed the enemy’s power.

“Nor in our prayer shall we forget the widow who freely gave the husband more precious than her life, nor those who, in hidden heroism, have impoverished themselves to enrich the cause, nor our comrades who in more obscure posts here and at home have furnished their toll to the soldiers at the front.