Transcriber's Note:
1. Minor print errors corrected. Details at the end of this text.
2. All dialect spelling has been retained.
"AND THEY THOUGHT WE
WOULDN'T FIGHT"
BY
FLOYD GIBBONS
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
ACCREDITED TO THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
NEW YORK
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
Copyright, 1918,
By George H. Doran Company
Printed in the United States of America
FLOYD GIBBONSTO
GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING
AND
THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
I RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE THIS INADEQUATE RECORD
IN REVERENT MEMORY OF
OUR SACRED DEAD
ON FIELDS IN FRANCE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
to The Chicago Tribune for the opportunity
he enjoyed as a correspondent of
that paper, in the service of which he secured
the material for these papers.
Personal.
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
France, August 17, 1918.
Mr. Floyd Gibbons,
Care Chicago Tribune,
420 Sue Saint-Honore,
Paris.
Dear Mr. Gibbons:
At this time, when you are returningto America, I wish to express to you myappreciation of the cordial cooperationand assistance you have always given usin your important work as correspondentof the Chicago Tribune in France. Ialso wish to congratulate you on the honorwhich the French government has done youin giving you the Croix de Guerre, whichis but a just reward for the consistentdevotion to your duty and personal braverythat you have exhibited.
My personal regrets that you areleaving us at this time are lessened bythe knowledge of the great opportunityyou will have of giving to our people inAmerica a true picture of the work of theAmerican soldier in France and of impressingon them the necessity of carrying onthis work to the end, which can be accomplishedonly by victory for the Alliedarms. You have a great opportunity, andI am confident that you will grasp it,as you have grasped your past opportunities,with success. You have alwaysplayed the game squarely and withcourage, and I wish to thank you.
Sincerely yours,
John J. Pershing.
G. Q. G. A. le July 28, 1918.
Commandement en Chef
des Armées Allies
Le Général...