Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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II confusion. Then it was that the glad news sped with incredible rapid¬ ity over the world that the Americans could rank with the best. This was the beginning of the end for German hopes, for they were then de¬ feated at St. Mihiel and in the bloody battles of the Argonne Forest. However, all this military success could not have been made pos¬ sible had it not been for the encouragement given the soldiers by different relief corps from America. The achievements of the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Salvation Army, K. of C. can never be overpraised. It is impos¬ sible to mention all the forms of the aid given by these organizations. They relieved Belgian and French children, aided the wounded, offered amusement to the living, and buried the dead. Nevertheless, in rejoicing over the admirable owrk done by our soldiers and war workers across the sea, let us not forget those left behind at home. Without a murmur, without a complaint, they obeyed the various orders of conservation and willingly economized that the people in the areas of war might not suffer. For truth to tell it was the lack of food which drove Bulgaria to surrender; hunger was the cause of Turkey’s collapse, the fear of starvation brought Austria to terms, and the suffering from lack of food led in the causes rendering it imperative for Germany to sign the disgraceful armistice. And this was not all. Let us not forget the part played by American money which aided the Allies to buy or manufacture ammunition, clothes, and equipments for their soldiers. And now let us ask ourselves: Wherein lay the secret that allowed the soldiers of the United States to cope successfully with the long-pre¬ pared Germans? It lay in the democratic education afforded in the American public school. It was there that were laid the strong founda¬ tion of character which enabled the American citizen to become a suc¬ cessful soldier in a few months. Lack of universal education was re¬ sponsible for the downfall of Russia; too much military training was the death knell of Germany. The German was a military machine first, and a man last; the Americans are men first, and then soldiers. Let us glory in the thought that we are Americans, being graduated from an American school under the protection of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, the American government. Frank Joseph Moschilli CLASS HISTORY History, which like a mammoth chain links the past with the present and in turn the present with the future, has chronicled in the last few years some of the greatest events the world has ever known. We have seen a great, despotic military machine overthrown by the forces of justice and rierht. We have seen the autocratic leaders of a tyran¬ nical nation bend their knee before the flaming sword of democracy. We have witnessed the rescue of a suffering world from the inferno of an imperialistic war into which was plunged almost the entire world. The pen of the historian will write indelibly upon the pages of time these memorable events, but it is only the far-sighted chronicler who will note the passing of this class and its corresponding effect upon the future of the world. For the last four years we have been making history. From that morning in the fall of 1915 until to-night, the eve of our graduation, every day of our presence within the Milford High School has had its vast significance. Clearly do we recall that morning when for the first

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10 of Trieste, and of other lands long oppressed by Austria. And so it was with many of the nations allied against the common foe, each anticipating a certain gain from participation in the world conflict. But among these was one country who looked for no reward; one nation who fought with no hope of recompense, no desire for the acquisition of further territory, no fear of a rival nation. This was the United States of America. Once again did she show her love of liberty. In 1776 she fought for freedom from the tyranny of England. In 1866 she strove for the freedom of the Negro. But those were struggles in one country. In 1917 she fought for the freedom of the whole world. That the United States did not wish to enter the war was easily seen from her apparent ignoring of German atrocities. Though brand¬ ed a coward and despised by Germany, still she would not declare war. But at last her great patience was exhausted. The mute appeal of ravished Belguim and weeping France touched her heart. The bold declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare aroused he r anger. The last straw was reached when the Lusitania with numerous American citizens on board was sunk without warning. Immediately she pre pared for war, and so earnest, so energetic, so patriotic was her prep¬ aration, that nothing but disaster could be the hope of the Huns. Months before war was declared, she began the preparation of her navy, having realized the possibility of the entrance into the world con¬ flict because of the ruthless submarine warfare of the Germans. Her merchant ships were armed for protection against the U-boats and trained naval crews were placed in charge of the guns. This prepar¬ ation was called “an armed neutrality’ , but no sooner was war declared than the navy was put immediately on a war basis. Many more ships were built and so numerous were the enlistments that by the end of 1918, the number of men had increased three fold. It was this pre¬ paredness which enabled Admiral S ' ms to reply proudly, “We can start at once,” when he was questioned by the British commander concerning the preparedness of the American Navy. Then it was that the number of U-boat victims began to decrease. Then were Germany’s hopes of starving the Allies shattered, as an increasingly number of relief ships were enabled to reach Europe. But the greatest work was the trans¬ portation with the aid of allied vessels of over two million soldiers who made allied victory possible. With only six months training these men were pitted against a foe whose training extended to six years. There was much skepticism among the Allies over the conduct of the Americans in battle, but when the valor of this army was shown at Cantigny, the first town captured by the United States army, their fears began to lessen. Yet it was not until the terrible fighting about Chateau-Thierry that all doubts were forever removed. For it was there that the high tide of German mil¬ itarism after its final desperate effort to ruin France ended in disastrous and complete defeat. There the Prussian Guard, the pride of the German army, with six years of training, were pitted against the un¬ tried American Marines and doughboys. There the Huns, though har¬ dened by training and experience, were forced to accept defeat from novices, young men who were called from offices, from the work-bench, and from lives of idle ease, with but six months military training. Not only did these heroes resist the furious onslaughts of the Boches, but even forced them to retreat before their rapid counter-thrusts in utter

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12 time we entered the portals of High school as eager and venturesome freshmen. We were at a loss to understand the attitude of the upper classmen towards us as we clustered around the bulletin board to learn our room assignments. Our class membership numbering one hundred and twelve was assigned to four rooms: rocm 5, supervised by Miss Larkin; room 4, by Miss Pianca; room 1, by Miss Callanan; and room 8, by Miss Whittemore. During our first day we made our acquaintance with the faculty, the members of which appeared gratified in the ex- trenie at the thought of instructing so promising a class. Although the first hours of initiation into High school life seemed perplexing and confusing, at the end of a very few days we displayed to the upper classmen our true merit, and before long we were recognized as beyond all doubt the most satisfactory class both in scholarship and conduct that had ever entered High school. As is generally the case with the majority of classes, our member¬ ship was materially reduced at the opening of the sophomore year. With our entrance upon our second year, new fields were opened for us to show our oratorical abilities in the weekly rhetoricals held in the Assembly Hall. At the beginning of the year we suffered the loss from the teaching force of Miss Larkin, who resigned to accept a more lucrative position in the Springfield schools. Miss Larkin was succeeded by Miss Donlan who proved to be a teacher of merit and untiring effort. Unfortunately, however, Miss Donlan remained with us only a short time as she like¬ wise resigned before the end of the school year to accept a position in the Springfield schools. Miss Donlan was succeeded by Miss Dignan who has since labored conscientiously and faithfully in the interests of us all. With the increasing number of pupils, the school was urgently in need of an additional teacher and accor dingly Miss O’Connell was added to the faculty as instructor of English and Declamation. It is but fair that Miss O’Connell should be complimented on the splendid achievement s of the student thespians in plays presented, such results made possible only by her persistent and tireless efforts. As time passed, we found ourselves ready to return to take up our third year of study with a class slightly decreased in number. With our entrance into the Junior class there were still further changes among our teachers. Miss Whittemore, who resigned to accept a posi¬ tion in the Quincy schools, was succeeded by Miss Power, a graduate of Trinity College, Washington, D. C. At the beginning of the year we were greatly saddened at the loss of our principal, Mr. C. A. FitzGerald, who, when called to the country’s service went willingly and cheerfully to do “his bit” in the nation’s defense of democracy. Although deeply impressed at the loss of so faithful an instructor, we were greatly gratified to learn that Mr. Thomas J. Quirk, principal of the Stacy School, as to be Mr. FitzGerald’s suc¬ cessor during his leave of absence. We had, indeed, just cause in our contentment under the guidance of Mr. Quirk, who, throughout his fifteen months of service, 1ms worked sincerely and diligently for the benefit of Milford High in every respect. His service has won the gratitude and appreciation of the entire class. During our Junior year we organized and elected our officers: Presi¬ dent, Leo Murray; Vice-President, Jennie Connors; Treasurer, Roger Perham; and Secretary, Margery Baxter. At a later meeting we selected a class ring, a symbol tto remind us always; of our High school days. At the conclusion of the school year once more the grimness of war was brought forcibly to our minds for our Sub-master Francis C. Berry