Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-08-20
THE BATTLEFIELD.
Continued from First Page.


neers of civilization. To repair
the defeats of their last war with
Prussia, to reconquer their lost
provinces will intame the French
soldier and make him court death
rather than suffer another humil-
iation.
| still remember passages from
defamation l heard recited by a
little Frenchman 25 years ago. 1t
opened with the words: We hear
it asserted that sooner or later, we
may again loose the victory on the
battlefields of our land. What
course will then the Prussians pur-
sue?" Will they attempt again to
enter our beloved Paris? No they
will not dare. If we rebuild our
forts, in we drill us with our
swords, we vow, we will defend
la belle France. They shall never
enter our grand city,
Last year, the writer's attention
was drawn to an editorial in the
famous Figaro. The title ran: GA
prophetic vision" The editor was
looking ahead through the vistas
OF the future. Like an eye witness
of the future great war he de-
Scribes a scene on the battlefield
along the frontiers. The noble
sons of France have hastened east
to defend their land against the
enemy s invasion.
The French regiment is pitted
against the Prussians. The French
fight bravely and repel one batal-
lion after another. They will not
fiinch-though a half million are
upon them. They give no quarter
to the enemy. Still they come from
beyond the Rhine like countless
army soldiers. The crack regi-
ment of brave Frenchmen is mer-
decimated. Their ammu-
nitions give out. They turn to-
wards their mother country i'm
ploring for reinforcements. France
cannot give any more of her sons.
They are all on the battlefield.
France has been decimated by race
The mothers from the
beyond the Rhine who
furnished the Uhlans gained the
baitle for Germany.
1t is a common sight in Ger
many to see the school boys out
in the fields bein gdrilled for mill
tary service. Tots from nine to
fourteen years are being COM
manded to take positions by their
schoolmasters and become initia-
ted into military slavery.
Every third man in Germany
wears a military uniform. The son
of an official in the cradle wears a
cap. In each little hamlet
stands the policeman with loaded
rifle in the public square-as
straight and important as an
obelisk. At his sight
babes begin to cry and birds cease
their singing, it is said.
Is it any wonder Europe is
honeycombed with Socialism?
Militarism and war are matters
Of education. The schools fill their
youthful minds that the height of
for boy is to wear the
uniform-which is that of
an officer or an official. The boys
must sing "Long live the Kaiser"
though they be shortlived and
leave widows, orphans or aged
parents behind them. "High live
the Kaiser" though the peasant
lead lowly existence.
AS our American schools are
teaching with success our boys the
evil effects of intemperance, so
also, should we begin in our
schools to teach them the lesson
that "war is hell" and peoples
curse, and imbue them with the
blessing of lasting world peace
which should be the highest ideal
OF the nations of the world.
We may not blame the common
soldier. He is driven into the bat
tie at the point of the bayonet.
The poor people of Europe are
now learning a lesson on the bat
This lesson will be brand
ed deep into the hearts of future
generations. These will no longer
tolerate that Kaisers and Kings
by divine right will dispose of
their lives and their God given
liberty and happiness. These head
lewis have signed their own doom.
The days of the military party are
They must go and they
will, let us hope and pray.
1t will be no longer, "Long live
the Kaiser" but long live the
thrifty peasant with his happy