The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-08-12

and we read in the papers. THAT
is bound TO be SO, that is a law
of Nature. The nations are
snatching the bread from one
another's mouths: they are de-
priving each other of the air to
breathe. That is a thing which
in the end can only be settled by
Force. And if it has TO be, bet
ter il should be today than to-
morrow
We are mereenaries no longer
those hirelings for murder, who
once sold their blood for money
down to all and sundry. We are
gladiators no longer-slaves who
enact the drama of dying as an
exciting spectacle for the enter
tainment of the rich, and for the
lust of their eyes. 1t is to our
native land We took our oath. And
If 1t must be, we are resolved to
die as citizens, to die in the full
consciousness and full RESPONSE
bility for our acts.
What will the next few DAYS
have in store for us?
Not one of us has probably ever.
with his own eyes, seen a field of
battle. But we have heard about
It from others, and we have read
In books of other men what q bat
tlefield looked like in 1901,
and, as though with our own eyes,
we have watched the shells shat
tering human bodies. And anoth-
err thing known is that 40 years
ago ia spite OF inferior guns and
EsfIns ava.- /. RnnHK-a.4 ...A s.uau2w
Thousand dead stayed behind ON
the field Of homer. What percent
age of living will modern war
fare claim? Armies are being
marshaled faster than the world
has ever seen. Germany alone
can put six million soldiers
in the field; France es many.
Then the war of 'so-'s1 was moth
ing more than a long-drawn affair
of Outposts! My brain reels when
try to visualize these masses
starting 90 march against one an
other; 1 seem to choke for breath.
Then are we a breed Of men
other than our fathers?
Is the reason because we only
have one life to lose? And do we
cling Sc passionetely to this life ?
Isn't our native land worth more
than this scrap of life?
There probably won't be many
among us who believe in the Res
direction, who believe that our
mangled bodies will rise again in
new splendor. Nor do we believe
that our Father in Heaven will
have pleasure in our murderous
doings. He will regard us other
than as our brothers murderers.
But we bend our heads before
iron Necessity. The Fatherland
has called us, and We. as loyal
sons, obey the command there is
no evading, submissively. t.
From today onward we belong to
shouted a minute ago as he read
out the articles of war.
And it's going TO be the real
thing this time.
The sorgeaut-nlajor has already
read the roll and checked 1t We
are already told off in fours. Now
in a long column, we are march
ing across the barrack-yard. for
this very day we are ordered to
doff our civilian dress, and don
cur new kit. This very day we
have got TO become soldiers.
Things are moving apace with
us now.
On the afternoon Of the follow
ing day. the company Is detailed
for bsrrack drill. We are lying on
cur stomachs in the barraek-yard
and are being drilled in taking aim
and firing lying down.
have just been sighting.
In front of me On the barrack
wall over there they have painted
targets. Ring targets. head tar
gets. chest targets Three hundred
yards Square in the chest +"
That ought to count IS q bulls
eye.
Wonder hos many clips Of ear