The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-11-19
WAR PARAGRAPHS
By Book Worn,

WeeKIleS, recently printed an edI-
torlal 10 the effect that the American
reading public were greatly benefit.
ed by the ceilsoring of all European
war news, and the prohibiting Of
American war correspondents with
in the fighting zone. 1t stated, that
il every Tom, Dick and Harry of a
war correspondent. were permitted
10 wander at their leisure through
out the continent of Europe, Amer.
lea would soon he flooded with a
conglomeration of ufficial, un-
verified reports, heart throbs and
humors. and we would all snon be
adrift GU great sea of deluslons.
Evidently the writer of that edl-
t"rial dues not know that it is just
this same cnnglpmeration of unoffi-
cial. unverified reports, heart throbs
and humors that the American,
reading public does want. and not
the official reports. that are fine
c"mbed by the red tape IF cersor
ship until there is nothing left of
them but the raw, statistical core
Some of the most interesting war
articles that are now being publish
ell in America, are appearing III one
of our great weekly periodicals.
They are written by Irwin S. Cobb.
and they are these same heart throhs
and humors. personal experiences
of The writer. and tales of men he
has met. while running The gauntlei
of German authorities through the
country of Belgium.
Sherman characterized war, per-
haps the censors want us to doubt
Sherman.
There was such thing as bar
harism. which was practlced among
the heather, uncivilized nations 10
the old world There is another
practice. which is called barbarisn,
that seems to be now paramount TO
the conflicting nations of the pre-
sent day. But this barbarisnl. is it
were appropriately termed. should
he called, self-preserva,ion.
We read of where the soldiers of
one nation are making practice of
useing such seemingly barbaric
tactics, az to attack heir enemy
under the shielding emblems of the
Red Gross, and white flags; of where
a patty of skirmishers will drive a
party of peaceful. noncombating
citizens ahead OF them for shields.
causing state of trepltlation IN the
ranks of their enemy, and a fear of
killing their own men. Such tactics,
we must admit, are unlawful accord
ing 10 the International war laws
established at The Hague few years
past. But. when million zen are
moblized together, tu wage war, to
either Stay their enemy. or be them
selves slain. some of these men, in
all probability the majority, are go
ing to lookout for themselves
alone. IT, you and were compelled
to choose between life and death.
and we knew .hat the onl! way to
perserve life, would he to RESORT To
strategic measures-such measures
as some of the present day pro
pagan,lisls call barbaris.n- would
we hesitate! Nay brother! Self
preservation would compel us to la,
hold of any expedient that makes
life certainty, irrespective of what
these expedIeuis would mean To-
others.
Personal self preservation, when
called national barlmrisn,, will PLAY
havoc wi h the public mlnd. IL l..
one of tile opportunities that some
nations will grasp to sirens then
their cause.
There has been some prophecies
made during the las, generalinn, hy
men who are considered preelninenu
in the wurl! of arr and letters. Leo
Tolsiny propliesied that we would
have war that would exceed any
ever yet fought in The worl.l's his
tory. IL claimed that he Was justI
fed IN making this prophpsy, be
cause il WAS MOI alone Eis, bui also,
The prnphesy of Jesus Chris. taken
from the Gospel. lie stated. thar
"A, the line Of this war, Chrisr s
prnphrsy will have been fulfilled.
and The folly aud misery of our lives
which he foretold. will have attain
ed it. utmost Limits.
We laugh and scott at man whu
will stand at the street corners, ami
shrek the advent of the worlds
end. We call him a crank, who is
existing upon wild delusions border-
ing mononania; ana yet, some OF
our intellectual people-our lilerar,
connOlsseurs seem TO take the pre-