The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-12-19

Let officers apply themselves with
conspicuous energy and they heard
from genial Partow; let officers only
keep step and free of courts martial
and they heard from merciless task
master Peculiarly human, peculiarly
dictatorial, dynamic, and inscrutable
was Partow, who never asked any one
under him to work harder than him.
self.
Lanstron appeared in the presence
of Jove shortly after eight o'clock the
next morning after he left La Tir.
Jove rolled his big head on his short
neck in nod and said:
'Late!"
THE train was late, sir" Lanstron
replied, ''and | have some news about
our thousandth chance"
Hmm! What is it," asked Partow.
When Lanstron had told his story,
Partow worked his lips in a way he
| had if he were struck by passing re-
Election which might or might not have
connection with the subject in hand.
|
who her parents were!" he said. But
you never know. Hmm! Why don't
| you sit down, young MANI"
THE way that the Grays gave out
our dispatch convinces me of their in
tentions," Partow said. Their peo-
pie are rising to it and ours are rising
! in answer. The Grays have been trans
| ferring regiments from distant prov
| inces to their frontier because they
will fight better in an invasion. We
are transferring home regiments to
our frontier because they will fight
for their own property. BY Thursday
you will find that open mobilization on
both sides has begun"
MY department is ready" said
Lanston, all except your decision
about press censorship"
"A troublesome point" responded
Partow. Il have procrastinated be-
! cause two definite plans were fully
worked out. 1t Is a matter Of choice
between them: either publicity or COM
plete secrecy. You know / am no be-
lever in riding two horses at once.
My mind is about made up; but let me
hear your side again. Sometimes get
conviction by probing another mans"
Lanstron was at his best. for his
own conviction was intense.
"Of course they will go in for Sc
crecy; but our case is different" he
began.
Partow settled himself to listen with
the gift of the organizer who draws
from his informant the brevity of es-
sentials.
Il should take the people into our
confidence" Lanstron proceeded. Il
should make them feel that we were
one family fighting for all we hold
dear against the invader. If our losses
are heavy, If we have a setback, then
the inspiration of the heroism of those
who have fallen and the danger of
their own homes feeling the foot of
the invader next will impel the living
to greater sacrifices. For the Grays
are In the wrong. The moral and the
legal right is with u.s."
And the duty of men like you and
me, chosen for the purpose" said Par
tow, 'is worthily to direct the cour-
age that goes with moral right. The
overt act Of war must come from them
by violating our frontier, not in the
African jungle but here. Even when
the burglar fingers the window-sash
we shall not fire-no, not until he en-
tiers our house. When he does, you
would have a message go out to our
people that will set them Quivering
with indignation"
Yes, and l would let the names of
our soldiers who fall first be known
and how they fell, their backs to their
frontier homes and their faces to the
foe"
Our very liberality in giving news
will help us to cover the military
secrets which we desire to preserve"
Partow said. with slow emphasis. I'VE
shall hold back what we please, con.
fident of the peoples trust. Good
policy that, yes! But enough! Your
orders are ready, in detail, / believe.
You have nothing to add?"
mo, sir, nothing; at least, not until
war begins"
Very well. We shall have the or
ders issued at the proper moment"
concluded Partow. And Westerling
is going to find he proceeded after
thoughtful pause. that a man is
reader to die fighting to hold his own
threshold than fighting to take anoth-
er mans. War is not yet solely an af-
fair of machinery and numbers. The
human element is still uppermost. Give
me your hand-no, not that one, not
the one you shake hands with-the
one wounded in action,"
Partow inclosed the stiffened fin
gers In his own with something of the
caress which an old bear that is in
very good humor might give to a
promising cub.
L have planned, planned, planned
for this time. The world shall soon
know. as the elements of it go into the
crucible test, whether 1t is we'll done
or not / want to live to see the day
when the last charge made against our
trenches is beaten back. Then they
may throw this old body onto the rub
bish heap as soon as they please-it
Is fat, unwieldly behemoth Of an old
body!"
M "a L.