Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-07
Is It a War to a Finish9


,one offers a series OF rapid-fire sensations. In
the west the war has not as yet sHaetea ny
specific tribute the interest has not been localized
there has been no capitalization Of public sentiment
therefore the opening and progress OF the base oau
season the invasion Of the ttnsy bus. ano .ns IKE
In the east. where the conflict has touched more
directly upon the business Of living Il takes We natural
place 40 the paramount question Of the day 70 the
invader OF the war zone enters lie outer circle
before he leaves his native meath. New York was
warmly discussing the possibilities OF an attack on the
English liners days before the Lusitsna met her fate,
and the Atlantic crossing promised increasing excite
ment
The first glimpse OF England was euriously disap-
pointing. war was we'll In evidence the Liverpool
harbor was crowded with war vessels Atlantic racers
making ready for duty AZ transports cattle boats
unloading hundreds Of horses huge freghters bringing
in supplies munitions piled high all sides, and
soldiers everywhere; but was the same old Eng
land all know, normal poised self-eonteined, bit
bored " anything by all this pother OF war IL was
only at the clubs the last place would have looked
for g. that vital interest in the subject was found
The man in the street appeared to view the proceed
ings with singulariy detached eyes; ana the con-
Atsntly moving soldiers the visible machinery OF
the war gave the impression OF elaborate effort
to advertise patriotism rather than express II
No adequate explanation was offered for the
parent apathy Of the people The lack OF any popular
leader was suggested and the suggestion was plaus-
BILE. but terrible. close at hand. war that
has already levied heavy toll on life ana economic
conditions, might be expected to develop popular lead
the panopiy OF preparation. and not merely a
pose. was freely admitted publicly and privately.
And az the visitor wondered that this should be,
the Lusitania sunk. and with sulen roar the
British lion awoke. The visitor had chance to
the change Of mental attitude sudden and surpriss
ina as u all the clubs Pail Mali had by bolt OF
lightning been turned into gardens. The people had
accepted everything else part OF the fortunes OF
war but this hideous thing was purpossless. 30
inexeusabie, that in the ferceness Of their resent
ment the whole country solicited In instant. as
soldiers ambllng along each his gait fall into
military formation at the tap OF drum or buglo
note. The recruiting Offices formerly doing steady
but modest business despite enormous advertising.
jammed The crowds IN the street cheered the
marching soldiers II they entirely fea-
turei and the crowds became mob and The festaur-
ants and shops controlled by Germans. which had In
way been neonvenenced to this time, felt the
force OF the mobs The authorities had their
hands full to protect the lives OF resident Germans
Tho coalition government came In with rush. Par
amentsry leaders no longer had to plead the cause
OF nations defenders millions voted to
the budget without dissenting voice.
The victims OF the LHusitania did not die In vain.
They gave new life to England.
II the detachment Of the Enslish surprise.
the exaltstion Of the French was one no less That
Paris the debonair. the rapidest and most reckless
OF pleasures pace-makers, should reveal almost
nun-like quiet and spirituality distinct shock
The French often protested that foreigners could
not judge the nation as whole by what they saw In
Paris the Parisans but today the Partisan is lost
in the Frenchman the hero OF the boulevards Is one
with his brother from Bretagne Normandy There
s need here for popular leaders to arouse enthus
ssn. the OF France Is motive enough. and its
children one in devotion and service. There
IL not family rich poor artstocrat or peasant that
s not contributing to the army or its Immediate need
Every abie-boded man Is under arms or employed in
making them. Every tiny village has its factory to
produce the ammunition needed for its defense.
Il have lost five in this war" the sad-eyed
in black said land II had five more would
gladly give them to France One not give enough"
And II was the whole nation speaking
Paris Is null OF these women in black. The soldiers
furnish all the briance in the streets. that were
formerly riots of color and light.
That with this spirit the Frenchmsn should be an
ideal soldier is matter Of course He Is quick dar-
ing yet patient and always cheerful alike in victory.
defeat or delay He loves to take a trench but dis
likes holding IT, he wants to so right ahead and take
another weeks in the trenches with
out murmur France bids him stay 1t is the
long lines underground Notifications the trenches,
their complete equipment for supplying the needs
OF who must eat and sleep there well as fight.
their bomb-proof chambers and their endless barri-
cadinR hedges OF barbed wire that add another
sonabe doubt In to the possibilities OF its being
all over by October November. Only little beyond
are the German lines just well equipped Just as
anxious advance. just determined TO conquer.
These fortificaons Intended for few months
service Lake everything else that Is being done In
connection with the war. they portend a long Ions
| struggle.
one little experience stands out in my memory oi
those amazing spent at the front in the vicinity
| OF Nancy and Lunevle. stands out with sngulai
vividness and give it here because Il perhaps bes
illustrates the impression at close range made
| upon onlooker.
Walking along behind the second line Of trenches
the hills peck marked by shells, the crumbling houses
OF the destroyed villages as background we couiS
see quite painy beyond the wired hedges OF the frs
trenches the German battle front suddenly from on
the forest tops a French dirgioe SCARED up in tn
blue In an instant the German guns were traine
IL Great pufts OF white smoke told Of the burst
ing bombs close about it, sereneiy 1t poised to fulf
its mission OF observation then swiftly IL had com
Il sailed up up and lost In the clouds Some twent
feet from pathway bunch OF peoples nodde
bravely In the wind; they red like blood an
flaming like the spirit et France. l took chance
with the German marksmen snd went over and pickle
them. I wanted them because they were real.
That this is q war to finish Is conviction tins
deepened with every hour spent In the war zone
N war to finish whether that finish be brought aboI
by humiliation. exhaustion, OF absolute surrende
whether its duration be ak months or six years
s the same story every side For fifty veal
France has suffered the menace OF the German AZ