The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-12-31
EUROPElN 1870
AND IN IeI s
(By DR.. G. R. Mente1

the British Isles, while 5000 men of
all arms constituted the expesdd;;tt;;oiiar,yy
force sent across the channel to pro-
tect the rights of her allies.
In one years time all this has been
changed and today military training
camps are to be found everywhere in
the empire of the sea, and in these
places millions of her best and strong
est sons are being trained in the arts
of warfare, while her colonies, who
are enjoying the greatest independence
of any nations colonial possessions,
have come unstintingly to the support
of her cause.
It must not be forgotten that in the
struggle in our own country a little
more than half century ago, Ameri-
can patriotism was at feverheat; no
man would dare to speak of disloyalty
to the flag, yet the government of the
Union had to resort to conscription, to
fill the ever changing ranks of her
armies.
Thus, should England finally nave
to call upon the nation for a change
of her voluntary service to universal
or compulsory draft, she would only
follow the lines laid down by Germany
and Austria-Hungary; certainly no
stain could fall upon the patriotism of
her people by a compulsory military
service in the hour of the nations
grave danger.
England still holds to the right to
stand by her allies to the bitter end
and is as determined as ever to tell to
all the world that her cause is just;
that this war has been thrust upon her,
and that her people have made and
will make every effort and sacrifice
that makes nation heroic and great,
to bring this war to successful con-
clusion.
Regarding the British navy, it must
be admitted even by the most pro-
nounced pro-Teuton that it has done
all that could be and was expected of
it; the seas have been cleared of all
German commerce, as we'll as of Ger
man ships of war; the British navy
has successfully bottled up the Ger
man ships of war at anchorage in the
German waters, until that branch of
the German offensive has become prac
tica'ly inert.
What has been the result in France
and her colonies since last Christmas -?
From the metropolis to the remote
hamlet there has been passing a great
spirit of national fraternity which will
not be defeated in this the trying time
OF French nationalism. The whole
nation has turned to face a common
foe, forgetting all internal differences;
if Germany is counting upon the dis
solution of this spirit of unity, she
will be as much surprised as she was
a year ago, when the Prussian press
predicted the downfall of the republic
under the heavy strain of the war.
l know enough of the national spirit
Of that nation to assure you that time
will not weaken the ties that bind the
French people into one great unit, to
repel the inroads of Prussian militar-
ism. United France is a power to be
reckoned with in the present world
struggle, and understanding our mot
to: "E Pluribus Unum", France is
calm and confident as the days 90 by.
She firmly believes that in God is her
trust, while her cause it is just. "A
nation of this stamp will not become
a slave to the aspirations of the Kaiser
Old and young alike, male and fe-
male, toll side by side in the fields to
supply the demands of her sons in the
trenches; fields have been sown and
cultivated, until a bountiful harvest
has blest the efforts of her people.
You will agree with me that such de-
votlon to a common cause must keep
alive with patience and fmness in the
inner life of any nation. No matter
where you turn, you are confronted
with patriotism, such as has not been
witnessed in the republic since the
days of her imperial glory under Bon
aparte. Everywhere the country gives
sublime and heroic example of a
union in thought and resolve. Of
course this spirit of devotion is trans
mitted to tn earmy, so valiantly de-
Tending home and freside of it's loved
ones. The French army is composed
OF the very marrow and substance of
the nation; it understands it's role in
this great drama; it is aware that it is
lighting for the existence of it's con-
stitutional rights and it's ancient ira
dltlons. Let US remember it was the
French people who gave to America
the great statue Of Liberty enlighten-
ing the world; this spirit of love of lib
erty and fraternity is the spirit of her
army. At the close of this year we
must pay homage to the soldier of the
republic across the waters, for we
know that each individual man is SO
completely devoted to his ''fatherland''
That those who have laid down their
lives upon the field of battle have done
so without fear, upon their lips the
cry, give La France" realizing that
by their death France lives and the
motherland will live forever