Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-19

shell from the German side broke |
over his trench and II French troops
killed and 30 wounded,
There has been change in mill
tary tactics" declared the speaker.
THE murmur replaces the bugle call.
Instead of the advance the order is
wait and instead of forward march,
the command is crawl
IF you could see the trenches as |
have seen them, you would not pine
for military experience. You would
be willing to stay at home. This war
is solely a matter of endurance. Who
will win no can say, but peace will
come when the rulers ascertain that
the backs of their people have been
broken through the tremendous bur
den they have been carrying.
THE trenches are but five feet deep.
in order that the men can leap out OF
them with the aid of their arms. If it
is necessary There is water in the
bitches so that soldiers cannot put
their feet in it. They are not allowed
TO stand erect but must assume
cramped position Here the tired and
poorly fed soldier must stand for
weeks and weeks. The man next to
me disobeyed the order and stood
erect and he was shot as he did so.
| was not allowed to touch his body.
A first aid man. there being one pro-
e.. fnI
the man back to the rear lines.
Rubber Boots Necessity.
Rubber boots are the all essential
thing for soldiers. Thousands of men
have lost their feet in the present
struggle because their shoes became
water soaked while standing in the
trenches Uniforms should be of knit
goods, which will not rot. Kahki
suits such as the militia men wear
would not last month.
Suicide is increasing at an alarm
! ing rate among the soldiers. In France
| the people are not allowed to talk Of
war and in Germany they are not per-
mitted to even think it. There have
been placed in the street cars Of Paris
| big signs warning the people not to
talk while in public because of spies.
l believe the real reason is to prevent
an expression on the part of the peo-
pie in favor of ending this terrific
struggle.
The United States should be pre-
I mo cd
Belgium soil for the big conflict year
before the struggle broke out. In the
very factory where I was engaged as
an efficiency engineer, suddenly the or
der came that the tools be taken away
and in their place the machinery was
fitted with appliances for the manu-
facture of munitions. This country
must wake up to the situation. If eye
witnesses from the United States could
observe what | have seen, and inform
the president and the people. we would
be in a position to consider the prob
lem as it really must be faced and I'M
til that is done, theories are about all
we can indulge in. This country is not
puJ 6iCldlIy pi pal Gu W uSHt INC hilu
Of war which is raging in Europe. Our
boys must be first of all properly
equipped. not with shining brass but
tons but with knit uniforms, and rub
Der boots and clothes which may not be
so becoming but which will serve the
practical purpose required"
The speaker gave an opportunity for
questions to be asked after his ad-
dress and many interesting points were
brought out concerning the war.
Van Calder Talks.
F. O. Van Calder, editor of the Mod
ern Woodman, and president of the
Tri-City Press club, preceded Mr. Be-
deaux and gave a short and entertain
ing talk concerning his impressions
while abroad with the Ford peace
party.
E 0. Vale, Jr., president of the club
presided and a nominating committee