The Cordova daily times., 1916-10-17


 much hate in our makeup. I think a great deal of the ill feeling in the war has been engendered by the ex- aggerations and bitter words printed constantly in the belligerent press. The newspapers do not give the people chance for sober thought or reflec- ton. But l am not one of those who believe that hatred, thus fostered, will continue long after peace is declared
 AS one of the softening or amelior- ating influences likely to hasten a re- turn of good feeling, I believe that kindly treatment of prisoners of war is of paramount importance. I should also like to see a policy of exchange adopted as far as possible. Tn this way men who had been we'll treated would return to their native land and bring word to the people at home that perhaps the enemy was not so black as he had been painted after all, that 1 he had some kindly traits, was a hu- man being and that the world might still be large enough for all of us to live in.
 q do not believe that we can 20 on fighting forever - mean either at | arms or through a so-called boycott. l do not believe the world at large will approve boycott methods. do not believe this spirit of enmity can last. It must burn itseuf out in its own fire. Take in the case of your own American Civil war. What strug- gle between man and man could have i been more bitter than that? Take the Fashoda incident between France and England. People are quick to forget and perhaps to forgive, if only they have the chance to do it.
 "We believe Russia is doing the best she can for our prisoners" he said, but the task at times has been too great for the facilities at her dis posal. There is especially the matter of medical supplies and proper cloth ing. And then, too, one must consid- CT in the treatment of prisoners their former environment and mode of liv. ing. We think we rather spoil our soldiers in Austria as rule, so that our prisoners even though treated with the identical consideration shown | Russian soldiers in his own barracks, | will feel certain undeniable hardships. | On the other hand, England makes more of a fuss over her soldiers than we do over ours, so a British Tommy Atkins in an Austrian camp would feel as badly treated as some of our men do in Russia. It is all a matter of de- gree"
 Then the conversation turned to Kitchener. When the subject first was mentioned Slatin was quiet for a long while. At last he spoke.
 "Kitchener," he said, twas one of the most remarkable men the world has ever known. I know the general | impression that he was but a man of iron and steel machine without warmth or affection. It is true that | Kitchener was difficult to approach. | His regard was not easily won. But once you knew him. and he had tested you, no man could wish for a truer, more wh0le-hearted friend Having known Kitchener in the days when he was first winning his way to military fame, having ridden beside him in battle and victory, having known him as a taskmaster and commander, I feel l am in a position to appreciate to the full all that his loss meant to England and to the British people. It meant much to me as we'll What a pitiful fate it was. If ever soldier de- served better death 1t was the Kit. chener l knew at Khartoum
 "I lunched with Kitchener" unused Slatin, "as late as the 18th of July just few days before the war fell upon us. Yes he spoke of the Euro pean situation at the time. but neither of us dreamed what it would mean.
 Kitchener had a wonderful gift as an organizer and executive. have often wondered if it was not his train ing as an engineer that helped him to this trait.
 Some of our newspapers in Aus tria commented rather flippantly upon his death. but that was not right and it did not reflect the general senti- ment of our people. That is what I mean when I say the partisan newspa- pers are doing so much to engender hatred and bitterness, and not giving the people themselves an opportunity