The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-12
GERMANY N[L RU[E WORLD # SIZE
lEBRnS THE lesson OF CHAMPAGNE

ssHS5 ~ glss
glorious deeds OF our splendfd army
But We, the great German ople "a
ken all as one. we Will do wei 20 glls5
ten 10 the olemns warning that POKE
90 emphati callys to us during & those
DAYS Of the battle OF the Champagne.
what shall we learn from the gigan-
tic struggle OF heroes, what duties rise
ont OF It for us, what can we learn
from Hui 1876, SO / ploughed to pieces
with grenade les, n. and defended Win
such courage and such spilnne o.
blood What was the source OF our
strength, the final reason for our VIC:
tory? What made q hero out. OF tne
Youngest pioneer and made the old
est member Of the Landwehr torse1
his years and his hardshtps? d
IN an 9overpowering way the advan
tageousness Of strict discipline was
here proven. We can truthfully say
that the regiment that stands the
straightest will in all places fight the
hest II youthful enthusiasm and ev-
en- patriotism falter under lengthy mr..
ing Of grenades; IL in the devils ket-
ne OF drum IRE" even the power 70
think seems gone, then especially does
the worth Of iron discipline become
apparent: It alone provides the neces-
sary hold and gives decision even II
the most difficult places.
In tfmes%of peace now past we heard
many voices which, through mistaken
humanitarianism, through ettemln-
ancy. through malevolence, or through
lack ofunderstandingt tried to throw
overheard the unconditional obedi-
ence, the iron drilling, In short, our
good old system, proven good through
many hundred Of years. There were
many humorous papers who made II
their business to make from iron mil.
itary discipline look foolish and to pull
the foundations OF the military system
down into the dust. I believe the bat
tie OF the Champagne has taught them
all better!
Let us strike our breasts and prom
fse each other to make this condition
fundamental relation when peace
comes again.
But the result OF the battle in the
Champagne proved the value OF other
things than discipline, The love for
1.-THE fatherland, that fills all hearts
from the youngest recruit to the old:
est man in the landwehr, the feeling
that we are battling against the whole
world in just cause In struggle lor
existence, the conscientiousness that
is born in and taught to the Germans,
even to fulfilling the very smallest
Eduty.s all these things brought the
scale down heavily on our side during
those terrible battles.
But one thing more It should teach
us: a strict discipline for the young.
1--we must steel our young men. we
must harden them by all means at
our disposal, SO that they may, IL such
4 demands are made on them as were
made on our troops in the Cham
payne, carry them out we'll.
4 Let us rid ourselves Of the poison
/ that is eating at the marrow OF our
| national life. the pursuit of and desire
for pleasure. Alderman youth, a Ger
man soldier must be able ito rule HIM
self and be ruled, otherwise he will
fail in our hour Of need, and that
4 means disasters for. sour7 people
But let us bring up the youth ofiour
] nation in simple faith, In a belief IN
the Lord God. who rules our desttnies
according to his will. Each and every
man who went through the battle OF
| Champagne, says the same thing, that
] he would never. have endured It had
| he not trusted In God, and he who
| had had no faith until that time
learned to know 1t in the hail OF gren'
AIDES and the attacks OF bayonets.
II we think carefully over all these
things IL we make them our own; and
firmly resolve to act accordingly. then
the battle OF the Champagne will be
not only military ndspolittcal vic.
4 tory, but It will have Sano other result
4 that will bear lasting fruits for the
4 safety Of our dear !fatherland: Then,
despite word o fenemies, the old
saying will come true: s