The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-04
"SOME SOLEMN TRUTHS AND
STUBBORN FACTS' ABOUT WAR
(By D. A. Dickert.)

Mr. Bal1Our ana MS associates. VINO
have come over here to tell our peo-
pie how to conduct war and make
no mistakes, are giving a good deal
of valuable information to the presl-
dent From the battles the English
have fought and lost and Mr.. Bal
four's position while battles were 60
ing on, he would be just as competent
to give instructions as heather Chin
ese'' But it is nevertheless kind OF
these Britons and French to try and
keep our soldiers out of pitfalls,
especially when they are going to
fight their battles. But while they
are over here, it would be greatly to
their interest and advantage if they
would round up a few old Confeder-
ates, and learn lessons in military
economics.
Reading what Lord ,Northcliffe has
to say about what our expeditionary
soldiers will have to provide them
selves with, it is no wonder that after
three years of bloody warfare they
come to us crying and urging us to
come and help with our navies, our
armies and above all else, send them
food, else there will be a famine in
the land. This help is not for them
selves but for humanity's sake, to
save the civilized land from militar-
ism, to save democracy, etc. So kind
and unselfish of them.
Now this Lord Northcliffe, who is
the owner of a string of newspapers,
some twenty or more, goes frequent
ly to the armies. He saw for him
self what he writes about. He first
tells us what is indispensable to the
private soldier in the field. In the
first place, each mess must have an
oil stove. In addition to that, there
must be great bakeries on wheels so
that the soldiers may have warm bis
cults and rolls for breakfast.
Wouldn't this put a grin on an old
Confederate? furthermore, there must
be steam laundries fixed on wheels,
to do the soldiers washing. There
must be unlimited rolls Of corrugated
tin for covering the soldiers tents;
ther must be small army of tailors
and shoe-makers to do the mendtns.
In fact, there must be two armies,
one at the front and the other in the
rear, attending to the want and COM
fort Of those in the trenches.
The Confederate soldier drew his
rations in flour or meal, bacon or
beef and cooked it the best he could
in the one spider and frying pan
allowed to a company. On the march
they carried what utensils they had
on their backs. Our marches were
sometimes a hundred miles. With a
piece of light cotton cloth, five feet
square, with buttons so arranged by
four men putting their tent fly to-
gether, made cutie cosy little
tent. When shoes were too far gone,
they shod themselves at the butcher
pen, where he cut out and made him
self a pair of moccasins that lasted
a month. Now if the allies would
put all these useless drivers in the
ranks, be more loyal to their coun-
try and think less of their own COM
forts, they would not now be call
ing for our boys to come over and
help them.
When We think of the great dispar-
ity in population, wealth and terri
tory each possesses and occupy, 7Se
can't see how the allies can be so
weak aid the other 50 strong.
The wealth of the allies is COM
puted at S50O,O00, 100000, the central
power at $4,000, 100000, the former
occupying 100000 square miles,
the latter 100000. The population
of the allies is 1,400,000,00G, while
the central powers have only 164,00O,-
900. England has the great island
continents, Australia, Kew Zealand,
New Foundland and Canada to draw
from. Every port, and neutral coun-
try, including North and South Amer
ica, as we'll as. Asia to get her sup
plies, while the central powers are
surrounded by rim of steel. With
twice more war crafts than any
other nation, can any one account Tor
the straights she has allowed her
self to get into, that now her states
men are over here begging for mon
ey, troops and rations. She hurls
the continual boast to the world, that
she put FIVE million soldiers across
the channel and didn't lose man. =
Dalfour says they don't need our
soldiers to fight. but for the moral
effect it would give the troops over
there. If the many victories have
been won as their newspapers state,
what has demoralized their troops.
And if the Germans are continually
retreating, as their reports state,
why would they need any bolstering
up by the sight o. c3- troops.
The English ana the French COM
missioners seem over anxious for our
navy to be sent over at once If our
troops are not preparedA Gen. Joffre
gives a delicate hint to get our troops
over there, by stating, ''the best place
to train our troops is in the war
zone" Now the simple fact is just
this and Spencer Churchill stated