The Delta independent., 1917-10-26
BOY "OVER THERE
WRITES A LETTER

Here's a letter from Grant City |
boy "Over There" He is capable of |
using words to say things-AND HE |
SURE SAYS THEM HERE: You |
can't read this letter after returning |
from 10y ride" and have much after |
pleasure from it; you can't read this |
letter and get much pleasure out of |
having saved your money and not in |
vested in Liberty Bonds; nor giving |
smokes to soldiers; nor in helping in |
the million ways available. But then, |
here's the letter; and it's just what we
folks here in Worth county need
something to awaken us, get us to or !
ganize every minute. every dollar, ev-
cry man, woman and child to win the !
most justifiable war America was |
ever engaged in:
In France, Sept. 5, 1917
Rev. W. A. Shullenberger,
Des Moines, Iowa.
Dear Bill:
have been looking in vain for an
other letter from you. Time flies out |
here yet letter like yours is a great |
relief
The war is inclining in our favor
now. The French have had wonder
full successes on the Verdun sector
while the British have not only held
the line at every point but are making
good gains in very important posi-
tions. The Flanders battle did more
towards battering down the German
defense on the western front than any
battle this year. 1t was a great do
for the Allies. The bombardment con
tinued day and night for several weeks
along the Belgium front. We were
able to hear the firing at any time
during the heavy shelling and at night
the guns seemed to be pounding right
close but they were, in fact, miles
away. We are going to win the war.
Just how soon is uncertain. Had Rus
sia been in a position to execute
stiff offensive the olive branch would
have been waved this year but the
complete collapse of the eastern front
prolonged the stunt considerably.
France is fighting gloriously and Eng
land is stronger in the field than ever
before With America in the Zine we
can already feel" peace. But the
Kaiser must be canned" That means
the complete decentralization of the
German army and as Fritz" is by no
means a poor shot together with the
fact that he is playing the defensive
side of the game" the fighting may
continue for several months. He is
whipped now. The Allies hold the
winning hand and when the cards are
yet to play in the spring he will sure
ly be wise enough to cash in his chips
and go back across the Rhine. But if
he can't see it that way then we shall
be forced to administer to him the bit
ter pill-the sting of an unconditional
surrender"-the humiliation of COM
pletely demoralized army. Should it
become necessary for us to do that,
America must carry big share Of
the responsibility When the big Of
fensive opens next spring the United
States will be in "the line" What is
our country to be up against then?
There will be, undoubtedly, 10000
American sons in France by June 1.
1918. Those men will behave them
selves in manner that the world will
wonder at. will promise you that.
Having been with the British Army
(and it is wonderful institution four
months I feel like I can assure the
world that the American fighting men
will prove themselves the finest trench
fighters in the line. The American
soldier possesses something the Europ-
can don't have ] don't know what 1t
is unless It is his fearlessness. his
courage OF his energy and athletic
build. Any how he has personality
that carries you off your feet / hate
the day when our boys take their bap
tism of fire yet ! am anxious to see
them in action o, have seen them
iiued up with every fighting man of
the whole world, excepting Spaniards
and Cinnamon, and they are the finest
of the lot. The American officers are
as clever as any and barring fh.eeir
experience in trench warfare they are
as efficient and capable to command as
any officer in Europe. So ] say that
by June 1, 1918. the United States will
have close to 100000 men in France
Every person in the States will expect
those men to carry the honor of their
country to the finish and I am sure
the men will do that. But remember,
back of those men is America. WHAT
is AMERICA GOING TO DO? Every
person between New York and Los An
geles must do his or her bit" just as
fearlessly and as willingly as the lads
in the trenches" They must do this
or the boys at the 'front.' will find II
hard to keep up their end of the load
The first thing America must do is
wake up. This is the biggest job sh'
ever undertook and it will use up al
of the energy, resources, time ana