South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-18
LECTURE
WAS RARE TREAT
Enthusiastic Audience Crowds
High School Audi
tOrium.

known better as Private" Peat.
explained 20 an audience complete
~ filling the auditorium of the
high school what the war means
on the battle lines and at home.
Lieut.. Peat was brought TO the
city by the history class Of the
school, and is one of a number of
noted men who will appear here
during the winter months through
the same agency.
Although he spoke earnestly on
the tragic side of the conflict,
Lieut.. Peat emphasized the fact
that war has its humorous aspects.
He declared that he had seen fun
nier things in France than he had
ever seen in any theater in his life.
He said that most of the boys pre-
ferred TO find the silver lining in
the dark cloud of war, for that is
what keeps their spirits up. Many,
he said would have died in the
first few days in the trenches but
for their determination not to-
Suggests Cheerful Letters.
Following the same trend Of
wives and sweethearts of America
sending their men abroad TO do it
cheerfully. The help it gives them
after they reach the trenches 70
know that their women folk have
made the sacrifice bravely. for God
and country and right" is ines
Unable He urged also that cheer
full letters be written often. The
value Of letters 20 the boys in the
trenches cannot be measured, he
said, nor the disappointment when
no letters come.
Answering the question that has
been often asked, what Will be the
effect of trench life upon the
morals Of our boys" Lieut.. Peat
declared that they will come back
from abroad better men morally
and spiritually than they were when
they left. 1t is impossible, he de-
clared. for them 10 come through
the experience over there" with
out unreasonable gain. The simple
consciousness that they are fight
ing for the highest principles and
ideals of mankind Is sufficient TO
Lavish is his praise of the Rec
Cross, Lieut.. Peat described the at
titude of the men toward the hos
pital service. There is no favorit-
ism he said, in the treatment of
the wounded. Germans are cared
for as tenderly as the English or
French or Canadian soldiers That
every citizen should subscribe to
the Red Cross fund the speaker
was emphatic in urging.
Lieut. Peat did not tell Of the
horrors Of the war. Speaking Of
them he said. II am not going TO
tell you anything about the atroc-
tiles: 1 could tell YOU stories that
would make you leave this room,
make you cry make you call me
a liar. We will hear enough of
that when the war is over"
DenOunce Propagandists.
The speaker was strong in his
denunciation of the propagandists.
That they are either in the actual
employment of Germany or vic
iously interested in her conquest,
he asserted is obvious. Most Of
the derogatory stories circulated
about the Red Cross, about the
treatment of the boys abroad. about
the danger incurred. are false and
may be traced directly TO such
sources. But for the fact that the
American people is a level headed
one, he averred, the harm done
here might have determined the
outcome OF the war in Germany's
favor
one of the lies he condemned
most bitterly was that about the
English "Tommies." There is not
one grain OF truth, he said. to the
report that the Canadian contin-
gent was forced into the trenches
ahead OF the English. OF all the
armies now engaged in the war,
none has done quite go much as
the gallant English But in spite
Of his enthusiasm for the fighting
boys of ENGLAND Lieut.. Peat lauded
France. glorious France he called
her. who is fighting the worlds
battle on her own bloody ground.
Nothing in the worlds history IS
more superb than the response Of
AAlNN " AACAA NAt NttAA NeNAA-N ACA AAN-
testing
Everything Depends on L. :. 4.
That the outcome is dependent
upon America is the opinion Of
Lieut. Peat Everything depends
now. ne believes, upon the assist
ance rendered by the American
people in the support Of our az
mics abroad. For this purpose il IS
not only imperative but absolute
" necessary that the Liberty loan
be adequately subscribed 10. The
war cannot be fought 10 a victorious
finish without funds America has
them. and IL is her duty 10 sup
ply them now.
Closing. Lieut. Peat addressed
the women particularly. II is a
woman's war. he said TIE boys
We send viii hght as those boys
are hghting now "over there" for
womanhood and honor first OF all.
And women can aid in many ways.
Much more depends upon them than
they realize. They need not go 20
front 10 serve. bu, may do so in
their own homes by performing the
duties at hand.
| Preceding the lecture. pleas