Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-30
BLACK JACK UNDER FIRE.

J1Ck, WHO HAS ucAIu uuACo whAos'S
and seen hot battles in far corners OF
the world, was under fire with the
French poilus this week and won the
praise from these intrepid warriors by
his display of cool courage and char
acteristic determination to see for
himself every angle of the war game
into which he is leading the greatest
army any nation ever summoned to
defend its flag.
Pershing's courage has been tested
often Americans who know him or
his history in the army were not sur
prised to learn that he had ventured
into the captured trenches practically
in step with the charging French in
fantrymen For Pershing Is no arm
chair commander. 1t has not been
many years since he was raw lieu
tenant, leading his own company. He
had advanced only few steps along
the line Of army promotion when he
caught the eye Of Roosevelt and was
'tumped'' over the heads of many
other oficers in the typical Roosevelt
ian method.
Some of the selections the shirt
sleeve president made were not so
fortunate, but never has there been
occasion to regret the action that
put Pershing in line for the honor he
holds now.
1t Is significant that the dispatches
regarding his visit to the battle front
say his bravery under fire was the
subject of praise from the French.
This is an honor that leaves little tn
be said, for the French soldiers N the
present war have given to the world
an exhibition of bravery and brilliant
daring that entities them to. the most
profound respect. This can be said
without disparaging the spirit which
the armies of England, Belgium and
Italy have displayed. None Of these
nations has produced shirker. Bel.
GUMS army fought with supreme
valor against indescribable horror and
in the face Of certain defeat. Italy and
England have sent forth armies whic.,
have added luster to the wonderful
records their fighters have made in
other wars. But France, defeated in
the first surge Of the kaisers hordes.
rallied at the Marine and has fought
sayagely and with most spectacular
bravery since then, in spite Of polite
al diffculties and all the added dis
advantages that are the portion of an
army battling to expel invaders from
its own home soil.
The standard OF courage which the
entente allies have established i" the
long three years since 1914 is a high
one indeed. Americans will be expecs
ed to measure up to 1t from the first
day OF their participation in the fight,
ing. We who know them realize that
they will. We have had cause already
| to feel the greatest pride in the ex
ploits of those Americans who have
won renown in the armies Of the
allies. Now the commander of the
American army himself has walked
fearlessly and calmly into the very
center Of one OF the most savage bat
ties on the western front.
Soon his hosts Of khaki-ciad follow
ers will be going over the top, in
spired by his example, by the tradi
tons Of the American army, by the
confidence Europe has imposed ir
them. by their indomitable American
grit by the spirit of courage that one
breathes with the very air in this ma
ton OF freedom, by the knowledge
that all the millions of their country
men are backing them, by the con
seriousness that they are engaged in ;
holy war for the protection of civil
cation, Christianity and human rights