The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-06-14
SAFE AND SANE.
We are at war!

deed. In mind you may nave
pictured war as invasion, but do not
be mis.ed. You have not seen the
gigantic charges, and the mighty bat
ties that have lasted for days have
been far removed from the shores Of
the United States, you say. You
have not seen the masses of dead
piled high and you have not sensed
the smell of battle-that distinguish
able odor that comes from the new
battlefield and means the life blood
of many men ebbing away. You
have not heard the mighty roar of
battle. But Go not attempt to de-
ceive yourself. The nation is at war,
and that includes the two of us.
Now just little later on you will
have a keener realization of this
truth. It may at first have been only
the ascending prices here at home
that claimed your attention to the
fact, but there is yet a price that
will summon your attention to the
demands of war. Some one from
your home, at least some one from
your home community, may, and will,
be called to the colors. All! that's
when you will realize that this nation
all of us-are at war. When the
war, through this agency, enters into
your home circle Of friends, and per-
haps relatives, that is when you will
most wish for it to be brought to a
speedy close. Then let us become
aroused to our patriotic duty.
You may for moment question the
motive of what has been written, but
let us glance back and around.
| The war is now nearly three years
old, and no man knows when it will
be brought to a close, nor can any
one foretell who will be the van
quished. You may smile over that as
sertion and boast of the prowess Of
the United States and the nations with
whom she is now aligned, but it is
none the less true. Through the
agency Of the public prints you have
become well aware Of the cruel prac'
tees of the German army, their bru
tality and utter depravity. Unspeak
able crimes and many deeds unfit fol
nrint have beer freely referred to
How would you like for such a,
army and such condition Of affairs t.
be brought to this fair land?
I Germany yet has millions of wei
trained and we'll armed troops in tn
field, her food supply has not We
failed her, her facilities for tn
manufacture of the implements O
war are unimpaired and she i
equipped to turn out submarines o
IN improved type at the rate of eigh
each week.
What if the forces now at work il
Russia should fail in rallying and re
ORGANIZING the army of that nation o
10000, 900 people? What if Rus
s;a then. instead of continuing to re
main allied with France, England
Italy and the United States, SHOULD
arrange for separate peace? Tha
would release three million NOR
veteran TROOPS now on the easter,
battlefront and who would at ono
5 &c hurled at the battered and bleed
ing line of French, English, Cana
dams and Americans now on tn
western line of battle. France nigh
' be crushed. The submarines may We
starve out England.
And what would all that mean TO
the United States? Invasion? yo
: ask. Perhaps so, and worse things t
follow. At any rate, it would surei
result in this much: If the allies ar
not the victors in this great war al
other will soon follow, and that wi
mean that Germany will be at on
{ threats. Why? Germany will b
better equipped for fighting than fl
!. anything else. With depleted SUI
plies, lost trade and ruined credi
che will quite naturally wish to r.
= coup. What more natural than
hope to do this at the expense of IL
nation that is at present weak but
l. rolling in wealth?
F" So it stands US in stead to haste
I" to realization of the fact that "
:, are at war. Let US recognize @,
- many duties and resolve to me-
!, them. In a word, let US play sal
and act sanely.
II In this connection there is one dut
that may reasonably be urged ar
, to which attention should be Gale
:. to-day. And that is, that to-morro
: is the last dav you will be pri,
. legged to subscribe to the Liber
:. Bond Loan. This should be reco
niaed as Americans first duty, al
the fund should be oversubscribed
those who cannot at present othe
]? wise help the cause. If you cam
he in any other way help just now ha'
,r you applied to purchase your share
u the Liberty Loan Bonds?
u Your many other duties as a eli
ID zen while this nation is at war ha
at been urged. You have been asked
a. plant an increased acreage to TO-
le crops, to husband the resources