The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-09-16

OUR FLAG AND ITS MESSAGE
BY Mai. ]. A. Moses; u. S. A., and Mai
M. B. Stewart, U. S. A. Qncluding the
esldent's appeal for unitv9 j. b.
Gippincott Co., publishers, Philadelphia.
This little book, entitled Our Flag and
its Message" by prominent United
States army officers Maj. j. A Moses
and Mai M. B. Stewart, should be in the
hands Of every citizen of America.
1t is a wise publication just at this
large amount of information regarding
mas oar flag means; each unit which
Cos - make up the whole is dissected
and definition given of its meaning; the
colors first, the red, then the white and
he sl1'e; the stars and the states they
stand for; the stripes and their mean
/ ing
It is a wisep utilization just at this
| time when all good Americans want to
learn everything they can about their
country and their flag, and to the
authors many thanks are given for their
thoughtfulness in preparing the little
fbook and the concise clever and simple
manner, in which they have told the
story of "Our Flag and Its Message. -
'MOBTLIZING AMERICA"
BY Arthur Bullard The MACMILLAN Co.,
publishers, New York city.
The third edition of Arthur Billiard s
''Mobilizing America which is recently
from the press, carries on it's first page
an alteration which has an interesting
history, and which shows as well some
thing Of Mr.. Billiards. keen insight,
When the manuscript for "Mobilizing
America" was delivered to the publish
ers, the first two paragraphs consisted
of two short sentences reading as fol-
lows:
We are at war
And we don't know how to right"
The book was published later, having
been sent TO press a few days prior 70
that at a time when national conditions
We're unsettled and the course which this
country would pursue not fully de-
termined. Because of this it was deemed
best slightly to modify the authors open
ing remarks, which were then made to
read:
Our naval gunners are ordered to fire
at German submarines on sight. The
Germans sink our ships without warn
ing. Whatever the diplomats may like
to call it, this Is war
"And we do not know how to fight
The volume then actually made its ap-
pearance two days after Congress had
been summoned In extraordinary session
and three days before the declaration Of
war. Had the original statement been
retained, 1T would have accurately de-
scribed the existing state Of affairs. The
fact that in the latest printing of
''Mobilizing America" the publishers
have reverted to the form which Mr.
Billiard first used is but a testimony to
the shrewdness and foresight of his
analysis of the trend of events
The clergy is commencing Arthur Bull
ard's "Moblizing America" Here, for
example, is the opinion of the Rev Jo-
seph M. Vance pastor of the First Pres
byterian church of Detroit: 1T wish ev-
cry American could read "Mobilizing
America as l am sure it would stir his
heart to a more intelligent patriotism
for the service that our country SO deep
ly needs today from all its people,"
The Rev. C. R. Stetson, pastor of ST.
Marks church of Washington, maintains
that what Mr.. Billiard says in ''Mobiliz-
ing America" has the value of being
clear, concise and pointed. TT has