Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-14
The Soul of a Nation
nv Gertrude Lyncn.)

When the details Of the why. when ana
| where OF the Expeditionary Force axe
being threshed out in Washington pew
nle-who for the first time are listened 70
seem to consider it a duty to say or
hand what they think, without stopping 70
corsider that when one does that, one
usually thinks what should not be said.
| Such phrases as these are common taih:
why should we send our men -
Frances"
| OF course we must stand by and II we
could do any real good, would De tne
| first to say
"J.et us send our millions and our num-
lions but keep our troops until they nave
! graduated in this new sort OF warfare
| Don't let our enthusiasm run away
with our common sense.
! "Absurd to deplete our army In this
way"
| Tn order to win any battle you nave
got to find your enemy's weak place and
attack 1t.
Since the beginning of hostilites and
during the 40 preliminary years OF prep
aration the Germans have taken every
! thing into account except the human SOUL
They have-and have haG-a machine WIN
a machine drive, an organization sans
sentiment, sans heart.
The Revolutionary Force that we shall
send will do more to dusk up the Allies
than money and supplies. 1t was the so2l
that saved civilization in the l1rst DAYS Vi
the war: it is the Soul that will win out
against the machine.
| In the early days of August. 1914, the
wonderful Sixth Army had gone out In
automobiles through the gates of Paris.
The women were praying in the churches;
AVIAN tho unheIeyers were in their closets
brought to their knees by the weight OK
the disaster. Galieni had given the seeres
orders that, if need be, Paris, the most
beautiful city in the world, was 10 ne
destroyed Streets were deserted OF he'
and traffic. Young boys, saddened Wonlell'
haired veterans went to and fro, I'M
able to- endure the solitude or the roof
+rae Tears rained unchecked down the
cheeks-the cosmetics of Paris, the CITY
of Pleasure, were washed away. oic
thought OF the Judgment Day Tor IN the
twinkling of an eye all had peen
changed Dogs wandered about looking
for their masters. A final, panlc-strlche"
tourist sought vainly for a cab.
over all the pail Of the Long Expected
for PARIS had never walked entirely from
the nightmare Of 20
And one question was on every stiiled
b1eath. One question, by its importance
outra mixed the others
Twill England stand by
.lf she does not, God help US! God help
u.s. indeed!'
The faint fame of that hope f1ickered'
went out, was dimly evident, fiared am
was lost anew.
Meanwhile, across the grey channel, OIL
fetal England hesitated in debate
! at is true that scrap OF paper carries
Englands signature but Is not the nee,
enough?"
I'VE can SPARE no troops; we need them
for home defence"
| We shall have done our part, as any
when the German Fleet is finally bottled
up
But the Soul won-won against arsu-
ment procrastination, the futile question
ings of why and when
Less than hundred thousand men
landed forthwith on that narrow strip OF
French soil that borders the channel,
The news of the coming was heralde !
throughout the length and breadth OF
France.
England was there, in spite of fears,
in spite of prophecies. in spite Of history.
| An insignificant number, it is true, when
one counted the millions Of the great Red
Line flung at each others threats in the
death grip.
But that which it stood for was not in
significant.
Behind it stood that great Empire on
which the sun never sets. Behind waV-
ing banner. carried by meagre van
guard. was the mighty potentiality of u
nation that does not go back on its word.
These men we're the outward and visible
sign Of what was to be; visual symbol
of a sacred bond; pioneers of an army
that once started. could not be stayed.
Men and women fell on each others
shoulders in the streets Of Paris
| A thousand times a day one heard:
| .Angleterre marche avec nous England
! goes with us.
The Expeditionary Force had saved the
Soul Of France.
I The other day at the battle Of Vimy
Ridge, a Texan soldier ran to hillock
| and standing there at the moment OF vica
| tory waved the American flag.
There is no incident more thrilling In
our whole history.
He was our unconscious pioneer-our
living message that we were to stand by
In this great war for human souls: that
over the trenches, across No Mans land
the Stars and Stripes would wave with
the other tricolors.
A feet may hold another feet In check.
but the feet Is invisible. Its doings are
| carefully censored. its whereabouts a
mystery We may corner submarines but
submarines are secret things. .,-s
An Expediency Force can be seen. The
men composing It are ocular proofs Of
our invncible determination. In fearful
days one likes the touch OF the friendly
hand. When we need sympathy we would
rather see our friend than hear from him.
Money talks! Artillery thunders. But
these are days when the soul will have
the final word.
Don't belittle the need Of an Expedi.
tionaYy Force!
Send 1t and send II At once.