South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-13
LESSON 4.
YOUR POST OF HONOR

You are called 70 serve as a sol
dier In the national army. because
that is one Of your obligations a. "a
citizen Of the United States. The
citizens OF a republic must always
be ready in the hour Of need 20 leave
their own homes and take up arms
in defense OF their rights and princi-
piles Otherwise the republic could
not long continue 10 exist. The men
who now enter military service de
serve the gratitude and respect Of
their fellow citizens.
You are doubtless making a heavy
sacrifice in order 20 perform this
DUTY 90 your country. Hundreds of
thousands Of other young men and
their families are face 20 face with
similar sacrifices. All our citizens
VIII sooner or later be called upon,
each 20 bear his or her share of the
burden Men and women. rich and
poor. all alike. must do whatever
is necessary and must give up what
interests or feelings can be permit
ted 20 stand in the way at a time
when the safety and honor of the
country are at stake.
AS citizen soldier YOU are
chosen for post Of special distinc-
ton. America is Justly proud of the
soldiers Of the past who have won
for as the fights today denied and
put in serious danger by the high
handed attacks Of the German gov
eminent America viii be no less
proud OF YOU. as you fight 10 uphold
those lights
Your personal responsibility is
great AS warfare is today conduct
ed. the individual soldier counts for
more than ever before. Your own
skill and bravery, no matter how
humble your rank. may easily be i'm
pOrtant factors i'm deciding whether
an engagement is 20 be won or lost.
You can not depend upon anyone
else 10 carry this personal respOn-
sibility for you; you must depend
upon yourself
Some American Soldiers.
Americans are well-ftted 20 meet
this test. During the civil war. at
the battle OF Antietam. the seventh
Maine infantry lay hugging the
ground. under a furious storm Of
shot and shell. Private Knox, who
was a wonderful shot, asked leave
10 move nearer the enemy For an
hour afterwards his companions
heard his rifle crack every few min
utes. His commanding officer final
Is. from curiosity. "crept forward
10 see what he was doing, and found
that he had driven every man away
from one section OF confederate
battery. tumbing over gunner after
gunner as they came forward to
fire. At the end OF an hour
or so. a piece of shell took off the
breech Of his pet rifle. and ne re-
turned disconsolate; but after few
minutes he gathered three rifles that
were left by wounded men and went
back again"
Iu the confederate armies individ-
nal soldiers were no less skillful,
cool and brave ON both sides they
were Americans
Here are a few cases quoted from
official records. You must read be-
tween the lines To get the full bene-
at OF the stories they tell of re-
sourcefulness and courage
ON June Q. 1862, Private John
GRAY. NTH Ohio infantry, mounted
ON an artillery horse OF the enemy
and captured brass siX-pOund
piece. iu the face OF the enemy S
fire. and brought il 10 the rear
ON oct. -. 1865. Private Michael
Dougherty. 18th Pennsylvania caval-
rs. "at the head of a detachment of
his company. dashed across an open
field. exposed 10 "a deadly fire from
the enemy. and succeeded in dis
logging them from am unoccupied
house. which he and his comrades