The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-09-27

We suggest that the members of
your league should endeavor by every
means to correct the false impression
which has been industriously circulated
among the people by German agents
that the men who are drafted into the
new army will be Immediately sent in
to the trenches in France and exposed
to the worst possible horrors and prac-
tically certain death. The facts are
that the men engaged in this war are
not exposed to anything like the hard
ships or dangers, and the casualties are
not so great, as in the American Civil
war. The men will, after. being given
the necessary time to arrange their
immediate affairs, be sent to comfort
able training camps in the United
States, where they will receive the
best of attention, will be well fed, and
the physical training and proper atten-
tion by the most competent medical
officers will soon put them all into
prime condition. The camp life is
interesting, the arrangements for en-
tertainment and athletic sports, games
and contests are ample, and the exper-
ience in the training camp will give
them a valuable education such as few
of them would have the opportunity to
acquire otherwise. If it should be
their good fortune to be sent to the
front in Europe. that also will be a
valuable and wonderful experience
and, with the improved means for car
ing for and protecting the men in
trench warfare, the percentage of
deaths has been rapidly reduced until
now it is less than half what it was in
the first years of the war.
Attention is called to the article in
Leslie's Weekly for August 30, 1917,
wherein it is stated, "Mr. Roger Bab-
son, the statIstician, said recently, af-
ter an exhaustive investigation. four
teen out of every fifteen have been
safe so far. Only one man in 500 loses
a limb, a chance no greater than in
hazardous conditions at home The
exaggerated accounts of deaths in the
French, English and Canadian armies
are mostly German propaganda. "
OF every 1000 in the U. S. Army it
is probable that $40 will return with
out serious injury.
With the preponderance in aero
planes and artillery which it is easily
possible for this country to provide it
is believed that the men will be so
protected that the casualties will be
less than those in any previous war
and it is also assured that the arrange
ments for furnishing supplies for the
hospitals and sanitary arrangements,
and other protection for the soldiers,
will be better than anything hereto
fore attempted in war. The men who
go to the front fighting for the tri-
umph of democracy and to overcome
the forces of evil which have hereto
fore prevented general and lasting
peace among the nations of the world,
will, with few exceptions, come back
heroes and better men in every way.
Under the selective draft law. it is the
duty of many who are engaged in use-
full industries to remain where they
can best assist and the government in |
producing articles necessary for prose-
cutting the war; but those who, with |
out good reason, hang back and avoid
their duty, will regret it as long as
they live and realize that they have
acted the part of sneaks and towards.
The best thing that any friend can |
do for man of military age, and for
his relatives, is to assist him to get |
into the army or navy for service dur
ing this war.
1t is said in some places that a |
mans first duty is to his family. |
Even so, the highest duty citizen:Of |
the United States can perform for his |
family is to help preserve for them the |
liberty they enjoy under the govern
ment of this great republic, and save
them from the fate which will be
theirs if the central powers-Pruss-
ians, Austrans and Turks should win
this war. No soldiers family in the
United States will suffer want while
he is absent in the army, and the gov
ernment insurance system will provide |
for them in case of his death.
German agents are industriously cir
the other false charges that
this war is being urged upon the Unit
ed States for the benefit of England.
could be further from the
truth. United States Ambassador Ger
ard and other Americans who have
spent much time in Germany during
recent years have positive knowledge
of the hostile intentions of the imper-
lal German government toward the
United States, and for several years
the British navy is all that has stood
between this country and the fate of
Belgium.
We believe it is lack of knowledge
Of the true facts connected with this
war and of the imminent danger that
if the people of this country do not
quickly put forth their best efforts to
win the war on foreign soil it will
have to be fought out to the bitter end
in our own country, which has caused
so many of our citizens and their rela-
tives to seek exemption from military
service under the selective draft and |
nope that your league will endeavor to
place before the people of your county
the facts and the necessity for helping
The government in every possible way.