The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-09-25
HE ADVERTISERS sEM-wEEKLY
The Man In the Ranks

IN an interview with an American correspondent
u General Won Hindenburg is reported to have
said i The foreign press even the papers OF our
enemies have paid me many undeserved compli-
ments, but | tell you now that our victories are
due entirely to the intelligence and to the devo-
ton to duty of the German soldier"
y And says the Los Angeles Times, whether it is
Hindenburg OF Germany, the late Lord Kitchener
of England or Pershing of the United States, ev-
cry general we'll knows victories are indeed due
entirely to the intelligence and to the devotion
duty of the in the ranks.
We erect monuments to our great generals we
cover their breasts with 'beribboned medals: but
il is the man in the ranks that wins the worlds
battles shoulders the worlds burdens. carries on
the worlds great industries, makes the worlds
progress possible And it is the man in the ranks
that suffers the big sacrifices the man in the ranks
that is greater than his own self L.,
The generals give their brains and their knowl-
edge yes-but the man in the ranks gives all he
has, his intelligence, his faithful devotion to duty,
his very life; and but for the implicit faith that his
country can place in him, the amazing assurance
OF loyalty, fidelity and courage that every country
expects and receives from the man in the ranks,
all the brilliant tactics all the dazzling strategies
all the dashng offensives and defensives of the
generals would count for naught.
Genius in our generals is so rare that every,
country enShrines the memory Of such one in its
Hall OF Fame, and he is handed down through
history as a monumental hero. But courage and
fidelity, amazing endurance and strong -hearted
thoroughness common in the ranks that it
is only on the rare occasions, when the reverse is
suspected in one of their comrades, that any com
ment arises.
. We do not marvel that armies can be raised
overnight and men flock to the defense OF their
countries at the cost of their very lives we only
marvel when there slackers; our wonder is
deserved for any individual men who hold back.
Yet for the great general there is assured glory
assured appreciation; assured reward The man
in the ranks who takes up his countrys burden so
valiantly has meager hope Of individual reward.
Indeed, as Captain Knyvett of Australia recently
assured us, bravery and self-sacrfce were so COM
mon that the authorities in Europe had long since
ceased to award medalS-every man in the armies
would be entitled to one. Only the coward is
unique; only the mangerer is unusual; only the
Stacker holds the lmelight today If this means
the failure of Christian civilization, then it is
noble failure indeed for if the war has done moth
ing else, it has proved that the man in the ranks
is still of heroic mould. To quote Captain Kny
vett again: "The deeds of our ancestors pale into
insigni6cance beside the deeds that our men are
doing every day They are performing unheard-of
feats of courage - and would blush to be called
heroes"
1t is the man in the ranks who has won freedom
Tor the world and who is rushing to its defense
today. Unostentatously with that grim devotion
to duty, that absolute selhshness he is standing up
in his millions to once again assert the worlds
best principles, and at the cost of his life, if
need be.
God be praised for the fine integrity, the great
average nobility, the answering courage and
steadfastness Of the man in the ranks!