Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-12-28
THE WAR AS | SEE 1T
BY Col. E. M. Heiso, President Pacific
and Idaho Northern Railway
(From the weiser signaD

armies invading Belgium in violation
of the neutrality of that country
which Germany was most solemnly
pledged to respect and defend. Great
Britain and France were also guaran-
tors of Belgiums neutrality. By this
time all the world knows also. not
withstanding the mendacity of Ger
many on the subject that the war
was deliberately planned and promo
ted by Germany which considered that
World, and that Austrias controversy
with te little kingdom of Serbia was
only utilized as a convenient excuse.
The heroic resistance made by the
Belgians against overwhelming num-
bers gave the unprepared French time
TO effect partial mobilization and in
the meantime Great Britain, true to
its treaty obligations and realizing
even at that early date that civili-
cation, as we know it, was at stake,
performed the Unprecedented feat of
mobilizing its all to small but mag
nifcently equipped standing army in
the short space of forty eight hours
and with this army they defeated and
turned back from the very gates of
Paris the army of the German Crown
Prince, which outnumbered them three
to one.
OF all the countries primarily en-
gagged in the war on the Allied side;
it may be said that Belgium made the
greatest sacrifice, but it maintained
its honor and standing among nations.
Russia, France, Serbia and Monten-
egro were directly assailed. Great
Britain was only indireltcy affected and
she entered the war to carry out to
the fullest degree her treaty obliga-
tons; doubtless realizing at the start
that sooner or later, with her as with
the United States, conflict with Ger
many was inevitable unless they be-
came mere vassals of Germany. Sub
sequently Roumania, Italy and Por |
tugal entered the war on the Bhten
te side and Bulgaria and Turkey on |
the Teuton side.
The War has now progressed for
nearly three and one-half years with
unparrelled ferocity. Unlike any other
war of modern times between civiliz-
ed nations international law has been
entirely disregarded by the Teutons
nj CHI Of |
brutality, beastliness, ruthlessness
and indifference to the rights of nom
combatants, never heard of before
If history may be trusted the Teu-
tons have far outclassed, in these re-
spects, the Hordes of Attila which the
power mad Kaiser apperas to have
taken as his model.
To get the proper perspective upon
this War we must each bring the
situation home to ourselves person
ally; we must try and put ourselves
in the place of a Belgian or French
soldier; following his country's flag
his home has been occupied
by the Germans; his wife perhaps
pregnant with German baby; his
grown up daughter carried away to
be the sport of a brutal soldiery; his
male children emsaculated: his female
mutiliated or MANNED in many
ways: his. aged father or mother
luted with filth; his orchards and
even his shade trees destroyed every
thing of value that was portable. car
ried off to Germany, otherwise de-
stroyed or defaced and his altars
1esecrated. Horrible thought; but
suppose you were he; try to imagine
What your feelings would be and
whether you would regard the Ger =
mans as a Kindly and humane
people," and be ready for any sort of :,
makes shift peace. It has repeated
Y been urged that the Kaiser alone :,
8 to blame for the war and that the
German people are kindly and hu- :,
name people who under different gov
rnment would make good neighbors'"
This can not be true. The Kaiser was y.
directly responsible for the :,
Var as it happened; but the Kaiser :,
ould not have brought this war about -
S he did had not the German people
'''e wa a''o '"e ''o' ioie at
ality and atrocities that the Germans
ave committed counld not have oc-
lrred by the command of the Kaiser, !.
owever insistant and inf1exible his
rderes might be did they not appeal =,
, the soul and conscience of the great =,
lasses OF the German people who
,mmitted them. And so 1t becomes
tn
against the Kaiser but we are war
ng against the soul and conscience of