The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-01
People Must Stand Squarely Behind Boys at Front,
 Declares Speaker
WOMEN WILL BACK
 THE GOVERNMENT
Donation From State for Care of Alabama Soldiers Is Urged. Mrs. Funk to Leave
 for France

we have not yet scratched the top soil of sacrifice" said Mrs. Antoinette Funk, vice chairman of the woman committee of the third liberty loan cam paign, and chairman of the council oh detense, in an address to the people ot Birmingham yesterday afternoon in the ballroom of the Tutwiler hotel. we all know that the stronger we stand behind cur boys at the front the stronger we make our second line of defense"
 Mrs. Funk, who has charming per sonaiity was introduced by Mrs. J. II. Mccoy.
 '.The present war was an inevitanie conflict, for when we signed the Dec lsration of Independence we lighted spark that has grown and since that time two ideals have been trying 10 cx- ist at one time, and this we know IS nn- possible, since two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time. At the beginning of this var it was neces- sary for the government to educate the American people by issuing the first iip- erty bonds for we are not bond puy- ing nation, as our government has been in debt so little that this has not been necessary, and we have been allowed 10 forget that we are the cradle of liberty and were born in democracy"
 ROYAL FAMILIES
 She ST oke most interestingly of the royal families of Germany, stating that they have always thought self-govern- ment and free speech were dangerous to the crowns of kings.
 "At the outbreak of the war in Europe we would not believe that Germany was not our friend at heart. and the thing we are fighting for is that the war spirjt shall forever be crushed out or the world We hear many people say the people of Germany are not like the Kaiser, but believe the people are made of the same material as the Kaiser and they have been taught that might IS right and the children of Germany are taught they must help Germany to her place in the sun, which means . do- minion over the world
 Mrs. Funk told of the wives of Ger man officers riding through Belgium and taking the clothes food, machines of the Belgium women and carrying them to Germany More than 3,000.000 old men, women and children of Po- land were starved to death, the Ger mans taking all foods from them, while Belgium is little better off only for the aid of the American Red Cross. Not a woman between the ages of 12 and 40 years is now in Belgium, the Germans having taken the Bel gium women and sent them ahead to build trenches under fire. ne
 WILL LEND TO GOVERNMENT
 There is not home in America that had not sent a man directly or indirectly to the front and it does not ttar oI, tnl fa win the war the American people will lend it to the government and if it becomes necessary we will have our liberty bonds framed and hang them on our walls" declared Mrs Funk, and she talked most Interestingly of the work being done by the French wom- en, stating they were no different from the American women who will back their country with their very lives
 When she told of the many atroci- ties committed by the Germans which we could hardly believe and as she concluded that part of her talk there were many wet eyes in the audience.
 MUST BUILD SHIPS
 "We must build ships, and ships, and more ships to carry our men across as well as supplies for them and the governments wants one-half million men for this purpose. which is most urgent need.
 ''The women of Alabama must se- cure a donation from the state to car- ny on the work of caring for the sol diers of Alabama as practically ev- cry other state in the union has done for this work must be kept up. Many of the northern boys have been sent south to train and if those mothers must send their boys to other moth CTS there are none more fitted for the places than the women of the south and southwest.
 T have told you these things be- cause believe it is my duty to do So that you may know of the horrible things brought about by this war. l expect to be in France within a month or two myself. for I feel there is work that I can do there"
 In closing Mrs. Funk said: II think that God held this country in the hollow of His hand that we people of this generation might bring eternal peace to it.'
 An informal reception was held im- mediately after the talk by Mrs. Funk and the people of Birmingham were given an opportunity to meet her. MISS STRANGE WILT.