The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-06
.ere and. Ohere
By Mrs. Byrd Trego


When one sits down to think Of
the war from it's inception on thru
to the present, there looms up sharp
ly certain definite monuments that
remain against the background Of
understanding. All our reasoning
fails to remove the image however
much we desire to do so.
The first image that darkens the
comprehension of the writer Is a
great big question mark like this:
Why did not Germany win the war
during the first short period? We
have on our shelves "The Story Of
the Great War" in twelve volumes,
put out by Collier, in which we hoped
to find a solution that seemed salts
flying. The reverse, however, was the
result and the mystery therefore
deepened. This publication gives an
account of German preparedness that
oversteps any previously written or
lectured one.
When Germany could call men to
arms in the morning fully equip them
at noon, send them to the seat Of
action at night, over double tracked
road, especially built to tn e frontier
point of design, and Immediately
overwhelm the sleeping nations with
their slaughter, why did she not
complete her designs at once? Was
she like the cat with mouse, sat
isfied ito tantalize and amuse with
feeling of assurance that the game
was won and joy of the spoils would
be enhanced by period of anticipa-
ton. Mayhaps she had the subma-
'rlne horror in mind with which she
intended to prove to the stunned
world how eminently supreme she
was in preparedness. Surely she
thought the world was hers at that
period, and if she could take it at
all she could do so when there were
no guns trained against her immense
army. After England went in there
was a period when only a thin line
of raw recruits that scarcely knew
the names of the firearms they
were commanded to carry between
her and the objective goal If the
road to Paris was not open to her
then how could she expect the 60
ing to be free from obstruction later?
Did Germany make false step in
the program, or did the cat worry
the mouse so long he found a way
to escape?
Again. After we sent our first
contingent of men over there was
a long pause. We were constantly
given the information that the boys
were in training, would be placed in
battle line position in a few. days
and so on. But Pershing did not
seem to move, and a near question
was asked in the minds of many as
to the fitness of the man we had
sent over to carry on" for us. FL
nally Foch was made generalissimo
and Immediately Pershing proclaim
ed with true Yankee zest, 'all we
are and have l place at your COM
mand," or words to that effect. I'M
mediately activity was in order all
along the line that soon counted
success in no uncertain tones. There
had been rumors that politics, had
hampered Bling and other contempla-
ted movements. Was Pershing wait
ing for something to clear up, for q
better organized army, and what
part, if any, did he take in the ap-
pointment of Foch? Perhaps with
the removal of censorship some of
these mysteries will be made clear.
Again. This league of nations we
have such strong notion of organ
izing. l never did believe in over
intimacy among neighbors, or in u.s.
ing them for accommodations prom
iscOusly. Seems to me peace that
tn hn !, La ~
lions would not be as satisfactory
as one established on self-made prin-
ciple. I'd prefer a country that
shone with Righteousness because it
was clean from the heart than one
that Joined clique to show how 1t
could do under pressure. Still 1t
might do some good in the Balkan
states and a few others, but If we
stepped in as godfather to all these
Dbstreperous unbelievers we would
be called upon to do a lot Of spank
Ing perhaps, and that takes time and
energy, over and above being an
noying. No, don't want a league
Of nation just now; let's wait until
we know what nations there are to
league.
Akdlu. AL ILLS lOOllSll Idlk dUOuL
Germany and giving, her a
place in the sun again. 1t is alright
to forgive sometimes but I always
90 around the circle and return to
The words of Jesus when he was
nailed to the cross, Father forgive
Them for they know not what they
TO-" Note carefully the last chause.
If five words, they know not what
hey do" Then I reach the much
quoted words, And unto him that
,miteth thee on one cheek offer also
he other; and him that taketh away
Thy cloak forbid him not to take
;hy coat ALSO" Jesus did not say
% allow the second cheek to be smit-
.en, neither did he say, to let the
coat be appropriated by the rascal
Who had taken the cloak. We tried
he Germans out faithfully enough.
If course the Kaiser knew what he
vas doing with malicious fore
hought, just as the nurses, who were
delegated to care for our boys in
heir prisons would come smilingly
o a hungry, sick boy with a plate
" steaming hot soup and just as
lis delight was greatest would stop
% spit in the dish and then laugh
outright at his disgust and furnishing
disappointment, knew what che was
1oino Az othor finaa whom thew