The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-08-02
BACK UP THE FIGHTING
MEN AT THE FRONT
Try Theodore Roosevelt.)

ing such whose veins do not thrill
with pride when he reads of what
has been done by General Pershing
and his gallant army i'm France. The
soldiers over there who wear the
American uniform have made all
good Americans forever their debt
ors. Now and always afterward We
Of this country will walk with our
heads high because of the men who
face death and wounds, and so many
of whom have given their lives fight
ing for this nation and for the great
ideals of humanity across the seas.
But we must not let our pride and
our admiration evaporate in mere
pride, in mere admiration of Whit
others have done. We must put the
whole strength of this nation back
Of the fighting men at the front. We
owe it to them. We owe 1t at least
as much to the gallant allies, who
for near four years fought the great
battle that was our battle, no less
than theirs.
At last we have begun to come to
their assistance, but let us solemnly
realize that we came very late. and
that it is dreadful thing If we waste
one hour that can now be saved. or
weaken in the smallest degree any
effort that can be made.
The inability or refusal of 3olshe-
visit Russia to do her part in the
great war for liberty and democracy
mas cast terrible added burden up
on the allies. On the eastern front
his has meant the temporary allied
ruin and the feeling of the armies of
autocracy for action against the
Western people. England, France
and Belgium for four years, and Italy
'or over three years, have been fight
ing the battle of civilization. Their
nan-power is terribly depleted.
Thank heaven we have got some
hundreds of thousands of soldiers
lcross in time to be a real element
in saving Paris. Temporarily, at
east. and / hope permanently, we
nave done our part in this respect.
But the faltering. the least letting
ID or failure in pushing forward our
preparations and our assistance
would be dangerous to the allied
,ause and a wicked desertion of our
allies.
From now on America should
make this peculiarly Americas war
from now on we should take the
,urden of the war upon our should
,rs. We should move forward at
)nce. with all the force that there Is
n us. We should not allow tre
var to drag for so much as day.
md above all we should not permit
our people to fall under the spell OF
,acifst dreams or possible paclhst
lotions. There should not be inter
mission of so much as week in send
ng our troops across the seas. rms
war won't be won by food, or by
money, or by savings, or by THRIFT
stamps. or by the Red Cross. or by
anything else, altho all of these VIII
helm win the war. 1t will be won
by the valor of the fighting men at
the front. and this valor will fail I'M
ess our fighting men at the front
are millions strong.
Every week this summer and tali
we should be putting fresh troops
by scores of thousands across the
ocean. and now, to-day, this week, we
should provide for placing larger
army in the field next spring than
Germany itself, or France and Eng
land combined. We are a more pop
ulous. a richer country than Ger
many. We have a larger population
than Great Britain and France COM
bined. These nations have fought
for four years. We have only just
begun to fight.
Let us at once mobilize the whole
man-power of this country between
the ages of 10 and SO or 60. the
draft should take in all men OF IL
even il they were not sent abroad
until they were 20 years old. Let US
act at once. Perhaps we can bea'
the Germans this year, If we keel
pouring our troops over with the Ut
most speed. But let us take ne
chances. Let us proceed upon the
assumption that Germany will hgh'
next spring and, therefore, let vi
act instantly so that by spring W.
will have in France an army of fight
ing men, exclusively of non-combat
ants and exclusively of home depots
which shall amount to 4,OOO,OO'
armed soldiers at the very least.
Let us fight beside the French
the British, the Italians, and be read.
to fight instantly in the Balkan
II. Ia.1 Axaa