Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-04-13
wake Up, American Should Be
Slogan Of People OF
United States.
TEXAS AVIATOR IN WARNING
Depreciates Patronlxing Air OF Some
Americans New to War--6oasts
Offered Friends In France,
Who Understand.

Austin, Tex.-Sergt. I'll. Clyde Balls
ley is the first Texan to return from
France as hero Of the flying service
OF the Lafayette Escadrille, OF which
he is member. Young Balsley's
home is In San Antonio, and he liz a
former student of the University of
Texas. He came to Austin few days
ago upon invitation from his Old-time
friends In the university to relate his
experiences. He is home on con-
valescent leave, having just recovered
from wounds received when attacked
by flock of German airmen. He fell
with his machine from a height of
a2,000 feet to an altitude of 1000 feet,
when be managed 10 right his airplane
and land safely behind the French
lines. He spent three years In the
flying service.
Patriotism Must Be Aroused.
wake up. America r. should be the
slogan of the people of the United
States, Sergeant Balsley said while
here. ut In 80 terribly necessary
and right now--that the whole country
be filled with patriotism. 1t must
feel that on Ii, and 1t alone, rests the
outcome of this war. Until that time
do not believe Americas best efforts
can be put forth. For while no one,
think, would want to take one iota
of eheeffulness or happiness away
from our soldiers, Gtill we who are at
the fronf-the allies and the French
feel that Americans are too cocksure
too full of braggadocio. Confidence
is all right, but man who does not
measure the enemy's resistance and
take Into account that he Is fighting
to the death, may stand to lose vast
odds just because Of his shortsighted-
ness"
Balsley spoke of bombing Germany
with American airplanes.
"Of course, 1t win take time. From
the French viewpoint 1t will be 1919
before Americans can really 60 In In
great forces, because she must get her
planes built and transported, and 1t
takes time, time, time We really
think that In 1913 America will only
be able to take charge Of some sec
tlons of the front, and that 1t will be
two years before she can really make
herself felt in the real struggle"
OF German atrocities, Balsey would
not speak.
II feel as though ! never want to
shake hands with one of them again."
he declared. "In the whole world
there is only one l regard highly, and
he is In San Antonio; and because
felt he was so different have hunted
him up. But only those who have
actually known the meanness and
cruelty of their methods over there
can understand what q terrible thing
their disregard Of every principle of
right means"
Balsley has many souvenirs of the
war-several bayonets, cap taken
from German prisoner, some shells,
a German artillery belt etc In n
worn bit of cloth he carries the shell
which, bursting, shattered his thigh.
1.-THE nurse gave 1t to me after the
operation" he explained.
In enlarglng upon the American at
titude as viewed from the foreign
standpoint Balsley went into details.
II speak Of American braggadocio
as have seen it in France and in
Paris and as | have seen 1t from the
French angle. So many of the boys