Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-01-09

Spouse came. the country today finally
Is determined that Germany must he
defeated and that America must take
giants share In the work.
What are the things which have
worked together to bring members of
congress and presumably the people
Of the country at large into this united
mood of thought?
Several things have fellowshiped
together TO make warlike the people
and their representatives It took a
long time 10 convince the citizens of
this republic that the tales of German
savagery were true. 1t meant moth
ing at the first that the stories we're
buttressed by the affidavits of men
OF proved worth of character. and II
meant nothing that reports coming
from all sections of Invaded Belgium
and France We're reports of barbara
ties of exactly similar nature. thus
tending to show that the Germans
were of one mind in their acts.
Entire Country Wakes Up.
About two months ago Washington
began TO note the change i'm the re-
ports of conditions in this country
which were brought into the capital
and which found their way into the
closets of officiHldom. Men from the
far West, the middle West the South
and the East reported that change
was marked In the attitude of the peo-
pie toward the war. Finally II was
said that conviction had come every
where that this war was not only a
war against German autocracy. hut
against German cruelty. The ad-
ministration has seen 10 1t that every
thing bearing on the truth concerning
Germany should be given TO the peO-
pie. The reasons why America Is in
this war have been put in printed form
before every American of reading age
in the United States. The results to-
day are apparent
Congress today is almost unanimous
In its determination that come what
will on west front, east front, or on
the high seas. thu United States must
stay In the conflict until democracy
is safe. Ii took long while to wake
the enthusiasm of the old American
ism in the breasts of the members, but
it is awake today and has found it's
strong voice,
Herolsm Of Coast Guard
Just from the press with the tang
Of salt water and the modest SAVIOR OF
high service about It. has come the an
nual report of the United States coast
guard.
Here is human interest document
If there ever was one. Necessarily
government document is seyerly off,
cial one. but not even the restraining
hand can keep the truths of heroism
hidden.
The coast guard was created by an
act Of congress of less than two years
ago. 1t represents the union Of the
former revenue cutter service and the
life saving service. both of them elder
services of the government with rec
ords of deeds which make bright the
pages of treasury department history.
When the United States entered the
war, the coast guard passed ausomBti-
cally from the treasury to the navy
department and therefore the report
of this year does not include those &C.
tivities which are connected with naval
operations. The reason for this must
be obvious. In all kinds of weather. at
all hours of the day aud night, the
coast guard. either on it's vessels or in
the life-saving stations of Uncle Sam,
must be instant to hear and instant TO
answer the call for help.
One Typical Story
Here is one story of service taken
at random from the official records OF
the year. II has 10 do with the rescu-
ing of the crew and immigrant passen-
gers of the Portuguese brigantine ST.
Thiago:
"In the early morning of June 8.
1917 this 155-ton vessel, bound from
the Cape Verde Islands for Norfolk.
Va, went ashore near Coast Guard
Station 60 (coast Of Rhode Island) in
n fog and was totally lost. Her crew
Of 20 and 81 immigrant passengers
were taken off by the crew of the sta
ton named, assisted by local fisher
men. A heavy surf was running when
the brigantine struck, making the
of boat to the rescue an
exceedingly difficult and perilOus IN
dertaking. Moreover, the state of the |
sea. once launching was effected, |
was such that a boat could not run in |
alongside the vessel.
THE vessels mast was gone, some |
Of her planks on her port side miss
Ing. her starboard rail under water.
and wreck stuff was thrashing about
everywhere on board as well as over
the side. Both crew and passengers,
In extreme jeopardy and In more or
less of a panic, were calling for help
The keeper watched his chance and IN
the brief period between seas ran ia
under the flying jibboOm. Following
his directions those on board crawled
)ut on the boom and dropped into the
tossing boat.
'"The rescuers did not risk stopping
ong under the boom-oniy long enough
1t a time TO get three or four persons.
The time limit of safety reached. they
would scud away with all speed 10
ivOid being swamped or capsiZed by
breaking sen, Thus the work of res
ne proceeded until all hands were of
he doomed ship. Ia the quleter water
tome distance away from the wreck
humber Of the rescued persons were
to fishernen's hnafs