The Springfield herald., 1918-05-17
"GO ON OR
co UNDER"
BY Ross L. Hammond


1i fourteen who went to Europe in Oeto,,
per and returned about December l. Or
thls number ten were members OF Con-
stess The party were guests OF the Brit
ish. French. and Belgian Governments
much Of the time and were escorted by
and down the battle lines and were shown
many other official courtesies; Mr.. Hmm
,. mond Is - publisher Of the Daily and TIL
weekly Tribune of Fremont. Neb., and Is
iiliing many public speaking engagements
at the present tims.)
Premier Lloyd George never coined
q truer epigram than that I'VE must
90 on or go under"
How the war is going on" can bs
understood, even in part. only by,
those who have been near to it, which
privilege recently had. That 1t is
the most colossal tragedy In human
history is proved by glance at any
phase OF it.
Americas part in the struggle is be-
ing performed because America can
not avoid it. AutocraCy is running
amuck and we stand in its road.
Either it stalks triumphant over all
that we have been taught to hold
sacred and dear or we and those with
us slay the dragon from whose red
jaws blood is dripping. We and 1t
cannot live in the world together.
have seen England. France and
Belgium battling with the beast. Now
my own country is sending its men
into the fray and the effort and the
sacrifices that are being made abroad
will soon be witnessed herr. We may
not see here the actual fighting. Let
hnnn nf n,,t
the other appalling features.
England is vindicating her tradi-
tions and her ideals. She is not fight
ing for territorial expansion. This is
by no means as vital or essential to
her as is proof Of the binding nature
OF her compacts. The preservation
Of Belgian neutrality drew her into
the struggle. For this her soldiers
are battling and her great navy is
teamed up ready for the master
stroke; for this her women arc work
ing in field and factory and are pour.
Ing out their nerciful ministrations
In innumerable hospitals.
France IS making the great sacri-
flee. Paris. which sets the styles for
the world, is wearing black as a sym.
Dol of sorrow, and the world is adopt
ipK Z foK De- aA a: III 1ndd II mourning.
AlsPe and Lorraine will be 9Ssyl.
to tneir rightful pwnerS. TheSco2fAA>s,
Of the American troops has given
them new courage. With unexampled
bravery they are holding tho limo un-
til the strength OF America can be
hurled against the foe. The republic
still echoes with the wild acclaim
given to General Pershing and his eX-
peditionary force. 1t will be q mighty
task for the United States to measure
up to French expectations.
Riding as recently did up and
down the whole battle from. in France
and Flanders. I saw much Of the suf-
fering France has heroicaliy endured.
lier ruined cities and towns, her de-
vastated territory. her dead soldiers.
her outraged women, her tortured
children. all cry out for vengeance.
Every reported atrocity OF tho Ger.
man army is true, and very much
more. I got much evidence from eye
witnesses OF unspeakable barbarities.
All tho waters OF the seven seas can
never wash away the foul stains.
In Belgium, at q reception given by
King Albert, l asked Ambassador
Brand Whtlock what word could be
taken back to the people Of America.
He said: "It 10 difficult to put 1t in
n word, but this is to be said Of the
Germans: they disregard every senti-
ment Of honor and integrity. every
thing we hold sacred and dear. They
have violated with utter impunity
every agreement I have ever made
with them The conclusion from
this and a flood of other like testi-
mony is that I'VE must go on or go
under" No compromise or settlement
with the Hohenzollerns will be more
than n scrap of paper" The United
States has ono supreme duty at this
hour. That is to furnish the money
and the man power to defeat the arch
enemy of liberty and of the peace Of
tho world.