, 1918-04-04
go ON OR
GO UNDER"
BY Ross 1. Hammond

(Mr. Hammond was u member of a party
OF fourteen who went to Europe in Oeto-
Der and returned about December l. Oh
TINS number ten were members OF Con
sress Ihe party were guests OF the BRIT
ISM french. and Belgian Governments
much or the time and were escorted by
representatives Of these Governments ur
and down the battle lines and were shown
many other official courtesies. Mr.. Ham
mond is publisher Of the Daily and Tri-
weekly Tribune. Of Fremont. Neb., ana ls
at the present tlme.)
Premier Lloyd George never coined
a truer epigram than that we must
go on or go under"
How the war is going ON" can be
understood, even in part, only by
those who have beer near to it, which
privilege ! recently had. Tha it is
the most colossal tragedy in human
history Is proved by a 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 n deal or we and those with
US STAY 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 o be witnessed here. We may
not see here the actual fighting. Let
t1G hnna not puf wa rannnt acpana
the other appalling features.
England is indicating her tradi-
lions 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 n her great navy is
steamed up ready for the master
stroke; for this her women are work.
ing in field and factory and are pour
ing out their merciful ministrations
In innumerable hospitals.
France is making the great sacrt-
flee. Paris, which sets the styles for
the world, is wearing black as a SYM
boil of sorrow, and the world is adopt
ing 1t, for all the world is mourning.
But Paris and France, though in tears.
are not without hope. They are look
ing eagerly forward to- victory, when
the invading Huns are driven from
French soil and the lost provinces OF
Alsace and Lorraine will be restored
to their rightful owners The coming
of the American troops has given
them new courage. With unexampled
bravery they are holding the line 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 a mighty
task for the United States to measure
up to French expectations.
Riding as | recently did up and
down the whole battle front in France
and Flanders. / saw much of the suf-
fering France has ~heroically endured.
Her 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 the Ger
man army is true, and very much
more. | got much evidence from eye
witnesses of ~unspeakable barbarities.
All the waters of the seven seas can
never wash away the foul stains.
In Belgium, at a reception given by
King Albert. I asked Ambassador
Brand Whitlock what word could be
taken back to the people of America.
He said: at is difficult to put it in
a 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 | have ever made
with them" The conclusion from
this and a flood of other like testi-
mony is that we must go on or go
under" No compromise or settlement
with the Hohenzollerns will be more
than "a scrap of paper The United
States has one 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
the world.