The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-02-14

whip for failure to stand at atten-
tion or to obey orders and Will turn
them over the top. following them with
leveled gun and shoot in the back
all who falter.
THE PRIVATE'S DUTY
The American soldiers, he said, have
their collective vote, decided to give up
their lives in the present world strug-
gle They must not now refuse to give
this willing obedience. To do so is to
lose the fight against the Hun. The
private must learn to obey instantly
and willingly. The private is the most
important cog in the wheel. The mat
ter of personal appearance and sol
dierly bearing also came in for atten-
ton. "Click like the lock of your gun,
when an order is given, and to en-
phasize his words. the colonel brought
his own heels sharply together, his
hand at salute, his chin up and eyes
straight ahead.
Using the click of the gun as an
illustration, he declared that it was
Just as important to see that all parts
of the human machine are in perfect
working order.
The noncommissioned officer is the
backbone of the machine. He is the
man who polishes and instructs that
piece of mechanism that is called the
erly oiled and carries out the orders
of his superiors. The officer, is obliged
to know thousand details and can
only supervise. He is the foreman.
MAN WITH BAYONET
Then he launched into a discussion
of the various methods that are en-
ployed in the effort to win. There
never has been war. he said, with
so many peculiarities in 1t. But the
main and principal thing that Will
win the war" said Colonel Applin, rs
the bayonet and the man behind it,"
All of the other things are merely nec-
essary accessories. land If we would
multiply them by 10, we would be no
more ready than we are now"
Every moment out of step is mo-
ment lost in winning the war.
The Pilgrims turned their backs on
Europe for the sake of God, justice and
freedom. Today, they are sailing back.
mighty host, escorted by great bat
tleships. imbued with the same lofty
spirit And after all, 1t is worth while,
for the war must be won for liberty
and democracy and 1t will be won with
Americas help.
Colonel Applin here dropped a sig
nificant remark when he said: Dis
cipline cannot be obtained over there"
1t was the advice of an expert in favor
OF raising the American army to the
highest point of efficiency before send
ing 1t to France.
SYMPATHETIC CORD
He touched sympathetic cord
when in a hesitant manner he asked:
MAY I not say we ~ yes" came a great
chorus Continuing Colonel Applin
said: We are lighting for the same
principle for which the Anglo Saxon
race has always fought The Pilgrims
turned their backs on Europe for God,
justice and freedom, and today their
descendants are sailing back a mighty
host. escorted by great battleships
ready to lay down their lives for the
preservation of the same principles.
1t would have been disaster to
humanity If you had not beaten us 100
years ago. 1t would have. been dis
aster If your own civil war had ter
minated differently In that event, the
great nation to which the whole civil
lzed world now looks to restore de-
mocracy and peace would not have
been welded together he concluded.
Colonel Applin, who was shown over
the city and carried through the steel
plant by Mr.. Barrett, said: II know
well Birmingham in England, but now
that / have seen Birmingham, u. s. A..
from one of your high points. I must
give the palm to the newer city, which
is very much cleaner and less smoky
Il 1icb