Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1918-05-30
BY HAPSBURG LlEeE
Of the ViuiIantes.

VI enC viSudueSos
The average man of those whom
you meet in city or country will tell
you that the Germans are little more
than remarkable for their everlasting
efficiency. I used to think that too,
but now I think that the Teuton is a
thorough man rather than an efficient
man. In a large measure, efficiency
means being original, having inventive
ability. the ability to take the initia-
tive; it means being able to fill un-
looked-for breaches instantly.
The German, generally speaking, is
sort of cut-and-dried fellow. He is
q man of precedents, and not big on
taking the initiative. He is a most
thorough developer Of somebody else's
ideas; but, save for subterfuges, ex-
cuses, diplomatic" trickery, and I'M
derhand and shameless methods Of
waging war. he Is not much of an in
ventor. His submarine, his air
planes,-well. just what is he using in
this war, for which he spent forty
years in preparation, that he himself
invented? A few kinds Of poisons.
perhaps.
To be thorough man Is not to be
an efficient man. An imbeclle may be
thorough at one thing or another. AS
for efficiency, the entente allies,-in-
Guiding America, if you please,-are
more efficient at real war than the
nations comprising the central powers
The entente worked wonders, mir
acles, judging by precedent, consider
ing the short space of time they had
for preparation. Germany had had
forty years, you know.
But They Didn't.
It was thorough, though purely
theoretical, reasoning that told the
Teutons that they could cross Bel
GUM, roughshod and unhindered,
crushing Belgium and her spirits, to
take Paris. But they didn't do it. BY all
the German rules Of the war game,
they could have won Mt the Marine, and
vet they didn't; and at Verdun, that
crucible that made heroes, the defend
ers of the right again achieved the i'm
possible. German efficiency? It's a
sort of fish story.
Speaking of heroes, you'll find he
roes under the British flag, and
French heroes. and Italian heroes,
even Russian heroes, and even Ameri-
can herOes,-Of course you remember
that American who. before the United
States declared a state of war with
Germany, went up Vimy Ridge with a
small edition Of Old Glory knotted to
his bayonet-but where are the heroes
of Germany?
n n vi
men. Hindenburg? He Is merely an
lronsouled war lord.
The point at which the Germans ap-
proach efficiency closest lies in the
work Of their vast secret army, the
army that defeated Russia and almost
whipped Italy-I mean the German
propagandists, dynamiters, incendia-
ries. professional pacifists, spies, etc.
Germany counts more upon this latter
named force for the conquering Of
America, than she counts upon her
armed forces!
You Can Do A Big Bit.
A writer in recent issue of the
Saturday Evening Post speaks of this
secret army, and says, in effect. that
there is but one organization that can
successfully fight 1t, and that this or
ganization is made up Of the every
day citizen population of America. In
this he is eminently correct. The
everyday citizen needn't be vested with
authority. When he sees anything
that looks lilae German work, he can
simply report 1t Immediately to the
authorities, or even to the postmaster.
We should keep both eyes open always
for work of this kind.
You-you, yourself-can be patriot
and do great big bit right here. VIII
you do 1t? America needs 1t, God
knows America needs it, lest the great
pagan whose war slogan is scott mitt
uns" put the grip Of kultur on Ameri-
ca-"Gott mitt uns (which means,
Of course. "God with u.s." In truth.
am wicked man, but have not seen
the day when I could blaspheme the
good Almighty like that.
Watch always, brother; no matter
who you are, or where you are, watch
always If you would help to save
America from the fate Of cruclfied Bel
GUM.