Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1918-12-06
WAR AND THE FIGHTING
AMERICAN


simply laying aside the peace and
happiness that was back home or the
sacrifice Of his privileges and free
dom saat he once enjoyed, but it
means complete Transformation Of
himself. He is sacrificing every
thing that is pleasant, and is doing
his part in the capacity Of fighter,
helping to uphold the hig and noble
ideals Of his country. Because Of the
grimness Of his task he must change
himself, almost to that Of q savage, a
wild man, he almost bathes in blood,
he sees mems bodies shattered to
pieces as a bottle is broken, he sees
a mans limb torn from him and he
thinks no more of it than he would
to see machine dissembled. Why?
Because this is a part Of the game.
He forgets all, for his task keeps him
under the hypnotic influence that
naturally creeps over him, and the
only humane instinct that is left in
him is the memory of home and loved
ones.
1t is these thoughts that cause him
to march mechanically through rain
and mud that cause him to arise after
he has slumbered like being drugged,
and he starts marching on, although
perhaps sore of limb from previous
exertion, still he is eager to go at the
command forward. Mediate and
ask yourselves, why is he anxious to
go? Has he the right conception Of
the principles and cause for which he
fights? Is it right to allow the bar
barious "Hun' to destroy womanly
virtue, the lives of innocent children
and the rights and freedom of all
humanity? There is but one answer.
We are fighting, and must fight, to
permeate the peace and happiness
that the civilized world once enjoyed.
The many ideals of the Sons of Lib
erty must be fully realized that they
may be shared by their brothers of
Democracy. 1t is the brightness of
these thoughts that so brilliantly il
Eliminates the crown of the Goddess
of Liberty" as she stands so majesti-
cally, so gracefully, poised, clothed
in virtue that purifies even the very
atmosphere of our beloved country
where all humanity is free to live and
enjoy liberty. 1t was these principles
that urged us on to the Battle
Front" the spirit that dominated us
as we went "Over the Top
The great preparations for the
first real American drive began about
the first of September, 1918. 1t was
a great machine with every part work
ing smoothly. The roads were con-
gested with every conceivable imple-
ment of war, such as, trucks, tractors
tanks, and everything that would
aid the movement of troops, supplies
guns, etc, to successfully launch a
drive; yes, and it was a victorious
drive.
Every man moved forward with a
snap, eager to go forward and per-
form his specific duties in the most
efficient and thorough manner We
all appreciate the gravity of the sit
uation and realize the fact that a
successful army is body of men we'll
disciplined, always alert and ready
for immediate action and who act
instantly and implicitly obey all or
ders from their superior officers.
When we have attained this state Of
efficiency we are no longer a body
of ordinary men but an army Of
soldiers. We are the dynamic force
and the necessary cogs that make the
great machine have such destructive
power without US it would be as
ship without rudder.
1t was at one o'clock Thursday
morning, September twelfth that our
great drive began. The magic quiet
ness of that rainy morn was suddenly
broken by the terrific and deafening
roar of our huge guns as they madly
hurled their deadly projectiles almost
simultaneously with the smaller guns
obeying. their quick response to the
familiar touch of our expert gunners.
They belched forth their mountains
Of fire sending their projectiles along
their prescribed routes. They seemed
even to be conscious of their noble
mission and speeded more swiftly to
their destination, forming such a
great impregnable wall of steel and
hurled at such velocity that it was
impossible for anything to survive,
even the "Hun" in his supposed she'll
proof dug-out was not spared.