The Glenwood post., 1918-11-23
The Post for fir,t-el.,. job WORK.
WHEN WILL THE WAR END.


Vt AL this stir about raising $25O,O00,-
loo for the United War Work drive
when our boys will all be "out of the
reEohes by Christmas?"
is THE WAR OVER? Ten days
igo Mr. John r. Mott, director gener-
Il of the United War Work campaign,
'aid in an address at Chicago, I'VE
ire far from the end of the war" The
War Department does not consider
hat the war is over, for it is assem-
bling and training the new draft army
IS rapidly as possible, and 250,000
men are going to France every month.
Even in the face of the amazing devel-
>pments of the past few days, it is
yet entirely possible that Germany,
With the insane stupidity which has
characterized her entire course in the
war, may elect to retire behind her
rontiers and fight desperately
through another season. 1t is not at
Ill certain that the war is over
But let US assume that Germany
Will accept the terms of surrender die
ated by the allies, and an armistice
concluded within a few weeks.
Does that end the war, does
hat secure the immediate return
If our men from overseas? Let it be
emembered that in the FrancoPrus-
'lan war seven months were required
or the negotiations for armistice and
or peace settlements, before the
armies could be demobilized. II Ger
many were to indicate tomorrow her
readiness to cease fighting and to
reat for permanent peace, months
must elapse while the innumerable
problems involved are in process of
solution; and during these months our
army and our navy will stand guard
With unabated vigilance and efficiency
The war is not over until peace has
oeen signed.
Will the war end for us with the
adjournment of the peace conference?
Far from it! The war will not end
until every man and boy who has
been taken from plow and forge
md desk and schoolroom to go to
France to fight has been brought
back to the land for whose sake he
went overseas with the coors. So
ong as our armies are in Europe and
Asia, so long do we owe them in un-
broken measure the helpful service
and comforting ministry conveyed by
he welfare activities of the seven rec
ognized agencies united in the War
Work Campaign. How long will they
be there? Mr.. John R. Mott recently
said: While in Europe, ! was told
by military authorities that it will re-
luire a period of fifteen months from
the time that the conflict ceases to
transport the Canadian army to their
homes, and that 1t will call for not
Iess than eighteen months to convey
the armies of Australia and New Zea-
| land homeward." He estimates that
to bring home our own army of two
million men now in France will re-
luire not less than twelve months
That army is growing every hour, and
when the time comes for the tide to
turn again home, there may be nearer
four million than two million to be
, transported. General C. T. Du Pont
stated last week that the work
Of returning our army from France
will consume from eighteen months
to two years. The war Is not over for
W Americans, until this army 10 at
home again. The long interval be-
tween Germany's first intimation of
surrender and the arrival at New
York of the last troopship with it's re-
turning soldiers, will present a need
OF welfare work and of social and
spiritual ministry to our army, oven
greater and more urgent than the
present situation. Says Mr.. Mott:
During that long period they will
have virtually all their time on their
hands. They will not have the ex-
citement and the Indictment OF the
war period to stimulate their spirits
or Its intense activities to absorb
their attention and utilize their time.
Their temptations will be more numer-
Gus and persistent. There will be
tendency to let down standards and
relax discipline. 1t is of the utmost
Importance that plans be made for
the wise use of their leisure hours
The practical and significant question
Is, Shall our men and boys come back
to us weaker or stronger men? The
period of rehabilitation should not be
allowed to become period of demor-
alization but rather should be made
one Of growth in knowledge and work
ing efficiency and Of Strengthening of
character and life purposes. .
We are in fact helping to determine,
by our generous gifts for the present
United War Work Campaign, that the
morale and courage which has thus
far characterized our men will be
mintained under the hard conditions
of comparative idleness and inactiv-
ity which they must endure following
the cessation OF actual warfare. We
are helping to secure that they will
finally return to us, not as moral liza
bl.ties bus as moral assets, conserved