The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-11-08
EVERY REASON
To Be PROUD
Of What Our Soldier Boys
Are Doing Over In
France
WILL LAMENT GOING
Treatment Accorded German
Prisoners Will Work
Disillusionment
WILL LAMENT GOING

In letter TO his parents, AIR. and
Mrs. Frank Harper, written from his
station I'm France. Donald H. Harper
makes the following Interesting OH
servations:
"Did 1t ever occur to you that with
two million very representative speci
mems of America scattered through
her country. France has little short
OF an intimate view of America it,
self? II daily sees Americas best in
action. no matter In what capacity
and Is certainly gaining as much If
not more. knowledge OF American
methods and institutions than vice
versa. This very condition imposes
upon each one of these two million
Americans the burden of maintaining
the best traditions Of his country, OF
his people The French, II olhing
else. are extremely Observant. De-
spite the fact that we are their say.
iors and the debt of gratitude entail
ed thereby would condOne much. 1t is
culpable for the American soldier to
take advantage OF this tolerance and
go to limits of conduct he would not
dare In ordinary times. 1t is, there
fore, source OF much JOY to me to
state that. In my meager observation,
the other America 5000 miles across
the sea, has every reason 10 be proud,
not only Of what its sons arc doing in
the line and IN backing up the men
IN the line, but also of the splendid
reputation which these boys will
leave in France after the struggle
ends and the America oyer here has
returned home. The going of The
Americans will he. as genuinely Ia
mented, believe, as their coming
was welcomed. Remember. this is
all apart from the more spectacular
and important reputation which our
citizen army Is making.
"None the less high need our ma.
tion hold It's head over rs treatment
OF German prisoners. Certainly these
BOches, after they are returned 10
their homes. will disilluaiOn any Of
their people OF The wicked calumy
heaped upon America by ruthlea-,
truthless propaganda. Not content
with merely feeding and housing
these prisoners in Il mailner far bet
ter than they were fed and shoused
(according to best, Indignation IN
their own army, the government gives
them warm, comfortable clothes and
even issues them tobacco!' About the
only difference between their treat.
ment and that we receive Is that we
are not prisoners. A snrly German
prisoner Is rarity indeed. All are
overjOyed 10 be 'oui of IT. and TO have
some comparatively splendid LIVING
conditions. The day the news came
accept President Wilson's II pcact
cond ions ! saw II number of these
prisoners and they were especially
Joyous. ! believe their attitude Is typ
!cal OF that OF the German army al
large and. with this In mind II |,
easy TO understand just why the nj
lied armies are progressing with sncl
apparent ease. And, In this yer.
connection, President Wilson's rcpl,
TO the German offer Is meeting viii
very high favor over here. DO mo-
mistake me. There ~ no danger o
a military caste ever arising in Amer
ica-ihe boys do not like war per So
but there Is certainly II desire here
to make one clean job of II IN Orde'
not to he compelled to return ugail
several years later. Aud. to Il man
there Is implicit faith and trust il
the Judgment OF the president rs "
when the job Is clean. Certainly. MIR
WilsOn could ask for no more lOya
backing than he II receiving irOm thu