Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-14
BRITISH SOLDIERS OBJECT To
BACK STARRING At HOME:


Indeed. If soldiers had time or in
clination TO permit an expression of
their real grievances. they would not
complain or the hunger or the cold
they would not grouse" about mud or
blood. or the villainics of the Bochc
oar brave boys bear their suffcrings
he inconrrchcnsiblc TO "a pacitist con-
ference. Their only complain, against
the powers that he" is that while they
are shedding blood and risking life,
and sacrificing everything that is dear
TO him. q too tolerant government per-
mjts British Bolshcvikis to nullify their
hcroiSm.
Happily. the boys who are lighting
for US and for civilization do not get
time TO read the newspapers. u would
not hc good for them to know thai, at
the greatest crisis in the history of the
war and the world "a gang or so-callcd
'pacihsts' had forcEathcrcd and to the
Kaiser lent tho suppliart knee. In
Germany il Will he imagined or at
least advertised that the siruppy ut
teranccs OF the Snowdcns and MacDon-
aids are in some sense reflection OF
British public opinion and sentiment.
Speaking Tor all the soldiers I have
mct-oftcers and men included ! do
not hesitate To say that IL a call we're
made for volunteers to deal effectively
with things like the peace any price
conference. the forces on our western
front would joyfully demoiish their
backstabhjns foes at home. so that
they might be left unhamrcrcd to
beat the open enemy "a, the front
We soldiers arc out to beat the -
cnly with tho arguments We are be-.
able 10 use. In diplomacy. in matters
Of troat!, in anything that demands
pure thought ana subtle reasoning,
the German can beat us at his will.
Negotiation is not our rational mcticr
We ave 100 good natu'ed 20 excel in
certain forms OF Clcvcrncsa, bat tho |
essential goodness OF our history and 7
traditions is our lulwark ana our
strength We have ssiundsred lament /
ability, l thinks. in tbs organization Of I
our own hougehold affairs. but the ,
elastic resnona" 10 the nations need !
proves that. after all. the suzerainty I
Of Britain is the soil OF progress.
In the past we have fought 10 win /
territory 10 found and develop coll /
onies. to extend our empire, 10 defeat /.
the Legitimate ambitions OF honora',l"
rivals. We have found against r'!4;.
under the Marquis % Cueensberry's
Rules" but We can shake hands. and
join hands, because We both PLAYED .
the game
Whatever our sophists and p,cifsts I
may say, We did not sock the present f.
war. our ircorrigibie generosity I
blinded us to the Vaccinations Of the !.
enemy. Whatever may have been our
diplomatic relationships and pourpar- /
lors. Nc were not yceraicg af,cr fresh /.
conQuests. scrambiinc 10. ncw mar.
kcts, or seeking an outlet for gu con I
sesteG population. As IN able write. /
in a contemporary recently said. we
had to keep the channel and the seas
and TO help 10 Keep the lands Of F.
unimportant The war was not I
balance Of power. !, was to teach mil +
when the peace came, tho verdict
against militarisnl wcu1G % 81 over /.
whelminE as to make a second recourse /
TO it impossible"
The soldier does not as a rule, on
rcas-~ pay and wretchea >lronmem,
strikes or threatens TO strike; he just
carries on for an !deal NJ IS often
able only 20 feel.
The soldier when nc comes hack from
IN. muddy wastes OF misery In F!au-
ders. Will not be cont"n, to nave beaten
the Hun The soldiers VIII want rcstf-
,utlon--and rc,rihuton. We have not
yet completed o9r victory but AL the