Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-16

wv and we all were enlisted men. Not
enlisted in your particular branch of
the service, but enlisted to serve the
country, no matter what may come, even
though we may sacrifice our lives in the ardu-
GUS endeavor."
These words, spoken by the President
few months before the beginning of the war,
express as well as anything he has since said
his attitude toward the men in khaki. His con-
ception of the duty which every American
owes the nation is thoroughly known, but there
special significance and very deep SINGER
ity in this thought of himself and other MEM
bers of the Government as the companions Of
the soldiers in the ranks.
His private writings and his public utter
ances continually convey this idea of closest
partnership between the men who are actually
fighting for their country and those less for
tunate, in this country who can only back UP
the Americans in France who are carrying this
country's flag to the banks of the Rhine.
There very few days during which the President
Goes not give his attention to matters of
detail that directly affect the welfare of the in
Army And there day that finds him too busy
from affairs OF State to make exhaustive study of evil
dence in the of private soldier who has under
able instances of executive rulings these findings
many of which explanations of leniency to young SOL
ders, but the mapoy of the in which President
Wilson devotes the exceedingly limited time his
disposal are never known to the public.
The big correspondence that of the White
House each day repeatedly puncuated by simple notes.
dictated by the President and mailed to the mother of
boy at the front His eye is easily caught by newspaper
of family individual that has special
sacrifice for nation. Here, for example, is typical
letter which the head of the Nation when read
that Nebraska had enlisted fight
American flag:
my dear MIR. McShane:
May not turn away from the duties of the day
for moment to express my admir- alton for the
of your enlisling In the service of
try? They making, and through them you are MAX
noble contribution to the fine story of patriot
ism and loyalty which h35 always run through the
pages of American history.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON"
MIR. j. H. McShane, 1905 Chicago St, Omaha, Neb"
1t is significant that the President replies
with the utmost simplicity and entire lack of
formality to the many personal letters which
parents address to him as the Commander-in-
Chief of the United States Army. Here is
letter that came to him from West Virginia
mother, who took it for granted that he was
just much interested in her fine soldier boys
as she:
Dear MIR. Wilson;
Perhaps you will think me presumptuous to write
letter to you but all one thin -IoyaI Ameri
cans | simply wish to let you know what one West
Virginia woman has done for country have sent
two salwart strong, healthy boys the front Per-
haPs you have already met them. While it hurts me
very much to bid them goodbye, yet know that our
country needs them and must not mind a few more
They have both written lot of letters sent
their pictures in uniform, of which | am iuxtIv
proud enclose one to you. If you have the time
Mr. President and want to healthy man. 90 to Co
D, 9Th Regiment, just arrived in Washington D. c.
from Columbus, Ohio, and ask for Fred and Louis
Ar1bu CoPbA nd IorBk