Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-16
MONDAY EVENING. SEPTEMBER Is. 1918.
FOUR YEARS OF ENSLAVEMENT

German-held territory which ended on the east bank
of the Meuse river. has usually been considered in the
light of its possible military significance. Doubtless
thousands OF people, porting over war maps, have noted
that peculiar line formation, and have speculated on its
meaning and its possible effect. And when the news
came that the American army had started a movement
against this position, the first thought was of the armies
within and without, the progress of the fighting, and
the effect Of the wiping out of the salient. Then we were
given definite news Of the complete victory Of the Amer
lean troops, and there was qualification that our forces
had done so well what was expected Of them.
Then, when there was time to think Of other things
than shot and shell, the rush of armed men and the cap
ture of prisoners, we were given a glimpse of the people
whose homes were within that little area, and who for
four years had been ground under the heel Of a mer-
CHESS foe.
The townspeople of st. Mihiel, and the inhabitants
Of the villages throughout the little triangle, greeted
the victorious Americans with expressions of unbounded
JOY Theirs was not the greeting of courtesy to a mere
friend, nor the hand shake given to a comrade in arms.
These sentiments were there, but the tears that streamed
down the cheeks Of the French peasants and townspeo-
pie came from other founts. For four years those peo-
pie have been held in a slavery as real and as brutal
as, that which prevailed when the progenitor of the
modern Hun worked his will upon his ca ptives.. Per-
mitted to remain in the place which had been home to
them, they had been shut off from all communication
with the world, arrogant foreign soldiers billeted upon
them, compelled to cultivate their own little fields for
the conqueror, forced to perform what was actually mill
tary service against their own kind and their own peo-
pie, ignorant of events outside of the restricted circle
in. which they were permitted to move, and knowing
nothing of how the war went, for or against them, those
people have had an experience such as must touch the
hardest heart. What must have been their feelings
when they heard the thunder of the American guns on
Thursday morning? The sound Of guns was a familiar
thing to them, but this was something nearer, clearer,
deadlier than BEFORE" and with the thrill Of terror it
must also have inspired hope. Was relief actually a.
hand? By whom was the attack launched? Would
it succeed, or must there still be more days and months
of servitude and suffering?
Imagine the feelings Of the populace as they OBJ
had undertaken to be their masters. Masses Of men
began to move, not toward France, but toward Ger
many. Houses were robbed Of what remained in them.
Churches were fired. Streets were shattered. And ev-
cry act of destruction must have been witnessed with
Joy by those whose homes and property were being de-
troyed. for the sudden riot Of wanton destruction meant
that the Germans were going, and going in haste.
Imagine the first glimpse Of American khaki by those
whose eyes had wearied of the sight of German uniforms.
And, when one absorbs the spirit of the event, it will
not seem strange to him that those lusty fellows from
the grim Of battle, were received by those jewellers in
as nothing short Of angels from heaven, for the thunder
OF their guns had been the triumphant paean Of liberty.
and another little bit Of France hau been set free.