The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-09-13
THIS is WAR

According to the German high COM
mand America has become "war
crazed". Were il not for the ruthless
spirit exhibited by the people of this
nation German leaders insist that
England, France and all the other AL
lies soon would accept ''kultur" and
go on the way rejoicing. But why
shouldn't we be "war crazed"? Haven't
we had years of compulsory military
service and billions of war tax hoard
ed up? How could we annex Ger
many, Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria
and collect few more billions in in
IDENTITIES without going the limit af-
ter all this preparation had been
made? The German high command
should be patient with US; these years
of painstaking preparation for world
conquest must not be thrown away.
So far as being in this war to win
and make the world decent place to
live in, America is "war crazed." Farm
folks, too, are in just as deadly ear
nest as are our boys who man the
first-line trenches on the firing line.
Seeing our own boys start on the long
journey, perhaps never to return, has
brought the war home to US. In our
hearts we have sworn that the atroci-
ties committed in the name of "kul-
tur" and the death of our own loved
ones shall not go unavenged.
Months ago | thought that | had
felt what war really means. Dear
friends have crossed the border land
and one of my own blood has made
the supreme sacrifice in France. I've
watched the boys go away while
mothers, wives and sweethearts babe
them Godspeed. Down at the inter-
urban station at st. Joseph the other
day, though, l witnessed parting that
made me feel as never before what the
supreme sacrifice really means.
The station was crowded as we
waited for the Kansas City car. Cen
tering a group Of happy young folks
was a fair-haired soldier boy whose
insignia showed that he belonged t6'a
machine gun corps. Popular he was
evincing daredevil spirit of gayety
that became him we'll. Father, moth
err and a younger brother were quite
crowded out by the merry throng
but one little maiden clung close. Shy
and unsmiling she took no part in the
jests about what Jack would do to the
hated Hun. Home on furlough this
lad was leaving for the blood-stained
shores of France. And then the car
pulled in. With kiss for mother, a
strong hand-clasp for dad and broth
err, and an embrace for little sister
Jack swung aboard. Waving hand
kerchiefs and cheers followed him as
he moved away. And then the cal
took it's slow course with numerous
stops until near the outskirts of the
town. Again jostling crowd climbed
the steps while we waited, impatient
because of the delay. Suddenly there
came a tap-tap on the window grating
and Jack looked out. All his family
were there, hurrying swiftly by mo.
Jack clasped his fathers hand and
smiled into mothers eyes while he as.
sured them they must not worry, he
soon would be home again. But as
the car began to gather momentum
for its onward journey little sister
threw herself forward with out
stretched hands as if to hold Jacl
back and in that high pitched voice Of
anguished childhood cried, "Oh, Buddy
don't want you to go away and get
killed"
Gone was the daredevil air of gay
ETY.. Little pal, little par Jack chok
ed as we in the car, wet-eyed, watched
the affecting scene. Then into thu
gathering night we sped away bu
that thin cry of anguished CHILDHOOD
followed from afar. And echoing it
seemed to hear this sentence told wher
our boys beat back the attacks of the
oncoming Hun; "The machine gunners
fought and died where they stood"
| Yes, friends, this is war. 1t has
been brought home to us.-Missour
Ruralist.