Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-12
Better perish than yicld an inch. bet
ter de than live cnslavcd

Better perish than yicld an inch. bet
Ter de than live cnslavcd.
Never was an Easter Sunday SO biz
With fate as this II the battle stin
sways to and gro. think over the alter.
ratircs which depend upon it's outcome
IRE IL neither optimism nor pcSSim-
ISM, but only common sense. in weigh
ing up the problem with clear eyes
Yesterday less than eleven mics sepa-
rated US from the greatest military dis
uStcr OF the war. If the Germans get
Amicns. they viii imperil the whole Of
our northern positions. They may cut
u% or from the main French forces.
1hty viii lie able To threaten the cham
nci Ports. and will have entirely trans
formed the military position. But will
they have dcciSivciy beaten US? VIII
they b" able 10 dictate peace? No.
thousand tunes no.
There Grc other measures possible
which Will enable US to continue the
war IN France. perhaps even more ef-
fccttvcIy than before. No need TO dis
cnss thcin here. but res, assured that
the chances which will be wrought IL
the Germans capture Amicns have been
fully foreseen and provided for.
on the other hand. supposing the
enemy fail 10 reach Amicns, as believe
they win fail. Surprising the whole
line holds as | believe it will hold
We must then expect a brief luil. fol-
lowed by swift renewal of the con-
nic, possibly hy attacks upon other
parts OF the allied line in Franco or
FLANDERS. lt The frs, phase OF the bat
tie stops far short ot German triumph
We shall still be very long way from
safety. BIT 1 have small fear about
the later phases OF the battle. If We
Toll the Germans now, We shall foil
them always.
What rather fear is the extraor-
binary capacity OF this country for self
deception which the war has SO strik-
inE!y revealed. I fear that If the first
phase ends with the gallant allied ar
mics IN unorokcn and continuous array
there VIII be so much jubilation that
the lessons OF this stern and terrible
ordeal vii! be overlooked
RAISING or MILITARY AGE
NEITHER WISE NOR SCIENTIFIC
Meanwhile the nation Will support
the government in all measures they ,
may take in this solemn emergency. .
Yet there should DO no resort 10 panic |
legislation. There IS much talk OF rails !
ing the military age. which is already
fortY-three. do not personally con-
Sidcr the raising OF the military aEc to
he eiJher wise or scientific. went into
the question some months ago with the /
experts OF the Ministry Of National Ser
vice, and they then convinced me that |
IT was almost useless - raise the age /
Such step VIII swell the pension
lists enormously. Will produce few use
ful recruits. and Will do little good |.
This is a young mans wa-. see il
constantly stated that there are lots I
u young strong mon" III the home
rc"s "ho ought 20 be replaced. The
> cunc strong men" We're mostly re-
placed long $50.
II | honestly thought II would help
- W!;l ine war. would be in favor
pi raising tho military age TO SEVENTY.
Na' bciieNu any further increase Wi! +
.ii;'2 t're already weakened fabric Of
a.. S.a:e and crcuUbc. tae pay roll. /.
wlth useless men.
7Ecr" are four courses ope? The
FIRST IS - accelerate and Intensity the
'ccmc- out' 50 far a war Industrial re.
gpir.ueNts permit The second is 70
arNl: compuisior 20 Ireland II this /
government summons Eaglishmen OF
;fI> !" TN. solurs while /, IS afraid 10
deal With tho voting man OF ireland. /,
t. e0 ~ is too cowarGiy 20 fight Ger
many .lret.veiy
II. lrtri course IS 10 speed W
.. ..t.ry.,us l.ty There are c00U0. 900
m.n sm'"s"Ty age IN the United
sta.c "jjyh .ntere: lie wa 2 year
az 81 HIS al"ars been regarded as
';nr land Of hustle"
The fourth course ia 10 begin diver
slo" through Siberia with the japanese
amy J-!'an possesses nearly sixty IL
Visions. which have been inmoSiii2-d
largely owing TO Washington.
Until WASHINGTON has delivered the
goods il has no right to ADOPT
Noilo% which tends 10 toep powerful!
: rn'r ont ct the war while the western
al!I". are bleeding from gaming wounds
va Ect great many sironItory
Messages from the United States. and
Houc The ahova message may go across
ih" ocean liz return. have many
american friends. and ] never knew
any o. them resent plain spe=k!ns