The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-12-06

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from every cline. from every hemi-
sphere, from every inhabitable quarter
Of the globe, united in one common
cause for the salvation Of the things
that have made the Anglo-Saxon race
great and strong, the Joshua OF mod
ern civilization.
During all the long and weary years
Of the conflict. when the issue seem
ed often in doubt Britain never fal-
tered, never wavered. Her sons
taught just as heroically when slowly
yielding inch by inch to the foe as
they did when victory, perched upon
their standards. And thus 1t has
been throughout all history. Britain
has been constant The only power
In all Europe to dispute the imperial
sway, the dream of world dominion
Of the mighty Napoleon she fought
doggedly on through twenty years Of
sunshine and storm, mostly in adver-
sity, until finally because of the sheer
tenacity Of the British soldier, she
won complete victory at Waterloo.
During this great war sons OF
Britain fought in France and Fland-
ers; they died like heroes IN the Gal
lipoli; they conquered Mesopotamnia.
where civilization was cradeled; they
destroyed the power of the Turk and
held together an empire to (which
Rome in her palmiest days was not to
be compared" They achieved these
things because they knew they were
fighting for the right; because they
were free men battling that their
sons might enjoy the freedom which
had been bequeathed to them through
the slow evolution Of centuries.
Until the entry Of America into the
war England not> only financed, all
her own expenditures, but she aided
her colonies and all Of her allies.
In recent years, comparatively
speaking, many eminent writer's have
contributed volumns to- the 5"decad-
ence OF the British empire" They
dolefully predicted that at the first
shock it would go to pieces. Every
prophet Of this sort has been dunn
founded. Even India that seething
mass Of an alien race, remained loyal
and today the British empire is as
closely knit together as are the states
Of the American Union. Their union
has been cemented with the best blood
OF their sons.
4 The British have not exploited their
achievements during the war. That is
characteristic OF the people. During
many, many weary months when Ger
man propagandists Of this and other
countries were seeking to SOW the
seeds Of discord among the allies by
charging that Britain was not carry
ing her part Of the common load,
no word OF denial came from the study
sons Of England. they wsfe not dis
sipating their time and efforts in
replying to idle charges; they were
too busy arming and equiping the
greatest armada, the most stupendous
military machine the world ever saw.
The average Briton is not altogether
a lovable soul, but he challenges ad.
AS one gifted American
observer has well said: I'VE love the
French but we admire the British"
The Briton makes his contribution in
response to well conceived sense OF
duty. He has died in every Cline
simply because England respected
him to do his duty M
There are no mock sheroics about
the average Briton. He performs
prodigies of yalor sumpiy because he
is expected to- be true to his inlIerf-
tance. Mrs. Eleanor Franklin Eagen,
that most versatile and interesting
American writer, tells how she had
witnessed the almost super-human
GOODNESS and bravery OF q. British
crew in q submarine attack. She was
SO overcome with admiration> that
when she got to London she promptly
called at the British admiralty and
after wildly recounting the details of
her experience and paying glowing
tribute to the finest qualities of the
race displayed under the most harrow
ing circumstances. she was amazed
then indignant because no Victoria
crosses were forthcoming and in ex-
PLANTATION she was cody Informed that.
these heroic Britishers simply did
their dutyi After all no finer tribute
could have been paid the heroes sof
the deep than this cool suggestion
that they had done nothing more than
Briton expected. They had sustained
her fine traditions of the sea-
The achievements, the vaior, the
devotion and the sacrifices of Great
Britain in this terrible war will ever
be the common heritage Of all the
English speaking peoples of the
world We CON al ohoro oifIa n, xbo