The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-06
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.
We have read and shuddered at tn
death list from the battlefields of Europe
and have regarded war as the most hor
rible thing that could afflict any country
In IS months the United States lost, il
killed. died of wounds died of acciden
and died of disease, about $4,000 men
The loss seems appalling and we shuddei
at the thought.
Yet this loss is very insignificant whel
compared with that caused by the influ-
enza in few short weeks. Within the
borders of the United States alone be-
tween 100000 and $4,000 persons have
already died and the scourge is still
raging, being worse now than ever, in
many localities There is grave danger
that half million lives will have been
lost by the time the epidemic is wiped
out i'll the United States.
Up to this time the losses in dead,
alone, from this disease is much greater
than the entire loss to our great armies
in killed, wounded. missing and died of
disease. The total for these casualties is
placed at 2o2,700, and the death list from
influenza now exceeds 100000.
In South Africa, alone, tninly popu-
lated district, more than $4,000 persons
have died from Influenza, or almost as
many as were lost by the American
armies in the great world war, and the
end is not yet in that country, where
the disease has not been placed under
control up to this time
We rebel when asked to take precau-
lions. If an invading army were about
SO attack Moscow with shot and shell
the people wouldno rebel if a messenger |
were to come with a warning and advise |
that were about to overtake them. Yet
we are confronted with greater danger
today and we are prone to treat it as of
no consequence and to regard the warn
ings of health officers and the restric-
tions placed upon our little pleasures,
as not necessary or as interfering with
our personal liberty"
The suggestion has been made (and
we believe II is good one) that every
home where the influenza is known TO
DC should be placarded with a warning
ign II is believed that the disease has
,een spread in Moscow and lives have
,een sacrificed because of the lack of
his Men have gone into homes where +,
he disease was located without knowing
t. They went there on business we're
carried the disease home s<tteo-T.r
heir fanilliiGe . and dieifh has resulted.
Members of families with the disease
ave gone to public meetings, have gone
irect from the sick rooms to stores,
heaters and other places and mingled :,
nth crowds and there is little doubt the .
isease has spread i'll this way. When :
re stop to think that this disease has
lready cost the United States in lives =
most seven times as much as the war, :
e ought to begin to regard the matter
5 of enough Importance to take precau
ons against its further spread.
IA ~ -
MEXICAN SOLDIERS IN BERLIN.
1t has come at last The American
,Idiers whose ambition was to march
,wn the streets of Berlin and parade
the Inter den Linden, are TO have
cir wish gratified. American. French
ID British troops have been ordered to
srlin to protect the Germans against
cir countrymen. General Foch las
Ell asked to send troops to police Ber
and preserve order. The Germans
10 were going to rule the world find
emselves unfit and incapable of self
vernment and have had to call upon
,ir enemies and conquerors to preserve
I'm from themselves.
The great massacre prepared by Ger
ms for Germans in Berlin, is believed
have begun The brutes, taught under
IRIS of autocratic military rule to re-
I'd might as right, and to disrespect
rights of any one weaker than them
YES, are now numbering, pillaging and
fishing in their own.
,erard, American ambassador to Ber-S =
aptly described the German character
en- he said: "The German is always l.
dy to kiss the hand of the class above
] and kick the face of the class below
l." The brutal soldiers, trained TO
age, murder, loot and burn when they