Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-08-21
THE SOLDIERS CREED.
believe in my country.

THE SOLDIERS CREED.
l believe in my country.
l believe in the principles of free
dom upon which it is founded and in
the ideals toward which it is striv-
ing.
I believe that, as my homeland, is
is worthy of my love and my protec-
ton.
/ believe that, since those who es-
tablished it and those who have thus
far upheld it, did sacrifice much for
its welfare; I, too, should be willing
to sacrifice greatly that it may sur
vive among nations.
l believe that we as a nation should
strive forever to hold peaceful rela-
tionships with all the peoples of the
earth and that we should, therefore,
avoid all acts that SAVIOR of d~iscour-
tesy, selfishness, or tyranny toward
our fellowmen.
| believe that it is my duty so to
live that / shall never cast the shad-
ow OF disgrace upon my country, but
that my every word and deed shall
honor upon it and it's institutions.
l believe that I should be willing
to serve it in times of peace with
whatever talents I may possess, and
this too without expecting therefrom
any profit whatsoever save that my
country's gain is my personal pride
and it's prosperity my ardent desire.
| believe that l should be willing
to serve it in times of war, because
its loss is my loss and it's destruc-
ton my greatest earthly misfortune.
/ therefore vow that, for my coun-
try's sake, I shall endeavor to live
nobly, act justly toward all men and
nations, strive to reflect its glory and
righteousness in all my doings, and,
If need be, sacrifice my all, even to
my life, in defense of my homeland.
So help me God this VOW to Keep!
Address of the Alsatian People to
the American Soldiers on the occa-
sion of the celebration of the 4th of
July in Alsace, 1918.
Soldiers of the United States:
Always friends and now brothers
OF France. You have brought us the
strongest proof that the cause for
which we r fighting is a just one
Otherwise you would not have cross
ed the ocean to our aid.
We thank you and we pledge you
that the alliance you have already
sealed by your blood on French soil
shall be forever regarded as one of
the noblest achievements of our his
tory.
Today all France celebrates with
you the anniversary Of your bravely
achieved INTERCHANGEABLE glorious
fourth of July, 1776- and is proud
OF your nations progress in all the
noblest works of civilization, includ-
ing peace, which your government de-
Tended as long as possible with hon
or and safety for the other nations.
now your allies, who had been treach-
erously attacked by the Foe Of Peace,
the Aggressor against Civilization.
For forty years France suffered the
sorrow and humiliation of the loss of
Observation-Disclosures her sac
rlfices in an effort to save Europe
from such horror and b~loodshed as
had come upon us in 1870, when these
beautiful provinces were torn from
her and annexed to Germany against
the will of their Inhabitants, who
from that time on, were forbidden to
speak their W language or possess
their own flag. Any effort to strength
en- the Notifications of our frontier or
increase the strength of our standing
army brought forth from Germany
threats of immediate attack, and adj
ded violence against the peoples of
Alsace-Lorraine who, always loyal to
France, suffered persecution and mar
tyrdom to escape being forced to
serve in the German army. Young
men of these Provinces fed from
their homes by night, unable there
after to return even to the bedside of
dying parents lest they be shot down
as traitors to Germany or spies of
France. Today two generations of
our men are scattered over the whole
of the globe except Germany-many
of them are citizens of America, many
local people have sons in the u. S.
Since Germany reorganized and re-
inforced her WI armies, not a year
has passed without some injury be-
ing offered to our interests or insult
to u flag, to force France to an
armed protest. But France, togeth-
er with her allies, England and Rus
STA, only increased her effort to pre-
serve peace. Germany with malice
aforethought interpreted all these
sacrifices as signs of weakness-or
made accusations that we were plan
ming a war of revenge. Proof to the
contrary was given in the first ter
rible months of the war when U
army, composed of civilians called
from the grain fields and factories
fought almost without uniforms or
equipment. The commercial resource
es of America enabled us and our AL
lies to Withstand although sorely
pressed, until the growing indigna-
ton of your people against the atroc-
tiles and calumnies heaped upon YOU
by Germany wore out the patience Of
your government, whose efforts to
restore peace had not failed in friend
illness to all the be~lligerents.
These past fourteen months have