The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-04-26
NEED PATRIOTISM
TO WIN The WAR
'sWake Up, American Should Be
Slogan Of People OF
United States.
TEXAS AVIATOR IN WARNING
peprec, .tes Patronizing Air of Some
Americans New TO War-6oasts
Offered Friends In France,
Who Understand.

Austin, Tex.-Sergt. Fl. Clyde Balls
ley is the first Texan to return from
France as hero of the flying service
of the Lafayette Escadrille, of which
he is q member. Young Balsleys
home Is In San Antonio, and he is
former student of the University OF
Texas. He came to Austin few days
ago upon invitation from his old-time
friends In the university to relate his
experiences. He is home on con-
valescent leave, having just recovered
from wounds received when attacked
by flock Of German airmen. He fell
with his machine from a height of
1900 feet to an altitude of 1900 feet,
when he managed to right his airplane
and land safely behind the French |
lines. He spent three years In the
flying service.
Patriotism Must BE Aroused.
wake up, America !" should be the
slogan of the people of the United
States, Sergeant Balsley said while
here. ut is so terribly necessary
and right now-that the whole country
: be filled with patriotism. 1t must
feel that on 1t, and 1t alone. rests the
outcome of this war. Until that time
do not believe Americas best efforts
can be put FORTH For while no one,
think, would want to take one iota
Of cheerfulness or happiness away
from our soldiers, still we who are at
the front-the allies and the French
: feel that Americans are too cocksure
/ too full of braggadocio. Confidence
Is all right, but man who does not
measure the enemy's resistance and
take into account that he is fighting
to the death. may stand to lose vast
odds just because of his shortsighted-
ness"
, Balsley spoke Of bombing Germany
. with American airplanes.
'Of course, 1t will take time. From
the French viewpoint 1t will be 1919
before Americans can really go In in
great forces, because she must get her
y planes built and transported, and 1t
I, takes time, time, time. We really
q think that In 1913 America will only
L be able to take charge of some Sec
tons of the front, and that 1t will be
two years before she can really make
herself felt In the real struggle
Of German atrocities, Balsley would
m not speak.
81 feel as though l never want to
shake hands with one of them again,
he declared. SIN the whole world
there is only one l regard highly, and
he is In San Antonio; and because
felt he was so different I have hunted
him up. But only those who have
actually known the meanness and
cruelty of their methods over there
can understand what a terrible thing
their disregard of every principle Of
right means"
Balsley has many souvenirs of tn,
war-Several bayonets, cap taker
from German prisoner. some shells
a German artillery belt, etc. In {
worn bit of cloth he carries the shell
which. bursting, shattered his thigh
1.-THE nurse gave it to me after TIL
operation" he explained.
In charging upon the American al
standpoint Balsley went into details
Attitude Misunderstood.
81 speak of American braggadoci
as I have seen 1t In France and
Paris and as I have seen it from tn
French angle. So many of the boy
who have gone over have more or les
adopted the attitude of We'll. we'r
sorry for you Trenches, hut yo
don't know how to fight. Now thu
we've come over. we'll show you
thing or two OF course we tn:
have been born and reared in Anne
lea understand that attitude. VIZ
Is so new to this great peaceful coul
try that even after these years of til
struggle it is impossible for US
realize how big thing and how te
rible thing We are up against "
are like a big OvergrOwn boy trus
ing to his large muscle and cheerful
ness against a prize fighter who's
methods he knows absolutely nothir
about, and therefore he cannot kno
how strenuous an adversary he hi
to underestimate his strength and
patronize others who seek to cautit
him against the fighter. The Frent
do not understand this at all and al
inclined to resent it, This, to u
mind, Is one of the unfortunate fac
80 far of our going over and I b
lieve our officials when they come
realize, will try to eradicate the spil
and put Us on more Of a conrad
ship basis towards those who ha'
suffered so much and whom we ha'
gone out to help"