Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-27
Appreciation of Our Soldiers.


The French people manifesting the greatest
possible enthusiasm over the American soldier; he
is feted and Toasted wherever he goes; he is wei
come guest in every home, be it cottage or pal
ace \ soldier writing home to his mother puts it
faus: The people treat US one Of the family,
and nothing they possess is too good to put before
US"
We do not believe our soldiers will be spoiled by
such expressions Of good will They viii sooner o.
later have the stress and strain Of battle to steady
their heads. The trenches and the roar and fierce
peril Of modern warfare is pretty sure to take
the vanity out of any fighting man, but possibly
the danger is that in the homeland might lose
oar heads as We read Of this heart felt praise.
one thing is certain-the honors the French
paying to America is unexampled; the newspapers
and magazines are not lacking in the general chorus
Of admiration. This was particularly noticeable on
July s. when the Paris Figaro" devoted the whole
Of its daily housekeeping about three columns
10 recording the great celebration of the day pre-
vious current French magazine contains ar
ticle by a foremost writer entitled The American
Crusade" and which is written in a most thrilling
manner by reason of the dramatic in which the
arrival Of a great convoy of American troops is
portrayed On destroyer which had been sent out
10 meet the convoy this writer journeyed, and
awaited the appearance of a most imposing array
OF steamships headed by the giant Hamburg
American liner George Washington" with a regular
army of Uncle Sans fighting crowding its
spacious decks; others close up each bringing
to shores no less than 10000 men. This to the
imaginative mind nothing but the vanguard Of
a nation which has risen zen masse' not so much
to conquer, but prevent, the German conquest.
IN this armada is seen new crusade not less holy
than one of those of the middle ages but certain
to be more efficacious
The article concludes thus: From ocean to
ocean the people Of the United States have enrolled
themselves in Christian crusade for the deliver
ance of the holy places where civilization born
and whence independence has sprung. Their sol
diers come in hosts young and sound, full of yigor
and confidence offering to ele cause of justice
noble army with which all the past has nothing to
compare-a torrent of men streaming from an mex
haustible fountain. These warriors of the right
born Of a race OF enigrants without guile, whose
moral force matches the vigor Of their bodies: it is
a race that has been nodded and sifted by a long
warfare with the elements and with the savage;
ceaseless devotion TO athletic sports has trained ard
hardened its physique; pure in his morals inspired
by the highest sentiment of family love, serious
under arms, the American warrior is upIifted by
moral pride that is without example. And it is from
Ioftier source still that he draws his fighting force
it is from thoroughly religious sense of duty.
Such is the army of faith OF which we already have
seen upon our shores the first miIlion-and every
one of the million a mani"
Such are the emotions that rise in the French
breast as they hosts land upon their shores.
We are dubious as the way the boys will
ure up to the estimate; the batefelds of the Marine
have deepened our confluence in them. 1t is for
at home TO prove worthy in the support give to
them not alone by reason of the French peoples
thought Of soldiers but for their fine spirit Of
heroisp in the most solemn hour Of their lives.