The Ordway new era., 1918-11-15
WHEN WILL THE WAR END,

war is already won? Whats the use
If all this stir about raising $3.50. .o00.-
200 for the United War Work drive
when our boys will all be "out Of the
trenches by Christmas?"
is THE WAR OVER? Ten days
ago Mr.. John r. Mott, director gener-
al of the United War Work campaign,
said in an address at Chicago, I'VE
are far from the end of the war" The
War Department does not consider
that the war is over, for 1t is assem-
bling and training the new draft army
as rapidly as possible. and 250,O0O
men are going to France every month.
Even in the face OF the amazing devel-
opments of the past few days. it is
yet entirely possible that Germany,
with the insane stupidity which has
characterized her entire course in the
war may elect to retire behind her
frontiers and fight desperately
through another season. II is not at
ali certain that the war is over.
But let rs assume that Germany
will accept the terms Of surrender die
tated by the allies, and an armistice
is concluded within a few weeks.
Does that end the war, does
that secure the immediate return
Of our men from overseas? Let it be
remembered that in the Franco-Prus-
sian war seven months were required
for the negotiations for armistice and
for peace settlements. before the
armies could be demobilized. If Ger
many were to indicate tomorrow her
readiness to cease fighting and to
treat for permanent peace. months
must elapse while the innumerable
problems involved are in process of
solution; and during these months our
army and our navy will stand guard
with. undated vigilance and efficiency.
The war is not over until peace has
been signed.
Will the war end for us with the
adjournment of the peace conference?
Far from it! The war will not end
until every man and boy who has
been taken from plow and forge
and desk and schoolroom to go to
France to fight has been brought
back to the land for whose sake he
long as our armies are in Europe and
Asia. so long do we Owe them in un-
broken measure the helpful service
and comforting ministry conveyed by
the Welfare activities of the seven rec
ognized agencies united in the War
Work Campaign. How long will they
be there? Mr.. John II. Mott recently
said: While in Europe, was told
by military authorities that 1t will re-
quire a period of fifteen months from
the time that the conflict ceases to
transport the Canadian army to their
homes, and that it will call for not
less than eighteen months to convey
the armies OF Australia and New Zea-
land Lomeward." He estimates that
to bring home our own army of TWO
million men now in France will re-
quire not less than twelve months.
That army is growing every hour. and
when the time comes for the tide to
turn again home, there may be nearer
four. million than two million to be
transported. General C. T. Du Pont
stated last week that the work
of returning our army from France
will consume from eighteen months
to two years. The war is not over for
Us Americans, until this army is at
home again. The long interval be-
tween Germany's first intimation OF
surrender and the arrival at New
York of the last troopship with Its re-
turning soldiers, will present a need
of welfare work and, of social and
spiritual ministry to our army, even
greater and more urgent than the
present situation. Says Mr.. Mott:
During that long period they will
have virtually all their time on theiI
hands. They will not have the ex,
citement and the Indictment of the
war period to stimulate their spirits
or its intense activities to absorb
their attention and utilize their time
Their temptations will be more numer.
Gus and persistent. There will be a
tendency to let down. standards and
relax discipline. 1t is of the utmost
Importance that plans be made for
the wise use of their leisure hours
The practical and significant question
is. Shall our men and boys come back
to us weaker or stronger men? The
period of rehabilitation should not b,
allowed to become a period of demor
alization but rather should be made
.one of growth in knowledge and work
ing efficiency and of Strengthening oi
character and life purposes.
We are in fact helping to determine
by our generous gifts for the present
United War Work Campaign, that the
morale and courage which has thus
far characterized our men will be
mintained under the hard conditions
of comparative idleness and inactiv-
Ity which they must endure following
the cessation of actual warfare. We
are helping to secure that they will
finally return to us, not as moral liza