The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-21
Neggs and Comment

Neg0S and Comment
Just when we had arrived at the stage where
we could read the war news without gIancing at
map, General Foct has sent uB scurrying to the
atlas again.
Hazecourt, Rancourt, Gouzecourt and all the
other courts" and the "monts" were an open
book to us. We could spot 90 per cent of therA
on mental map Of the front without bat
ting an eye.
The st. Bihiei affair made it a little more
complicated. but we were getting the mastery
over the Moselle also, and had that terrain well
arranged in our mental workshop.
Siberia, Of course, was hopeless. Geography
there is a matter Of glorious generalittes. The
mental image of Siberia is railroad bounded on
both sides with snow, and dotted with unpro"
nounceable towns, in each Of which a CZecho-
Slovak is in death grips with Bolshevik.
We had consigned Siberia to her fate, but the
Balkan stuff is different 1t seems nearer home
and possible of comprehension. So we have gone
to the atlas again. and are beginning to get the
Struma and the Vardar spotted. AS soon as we
find an atlas maker who has heard about all the
Balkan wars and got his boundaries readjusted
accordingly we expect to be able to add mental
picture of the Balkan front to gallery.
But on one point we are adamant. We learned
to say San Kwan- tine" and Am ywan" like we
used to say it in high school French classes. but
straight American methods in handling such
names as Katranit2a and sjatiska going to
rule us.
These are wonderful days to read the history
of the Napoleonic wars.
Many of the battlehelds on which the Germans
and allies are now struggling, were fought over
more than 100 years ago.
For example when Napoleon was driven back
to Paris In 1914, one Of the crucial battles was
fought at Iaon. The defeat of the French here
probably resulted in the Punishment Of Ma
poleon to the island Of Elba.
Other battles were fought at Rheims and
along the Marine.
Again, when Napoleon landed at Cannes in
March, 1875 he proceeded straight to Paris,
reaching there March 90. He rapidly organ
lied an army Of $4,000 and marched northeast
through the present battlefelds in Picardy He
crossed the Belgian border and June IA was
at Chartered, some fifty miles south Of Brussels
and about 100 miles directly east of Douai. Well
ington was at Brussels with an army Of 100000
men, and Butcher at FIeurus but ten miles
from Charleroi with another 100000 men.
Napoleon struck north, and the great battle
fought at Waterloo, the little village few
miles south of Brussels.
All Of us doubtless have our favorite heroes
in this war.
Leaving the Americans out of the calcula-
lions for the time being, we confess a particular
fondness for the clean cut Scottish gentleman
who signs himself I'D. Haig'.
Throughout four years of war he has been
almost constantly at the front, and engaged in
the most intensive fighting. Since December,
1915 he has been in charge Of the British armies,
and during that time there have been three
French commanders.
Physically, Sir Douglas Haig is the very per-
sonifcation of the ideal soldier. He is TALL lean
muscular, with fair hair and blue eyes. and looks
like the typical, well bathed, well groomed Eng
Iishmau. He is of Scotch descent, however, and
comes from one Of the oldest and most aristo-
cratic families in Great Britain.
Haig's name is constantly in the headlines
but 1t Is not Of his seeking On but
occasions has he given glimpse of his per-
sonality. His famous back to the wall" order
was one Of them. It was at Of the critical
periods Of the war; when the Germans
trying to break through to the channel. He
sent this simple message to his troops:
Many among US now tired TO
those 1 would say that victory will be-
long to the side which holds out the
longest. The French army is moving
rapidly and in great force to our sup
port. There is no other course open to
us but to fight it out. Every position
must be held to the last There
must be no retirement"
His reports are modest and concise in the
extreme. He rarely uses adjectives, and his
claims generally understate the facts rather than
overstate them He seems to personify all that
is finest and best and most admirable in British
character. He has the stoical, bulldog courage;
the aversion to anything resembling boasting
or side; the horror of showing sentiment; the
calm acceptance of the fortunes of war that the
good sportsman shows; and the determination
and perseverance that know no defeat.
Through it all he is the calm spoken, gentle
man, the devout Christian, the Happy War
rior' of Wordsworths poem.
TO us he personif1es the carry on spirit that
actuates Great Britain, the spirit that
flags through dark days and bright, but which
carries the Union Jack to every corner of the
world, on land or sea, where there is German
or q Turk to be fought.
Perhaps the war will develop American or
French leaders who will hold bigger place in
history than %. Haig", but none yet has
more heroic record than this modest Scotsman
paths Of politics and craftsmanship. have moth
ing but hearty admiration for Roosevelt as a
teacher and preacher and as one who follows
his own precepts.
He has an article in The Metropolitan for
October entitled THE Great Adventure, and it