The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-04-20
GO ON OR
co UNDER"
~ Ross L. Hammond

MI. Hammond was a member of a party
OF fourteen who went to Europe in Octo-
per and returned about December l.. VI
THIS number ten were members OF Con-
sIess. The party were guests OF the Brit
lsh' French, and Belgian Government
much of the time and were escorted by
representatives of these Governments up
and down the battle lines and were shown
many other official courtesies. Mr.. Ham
nohd is publisher Of the Daily and Ir.
llLing many public speaking engagements
at the present tme.J
Premier Lloyd George never coined
a truer epigram han hat I'VE must
go on or go UNDER
How the wal is going on" can be
understood, even in part, only by
those who have been heal to it, which
privilege l recently had. That it is
the most colossal tragedy in human
history is proved by a glance at any
phase Of it.
Americas part in the struggle is be-
ing performed because America can
not avoid it. Autocracy is running
amuck and we stand in it's road.
Either it stalks triumphant over all
that we have been taught to hold
sacred and dear or we and those with
us Stay the dragon from whose red
jaws blood is dripping. We and it
cannot live in the world together.
have seen England, France and
Belgium battling with the beast. Now
my own country is sending its men
into the fray and the effort and the
sacrifices that are being made abroad
will soon be witnessed here. We may
not see here the actual fighting. Let
US hope not. But we cannot escape
the other appalling features.
England is vindicating her tradi-
lions and her ideals. She is not fight
ing for territorial expansion. This is
by no means as vital or essential to
her as is proof of the binding nature
of her compacts. The preservation
of Belgian neutrality drew her into
the struggle. For this her soldiers
are battling and her great navy Is
steamed up ready for the master
stroke; for this her women are work
ing in field and factory and are pour
ing out their merciful ministrations
in innumerable hospitals.
France is making the great sacri-
flee. Paris, which sets the styles for
the world. is wearing black as a sym
Dol Of sorrow, and the world is adopt
ing it, for all the world is mourning.
But Paris and France, though in tears,
are not without hope. They are look
ing eagerly forward to victory, when
tho INVADING HI1nc oro Irtunn from
French soil and the lost provinces of
Alsace and Lorraine will be restored
to their rightful owners The coming
Of the American troops has given
them new courage. With uneXampled
bravery they are holding the line I'M
til the strength of America can be
hurled against the foe. The republic
still echoes with the wild acclaim
given to General Pershing and his ex-
peditionary force. 1t will be a mighty
task for the United States to measure
up to French expectations.
Riding as I recently did up and
down the whole battle front in France
and Flanders, l saw much of the suf-
ferlng France has heroically endured.
Her ruined cities and towns, her de-
vastated territory, her dead soldiers,
her outraged women, her tortured
children, all cry out for vengeance.
Every reported atrocity of the Ger
man army is true, and very much
more. l got much evidence from y
witnesses of u~nspeakable barbarities.
All the waters of the seven seas can
never wash away the foul stains.
In Belgium, at a reception given by
King Albert, l asked Ambassador
Brand Whitlock what word could be
taken back to the people of America.
He said: at is difficult to put it in
a word, but this is to be said of he
Germans. they disregard every senti-
ment Of honor and integrity, every
thing we hold sacred and dear. They
have violated with utter impunity
every agreement l have ever made
with them" The conclusion from
this and a flood of other like testi.
mony is that 1--WE must go on or go
under" No compromise or settlement
with the Hohenzollerns will be more
than "a scrap Of paper" The United
States has one supreme duty at this
hour. That is to furnish the money
and the man power to defeat the arch
enemy of liberty and of the peace of
the world.