South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-27
1.-THE STARS AND STRIPES" ORGAN OF
THE A. E F., CONFIRMS WELL OUR
VIEW ON "WHY THEY FOUGHT"

TT newspapers are in any sense spokesman for the
people TO whom or for whom they speak; =
they are any indication OF the beatngs OF the
public pulse there longer be any question
as to where the American Expeditonary Force
stands on the pig question now before the Ameri-
people.
The stars and Stripes the weekly newspaper pub
iished in Paris written edited and published by
and for the soldiers CT the A F. F." would seem
about as likely to represent he ideals Of the over
anything else. and indeed. considerably
rnoreso.
When this publication declares that the American
soldiers want a League Of Nations we can accept
its verdict as conclusive. especially since it con
firms opinions expressed by hundreds Of soldiers
letters published in home newspapers.
Two editions OF the Stars and Stripes are before
Us In the issue OF June s. under the heading
America Speaks" the leading editorial says:
There actually members Of the United
States senate who have so far and
gotten the sacrifices OF these men that they
make bold TO say they came 20 France because
they were sent, and that there wasn't one in
ten Of them that had ever heard Of a League Of
Nations
Thus while many were forgetting and others
with faces set were plattudinizing about 'glori-
GUS death superb discipline and sublime pa
trotlsm.' last Friday America herself was speak
ing in high and thunderous tones. in the per-
son OF the only who could speak for her
from a hillside under the II.
and overlooking the great city where the coun-
sellers OF the nations gathered to make
peace.
And what was America saying?
she verifying her signature to the con-
tract made with these men before they were
sent out 70 their death
She was rededicating herself 10 her spoken
promise to make the world safe for democracy
She was asserting for the hundredth time
that concert Of free peoples in a League OF
Nations was the one great browning principle
TO tight
die.
Finally she was declaring her purpose not
10 betray the dead
Let congressman and senators and governors
and plenipotentiaries take note Of Americas
voice from the cross-covered hillside Of
Suresnes."
On June g this paper published its final edition
and once more answers the question If you have any
doubts about what boys fought for read this
We know what the Prussan guardsman
mean-his code, his cold courage and the blind
patriotism that sent him forward, granting
none the right 10 live but those who wore his
Uniform
we know. but we cannot give that knowI-
edge to others. But upon it we can act We can
help build League Of Nations with such sintws
OF war and such conscience for peace that no
one will dare oppose it."
Opponents q the League have charged that the
Stars and Stripes underwent official censorship and
that its advocacy Of the League was dictated from
Washington. The best answer to this that we have
seen is contained in the same edition Of June IS:
There was censorship the Stars and
stripes 1t was made up ct some three privates
and one fat sergeant They sat on every article
and If they caught the o the press agent
the promotion hunter, the officer who want
ed 10 explain all about what the enlisted man
really thought they threw the said contribu-
lions into the waste basket, and rags the credu-
lous Office bloodhound, swallowed it."
There you have IT, We submit it as supplemental
10 the larger editorial this page dealing with
the same subject: Keep faith with the boys" 1t
confirms our faith; confidence in the American
manhood indicted into the army ranks-that these
men went. not conscripts. but to fight for
a cause, and that they knew what that cause was
THE CTT TTOERAKEP ANrNrCOI rNrC-r-N5r-hrT-