Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-18
THEY WANT TO COME HOME

An ARTICLE by Cameron Mckenzie, published recently
in the Paris edition Of the New York Herald. has brought
forth no little comment from soldiers on both sides of the
water. Mr.. Mckenzie concludes, as the result of obser-
vadons which he has made among the soldiers on the
other side. that except in a comparatively few cases there
is no particularly strong desire on the part Of the Amer
lean soldiers to be returned home and reinstated lin civil
life. And this attitude of willingness to- continue rather
indefinitely in the military service Mr.. Mckenzie finds
entirely reasonable and natural, inasmuch as the soldier
Is provided with the means to meet all his immediate
material wants. and has $50 a month for spending money
ii he chooses to use it in that way.
Letters Of protest from soldiers of. all grades have
been published. and the writer's make it plain that at least
Mr.. Mckenzie does not voice their sentiments. And to
any person who has had opportunity to come in contact
with any considerable number of soldiers, either personal.
~ or through correspondence, it is a, matter of common
knowledge that the opinions of Mr.. Mckenzie on this sub
ject are entirely wrong. The average American soldier
wants to get home and into civil life just as soon as the
government can fix it that way. And the chief complaint
that Is >made is that the arrangements are not being COM
pleted as fast as the soldiers would like to have them.
The American army is not an army of professional
soldiers. Our men went into the military service to meet
the exigencies of a. particular occasion. Because Of a
very general recognition of the need and the righteous
ness of the cause they went in willingly and with enthu-
siasm, They were eager to get across the ocean because
IL was there that the fighting was to be done. They want
ed to do the job up thoroughly, and to get it over With as
soon as possible. And now that the Job is done they want
to get back to their regular work. They have not acquir-
ed q taste for military life. The professional side Of SOL
dierins does not appeal to them. Because their duty as
citizens involved the use OF military weapons they took
up those weapons. but they regard their military expert
ence as an interlude-an interruption which they. wish to
have cut short.
According to the suggested wording Of one OF the
clauses Of the peace agreement Germany will be required
to admit her responsibility for the damages caused by
the var bcnce for the var itself That viii be a bitter
pill to swallow.
After all, the busted condition Of our state finances
is nothing to worry over when all that is necessary to Xix
matters Is to write some figures in certain Of the books
Of the new state bank. That state bank is going to prove
9 great thing, {&
Some recent experiences not . thousand miles from
Grand Forks. for instance, indicate that no matter what
the beauties of the Soviet form Of government in theory.
In sexual practice II leaves q lot Of room for guessing.
Thsrs. - many excsllsnt arguments for the victory
Eioap. The conclusive one y inst the American govern.
|nssnt nssds til money. i