El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-04

seems an age ago-when a man who
did not take off his hat to the eolors
had it knocked off-and his head
with it. il he protested
Talk about not seeing the forest
for the treesi People have just about
forgotten that all this treaty trouble
was started by war It was con-
sidered quite war. too. too. at the
time-back IN the far-off years OF
1917 and 1918. Folks were "consid-
edable het up over it in them days"
They allowed that the war had
caught US mapping kind of. but never
again. After this war we'd natur-
ally write universal service into the
laws.
The streets looked nice with nearly
ali the males-and females, tOo-in
uniform. And we allowed we'd
keep a good share Of them there.
We'd suffered too much bad con-
science for not being ready for any
thing.
I And now a Uniform IS almost a
4 rarity. Universal service is unmen-
I toned and unmentiOnable. and the
( first division on its return from
France will march into a country Of
even less military appearance than
the one IL left
, When they went across the seas
they were sent as a first instalment
on promissory note They were to
act like stage army and convince
the European audience that they
were ten times as numerous as they
were. That has always been one OF
the jobs Of our regular army-to
seem ten times themselves. And
somehow they have managed to give
that impression
The first division sailed in a period
OF gloom when the ocean was q
gauntlet Of submarines. when Europe
was worn and disheartened by the
iuexhausuble resources Of the kali
ser and his ally, the Austrian en-
pire.
Now the AI-highest is saving
wood and saying nothing in the
backyard Of Holland, and you will
search the maps in vain for the Aus
trian empire.
The first division had some help,
Of course in accomplishing this
miracle but IL stuck on the Job till
II was done before calling II a day
and going home to wash up. It did
not leave its pick in the air the
minute the whistle blew. It took
pains TO finish what it started.
Stays IN Business.
The first division does not come
back to demobilize and return 10
civilian activities. Il Will resume
business at the old stand as a part
OF the dWindling force with which
Uncle sam confronts the disordered
world.
It marches as star advertise
ment OF the regular army as
career II is a noble career and il
is not overcrowded- The government
needs good soldiers badly, for while
il is cutting down its immense army
It still requires a far larger force
10
ial Inducements. It offers heavy re-
sponsibilities, too, and, to the right
sort OF man. responsibilities are in
ducements-
The Z. in Z. 5. Etnnds for IN
preparedness. n long and clumsy
word for n long and clumsy con-
ditiOn-
In the regular establishments
the regular refers to the regular
conditions OF being not quite es-
tnbiished-
We have always taken pride in our
regular army because il was small,
but Oh my" We have taken pains
to keep Il small and to make doubly
sure we have kept Il always Just 2
little too small The result has been
a terrific strain in the regulars. In
the piping times OF peace they have
been kept too few to prepare for
war, and when war comes It always
ttnds the regulars as ready as the
law has allowed and a little bit
reader
Deep Patriotism.
me deep and rervent patriotism
OF the regulars is not generally IN
oerstood or appreciated Their career I
Is career. q profession and a paid
profession, but It has not been
chosen for its financial opportunities.
Patriotism has been the chief initial /
Heroism Is a matter Of everyday.
workaaday principle as it is among I
the firemen and policemen. The
motto Is to be ready to 20 anywhere /
and do anything the nation asks and I
70 90 and do lnstanter without paus- 4
ing 70 question why" or what /
When the trouble with Mexico
Itared up IN 1916. as usual the reg
ular army was supposed to protect /
the long, wild border with a force
OF about two men TO the mile and /
practically no equipment. The
Mexicans were reckless, desperate
and ruthless.
Regulars slept with their rifles at
their sides, ready for q raid or a
foray. Some expected to be COM
PIetely destroyed, but they never
dreamed OF protest This Is the
regular spirit
Regulars are expected 10 put down
sartn uakes and put out holocausrs
as IN san Francisco. to run the rail-
road trains as in the Chicago strikes
10 act as quarantine guards against
nicrobe raids. and to play whatever
cards are handed TO them bv the
government or its enemies. If con-
gress adjourns without pausing toll
make the military appropriation, the |
otIicers find themselves sunk in
so magnificent that II Is
'eaily flattering.
Up Against Regulations.
out In California met recently a
colonel who had come back from 4
France owing the government either
.nree million or thirty million dol
ars, forget which. After the
;lphers start to parade in such num-
)ers q few extra don't matter.
This colonel told how regulations
-orbade the purchase Of a typewriter
e more than S92 or some such sum.
HIS shipment reached England
vitnout single machine. He bought
III he could find there at S2s5 apie-e
M picked up some more in Paris at
He hired laborers irregularlv BY
he thousand TO unload troops al
5rest and thus prevented the most
lppaulng Jam ever known and got
ne Americans through to the
renches In time for Chateau Thierry
IND other points east and north.
BY such acts he laid himself per-
onally liable for several million dol
ars He told the government to nav
he bill out OF his next months SAL
~ and send him the balance, but at
he latest writing he was still totter-
ng on the brink Of the military
The high cost Of living is rnp-
idly DESTROYING what Iffrr. -.