Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-27
ORIGIN OF war
SLOGANS one
F. OF MYSTERIES
When Fate of Nations Hung
in Balance Many Sayings
Were Originated.

New York, Jan. 27.-The war has
developed many dramatic phrases,
slogans, terse epigrams, or laconic
statements. Looking back over the
perspective Of :our years of fighting,
it appears that the majority of these
grew out Of tense cries in battles, or
marked historic moments when the
fate of nations hung in the balance.
Take for example the slogan, ''They
shall not pass" During the tremend-
GUS fighting in front Of Verdun when
the Germans made their great .dcsper-
ate drive to break through the French
battle lines in 1916 this saying passed
from lip to lip among the French
soldiers gathered there in a long
drawn battle to check the terrific on
slaught of the Germans. How it orig
mated is not clear. Some have at
tributed it to Marshal Joffre, others to
of h Frerfch fighting forces at YER
dun. Others believe the saying orig
mated with the men in the ranks. At
any wen they adopted it and for
months while the Germans vainly
threw their battalions upon the stub
bornly defended Tots around the
French city, the saying, "They shall
not pass" became the watchword at
Verdun. And they did not pass.
To Americans the se%ntentious utter
nee of General Pershing when he
placed a wreath on the tomb of
Lafayette in the Picpus cemetery in
inspiration. Lafayette, we are here"
was all he said but to the American
as we'll as to the Frenchman it was
better than oratory. 1t meant to the
American, 1--WE are here for business
and our business is to fight" 1t
thrilled the hearts Of General Per-
shing's people at home and the
modesty of it filled them with "a glow
of satisfaction.
Another dramatic phrase which
stirred the patriotism of the American
people was that attributed to an
American commander at Chateau
Thierry when he responded to the ad-
vice of French commanders to re-
treat by declaring: 1.-THE American.
flag has been compelled to retire. This
is uncomfortable. We are going to
counter attack These statements
nave been attributed to both Major
General Robert L. Billiard and. to
Major General Omar Bundy. Some
observers have regarded this incident
as the turning point Of the war. From
that time the Americans advanced.
The victory of Chateau Thierry fol-
lowed and thereafter the German
army retreated.
Vice Admiral William S.. Sims, cons
manding the American naval forces
in European waters, was asked when
the first Yankee warships arrived in
England early in May, 1917, when
will you be ready for business?" He
replied, I'VE can start at once. We
made our preparations on the way
over"
There was a dramatic moment, q
great crisis in the worlds history
American army under the command
Of the then General Foch who had
just been made commander Of all the
Allied forces, but none of the phrases
hat General Pershing used were
widely quoted as epigrammatic. One
which might so have been selected
was the words. "All that we have are
yours. Dispose Of them as o will"
The retort Of Major Charles. Whit
telsey, commander Of the 'lost bat
talon" Of the American army in, the
Argonne forest when the Germans
surrounded his isolated command and
their. commander demanded it's sur
render was m of the wars historic
phrases. go to he'll" he replied.
The first great battle Of the war.
the battle that stopped the Germans
al the Marine. ELECTED from the lips Of
Marshal Joffre the historic words:
''The hour has come to advance at all
costs; to die where you stand rather
than to give way"
General, afterward Marshal Petain,
inspired his weary troops at verdun
by an order Of the day, concluding
18th lkhA vn1nNHu sSCNvvNo~ ns z mo xxvA1
get them"
General Foch. commanding the
French army In the first battle of the
Marine. had been almost overwhelmed
by the onward sweep Of the German
forces. In q memorable message to
Joffre he said: my right 10 crushed.
My left 10 In retreat ] am attacking