The Topeka state journal., 1919-02-01

they got as near to the fighting as
possible. AS nurses and other war
workers, they reached the front. Tens
of thousands of other women enlisted
their services in the multifarious du-
ties of war. In patriotism they set an
example to the men.
Many men thru highly important
places in public office or in industrial
work touching the war, could not be
spared. Others whose girth or gray
hairs barred them from front line
participation in this game of youth did
heroic service in, those noble institu-
tions, the Red Cross. the Y. NJ. C. A,
the Knights of Columbus, Salvation
Army and kindred organizations.
Gov. Henry Allen, who was inaugur-
ated sixteen days ago. and William
Allen White are two whose Red Cross
work was splendid. Leaving his busi-
ness in New York. one of our members
proved tower of strength in the Red
Cross in this country and abroad. He
has lately returned from France. I
refer to our incoming president seated
at this board, Capt. Howard X. Wood
Gilbert's Famous Statement.
Kapsas. as well as the nation, not
only astounded the rest of the world
by undreamed of agricultural and in
dustrial expansion to meet war needs,
but dumfounded Kansas and America
themselves. Looking out over the rich
lands of the Kaw valley, a Kansas
farmer for more than forty years, the
late Frank Gilbert, of North Topeka,
spoke a mighty truth when he said:
Millions of acres like these will fight
the same as cannon
The most momentous year in the
history of modern civilization has
passed A year fraught with the
greatest peril to mankind the world
has ever known. A year in which the
rising Hun tide resistless1y rolled for
ward until it was beating on the very
cliffs -of freedom, undermining them.
threatening to sweep away the coast
Lines of liberty. For nearly four long
awful years the allies had fought for
us. They had stood between the civil
iZation of which we are part, and
barbarism. Gallant France and stout
hearted Britain were making their
maximum efforts. Stin they were
rolled back. 1t was time America was
there. We were there. At Belleau
Wood American marines but a new
halo around First to Fight There
and at Chateau Thierry those mag
nif1cent boys vivified and made real
for us of the United States that i'm
mortal exclamation of Marshal. then
General Petain, at Verdun: They
shall not passi''
The spirit of Gen George H.
Thomas, 1.-The Rock of Chickamauga''
must have called to those marines,
''Hold," They heard Americas hun
dred millions chanting with dogged
determination the last ditch prayer of
the football gridiron when the oppo-
sition has marched the length of the
field: Hold 'em! Hold 'emi"
They heard and they answered.
They held. AS unexpected as an onset
by stonewal Jacksqn's foot cavalry"
aften an unbelievable rapid march
by the rear" came Marshal Foch's
counterstroke. Suddenly, swiftly and
resistlessly Marshal Foch struck the
Hun flank. He crushed it in. Never
again did the allies retreat. Haig,
with his Britons. took up the ham
mering. Pershing, with his dough-
boys, including Jayha-ykers, crushed
in st. Mihiel. In the tangled, barri-
caded recesses of the dark Argonne
forest sturdy sons of our beloved Kan
sas fought. Where Pershing's cru
saders. far from their native land;
found their hardest task, there were
the lads of the Sunflower state. They
had come from the villages, the farms
and the cities of our Kansas prairies.
They were men of peace. They did
not want war.
Kansas to the Front.
But when war came. Kansas, under
the grand leadership of Gov. Arthur
Capper, now senator-elect. sprang to
her place in the ranks. These boys in
the dark -krgonne were the persona
fication of Kansas spirit. While those
at home worked for the war, watched
with tender hearts for news of the
dear ones, and prayed for them.
staunch in the belief of the triumph
of right, the heroic .Kansans fought.
They faced enormous difficulties They
overca me them. The physical labor
was + unbelievably tremendous, the
mental strain back breaking and
aging They went ahead. They killed
and were killed, were MANNED, wound
ed. They did not falter.
"Wut's words to them whose faith an truth
On wars red teehstone rang true metal,
Who ventered life an love an youth
For the gret price o. death in battle:'