Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-04-03
FROM THE BOYS YOU KNOW IN
THE A. f. l.,

THE A. E. 4.
Will you please publish a few lines
by way of apology to some of the
stay-at-homes. who, now that strife
a ceased. are taking the attitude
that ii is rightfully theirs? The pa
pers, which come to III from home.
and our own papers over here. are
full Of loud declarations Of those
who were SO unfortunate as to be
unable TO come across. to the effect
that the wars end was all that pre-
vented them from doing mighty
deeds in the service. and that their
patriotism and fire and eagerness Ia
do battle should place them on IN
equal plane with the soldiers who
actually fought, BLEED and suffered
To this end they are now crying tnat
there should be nU distinction be-
tween themselves and the members
Of the EXpeditionary Forces, and
that the service cheyrons and wound
chevrons, which the War Department
was foolish enough to authorize
should be taken away from those.
who, under the provisions of the
order. has a right To wear them; SO
| that "A soldier is a soldier to all out
ward appearances, no matter whether
he laid in a shell hole In muddy
| France or In a nice clean barracks
somewhere in America.
Now, We are expecting to come
home soon and | am sure that you
a see the Justice of our modest lit
tie desire to be mighty glad to Sc"
home again. But We are somewhat
apprehensive. lest the good people
who have been filling the papers and
badgering the congressman Of late
should mistake N attitude. There
fore, this little section OF apology and
an explanation as follows:
In the first place, We adlni we
were foolish enough to enlist. Ia
those dark days OF April and May,
1917, We considered ii a disgrace 10
be drafted But our opinions have
undergone II change since then AMI
We see now where the nobler ami
more honorable way would have
been to have waited and not ob-
truded our service on the govern
ment until they were really needed.
However, this is n OF the MANY
things you must forgive US. Ana
when we read of the noble boys who,
III only. the wal hadn't ended so
soon" make us sick at heart tn
think of how neglected we were In
not conducting Il more ad-
yertisins campaign so that these gen
tile youths might have been enrolled
under our banner. But we were
lust Silly boys with no affections TO
our homes, or perhaps we forgot our
homes for the conntry's need, or W
had no business ties to hold MS. We
honestly thought that the sooner ""
enlisted the N We would go to
France. That seems hard to believe,
but il is true, We swear it on oui
honor:
Now, that all is over and We are
able to gaze calmly back INTO tn
RETROSPECT we are aghast at our foil!
and audacity to distinguish ourselves
in any manner whatsoever from the
gallant fellows who We're so unfor'
nate az to never see France in heI
painful travail as the Mother or TIT
New Freedom. But perhaps the.
will love us just Il little when W.
assure them that we thought of then
often and frequently spoke OF them
not in the casual tones one uses II
discussing things, abstract, but il
fervent and inspired language, which
If it could have been heard by tn
subjects. would have won for US tn
consideration and affection We nov
solicit of them.
Yes, we are fully conscious OF tn
terrible fact that a most humble ap
olOgy is in order from us. And W
hone that this matter will answer tn
purpose in full.
We apologize most completely an
| fully for the great wrong we did II
running off to France. For the FEY
and pleasant little hardships we en-
dured, we again apologize. For tn
, small matter Of a few battles wit
the gentle and kindly Boche, we apol
I ogize most profoundly. We are SOL
3 ~ for the small damage We lnflict
ed on him for we know he Is
= peaceful and dove-like creature an
not the inhuman monster they paint
ed to US when we first pledged our
, selves willingly to fight against him
3 We apologize without reservation
: |, for the fact that the blind fury witt
which we jumped on this same peace
: loving Boche should have by tn
smallest iota in any way fastened tn
end of this noble and chivalrous war
thereby deprivlng a number OF thes
! maiden-nights Of the op%pOrtunit,
which was r~ightfully theirs to exhibi