The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-02-15

On February 1, the fourteenth ami
versary of his installation as Bishop
of Helena, Rt. Rev. John P. Carroll
prepared for publication in The Hell
ena Independent review of Ameri-
cas- part in the great war, and sum-
mary of the idealsm which was given
expression by the American people in
their devotion to holy cause, and
their united efforts resulting in a mag
nifcent victory.
Bishop Carroll's contribution, a
most important one at the present
time, is appended:
Americas Part in War;
What was Americas part in the
great war? Essentially lover OF
peace, America resolved from the be-
ginning to adhere to a policy of strict
neutrality. That resolution she kept
for nearly three years, notwithstand-
ing the taunts of European powers,
who accused her of cowardice, of low
ing money and ease and pleasure
more than justice and right. 1t was
freely predicted that no amount of in
suit could secure her active participa-
fion in the struggle, first of all be-
cause she was totally unprepared;
secondly, because whatever prepara-
ton she might now make would be
too late to be effective; thirdly, be-
cause conscription-the only sure
means of raising sufficient number
OF fighting men-could not be en-
forced upon her heterogeneous pop
uIation But the fateful hour came
at last when her most sacred rights
were fagrantly and persistently Vlo-
lated. Unable to obtain an apology
for the wrong done her, she was COM
PEELED to grasp the sword. With as
founding rapidity she marshaled her
unlimited resources. Within lew
months she i4anr0yised an army md
a navy that startled the world. In
the incredible space of one year she
threw force of two million men
across the Atlantic. The British
were fighting for months with their
backs to the wall around Amiens. The
French were falling back again on
Paris. Through the gap in the line
at Chateau-Thierry Germany was
pouring her powerful armies. Within
a few DAYS, or at most within few.
weeks, she would be in possession Of
the French capital The American
forces, with the laurels of Cantigny
fresh upon them, were sent against
the enemy Like bolts from heaven
they burst his ranks and compelled
him to begin the retreat which ended
at Sedan. Thus will the victory at
Chateau-Thierry on July IS, 1918, go
down to history as the final turning
point of the great war. Then fol-
lowed the clearing of the sector at st.
Mihiel, the scene of four years OF
bloody conflicts-a work the Amer
leans accomplished in two days. FL
nally, there remained the Argonne
Forest along the Meuse, through which
the main artery of the enemy was
centered. That cut, the end OF the
war would be in sight. 1t was gi-
gantic task An American army OF
100000 men appears on the scene. A
short and desperate struggle ensues,
and on November End the German
high command admits defeat. Nine
days later the armistice is signed and
the war is over.
GAIL Hall"
All hail to our gallant soldiers
whose daring accomplished the Won
derful victory! All hail to General
Pershing whose famous Lafayette
were are here inspired his men with
those sentiments Of gratitude that
enabled them to pay Americas debt
to France! All hail to Marshal
Foch, the generalissimo of the Al
lied arms, whose profound strategy
planned the victorious campaign, but
who attributes his success to the
nrayers of the children Of France.
TO all these under God is due eternal
gratitude for the glorious triumph OF
American arms.
Without detracting one iota from
the glory of our fighting forces, what
shall | say of the grand army behind
the lines-of the purchasers of Lib
erty bonds and thrift stamps-of the
labor and capital that produced mu-
nitions of war, ships and aircraft
food and clcthing-of Red Cross and
United War Workers, OF nurses and
chaplains who afforded comfort, ma.
terial and spiritual, to the wounded
and dying and kept up the morale OF
soldiers and sailors-of the spirit OF
self-denial and patriotism that stood
back of our food administration and
our councils of defense, enabling us
to feed America and the Allies and
presenting to the world the spectacle
of people gathered from all nations
but welded into one in the common
cause of liberty? Without these vic
tory would not today perch upon the
banner of our country, and autocracy
and militarism would be triumphant
in Europe, to triumph later in Ameri
ca For these, no less than for ou1
fighting men. grateful nation rem
ders thanks to the Supreme Ruler OF
the universe.