El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-25

OF Lha Herald In Europe during the war
and after. Excerpts wiz be published IN
this column daily during the next several
months. Ioday's instalmelts continuing
the general narrative. relates experiences
on the saint Mlhiel front after the more
active phases Of The great battle OF Sep
TENDER, 1915
II Is suggested that readers clip these
articles each day and paste them Ia scrap
bookss they VIII not Be reprinted and back
numbers cannot be supplied.
GENERALLY quiet day the 9th Of
" September. 1 have been struck BY
entire absence Of flags among
French and American troops in rear
areas. Of course there is no place for
flags anywhere near the front any
more than there is for drums and
bugles. But the flag should be dis
played IN rear areas wherever DOS
sible with safety, and all ceremonies
vigorously maintained.
Soldiers respond to patriotic i'm
pulse and not enough Is done to slim
ulate It. We hear nothing a purpose
and motive beyond mere hate and de-
splsIng. It Is a. dirty Job to be done.
but 1t might be made a little less
boresome. The French papers contain
considerable stimulus which our men
never get; the English papers, and edi-
tons OF American papers printed in
English. contain none Of this. An Cd
portunity to improve morale is being
overlooked; sentimental beings are
starved spiritually and mentally. The
men are lonesome for a thrill that IS
not a Jolt.
IS September 19lS-Rain In eve
ming; continual pounding Of the guns,
shells. IN rear Of US and to the west.
An impressed by the fine spirit of the
front line troops. Heroes Of the war
are the privates, noneommissioned Of
ncers, and Eeutenants Of infantry In
the assault units, such machine gun,
signal corps, engineer, and aviation
detachments as act with the forward
formations, ambulance and supply and
ammunition truck and wagon drivers
near the front, forward litter bearers,
forward dressing station attendants,
forward dispatch carriers, and such
higher officers and other troops as
actually participate IN attacks. All the
rest are not much more than a side
show so lar as the personal side Of
war goes, even though all are essential
10 the working Of the war machine.
Too much heroics and sentimentalitT
are wasted on the wrong bunch and
IN the wrong places. It IS not to de-
tract from any credit due other troops.
to give adequate recognition to the
front line troops; the burden and
strain imposed on these can never be
comprehended by any who have not
participated with them or at least seen
them IN action. As an observer, sub
ieeted to no special risk OF excessive
task or strain, feel the utmost re-
spect and admiration for the men who
are really doing the work
1t won't do any harm to keep these
facts before the public now and after
the war. It is absurd and grossly IN
Just to permit TO 90 unchailenged the
familiar statement that all are equally
worthy Of praise and gratitude and
equally heroic. It Is not so, and why
let the lie fl0urish2 The small per
centage that really fights and labors
and takes the risks does not receive
nearly the recognition that is its due,
while the remainder are apt to receive
a good deal more than Is due them.
because the mass Of the public mis-
the truth and Is not set
straight by those who know the facts
and neglect to declare them
The uniform has been cheapened. /
distinctions have been con
fused or obliterated, and cheapened. I
but the men who really do the fighting /
ought to have their due. If there be /
any glory, they ought to have It, per /
laps exclusively, and in spite Of the 4
tact that the others would have done !
equally well if the opportunity had .
been given them to show their quality 4
and ability.
The men who actually do the fight /
ing in the front lines, and those who 1
actually participate with them through 4
the luck Of war and the chance of !
convenience, taking equal risks !
and bearing equal burdens, are in a I
class by themselves, even though pub
lie sentiment and official system do not 4
accord such special recognition. The
others, however ready and willing they
be to jump into the worst places and !
lake their share Of the risk and the
terrific nervous, physical, mental, and /
spiritual strain inseparable from front
inc service, ought to be chivslrous