The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1920-11-17
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND -
TROOPS MARCH PAST

eve are coming, two million
strong!" was the instant cry when
the Great War summoned two mill
ion of this nations best manhood to
fight for Democracy, three Thousand
miles across the sea.
Two million strong! The best and
braves; those fitted to do the ma
tons hardest work; the flower of
our youth; the brains and Drawn,
the manly beauty. No other troops
in Europe we're pronounced finer
physical specimens, and none sur
passed them in intelligence, enthu
siasm and morale. They went to fin
ish the biggest piece of military
work ever attempted by mankind,
and they succeeded.
Two hundred thousand strong.
That is a goodly quota of perfect
manhood. See them march past.
Ten thousand men will take an hour
in passing. So multiply the time
and in your imagination see the par
AIDE of the nations pride. How our
enthusiasm has greeted such a spec
tacle! We have expended hundreds
of thousands of dollars in the erec-
ton of stands from which to see
one-sixth of such number march
past.
Two hundred thousand WEAK!
All, that is quite a different story.
The sight is far from an inspiring
one. 1t SO depresses us that at the
thought we turn away and try to
think of something pleasant and d.
verting. Two hundred thousand
SICK! Let US not think about them,
they are a governmental responsible
ity. Two hundred thousand SUI
FERING! And what are we, for
whom they have given their health,
doing about them?
Two hundred thousand. Let t hem
march past. How few Of them can
march today. Thin and emaciated,
they fairly stagger, those who so
blithely sped away in 1917 ON their
great mission. Now they creep
painfully along. Here comes the
first detachment, those boys, $4,000
of whom are victims Of tuberculosis,
They bear the marks of poisoned
gases, of damp and muddy trenches,
Of terrible exposure. In the front
ranks are those nearing the end Of
their hard journey; the boys without
hope Of recovery. Their days are
numbered, but back Of them march
many thousands of those who have
fighting chance for life, clinging
to the faint hope that still is theirs.
Shall we see to- it that those have
their. full share Of final comforts,
their full chance for recovery? Out
side of governmental channels, this
great responsibility is ours.
Then follow $4,000 wild-eyed, sad
and pitiful paraders, the shell-shock-
ed and the mentally affected; much
can be done for them; nothing re-
spends more promptly to the right
methods of treatment, and nothing
requires such expert handling as this
form of afhiction. They need great
institutions, splendid hospitals and
the best mental experts. Let lis
see to it that they have them.
Behind them limp the thousands of
those who go on clutches. Poor,
shattered bodies pieced out and
plastered up, and bound to give their
owners no reprieve from pain until
they finally bid them adieu. Those
thousands of young men already old
in suffering, can we glance at them
coldly now that we see them on par
AIDE? They are not merely the wards
of the nation. They are the ghosts
that will rise to confront our souls
as they take flight, if we ignore
them now.
And at the end Of the procession
see the long line of ambulances!
Those brave young fellows all march.
ed away with such elastic steps,
They will not march again. How
many of them would far rather
sleep under those white crosses over
seas. But they must go on suffer
ing to the end. Surely they lack
for nothing? Do you believe that!
Then visit them, inquire into their
needs, and help to supply comfort:
Will the long line of ambulances new.
err end? Now on the ear sounds the
Dead March,; only when that is
played for each of these, will the
procession cease to pass upon its
way.
The days parade is over. If we
have watched it to the end and are
not moved by it, then are we neithe,
men nor women. but. ssstocks and