Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1921-01-18
ABANDONING THE wOUDNED


A civilized army does not abandon
its sick aud wounded Ia die on the bat
tie fled until every means To evacuate
them has been tried neither would the
unfortunateS be east OFF In the rear Il
nurse their own wounds even a civil.
lied enemy is confidently expected Ia
give the same care to captured sick and
wounded that it, own disabled receive
Common dccency requires that those
who have exposed their lives for the
nation shall. when they are helpless. re-
ceive the aid ana comfort their Sacri.
fices have earned
In the interests of economy the pres
tnt congress proposes To cut the ap-
preparation for the care of sick and
disabled world war veterans. although
the need i far greater this year than
last and Is bound To Increase until the
maximum Of breakdownS due 10 expo
sure and hardshipS in campaign Is
reached. Il will take several years yet
To attain this peak" But even now
thousands of disabled are without care,
dying, their dependents burden to
the communities in which they live.
This is the reward for heroic service.
Heroes hailed by all I'm 1915 homeless
and helpless vaguhondS in 1921; east
off 10 die 10y the people they suffered
Ia serve. \ people 81 inhuman and 50
needless do not deserve to be- served
by such troops as closed the 81. Mehiel
salient and fought their way through
the damp tangle of the Argome. Did
these men stop Ia count the cost To
them: How many measures of
blood. how many pounds of flesh and
bone would they givey Life, health.
wealth. happiness were in the balance
when the German machine guns topped
the ripe wheat and fagOtted the
branches of French forests. Many paid
the forfeit In full they are far more
fortunate than those who are meeting
the deferred payments while rich
aud boastful people tell what we did.
II the helpless living are abandoned.
what Of those who rot where they fellf
There Is disposition ON the part of
many of those who fought the war M
home to minimize sacrifices of those
who accepted the gauge Of battle and
To magnify the trivial burdens which
the war laid on the civilian population.
II is very easy for those who actually
went through the diScomfortS and
dangers Of campaign 10 forget them In
the enjoyment of present ease and Sc
curity. How much easier therefore for
those who have known neither the
hardshipS nor dangers " modern war
fare 20 look without pity ON those who
have passed through the Flames. They
point out that the danger to many OF
those in the army was not great; that
they were taken care OF while in the
army that there are many milingerers
who are unworthy Of assistance and
than, anyway. the war Is over ana
everyone now has an equal opportuni-
~ to recoup his fortunes. II Is useless
10 waste time refutlns such unfair con-
captions especially when considering
the plight Of those who lost health.
fortune and hope for the future. Either
the county must acknowledge its debts
10 its defenders or repudiate II. To
lead economy Is circumlOcutiOn that
will not bear examination.
There were four million young men
I'm the army. half Of whom know 10y eN-
pprience what It is to march to eNhaus-
ton. to sleep In the mud and rain and
cold. 10 live in lousy hillets or more
filthy trenches, To 90 hungry ami
thirsty in the long advances, 10 face
death and wounds on the battlefields.
These youths have not yet possessed
the heritage Of political power 10 which
their training entities them. When they
do come into their own what will be
their verdict Regarding the abandon
ment " their comrades who paid the
price for victory? The time
10 deal mercifully and justly with the
disabled veterans Of the world war is
now future generations will attend to
the flowers and mummery Of memo
rails.