Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1923-04-26
WHY THE DOUGHBOY?

Igoing into the Ruhr. Most or the
articles have been written with little
if any research; all the reports il
most of our daily press are writer
as news and captioned with scare
headlines to attract attention and
cell copies. Little regard for truth
having been paid.
The writer has been student of
history for ten years or more. II
was also our lot to serve our coun-
try and to follow the flag overseas.
We trust the article which follows
will slant inspection.
| Back in 1914--16 We witnessed a
great furry of excitement here in
the states because opinion was divid-
ed. Opinion remained divided until
we declared war in April 1917, and
even then great many of the by
phenated class, still continued loyal
no not to America--to Germany.
We all know what happened, the
number OF our dead sleeping on
Flanders Field; the terrible agony
! In a mental sense here at home and
the hellish torture of war as suffered
by so many abroad; the cost which
runs into billions, ETC., etc. All
| honor to the local American Legion
! for the Doughboy soon to be un-
yelled in our idst. But comrades,
let us not forget what some of tAeI
reasons were which arouSes within
us the spirit which produces the
granite stone and the bronze plate.
Was it not the spirit of sacrifice, low
ing service and desire to aid those
of France who were helpless to with
stand the invasion of the Hun?
When defeat, with possible invas-l
ion of ner own territory stared Ger
many in the face, she ran up the
white flag and called "Camarade'---
the German for Comrade. The
Armistice was signed. But Eng
land had already taken over the ma |
jor part of the German navy. I'M
the stipulations Of destroying the
Germany navy. She saw to it that a
great majority of German territorial
possessions came under her ruling /
powers; taking even some of the
islands of the seas both east and
west. She also saw to it that Eng
land herself was made reasonable
free of future German invasion. In
the months which followed she first
stood by France; this attitude she
gradually replaced with one OF a
more wavering nature; now she even
turns against her old allies. France
when she knew that England was ,
actually deserving her, Immediately
sought renewal of the pledges made
between herself and that of Belgium,
Italy and the U. S. She was not only
justified in seeking a renewing of
faith and new swearing of alleai-
ance on the part of her recent al I
lies but according to the treaty of
Versailles she was acting only with
in her rights. Then, when, for po-
litical reasons, the United States
withdrew her forces from the Cob
LEM bridge-head, France realized the I
If she did not take immediate action. I
In acting as she did, by going into
the Ruhr, she did what the treaty of I
Versailles allowed her to do and that &
which she should have done + long
time ago Ask any doughboy who g
ted in that famous march of P
November 9, 10 and II what he s.
kinks America should have done and
ne will tell you, Bridge the Rhine a
with flesh and bone if need be-, but h
1T least go to Berlin. Here is where fl
he forgiving spirit of America leak
ID through in favor of the Hun. Ct
To restore Germany now L, rs s.
he same war or worse one all over +
gain. The chances are 1t would be S.
worse. Remember what the exli $ e
r told Roosevelt twenty years $50? e.
1t is an unfortunate fact that we h
re again passing through the sane 4
as we passed through a
n 1914--17: being fed with propa-
anda the stencil of which smelie IL r
90 strong of German origin. The r
acts and figures which we are being e
anded, and which all too many, v
trough ignorance accept, are stamp H
d Made in Germany" On Febru- R
ry % of the current year there was F
mass meeting held in Madison v
quare Garden, New York, attended Fl
y about $4,000 people. Three out e
I every four Of that number were r
'reign-born and only one-half had E
worn allegiance to America. Yet the A
ress of this country through the V
merican Press Association heraided II
'oadcast the protests of that inset F.
e in Captioned headlines. There
as not one person there to plead the so
use of France nor a friendly smile ay
encourage her. Does America fer til
It SO soon why she spilled her blood
the Argonne or why our sons sleep 10
company with the peoples of Bel ].
UNI? b.
Germany acquired her territories Iri
: conquest from Silesia, Austria, So
bland and France The first three
back SO far into history that We
longer blame Germany for taking
at which was not hers. When the the
of Alsace-Lorraine were biz
olen in 1870-72 the Germans did -
t move out until every last penny bat
Is paid in German marks. Alsace EFT
,ne was larger in extent and more Xii
ickly. settled than is the Ruhr sta
Itch France holds today, to say
thing of Lorraine. Yet some st.
nericans condemn France for her ney
cent action. We cannot help but cor
ieve that this condemnation is 9th
.ough ignorance OF the true facts hea
the case and not through selfish eye
IS. In cases where the latter pre- wa!
nption is true the selfishiess is to sha
pittied and the party thereto taken of
specialist for examination yyol