The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-11
MEMBER OF
.HE AsAllI Al'ED PRESS
4RMISTICE DAY

1918. this day brings memories
OF greatest happiness.
Not only was there the feeling
of relief from worry, the an
ticipation Of seeing soldiers back
home within a short time, but
there came with the news of the
armistice a feeling Of peace and
security against future war. The
American people had been told
that the war in which they were
engaged was war TO end all
war. the final war OF peace.
That message had been we'll
burned into the minds OF all peo-
pie and when the boys IN ser
vice stopped 10 ask what all the
fighting was for they were given
that same line OF propaganda.
To people who knew history
and to all who knew something
about politics and commercial
greed and human nature in gen
eral this propaganda sounded as
ridiculous then as il does now,
bur even so. there was the hope
that it might be true and there
was. the response of patriotism
that gave il general recognition.
NO more war was the slo-
gan Of the country and Of the
world for a short time after the
armistice OF 1918. Under cover
OF that slogan we destroyed war
ships, threw aside practically all
preparedness measures. agreed
with other nations to practically
disarm and there we stopped.
But one nation did not stop.
In the heart OF Germany there
was sadness. :, in other nations,
r.. tie was also hatred and the
desire for revenge. Money val
ues were wiped out, government
was disrupted and in the inter-
val Of readjustment there came
to the front an ambitious man
with the belief that he could re-
store TO Germany the land that
had been signed away by terms
of peace. Secretly he prepared
for another war more vicious
than the one Just closed. He III
spired his people with the vision
OF new victories, new wealth,
new commercial advantages,
new power.
And so inspired they went to
work. Production reached new
heights. Preparedness was really
under way on a scale Of speed
and determination never known
in the world before. The news
leaked through to other nations,
but little was done. France final
" set about half hearted pro-
gram Of defense. England start
ed preparing for protection with
too little thought OF another
war. We here in America were
Indifferent.
The new German leader was
a cunning leader. He took adj
vantage OF the old fashioned be-
lief that a man in such high
position can be relied upon 10
tell the truth. He advanced eau
tiously. asking for small con-
cessions and gradually gaining
the strength and advantages he
needed to open his big drive.
Even as Hitler marched to
Danzig and subjected Poland
there was worldwide indiffer-
ence We heard Col. Lindbergh
warn Of Germany's preparations
for war and we answered with
ridiculethat he was pro German
and Boosting for Hitler Of
fiiuers strength.
Poland fell and one country
after another followed till Eng
land held firm. Whether Eng
lang will continue to Withstand
Hitler, attacks depends largely
upon the-extent Of United States
aid II We can get organized
quickly enough, we may give
England the ships and planes
and food and other needed sup
plies to enable her 10 withstand
invasion.
NfcautItls etif-eypH- national
defense problem increases. and
instead OF Armistice day finding
us in a mental state Of happiness
and complaccncy, il comes as a
reminder OF the horrors not only
OF a war past. but Of a war that
threatens US from all sides ex.
cept the north, and possibly
from there if England falls and
foreign possessions come under
German control
This Armistice day is indeed
a solemn occasion. With most
profound sincerity and respect
we pay tribute to the men who
fought for what they believed
10 be a lust cause in the frs