Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1917 — To the Boys Who Were Drafted [ARTICLE]

To the Boys Who Were Drafted

By HAPSBURG LIEBE

of the Vigilantes.

The writer of this little message to you. boys, has himself been an _ American soldier, and he is very proud of that fact. He knows army life, and he has seen red-hot lighting, and he knows the ways of officers. I will put it like this: I will simply tell you what I would do if I were going Into the army again. First, I would go into it with the rock-firm intention of whipping Germany. I would look at the matter just like that. Save that I would certainly not discount the importance of anybody else, I would believe, so far as it were possible, that it was up to me—to me, give Germany, the earth’s parish nation, the licking that is going to make all nations safe in a world democracy. And the moment I was sworn into the service, I would resolve that, no matter whether it suited me or not, I would obey orders very strictly and to the letter. That is the magic phrase—it is the religion of the army: obey orders. During my time in the army, no man who lived up to that as his motto could go through with a term of enlistment without having a chance of being made a corporal, or a sergeant, or even a sergeant major. There are few commissioned officers who will overlook the enlisted man who never disobeys an order, when promotion becomes necessary. And in this war, men from the ranks are going to win commissions, boys; remember that! But every man of the company, or the troop, or the battery, or whatever it happens to be, cannot be advanced, you say; and you are right. But every man can be a soldier. How much there is bound up in those three little words I You’ll know yourself, after awhile. A real, dyed-in-the-wool American soldier, of course, is a gentleman, too. . . . However, there is bound to be a chance to win your chevrons. I’ve never vet seen the man who tried hard for promotion, if he tried honorably, who came out of it a private. In spite of their bluff military manners, officers are just like you under the skin; they are quick to recognize, and they are most heartily glad to recognize, golden qualities of a soldier and a gentleman in an enlisted man. Remember U Also, remember this: You are in the service to fight for your country and not to make soldiering a trade; you are going across the Atlantic for the purpose of whipping Germany, and for no other reason. So long, boys, and good luck to you; and may the good God of our fathers bring you back to us!