Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 277, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1919 — OFFICERS AND PRIVATES. [ARTICLE]

OFFICERS AND PRIVATES.

[Ed N. Thacker] The proposal of the war department to carry .the army caste to the extent that officers and privates will lie in separate burial grounds in Flanders fields, may meet the approval of the army heads, but it is regarded as a piece of military snobbery by the American people of In speaking of the proposal, a satirical writer has very aptly said Ullfi * _. — : -A-— « ; - ( - -- - minds may have revamped the scnA>.

tures so they are now assured of two separate and distinct resurrections. One on Friday for the officers, hours from 11 to 3; and another for the buck privates, early Monday morning following; after th'e last of the sacred spirits of the official caste have passed over the Slvx and taken up their alloted ■ ■ «»-- •’Maybe they are going to have two or three distinct heavens for the various branches and personnel of the service. "And doubtless don’t worry about hell, because, in their judgment, most buck privates will go there and any place a buck private is will be hell enough for the unfor- ! tunate shave tail who misses the more ethereal officers’ mess. Our opinion, and it is that .of 99 per cent of the American people outside the war department, is that the fighting officer can be honored in no greater degree than to be buried in the midst of the men who fougnt and died with him, and who followed or preceded him right up to the gates of heaven without missing a stem.” It must not be taken for granted that all the officers who were killed or died with their men in France were snobs. There were exceptions, as there always are, and there were officers who died there who would, if they could be consulted, no doubt request that they sleep surrounded by the men who wore the uniform of the private. Many officers were passionately 1 fond of their men and were in turn honored by those whom they commanded.