Clay County, Missouri - Chapter 24: The World War, 1920

Chapter 24: The World War

PRESIDKNT \VILSON - AMERICAN .PATRIOTISM - SUMMARY OF WAR - PERSONNEL OP IX)CAL DRAFT BOARl> - ROSTER OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS FROM CLAY COUNTY - NECROLOGY - HONOR ROLL OF GOLD STARS - AMERICAN EFFORT IN THE WORLD WAR - ACHIEVEMENTS OF AMERICAN TROOPS.

President Wilson, in his speech before Congress on April 6, 1918, used these eloquent and forceful words that found spontaneous response in the true patriotism of America:

"Let everything that we say, my fellow countiymen, everything that we henceforth plan and accomplish, ring true to this response till the majesty and might of our concerted power shall fill the thought and utterly defeat the force of those who flout and misprize what we honor and hold dear.

"Germany has once said that force, and force alone, shall decide whether justice and peace shall reign in the affairs of men, whether right as America conceives it, and dominion, as she conceives, shall determine the destinies of mankind.

"There is therefore but one response for us ; force, force to the utmost, force without stint or limit, the righteous and triumphant force which will make the law of the world, and cast every selfish dominion down in the dust."

It may not be amiss to state here that Clay County has no German citizens, but a goodly number of American citizens of German birth or parentage. As a class, they are frugal, saving, prosperous and honest, withall good livers.

in which over $100,000,000 were spent, was insidious. The effect of many publications like "The Fatherland" had little to say in favor of their government, or of their institutions, but in practically every line eulogized, praised and upheld the institutions and theories of the German Empire, in direct opposition to American principles and institutions. But with the unfurling of Old Glory from the housetops, their hearts beat true, and they at once sprang to action, and responded as a class to every call. If there were leservations in the minds of a few, the number was indeed small, and existed largely in the mitnds of the suspicious.

By reason of the peculiar situation of this class of our citizens, the editor feels called upon to pay this short tribute. We are Americana, regardless of the route each has traveled to become one. We are one in love of home and country. The names of our boys who toiled, suffered and bled in Flanders field are confined to no nationality. Each is a true American.

Early Monday morning, November 11, 1918, the news was flashed throughout the country that the armistice had been signed. A treaty of peace had been signed and our boys are returning to their homes. The material is not at hand to give more than the names of those who gave their services to theii- country. We are not able to give the promotions or special deeds of valor for our boys, for any attempt so to do, with the meager information at hand would be unjust to many.

From "Statistical Summary of the War with Germany" prepared by Col. Leonard P. Ayres authorized by the War Department is extracted the following, which, of course, is of interest to our readers :

During the Civil War ten out of every 100 inhabitants of the Northem states served as soldiers or sailors. In that struggle 2,400,000 men served in the Northern army and the navy.

Between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, when the armistice went into effect 4,800,000 men constituted our land and naval forces. Yet a force proportional to that put forth by the North during the Civil War would have produced nearly 10,000,000 American fighting men.

The British sent to France in their first year of the war more men than did the United States in the first twelve months. On the other hand, it took England three years to reach a strength of 2,000,000 men in France, while the United States was able to place that number across the seas in one-half that time.

The organization of an immense army as that of the United States, its equipment and transportation across the ocean has never been equaled in the history of the world.

Two out of every three American soldiers who reached France took part in battle. The number that reached France was 2,084,000 and of these 1,300,000 were engaged at the front.

The American divisions held during the greater part of the time a front longer than that held by the British in October. The American divisions held 101 miles of line or 23 per cent of the entire western front.

The artillery fired more than 1,000,000 shells in four hours, which is the most intense concentration of artillery fire recorded in the history of the world.

During the period of hostilities two out of eveiy 100 American soldiers were killed or died of disease. The total battle death of all nations in this war was greater than the total of all the deaths of all the wars in the previous 100 years.

The war cost of America was $21,850,000,000, or approximately $1,000,000 an hour. The greatest number of men sent over seas in a single month was 306,000 and the largest returned home in a single month at the time of the report was 333,000.

The registration of men for the draft was 24,234,021 and of these 2,810,296 were inducted into service. The largest number inducted into the service in a single month was 400,000.

Necrology

Robert H. Baker, died probably September, 1918, in Commune of Baulny, Department Meuse, France. The Liberty Post of the American Legion was named in his honor.

From the middle of August to the end of the war, the Americana held a front longer than that held by the British. At the time of the greatest American activity in October, 1918, this front was 101 miles long, or about 23 per cent of the entire allied battle line.

American troops captured 63,000 prisoners, 1,318 pieces of artillery, 708 trench mortars, and 9,650 machine guns. In June and July they helped to shatter the enemy advance towards Paris and turn retreat into a triumphal offensive. At St. Mihiel, they pinched off, in a day, an enemy salient that had been a constant menace for four years. In the Argonne and on the Meuse, they carried lines which the enemy had determined to hold at all costs and cut the supply li>ne of communication and supply for half the Western battle front.

The American air force at the front grew from three squadrons in April, 1918, to forty-five in November, 1918. These American squadrons played important roles in the battles of Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne. In addition to the information, aid and protection given to the army, they brought down 755 enemy planes, while their own losses were only 357 planes.