The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. [volume], August 28, 1918, Page 3, Image 3

About The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1909-1931

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by playing a bluff game. "Nevertheless David
took the stronghold of Zion," as the inspired
historian graphically declares.
When Ben-hadad king of Syria came with
his mighty army against Samaria, he demand
ed of Ahab, the king of Israel, his silver and
gold, his wives and children, and Ahab meek
ly agreed to give them up. But when he de
clared that his servants would come and search
Ahab's house and rob him of his most valuable
possessions, Ahab refused. Ben-hadad was en
laged, and declared he had such a large army
there was not enough dust around Samaria to
furnish a handful to each of his men. lie
thus boasted of his great strength, in order to
dishearten Ahab and his men.
To this Ahab made a very wise reply: "Let
not him that girdeth on his harness boast as
he that putteth it off." The battle began.
And God said to Ahab: "I will deliver this
great multitude into thine hand, and thou shalt
know that I am the Lord." Ahab believed
God, and took the offensive, and the Syrians
fled and were slain with a great slaughter.
And now see how history repeats itself.
When the Germans turned Sherman's defini
tion of war loose upon Belgium in 1914, they
poured scorn and contempt upon the English
Army which answered King Albert's call of
distress. They said: "Germany will be en
chanted at sight of this army. We will put
some old military man, so decrepit he can
hardly sit on his horse, in command of the
squadron of semi-invalids, and he will soon
capture all those English and turn them ovur
to some Barnum to be shown at fairs as the
latest wonder of the world! Those of our
men who are first badly wounded in this war
must be put in this squadron and given the
first chance. But what has become of Bar
num, the very enterprising showman? Is he
napping over his best chance? Maybe he has
gone out of the show business. Possibly there
are 110 fairs to give him the necessary oppor
tunity to exhibit this "latest wonder of the
world." And four years have sped and no
show yet. Poor Barnum! What is to become,
of him? But hear them further:
"With undisguised merriment every one in
Germany reads of a new English Army of half
a million soldiers! Indeed! Indeed!! Where
is it to come from? But if it could be con
jured up over-night, where are the instructors,
officers, non-commissioned officers, weapons of
war and supplies? Half a million indeed!"
But in a short time Britain's Army numbered
more than five million. Between 400,000 and
500,000 were in the navy, and 1,000,000 had
responded from the Dominions and colonies.
And this in face of the statement that the
British Army could be "left out of account
in a European war" and the militia "complete
ly ignored."
But hear them again: "A lot of noise is
made about the future American Army . . .
but we cannot discern when these American sol
diers will be called up and when they will have
been trained. The participation of America in
the war is fraudulent braggadocio, more bluff
than reality." But ten millions of our men
registered for the first draft, the regular army
was trebled, a great aircraft program is about
to be realized, large orders for all kinds of
weapons are being filled, vast camps are train
ing men and officers, and a million and a
quarter American soldiers are on the firing
line in France, Belgium and Italy, with the
prospect of two million by the end of this
year.
Our people have never been so foolish as to
underestimate the power of the enemy. They
have taken the war seriously. But, fully aware
of the stern demands made npon them, they
have, with firm trust in God, set their faces
like Hints against the foe, resolved to conquer
or die. And far better die than be defeated
by savage Huns. They boast of their military
prowess. So did the ancient Assyrians, who
declared that no city or country had ever
been able to stand against their armies. And
so they vehemently asserted with utmost con
fidence their determination to take Jerusalem
in spite of high walls, in spite of Israel's king
and armies, in spite of the God of heaven.
Hut in answer to prayer the angel of the Lord
smote 185,000 of the Assyrians in one night,
and the remnant of their army fled back in
shame to their own country. "Let not him
that putteth on his harness Boast as he that
putteth it off."
"Not by might, nor by an army, but by my
Spirit, saith the Lord, that no flesh should
glory in my presence." If we win this war
we must give all the glory to God. "He laughs
best who laughs last." The Germans will be
woefully defeated. And when their haughty
pride, self-confident arrogance, illimitable
braggadocio, insidious propaganda, sacriligious
falsehoods and merciless atrocities upon help
less women and children ? when all these
"deeds of darkness" shall have been exposed
by the withering limelight of divine provi
dence ? every plan defeated, every hope blast
ed, and tire "beast of Berlin' and all his dupes
shall have been brought to their knees to beg
for their lives ? then the Almighty will laugh
at their calamity and mock when their fear
cometh. So mote it be. Amen! But oh, that
the savage Huns might see and confess their
sins against God, and their crimes against
humanity, ami forsake their evil ways, and
thus avert the coining judgment of "the day
of wrath, that dreadful day," which is sure
ly eoming upon them.
Jonesboro, Ga.
THE BABY "OVER THERE."
By W. II. Morse, M. D.
It may look as if it was childish and silly,
but it seemed very proper and fitting to the
boys. The bells were rung, and every shop
was decorated. In the evening there was a
torchlight procession, and red fire, and the
racket of the drum, the horns and a flute.
All because of the Caserta baby, born there
at Doglia, Campo Casermo.
The boys had not had the pleasure of meet
ing the young woman. Some one had said
that she was a donnuccia, that is, a silly lit
tle woman, the wife of a soldier in the Alpini,
far away. That was all. She had never been
in the camp with the other women, and if she
had a name it was not mentioned.
But that June morning the discovery was
made by two of the boys. They were coming
down the Via Severo, when one said to the
other:
"Oh, see!"
"Possible!" exclaimed his companion.
Then they pulled off their hats and bowed
to the wee baby in the little woman's lap at
the window.
IIow they managed to get all the informa
tion is no plainer than how all the camp came
to be interested. But interested they all were
? and the baby was four days old, a little
girl, first-born to her, they had called the
donnuccia. The two men told all about it,
and all the men wanted to share their priv
ilege of the sight. Would you believe it!
Every man who had an errand in Doglia, and
others who had none, went up to Via Severo.
You can't imagine how the boys were hustling
to see that new baby. It was as much like a
pack of children running to see an elephant.
The sober fact was that the boys were hungry
for the sight of something new. And the mother
did not resent the curiosity. At any hour from
early morning there she sat, and all had a
good look at the chubby little thing.
Half a week went by, and the boys were
still talking about "the baby" to the exclu
sion of other topics. Then "the baby" got
mixed with that other matter which had to
have attention, for no small number of the
boys were reservists from America, ami they,
of course, brought u|> the subject ? the Fourth
of #July. Sure, it must be celebrated! All
that the reservists told of or brought from
"that America" interested the Italian soldiers
of the line: and when they spoke of the glo
rious American day, forthwith it was decided
that it should be appropriately observed. And
every reservist was on the general committee
to make the arrangements. And they arranged
to have things done as in America. Nothing
would do but "the baby" must figure in the
celebration.
"Would Mrs. Caserta consent?"
"With pleasure!"
"The baby" would be eight days old on
Thursday, the Fourth. It should be the bam
bino's name-day. Oh, yes, the Americans
might have her in their day. The little mother
showed a great deal of curiosity, but between
her eyes was a peculiar little scowl. The vil
lage priest was in the war. IIow could the
name be given, and he away, and Mr. Caserta
away? This question was plain to the boys.
They understood that the little mother could
not see how the name could be given without
a minister and a ceremony. *
"Leave it to us, and we'll fix it!" the com
mittee said.
The boys had everything arranged on time,
and with true Americanism kept all on the
quiet. The day came without any jubilation,
except that the two Hags had more flutter to
them than usual The army rules forbid eele
braziona during the day time. License came
at sunset. It was then that the stir began.
Something that had wheels to it appeared
from somewhere. It was entirely shrouded
in white paper, and presented the appearance
of being a big bundle and nothing more. Then
twenty men were detailed, and they carried
it off on their shoulders, and up the Via Severo.
At the junction of the Via Carico the villagers
waited, and just below the soldiers were at
attention, the musicians in front. Now and
then, first one, then another, the bells rang.
All of us who have waited for the parade
on our own festal occasions will appreciate
the feeling of both villagers and soldiers, when,
as the music struck up, out of the Via Severo
came that which had been the mysterious big
bundle, and was now a gayly decorated baby
carriage, with the dunnuccia walking behind
it with her hands on the handles, but with
the men drawing it with red-white-and-blue
ropes. Talk about your floats ! This was away
ahead of anything of the sort, for in the car
riage the baby lay, wide-eyed. How the vil
lagers cheered ! Some shouted, some screamed ;
the children were noisy with excitement.
At the junction the soldiers fell in behind
the little carriage and its convoy, and the
red fire blazed, and the colors were never
brighter and braver. The Via Carico is not
lengthy. It ends at the public square. Thither
the crowd made its way, all intent on seeing
the next on the program. There was sing
ing ? "America" and "Vieni, celeste Re!" the
Italian hymn. There were instrumental selec
tions. And when the horns blew louder, and