BROTHERS IN ARMS
BROTHERS IN ARMS
BY
E. ALEXANDER POWELL
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
BOSTON AND NEW YORK :: THE
RIVERSIDE PRESS CAMBRIDGE
COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY E. ALEXANDER POWELL
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Published June 1917
To
Brigadier-General Joseph E. Kuhn, U.S.A.
and his associates of the Army War College
in appreciation of the many kindnesses
they have shown me
BROTHERS IN ARMS
[2]
BROTHERS IN ARMS
We fight once more for freedom. Forthe fifth time in our history we drawthe sword in the cause of liberty.The Revolution won the freedom ofthe nation. In 1812 we fought for thefreedom of the seas. The Civil Warwas waged for the preservation of theUnion and the liberation of the slaves.We went to war with Spain thatCuba might be free. Now we enterthe Great War to preserve democracyand to insure the freedom of theworld. And France, after an interimof nearly seven-score years, is ourally once again. In order to drawcloser the bonds of our ancientfriendship, to hearten us in the tremendous[4]task which we have undertaken,and to place at our disposalthe knowledge for which she has paidin blood and tears, France sent to usacross perilous seas a mission composedof her most illustrious men.She sent them as a reminder that shewas our first friend among the nationsand an old comrade in arms, andbecause her ideals and aspirationsare identical with our own. It wasas though she had stretched out ahand across the ocean and laid iton America’s shoulder and had said,“Sister, well done.”
Though the coming of these menstirs our souls and grips our imagination,we are still too close to the pictureto perceive its full beauty andgrandeur. Real appreciation of itssignificance to ourselves and to the[5]world can come only with the years.When time grants it the justice ofperspective, the visit of the Frenchenvoys to our shores will be recognizedas one of the turning-points inour history. It will prove as epochalas the landing of the Pilgrims, asthe coming of Rochambeau, as theemancipation of the slaves. Meanwhilewe must not make the mistakeof looking on it as merely a picturesqueincident which afforded an excusefor processions and banquetsand addresses of welcome. It has afar deeper meaning; it means thatHistory, in writing the story of theAmerican people, has begun a newchapter.
Because