ttle the glorious heroism of the Belgian nation because of a few
young slackers or the ingratitude and ill-manners of some ignorant
peasants, is an unworthy and despicable thing. The assertion that the
Belgians are lacking in courage is as untruthful as it is cruel. Ask
the Germans who charged up the fire-swept slopes of Liege--those of
them left alive--if the Belgians are cowards. Ask those who saw the
fields of Aerschot and Vilvorde and Termonde and Malines strewn with
Belgian dead. Go stand for a few days--and nights--beside the Belgians
who are holding those mud-filled trenches on the Yser. And remember
that the Belgians were fighting while the English were still only
talking about it. Nor forget that, had not their heroic resistance
given France a breathing-spell in which to complete her tardy
mobilization, the Germans would now, in all probability, be in Paris.
The truth is that the civilized world owes to the Belgians a debt
which it can never repay. We of America are honored to be counted
among their Allies.

FOOTNOTES:

[F] In order to keep pace with the steady improvement in range and
accuracy of anti-aircraft artillery, aviators have found it necessary
to operate at constantly increasing altitudes, so that it is now not
uncommon for aerial combats to be fought at a height of 20,000 feet.
Hence, many airplanes are now equipped with oxygen-bags for use in
the rarefied atmosphere of the higher levels. The aviators operating
on the Italian front experience such intense cold during the winter
months that a system has been evolved for heating their caps, gloves,
and boots by electricity generated by the motor.

[G] For an account of this, the longest-range bombardment in history,
see Mr. Powell's "Vive la France!"

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***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ITALY AT WAR AND THE ALLIES IN THE
WEST***

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