COAST ARTILLERY, JOURNAL - Air Defense Artillery

OPERATION OF NOVEMBER 14, 1918 555
It was natural that, after four years of superhuman struggles, the
vision of peace, which the entire world desired, would influence all
minds towards its speedy realization. And now that our territory had
been almost completely evacuated, it seemed that the fighting should
cease.
In Germany, however, where the humiliations and disasters caused
by foreign invasion were never known, the legend, skillfully elaborated
upon, of the invincibility of her armies was received very favorably,
and the latter marched under triumphal arches in the cities through
which they passed. It only took a few days for the German pride,
which we thought had been humbled on the eleventh of November,
proudly to come to life again, while we bitterly regretted our misunderstood
generosity.
The laws of war demand the prolongation of the struggle only
until the defeat of the enemy and do not permit the interference of
sentimental questions, no matter how noble and humane they may be,
when irreversible and supreme decisions are to be taken.
The Future, as supreme judge, will tell us whether or not we made
a fatal mistake in having failed to apply this law rigorously and
implacably .
.'----.---.-----.--.---.- ..--1
We precipitously enter war without thought of
cost, and then we proceed to figure expense with.
out thought of war. We cannot expect to stand
even partially ready for the sure maintenance of
our ideals without paying for that readiness, and
obligations demand that we stand ready. The
glamour of the victory should not dull the recollection
of its tremendous cost.-Gen. John J.
Pershing •
....=================15
r_ ..