Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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( SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR America’s Part in the War Charlotte Wadsworth, ’20 (Prize Junior Theme. Head at Peace Assembly( UNDREDS of years from now, school- children all over the civilized world will be carefully memorizing the date, April ( . 11)17 ; that date which, to all of us means and has meant so much. We need not memorize it: we have lived it. It was very still in the great hall of Congress on that sixth of April, 11)17. Every available seat was filled. The galleries were crowded, the quiet was so intense il was almost visible as President Wilson read those momentous words, declaring war on Germany. Every possible effort had been put. forth vo keep this nation out of the war, but it had been of no avail, and we cast in our lot with the Allies, fighting to make the world “safe for democracy.” Ruthless submarine warfare was the ostensible reason for our entering the war, but underlying this reason, was the thought of what the possible defeat of the Allies might mean to the world. Even if there had been no submarine warfare, surely the terrible cruelties inflicted upon the people of Belgium by the Germans served to show the world what it might expect at the hands of Germany. Our allies were in an extremely dangerous po- sition at the time of America’s entrance into the war. Already the Germans had been within twenty miles of Paris during their first offensive. Now at the battle of Verdun, which gave birth to the famous watchword of the French, “Ils nepasseront pas!” (They shall not pass!), the Germans were checked. They did not pass, and Paris was saved. Again, in the second offensive, last spring, the Germans were advancing and still advancing. Again Paris was threatened. The French and British were so weary and worn out with fight- ing. it seemed as though the enemy would prevail. Then came Chateau-Thierry, often called the “Gettysburg of the world war.” On the south side of the river Marne, that spot so fatal to the Germans, the Americans were lined up. The gen- eral’s commands were to “Hold the line.” but they did more; they advanced and drove the enemy entirely from his position. Such has been the spirit of our troops. The American password has been as they go over the top. “Lusitania!” The Germans have come to know and fear that battle crv. The defeat of the Germans at Ohate'Au-Thierrv again saved Paris, but more than that, it taught the Germans that we were to be the decisive fac- tor in the world struggle. Clmteau-Thierry was the turning point of the war. From that time the Germans have been steadily retreating, until they were back to the Belgian fron- tier.. where, in 1014. they swarmed over the border and devastated that neutral country. Bel- gium’s brave King, Albert, has again taken pos- session of his throne, and the wonderful bravery and endurance of the Belgians during the terrible struggle, will never lx forgotten as long as the world exists. All the time, American troops were arriving, disembarking, arriving as though on schedule time, on French soil. The remarkable system in the carrying on of our part in the war is a model of efficiency. To- day there are two million men in France. These have been equipped, trained and sent across in one year and six months: surely a remarkable record for a nation so entirely unprepared for war as America in the spring of 11)17. Besides all this our allies have been supplied with food and munitions. Ship building has been a big fac- tor in winning the war. Germany, meanwhile, had been growing weaker and weaker. Revolts in the empire itself and food conditions, not to mention the decreasing man- power. made the officials in Germany realize that peace must be forthcoming and that it must be a “peace without victory” for them. Bulgaria soon laid down her arms, realizing that to fight longer were useless. Soon Turkey followed, and then Austria-Hungary. This was the final blow to Germany. Knowing herself defeated with her allies, what could she hope to do without them? On Ihe 8th dav of November, 1018, Germany asked for an armistice, and then followed one of the most dramatic scenes in all history. Picture it for a moment. Tt is the autumn of 1870. An onen carriage nasses along the road to Sedan. In it sits the French Emneror. worn with nain and suffering. Ho goes to surrender bis country to the Prussian King. Followed bv his staff , he enters the pres- ence of the Prussian ruler, who haughtily remains seated. “Sire, mv sword.” said the French Em- peror. as he drew his blade and presented the hilt. “I take it,” still arrogantly replied the Prussian King. The hauteur of that answer, the humiliation of the whole scene, burned into the very soul of one

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR The Past War (Prize Senior Theme. Read at Peace Assembly) Marjorie Fogg, ’19 OUR years tlie world lias been in tur- moil. Governments have been over- thrown, kings and queens deposed, and the entire earth has been thrown into chaos, because of the great de- sire of one empire to dominate the world. From the day of its initial action, the war has been.a struggle between the spirit of conquest and autocracy, and the spirit of liberty and jus- tice. It has been also a struggle between two races in opposition for twenty centuries, the Teu- tons and tlie Gallic Celts. One of the earliest histories states that the Teutons made their con- quests for the booty which they hoped to obtain; Celtic conquests were always made from the honor gained. Since that contrast was drawn, there has been no change in these two races. The Teutons have spent their time and energy in struggling for the subjugation of other peoples. Militarism and its utilities have been ever their principal industry. The richest person in Ger- many is the daughter of ICrupp, the owner of the well-known gun manufactory. Never did they lose sight of their major purpose, increased power and dominion. In 1898, Admiral Count von Goetzen. a close friend of the Kaiser, said to the American Ad- miral Dewey, “Approximately in fifteen years my country will begin liej' great war. We shall be in Paris in two months, but this will be only the first; step toward our real object, the overthrow of England. Everything must be done at the pre- cise moment, because we shall be fully in readi- ness. and our enemies will be unprepared.” Again in 1913, another confiant of the Kaiser said. “In order to have war with France, it is sufficient for Germany to let Austria attack Serbia.” Favor able opportunity only was lacking. They real- ized fully the truth of Rismark’s words. “War to be successful must be popular, and to lx? popu- lar the people must believe they are fighting on the defensive.” The needed opportunity came when on June 28. 1914, the Austrian heir-apparent. Archduke Fran- cis Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated at Sarajevo, the capital of Rosnia. Accusing Serbia of the crime. Austria-Hungary at once sent an ultimatum to Serbia, containing ten articles, only four of which related to the assassination, the remainder relating to matters of government, and if accepted would have placed Serbia under Aus- trian control. Only forty-eight hours were al- lowed for reply. Serbia sent her reply within a few minutes of the time set, accepting all the ten points, save one,—her own sovereignty, and offer ing to submit that point to the Hague Tribunal. Without further arbitration. Austria declared war on Serbia. In the pathway of Germany’s advance upon France, lay a little country, small in area, of less than eight million population, Belgium, insigni cant, unimportant, yet since 1S39, neutral and in- dependent by agreement of the great powers of Europe. Speaking of the German army entering Belgian territory the German Chancellor said in 1914. “For us to enter Belgian territory is a vio- lation of international law, but we are now in a state of necessity, and necessity knows no law.” The world knows and will not forget the story. They entered Belgium, and they met with what neither they nor the world believed possible, stub- horn resistance. On August 3, 1914, in reply to France’s answer that she would stand by her agreement to ob- serve the neutrality of Belgium, Germany de- clared war upon France. The following day, Au- gust 5, England, learning that Germany had vio- lated the neutrality of Belgium, declared war upon Germany: and while brave little Belgium fought and suffered and died, though almost ob- literated. she yet held back the German hordes, and France ami Great Britain made ready for the awful fighting that was to follow. France was invaded, the Germans in triumph pushed on. French and English retreating, re treating, until they reached the Marne, until the order flashed up and down the lines, “Halt!” We know the battle that followed! The name of the battle of the Marne is added to the list of decisive battles of the world. At the Marne France saved herself and Europe. The years 1915 and 1910 saw continuous fight- ing. a new ally, Italy, joined the Entente, notable victories were won at Verdun, on the Somme, in Galicia, in Italy, against the foes of sea and air: but ever little by little the enemy gained, and men feared. The Allies, brave and steadfast, though gaunt and grim from all they had dared and done, looked ever across the great waters, if haply the light of Hope might illumine the west- ern sky, and America come to join them.

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR of the young French officers of the Emperor’s staff. He never forgot. It is November 11th. 1918. Not far from Sedan, three motor cars, bearing the white flag of truce, advance to the cross roads. They contain the German delegation asking for peace. Received by French officers of the staff, they are taken into the presence of a small, silver-haired man who, tense and quiet, asks: “Your wish, gentlemen ?” “We have come. Monsieur,” said the German spokesman, “to arrange an armistice.” And then the terms are read to them by this same tense, but very quiet general in command: read with no exaltation nor hope of vain triumph- ing, but down deep in his heart he remembered another surrender when his emperor had stood among the vanquished, for the young officer, hard- ly more than a boy, who had been present when the crushing terms of defeat had been imposed on his country, and the general who received the Ger- man surrender are one and the same. Marshal Focli, generalissimo of the Allied armies. Peace has come at last to the world, after four years of the most terrible conflict it has ever known. Now comes the great problem of reconstruction, all the greater in this war than in any other, be- cause monarchies have been overthrown, people are in revolt, and the world in general is in chaos. Let us go forward to meet these great problems with confidence, but not with boastfulness, with hatred of the wrong, but with loyalty and devo- tion to the right, with absolute belief that a gov- ernment of the people, for the people and by the people shall not perish from the earth. It is done. In the circuit of the sun. Shall the sound thereof go forth. It shall bid the sad rejoice. It shall give the dumb a voice. It shall belt with joy the earth. Good and Bad Magazines John Avery, ’19 lishing at present an account of the life in the Magazines are published, as a general rule, for the pleasure of their readers. Those that accom- plish their object by well-written, clean stories and articles, and an occasional poem, may be called good magazines. They are of different types. Some, such as the National Geographic, are purely to educate. The Saturday Evening Post is an example of the entertaining type. The World’s Work treats mainly of contemporary his- tory, while Scribner’s and Harper’s combine the many ways of satisfying their readers. The Scientific American is of a type that caters to specialists. The Atlantic Monthly is an example of high literary attainment. These better magazines set a high standard for themselves which is never lowered. Thus when you pick up a copy of any one of them, you know beforehand the satisfaction it will give you. Their stories are of a high order, usually by well- known writers, and they never fail to please. The articles are written by men who know their subjects. For example, the World’s Work is pub- Turkish capital during the war, by ex-Ambas- sador Morgen than. Likewise, every article in the National Geographic is by an expert. The excellence of these good magazines makes them an influence for good in the inner life of the republic. They have become a national institu- tion and as such hold an important position. In sharp contrast to these magazines are their cheaper contemporaries, which flourish at every newsstand. Their gaudy covers betray the con- tents before they are opened. They contain noth- ing of real worth, but are devoted to cheap fiction. Their stories are unoriginal, but highly adven- turesome or improbable. A fairly lenient cen- sor would criticise freely their loose, immoral con- tents. Some of these magazines, most of them, in fact, such as Cosmopolitan, Hearst’s, etc., only sell because of the “risque” character of their con- tents. These are truly bad magazines, but as long as the public fosters them, they will survive, though debarred from the best public libraries, among which we are proud to name that of Som- erville. and from the best homes.