Socialist Debs Arrested; Ten-Year Sentence for Speaking Out.
A Soldier Turns Philosopher.
Special to The Great War Project
(25 June) Fatigue of the war is evident on both sides.
And much confusion – both military and political – during these days a century ago in the Great War.
In the British trenches.
According to one American soldier’s diary cited by historian Gary Mead, “it is now open warfare, movement being carried on irrespective of whether it is day or night. Our batteries line up in the open, firing with practically no concealment, the enemy planes are thick overhead. It is all like a great cinema, constantly changing, constantly moving. Cars, trucks, men, horses, aero-planes – all in a jumble.”
Observes historian Mead…
“At this stage in France, a German rout seemed complete, but this jubilation was premature.” The Germans regroup by the following day.
The doughboys “began to learn just how difficult it was,” writes Mead, “to turn the initial advantage gained by a surprise assault into a full-blown breakthrough.”
“On June 14 a century ago,” writes historian Martin Gilbert, “the French used mustard gas on an extensive scale for the first time.”
French soldiers protect from gas attack.
The Allies have not declined to use gas weapons before, but certainly not at the comparable level of their use by the Germans.
As for non-military developments, there was extensive use of propaganda – most of it false or exaggerated — on both sides.
An example: the former US ambassador to Germany writes a book called My Four Years in Germany. It is made into a movie and, according to historian Martin Gilbert, contains “gruesome scenes of German atrocities against Belgian prisoners-of-war.”
The only problem, those scenes were shot in New Jersey.
At this moment in the war, a fiery anti-war speech by socialist leader Eugene Debs leads to his arrest and — a ten-year prison sentence!
Firebrand Socialist Eugene Debs.
“The master class,” Debs roared during an appearance in Canton, Ohio, “has always declared the wars; the subject has always fought the battles. They have always taught and trained you to believe it to be your patriotic duty to go to war and to have yourselves slaughtered at their command.”
“If war is right,” Debs shouted, “let it be declared by the people.”
Within two weeks, according to historian Margaret Wagner, Debs was arrested and indicted under the Espionage and Sedition acts.
He would run for president on the socialist ticket in 1920 — from his prison cell.
Elseware away from the Western Front, the Germans are taking control. “In the East,” writes Gilbert, “the Germans continue to extend their dominance over large areas of the former Tsarist Empire. On June 12th they occupy the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi.
And by now, Germany has occupied virtually all of Ukraine.
A great test of strength – a monumental battle — is shaping up on the Italian Front.
Socialist anti-war poster.
Ludwig Wittgenstein is among the Austrian troops in action that day. After the battle, he is noted for his heroism and “exceptionally courageous behavior.” He receives the Austrian Gold Medal for Valor for saving three soldiers buried by artillery explosions.
Wittgenstein will survive the war and go on to make another mark as a world- famous philosopher.
Bless Eugene Debs. What a man.
PBS is re-broadcasting its 3-part series on WWI and in part 2, the arrest and imprisonment of Debs and many others was featured. Gotta love a good and enforced Sedition Act! Wilson… the man makes my blood boil.