One of the sinews of war is money. Nations must raise vast sums to keep up armies. Soldiers must be fed and clothed, and given guns and bullets with which to defend themselves. If they have families at home, their families must be supported. The government of the United States does all this for the men in its army and navy. And the people of the United States stand back of the government to pay for these needs. Besides the government, certain private enterprises are aiding the soldiers, sailors, and all the victims of war abroad, as well as those needing aid at home for various reasons connected with the change that war brings. Only a certain percentage of our population may go overseas to fight, but to every American is given the opportunity of standing back of the lines and doing the part asked of him. CHAPTER VII REAR-LINE TRENCHES Back of the firing-lines of battle are other lines which must be held by the fighting nations, if a war is to be won. These lines, which may be called the rear-line trenches of conflict, are the means of supply by which the armies at the front are fed and clothed, and given ammunition, and cared for in every way that will make them better soldiers. It is on these lines that the civilian population of a nation gives help to the fighting men. It is in these trenches that the men, and women, and children of a country may do their part for the soldiers and sailors who have to go into the actual battles. Because the United States is a democracy, fighting in a great struggle for the principles of democracy, it follows that our country has enlisted the service of every American to win the war. There is no one in the nation who may not help, since every one may do something to give actual, immediate, necessary aid to the men at the front, and those who are on their way to the front. This aid has been given, and is being given, in many ways. Through food conservation, Liberty Loans, War Thrift and Savings Stamps and Certificates, the Red Cross, the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Young Men’s Hebrew Association, the Knights of Columbus, the Young Women’s Christian Association, and various other organizations which are working for the welfare of the soldiers, sailors, and marines, almost every person in the United States old enough to understand that the country is at war has helped toward the winning of the war. Some of these methods, such as food conservation, and the raising of money through Liberty Loans and the sale of War Thrift Stamps, have been used directly by the government. Others have been semi-private enterprises with governmental sanction. All of them have been for the purpose of helping the men who have been doing the actual fighting, so that every one in the nation who has done what he could for these causes has been fighting his country’s battles in the trenches back of the front. FOOD CONSERVATION