These spirits are hovering around, stimulating, inspiring the living to yet nobler deeds of heroism. Indomitable, incorruptible, they flock to the living who fight to the death, and every death brings forth another living soldier. America, sunk in materialism, now hearkens to the call of her forefathers. The spirit of Washington, Hamilton, Greene, Lafayette, Rochambeau, Lincoln, Sherman and Grant is calling us to the post of duty. The stern hand of fate has elevated us to a level from which we can see the great ideals we have forgotten—Honor, Patriotism, Equality. Those are the level foundation on which democracy rests,—not on wealth and inequality. We must stamp out materialism and save the soul of America. While we are making the world safe for democracy, let us make democracy safe for the world. While the soldier kills the German junker with the bullet the civilian must kill off the political and profiteering junker with the ballot. Instead of Safety First, we must place America First. CHAPTER XII THE 170TH FRENCH REGIMENT When we Americans went into the 170th, Seeger, Morlae, Narutz and others stayed with the 2nd Legion, which two weeks later was merged with the 1st Legion. Narutz remarked, in his philosophic manner, “The 170th is a regiment volante, always used in quick, double action work. Their specialty is bayonet attack. I am too old to go steeple chasing over barbed wire, in a ripped up country, with not one hundred yards of solid ground, then twenty yards of nothing, a 70 pound sack on my back, a two dollar thirst in my stomach and Boche machine guns in front. Believe me, the Legion is quite swift enough. I know what this is and will stick to what I have and am used to—what I have not had, I might not like.” Seeger, as usual, silent, mystic, indomitable, appeared not to listen. His thoughts were in the clouds. He had made up his mind to stay. That settled it—no explanation necessary. Of the Americans who changed, but three, Sergeant Capdeville, Sergeant Jacobs and Lieutenant Mulhauser remain. The Colonel, of that date, is now General Polalacelli. The 170th is a notable regiments. Time and again have its members been complimented by General Joffre. They are his children, his pride. Never were they called upon when they failed to make good. They have rushed into almost certain extermination and came out alive. Anointed with success, they fear nothing. They have charged into a cataclysm of destruction, which swallowed up whole companies, and returned with a battalion of German prisoners.