THE MOUNTAIl; TRAIL
STAFF
Editor-in-chicf Barak V/rlght
Asst. Editor.......Herbert Paul
Art Editor Malcolm Z.
Advertising Ilgr,... •Eugene. Potts
Asst. Adv. T.Igr Bud Thompson
Circulation Ilgr*. ... Jossic Potts
Humor Editor .Lolita Holt
Society Editor,. ... .llarian Horton
Local Hows Roportor..Barbara Z.
Asst. ITov/s Reporter, .Angola A.
C!la ss Reporters:
8th Grade Prances Crunkleton
9th Grade ..Maxic Y/right
loth Grade..Edna Phillips
11th Grado...^.narlo Heely
HORALE --ILIPORTANT?
Today in the present v;orld
struggle v;hich envelops the entire
world, the morale of r.; fighting
people is the direct key to vic
tory or dofea-t. The conditions
and feelings of the people play
a principle role in all major con
flicts. One of the enemies most
effective weapons, if succcssfull^-'
administered, is the destruction
of its opponent’s morale. The
demoralization of troops or their
countrymen at homo results in the
disintegration of its organizatior
and almost certain capitulation.
On the other hand, if the amed
forces and the people behind them
have a high moralo, their ability
to fight longer and v;ith a more
concerted effort is lifted to j
its maximum performance. i
In this v/ar which has been
r*aging for over two years,, one
can observe the decided influence
of morale on the course of fie
conflict. The bravest of men
at the front and a stout-hearted
population, vjiho develop a distrust
in capable military leaders and
who arc governed by a corrupt
government, cannot long with
stand a determined and united
enemy, although the forces be
equal in strength. On the re
verse side of the •picture, how
ever, a nation possessing a mil
itary personnel and the mass of
people who have complete faith
in their governmental sot-u'p and
military stratigists are, t6 a
great extent, invincible, pro
vided the forces are numerically
equal. Such a combination can
herald victories and withstand
their reverses v;ith renewed vigor.
Thus, morale is necessary to the
very basis of any government. Tho
primary objective of the ruling
power is to gain tho confidence
and support of its subjects. With
out those two factors which con
stitute morale any organization
that depends on its members for
its authority is invariably un
stable,
..,.Editor
WATCH, AMERICA
by Robert Nathan
’■/here tho northern ocean darkens,
Wliere the 'tolling rivers run.
Past the cold and empty headlands>
Toward the slov/ and western sun.
There'our fathers,long before us.
Armed with freedom,faced the deep;
'^Vhat they won with love and labor.
Let their children watch and keep*
By our dark and dreaming forests,
By our free a^nd shining skies>
By our green and ripening prairieg
^’ThevQ the western mountains rise;
God who gave bur fathers fre*edom,
God who made our fathers brave,
'/hat they built with love and
' anguish.
Let their child.ren watch and
save.