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diff --git a/15478-8.txt b/15478-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5dcace5 --- /dev/null +++ b/15478-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13876 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, New York Times Current History: The European +War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915, by Various + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915 + April-September, 1915 + + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 27, 2005 [eBook #15478] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT HISTORY: +THE EUROPEAN WAR, VOL 2, NO. 1, APRIL, 1915*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Linda Cantoni, Joshua Hutchinson, +and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 15478-h.htm or 15478-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/4/7/15478/15478-h/15478-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/4/7/15478/15478-h.zip) + + + + + +The New York Times + +CURRENT HISTORY + +A Monthly Magazine + +THE EUROPEAN WAR, VOLUME II + +April, 1915-September, 1915 + +With Index + +Number I, April 1915 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: [logo] THE N.Y. TIMES] + + + +New York +The New York Times Company + +1915 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +NUMBER I. APRIL, 1915. + + Page + +GERMANY'S WAR ZONE AND NEUTRAL FLAGS 1 + The German Decree and Interchange of Notes + +GERMANY'S SUBMARINE WAR (With Map) 20 + +GERMAN PEOPLE NOT BLINDED 22 + By Karl Lamprecht + +REVEILLE 24 + By John Galsworthy + +CAN GERMANY BE STARVED OUT? 25 + An Answer by Sixteen German Specialists + +HOCH DER KAISER (Poem) 28 + By George Davies + +THE SUBMARINE OF 1578 29 + +THE TORPEDO (Poem) 30 + By Katherine D.M. Simons, Jr. + +"GOD PUNISH ENGLAND, BROTHER" 31 + A New Hymn of Germany's Gospel of Hatred + +THE GREAT HOUR (Poem) 32 + By Hermann Sudermann + +THE PEACE OF THE WORLD 33 + By H.G. Wells + +ZEPPELIN RAIDS ON LONDON (With Map) 46 + By the Naval Correspondent of The London Times + +JULIUS CAESAR ON THE AISNE 48 + +SIR JOHN FRENCH'S OWN STORY (With Map) 49 + Continuing the Famous Dispatches of the British Commander + +THE CATHEDRAL OF RHEIMS 60 + By Emile Verhaeren + +MUSIC OF WAR 61 + By Rudyard Kipling + +AMERICA AND A NEW WORLD STATE 63 + By Norman Angell + +SIR CHRISTOPHER CRADOCK (Poem) 84 + By John E. Dolson + +BATTLE OF THE SUEZ CANAL (With Map) 85 + First-hand Account of the Turkish Invasion + +A FULL-FLEDGED SOCIALIST STATE 89 + By J. Laurence Laughlin + +LETTERS FROM WIVES 92 + +"WAR CHILDREN" 92 + +NO PREMATURE PEACE FOR RUSSIA 93 + Proceedings at Opening of the Duma, Feb. 9 + +TO THE VICTOR BELONG THE SPOILS (Poem) 96 + By Madeleine Lucette Ryley + +LESSONS OF THE WAR TO MARCH NINTH 97 + By Charles W. Eliot + +BELGIUM'S KING AND QUEEN 100 + By Paul Hervieu + +THE EUROPEAN WAR AS SEEN BY CARTOONISTS 101 + +THE CHANCES OF PEACE AND THE PROBLEM OF POLAND (With Map) 123 + By J. Ellis Barker + +THE REDEMPTION OF EUROPE (Poem) 128 + By Alfred Noyes + +GERMANY WILL END THE WAR 129 + By Maximilian Harden + +LOUVAIN'S NEW STREETS 133 + +THE STATE OF HOLLAND 134 + By Hendrik Willem van Loon + +HUNGARY AFTER THE WAR (With Map) 137 + By a Correspondent of The London Times + +THE WATCHERS OF THE TROAD (Poem) 139 + By Harry Lyman Koopman + +THE UNION OF CENTRAL EUROPE 140 + By Franz von Liszt + +TWO POOR LITTLE BELGIAN FLEDGLINGS 143 + By Pierre Loti + +WHAT THE GERMANS DESIRE 144 + By Gustaf Sioesteen + +ADDRESS TO KING ALBERT OF BELGIUM 147 + By Emile Verhaeren + +FORESHADOWING A NEW PHASE OF WAR 148 + By Lloyd George, British Chancellor of the Exchequer + +BRITAIN'S UNSHEATHED SWORD 153 + By H.H. Asquith, England's Prime Minister + +SWEDEN'S SCANDINAVIAN LEADERSHIP (With Map) 160 + By a Swedish Political Expert + +FROM ENGLAND (Poem) 164 + By Maurice Hewlett + +WAR CORRESPONDENCE 165 + +THE DRAGON'S TEETH (Poem) 181 + By Caroline Duer + +THE GREATEST OF CAMPAIGNS (With Map) 182 + The French Official Account + +BY THE NORTH SEA (Poem) 185 + By W.L. Courtney + +WHEN MARTHE CHENAL SANG THE "MARSEILLAISE" 187 + By Wythe Williams + +A WAR OF COMMERCE TO FOLLOW 189 + By Sir William Ramsay + +BELGIUM (Poem) 192 + By Edith Wharton + +DESIRED PEACE TERMS FOR EUROPE 193 + By Proponents for the Allies and for Germany + +THE BRITISH VOLUNTEERS (Poem) 195 + By Katherine D.M. Simons, Jr. + +CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR 196 + + +[Illustration: H.M. HUSSEIN KEMAL + +The New Sultan of Egypt, Which Was Recently Declared a British +Protectorate] + +[Illustration: THE RUSSIAN ROYAL FAMILY + +The Children of the Czar Have Inherited the Regal Beauty of Their Mother + +(Photo from Paul Thompson)] + + + + +The New York Times + +CURRENT HISTORY + +A MONTHLY MAGAZINE + +THE EUROPEAN WAR + +APRIL, 1915 + + + + +Germany's War Zone and Neutral Flags + +The German Decree and Interchange of Notes Answering American Protests +to Germany and Britain + + +_BERLIN, Feb. 4, (by wireless to Sayville, L.I.)--The German +Admiralty today issued the following communication:_ + +The waters around Great Britain and Ireland, including the whole English +Channel, are declared a war zone on and after Feb. 18, 1915. + +Every enemy merchant ship found in this war zone will be destroyed, even +if it is impossible to avert dangers which threaten the crew and +passengers. + +Also neutral ships in the war zone are in danger, as in consequence of +the misuse of neutral flags ordered by the British Government on Jan. +31, and in view of the hazards of naval warfare, it cannot always be +avoided that attacks meant for enemy ships endanger neutral ships. + +Shipping northward, around the Shetland Islands, in the eastern basin of +the North Sea, and a strip of at least thirty nautical miles in breadth +along the Dutch coast, is endangered in the same way. + + +AMERICAN NOTE TO GERMANY. + +Feb. 10, 1915. + +_The Secretary of State has instructed Ambassador Gerard at Berlin to +present to the German Government a note to the following effect:_ + +The Government of the United States, having had its attention directed +to the proclamation of the German Admiralty, issued on the 4th of +February, that the waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland, +including the whole of the English Channel, are to be considered as +comprised within the seat of war; that all enemy merchant vessels found +in those waters after the 18th inst. will be destroyed, although it may +not always be possible to save crews and passengers; and that neutral +vessels expose themselves to danger within this zone of war because, in +view of the misuse of neutral flags said to have been ordered by the +British Government on the 31st of January and of the contingencies of +maritime warfare, it may not be possible always to exempt neutral +vessels from attacks intended to strike enemy ships, feels it to be its +duty to call the attention of the Imperial German Government, with +sincere respect and the most friendly sentiments, but very candidly and +earnestly, to the very serious possibilities of the course of action +apparently contemplated under that proclamation. + +The Government of the United States views those possibilities with such +grave concern that it feels it to be its privilege, and, indeed, its +duty, in the circumstances to request the Imperial German Government to +consider before action is taken the critical situation in respect of the +relation between this country and Germany which might arise were the +German naval forces, in carrying out the policy foreshadowed in the +Admiralty's proclamation, to destroy any merchant vessel of the United +States or cause the death of American citizens. + +It is, of course, not necessary to remind the German Government that the +sole right of a belligerent in dealing with neutral vessels on the high +seas is limited to visit and search, unless a blockade is proclaimed and +effectively maintained, which this Government does not understand to be +proposed in this case. To declare or exercise a right to attack and +destroy any vessel entering a prescribed area of the high seas without +first certainly determining its belligerent nationality and the +contraband character of its cargo would be an act so unprecedented in +naval warfare that this Government is reluctant to believe that the +Imperial Government of Germany in this case contemplates it as possible. + +The suspicion that enemy ships are using neutral flags improperly can +create no just presumption that all ships traversing a prescribed area +are subject to the same suspicion. It is to determine exactly such +questions that this Government understands the right of visit and search +to have been recognized. + +This Government has carefully noted the explanatory statement issued by +the Imperial German Government at the same time with the proclamation of +the German Admiralty, and takes this occasion to remind the Imperial +German Government very respectfully that the Government of the United +States is open to none of the criticisms for unneutral action to which +the German Government believes the Governments of certain other neutral +nations have laid themselves open; that the Government of the United +States has not consented to or acquiesced in any measures which may have +been taken by the other belligerent nations in the present war which +operate to restrain neutral trade, but has, on the contrary, taken in +all such matters a position which warrants it in holding those +Governments responsible in the proper way for any untoward effects on +American shipping which the accepted principles of international law do +not justify; and that it, therefore, regards itself as free in the +present instance to take with a clear conscience and upon accepted +principles the position indicated in this note. + +If the commanders of German vessels of war should act upon the +presumption that the flag of the United States was not being used in +good faith and should destroy on the high seas an American vessel or the +lives of American citizens, it would be difficult for the Government of +the United States to view the act in any other light than as an +indefensible violation of neutral rights, which it would be very hard, +indeed, to reconcile with the friendly relations now happily subsisting +between the two Governments. + +If such a deplorable situation should arise, the Imperial German +Government can readily appreciate that the Government of the United +States would be constrained to hold the Imperial Government of Germany +to a strict accountability for such acts of their naval authorities, and +to take any steps it might be necessary to take to safeguard American +lives and property and to secure to American citizens the full enjoyment +of their acknowledged rights on the high seas. + +The Government of the United States, in view of these considerations, +which it urges with the greatest respect and with the sincere purpose of +making sure that no misunderstandings may arise, and no circumstances +occur, that might even cloud the intercourse of the two Governments, +expresses the confident hope and expectation that the Imperial German +Government can and will give assurance that American citizens and their +vessels will not be molested by the naval forces of Germany otherwise +than by visit and search, though their vessels may be traversing the sea +area delimited in the proclamation of the German Admiralty. It is stated +for the information of the Imperial Government that representations have +been made to his Britannic Majesty's Government in respect to the +unwarranted use of the American flag for the protection of British +ships. + + +AMERICAN NOTE TO ENGLAND. + +Feb. 10, 1915. + +_The Secretary of State has instructed Ambassador Page at London to +present to the British Government a note to the following effect:_ + +The department has been advised of the declaration of the German +Admiralty on Feb. 4, indicating that the British Government had on Jan. +31 explicitly authorized the use of neutral flags on British merchant +vessels, presumably for the purpose of avoiding recognition by German +naval forces. The department's attention has also been directed to +reports in the press that the Captain of the Lusitania, acting upon +orders or information received from the British authorities, raised the +American flag as his vessel approached the British coasts, in order to +escape anticipated attacks by German submarines. Today's press reports +also contain an alleged official statement of the Foreign Office +defending the use of the flag of a neutral country by a belligerent +vessel in order to escape capture or attack by an enemy. + +Assuming that the foregoing reports are true, the Government of the +United States, reserving for future consideration the legality and +propriety of the deceptive use of the flag of a neutral power in any +case for the purpose of avoiding capture, desires very respectfully to +point out to his Britannic Majesty's Government the serious consequences +which may result to American vessels and American citizens if this +practice is continued. + +The occasional use of the flag of a neutral or an enemy under the stress +of immediate pursuit and to deceive an approaching enemy, which appears +by the press reports to be represented as the precedent and +justification used to support this action, seems to this Government a +very different thing from an explicit sanction by a belligerent +Government for its merchant ships generally to fly the flag of a neutral +power within certain portions of the high seas which are presumed to be +frequented with hostile warships. The formal declaration of such a +policy of general misuse of a neutral's flag jeopardizes the vessels of +the neutral visiting those waters in a peculiar degree by raising the +presumption that they are of belligerent nationality regardless of the +flag which they may carry. + +In view of the announced purpose of the German Admiralty to engage in +active naval operations in certain delimited sea areas adjacent to the +coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, the Government of the United States +would view with anxious solicitude any general use of the flag of the +United States by British vessels traversing those waters. A policy such +as the one which his Majesty's Government is said to intend to adopt +would, if the declaration of the German Admiralty be put in force, it +seems clear, afford no protection to British vessels, while it would be +a serious and constant menace to the lives and vessels of American +citizens. + +The Government of the United States, therefore, trusts that his +Majesty's Government will do all in their power to restrain vessels of +British nationality in the deceptive use of the United States flag in +the sea area defined by the German declaration, since such practice +would greatly endanger the vessels of a friendly power navigating those +waters and would even seem to impose upon the Government of Great +Britain a measure of responsibility for the loss of American lives and +vessels in case of an attack by a German naval force. + +You will impress upon his Majesty's Government the grave concern which +this Government feels in the circumstances in regard to the safety of +American vessels and lives in the war zone declared by the German +Admiralty. + +You may add that this Government is making earnest representations to +the German Government in regard to the danger to American vessels and +citizens if the declaration of the German Admiralty is put into effect. + + +GERMANY'S ANSWER. + +_BERLIN, (via London,) Feb. 18.--German Government's reply to the +American note follows:_ + +The Imperial Government has examined the communication from the United +States Government in the same spirit of good-will and friendship by +which the communication appears to have been dictated. The Imperial +Government is in accord with the United States Government that for both +parties it is in a high degree desirable to avoid misunderstandings +which might arise from measures announced by the German Admiralty and to +provide against the occurrence of incidents which might trouble the +friendly relations which so far happily exist between the two +Governments. + +With regard to the assuring of these friendly relations, the German +Government believes that it may all the more reckon on a full +understanding with the United States, as the procedure announced by the +German Admiralty, which was fully explained in the note of the 4th +inst., is in no way directed against legitimate commerce and legitimate +shipping of neutrals, but represents solely a measure of self-defense, +imposed on Germany by her vital interests, against England's method of +warfare, which is contrary to international law, and which so far no +protest by neutrals has succeeded in bringing back to the generally +recognized principles of law as existing before the outbreak of war. + +In order to exclude all doubt regarding these cardinal points, the +German Government once more begs leave to state how things stand. Until +now Germany has scrupulously observed valid international rules +regarding naval warfare. At the very beginning of the war Germany +immediately agreed to the proposal of the American Government to ratify +the new Declaration of London, and took over its contents unaltered, and +without formal obligation, into her prize law. + +The German Government has obeyed these rules, even when they were +diametrically opposed to her military interests. For instance, Germany +allowed the transportation of provisions to England from Denmark until +today, though she was well able, by her sea forces, to prevent it. In +contradistinction to this attitude, England has not even hesitated at a +second infringement of international law, if by such means she could +paralyze the peaceful commerce of Germany with neutrals. The German +Government will be the less obliged to enter into details, as these are +put down sufficiently, though not exhaustively, in the American note to +the British Government dated Dec. 29, as a result of five months' +experience. + +All these encroachments have been made, as has been admitted, in order +to cut off all supplies from Germany and thereby starve her peaceful +civil population--a procedure contrary to all humanitarian principles. +Neutrals have been unable to prevent the interruption of their commerce +with Germany, which is contrary to international laws. + +The American Government, as Germany readily acknowledges, has protested +against the British procedure. In spite of these protests and protests +from other neutral States, Great Britain could not be induced to depart +from the course of action she had decided upon. Thus, for instance, the +American ship Wilhelmina recently was stopped by the British, although +her cargo was destined solely for the German civil population, and, +according to the express declaration of the German Government, was to be +employed only for this purpose. + +Germany is as good as cut off from her overseas supply by the silent or +protesting toleration of neutrals, not only in regard to such goods as +are absolute contraband, but also in regard to such as, according to +acknowledged law before the war, are only conditional contraband or not +contraband at all. Great Britain, on the other hand, is, with the +toleration of neutral Governments, not only supplied with such goods as +are not contraband or only conditional contraband, but with goods which +are regarded by Great Britain, if sent to Germany, as absolute +contraband, namely, provisions, industrial raw materials, &c., and even +with goods which have always indubitably been regarded as absolute +contraband. + +The German Government feels itself obliged to point out with the +greatest emphasis that a traffic in arms, estimated at many hundreds of +millions, is being carried on between American firms and Germany's +enemies. Germany fully comprehends that the practice of right and the +toleration of wrong on the part of neutrals are matters absolutely at +the discretion of neutrals, and involve no formal violation of +neutrality. Germany, therefore, did not complain of any formal violation +of neutrality, but the German Government, in view of complete evidence +before it, cannot help pointing out that it, together with the entire +public opinion of Germany, feels itself to be severely prejudiced by the +fact that neutrals, in safeguarding their rights in legitimate commerce +with Germany according to international law, have up to the present +achieved no, or only insignificant, results, while they are making +unlimited use of their right by carrying on contraband traffic with +Great Britain and our other enemies. + +If it is a formal right of neutrals to take no steps to protect their +legitimate trade with Germany, and even to allow themselves to be +influenced in the direction of the conscious and willful restriction of +their trade, on the other hand, they have the perfect right, which they +unfortunately do not exercise, to cease contraband trade, especially in +arms, with Germany's enemies. + +In view of this situation, Germany, after six months of patient +waiting, sees herself obliged to answer Great Britain's murderous method +of naval warfare with sharp counter-measures. If Great Britain in her +fight against Germany summons hunger as an ally, for the purpose of +imposing upon a civilized people of 70,000,000 the choice between +destitution and starvation or submission to Great Britain's commercial +will, then Germany today is determined to take up the gauntlet and +appeal to similar allies. + +Germany trusts that the neutrals, who so far have submitted to the +disadvantageous consequences of Great Britain's hunger war in silence, +or merely in registering a protest, will display toward Germany no +smaller measure of toleration, even if German measures, like those of +Great Britain, present new terrors of naval warfare. + +Moreover, the German Government is resolved to suppress with all the +means at its disposal the importation of war material to Great Britain +and her allies, and she takes it for granted that neutral Governments, +which so far have taken no steps against the traffic in arms with +Germany's enemies, will not oppose forcible suppression by Germany of +this trade. + +Acting from this point of view, the German Admiralty proclaimed a naval +war zone, whose limits it exactly defined. Germany, so far as possible, +will seek to close this war zone with mines, and will also endeavor to +destroy hostile merchant vessels in every other way. While the German +Government, in taking action based upon this overpowering point of view, +keeps itself far removed from all intentional destruction of neutral +lives and property, on the other hand, it does not fail to recognize +that from the action to be taken against Great Britain dangers arise +which threaten all trade within the war zone, without distinction. This +a natural result of mine warfare, which, even under the strictest +observance of the limits of international law, endangers every ship +approaching the mine area. The German Government considers itself +entitled to hope that all neutrals will acquiesce in these measures, as +they have done in the case of the grievous damages inflicted upon them +by British measures, all the more so as Germany is resolved, for the +protection of neutral shipping even in the naval war zone, to do +everything which is at all compatible with the attainment of this +object. + +In view of the fact that Germany gave the first proof of her good-will +in fixing a time limit of not less than fourteen days before the +execution of said measures, so that neutral shipping might have an +opportunity of making arrangements to avoid threatening danger, this can +most surely be achieved by remaining away from the naval war zone. +Neutral vessels which, despite this ample notice, which greatly affects +the achievement of our aims in our war against Great Britain, enter +these closed waters will themselves bear the responsibility for any +unfortunate accidents that may occur. Germany disclaims all +responsibility for such accidents and their consequences. + +Germany has further expressly announced the destruction of all enemy +merchant vessels found within the war zone, but not the destruction of +all merchant vessels, as the United States seems erroneously to have +understood. This restriction which Germany imposes upon itself is +prejudicial to the aim of our warfare, especially as in the application +of the conception of contraband practiced by Great Britain toward +Germany--which conception will now also be similarly interpreted by +Germany--the presumption will be that neutral ships have contraband +aboard. Germany naturally is unwilling to renounce its rights to +ascertain the presence of contraband in neutral vessels, and in certain +cases to draw conclusions therefrom. + +Germany is ready, finally, to deliberate with the United States +concerning any measures which might secure the safety of legitimate +shipping of neutrals in the war zone. Germany cannot, however, forbear +to point out that all its efforts in this direction may be rendered very +difficult by two circumstances: First, the misuse of neutral flags by +British merchant vessels, which is indubitably known to the United +States; second, the contraband trade already mentioned, especially in +war materials, on neutral vessels. + +Regarding the latter point, Germany would fain hope that the United +States, after further consideration, will come to a conclusion +corresponding to the spirit of real neutrality. Regarding the first +point, the secret order of the British Admiralty, recommending to +British merchant ships the use of neutral flags, has been communicated +by Germany to the United States and confirmed by communication with the +British Foreign Office, which designates this procedure as entirely +unobjectionable and in accordance with British law. British merchant +shipping immediately followed this advice, as doubtless is known to the +American Government from the incidents of the Lusitania and the Laertes. + +Moreover, the British Government has supplied arms to British merchant +ships and instructed them forcibly to resist German submarines. In these +circumstances, it would be very difficult for submarines to recognize +neutral merchant ships, for search in most cases cannot be undertaken, +seeing that in the case of a disguised British ship from which an attack +may be expected the searching party and the submarine would be exposed +to destruction. + +Great Britain, then, was in a position to make the German measures +illusory if the British merchant fleet persisted in the misuse of +neutral flags and neutral ships could not otherwise be recognized beyond +doubt. Germany, however, being in a state of necessity, wherein she was +placed by violation of law, must render effective her measures in all +circumstances, in order thereby to compel her adversary to adopt methods +of warfare corresponding with international law, and so to restore the +freedom of the seas, of which Germany at all times is the defender and +for which she today is fighting. + +Germany therefore rejoices that the United States has made +representations to Great Britain concerning the illegal use of their +flag, and expresses the expectation that this procedure will force +Great Britain to respect the American flag in the future. In this +expectation, commanders of German submarines have been instructed, as +already mentioned in the note of Feb. 4, to refrain from violent action +against American merchant vessels, so far as these can be recognized. + +In order to prevent in the surest manner the consequences of +confusion--though naturally not so far as mines are concerned--Germany +recommends that the United States make its ships which are conveying +peaceful cargoes through the British war zone discernible by means of +convoys. + +Germany believes it may act on the supposition that only such ships +would be convoyed as carried goods not regarded as contraband according +to the British interpretation made in the case of Germany. + +How this method of convoy can be carried out is a question concerning +which Germany is ready to open negotiations with the United States as +soon as possible. Germany would be particularly grateful, however, if +the United States would urgently recommend to its merchant vessels to +avoid the British naval war zone, in any case until the settlement of +the flag question. Germany is inclined to the confident hope that the +United States will be able to appreciate in its entire significance the +heavy battle which Germany is waging for existence, and that from the +foregoing explanations and promises it will acquire full understanding +of the motives and the aims of the measures announced by Germany. + +Germany repeats that it has now resolved upon the projected measures +only under the strongest necessity of national self-defense, such +measures having been deferred out of consideration for neutrals. + +If the United States, in view of the weight which it is justified in +throwing and able to throw into the scales of the fate of peoples, +should succeed at the last moment in removing the grounds which make +that procedure an obligatory duty for Germany, and if the American +Government, in particular, should find a way to make the Declaration of +London respected--on behalf, also, of those powers which are fighting on +Germany's side--and there by make possible for Germany legitimate +importation of the necessaries of life and industrial raw material, then +the German Government could not too highly appreciate such a service, +rendered in the interests of humane methods of warfare, and would gladly +draw conclusions from the new situation. + + +BRITAIN'S ANSWER. + +_LONDON, Feb. 19.--The full text of Great Britain's note regarding the +flag, as handed to the American Ambassador, follows:_ + +The memorandum communicated on the 11th of February calls attention in +courteous and friendly terms to the action of the Captain of the British +steamer Lusitania in raising the flag of the United States of America +when approaching British waters, and says that the Government of the +United States feels certain anxiety in considering the possibility of +any general use of the flag of the United States by British vessels +traversing those waters, since the effect of such a policy might be to +bring about a menace to the lives and vessels of United States citizens. + +It was understood that the German Government announced their intention +of sinking British merchant vessels at sight by torpedoes, without +giving any opportunity of making any provision for the saving of the +lives of non-combatant crews and passengers. It was in consequence of +this threat that the Lusitania raised the United States flag on her +inward voyage. + +On her subsequent outward voyage a request was made by United States +passengers, who were embarking on board of her, that the United States +flag should be hoisted presumably to insure their safety. Meanwhile, the +memorandum from your Excellency had been received. His Majesty's +Government did not give any advice to the company as to how to meet this +request, and it understood that the Lusitania left Liverpool under the +British flag. + +It seems unnecessary to say more as regards the Lusitania in particular. + +In regard to the use of foreign flags by merchant vessels, the British +Merchant Shipping act makes it clear that the use of the British flag by +foreign merchant vessels is permitted in time of war for the purpose of +escaping capture. It is believed that in the case of some other nations +there is similar recognition of the same practice with regard to their +flag, and that none of them has forbidden it. + +It would, therefore, be unreasonable to expect his Majesty's Government +to pass legislation forbidding the use of foreign flags by British +merchant vessels to avoid capture by the enemy, now that the German +Government have announced their intention to sink merchant vessels at +sight with their non-combatant crews, cargoes, and papers, a proceeding +hitherto regarded by the opinion of the world not as war, but piracy. + +It is felt that the United States Government could not fairly ask the +British Government to order British merchant vessels to forgo a means, +always hitherto permitted, of escaping not only capture but the much +worse fate of sinking and destruction. + +Great Britain always has, when a neutral, accorded to vessels of other +States at war the liberty to use the British flag as a means of +protection against capture, and instances are on record when United +States vessels availed themselves of this facility during the American +civil war. It would be contrary to fair expectation if now, when +conditions are reversed, the United States and neutral nations were to +grudge to British ships the liberty to take similar action. + +The British Government have no intention of advising their merchant +shipping to use foreign flags as a general practice or to resort to them +otherwise than for escaping capture or destruction. The obligation upon +a belligerent warship to ascertain definitely for itself the nationality +and character of a merchant vessel before capturing it, and a fortiori +before sinking and destroying it, has been universally recognized. + +If that obligation is fulfilled, the hoisting of a neutral flag on board +a British vessel cannot possibly endanger neutral shipping, and the +British Government holds that if loss to neutrals is caused by disregard +of this obligation it is upon the enemy vessel disregarding it and upon +the Government giving the orders that it should be disregarded that the +sole responsibility for injury to neutrals ought to rest. + + +ALLIES' DECLARATION OF REPRISALS. + +_LONDON, March 1.--Following is the text of the statement read by +Premier Asquith in the House of Commons today and communicated at the +same time to the neutral powers in their capitals as an outline of the +Allies' policy of retaliation against Germany for her "war zone" +decree:_ + +Germany has declared the English Channel, the north and west coasts of +France, and the waters around the British Isles a war area, and has +officially given notice that all enemy ships found in that area will be +destroyed, and that neutral vessels may be exposed to danger. + +This is, in effect, a claim to torpedo at sight, without regard to the +safety of the crew or passengers, any merchant vessel under any flag. As +it is not in the power of the German Admiralty to maintain any surface +craft in these waters, the attack can only be delivered by submarine +agency. + +The law and customs of nations in regard to attacks on commerce have +always presumed that the first duty of the captor of a merchant vessel +is bringing it before a prize court, where it may be tried and where +regularities of the capture may be challenged, and where neutrals may +recover their cargo. + +The sinking of prizes is, in itself, a questionable act, to be resorted +to only in extraordinary circumstances, and after provision has been +made for the safety of all crews and passengers. + +The responsibility of discriminating between neutral and enemy vessels +and between neutral and enemy cargoes obviously rests with the attacking +ship, whose duty it is to verify the status and character of the vessel +and cargo, and to preserve all papers before sinking or capturing the +ship. So, also, the humane duty to provide for the safety of crews of +merchant vessels, whether neutral or enemy, is an obligation on every +belligerent. + +It is upon this basis that all previous discussions of law for +regulating warfare have proceeded. The German submarine fulfills none of +these obligations. She enjoys no local command of the waters wherein she +operates. She does not take her captures within the jurisdiction of a +prize court. She carries no prize crew which can be put aboard prizes +which she seizes. She uses no effective means of discriminating between +neutral and enemy vessels. She does not receive on board for safety the +crew of the vessel she sinks. Her methods of warfare, therefore, are +entirely outside the scope of any international instruments regulating +operations against commerce in time of war. + +The German declaration substitutes indiscriminate destruction for +regulated captures. Germany has adopted this method against the peaceful +trader and the non-combatant, with the avowed object of preventing +commodities of all kinds, including food for the civilian population, +from reaching or leaving the British Isles or Northern France. + +Her opponents are, therefore, driven to frame retaliatory measures in +order in their turn to prevent commodities of any kind from reaching or +leaving Germany. + +These measures will, however, be enforced by the British and French +Governments without risk to neutral ships or neutral or non-combatant +lives, and in strict observation of the dictates of humanity. The +British and French Governments will, therefore, hold themselves free to +detain and take into port ships carrying goods of presumed enemy +destination, ownership, or origin. + +It is not intended to confiscate such vessels or cargoes unless they +would otherwise be liable to confiscation. Vessels with cargoes which +sailed before this date will not be affected. + + +Britain's New and Original Blockade + +American Protests Following the "War Zone" Decrees Defined + + The first definite statement of the real character of the + measures adopted by Great Britain and her allies for + restricting the trade of Germany was obtained at Washington on + March 17, 1915, when Secretary Bryan made public the text of + all the recent notes exchanged between the United States + Government and Germany and the Allies regarding the freedom of + legitimate American commerce in the war zones. These notes, + six in all, show that Great Britain and France stand firm in + their announced intention to cut off all trade with Germany. + The communications revealed that the United States Government, + realizing the difficulties of maintaining an effective + blockade by a close guard of an enemy coast on account of the + newly developed activity of submarines, asked that "a radius + of activity" be defined. Great Britain and France replied with + the announcement that the operations of blockade would not be + conducted "outside of European waters, including the + Mediterranean." + + The definition of a "radius of activity" for the allied fleet + in European waters, including the Mediterranean, is the first + intimation of the geographical limits of the reprisal order. + Its limits were not given more exactly, the Allies contend, + because Germany was equally indefinite in proclaiming all the + waters surrounding Great Britain and Ireland a "war zone." The + measures adopted are those of a blockade against all trade to + and from Germany--not the historical kind of blockade + recognized in international law, but a new and original form. + + The several notes between the United States and the + belligerent Governments follow. The stars in the German note + mean that as it came to the State Department in cipher certain + words were omitted, probably through telegraphic error. In the + official text of the note the State Department calls + attention to the stars by an asterisk and a footnote saying + "apparent omission." In the French note the same thing occurs, + and is indicated by the footnote "undecipherable group," + meaning that the cipher symbols into which the French note was + put by our Embassy in Paris could not be translated back into + plain language by the State Department cipher experts. From + the context it is apparent that the omitted words in the + German note are "insist upon," or words to that effect. + +AMERICAN NOTE TO THE BELLIGERENTS. + +_The following identic note was sent by the Secretary of State to the +American Ambassadors at London and Berlin:_ + +WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1915. + +You will please deliver to Sir Edward Grey the following identic note, +which we are sending England and Germany: + +In view of the correspondence which has passed between this Government +and Great Britain and Germany, respectively, relative to the declaration +of a war zone by the German Admiralty, and the use of neutral flags by +the British merchant vessels, this Government ventures to express the +hope that the two belligerent Governments may, through reciprocal +concessions, find a basis for agreement which will relieve neutral ships +engaged in peaceful commerce from the great dangers which they will +incur in the high seas adjacent to the coasts of the belligerents. + +The Government of the United States respectfully suggests that an +agreement in terms like the following might be entered into. This +suggestion is not to be regarded as in any sense a proposal made by this +Government, for it of course fully recognizes that it is not its +privilege to propose terms of agreement between Great Britain and +Germany, even though the matter be one in which it and the people of the +United States are directly and deeply interested. It is merely venturing +to take the liberty, which it hopes may be accorded a sincere friend +desirous of embarrassing neither nation involved, and of serving, if it +may, the common interests of humanity. The course outlined is offered in +the hope that it may draw forth the views and elicit the suggestions of +the British and German Governments on a matter of capital interest to +the whole world. + +Germany and Great Britain to agree: + +First--That neither will sow any floating mines, whether upon the high +seas or in territorial waters; that neither will plant on the high seas +anchored mines, except within cannon range of harbors for defensive +purposes only; and that all mines shall bear the stamp of the Government +planting them, and be so constructed as to become harmless if separated +from their moorings. + +Second--That neither will use submarines to attack merchant vessels of +any nationality, except to enforce the right of visit and search. + +Third---That each will require their respective merchant vessels not to +use neutral flags for the purpose of disguise or ruse de guerre. + +Germany to agree: That all importations of food or foodstuffs from the +United States (and from such other neutral countries as may ask it) into +Germany shall be consigned to agencies to be designated by the United +States Government; that these American agencies shall have entire charge +and control without interference on the part of German Government of the +receipt and distribution of such importations, and shall distribute them +solely to retail dealers bearing licenses from the German Government +entitling them to receive and furnish such food and foodstuffs to +non-combatants only; that any violation of the terms of the retailers' +licenses shall work a forfeiture of their rights to receive such food +and foodstuffs for this purpose, and that such food and foodstuffs will +not be requisitioned by the German Government for any purpose +whatsoever, or be diverted to the use of the armed forces of Germany. + +Great Britain to agree: That food and foodstuffs will not be placed +upon the absolute contraband list, and that shipments of such +commodities will not be interfered with or detained by British +authorities, if consigned to agencies designated by the United States +Government in Germany for the receipt and distribution of such cargoes +to licensed German retailers for distribution solely to the +non-combatant population. + +In submitting this proposed basis of agreement this Government does not +wish to be understood as admitting or denying any belligerent or neutral +right established by the principles of international law, but would +consider the agreement, if acceptable to the interested powers, a modus +vivendi based upon expediency rather than legal right, and as not +binding upon the United States either in its present form or in a +modified form until accepted by this Government. + +BRYAN. + + +II. + +GERMANY'S REPLY. + +_The German reply, handed to the American Ambassador at Berlin, +follows:_ + +BERLIN, March 1, 1915. + +The undersigned has the honor to inform his Excellency, Mr. James W. +Gerard, Ambassador of the United States of America, in reply to the note +of the 22d inst., that the Imperial German Government have taken note +with great interest of the suggestion of the American Government that +certain principles for the conduct of maritime war on the part of +Germany and England be agreed upon for the protection of neutral +shipping. They see therein new evidence of the friendly feelings of the +American Government toward the German Government, which are fully +reciprocated by Germany. + +It is in accordance with Germany's wishes also to have maritime war +conducted according to rules, which, without discriminatingly +restricting one or the other of the belligerent powers in the use of +their means of warfare, are equally considerate of the interests of +neutrals and the dictates of humanity. Consequently it was intimated in +the German note of the 16th inst. that observation of the Declaration +of London on the part of Germany's adversaries would create a new +situation from which the German Government would gladly draw the proper +conclusions. + +Proceeding from this view, the German Government have carefully examined +the suggestion of the American Government and believe that they can +actually see in it a suitable basis for the practical solution of the +questions which have arisen. + +With regard to the various points of the American note, they beg to make +the following remarks: + +First--With regard to the sowing of mines, the German Government would +be willing to agree, as suggested, not to use floating mines and to have +anchored mines constructed as indicated. Moreover, they agree to put the +stamp of the Government on all mines to be planted. On the other hand, +it does not appear to them to be feasible for the belligerents wholly to +for ego the use of anchored mines for offensive purposes. + +Second--The German Government would undertake not to use their +submarines to attack mercantile of any flag except when necessary to +enforce the right of visit and search. Should the enemy nationality of +the vessel or the presence of contraband be ascertained, submarines +would proceed in accordance with the general rules of international law. + +Third--As provided in the American note, this restriction of the use of +the submarines is contingent on the fact that enemy mercantile abstain +from the use of the neutral flag and other neutral distinctive marks. It +would appear to be a matter of course that such mercantile vessels also +abstain from arming themselves and from all resistance by force, since +such procedure contrary to international law would render impossible any +action of the submarines in accordance with international law. + +Fourth--The regulation of legitimate importations of food into Germany +suggested by the American Government appears to be in general +acceptable. Such regulation would, of course, be confined to +importations by sea, but that would, on the other hand, include +indirect importations by way of neutral ports. The German Government +would, therefore, be willing to make the declarations of the nature +provided in the American note so that the use of the imported food and +foodstuffs solely by the non-combatant population would be guaranteed. +The Imperial Government must, however, in addition (* * * * *)[1] having +the importation of other raw material used by the economic system of +non-combatants, including forage, permitted. To that end the enemy +Governments would have to permit the free entry into Germany of the raw +material mentioned in the free list of the Declaration of London, and to +treat materials included in the list of conditional contraband according +to the same principles as food and foodstuffs. + +[Footnote 1: Apparent omission.] + +The German Government venture to hope that the agreement for which the +American Government have paved the way may be reached after due +consideration of the remarks made above, and that in this way peaceable +neutral shipping and trade will not have to suffer any more than is +absolutely necessary from the unavoidable effects of maritime war. These +effects could be still further reduced if, as was pointed out in the +German note of the 16th inst., some way could be found to exclude the +shipping of munitions of war from neutral countries to belligerents on +ships of any nationality. + +The German Government must, of course, reserve a definite statement of +their position until such time as they may receive further information +from the American Government enabling them to see what obligations the +British Government are, on their part, willing to assume. + +The undersigned avails himself of this occasion, &c. + +VON JAGOW. + +Dated, Foreign Office, Berlin, Feb. 28, 1915. + +GERARD. + + +III. + +GREAT BRITAIN'S REPLY. + +_The reply of Great Britain to the American note of Feb. 20, handed to +the American Ambassador at London, was as follows:_ + +LONDON, March 15, 1915. + +Following is the full text of a memorandum dated March 13, which Grey +handed me today: + +"On the 22d of February last I received a communication from your +Excellency of the identic note addressed to his Majesty's Government and +to Germany respecting an agreement on certain points as to the conduct +of the war at sea. The reply of the German Government to this note has +been published and it is not understood from the reply that the German +Government are prepared to abandon the practice of sinking British +merchant vessels by submarines, and it is evident from their reply that +they will not abandon the use of mines for offensive purposes on the +high seas as contrasted with the use of mines for defensive purposes +only within cannon range of their own harbors, as suggested by the +Government of the United States. This being so, it might appear +unnecessary for the British Government to make any further reply than to +take note of the German answer. + +"We desire, however, to take the opportunity of making a fuller +statement of the whole position and of our feeling with regard to it. We +recognize with sympathy the desire of the Government of the United +States to see the European war conducted in accordance with the +previously recognized rules of international law and the dictates of +humanity. It is thus that the British forces have conducted the war, and +we are not aware that these forces, either naval or military, can have +laid to their charge any improper proceedings, either in the conduct of +hostilities or in the treatment of prisoners or wounded. On the German +side it has been very different. + +"1. The treatment of civilian inhabitants in Belgium and the North of +France has been made public by the Belgian and French Governments and by +those who have had experience of it at first hand. Modern history +affords no precedent for the sufferings that have been inflicted on the +defenseless and non-combatant population in the territory that has been +in German military occupation. Even the food of the population was +confiscated until in Belgium an international commission, largely +influenced by American generosity and conducted under American auspices, +came to the relief of the population and secured from the German +Government a promise to spare what food was still left in the country, +though the Germans still continue to make levies in money upon the +defenseless population for the support of the German Army. + +"2. We have from time to time received most terrible accounts of the +barbarous treatment to which British officers and soldiers have been +exposed after they have been taken prisoner, while being conveyed to +German prison camps. One or two instances have already been given to the +United States Government founded upon authentic and first-hand evidence +which is beyond doubt. Some evidence has been received of the hardships +to which British prisoners of war are subjected in the prison camps, +contrasting, we believe, most unfavorably with the treatment of German +prisoners in this country. We have proposed, with the consent of the +United States Government, that a commission of United States officers +should be permitted in each country to inspect the treatment of +prisoners of war. The United States Government have been unable to +obtain any reply from the German Government to this proposal, and we +remain in continuing anxiety and apprehension as to the treatment of +British prisoners of war in Germany. + +"3. At the very outset of the war a German mine layer was discovered +laying a mine field on the high seas. Further mine fields have been laid +from time to time without warning, and, so far as we know, are still +being laid on the high seas, and many neutral as well as British vessels +have been sunk by them. + +"4. At various times during the war German submarines have stopped and +sunk British merchant vessels, thus making the sinking of merchant +vessels a general practice, though it was admitted previously, if at +all, only as an exception, the general rule to which the British +Government have adhered being that merchant vessels, if captured, must +be taken before a prize court. In one case already quoted in a note to +the United States Government a neutral vessel carrying foodstuffs to an +unfortified town in Great Britain has been sunk. Another case is now +reported in which a German armed cruiser has sunk an American vessel, +the William P. Frye, carrying a cargo of wheat from Seattle to +Queenstown. In both cases the cargoes were presumably destined for the +civil population. Even the cargoes in such circumstances should not have +been condemned without the decision of a prize court, much less should +the vessels have been sunk. It is to be noted that both these cases +occurred before the detention by the British authorities of the +Wilhelmina and her cargo of foodstuffs, which the German Government +allege is the justification for their own action. + +"The Germans have announced their intention of sinking British merchant +vessels by torpedo without notice and without any provision for the +safety of the crews. They have already carried out this intention in the +case of neutral as well as of British vessels, and a number of +non-combatant and innocent lives on British vessels, unarmed and +defenseless, have been destroyed in this way. + +"5. Unfortified, open, and defenseless towns, such as Scarborough, +Yarmouth, and Whitby, have been deliberately and wantonly bombarded by +German ships of war, causing in some cases considerable loss of civilian +life, including women and children. + +"6. German aircraft have dropped bombs on the east coast of England, +where there were no military or strategic points to be attacked. On the +other hand, I am aware of but two criticisms that have been made on +British action in all these respects: + +"1. It is said that the British naval authorities also have laid some +anchored mines on the high seas. They have done so, but the mines were +anchored and so constructed that they would be harmless if they went +adrift, and no mines whatever were laid by the British naval authorities +till many weeks after the Germans had made a regular practice of laying +mines on the high seas. + +"2. It is said that the British Government have departed from the view +of international law which they had previously maintained, that +foodstuffs destined for the civil population should never be interfered +with, this charge being founded on the submission to a prize court of +the cargo of the Wilhelmina. The special considerations affecting this +cargo have already been presented in a memorandum to the United States +Government, and I need not repeat them here. + +"Inasmuch as the blockade of all foodstuffs is an admitted consequence +of blockade, it is obvious that there can be no universal rule based on +considerations of morality and humanity which is contrary to this +practice. The right to stop foodstuffs destined for the civil population +must therefore in any case be admitted if an effective 'cordon' +controlling intercourse with the enemy is drawn, announced, and +maintained. Moreover, independently of rights arising from belligerent +action in the nature of blockade, some other nations, differing from the +opinion of the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, have +held that to stop the food of the civil population is a natural and +legitimate method of bringing pressure to bear on an enemy country as it +is upon the defense of a besieged town. It is also upheld on the +authority of both Prince Bismarck and Count Caprivi, and therefore +presumably is not repugnant to German morality. + +"The following are the quotations from Prince Bismarck and Count Caprivi +on this point. Prince Bismarck in answering, in 1885, an application +from the Kiel Chamber of Commerce for a statement of the view of the +German Government on the question of the right to declare as contraband +foodstuffs that were not intended for military forces said: 'I reply to +the Chamber of Commerce that any disadvantage our commercial and +carrying interests may suffer by the treatment of rice as contraband of +war does not justify our opposing a measure which it has been thought +fit to take in carrying on a foreign war. Every war is a calamity which +entails evil consequences not only on the combatants but also on +neutrals. These evils may easily be increased by the interference of a +neutral power with the way in which a third carries on the war to the +disadvantage of the subjects of the interfering power, and by this means +German commerce might be weighted with far heavier losses than a +transitory prohibition of the rice trade in Chinese waters. The measure +in question has for its object the shortening of the war by increasing +the difficulties of the enemy and is a justifiable step in war if +impartially enforced against all neutral ships.' + +"Count Caprivi, during a discussion in the German Reichstag on the 4th +of March, 1892, on the subject of the importance of international +protection for private property at sea, made the following statements: +'A country may be dependent for her food or for her raw products upon +her trade. In fact, it may be absolutely necessary to destroy the +enemy's trade.' 'The private introduction of provisions into Paris was +prohibited during the siege, and in the same way a nation would be +justified in preventing the import of food and raw produce.' + +"The Government of Great Britain have frankly declared, in concert with +the Government of France, their intention to meet the German attempt to +stop all supplies of every kind from leaving or entering British or +French ports by themselves stopping supplies going to or from Germany. +For this end, the British fleet has instituted a blockade effectively +controlling by cruiser 'cordon' all passage to and from Germany by sea. +The difference between the two policies is, however, that, while our +object is the same as that of Germany, we propose to attain it without +sacrificing neutral ships or non-combatant lives, or inflicting upon +neutrals the damage that must be entailed when a vessel and its cargo +are sunk without notice, examination, or trial. + +"I must emphasize again that this measure is a natural and necessary +consequence of the unprecedented methods repugnant to all law and +morality which have been described above which Germany began to adopt at +the very outset of the war and the effects of which have been constantly +accumulating." + +American Ambassador, London. + + +IV. + +AMERICAN INQUIRY ON REPRISAL METHOD. + +_The American Government on March 5 transmitted identic messages of +inquiry to the Ambassadors at London and Paris inquiring from both +England and France how the declarations in the Anglo-French note +proclaiming an embargo on all commerce between Germany and neutral +countries were to be carried into effect. The message to London was as +follows:_ + +WASHINGTON, March 5, 1915. + +In regard to the recent communications received from the British and +French Governments concerning restraints upon commerce with Germany, +please communicate with the British Foreign Office in the sense +following: + +The difficulty of determining action upon the British and French +declarations of intended retaliation upon commerce with Germany lies in +the nature of the proposed measures in their relation to commerce by +neutrals. + +While it appears that the intention is to interfere with and take into +custody all ships, both outgoing and incoming, trading with Germany, +which is in effect a blockade of German ports, the rule of blockade that +a ship attempting to enter or leave a German port, regardless of the +character of its cargo, may be condemned is not asserted. + +The language of the declaration is "the British and French Governments +will, therefore, hold themselves free to detain and take into port ships +carrying goods of presumed enemy destination, ownership, or origin. It +is not intended to confiscate such vessels or cargoes unless they would +otherwise be liable to condemnation." + +The first sentence claims a right pertaining only to a state of +blockade. The last sentence proposes a treatment of ships and cargoes as +if no blockade existed. The two together present a proposed course of +action previously unknown to international law. + +As a consequence neutrals have no standard by which to measure their +rights or to avoid danger to their ships and cargoes. The paradoxical +situation thus created should be changed and the declaring powers ought +to assert whether they rely upon the rules governing a blockade or the +rules applicable when no blockade exists. + +The declaration presents other perplexities. The last sentence quoted +indicates that the rules of contraband are to be applied to cargoes +detained. The rules covering non-contraband articles carried in neutral +bottoms is that the cargoes shall be released and the ships allowed to +proceed. + +This rule cannot, under the first sentence quoted, be applied as to +destination. What, then, is to be done with a cargo of non-contraband +goods detained under the declaration? The same question may be asked as +to conditional contraband cargoes. + +The foregoing comments apply to cargoes destined for Germany. Cargoes +coming out of German forts present another problem under the terms of +the declaration. Under the rules governing enemy exports only goods +owned by enemy subjects in enemy bottoms are subject to seizure and +condemnation. Yet by the declaration it is purposed to seize and take +into port all goods of enemy "ownership and origin." The word "origin" +is particularly significant. The origin of goods destined to neutral +territory on neutral ships is not, and never has been, a ground for +forfeiture, except in case a blockade is declared and maintained. What, +then, would the seizure amount to in the present case except to delay +the delivery of the goods? The declaration does not indicate what +disposition would be made of such cargoes if owned by a neutral or if +owned by an enemy subject. Would a different rule be applied according +to ownership? If so, upon what principles of international law would it +rest? And upon what rule, if no blockade is declared and maintained, +could the cargo of a neutral ship sailing out of a German port be +condemned? If it is not condemned, what other legal course is there but +to release it? + +While this Government is fully alive to the possibility that the methods +of modern naval warfare, particularly in the use of submarines for both +defensive and offensive operations, may make the former means of +maintaining a blockade a physical impossibility, it feels that it can be +urged with great force that there should be also some limit to "the +radius of activity," and especially so if this action by the +belligerents can be construed to be a blockade. It would certainly +create a serious state of affairs if, for example, an American vessel +laden with a cargo of German origin should escape the British patrol in +European waters only to be held up by a cruiser off New York and taken +into Halifax. + +Similar cablegrams sent to Paris. + +BRYAN. + + +V. + +BRITISH REPLY TO THE AMERICAN INQUIRY. + +_The reply from the British Government transmitted by the American +Ambassador at London to the Secretary of State concerning the method of +enforcing the reprisal order follows:_ + +LONDON, March 15, 1915. + +Following is the full text of a note dated today and an Order in Council +I have just received from Grey: + +"1. His Majesty's Government have had under careful consideration the +inquiries which, under instructions from your Government, your +Excellency addressed to me on the 8th inst., regarding the scope and +mode of application of the measures foreshadowed in the British and +French declarations of the 1st of March, for restricting the trade of +Germany. Your Excellency explained and illustrated by reference to +certain contingencies the difficulty of the United States Government in +adopting a definite attitude toward these measures by reason of +uncertainty regarding their bearing upon the commerce of neutral +countries. + +"2. I can at once assure your Excellency that subject to the paramount +necessity of restricting German trade his Majesty's Government have made +it their first aim to minimize inconvenience to neutral commerce. From +the accompanying copy of the Order in Council, which is to be published +today, you will observe that a wide discretion is afforded to the prize +court in dealing with the trade of neutrals in such manner as may, in +the circumstances, be deemed just, and that full provision is made to +facilitate claims by persons interested in any goods placed in the +custody of the Marshal of the prize court under the order. I apprehend +that the perplexities to which your Excellency refers will for the most +part be dissipated by the perusal of this document, and that it is only +necessary for me to add certain explanatory observations. + +"3. The effect of the Order in Council is to confer certain powers upon +the executive officers of his Majesty's Government. The extent to which +those powers will be actually exercised and the degree of severity with +which the measures of blockade authorized will be put into operation are +matters which will depend on the administrative orders issued by the +Government and the decisions of the authorities specially charged with +the duty of dealing with individual ships and cargoes, according to the +merits of each case. The United States Government may rest assured that +the instructions to be issued by his Majesty's Government to the fleet +and customs officials and Executive Committees concerned will impress +upon them the duty of acting with the utmost dispatch consistent with +the object in view, and of showing in every case such consideration for +neutrals as may be compatible with that object, which is, succinctly +stated, to establish a blockade to prevent vessels from carrying goods +for or coming from Germany." + +[Illustration: HERR VON JAGOW + +German Secretary for Foreign Affairs + +_(Photo from Rogers)_] + +[Illustration: MAXIMILIAN HARDEN + +Editor of _Die Zukunft_, Germany's Most Brilliant Journalist, Who Has +Been Severe in His Strictures Upon the United States + +_(Photo from Brown Bros.)_] + +"4. His Majesty's Government has felt most reluctant, at the moment of +initiating a policy of blockade, to exact from neutral ships all the +penalties attaching to a breach of blockade. In their desire to +alleviate the burden which the existence of a state of war at sea must +inevitably impose on neutral sea-borne commerce, they declare their +intention to refrain altogether from the exercise of the right to +confiscate ships or cargoes which belligerents have always claimed in +respect of breaches of blockade. They restrict their claim to the +stopping of cargoes destined for or coming from the enemy's territory. + +"5. As regards cotton, full particulars of the arrangements contemplated +have already been explained. It will be admitted that every possible +regard has been had to the legitimate interests of the American cotton +trade. + +"6. Finally, in reply to the penultimate paragraph of your Excellency's +note, I have the honor to state that it is not intended to interfere +with neutral vessels carrying enemy cargo of non-contraband nature +outside European waters, including the Mediterranean." + +(Here follows the text of the Order in Council, which already has been +printed.) + +American Ambassador, London. + + +VI. + +FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S ANSWER. + +_The French Government transmitted the following message:_ + +PARIS, March 14, 1915. + +French Government replies as follows: + +"In a letter dated March 7 your Excellency was good enough to draw my +attention to the views of the Government of the United States regarding +the recent communications from the French and British Governments +concerning a restriction to be laid upon commerce with Germany. +According to your Excellency's letter, the declaration made by the +allied Governments presents some uncertainty as regards its application, +concerning which the Government of the United States desires to be +enlightened in order to determine what attitude it should take. + +"At the same time your Excellency notified me that, while granting the +possibility of using new methods of retaliation against the new use to +which submarines have been put, the Government of the United States was +somewhat apprehensive that the allied belligerents might (if their +action is to be construed as constituting a blockade) capture in waters +near America any ships which might have escaped the cruisers patrolling +European waters. In acknowledging receipt of your Excellency's +communication I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the +republic has not failed to consider this point as presented by the +Government of the United States, and I beg to specify clearly the +conditions of application, as far as my Government is concerned of the +declaration of the allied Governments. As well set forth by the Federal +Government, the old methods of blockade cannot be entirely adhered to in +view of the use Germany has made of her submarines, and also by reason +of the geographical situation of that country. In answer to the +challenge to the neutrals as well as to its own adversaries contained in +the declaration, by which the German Imperial Government stated that it +considered the seas surrounding Great Britain and the French coast on +the Channel as a military zone, and warned neutral vessels not to enter +the same on account of the danger they would run, the allied Governments +have been obliged to examine what measures they could adopt to interrupt +all maritime communication with the German Empire and thus keep it +blockaded by the naval power of the two allies, at the same time, +however, safeguarding as much as possible the legitimate interests of +neutral powers and respecting the laws of humanity which no crime of +their enemy will induce them to violate. + +"The Government of the republic, therefore, reserves to itself the right +of bringing into a French or allied port any ship carrying a cargo +presumed to be of German origin, destination, or ownership, but it will +not go to the length of seizing any neutral ship except in case of +contraband. The discharged cargo shall not be confiscated. In the event +of a neutral proving his lawful ownership of merchandise destined to +Germany, he shall be entirely free to dispose of same, subject to +certain conditions. In case the owner of the goods is a German, they +shall simply be sequestrated during the war. + +"Merchandise of enemy origin shall only be sequestrated when it is at +the same time the property of an enemy. Merchandise belonging to +neutrals shall be held at the disposal of its owner to be returned to +the port of departure. + +"As your Excellency will observe, these measures, while depriving the +enemy of important resources, respect the rights of neutrals and will +not in any way jeopardize private property, as even the enemy owner will +only suffer from the suspension of the enjoyment of his rights during +the term of hostilities. + +"The Government of the republic, being desirous of allowing neutrals +every facility to enforce their claims, (here occurred an undecipherable +group of words,) give the prize court, an independent tribunal, +cognizance of these questions, and in order to give the neutrals as +little trouble as possible it has specified that the prize court shall +give sentence within eight days, counting from the date on which the +case shall have been brought before it. + +"I do not doubt, Mr. Ambassador, that the Federal Government, comparing +on the one hand the unspeakable violence with which the German Military +Government threatens neutrals, the criminal actions unknown in maritime +annals already perpetrated against neutral property and ships, and even +against the lives of neutral subjects or citizens, and on the other hand +the measures adopted by the allied Governments of France and Great +Britain, respecting the laws of humanity and the rights of individuals, +will readily perceive that the latter have not overstepped their strict +rights as belligerents. + +"Finally, I am anxious to assure you that it is not and it has never +been the intention of the Government of the republic to extend the +action of its cruisers against enemy merchandise beyond the European +seas, the Mediterranean included." + +SHARP. + + +British Order in Council + +Declaring a Blockade of German Ports + +_LONDON, March 15.--The British Order in Council decreeing retaliatory +measures on the part of the Government to meet the declaration of the +Germans that the waters surrounding the United Kingdom are a military +area, was made public today. The text of the order follows:_ + +Whereas, the German Government has issued certain orders which, in +violation of the usages of war, purport to declare that the waters +surrounding the United Kingdom are a military area in which all British +and allied merchant vessels will be destroyed irrespective of the safety +and the lives of the passengers and the crews, and in which neutral +shipping will be exposed to similar danger in view of the uncertainties +of naval warfare, and + +Whereas, in the memorandum accompanying the said orders, neutrals are +warned against intrusting crews, passengers, or goods to British or +allied ships, and + +Whereas, such attempts on the part of the enemy give to his Majesty an +unquestionable right of retaliation; and + +Whereas, his Majesty has therefore decided to adopt further measures in +order to prevent commodities of any kind from reaching or leaving +Germany, although such measures will be enforced without risk to neutral +ships or to neutral or non-combatant life and in strict observance of +the dictates of humanity; and + +Whereas, the allies of his Majesty are associated with him in the steps +now to be announced for restricting further the commerce of Germany, his +Majesty is therefore pleased by and with the advice of his Privy Council +to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows: + +First--No merchant vessel which sailed from her port of departure after +March 1, 1915, shall be allowed to proceed on her voyage to any German +port. Unless this vessel receives a pass enabling her to proceed to some +neutral or allied port to be named in the pass, the goods on board any +such vessel must be discharged in a British port and placed in custody +of the Marshal of the prize court. Goods so discharged, if not +contraband of war, shall, if not requisitioned for the use of his +Majesty, be restored by order of the court and upon such terms as the +court may in the circumstances deem to be just to the person entitled +thereto. + +Second--No merchant vessel which sailed from any German port after March +1, 1915, shall be allowed to proceed on her voyage with any goods on +board laden at such port. All goods laden at such port must be +discharged in a British or allied port. Goods so discharged in a British +port shall be placed in the custody of the Marshal of the prize court, +and if not requisitioned for the use of his Majesty shall be detained or +sold under the direction of the prize court. + +The proceeds of the goods so sold shall be paid into the court and dealt +with in such a manner as the court may in the circumstances deem to be +just, provided that no proceeds of the sale of such goods shall be paid +out of the court until the conclusion of peace, except on the +application of a proper officer of the Crown, unless it be shown that +the goods had become neutral property before the issue of this order, +and provided also that nothing herein shall prevent the release of +neutral property, laden at such enemy port, on the application of the +proper officer of the Crown. + +Third--Every merchant vessel which sailed from her port of departure +after March 1, 1915, on her way to a port other than a German port and +carrying goods with an enemy destination, or which are enemy property, +may be required to discharge such goods in a British or allied port. Any +goods so discharged in a British port shall be placed in the custody of +the Marshal of the prize court, and unless they are contraband of war +shall, if not requisitioned for the use of his Majesty, be restored by +an order of the court upon such terms as the court may in the +circumstances deem to be just to the person entitled thereto, and +provided that this article shall not apply in any case falling within +Article 2 or 4 of this order. + +Fourth--Every merchant vessel which sailed from a port other than a +German port after March 1, 1915, and having on board goods which are of +enemy origin, or are enemy property, may be required to discharge such +goods in a British or allied port. Goods so discharged in a British port +shall be placed in the custody of the Marshal of the prize court, and, +if not requisitioned for the use of his Majesty, shall be detained or +sold under the direction of the prize court. The proceeds of the goods +so sold shall be paid into the court and be dealt with in such a manner +as the court may in the circumstances deem to be just, provided that no +proceeds of the sale of such goods shall be paid out of the court until +the conclusion of peace except on the application of a proper officer of +the Crown, unless it be shown that the goods had become neutral property +before the issue of this order, and provided also that nothing herein +shall prevent the release of neutral property of enemy origin on +application of the proper officer of the Crown. + +Fifth--Any person claiming to be interested in or to have any claim in +respect of any goods not being contraband of war placed in the custody +of the Marshal of the prize court under this order, or in the proceeds +of such goods, may forthwith issue a writ in the prize court against the +proper officer of the Crown and apply for an order that the goods +should be restored to him, or that their proceeds should be paid to him, +or for such other order as the circumstances of the case may require. + +The practice and procedure of the prize court shall, so far as +applicable, be followed mutatis mutandis in any proceedings +consequential upon this order. + +Sixth--A merchant vessel which has cleared for a neutral port from a +British or allied port, or which has been allowed to pass as having an +ostensible destination to a neutral port and proceeds to an enemy port, +shall, if captured on any subsequent voyage be liable to condemnation. + +Seventh--Nothing in this order shall be deemed to affect the liability +of any vessel or goods to capture or condemnation independently of this +order. + +Eighth--Nothing in this order shall prevent the relaxation of the +provisions of this order in respect of the merchant vessels of any +country which declares that no commerce intended for or originating in +Germany, or belonging to German subjects, shall enjoy the protection of +its flag. + + + + +Germany's Submarine War + + +LONDON, March 13.--The Admiralty announced tonight that the British +collier Invergyle was torpedoed today off Cresswell, England, and sunk. +All aboard were saved. + +This brings the total British losses of merchantmen and fishing vessels, +either sunk or captured during the war, up to 137. Of these ninety were +merchant ships and forty-seven were fishing craft. + +A further submarine casualty today was the torpedoing of the Swedish +steamer Halma off Scarborough, and the loss of the lives of six of her +crew. + +The Admiralty announces that since March 10 seven British merchant +steamers have been torpedoed by submarines. Two of them, it is stated, +were sunk, and of two others it is said that "the sinking is not +confirmed." Three were not sunk. + +The two steamers officially reported sunk were the Invergyle and the +Indian City, which was torpedoed off the Scilly Islands on March 12. The +crew of the Indian City was reported rescued. + +The two steamers whose reported sinking is not yet officially confirmed +are the Florazan, which was torpedoed at the mouth of the Bristol +Channel on March 11, all of her crew being landed at Milford Haven, with +the exception of one fireman, and the Andalusian, which was attacked off +the Scilly Islands on March 12. The crew of the Andalusian is reported +to have been rescued. + +The Adenwen was torpedoed in the English Channel on March 11, and has +since been towed into Cherbourg. Her crew was landed at Brisham. + +The steamer Headlands was torpedoed on March 12 off the Scilly Islands. +It is reported that her crew was saved. The steamer Hartdale was +torpedoed on March 13 off South Rock, in the Irish Channel. Twenty-one +of her crew were picked up and two were lost. + +Supplementary to the foregoing the Admiralty tonight issued a report +giving the total number of British merchant and fishing vessels lost +through hostile action from the outbreak of the war to March 10. The +statement says that during that period eighty-eight merchant vessels +were sunk or captured. Of these fifty-four were victims of hostile +cruisers, twelve were destroyed by mines, and twenty-two by submarines. +Their gross tonnage totaled 309,945. + +In the same period the total arrivals and sailings of overseas steamers +of all nationalities of more than 300 tons net were 4,745. + +Forty-seven fishing vessels were sunk or captured during this time. +Nineteen of these were blown up by mines and twenty-eight were captured +by hostile craft. Twenty-four of those captured were caught on Aug. 26, +when the Germans raided a fishing fleet. + +[Illustration: Dotted portion indicates the limits of "War Zone" defined +in the German order which became effective Feb. 18, 1915.] + + + + +German People Not Blinded + +By Karl Lamprecht + +[Published in New York by the German Information Service, Feb. 3, 1915.] + + + Denying flatly that the German people were swept blindly and + ignorantly into the war by the headlong ambitions of their + rulers--the view advanced by Dr. Charles W. Eliot, President + Emeritus of Harvard University, and Dr. Nicholas Murray + Butler, President of Columbia--Dr. Karl Lamprecht, Professor + of History in the University of Leipsic and world-famous + German historian, has addressed the open letter which appears + below to the two distinguished American scholars. Dr. + Lamprecht asserts that under the laws which govern the German + Empire the people as citizens have a deciding will in affairs + of state and that Germany is engaged in the present conflict + because the sober judgment of the German people led them to + resort to arms. + +_Dr. C.W. Eliot, President Emeritus of Harvard University; Dr. N.M. +Butler, President of Columbia University._ + +Gentlemen: I feel confident that you are not in ignorance of my regard +and esteem for the great American Republic and its citizens. They have +been freely expressed on many occasions and have taken definite form in +the journal of my travels through the United States, published in the +booklet "Americana," 1905. + +My sentiments and my judgment have not changed since 1905. I now refer, +gentlemen, to the articles and speeches which you have published about +my country and which have aroused widespread interest. I will not +criticise your utterances one by one. If I did that I might have to +speak on occasion with a frankness that would be ungracious, considering +the fine appreciation which both of you still feel for old Germany. It +would be specially ungracious toward you, President Eliot, for in quite +recent times you honored me by your ready help in my scientific labors. +All I want to do is to remove a few fundamental errors--in fact, only +one. I feel in duty bound to do so, since many well-disposed Americans +share that error. + +The gravest and perhaps most widely spread misconception about us +Germans is that we are the serfs of our Princes. (Fuerstenknechte,) +servile and dependent in political thought. That false notion has +probably been dispelled during the initial weeks of the present war. + +With absolute certainty the German Nation, with one voice and +correctly, diagnosed the political situation without respect to party or +creed and unanimously and of its own free will acted. + +But this misconception is so deep rooted that more extended discussion +is needed. I pass on to other matters. + +The essential point is that public opinion have free scope of +development. Every American will admit that. Now, public opinion finds +its expression in the principles that govern the use of the suffrage. +The German voting system is the freest in the world, much freer than the +French, English, or American system, because not only does it operate in +accordance with the principle that every one shall have a direct and +secret vote, but the powers of the State are exercised faithfully and +conscientiously to carry out that principle in practice. The +constitutional life of the German Nation is of a thoroughly democratic +character. + +Those who know that were not surprised that our Social Democrats marched +to war with such enthusiasm. Already among their ranks many have fallen +as heroes, never to be forgotten by any German when his thoughts turn to +the noble blood which has saturated foreign soil--thank God, foreign +soil! Many of the Socialist leaders and adherents are wearing the Iron +Cross, that simple token that seems to tell you when you speak of its +bearer, "Now, this is a fearless and faithful soul." + +Let it be said once and for all: He who wants to understand us must +accept our conception that constitutionally we enjoy so great a +political freedom that we would not change with any country in the +world. Everybody in America knows that our manners and customs have been +democratic for centuries, while in France and England they have been +ever aristocratic. Americans, we know, always feel at home on German +soil. + +But the Kaiser, you will say, speaks of "his monarchy," therefore must +the Germans be Fuerstenknechte, (servants of Princes.) + +First of all, as to the phrase "Fuerstenknechte." Does not the King of +England speak of his "subjects"? That word irritates a German, because +he is conscious that he is not a subject, but a citizen of the empire. +Yet he will not infer from the English King's use of the term in formal +utterances that an Englishman is a churl, a "servant of his King." That +would be a superficial political conception. + +As to our Princes, most of us, including the Social Democrats, are glad +in our heart of hearts that we have them. As far back as our history +runs, and that is more than 2,000 years, we have had Princes. They have +never been more than their name, "Fuerst," implies, the first and +foremost of German freemen, "primi inter pares." Therefore they have +never acted independently, never without taking the people into counsel. +That would have been contrary to the most important fundamental +principles of German law; hence our people have never been "de jure" +without their representatives. Even in the times of absolute monarchy +the old "estates of the realm" had their being as a representative body, +and wherever and whenever these privileges were suppressed it was +regarded as a violation of our fundamental rights and is so still +regarded. + +Our princely houses are as old as our monasteries, our cities, and our +cathedrals. A thousand years ago the Guelphs were a celebrated family, +and the Wettins have ruled over their lands for eight centuries. In the +twelfth century the Wittelsbachs and Thuringians were Princes under the +great Kaisers of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. Among these great families +the Hapsburgs (thirteenth century) and the Hohenzollerns (fifteenth +century) are quite young. All have their roots in Germany and belong to +the country. + +We glory in our Princes. They link our existence with the earliest +centuries of our history. They preserve for us the priceless +independence of our small home States. + +We are accused of militarism. What is this new and terrible crime? Since +the years of the wars of liberation against France and Napoleon we have +had what amounts practically to universal conscription. Only two +generations later universal suffrage was introduced. The nation has been +sternly trained by its history in the ways of discipline and +self-restraint. Germans are very far from mistaking freedom for license +and independence for licentiousness. + +Germany has a long past. She enjoys the inheritance of an original and +priceless civilization. She holds clearly formulated ideals. To the +future she has all this to bequeath and, in addition, the intellectual +wealth of her present stage of development. Consider Germany's +contributions to the arts, the poetical achievements of the period of +Schiller and Goethe, the music of Handel, Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and +Beethoven; the thought systems of Kant, Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel! + +The last decade has reawakened these great men in the consciousness of +the German Nation. Enriched by the consciousness and message of an +intellectual past, our people were moving forward to new horizons. + +At that moment the war hit us. If you could only have lived these weeks +in Germany I do not doubt that what you would have seen would have led +your ripe experience to a fervent faith in a Divinely guided future of +mankind. The great spiritual movement of 1870, when I was a boy growing +up, was but a phantom compared to July and August of 1914. Germany was a +nation stirred by the most sacred emotions, humble and strong, filled +with just wrath and a firm determination to conquer--a nation +disciplined, faithful, and loving. + +In that disposition we have gone to war and still fight. As for the +slanders of which we have been the victims, ask the thousands of +Frenchmen who housed German soldiers in 1870 and 1871, or ask the +Belgians of Ghent and Bruges! They will give you a different picture of +the "Furor Teutonicus." They will tell you that the "raging German" +generally is a good-natured fellow, ever ready for service and sympathy, +who, like Parsifal, gazes forth eagerly into a strange world which the +war has opened to his loyal and patriotic vision. + +KARL LAMPRECHT. + + + + +REVEILLE + +By JOHN GALSWORTHY. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + +In my dream I saw a fertile plain, rich with the hues of Autumn. +Tranquil it was and warm. Men and women, children, and the beasts worked +and played and wandered there in peace. Under the blue sky and the white +clouds low-hanging, great trees shaded the fields; and from all the land +there arose a murmur as from bees clustering on the rose-colored +blossoms of tall clover. And, in my dream, I roamed, looking into every +face, the faces of prosperity, broad and well favored--of people living +in a land of plenty, of people drinking of the joy of life, caring +nothing for the morrow. But I could not see their eyes, that seemed ever +cast down, gazing at the ground, watching the progress of their feet +over the rich grass and the golden leaves already fallen from the trees. +The longer I walked among them the more I wondered that never was I +suffered to see the eyes of any, not even of the little children, not +even of the beasts. It was as if ordinance had gone forth that their +eyes should be banded with invisibility. + +While I mused on this, the sky began to darken. A muttering of distant +winds and waters came traveling. The children stopped their play, the +beasts raised their heads; men and women halted and cried to each other: +"The River--the River is rising! If it floods, we are lost! Our beasts +will drown; we, even we, shall drown! The River!" And women stood like +things of stone, listening; and men shook their fists at the black sky +and at that traveling mutter of the winds and waters; and the beasts +sniffed at the darkening air. + +Then, clear, I heard a Voice call: "Brothers! The dike is breaking! The +River comes! Link arms, brothers; with the dike of our bodies we will +save our home! Sisters, behind us, link arms! Close in the crevices, +children! The River!" And all that multitude, whom I had seen treading +quietly the grass and fallen leaves with prosperous feet, came hurrying, +their eyes no longer fixed on the rich plain, but lifted in trouble and +defiance, staring at that rushing blackness. And the Voice called: +"Hasten, brothers! The dike is broken. The River floods!" + +And they answered: "Brother, we come!" + +Thousands and thousands they pressed, shoulder to shoulder--men, women, +and children, and the beasts lying down behind, till the living dike was +formed. And that blackness came on, nearer, nearer, till, like the +whites of glaring eyes, the wave crests glinted in the dark rushing +flood. And the sound of the raging waters was as a roar from a million +harsh mouths. + +But the Voice called: "Hold, brothers! Hold!" + +And from the living dike came answer: "Brother! We hold!" + +Then the sky blackened to night. And the terrible dark water broke on +that dike of life; and from all the thin living wall rose such cry of +struggle as never was heard. + +But above it ever the Voice called: "Hold! My brave ones, hold!" + +And ever the answer came from those drowning mouths, of men and women, +of little children and the very beasts: "Brother! We hold!" But the +black flood rolled over and on. There, down in its dark tumult, beneath +its cruel tumult, I saw men still with arms linked; women on their +knees, clinging to earth; little children drifting--dead, all dead; and +the beasts dead. And their eyes were still open facing that death. And +above them the savage water roared. But clear and high I heard the Voice +call: "Brothers! Hold! Death is not! We live!" + + + + +Can Germany Be Starved Out? + +An Answer by Sixteen German Specialists[1] + +[Footnote 1: Die Deutsche Volksernährung und der Englische +Aushungerungsplan. Eine Denkschrift von Friedrich Aereboe, Karl Ballod, +Franz Beyschlag, Wilhelm Caspari, Paul Eltzbacher, Hedwig Heyl, Paul +Krusch, Robert Kuczynski, Kurt Lehmann, Otto Lemmermann, Karl +Oppenheimer, Max Rubner, Kurt von Rümker, Bruno Tacke, Hermann Warmbold, +und Nathan Zuntz. Herausgegeben von Paul Eltzbacher. (Friedr. Vieweg and +Sohn. Braunschweig. 1914.)] + +[From The Annalist of New York, March 1, 1915.] + + +BERLIN, Feb. 1, 1915. + +Probably the most interesting economic problem in the world at this +moment is whether England can succeed in starving out Germany. While the +world at large is chiefly interested in the vast political issues +involved, the question interests the Germans not only from that +standpoint, but also--and how keenly!--from the mere bread-and-butter +standpoint. For if Germany cannot feed its own population during the +long war that its foes are predicting with so much assurance, her defeat +is only a question of time. + +That the German Government is keenly aware of the dangers of the +situation is evident from the rigorous measures that it has taken to +conserve and economize the food supply. After having fixed maximum +prices for cereals soon after the war began, the Government last week +decided to requisition and monopolize all the wheat and rye in the +country, and allow the bakers to sell only a limited quantity of bread +(2.2 pounds per capita a week) to each family. It had previously taken +measures to restrict the consumption of cereals for other purposes than +breadmaking; the feeding of rye was prohibited and its use in producing +alcohol was restricted by 40 per cent.; a percentage of potato flour was +ordered added to rye flour, and of the latter to wheat flour in making +bread. These are but a few of the economic measures adopted by the +Government since the outbreak of the war. + +The general opinion of the people in Germany is that the country cannot +be starved out, and this opinion is asserted with a great deal of +patriotic fervor, particularly by newspaper editors. The leading +scientists of the country, moreover, have taken up the question in a +thoroughgoing way and investigated it in all its bearings. A little book +("Die Deutsche Volksernährung und der Englische Aushungerungsplan") has +just been issued, giving the conclusions of sixteen specialists in +various fields, which will be briefly summarized here. Economists, +statisticians, physiologists, agricultural chemists, food specialists, +and geologists have all taken part in producing a composite view of the +whole subject; it is not a book of special contributions by individual +specialists, but is written in one cast and represents the compared and +boiled-down conclusions of the sixteen scholars. + +The authors by no means regard the problem of feeding Germany without +foreign assistance as an easy and simple one; on the contrary, they say +it is a serious one, and calls for the supreme effort of the authorities +and of every individual German; and only by energetic, systematic, and +continued efforts of Government and people can they prevent a shortage +of food from negativing the success of German arms. Yet they feel bound +to grapple the problem as one calling for solution by the German people +alone, for very small imports of food products can be expected from the +neutral countries of Europe, and none at all from the United States and +other oversea countries, and the small quantities that do come in will +hardly be more than enough to make good the drain upon Germany's own +available stocks in helping to feed the people of Belgium and Poland. + +The simplest statistical elements of the problem are the following: +Germany, with a population of 68,000,000, was consuming food products, +when the war broke out, equivalent to an aggregate of 90,420 billion +calories, including 2,307,000 tons of albumen; whereas the amount now +available, under unchanged methods of living and feeding, is equal to +only 67,870 billion calories, with 1,543,000 tons of albumen. Thus, +there will be an apparent deficit of 22,590 billion calories and 764,000 +tons of albumen. On the other hand, the authors hold that the minimum +physiological requirements are only 56,750 billion calories, containing +1,605,000 tons of albumen, which would give a large surplus of calories +and a small deficit of albumen, but they make certain recommendations +which, if carried into effect, would bring the available supply up to +81,250 billion calories and 2,023,000 tons of albumen. + +Germany raises (average for 1912-13) about 4,500,000 tons of wheat and +imports nearly 2,000,000 tons, (about 73,000,000 bushels.) On the other +hand, it exports about 530,000 tons net of the 11,900,000 tons of rye +produced. It imports nearly 3,000,000 tons of low-grade barley and about +1,000,000 of maize, both chiefly for feeding stock. Its net imports of +grain and legumes are 6,270,000 tons. Of its fruit consumption, about 30 +per cent. has been imported. While Germany has been producing nearly its +entire meat supply at home, this has been accomplished only by the very +extensive use of foreign feedstuffs. The authors of this work estimate +that the imports of meats and animals, together with the product from +domestic animals fed with foreign feedstuffs, amount to not less than 33 +per cent. of the total consumption. They also hold that about 58 per +cent. of the milk consumed in Germany represents imports and the product +of cows fed with foreign feedstuffs. Nearly 40 per cent. of the egg +consumption was hitherto imported. The consumption of fish has averaged +576,000 tons, of which not less than 62 per cent. was imported; and the +home fisheries are now confined, besides the internal waters, almost +wholly to the Baltic Sea--which means the loss of the catch of 142,000 +tons hitherto taken from the North Sea. Even the German's favorite +beverage, beer, contains 13 per cent. of imported ingredients. + +The authors assume, as already intimated, that nearly all of these +imports will be lost to Germany during the full duration of the war, and +they take up, under this big limitation, the problem of showing how +Germany can live upon its own resources and go on fighting till it wins. +They undertake to show how savings can be made in the use of the +supplies on hand, and also how production can be increased or changed so +as to keep the country supplied with food products. + +In the first place, they insist that the prohibition of the export of +grain be made absolute; in other words, the small exception made in +favor of Switzerland, which has usually obtained most of its grain from +Germany, must be canceled. Savings in the present supplies of grain and +feedstuffs must be made by a considerable reduction in the live stock, +inasmuch as the grain, potatoes, turnips, and other stuffs fed to +animals will support a great many more men if consumed directly by them. +From the stock of cattle the poorer milkers must be eliminated and +converted into beef, 10 per cent. of the milch cows to be thus disposed, +of. Then swine, in particular, must be slaughtered down to 65 per cent. +of the present number, they being great consumers of material suitable +for human food. In Germany much skim milk and buttermilk is fed to +swine; the authors demand that this partial waste of very valuable +albumens be stopped. The potato crop--of which Germany produces above +50,000,000 tons a year, or much more than any other land--must be more +extensively drawn upon than hitherto for feeding the people. To this end +potato-drying establishments must be multiplied; these will turn out a +rough product for feeding animals, and a better sort for table use. It +may be added here that the Prussian Government last Autumn decided to +give financial aid to agricultural organizations for erecting drying +plants; also, that the Imperial Government has decreed that potatoes up +to a maximum of 30 per cent. may be used by the bakers in making +bread--a measure which will undoubtedly make the grain supply suffice +till the 1915 crop is harvested. It is further recommended that more +vegetables be preserved, whether directly in cold storage or by canning +or pickling. Moreover, the industrial use of fats suitable for human +food (as in making soaps, lubricating oils, &c.) must be stopped, and +people must eat less meat, less butter, and more vegetables. Grain must +not be converted into starch. People must burn coke rather than coal, +for the coking process yields the valuable by-product of sulphate of +ammonia, one of the most valuable of fertilizers, and greatly needed by +German farmers now owing to the stoppage of imports of nitrate of soda +from Chile. + +In considering how the German people may keep up their production of +food, the authors find that various factors will work against such a +result. In the first place, there is a shortage of labor, nearly all the +able-bodied young and middle-aged men in the farming districts being in +the war. There is also a scarcity of horses, some 500,000 head having +already been requisitioned for army use, and the imports of about +140,000 head (chiefly from Russia) have almost wholly ceased. The people +must therefore resort more extensively to the use of motor plows, and +the State Governments must give financial assistance to insure this +wherever necessary; and such plows on hand must be kept more steadily in +use through company ownership or rental. It may be remarked here, again, +that the Prussian Government is also assisting agricultural +organizations to buy motor plows. The supply of fertilizers has also +been cut down by the war. Nitrate has just been mentioned. The authors +recommend that the Government solve this problem by having many of the +existing electrical plants turn partly to recovering nitrogen from the +atmosphere. This, they say, could be done without reducing the present +production of electricity for ordinary purposes, since only 19 per cent. +of the effective capacity of the 2,000,000 horse power producible by the +electrical plants of Germany is actually used. The supply of phosphoric +fertilizers is also endangered through the stoppage of imports of +phosphate rock (nearly 1,000,000 tons a year) as well as the material +from which to make sulphuric acid; also, through the reduction in the +production of the iron furnaces of the country, from the slag of which +over 2,000,000 tons of so-called Thomas phosphate flour was produced, +will involve a big reduction in the make of that valuable fertilizer. +Thus, there is a lack of horses, of fertilizers, and of the guiding hand +of man. This last, however, can be partly supplied by utilizing for farm +work such of the prisoners of war as come from the farm. As Germany now +holds considerably more than 600,000 prisoners, it can draw many farm +laborers from among them. Prisoners are already used in large numbers in +recovering moorland for agricultural purposes. + +This latter remark suggests one of the recommendations of the authors +for increasing agricultural production--the increased recovery of +moorlands. They show that Germany has at least 52,000 square miles (more +than 33,000,000 acres) of moors convertible into good arable land, +which, with proper fertilizing, can be made at once richly productive; +they yield particularly large crops of grain and potatoes. Moreover, the +State Governments must undertake the division of large landed estates +among small proprietors wherever possible--and this is more possible +just now than ever, owing to the fact that many large owners have been +killed in battle. The reason for such a division is that the small +holder gets more out of the acre than the large proprietor. + +As Germany makes a large surplus of sugar, the authors advise that the +area planted in beets be reduced and the land thus liberated be planted +in grain, potatoes, and turnips; as a matter of fact, it is reported +that the Government is now considering the question of reducing the +beetroot acreage by one-fourth. The authors also recommend that sugar be +used to some extent in feeding stock, sweeting low-grade hay and roots +with it to make them more palatable and nutritious. It is also regarded +as profitable to leave 20 per cent. of sugar in the beets, so as to +secure a more valuable feed product in the remnants. Still another +agricultural change is to increase the crops of beans, peas, and +lentils--vegetables which contain when dried as much nutrition as meat. +Germany will need to increase its home production of these crops to +replace the 300,000 tons of them hitherto imported. + +Such are the principal points covered by these experts. Their conclusion +is that, if their recommendations be carried out fully, and various +economies be practiced--they could not be touched on in the limits of +this article--Germany can manage to feed its people. But they insist, in +their earnest, concluding words, that this can only be done by carrying +out thoroughly all the methods of producing and saving food products +advised by them. It is a serious problem, indeed, but one which, all +Germany is convinced, can and will be solved. + + + + +HOCH DER KAISER + +BY GEORGE DAVIES + + + _HOCH DER KAISER! Amen! Amen! + We of the pulpit and bar, + We of the engine and car; + Hail to the Caesar who's given us men, + Our rightful heritage back again._ + + Who kicks the dancing shoes from our feet; + Snatches our mouths from the hot forced meat; + Drags us away from our warm padded stalls; + From our ivory keys, our song books and balls; + Orders man's hands from the children's go-carts; + Closes our fool schools of "ethics" and "arts." + Puts our ten fingers on triggers and swords, + Marshals us into War's legions by hordes. + + _Hoch der Kaiser! Amen! Amen! + We of the sea and the land; + We of the clerking band; + Hail to the Caesar who's given us men + Our rightful heritage back again._ + + _WHO SUMMONS:_ + + These women who write of loves that are loose, + (Those little perversionist scribes of the Deuce!) + Laughter of lies lilting lewd at their lips, + Their souls and brains both in a maudlin eclipse; + Their bosoms as bare as their stories and songs; + These coaxers of dogs with their "rights" and their wrongs. + + _WHO COMMANDS:_ + + Strike from their shoulders the transparent mesh; + Mark the Red Cross on the cloth for their flesh. + + _WHO ORDAINS:_ + + Ye, men who seem women in work and at play; + Ye, who do blindly as women may say; + Ye, who kill life in the smug cabarets; + Ye, all, at the beck of the little tea-tray; + Ye, all, of the measure of daughters of clay. + + Waken to face me: be women no more; + But fellow-men born, from top branch to the core; + Men who must fight--who can kill, who can die, + While women once more shall be covered and shy. + + _Hoch der Kaiser! Amen! Amen! + We of the hills and the homes; + We of the plows and the tomes; + Hail to the Caesar who's given us men + Our rightful heritage back again._ + + + + +The Submarine of 1578 + +[From The London Times, Jan. 16, 1915.] + + +The earliest description of a practical under-water boat is given by +William Bourne in his book entitled "Inventions or Devices," published +in 1578. Instructions for building such a boat are given in detail, and +it has been conjectured that Cornelius van Drebbel, a Dutch physician, +used this information for the construction of the vessel with which in +the early part of the seventeenth century he carried out some +experiments on the Thames. It is doubtful, however, whether van +Drebbel's boat was ever entirely submerged, and the voyage with which he +was credited, from Westminster to Greenwich, is supposed to have been +made in an awash condition, with the head of the inventor above the +surface. More than one writer at the time referred to van Drebbel's boat +and endeavored to explain the apparatus by which his rowers were enabled +to breathe under water. + +Van Drebbel died in 1634, and no illustration of his boat has been +discovered. Nineteen years later the vessel illustrated here was +constructed at Rotterdam from the designs of a Frenchman named de Son. +This is supposed to be the earliest illustration of any submarine, and +the inscription under the drawing, which was printed at Amsterdam in the +Calverstraat, (in the Three Crabs,) is in old Dutch, of which the +following is a translation: + + The inventor of this ship will undertake to destroy in a + single day a hundred vessels, and such destruction could not + be prevented by fire, storm, bad weather, or the force of the + waves, saving only that the Almighty should otherwise will it. + +[Illustration: The figures on the drawing refer to the following +explanations: + +1. The beam wherewith power shall be given to the ship. + +2. The rudder of the ship, somewhat aft. + +3. The keel plate. + +4. The two ends of the ship, iron plated. + +5. Iron bolts and screws. + +6. How deep the ship goes into the water when awash. + +7. The pivots on which the paddle-wheel turns. + +8. Air holes. + +9. Gallery along which men can move. + +The inset is a drawing of the paddle-wheels which fill the centre +portion of the boat and which work upon the pivot marked 7.] + + Vain would it be for ships lying in harbor to be regarded as + safe, for the inventor could reach anywhere unless prevented + by betrayal. None but he could control the craft. Therefore it + may truly be called the lightning of the sea. + + Its power shall be proven by a trip to the East Indies in six + weeks or to France and back in a day, for as fast as a bird + flieth can one travel in this boat. + +This boat was 72 feet in length, and her greatest height was 12 feet, +while the greatest breadth was 8 feet, tapering off to points at the +end. Capt. Murray Sueter in his book on submarines gives these and other +particulars of the vessel. At either end the boat had a cabin, the air +in which remained good for about three hours, and in the middle of the +boat was a large paddlewheel rotated by clockwork mechanism, which, it +was claimed, would run for eight hours when once wound up. The iron tips +at the ends of the vessel were intended for ramming, and the inventor +was confident he could sink the biggest English ship afloat by crushing +in her hull under water. The boat was duly launched, but on trial of the +machinery being made the paddlewheel, though it revolved in air, would +not move in the water, the machinery being not powerful enough. This, +says Capt. Sueter, was apparently the only reason for de Son's failure, +for his principles were distinctly sound, and he was certainly the first +inventor of the mechanically propelled semi-submarine boat. After her +failure de Son exhibited her for a trifle to any casual passer-by. + + + + +THE TORPEDO. + +By Katharine Drayton Mayrant Simons, Jr. + + +Death, our mother, gave us her three gray gifts from the sea-- + (Cherish your birthright, Brothers!)--speed, cunning, and certainty. +And mailèd Mars, he blest us--but his blessing was most to me! + +For the swift gun sometimes falters, sparing the foe afar, + And the hid mine wastes destruction on the drag's decoying spar, +But I am the wrath of the Furies' path--of the war god's avatar! + +Mine is the brain of thinking steel man made to match his own, + To guard and guide the death disks packed in the war head's hammered cone, +To drive the cask of the thin air flask as the gyroscope has shown. + +My brother, the gun, shrieks o'er the sea his curse from the covered deck, + My brother, the mine, lies sullen-dumb, agape for the dreadnought's wreck, +I glide on the breath of my mother, Death, and my goal is my only check! + +More strong than the strength of armored ships is the firing pin's frail + spark, + More sure than the helm of the mighty fleet are my rudders to their mark, +The faint foam fades from the bright screw blades--and I strike from the + under dark! + +Death, our mother, gave us her three gray gifts from the sea-- + (Cherish your birthright, Brothers!)--speed, cunning, and certainty. +And mailèd Mars, he blest us--but his blessing was most to me! + + + + +"God Punish England, Brother" + +A New Hymn of Germany's Gospel of Hatred + +[From Public Opinion, London, Feb. 5, 1915.] + + +The amazing outburst of hatred against England in Germany is responsible +for a new form of greeting which has displaced the conventional formulas +of salutation and farewell: "God punish England!" ("Gott strafe +England!") is the form of address, to which the reply is: "May God +punish her!" ("Gott mög'es strafen!") + +"This extraordinary formula," says The Mail, "which is now being used +all over Germany, is celebrated in a set of verses by Herr Hochstetter +in a recent number of the well-known German weekly, Lustige Blätter. In +its way this poem is as remarkable as Herr Ernst Lissauer's famous 'Hymn +of Hate.'" + +Among the prayers at Bruges Cathedral on the Kaiser's birthday was this +German chant of hate, "God Punish England!" + +A HYMN OF HATE. + +Translated by + +G. VALENTINE WILLIAMS. + + This is the German greeting + When men their fellows meet, + The merchants in the market-place, + The beggars in the street. + A pledge of bitter enmity, + Thus runs the wingèd word: + "God punish England, brother!-- + Yea! Punish her, O Lord!" + + With raucous voice, brass-throated, + Our German shells shall bear + This curse that is our greeting + To the "cousin" in his lair. + This be our German battle cry, + The motto on our sword: + "God punish England, brother!--Yea! + Punish her, O Lord!" + + By shell from sea, by bomb from air, + Our greeting shall be sped, + Making each English homestead + A mansion of the dead. + And even Grey will tremble + As falls each iron word: + "God punish England, brother!-- + Yea! Punish her, O Lord!" + + This is the German greeting + When men their fellows meet, + The merchants in the market-place, + The beggars in the street. + A pledge of bitter enmity, + Thus runs the winged word: + "God punish England, brother!-- + Yea! Punish her, O Lord!" + +"What German Lutheran pastors think of the gospel of hate that is at +present being preached throughout the Fatherland may be judged from an +article on the subject written for the Vossische Zeitung of Berlin, by +Dr. Julius Schiller of Nürnberg, who describes himself as a royal +Protestant pastor," says The Morning Post. + +"Before the war, the pastor writes, it was considered immoral to hate; +now, however, Germans know that they not only may, but they must hate. +Herr Lissauer's 'Hymn of Hate' against England is, he declares, a +faithful expression of the feelings cherished in the depths of the +German soul. + +"'All protests against this hate,' the pastor writes, 'fall on deaf +ears; we strike down all hands that would avert it. We cannot do +otherwise; we must hate the brood of liars. Our hate was provoked, and +the German can hate more thoroughly than any one else. A feeling that +this is the case is penetrating into England, but the fear of the German +hate is as yet hidden. There is a grain of truth in Lord Curzon's +statement that the phlegmatic temperament of his countrymen is incapable +of hating as the Germans hate. + +"'We Germans do, as a matter of fact, hate differently than the sons of +Albion. We Germans hate honorably, for our hatred is based on right and +justice. England, on the other hand, hates mendaciously, being impelled +by envy, ill-will, and jealousy. It was high time that we tore the mask +from England's face, that we finally saw England as she really is. + +"'We hate with a clean conscience, although religion seems to condemn as +unæsthetic everything that is included in the word hate.' The Pastor +concludes by asserting that 'we, who are fighting for truth and right +with clean hands and a clean conscience, must have Him on our side Who +is stronger than the strongest battalions. Hence our courage and our +confidence in a fortunate outcome of the world conflagration. The dawn +will soon appear that announces that the "Day of Harvest" for Germany +has broken.'" + +"The avowal that the love of good Germans for Germany is inseparable +from hatred of other countries shows how deeply the aggressiveness of +German policy has sunk into the nation's mood," says The Times. "Only +by constantly viewing their own country as in a natural state of +challenge to all others can Germans have come to absorb the view that +hatred is the normal manifestation of patriotism. It is a purely +militarist conception. + +"Hate is at bottom a slavish passion, and remote from that heroic spirit +of the warrior with which the Germans represent themselves as facing a +world in arms. The hater subjects his mind to the domination of what he +hates; he loses his independence and volition and becomes the prey of +the hated idea. At last he cannot free his mind from the obsession; and +the deliberate cultivation of hate in the conscientious German manner is +a kind of mental suicide." + + + + +THE GREAT HOUR. + +By HERMANN SUDERMANN. + + + Whether, O Father in Heaven, we still put our trust in You, + Whether You are but a dream of a sacred past, + See now, we swear to You, Witness of Truth, + Not we have wanted it-- + This murder, this world-ending murder-- + Which now, with blood-hot sighs, + Stamps o'er the shuddering earth. + True to the earth, the bread-giving earth, + Happy and cheery in business and trade, + Peaceful we sat in the oak tree's shade, + Peaceful, + Though we were born to the sword. + + Circled around us, for ever and ever, + Greed, sick with envy, and nets lifted high, + Full of inherited hatred. + Every one saw it, and every one felt + The secret venom, gushing forth, + Year after year, + Heavy and breath-bated years. + But hearts did not quiver + Nor hands draw the sword. + + And then it came, the hour + Of sacred need, of pregnant Fate, + And what it brings forth, we will shape, + The brown gun in our mastering hand. + + Ye mothers, what ye once have borne, + In honor or in vice, + Bring forth to every sacred shrine-- + Your country's sacrifice. + + Ye brides, whom future happiness, + Once kissed--it but seemed true, + Bring back to fair Germania + What she has given you. + + Ye women, in silks or in linen, + Offer your husbands now. + Bid them goodbye, with your children, + With smiles and a blessing vow. + + Ye all are doomed to lie sleepless, + Many a desolate night, + And dream of approaching conquests + And of your hero's might. + + And dream of laurel and myrtle, + Until he shall return, + Till he, your master and shepherd, + Shall make the old joys burn. + + And if he fell on the Autumn heath + And fell deep into death, + He died for Germania's greatness, + He died for Germania's breath. + + The Fatherland they shall let stand, + Upon his blood-soaked loam, + And ne'er again shall they approach + Our sacred, peaceful home. + +--Translated by Herman J. Mankiewicz. + +[Illustration: H.M. GUSTAF V + +King of Sweden + +_(Photo from Underwood & Underwood)_] + +[Illustration: H.M. HAAKON VII + +King of Norway + +_(Photo from Underwood & Underwood)_] + + + + +The Peace of the World + +A Famous Englishman's Diagnosis of the War Disease and His Prescription +for a Permanent Cure + +By H.G. Wells + +(COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY.) + +(Copyrighted in Great Britain and Ireland.) + + +I. + +Probably there have never been before in the whole past of mankind so +many people convinced of the dreadfulness of war, nor so large a +proportion anxious to end war, to rearrange the world's affairs so that +this huge hideousness of hardship, suffering, destruction, and killing +that still continues in Europe may never again be repeated. + +The present writer is one of this great majority. He wants as far as +possible to end war altogether, and contrive things so that when any +unavoidable outbreak does occur it may be as little cruel and +mischievous as it can be. + +But it is one thing to desire a thing and another thing to get it. It +does not follow because this aspiration for world-peace is almost +universal that it will be realized. There may be faults in ourselves, +unsuspected influences within us and without, that may be working to +defeat our superficial sentiments. There must be not only a desire for +peace, but a will for peace, if peace is to be established forever. If +out of a hundred men ninety-nine desire peace and trouble no further, +the one man over will arm himself and set up oppression and war again. +Peace must be organized and maintained. This present monstrous +catastrophe is the outcome of forty-three years of skillful, +industrious, systematic world armament. Only by a disarmament as +systematic, as skillful, and as devoted may we hope to achieve centuries +of peace. + +No apology is needed, therefore, for a discussion of the way in which +peace may be organized and established out of the settlement of this +war. I am going to set out and estimate as carefully as I can the forces +that make for a peace organization and the forces that make for war. I +am going to do my best to diagnose the war disorder. I want to find out +first for my own guidance, and then with a view to my co-operation with +other people, what has to be done to prevent the continuation and +recrudescence of warfare. + +Such an inquiry is manifestly the necessary first stage in any world +pacification. So manifestly that, of course, countless others are also +setting to work upon it. It is a research. It is a research exactly like +a scientific exploration. Each of us will probably get out a lot of +truth and a considerable amount of error; the truth will be the same and +the errors will confute and disperse each other. But it is clear that +there is no simple panacea in this matter, and that only by intentness +and persistence shall we disentangle a general conception of the road +the peace-desiring multitude must follow. + +Now, first be it noted that there is in every one a certain discord with +regard to war. Every man is divided against himself. On the whole, most +of us want peace. But hardly any one is without a lurking belligerence, +a lurking admiration for the vivid impacts, the imaginative appeals of +war. I am sitting down to write for the peace of the world, but +immediately before I sat down to write I was reading the morning's +paper, and particularly of the fight between the Sydney and the Emden +at Cocos Island. + +I confess to the utmost satisfaction in the account of the smashing +blows delivered by the guns of the Australian. There is a sensation of +greatness, a beautiful tremendousness, in many of the crude facts of +war; they excite in one a kind of vigorous exaltation; we have that +destructive streak in us, and it is no good pretending that we have not; +the first thing we must do for the peace of the world is to control +that. And to control it one can do nothing more effective than to keep +in mind the other side of the realities of war. + +As my own corrective I have at hand certain letters from a very able +woman doctor who returned last week from Calais. Lockjaw, gangrene, men +tied with filthy rags and lying bitterly cold in coaly sheds; men +unwounded, but so broken by the chill horrors of the Yser trenches as to +be near demented--such things make the substance of her picture. One +young officer talked to her rather dryly of the operations, of the +ruined towns and villages, of the stench of dead men and horses, of the +losses and wounds and mutilations among his men, of the list of pals he +had lost. "Suddenly he began to cry. He broke down just like an +overtaxed child. And he could not stop crying. He cried and cried, and I +could do nothing to help him." He was a strong man and a brave man, and +to that three months of war had brought him. + +And then this again: + + There were a fair number of Belgian doctors, but no nurses + except the usual untrained French girls, almost no equipment, + and no place for clean surgery. We heard of a house containing + sixty-one men with no doctor or nurses--several died without + having received any medical aid at all. Mrs. ---- and I even + on the following Wednesday found four men lying on straw in a + shop with leg and foot wounds who had not been dressed since + Friday and had never been seen by a doctor. In addition there + were hundreds and hundreds of wounded who could walk trying to + find shelter in some corner, besides the many unwounded French + and Belgian soldiers quartered in the town. + + As if this inferno of misery were not enough, there were added + the refugees! These were not Belgians, as I had imagined, but + French. It appears that both English and French armies have + to clear the civil population out of the whole fighting + area--partly to prevent spying and treachery, (which has been + a curse to both armies,) and partly because they would starve. + They are sent to Calais, and then by boat to Havre. + + That first Sunday evening an endless procession flowed from + the station to the quays in the drenching rain. Each family + had a perambulator, (a surprisingly handsome one, too,) piled + with sticks of bread, a few bundles of goods, and, when we + peered inside, a couple of crying babies. There were few young + people; mostly it was whimpering, frightened-looking children + and wretched, bent old men and women. It seemed too bad to be + true; even when they brushed past us in the rain we could not + believe that their sodden figures were real. They were + dematerialized by misery in some odd way. + + Some of them slept in skating rinks, trucks, some in the + Amiral Ganteaume. (One's senses could not realize that to the + horrors of exile these people had added those of shipwreck + next day.) Some certainly stood in the Booking Hall outside + our hotel all night through. This sort of thing went on all + the week, and was going on when we left. + +Nevertheless, I was stirred agreeably by the imagination of the shells +smashing the Emden and the men inside the Emden, and when I read the +other day that the naval guns had destroyed over 4,000 men in the German +trenches about Middlekirche I remarked that we were "doing well." It is +only on the whole that we who want to end war hate and condemn war; we +are constantly lapsing into fierceness, and if we forget this lurking +bellicosity and admiration for hard blows in our own nature then we +shall set about the task of making an end to it under hopelessly +disabling misconceptions. We shall underrate and misunderstand +altogether the very powerful forces that are against pacifist effort. + +Let us consider first, then, the forces that are directly opposed to the +pacification of the world, the forces that will work openly and +definitely for the preservation of war as a human condition. And it has +to be remembered that the forces that are for a thing are almost always +more unified, more concentrated and effective than the forces that are +against it. We who are against war and want to stop it are against it +for a great multitude of reasons. There are other things in life that +we prefer, and war stops these other things. Some of us want to pursue +art, some want to live industrious lives in town or country, some would +pursue scientific developments, some want pleasures of this sort or +that, some would live lives of religion and kindliness, or religion and +austerity. + +But we all agree in fixing our minds upon something else than war. And +since we fix our minds on other things, war becomes possible and +probable through our general inattention. We do not observe it, and +meanwhile the people who really care for war and soldiering fix their +minds upon it. They scheme how it shall be done, they scheme to bring it +about. Then we discover suddenly--as the art and social development, the +industry and pleasant living, the cultivation of the civil enterprise of +England, France, Germany, and Russia have discovered--that everything +must be pushed aside when the war thinkers have decided upon their game. +And until we of the pacific majority contrive some satisfactory +organization to watch the war-makers we shall never end war, any more +than a country can end crime and robbery without a police. Specialist +must watch specialist in either case. Mere expressions of a virtuous +abhorrence of war will never end war until the crack of doom. + +The people who actually want war are perhaps never at any time very +numerous. Most people sometimes want war, and a few people always want +war. It is these last who are, so to speak, the living nucleus of the +war creature that we want to destroy. That liking for an effective smash +which gleamed out in me for a moment when I heard of the naval guns is +with them a dominating motive. It is not outweighed and overcome in them +as it is in me by the sense of waste, and by pity and horror and by love +for men who can do brave deeds and yet weep bitterly for misery and the +deaths of good friends. These war-lovers are creatures of a simpler +constitution. And they seem capable of an ampler hate. + +You will discover, if you talk to them skillfully, that they hold that +war "ennobles," and that when they say ennobles they mean that it is +destructive to the ten thousand things in life that they do not enjoy or +understand or tolerate, things that fill them, therefore, with envy and +perplexity--such things as pleasure, beauty, delicacy, leisure. In the +cant of modern talk you will find them call everything that is not crude +and forcible in life "degenerate." But back to the very earliest +writings, in the most bloodthirsty outpourings of the Hebrew prophets, +for example, you will find that at the base of the warrior spirit is +hate for more complicated, for more refined, for more beautiful and +happier living. + +The military peoples of the world have almost always been harsh and +rather stupid peoples, full of a virtuous indignation of all they did +not understand. The modern Prussian goes to war today with as supreme a +sense of moral superiority as the Arabs when they swept down upon Egypt +and North Africa. The burning of the library of Alexandria remains +forever the symbol of the triumph of a militarist "culture" over +civilization. This easy belief of the dull and violent that war "braces" +comes out of a real instinct of self-preservation against the subtler +tests of peace. This type of person will keep on with war if it can. It +is to politics what the criminal type is to social order; it will be +resentful and hostile to every attempt to fix up a pacific order in the +world. + +This heavy envy which is the dominant characteristic of the pro-military +type is by no means confined to it. More or less it is in all of us. In +England one finds it far less frequently in professional soldiers than +among sedentary learned men. In Germany, too, the more uncompromising +and ferocious pro-militarism is to be found in the frock coats of the +professors. Just at present England is full of virtuous reprehension of +German military professors, but there is really no monopoly of such in +Germany, and before Germany England produced some of the most perfect +specimens of aggressive militarist conceivable. To read Froude upon +Ireland or Carlyle upon the Franco-German War is to savor this +hate-dripping temperament in its perfection. + +Much of this literary bellicosity is pathological. Men overmuch in +studies and universities get ill in their livers and sluggish in their +circulations; they suffer from shyness, from a persuasion of excessive +and neglected merit, old maid's melancholy, and a detestation of all the +levities of life. And their suffering finds its vent in ferocious +thoughts. A vigorous daily bath, a complete stoppage of wine, beer, +spirits, and tobacco, and two hours of hockey in the afternoon would +probably make decently tolerant men of all these fermenting professional +militarists. Such a regimen would certainly have been the salvation of +both Froude and Carlyle. It would probably have saved the world from the +vituperation of the Hebrew prophets--those models for infinite mischief. + +The extremist cases pass to the average case through insensible degrees. +We are all probably, as a species, a little too prone to intolerance, +and if we do in all sincerity mean to end war in the world we must +prepare ourselves for considerable exercises in restraint when strange +people look, behave, believe, and live in a manner different from our +own. The minority of permanently bitter souls who want to see +objectionable cities burning and men fleeing and dying form the real +strength in our occasional complicities. + +The world has had its latest object lesson in the German abuse of +English and French as "degenerates," of the Russians as "Mongol hordes," +of the Japanese as "yellow savages," but it is not only Germans who let +themselves slip into national vanity and these ugly hostilities to +unfamiliar life. The first line of attack against war must be an attack +upon self-righteousness and intolerance. These things are the germ of +uncompromising and incurable militarism everywhere. + +Now, the attack upon self-righteousness and intolerance and the stern, +self-satisfied militarism that arises naturally out of these things is +to be made in a number of ways. The first is a sedulous propaganda of +the truth about war, a steadfast resolve to keep the pain of warfare +alive in the nerves of the careless, to keep the stench of war under the +else indifferent nose. It is only in the study of the gloomily +megalomaniac historian that aggressive war becomes a large and glorious +thing. In reality it is a filthy outrage upon life, an idiot's smashing +of the furniture of homes, a mangling, a malignant mischief, a scalding +of stokers, a disemboweling of gunners, a raping of caught women by +drunken soldiers. By book and pamphlet, by picture and cinematograph +film, the pacifist must organize wisdom in these matters. + +And not only indignation and distress must come to this task. The stern, +uncompromising militarist will not be moved from his determinations by +our horror and hostility. These things will but "brace" him. He has a +more vulnerable side. The ultimate lethal weapon for every form of +stupidity is ridicule, and against the high silliness of the militarist +it is particularly effective. It is the laughter of wholesome men that +will finally end war. The stern, strong, silent man will cease to +trouble us only when we have stripped him of his last rag of pretension +and touched through to the quick of his vanity with the realization of +his apprehended foolishness. Literature will have failed humanity if it +is so blinded by the monstrous agony in Flanders as to miss the +essential triviality at the head of the present war. Not the slaughter +of ten million men can make the quality of the German Kaiser other than +theatrical and silly. + +The greater part of the world is in an agony, a fever, but that does not +make the cause of that fever noble or great. A man may die of yellow +fever through the bite of a mosquito; that does not make a mosquito +anything more than a dirty little insect or an aggressive imperialist +better than a pothouse fool. + +Henceforth we must recognize no heroic war but defensive war, and as the +only honorable warriors such men as those peasants of Visé who went out +with shotguns against the multitudinous overwhelming nuisance of +invasion that trampled down their fields. + +Or war to aid such defensive war. + + +II. + +But the people who positively admire and advocate and want war for its +own sake are only a small, feverish minority of mankind. The greater +obstacle to the pacification of the world is not the war-seeker, but the +vast masses of people who for the most various motives support and +maintain all kinds of institutions and separations that make for war. +They do not want war, they do not like war, but they will not make +sacrifices, they will not exert themselves in any way to make war +difficult or impossible. + +It is they who give the war maniac his opportunity. They will not lock +the gun away from him, they will not put a reasonable limit to the +disputes into which he can ultimately thrust his violent substitute for +a solution. They are like the people who dread and detest yellow fever, +but oppose that putting of petrol on the ponds which is necessary to +prevent it because of the injury to the water flowers. + +Now, it is necessary, if we are to have an intelligently directed +anti-war campaign, that we should make a clear, sound classification of +these half-hearted people, these people who do not want war, but who +permit it. Their indecisions, their vagueness, these are the really +effective barriers to our desire to end war forever. + +And first, there is one thing very obvious, and that is the necessity +for some controlling world authority if treaties are to be respected and +war abolished. While there are numerous sovereign States in the world +each absolutely free to do what it chooses, to arm its people or +repudiate engagements, there can be no sure peace. But great multitudes +of those who sincerely desire peace forever cannot realize this. There +are, for example, many old-fashioned English liberals who denounce +militarism and "treaty entanglements" with equal ardor; they want +Britain to stand alone, unaggressive, but free; not realizing that such +an isolation is the surest encouragement to any war-enamored power. +Exactly the same type is to be found in the United States, and is +probably even more influential there. But only by so spinning a web of +treaties that all countries are linked by general obligations to mutual +protection can a real world-pacification be achieved. + +The present alliance against the insufferable militarism of Germany may +very probably be the precursor of a much wider alliance against any +aggression whatever in the future. Only through some such arrangement is +there any reasonable hope of a control and cessation of that constant +international bickering and pressure, that rivalry in finance, that +competition for influence in weak neutral countries, which has initiated +all the struggles of the last century, and which is bound to accumulate +tensions for fresh wars so long as it goes on. + +Already several States, and particularly the Government of the United +States of America, have signed treaties of arbitration, and The Hague +Tribunal spins a first web of obligations, exemplary if gossamer, +between the countries of the world. But these are but the faint initial +suggestions of much greater possibilities, and it is these greater +possibilities that have now to be realized if all the talk we have had +about a war to end war is to bear any fruit. What is now with each week +of the present struggle becoming more practicable is the setting up of a +new assembly that will take the place of the various embassies and +diplomatic organizations, of a mediaeval pattern and tradition, which +have hitherto conducted international affairs. + +This war must end in a public settlement, to which all of the +belligerents will set their hands; it will not be a bundle of treaties, +but one treaty binding eight or nine or more powers. This settlement +will almost certainly be attained at a conference of representatives of +the various Foreign Offices involved. Quite possibly interested neutral +powers will also send representatives. There is no reason whatever why +this conference should dissolve, why it should not become a permanent +conference upon the inter-relations of the participating powers and the +maintenance of the peace of the world. It could have a seat and +officials, a staff, and a revenue of its own; it could sit and debate +openly, publish the generally binding treaties between its constituent +powers, and claim for the support of its decisions their military and +naval resources. + +The predominance of the greater powers could be secured either by the +representatives having multiple votes, according to the population +represented, or by some sort of proportional representation. Each power +could appoint its representatives through its Foreign Office or by +whatever other means it thought fit. They could as conveniently be +elected by a legislature or a nation. And such a body would not only be +of enormous authority in the statement, interpretation, and enforcement +of treaties, but it could also discharge a hundred useful functions in +relation to world hygiene, international trade and travel, the control +of the ocean, the exploration and conservation of the world's supplies +of raw material and food supply. It would be, in fact, a World Council. + +Today this is an entirely practicable and hopeful proposal if only we +can overcome the opposition of those who cling to the belief that it is +possible for a country to be at the same time entirely pacific and +entirely unresponsible to and detached from the rest of mankind. + +Given such a body, such a great alliance of world powers, much else in +the direction of world pacification becomes possible. Without it we may +perhaps expect a certain benefit from the improved good feeling of +mankind and the salutary overthrow of the German military culture, but +we cannot hope for any real organized establishment of peace. + +I believe that a powerful support for the assembly and continuance of +such a world congress as this could be easily and rapidly developed in +North and South America, in Britain and the British Empire generally, in +France and Italy, in all the smaller States of northern, central, and +western Europe. It would probably have the personal support of the Czar, +unless he has profoundly changed the opinions with which he opened his +reign, the warm accordance of educated China and Japan, and the good +will of a renascent Germany. It would open a new era for mankind. + + +III. + +Now, this idea of a congress of the belligerents to arrange the peace +settlements after this war, expanding by the accession of neutral powers +into a permanent world congress for the enforcement of international law +and the maintenance of the peace of mankind, is so reasonable and +attractive and desirable that if it were properly explained it would +probably receive the support of nineteen out of every twenty intelligent +persons. + +Nevertheless, its realization is, on the whole, improbable. A mere +universal disgust with war is no more likely to end war than the +universal dislike for dying has ended death. And though war, unlike +dying, seems to be an avoidable fate, it does not follow that its +present extreme unpopularity will end it unless people not only desire +but see to the accomplishment of their desire. + +And here again one is likely to meet an active and influential +opposition. Though the general will and welfare may point to the future +management of international relations through a world congress, the +whole mass of those whose business has been the direction of +international relations is likely to be either skeptical or actively +hostile to such an experiment. All the foreign offices and foreign +ministers, the diplomatists universally, the politicians who have +specialized in national assertion, and the courts that have symbolized +and embodied it, all the people, in fact, who will be in control of the +settlement, are likely to be against so revolutionary a change. + +For it would be an entirely revolutionary change. It would put an end to +secrecy. It would end all that is usually understood by diplomacy. It +would clear the world altogether of those private understandings and +provisional secret agreements, those intrigues, wire-pullings, and +quasi-financial operations that have been the very substance of +international relations hitherto. To these able and interested people, +for the most part highly seasoned by the present conditions, finished +and elaborated players at the old game, this is to propose a new, crude, +difficult, and unsympathetic game. They may all of them, or most of +them, hate war, but they will cling to the belief that their method of +operating may now, after a new settlement, be able to prevent or +palliate war. + +All men get set in a way of living, and it is as little in human nature +to give up cheerfully in the middle of life a familiar method of dealing +with things in favor of a new and untried one as it is to change one's +language or emigrate to an entirely different land. I realize what this +proposal means to diplomatists when I try to suppose myself united to +assist in the abolition of written books and journalism in favor of the +gramophone and the cinematograph. Or united to adopt German as my means +of expression. It is only by an enormous pressure of opinion in the +world behind these monarchs, ministers, and representatives that they +will be induced even to consider the possibility of adapting themselves +to this novel style of international dealing through a permanent +congress. It is only the consideration of its enormous hopefulness for +the rest of the world that gives one the courage to advocate it. + +In the question of the possible abolition of the present diplomatic +system, just as in the case of the possible abolition of war, while on +the side for abolition there must be a hugely preponderating interest +and a hugely preponderating majority, it is, nevertheless, a dispersed +interest and an unorganized, miscellaneous majority. The minority is, on +the other hand, compact, more intensively and more immediately +interested and able to resist such great changes with a maximum of +efficiency. There is a tremendous need, therefore, for a world congress +organization propaganda if this advantageously posted minority is to be +overcome. + +And from such countries as the American States in particular, and from +the small liberal neutrals in Europe, whose diplomacy is least developed +and least influential, liberal-minded people through the world are most +disposed to expect, and do expect, a lead in this particular matter. The +liberal forces in Britain, France, and Russia are extraordinarily +embarrassed and enslaved by the vast belligerent necessities into which +their lives have been caught. But they would take up such a lead with +the utmost vigor and enthusiasm. + +No one who has followed the diplomatic history of the negotiations that +led to this war can doubt that if there had been no secret treaties, but +instead open proclamations of intentions and an open discussion of +international ambitions, the world might have been saved this +catastrophe. It is no condemnation of any person or country to say this. +The reserves and hesitations and misconceptions that led Germany to +suppose that England would wait patiently while France and Belgium were +destroyed before she herself received attention were unavoidable under +the existing diplomatic conditions. What reasonable people have to do +now is not to recriminate over the details in the working of a system +that we can now all of us perceive to be hopelessly bad, but to do our +utmost in this season of opportunity to destroy the obscurities in which +fresh mischief may fester for our children. + +Let me restate this section in slightly different words. At the end of +this war there must be a congress of adjustment. The suggestion in this +section is to make this congress permanent, to use it as a clearing +house of international relationships and to abolish embassies. + +Instead of there being a British Ambassador, for example, at every +sufficiently important capital, and an ambassador from every important +State in London, and a complex tangle of relationships, misstatements, +and misconceptions arising from the ill-co-ordinated activities of this +double system of agents, it is proposed to send one or several +ambassadors to some central point, such as The Hague, to meet there all +the ambassadors of all the significant States in the world and to deal +with international questions with a novel frankness in a collective +meeting. + +This has now become a possible way of doing the world's business because +of the development of the means of communication and information. The +embassy in a foreign country, as a watching, remonstrating, proposing +extension of its country of origin, a sort of eye and finger at the +heart of the host country, is now clumsy, unnecessary, inefficient, and +dangerous. For most routine work, for reports of all sorts, for legal +action, and so forth, on behalf of traveling nationals, the consular +service is adequate, or can easily be made adequate. What remains of the +ambassadorial apparatus might very well merge with the consular system +and the embassy become an international court civility, a ceremonial +vestige without any diplomatic value at all. + + +IV. + +Given a permanent world congress developed out of the congress of +settlement between the belligerents, a world alliance, with as a last +resort a call upon the forces of the associated powers, for dealing with +recalcitrants, then a great number of possibilities open out to humanity +that must otherwise remain inaccessible. But before we go on to consider +these it may be wise to point out how much more likely a world congress +is to effect a satisfactory settlement at the end of this war than a +congress confined to the belligerents. + +The war has progressed sufficiently to convince every one that there is +now no possibility of an overwhelming victory for Germany. It must end +in a more or less complete defeat of the German and Turkish alliance, +and in a considerable readjustment of Austrian and Turkish boundaries. +Assisted by the generosity of the doomed Austrians and Turks, the +Germans are fighting now to secure a voice as large as possible in the +final settlement, and it is conceivable that in the end that settlement +may be made quite an attractive one for Germany proper by the crowning +sacrifice of suicide on the part of her two subordinated allies. + +There can be little doubt that Russia will gain the enormous advantage +of a free opening into the Mediterranean and that the battle of the +Marne turned the fortunes of France from disaster to expansion. But the +rest of the settlement is still vague and uncertain, and German +imperialism, at least, is already working hard and intelligently for a +favorable situation at the climax, a situation that will enable this +militarist empire to emerge still strong, still capable of recuperation +and of a renewal at no very remote date of the struggle for European +predominance. This is a thing as little for the good of the saner German +people as it is for the rest of the world, but it is the only way in +which militant imperialism can survive at all. + +The alternative of an imperialism shorn of the glamour of aggression, +becoming constitutional and democratic--the alternative, that is to say, +of a great liberal Germany--is one that will be as distasteful almost to +the people who control the destinies of Germany today, and who will +speak and act for Germany in the final settlement, as a complete +submission to a Serbian conqueror would be. + +At the final conference of settlement Germany will not be really +represented at all. The Prussian militarist empire will still be in +existence, and it will sit at the council, working primarily for its own +survival. Unless the Allies insist upon the presence of representatives +of Saxony, Bavaria, and so forth, and demand the evidence of popular +sanctions--a thing they are very unlikely to demand--that is what +"Germany" will signify at the conference. And what is true of Germany +will be true, more or less, of several other of the allied powers. + +A conference confined purely to the belligerents will be, in fact, a +conference not even representative of the belligerents. And it will be +tainted with all the traditional policies, aggressions, suspicions, and +subterfuges that led up to the war. It will not be the end of the old +game, but the readjustment of the old game, the old game which is such +an abominable nuisance to the development of modern civilization. The +idealism of the great alliance will certainly be subjected to enormous +strains, and the whole energy of the Central European diplomatists will +be directed to developing and utilizing these stresses. + +This, I think, must be manifest even to the foreign offices most +concerned. They must see already ahead of them a terrible puzzle of +arrangement, a puzzle their own bad traditions will certainly never +permit them to solve. "God save us," they may very well pray, "from our +own cleverness and sharp dealing," and they may even welcome the promise +of an enlarged outlook that the entry of the neutral powers would bring +with it. + +Every foreign office has its ugly, evil elements, and probably every +foreign office dreads those elements. There are certainly Russian fools +who dream about India, German fools who dream about Canada and South +America, British fools who dream about Africa and the East; +aggressionists in the blood, people who can no more let nations live in +peace than kleptomaniacs can keep their hands in their own pockets. But +quite conceivably there are honest monarchs and sane foreign ministers +very ready to snatch at the chance of swamping the evil in their own +Chancelleries. + +It is just here that the value of neutral participation will come in. +Whatever ambitions the neutral powers may have of their own, it may be +said generally that they are keenly interested in preventing the +settlement from degenerating into a deal in points of vantage for any +further aggressions in any direction. Both the United States of America +and China are traditionally and incurably pacific powers, professing and +practicing an unaggressive policy, and the chief outstanding minor +States are equally concerned in securing a settlement that shall settle. + +And moreover, so wide reaching now are all international agreements that +they have not only a claim to intervene juridically, but they have the +much more pressing claim to participate on the ground that no sort of +readjustment of Europe, Western Asia, and Africa can leave their own +futures unaffected. They are wanted not only in the interests of the +belligerent peoples, but for their own sakes and the welfare of the +world all together. + + +V. + +Now a world conference, once it is assembled, can take up certain +questions that no partial treatment can ever hope to meet. The first of +the questions is disarmament. No one who has watched the politics of the +last forty years can doubt the very great share the business and finance +of armament manufacture has played in bringing about the present +horrible killing, and no one who has read accounts of the fighting can +doubt how much this industry has enhanced the torment, cruelty, and +monstrosity of war. + +In the old warfare a man was either stabbed, shot, or thrust through +after an hour or so of excitement, and all the wounded on the field were +either comfortably murdered or attended to before the dawn of the next +day. One was killed by human hands, with understandable and tolerable +injuries. But in this war the bulk of the dead--of the western Allies, +at any rate--have been killed by machinery, the wounds have been often +of an inconceivable horribleness, and the fate of the wounded has been +more frightful than was ever the plight of wounded in the hands of +victorious savages. For days multitudes of men have been left mangled, +half buried in mud and filth, or soaked with water, or frozen, crying, +raving between the contending trenches. The number of men that the war, +without actual physical wounds, has shattered mentally and driven insane +because of its noise, its stresses, its strange unnaturalness, is +enormous. Horror in this war has overcome more men than did all the +arrows of Cressy. + +Almost all this enhanced terribleness of war is due to the novel +machinery of destruction that science has rendered possible. The +wholesale mangling and destroying of men by implements they have never +seen, without any chance of retaliation, has been its most constant +feature. You cannot open a paper of any date since the war began without +reading of men burned, scalded, and drowned by the bursting of torpedoes +from submarines, of men falling out of the sky from shattered +aeroplanes, of women and children in Antwerp or Paris mutilated +frightfully or torn to ribbons by aerial bombs, of men smashed and +buried alive by shells. An indiscriminate, diabolical violence of +explosives resulting in cruelties for the most part ineffective from the +military point of view is the incessant refrain of this history. + +The increased dreadfulness of war due to modern weapons is, however, +only one consequence of their development. The practicability of +aggressive war in settled countries now is entirely dependent on the use +of elaborate artillery on land and warships at sea. Were there only +rifles in the world, were an ordinary rifle the largest kind of gun +permitted, and were ships specifically made for war not so made, then it +would be impossible to invade any country defended by a patriotic and +spirited population with any hopes of success because of the enormous +defensive capacity of entrenched riflemen not subjected to an unhampered +artillery attack. + +Modern war is entirely dependent upon equipment of the most costly and +elaborate sort. A general agreement to reduce that equipment would not +only greatly minimize the evil of any war that did break out, but it +would go a long way toward the abolition of war. A community of men +might be unwilling to renounce their right of fighting one another if +occasion arose, but they might still be willing to agree not to carry +arms or to carry arms of a not too lethal sort, to carry pistols instead +of rifles or sticks instead of swords. That, indeed, has been the +history of social amelioration in a number of communities; it has led +straight to a reduction in the number of encounters. So in the same way +the powers of the world might be willing to adopt such a limitation of +armaments, while still retaining the sovereign right of declaring war +in certain eventualities. Under the assurances of a world council +threatening a general intervention, such a partial disarmament would be +greatly facilitated. + +And another aspect of disarmament which needs to be taken up and which +only a world congress can take up must be the arming of barbaric or +industrially backward powers by the industrially and artillery forces in +such countries as efficient powers, the creation of navies Turkey, +Servia, Peru, and the like. In Belgium countless Germans were blown to +pieces by German-made guns, Europe arms Mexico against the United +States; China, Africa, Arabia are full of European and American weapons. +It is only the mutual jealousies of the highly organized States that +permit this leakage of power. The tremendous warnings of our war should +serve to temper their foolish hostilities, and now, if ever, is the time +to restrain this insane arming of the less advanced communities. + +But before that can be done it is necessary that the manufacture of war +material should cease to be a private industry and a source of profit to +private individuals, that all the invention and enterprise that blossoms +about business should be directed no longer to the steady improvement of +man-killing. It is a preposterous and unanticipated thing that +respectable British gentlemen should be directing magnificently +organized masses of artisans upon the Tyneside in the business of making +weapons that may ultimately smash some of those very artisans to +smithereens. + +At the risk of being called "Utopian" I would submit that the world is +not so foolish as to allow that sort of thing to go on indefinitely. It +is, indeed, quite a recent human development. All this great business of +armament upon commercial lines is the growth of half a century. But it +has grown with the vigor of an evil weed, it has thrown out a dark +jungle of indirect advertisement, and it has compromised and corrupted +great numbers of investors and financial people. It is perhaps the most +powerful single interest of all those that will fight against the +systematic minimization and abolition of war, and rather than lose his +end it may be necessary for the pacifist to buy out all these concerns, +to insist upon the various States that have sheltered them taking them +over, lock, stock, and barrel, as going businesses. + +From what we know of officialism everywhere, the mere transfer will +involve almost at once a decline in their vigor and innovating energy. +It is perhaps fortunate that the very crown of the private armaments +business is the Krupp organization and that its capture and suppression +is a matter of supreme importance to all the allied powers. Russia, with +her huge population, has not as yet developed armament works upon a very +large scale and would probably welcome proposals that minimized the +value of machinery and so enhanced that of men. Beyond this and certain +American plants for the making of rifles and machine guns only British +and French capital is very deeply involved in the armaments trade. The +problem is surely not too difficult for human art and honesty. + +It is not being suggested that the making of arms should cease in the +world, but only that in every country it should become a State monopoly +and so completely under Government control. If the State can monopolize +the manufacture and sale of spirits, as Russia has done, if it can, +after the manner of Great Britain, control the making and sale of such a +small, elusive substance as saccharin, it is ridiculous to suppose that +it cannot keep itself fully informed of the existence of such elaborated +machinery as is needed to make a modern rifle barrel. And it demands a +very minimum of alertness, good faith, and good intentions for the +various manufacturing countries to keep each other and the world +generally informed upon the question of the respective military +equipments. From this state of affairs to a definition of a permissible +maximum of strength on land and sea for all the high contracting powers +is an altogether practicable step. Disarmament is not a dream; it is a +thing more practicable than a general hygienic convention and more +easily enforced than custom and excise. + +Now none of this really involves the abandonment of armies or uniforms +or national service. Indeed, to a certain extent it restores the +importance of the soldier at the expense of machinery. A world +conference for the suppressing of the peace and the preservation of +armaments would neither interfere with such dear incorrigible squabbles +as that of the orange and green factions in Ireland, (though it might +deprive them of their more deadly weapons,) nor absolutely prohibit war +between adjacent States. It would, however, be a very powerful delaying +force against the outbreak of war, and it would be able to insist with a +quite novel strength upon the observation of the rules of war. + +It is no good pretending that mere pacifism will end war; what will end +war, what, indeed, may be ending war at the present time, is +war--against militarism. Force respects itself and no other power. The +hope for a world of peace in the future lies in that, in the possibility +of a great alliance, so powerful that it will compel adhesions, an +alliance prepared to make war upon and destroy and replace the +Government of any State that became aggressive in its militarism. This +alliance will be in effect a world congress perpetually restraining +aggressive secession, and obviously it must regard all the No-Man's +Lands--and particularly that wild waste, the ocean--as its highway. The +fleets and marines of the allied world powers must become the police of +the wastes and waters of the earth. + + +VI. + +Now, such a collective control of belligerence and international +relations is the obvious common sense settlement of the present world +conflict, it is so manifest, so straight-forward that were it put +plainly to them it would probably receive the assent of nineteen sane +men out of twenty in the world. This, or some such thing as this, they +would agree, is far better than isolations and the perpetual threat of +fresh warfare. + +But against it there work forces, within these people and without, that +render the attainment of this generally acceptable solution far less +probable than a kind of no-solution that will only be a reopening of all +our hostilities and conflicts upon a fresh footing. Some of these forces +are vague and general, and can only be combated by a various and +abundant liberal literature, in a widely dispersed battle in which each +right-thinking man must do as his conscience directs him. There are the +vague national antagonisms, the reservations in favor of one's own +country's righteousness, harsh religious and social and moral cant of +the Carlyle type, greed, resentment, and suspicion. The greatest of +these vague oppositions is that want of faith which makes man say war +has always been and must always be, which makes them prophesy that +whatever we do will become corrupted and evil, even in the face of +intolerable present evils and corruptions. + +When at the outbreak of the war I published an article headed "The War +That Will End War," at once Mr. W.L. George hastened to reprove my +dreaming impracticability. "War there has always been." Great is the +magic of a word! He was quite oblivious to the fact that war has changed +completely in its character half a dozen times in half a dozen +centuries; that the war we fought in South Africa and the present war +and the wars of mediaeval Italy and the wars of the Red Indians have +about as much in common as a cat and a man and a pair of scissors and a +motor car--namely, that they may all be the means of death. + +If war can change its character as much as it has done it can change it +altogether; if peace can be kept indefinitely in India or North America, +it can be kept throughout the world. It is not I who dream, but Mr. +George and his like who are not yet fully awake, and it is their +somnolence that I dread more than anything else when I think of the +great task of settlement before the world. + +It is this rather hopeless, inert, pseudo-sage mass of unbelievers who +render possible the continuation of war dangers. They give scope for +the activities of the evil minority which hates, which lives by pride +and grim satisfactions, and which is therefore anxious to have more war +and more. And it is these inert half-willed people who will obstruct the +disentanglement of the settlement from diplomatic hands. "What do we +know about the nuance of such things?" they will ask, with that laziness +that apes modesty. It is they who will complain when we seek to buy out +the armaments people. Probably all the private armament firms in the +world could be bought up for seventy million pounds, but the unbelievers +will shake their heads and say: "Then there will only be something else +instead." + +Yet there are many ungauged forces on the side of the greater +settlement. Cynicism is never more than a half-truth, and because man is +imperfect it does not follow that he must be futile. Russia is a land of +strange silences, but it is manifest that whatever the innermost quality +of the Czar may be, he is no clap-trap vulgar conqueror of the +Wilhelm-Napoleon pattern. He began his reign, and he may yet crown his +reign, with an attempt to establish peace on a newer, broader +foundation. His religion, it would seem, is his master and not his +servant. There has been no Russian Bernhardi. + +And there has been much in America, much said and much done, since the +war broke out that has surprised the world. I may confess for myself, +and I believe that I shall speak for many other Europeans in this +matter, that what we feared most in the United States was levity. We +expected mere excitement, violent fluctuations of opinion, a confused +irresponsibility, and possibly mischievous and disastrous interventions. +It is no good hiding an open secret. We judged America by the peace +headline. It is time we began to offer our apologies to America and +democracy. The result of reading endless various American newspapers and +articles, of following the actions of the American Government, of +talking to representative Americans, is to realize the existence of a +very clear, strong national mentality, a firm, self-controlled, +collective will, far more considerable in its totality than the world +has ever seen before. + +We thought the United States would be sentimentally patriotic and +irresponsible, that they would behave as though the New World was, +indeed, a separate planet, and as though they had neither duties nor +brotherhood in Europe. It is quite clear, on the contrary, that the +people of the United States consider this war as their affair also, and +that they have the keenest sense of their responsibility for the general +welfare of mankind. + +So that as a second chance, after the possibility of a broad handling of +the settlement by the Czar, and as a very much bigger probability, is +the insistence by America upon her right to a voice in the ultimate +settlement and an initiative from the Western Hemisphere that will lead +to a world congress. There are the two most hopeful sources of that +great proposal. It is the tradition of British national conduct to be +commonplace to the pitch of dullness, and all the stifled intelligence +of Great Britain will beat in vain against the national passion for the +ordinary. Britain, in the guise of Sir Edward Grey, will come to the +congress like a family solicitor among the Gods. What is the good of +shamming about this least heroic of Fatherlands? But Britain would +follow a lead; the family solicitor is honest and well-meaning. France +and Belgium and Italy are too deeply in the affair, or without +sufficient moral prestige, for a revolutionary initiative in +international relationship. + +There is, however, a possible third source from which the proposal for a +world congress might come, with the support of both neutrals and +belligerents, and that is The Hague. Were there a man of force and +genius at The Hague now, a man speaking with authority and not as the +scribes, he might thrust enormous benefits upon the world. + +It is from these three sources that I most hope for leading now. Of the +new Pope and his influence I know nothing. But in the present situation +of the world's affairs it behooves us ill to wait idle until leaders +clear the way for us. Every man who realizes the broad conditions of the +situation, every one who can talk or write or echo, can do his utmost to +spread his realization of the possibilities of a world congress and the +establishment of world law and world peace that lie behind the monstrous +agonies and cruelties and confusions of this catastrophic year. Given an +immense body of opinion initiatives may break out effectively anywhere; +failing it, they will be fruitless everywhere. + + + + +SMALL BUT GREAT-SOULED. + +By EMMELINE PANKHURST. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + +The women of Great Britain will never forget what Belgium has done for +all that women hold most dear. + +In the days to come mothers will tell their children how a small but +great-souled nation fought to the death against overwhelming odds and +sacrificed all things to save the world from an intolerable tyranny. + +The story of the Belgian people's defense of freedom will inspire +countless generations yet unborn. + + + + +Zeppelin Raids on London + +By the Naval Correspondent of The London Times + +[From The London Times, Jan. 22, 1915.] + + +Some doubt has been thrown by correspondents upon the ability of the +Zeppelins to reach London from Cuxhaven, the place from which the +raiders of Tuesday night appear to have started. The distance which the +airships traveled, including their manoeuvres over the land, must have +been quite 650 miles. This is not nearly as far as similar airships have +traveled in the past. One of the Zeppelins flew from Friedrichshafen, on +Lake Constance, to Berlin, a continuous flight of about 1,000 miles, in +thirty-one hours. Our naval officers will also recall the occasion of +the visit of the First Cruiser Squadron to Copenhagen in September, +1912, when the German passenger airship Hansa was present. The Hansa +made the run from Hamburg to Copenhagen, a distance of 198 miles, in +seven hours, and Count Zeppelin was on board her. Supposing an airship +left Cuxhaven at noon on some day when the conditions were favorable and +traveled to London, she could not get back again by noon next day if she +traveled at the half-power speed which the vessels on Tuesday appear to +have used. But if she did the run at full speed--that is to say, at +about fifty miles an hour--she could reach London by 9 o'clock the same +evening, have an hour to manoeuvre over the capital, and return by 7 +o'clock next morning. With a favorable wind for her return journey, she +might make an even longer stay. Given suitable conditions, therefore, as +on Tuesday, there appears to be no reason why, as far as speed and fuel +endurance are concerned, these vessels should not reach London from +Cuxhaven. + +With regard also to the amount of ammunition a Zeppelin can carry, this +depends, of course, on the lifting power of the airship and the way in +which it is distributed. The later Zeppelins are said to be able to +carry a load of about 15,000 pounds, which is available for the crew, +fuel for the engines, ballast, provisions, and spare stores, a wireless +installation, and armament or ammunition. With engines of 500 horse +power, something like 360 pounds of fuel is used per hour to drive them +at full speed. Thus for a journey of twenty hours the vessel would need +at least 7200 pounds of fuel. The necessary crew would absorb 2000 +pounds more, and probably another 1500 pounds would be taken up for +ballast and stores. Allowing a weight of 250 pounds for the wireless +equipment, there would remain about 4000 pounds for bombs, or something +less than two tons of explosives, for use against a target 458 miles +from the base. This amount of ammunition could be increased +proportionately as the conditions were altered by using a nearer base, +or by proceeding at a slower and therefore more economical speed, &c. + +It is noteworthy that although the German airships were expected to act +as scouts in the North Sea they do not appear to have accomplished +anything in this direction. Possibly this has been due to the fear of +attack by our men-of-war or aircraft if the movements were made in +daytime, when alone they would be useful for this purpose. What happened +during the Christmas Day affair, when, as the official report said, "a +novel combat" ensued between the most modern cruisers on the one hand +and the enemy's aircraft and submarines on the other, would not tend to +lessen this apprehension. On the other hand, the greater stability of +the atmosphere at night makes navigation after dark easier, and I +believe that it has been usual in all countries for airships to make +their trial trips at night. + +[Illustration: Radius of Action of a Modern Zeppelin + +The above outline map, which we reproduce from "The Naval Annual," shows +in the dotted circle the comparative radius of action of a modern +Zeppelin at half-power--about 36 knots speed--with other types of air +machines, assuming her to be based on Cologne. It is estimated that +aircraft of this type, with a displacement of about 22 tons, could run +for 60 hours at half-speed, and cover a distance equivalent to about +2160 sea miles. This would represent the double voyage, out and home, +from Cologne well to the north of the British Isles, to Petrograd, to +Athens, or to Lisbon. The inner circle shows the radius of action of a +Parseval airship at half-power--about 30 knots--based on Farnborough, +and the small inner circle represents the radius of action of a +hydro-aeroplane based on the Medway.] + +It is customary also for the airships to carry, in addition to +explosive and incendiary bombs, others which on being dropped throw out +a light and thereby help to indicate to the vessel above the object +which it is desired to aim at. Probably some of the bombs which were +thrown in Norfolk were of this character. It is understood that all idea +of carrying an armament on top of the Zeppelins has now been abandoned, +and it is obvious that if searchlight equipment or guns of any sort were +carried the useful weight for bombs would have to be reduced unless the +range of action was diminished. It will have been noticed that the +Zeppelins which came on Tuesday appear to have been anxious to get back +before daylight, which looks as if they expected to be attacked if they +were seen, as it is fairly certain they would have been. + +Assuming the raid of Tuesday to have been in the nature of a trial trip, +it is rather curious that it was not made before. Apparently the +Zeppelins can only trust themselves to make a raid of this description +in very favorable circumstances. Strong winds, heavy rain, or even a +damp atmosphere are all hindrances to be considered. That there will be +more raids is fairly certain, but there cannot be many nights when the +Germans can hope to have a repetition of the conditions of weather and +darkness which prevailed this week. It should be possible, more or less, +to ascertain the nights in every month in which, given other suitable +circumstances, raids are likely to be made. In view of the probability +that the attacks made by British aviators on the Zeppelin bases at +Düsseldorf and Friedrichshafen caused a delay in the German plans for +making this week's attack, it would appear that the most effective +antidote would be a repetition of such legitimate operations. + + + + +JULIUS CAESAR ON THE AISNE + +[From The New Yorker Herold (Morgenblatt.)] + + +It has repeatedly been pointed out that 2000 years ago Julius Caesar +fought on the battlegrounds of the Aisne, which are now the location of +the fierce fighting between the Germans and the French. It is probably +less known, however, that in this present war Caesar's "Commentarii de +Bello Gallico" are used by French officers as a practical text book on +strategy. The war correspondent of the Corriere della Serra reports this +some what astonishing fact. + +A few weeks ago he visited his friend, a commanding Colonel of a French +regiment, in his trench, which was furnished with bare necessities only. +In a corner on a small table lay the open volume of "Commentarii +Caesaris," which the visitor took into his hand out of curiosity in +order to see what passage the Colonel had just been reading. There he +found the description of the fight against the Remer, who, at that time, +lived in the neighborhood of the present city of Rheims. Principally +with the aid of his Numidian troops, Caesar at that time had prevented +the Remer from crossing the River Axona, today called the Aisne. + +Caesar's camp was only a few kilometers from Berry-au-Bac, in the +vicinity of Pontavert, the headquarters of the division to which the +regiment of the Colonel belonged. This Colonel had received the order to +cross the River Aisne with Moroccans and Spahis, and for this purpose he +had studied the description of Caesar. To the astonished question of the +reporter, what made him occupy his mind with the study of Caesar, the +Frenchman replied: + +"Caesar's battle descriptions form a book from which even in this +present day war a great deal may be learned. Caesar is by no means as +obsolete as you seem to think. I ask you to consider, for instance, that +the trenches which have gained so much importance in this war date back +to Julius Caesar." + +[Illustration: H.M. CHRISTIAN X + +King of Denmark + +_(Photo from Paul Thompson)_] + +[Illustration: PRESENT AND FUTURE QUEENS OF THE NETHERLANDS + +Queen Wilhelmina with Her Little Daughter Juliana, Princess of Orange] + + + + +Sir John French's Own Story + +Continuing the Famous Dispatches of the British Commander in Chief to +Lord Kitchener + + + The previous dispatches, reviewing the operations of the + British regular and territorial troops on the Continent under + Field Marshal French's chief command, appeared in THE NEW YORK + TIMES CURRENT HISTORY of Jan. 23, 1915, bringing the account + of operations to Nov. 20, 1914. The official dispatch to Earl + Kitchener presented below records the bitter experiences of + the Winter in the trenches from the last week of November + until Feb. 2, 1915. + +_The following dispatch was received on Feb. 12, 1915, from the Field +Marshal Commanding in Chief, the British Army in the Field._ + +_To the Secretary of State for War, War Office, London, S.W._ + +_General Headquarters,_ + +Feb. 2, 1915. + +My Lord: I have the honor to forward a further report on the operations +of the army under my command. + +1. In the period under review the salient feature was the presence of +his Majesty the King in the field. His Majesty arrived at Headquarters +on Nov. 30 and left on Dec. 5. + +At a time when the strength and endurance of the troops had been tried +to the utmost throughout the long and arduous battle of +Ypres-Armentières the presence of his Majesty in their midst was of the +greatest possible help and encouragement. + +His Majesty visited all parts of the extensive area of operations and +held numerous inspections of the troops behind the line of trenches. + +On Nov. 16 Lieutenant his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, K.G., +Grenadier Guards, joined my staff as aide de camp. + +2. Since the date of my last report the operations of the army under my +command have been subject almost entirely to the limitations of weather. + +History teaches us that the course of campaigns in Europe, which have +been actively prosecuted during the months of December and January, have +been largely influenced by weather conditions. It should, however, be +thoroughly understood throughout the country that the most recent +development of armaments and the latest methods of conducting warfare +have added greatly to the difficulties and drawbacks of a vigorous +Winter campaign. + +To cause anything more than a waste of ammunition long-range artillery +fire requires constant and accurate observation; but this most necessary +condition is rendered impossible of attainment in the midst of continual +fog and mist. + +Again, armies have now grown accustomed to rely largely on aircraft +reconnoissance for accurate information of the enemy, but the effective +performance of this service is materially influenced by wind and +weather. + +The deadly accuracy, range, and quick-firing capabilities of the modern +rifle and machine gun require that a fire-swept zone be crossed in the +shortest possible space of time by attacking troops. But if men are +detained under the enemy's fire by the difficulty of emerging from a +water-logged trench, and by the necessity of passing over ground +knee-deep in holding mud and slush, such attacks become practically +prohibitive owing to the losses they entail. + +During the exigencies of the heavy fighting which ended in the last week +of November the French and British forces had become somewhat mixed up, +entailing a certain amount of difficulty in matters of supply and in +securing unity of command. + +By the end of November I was able to concentrate the army under my +command in one area, and, by holding a shorter line, to establish +effective reserves. + +By the beginning of December there was a considerable falling off in +the volume of artillery fire directed against our front by the enemy. +Reconnoissance and reports showed that a certain amount of artillery had +been withdrawn. We judged that the cavalry in our front, with the +exception of one division of the Guard, had disappeared. + +There did not, however, appear to have been any great diminution in the +numbers of infantry holding the trenches. + +3. Although both artillery and rifle fire were exchanged with the enemy +every day, and sniping went on more or less continuously during the +hours of daylight, the operations which call for special record or +comment are comparatively few. + +During the last week in November some successful minor night operations +were carried out in the Fourth Corps. + +On the night of Nov. 23-24 a small party of the Second Lincolnshire +Regiment, under Lieut. E.H. Impey, cleared three of the enemy's advanced +trenches opposite the Twenty-fifth Brigade, and withdrew without loss. + +On the night of the 24th-25th Capt. J.R. Minshull Ford, Royal Welsh +Fusiliers, and Lieut. E.L. Morris, Royal Engineers, with fifteen men of +the Royal Engineers and Royal Welsh Fusiliers, successfully mined and +blew up a group of farms immediately in front of the German trenches on +the Touquet-Bridoux Road which had been used by German snipers. + +On the night of Nov. 26-27 a small party of the Second Scots Guards, +under Lieut. Sir E.H.W. Hulse, Bart., rushed the trenches opposite the +Twentieth Brigade, and after pouring a heavy fire into them returned +with useful information as to the strength of the Germans and the +position of machine guns. + +The trenches opposite the Twenty-fifth Brigade were rushed the same +night by a patrol of the Second Rifle Brigade, under Lieut. E. Durham. + +On Nov. 23 the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment of the Fourteenth German +Army Corps succeeded in capturing some 800 yards of the trenches held by +the Indian Corps, but the general officer commanding the Meerut Division +organized a powerful counter-attack, which lasted throughout the night. +At daybreak on Nov. 24 the line was entirely re-established. + +The operation was a costly one, involving many casualties, but the enemy +suffered far more heavily. + +We captured over 100 prisoners, including 3 officers, as well as 3 +machine guns and two trench mortars. + +On Dec. 7 the concentration of the Indian Corps was completed by the +arrival of the Sirhind Brigade from Egypt. + +On Dec. 9 the enemy attempted to commence a strong attack against the +Third Corps, particularly in front of the trenches held by the Argyll +and Sutherland Highlanders and the Middlesex Regiment. + +They were driven back with heavy loss, and did not renew the attempt. +Our casualties were very slight. + +During the early days of December certain indications along the whole +front of the allied line induced the French commanders and myself to +believe that the enemy had withdrawn considerable forces from the +western theatre. + +Arrangements were made with the commander of the Eighth French Army for +an attack to be commenced on the morning of Dec. 14. + +Operations began at 7 A.M. by a combined heavy artillery bombardment by +the two French and the Second British Corps. + +The British objectives were the Petit Bois and the Maedelsteed Spur, +lying respectively to the west and the southwest of the village of +Wytschaete. + +At 7:45 A.M. the Royal Scots, with great dash, rushed forward and +attacked the former, while the Gordon Highlanders attacked the latter +place. + +The Royal Scots, commanded by Major F.J. Duncan, D.S.O., in face of a +terrible machine gun and rifle fire, carried the German trench on the +west edge of the Petit Bois, capturing two machine guns and fifty-three +prisoners, including one officer. + +The Gordon Highlanders, with great gallantry, advanced up the +Maedelsteed Spur, forcing the enemy to evacuate their front trench. They +were, however, losing heavily, and found themselves unable to get any +further. At nightfall they were obliged to fall back to their original +position. + +Capt. C. Boddam-Whetham and Lieut. W.F.R. Dobie showed splendid dash, +and with a few men entered the enemy's leading trenches; but they were +all either killed or captured. + +Lieut. G.R.V. Hume-Gare and Lieut. W.H. Paterson also distinguished +themselves by their gallant leading. + +Although not successful, the operation was most creditable to the +fighting spirit of the Gordon Highlanders, most ably commanded by Major +A.W.F. Baird, D.S.O. + +As the Thirty-second French Division on the left had been unable to make +any progress, the further advance of our infantry into the Wytschaete +Wood was not practicable. + +Possession of the western edge of the Petit Bois was, however, retained. + +The ground was devoid of cover and so water-logged that a rapid advance +was impossible, the men sinking deep in the mud at every step they took. + +The artillery throughout the day was very skillfully handled by the +C.A.R.A.'s of the Fourth and Fifth Divisions--Major Gen. F.D.V. Wing, +C.B.; Brig. Gen. G.F. Milne, C.B., D.S.O., and Brig. Gen. J.E.W. +Headlam, C.B., D.S.O. + +The casualties during the day were about 17 officers and 407 other +ranks. The losses of the enemy were very considerable, large numbers of +dead being found in the Petit Bois and also in the communicating +trenches in front of the Gordon Highlanders, in one of which a hundred +were counted by a night patrol. + +On this day the artillery of the Fourth Division, Third Corps, was used +in support of the attack, under orders of the General Officer Commanding +Second Corps. + +The remainder of the Third Corps made demonstrations against the enemy +with a view to preventing him from detaching troops to the area of +operations of the Second Corps. + +From Dec. 15 to 17 the offensive operations which were commenced on the +14th were continued, but were confined chiefly to artillery bombardment. + +The infantry advance against Wytschaete Wood was not practicable until +the French on our left could make some progress to afford protection to +that flank. + +On the 17th it was agreed that the plan of attack as arranged should be +modified; but I was requested to continue demonstrations along my line +in order to assist and support certain French operations which were +being conducted elsewhere. + +4. In his desire to act with energy up to his instructions to +demonstrate and occupy the enemy, the General Officer Commanding the +Indian Corps decided to take the advantage of what appeared to him a +favorable opportunity to launch attacks against the advanced trenches in +his front on Dec. 18 and 19. + +The attack of the Meerut Division on the left was made on the morning of +the 19th with energy and determination, and was at first attended with +considerable success, the enemy's advanced trenches being captured. +Later on, however, a counter-attack drove them back to their original +position with considerable loss. + +The attack of the Lahore Division commenced at 4:30 A.M. It was carried +out by two companies each of the First Highland Light Infantry and the +First Battalion, Fourth Gurkha Rifles of the Sirhind Brigade, under +Lieut. Col. R.W.H. Ronaldson. This attack was completely successful, two +lines of the enemy's trenches being captured with little loss. + +Before daylight the captured trenches were filled with as many men as +they could hold. The front was very restricted, communication to the +rear impossible. + +At daybreak it was found that the position was practically untenable. +Both flanks were in the air, and a supporting attack, which was late in +starting, and, therefore, conducted during daylight, failed, although +attempted with the greatest gallantry and resolution. + +Lieut. Col. Ronaldson held on till dusk, when the whole of the captured +trenches had to be evacuated, and the detachment fell back to its +original line. + +By the night of Dec. 19 nearly all the ground gained during the day had +been lost. + +From daylight on Dec. 20 the enemy commenced a heavy fire from artillery +and trench mortars on the whole front of the Indian Corps. This was +followed by infantry attacks, which were in especial force against +Givenchy, and between that place and La Quinque Rue. + +At about 10 A.M. the enemy succeeded in driving back the Sirhind Brigade +and capturing a considerable part of Givenchy, but the Fifty-seventh +Rifles and Ninth Bhopals, north of the canal, and the Connaught Rangers, +south of it, stood firm. + +The Fifteenth Sikhs of the Divisional Reserve were already supporting +the Sirhind Brigade. On the news of the retirement of the latter being +received, the Forty-seventh Sikhs were also sent up to reinforce Gen. +Brunker. The First Manchester Regiment, Fourth Suffolk Regiment, and two +battalions of French territorials under Gen. Carnegy were ordered to +launch a vigorous counter-attack to retake by a flank attack the +trenches lost by the Sirhind Brigade. + +Orders were sent to Gen. Carnegy to divert his attack on Givenchy +village, and to re-establish the situation there. + +A battalion of the Fifty-eighth French Division was sent to Annequin in +support. + +About 5 P.M. a gallant attack by the First Manchester Regiment and one +company of the Fourth Suffolk Regiment had captured Givenchy, and had +cleared the enemy out of the two lines of trenches to the northeast. To +the east of the village the Ninth Bhopal Infantry and Fifty-seventh +Rifles had maintained their positions, but the enemy were still in +possession of our trenches to the north of the village. + +Gen. Macbean, with the Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade, Second Battalion, +Eighth Gurkha Rifles, and the Forty-seventh Sikhs, was sent up to +support Gen. Brunker, who, at 2 P.M., directed Gen. Macbean to move to a +position of readiness in the second line trenches from Maris northward, +and to counter-attack vigorously if opportunity offered. + +Some considerable delay appears to have occurred, and it was not until +1 A.M. on the 21st that the Forty-seventh Sikhs and the Seventh Dragoon +Guards, under the command of Lieut. Col. H.A. Lempriere, D.S.O., of the +latter regiment, were launched in counter-attack. + +They reached the enemy's trenches, but were driven out by enfilade fire, +their gallant commander being killed. + +The main attack by the remainder of Gen. Macbean's force, with the +remnants of Lieut. Col. Lempriere's detachment, (which had again been +rallied,) was finally rushed in at about 4:30 A.M., and also failed. + +In the northern section of the defensive line the retirement of the +Second Battalion, Second Gurkha Rifles, at about 10 A.M. on the 20th, +had left the flank of the First Seaforth Highlanders, on the extreme +right of the Meerut Division line, much exposed. This battalion was left +shortly afterward completely in the air by the retirement of the Sirhind +Brigade. + +The Fifty-eighth Rifles, therefore, were ordered to support the left of +the Seaforth Highlanders, to fill the gap created by the retirement of +the Gurkhas. + +During the whole of the afternoon strenuous efforts were made by the +Seaforth Highlanders to clear the trenches to their right and left. The +First Battalion, Ninth Gurkha Rifles, reinforced the Second Gurkhas near +the orchard where the Germans were in occupation of the trenches +abandoned by the latter regiment. The Garhwal Brigade was being very +heavily attacked, and their trenches and loopholes were much damaged; +but the brigade continued to hold its front and attack, connecting with +the Sixth Jats on the left of the Dehra Dun Brigade. + +No advance in force was made by the enemy, but the troops were pinned to +their ground by heavy artillery fire, the Seaforth Highlanders +especially suffering heavily. + +Shortly before nightfall the Second Royal Highlanders, on the right of +the Seaforth Highlanders, had succeeded in establishing touch with the +Sirhind Brigade; and the continuous line (though dented near the +orchard) existed throughout the Meerut Division. + +Early in the afternoon of Dec. 20 orders were sent to the First Corps, +which was then in general army reserve, to send an infantry brigade to +support the Indian Corps. + +The First Brigade was ordered to Bethune, and reached that place at +midnight on Dec. 20-21. Later in the day Sir Douglas Haig was ordered to +move the whole of the First Division in support of the Indian Corps. + +The Third Brigade reached Bethune between 8 A.M. and 9 A.M. on the 21st, +and on the same date the Second Brigade arrived at Lacon at 1 P.M. + +The First Brigade was directed on Givenchy, via Pont Fixe, and the Third +Brigade, through Gorre, on the trenches evacuated by the Sirhind +Brigade. The Second Brigade was directed to support, the Dehra Dun +Brigade being placed at the disposal of the General Officer Commanding +Meerut Division. + +At 1 P.M. the General Officer Commanding First Division directed the +First Brigade in attack from the west of Givenchy in a northeasterly +direction, and the Third Brigade from Festubert in an east-northeasterly +direction, the object being to pass the position originally held by us +and to capture the German trenches 400 yards to the east of it. + +By 5 P.M. the First Brigade had obtained a hold in Givenchy, and the +ground south as far as the canal; and the Third Brigade had progressed +to a point half a mile west of Festubert. + +By nightfall the First South Wales Borderers and the Second Welsh +Regiment of the Third Brigade had made a lodgment in the original +trenches to the northeast of Festubert, the First Gloucestershire +Regiment continuing the line southward along the track east of +Festubert. + +The First Brigade had established itself on the east side of Givenchy. + +By 3 P.M. the Third Brigade was concentrated at Le Touret, and was +ordered to retake the trenches which had been lost by the Dehr Dun +Brigade. + +By 10 P.M. the support trenches west of the orchard had been carried, +but the original fire trenches had been so completely destroyed that +they could not be occupied. + +This operation was performed by the First Loyal North Lancashire +Regiment and the First Northamptonshire Regiment, supported by the +Second King's Royal Rifle Corps, in reserve. + +Throughout this day the units of the Indian Corps rendered all the +assistance and support they could in view of their exhausted condition. + +At 1 P.M. on the 22d Sir Douglas Haig took over command from Sir James +Willcocks. The situation in the front line was then approximately as +follows: + +South of the La Bassée Canal the Connaught Rangers of the Ferozepore +Brigade had not been attacked. North of the canal a short length of our +original line was still held by the Ninth Bhopals and the Fifty-seventh +Rifles of the same brigade. Connecting with the latter was the First +Brigade, holding the village of Givenchy and its eastern and northern +approaches. On the left of the First Brigade was the Third Brigade. +Tenth had been lost between the left of the former and the right of the +latter. The Third Brigade held a line along, and in places advanced to, +the east of the Festubert Road. Its left was in communication with the +right of the Meerut Division line, where troops of the Second Brigade +had just relieved the First Seaforth Highlanders. To the north, units of +the Second Brigade held an indented line west of the orchard, connecting +with half of the Second Royal Highlanders, half of the Forty-first +Dogras, and the First Battalion Ninth Gurkha Rifles. From this point to +the north the Ninth Jats and the whole of the Garhwal Brigade occupied +the original line which they had held from the commencement of the +operations. + +The relief of most units of the southern sector was effected on the +night of Dec. 22. The Meerut Division remained under the orders of the +First Corps, and was not completely withdrawn until Dec. 27. + +In the evening the position at Givenchy was practically re-established, +and the Third Brigade had reoccupied the old line of trenches. + +During the 23d the enemy's activities ceased, and the whole position was +restored to very much its original condition. + +In my last dispatch I had occasion to mention the prompt and ready help +I received from the Lahore Division, under the command of Major Gen. +H.B.B. Watkis, C.B., which was thrown into action immediately on +arrival, when the British forces were very hard pressed during the +battle of Ypres-Armentières. + +The Indian troops have fought with the utmost steadfastness and +gallantry whenever they have been called upon. + +Weather conditions were abnormally bad, the snow and floods precluding +any active operations during the first three weeks of January. + +5. At 7:30 A.M. on Jan. 25 the enemy began to shell Bethune, and at 8 +A.M. a strong hostile infantry attack developed south of the canal, +preceded by a heavy bombardment of artillery, minenwerfers, and, +possibly, the explosion of mines, though the latter is doubtful. + +The British line south of the canal formed a pronounced salient from the +canal on the left, thence running forward toward the railway triangle +and back to the main La Bassée-Bethune Road, where it joined the French. +This line was occupied by half a battalion of the Scots Guards, and half +a battalion of the Coldstream Guards, of the First Infantry Brigade. The +trenches in the salient were blown in almost at once, and the enemy's +attack penetrated this line. Our troops retired to a partially prepared +second line, running approximately due north and south from the canal to +the road, some 500 yards west of the railway triangle. This second line +had been strengthened by the construction of a keep half way between the +canal and the road. Here the other two half battalions of the +above-mentioned regiments were in support. + +These supports held up the enemy, who, however, managed to establish +himself in the brick stacks and some communication trenches between the +keep, the road, and the canal--and even beyond the west of the keep on +either side of it. + +The London Scottish had in the meantime been sent up in support, and a +counter-attack was organized with the First Royal Highlanders, part of +the First Cameron Highlanders, and the Second King's Royal Rifle Corps, +the latter regiment having been sent forward from the Divisional +Reserve. + +The counter-attack was delayed in order to synchronize with a +counter-attack north of the canal which was arranged for 1 P.M. + +At 1 P.M. these troops moved forward, their flanks making good progress +near the road and the canal, but their centre being held up. The Second +Royal Sussex Regiment was then sent forward, late in the afternoon, to +reinforce. The result was that the Germans were driven back far enough +to enable a somewhat broken line to be taken up, running from the +culvert on the railway, almost due south to the keep, and thence +southeast to the main road. + +The French left near the road had also been attacked and driven back a +little, but not to so great an extent as the British right. Consequently +the French left was in advance of the British right, and exposed to a +possible flank attack from the north. + +The Germans did not, however, persevere further in their attack. + +The above-mentioned line was strengthened during the night, and the +First Guards Brigade, which had suffered severely, was withdrawn into +reserve and replaced by the Second Infantry Brigade. + +While this was taking place another and equally severe attack was +delivered north of the canal against the village of Givenchy. + +At 8:15 A.M., after a heavy artillery bombardment with high explosive +shells, the enemy's infantry advanced under the effective fire of our +artillery, which, however, was hampered by the constant interruption of +telephonic communication between the observers and batteries. +Nevertheless, our artillery fire, combined with that of the infantry in +the fire trenches, had the effect of driving the enemy from its original +direction of advance, with the result that his troops crowded together +on the northeast corner of the village and broke through into the centre +of the village as far as the keep, which had been previously put in a +state of defense. + +[Illustration: The places underlined in the above map indicate the +points around La Bassée and southward to Arras, where part of the +British Expeditionary Force was heavily engaged.] + +The Germans had lost heavily, and a well-timed local counter-attack, +delivered by the reserves of the Second Welsh Regiment and First South +Wales Borderers, and by a company of the First Royal Highlanders, (lent +by the First Brigade as a working party--this company was at work on the +keep at the time,) was completely successful, with the result that after +about an hour's street fighting all who had broken into the village were +either captured or killed, and the original line around the village was +re-established by noon. + +South of the village, however, and close to the canal, the right of the +Second Royal Munster Fusiliers fell back in conformity with the troops +south of the canal, but after dark that regiment moved forward and +occupied the old line. + +During the course of the attack on Givenchy the enemy made five assaults +on the salient at the northeast of the village about French Farm, but +was repulsed every time with heavy loss. + +6. On the morning of Jan. 29 attacks were made on the right of the First +Corps, south of the canal in the neighborhood of La Bassée. + +The enemy, (part of the Fourteenth German Corps,) after a severe +shelling, made a violent attack with scaling ladders on the keep, also +to the north and south of it. In the keep and on the north side the +Sussex Regiment held the enemy off, inflicting on him serious losses. On +the south side the hostile infantry succeeded in reaching the +Northamptonshire Regiment's trenches, but were immediately +counter-attacked and all killed. Our artillery co-operated well with the +infantry in repelling the attack. + +In this action our casualties were inconsiderable, but the enemy lost +severely, more than 200 of his killed alone being left in front of our +position. + +7. On Feb. 1 a fine piece of work was carried out by the Fourth Brigade +in the neighborhood of Cuinchy. + +Some of the Second Coldstream Guards were driven from their trenches at +2:30 A.M., but made a stand some twenty yards east of them in a position +which they held till morning. + +A counter-attack, launched at 3:15 A.M., by one company of the Irish +Guards and half a company of the Second Coldstream Guards, proved +unsuccessful, owing to heavy rifle fire from the east and south. + +At 10:05 A.M., acting under orders of the First Division, a heavy +bombardment was opened on the lost ground for ten minutes; and this was +followed immediately by an assault by about fifty men of the Second +Coldstream Guards with bayonets, led by Capt. A. Leigh Bennett, followed +by thirty men of the Irish Guards, led by Second Lieut. F.F. Graham, +also with bayonets. These were followed by a party of Royal Engineers +with sand bags and wire. + +All the ground which had been lost was brilliantly retaken, the Second +Coldstream Guards also taking another German trench and capturing two +machine guns. + +Thirty-two prisoners fell into our hands. + +The General Officer Commanding First Division describes the preparation +by the artillery as "splendid, the high explosive shells dropping in the +exact spot with absolute precision." + +In forwarding his report on this engagement, the General Officer +Commanding First Army writes as follows: + + Special credit is due-- + + (i) To Major Gen. Haking, commanding First Division, for the + prompt manner in which he arranged this counter-attack and for + the general plan of action, which was crowned with success. + + (ii) To the General Officer commanding the Fourth Brigade + (Lord Cavan) for the thorough manner in which he carried out + the orders of the General Officer commanding the division. + + (iii) To the regimental officers, non-commissioned officers, + and men of the Second Coldstream Guards and Irish Guards, who, + with indomitable pluck, stormed two sets of barricades, + captured three German trenches, two machine guns, and killed + or made prisoners many of the enemy. + +8. During the period under report the Royal Flying Corps has again +performed splendid service. + +Although the weather was almost uniformly bad and the machines suffered +from constant exposure, there have been only thirteen days on which no +actual reconnoissance has been effected. Approximately, 100,000 miles +have been flown. + +In addition to the daily and constant work of reconnoissance and +co-operation with the artillery, a number of aerial combats have been +fought, raids carried out, detrainments harassed, parks and petrol +depots bombed, &c. + +Various successful bomb-dropping raids have been carried out, usually +against the enemy's aircraft material. The principle of attacking +hostile aircraft whenever and wherever seen (unless highly important +information is being delivered) has been adhered to, and has resulted in +the moral fact that enemy machines invariably beat immediate retreat +when chased. + +Five German aeroplanes are known to have been brought to the ground, and +it would appear probable that others, though they have managed to reach +their own lines, have done so in a considerably damaged condition. + +9. In my dispatch of Nov. 20, 1914, I referred to the reinforcements of +territorial troops which I had received, and I mentioned several units +which had already been employed in the fighting line. + +In the positions which I held for some years before the outbreak of this +war I was brought into close contact with the territorial force, and I +found every reason to hope and believe that, when the hour of trial +arrived, they would justify every hope and trust which was placed in +them. + +The Lords Lieutenant of Counties and the associations which worked under +them bestowed a vast amount of labor and energy on the organization of +the territorial force; and I trust it may be some recompense to them to +know that I, and the principal commanders serving under me, consider +that the territorial force has far more than justified the most sanguine +hopes that any of us ventured to entertain of their value and use in +the field. Commanders of cavalry divisions are unstinted in their praise +of the manner in which the yeomanry regiments attached to their brigades +have done their duty, both in and out of action. The service of +divisional cavalry is now almost entirely performed by yeomanry, and +divisional commanders report that they are very efficient. + +Army corps commanders are loud in their praise of the territorial +battalions, which form part of nearly all the brigades at the front in +the first line, and more than one of them have told me that these +battalions are fast approaching--if they have not already reached--the +standard of efficiency of regular infantry. + +I wish to add a word about the Officers' Training Corps. The presence of +the Artists' Rifles (Twenty-eighth Battalion, the London regiment) with +the army in France enabled me also to test the value of this +organization. + +Having had some experience in peace of the working of the Officers' +Training Corps, I determined to turn the Artists' Rifles (which formed +part of the Officers' Training Corps in peace time) to its legitimate +use. I therefore established the battalion as a training corps for +officers in the field. + +The cadets passed through a course, which includes some thoroughly +practical training, as all cadets do a tour of forty-eight hours in the +trenches, and afterward write a report on what they see and notice. They +also visit an observation post of a battery or group of batteries, and +spend some hours there. + +A commandant has been appointed, and he arranges and supervises the +work, sets schemes for practice, administers the school, delivers +lectures, and reports on the candidates. + +The cadets are instructed in all branches of military training suitable +for platoon commanders. + +Machine-gun tactics, a knowledge of which is so necessary for all junior +officers, is a special feature of the course of instruction. + +When first started, the school was able to turn out officers at the +rate of seventy-five a month. This has since been increased to 100. + +Reports received from divisional and army corps commanders on officers +who have been trained at the school are most satisfactory. + +10. Since the date of my last report I have been able to make a close +personal inspection of all the units in the command. I was most +favorably impressed by all I saw. + +The troops composing the army in France have been subjected to as severe +a trial as it is possible to impose upon any body of men. The desperate +fighting described in my last dispatch had hardly been brought to a +conclusion when they were called upon to face the rigors and hardships +of a Winter campaign. Frost and snow have alternated with periods of +continuous rain. + +The men have been called upon to stand for many hours together almost up +to their waists in bitterly cold water, only separated by one or two +hundred yards from a most vigilant enemy. + +Although every measure which science and medical knowledge could suggest +to mitigate these hardships was employed, the sufferings of the men have +been very great. + +In spite of all this they presented, at the inspections to which I have +referred, a most soldierlike, splendid, though somewhat war-worn, +appearance. Their spirit remains high and confident; their general +health is excellent, and their condition most satisfactory. + +I regard it as most unfortunate that circumstances have prevented any +account of many splendid instances of courage and endurance, in the face +of almost unparalleled hardship and fatigue in war, coming regularly to +the knowledge of the public. + +Reinforcements have arrived from England with remarkable promptitude and +rapidity. They have been speedily drafted into the ranks, and most of +the units I inspected were nearly complete when I saw them. In +appearance and quality the drafts sent out have exceeded my most +sanguine expectations, and I consider the army in France is much +indebted to the Adjutant General's Department at the War Office for the +efficient manner in which its requirements have been met in this most +essential respect. + +With regard to these inspections I may mention in particular the fine +appearance presented by the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Divisions, +composed principally of battalions which had come from India. Included +in the former division was the Princess Patricia's Royal Canadian +Regiment. They are a magnificent set of men, and have since done +excellent work in the trenches. + +It was some three weeks after the events recorded in Paragraph 4 that I +made my inspection of the Indian Corps, under Sir James Willcocks. The +appearance they presented was most satisfactory and fully confirmed my +opinion that the Indian troops only required rest and a little +acclimatizing to bring out all their fine inherent fighting qualities. + +I saw the whole of the Indian Cavalry Corps, under Lieut. Gen. +Rimington, on a mounted parade soon after their arrival. They are a +magnificent body of cavalry and will, I feel sure, give the best +possible account of themselves when called upon. + +In the meantime, at their own particular request, they have taken their +turn in the trenches and performed most useful and valuable service. + +11. The Right Rev. Bishop Taylor Smith, C.V.O., D.D., Chaplain General +to the Forces, arrived at my headquarters on Jan. 6, on a tour of +inspection throughout the command. + +The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster has also visited most of the +Irish regiments at the front and the principal centres on the line of +communications. + +In a quiet and unostentatious manner the Chaplains of all denominations +have worked with devotion and energy in their respective spheres. + +The number with the forces in the field at the commencement of the war +was comparatively small, but toward the end of last year the Rev. J.M. +Simms, D.D., K.H.C., principal Chaplain, assisted by his secretary, the +Rev. W. Drury, reorganized the branch and placed the spiritual welfare +of the soldier on a more satisfactory footing. It is hoped that the +further increase of personnel may be found possible. + +I cannot speak too highly of the devoted manner in which all the +Chaplains, whether with the troops in the trenches or in attendance on +the sick and wounded in casualty clearing stations and hospitals on the +line of communications, have worked throughout the campaign. + +Since the commencement of hostilities the work of the Royal Army Medical +Corps has been carried out with untiring zeal, skill, and devotion. +Whether at the front under conditions such as obtained during the +fighting on the Aisne, when casualties were heavy and accommodation for +their reception had to be improvised, or on the line of communications, +where an average of some 11,000 patients have been daily under +treatment, the organization of the medical service has always been equal +to the demands made upon it. + +The careful system of sanitation introduced into the army has, with the +assistance of other measures, kept the troops free from any epidemic, in +support of which it is to be noticed that since the commencement of the +war some 500 cases only of enteric have occurred. + +The organization for the first time in war of motor ambulance convoys is +due to the initiative and organizing powers of Surgeon General T.J. +O'Donnell, D.S.O., ably assisted by Major P. Evans, Royal Army Medical +Corps. + +Two of these convoys, composed entirely of Red Cross Society personnel, +have done excellent work under the superintendence of regular medical +officers. + +Twelve hospital trains ply between the front and the various bases. I +have visited several of the trains when halted in stations, and have +found them conducted with great comfort and efficiency. + +During the more recent phase of the campaign the creation of rest depots +at the front has materially reduced the wastage of men to the line of +communications. + +Since the latter part of October, 1914, the whole of the medical +arrangements have been in the hands of Surgeon General Sir A.T. +Sloggett, C.M.G., K.H.S., under whom Surgeon General T.P. Woodhouse and +Surgeon General T.J. O'Donnell have been responsible for the +organization on the line of communications and at the front +respectively. + +12. The exceptional and peculiar conditions brought about by the weather +have caused large demands to be made upon the resources and skill of the +Royal Engineers. + +Every kind of expedient has had to be thought out and adopted to keep +the lines of trenches and defense work effective. + +The Royal Engineers have shown themselves as capable of overcoming the +ravages caused by violent rain and floods as they have been throughout +in neutralizing the effect of the enemy's artillery. + +In this connection I wish particularly to mention the excellent services +performed by my Chief Engineer, Brig. Gen. G.H. Fowke, who has been +indefatigable in supervising all such work. His ingenuity and skill have +been most valuable in the local construction of the various expedients +which experience has shown to be necessary in prolonged trench warfare. + +13. I have no reason to modify in any material degree my views of the +general military situation, as expressed in my dispatch of Nov. 20, +1914. + +14. I have once more gratefully to acknowledge the valuable help and +support I have received throughout this period from Gen. Foch, Gen. +D'Urbal, and Gen. Maud'huy of the French Army. I have the honor to be, +your Lordship's most obedient servant, + +J.D.P. FRENCH, Field Marshal, Commanding in Chief, the British Army in +the Field. + + + + +The Cathedral of Rheims + +BY EMILE VERHAEREN + +(From Les Blés Mouvants) + +Done into English verse by Joyce Kilmer. + + + He who walks through the meadows of Champagne + At noon in Fall, when leaves like gold appear, + Sees it draw near + Like some great mountain set upon the plain, + From radiant dawn until the close of day, + Nearer it grows + To him who goes + Across the country. When tall towers lay + Their shadowy pall + Upon his way, + He enters, where + The solid stone is hollowed deep by all + Its centuries of beauty and of prayer. + + Ancient French temple! thou whose hundred Kings + Watch over thee, emblazoned on thy walls, + Tell me, within thy memory-hallowed halls + What chant of triumph, or what war-song rings? + Thou hast known Clovis and his Frankish train, + Whose mighty hand Saint Remy's hand did keep + And in thy spacious vault perhaps may sleep + An echo of the voice of Charlemagne. + For God thou hast known fear, when from His side + Men wandered, seeking alien shrines and new, + But still the sky was bountiful and blue + And thou wast crowned with France's love and pride. + Sacred thou art, from pinnacle to base; + And in thy panes of gold and scarlet glass + The setting sun sees thousandfold his face; + Sorrow and joy, in stately silence pass + Across thy walls, the shadow and the light; + Around thy lofty pillars, tapers white + Illuminate, with delicate sharp flames, + The brows of saints with venerable names, + And in the night erect a fiery wall, + A great but silent fervor burns in all + Those simple folk who kneel, pathetic, dumb, + And know that down below, beside the Rhine-- + Cannon, horses, soldiers, flags in line-- + With blare of trumpets, mighty armies come. + + Suddenly, each knows fear: + Swift rumors pass, that every one must hear, + The hostile banners blaze against the sky + And by the embassies mobs rage and cry. + Now war has come, and peace is at an end, + On Paris town the German troops descend. + They turned back, and driven to Champagne. + And now, as to so many weary men, + The glorious temple gives them welcome, when, + It meets them at the bottom of the plain. + + At once, they set their cannon in its way. + There is no gable now, nor wall + That does not suffer, night and day, + As shot and shell in crushing torrents fall, + The stricken tocsin quivers through the tower; + The triple nave, the apse, the lonely choir + Are circled, hour by hour, + With thundering bands of fire + And Death is scattered broadcast among men. + + And then + That which was splendid with baptismal grace; + The stately arches soaring into space, + The transepts, columns, windows gray and gold, + The organ, in whose tones the ocean rolled, + The crypts, of mighty shades the dwelling places, + The Virgin's gentle hands, the Saints' pure faces, + All, even the pardoning hands of Christ the Lord + Were struck and broken by the wanton sword + Of sacrilegious lust. + + O beauty slain, O glory in the dust! + Strong walls of faith, most basely overthrown! + The crawling flames, like adders glistening + Ate the white fabric of this lovely thing. + Now from its soul arose a piteous moan. + The soul that always loved the just and fair. + Granite and marble loud their woe confessed, + The silver monstrances that Pope has blessed. + The chalices and lamps and crosiers rare + Were seared and twisted by a flaming-breath; + The horror everywhere did rage and swell, + The guardian Saints into this furnace fell, + Their bitter tears and screams were stilled in death. + + Around the flames armed hosts are skirmishing, + The burning sun reflects the lurid scene; + The German Army fighting for its life, + Rallies its torn and terrified left wing; + And, as they near this place + The imperial eagles see + Before them in their flight, + Here, in the solemn night, + The old cathedrals, to the years to be + Showing, with wounded arms, their own disgrace. + + + + +Music of War + +By Rudyard Kipling + + + The following speech was delivered by Mr. Kipling on Jan. 27, + 1915, at a meeting in London promoted by the Recruiting Bands + Committee, and held with the object of raising bands in the + London district as an aid to recruiting. + +The most useful thing that a civilian can do in these busy days is to +speak as little as possible, and if he feels moved to write, to confine +his efforts to his check book. [Laughter.] But this is an exception to +that very sound rule. We do not know the present strength of the new +armies. Even if we did it would not be necessary to make it public. But +we may assume that there are several battalions in Great Britain which +were not in existence at the end of last July, and some of them are in +London. Nor is it any part of our national policy to explain how far +these battalions are prepared for the work which is ahead of them. They +were born quite rightly in silence. But that is no reason why they +should continue to walk in silence for the rest of their lives. +[Cheers.] Unfortunately up to the present most of them have been obliged +to walk in silence or to no better accompaniment than whistles and +concertinas and other meritorious but inadequate instruments of music +with which they have provided themselves. In the beginning this did not +matter so much. More urgent needs had to be met; but now that the new +armies are what they are, we who cannot assist them by joining their +ranks owe it to them to provide them with more worthy music for their +help, their gratification, and their honor. [Cheers.] + +I am not a musician, so if I speak as a barbarian I must ask you and +several gentlemen on the platform here to forgive me. From the lowest +point of view a few drums and fifes in the battalion mean at least five +extra miles in a route march, quite apart from the fact that they can +swing a battalion back to quarters happy and composed in its mind, no +matter how wet or tired its body may be. Even when there is no route +marching, the mere come and go, the roll and flourishing of drums and +fifes around the barracks is as warming and cheering as the sight of a +fire in a room. A band, not necessarily a full band, but a band of a +dozen brasses and wood-winds, is immensely valuable in the district +where men are billeted. It revives memories, it quickens association, it +opens and unites the hearts of men more surely than any other appeal +can, and in this respect it aids recruiting perhaps more than any other +agency. I wonder whether I should say this--the tune that it employs and +the words that go with that tune are sometimes very remote from heroism +or devotion, but the magic and the compelling power is in them, and it +makes men's souls realize certain truths that their minds might doubt. + +Further, no one, not even the Adjutant, can say for certain where the +soul of the battalion lives, but the expression of that soul is most +often found in the band. [Cheers.] It stands to reason that 1,200 men +whose lives are pledged to each other must have some common means of +expression, some common means of conveying their moods and their +thoughts to themselves and their world. The band feels the moods and +interprets the thoughts. A wise and sympathetic bandmaster--and the +masters that I have met have been that--can lift a battalion out of +depression, cheer it in sickness, and steady and recall it to itself in +times of almost unendurable stress. [Cheers.] You may remember a +beautiful poem by Sir Henry Newbolt, in which he describes how a +squadron of weary big dragoons were led to renewed effort by the strains +of a penny whistle and a child's drum taken from a toyshop in a wrecked +French town. I remember in India, in a cholera camp, where the men were +suffering very badly, the band of the Tenth Lincolns started a +regimental sing-song and went on with that queer, defiant tune, "The +Lincolnshire Poacher." It was their regimental march that the men had +heard a thousand times. There was nothing in it--nothing except all +England, all the East Coast, all the fun and daring and horse play of +young men bucketing about big pastures in the moonlight. But as it was +given, very softly at that bad time in that terrible camp of death, it +was the one thing in the world that could have restored, as it did +restore, shaken men back to their pride, humor, and self-control. +[Cheers.] This may be an extreme instance, but it is not an exceptional +one. Any man who has had anything to do with the service will tell you +that the battalion is better for music at every turn, happier, more +easily handled, with greater zest in its daily routine, if that routine +is sweetened with melody and rhythm--melody for the mind and rhythm for +the body. + +Our new armies have been badly served in this essential. Of all the +admirable qualities which they have shown none is more wonderful than +the spirit which has carried them through the laborious and distasteful +groundwork of their calling without one note of music, except that which +the same indomitable spirit provided out of their own heads. We have all +seen them marching through the country, through the streets of London, +in absolute silence and the crowds through which they passed as silent +as themselves for the lack of the one medium that could convey and +glorify the thoughts that are in us all today. + +We are a tongue-tied brood at the best. The bands can declare on our +behalf without shame and without shyness something of what we all feel +and help us to reach a hand toward the men who have risen up to save us. +In the beginning the more urgent requirements of the new armies overrode +all other considerations. Now we can get to work on some other +essentials. The War Office has authorized the formation of bands for +some of the London battalions, and we may hope presently to see the +permission extended throughout Great Britain. We must not, however, +cherish unbridled musical ambitions, because a full band means more than +forty pieces, and on that establishment we should even now require a +rather large number of men; but I think it might be possible to provide +drums and fifes for every battalion, full bands at the depots, and a +proportion of battalion bands on half, or even one-third, +establishments. + +But this is not a matter to be settled by laymen; it must be discussed +seriously between bandmasters and musicians--present, past, and dug up. +[Laughter.] They may be trusted to give their services with enthusiasm. +We have had many proofs in the last six months that people only want to +know what the new army needs, and it will be gladly and cheerfully +given. The army needs music, its own music, for, more than in any other +calling, soldiers do not live by bread alone. From time immemorial the +man who offers his life for his land has been compassed at every turn of +his service with elaborate ceremonial and observance, of which music is +no small part, all carefully designed to support and uphold him. It is +not seemly and it is not expedient that any portion of that ritual +should be slurred or omitted now. [Cheers.] + +[Illustration] + + + + +America and a New World State + +How the United States May Take the Lead in the Formation of a World +Confederation for the Prevention of Future Wars + +By Norman Angell + + + The object of this article is to show that however much + America may attempt to hold herself free in Europe she will + very deeply feel the effects, both material and moral, of + upheavals like that which is now shaking the old Continent; + that even though there be no aggressive action against her, + the militarization of Europe will force upon America also a + militarist development; and that she can best avoid these + dangers and secure her own safety and free development by + taking the lead in a new world policy which is briefly this: + + To use her position to initiate and guide a grouping of all + the civilized powers having as its object the protection of + any one of its members that is the victim of aggression. The + aid to be given for such an object should not be, in the case + of the United States, military but economic, by means of the + definite organization of non-intercourse against the + recalcitrant power. America's position of geographical and + historical remoteness from European quarrels places her in a + particularly favorable position to direct this world + organization, and the fact of undertaking it would give her in + some sense the moral leadership of the western world, and make + her the centre of the World State of the future. + +(COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY.) + +I. + +In the discussion of America's relation to the rest of the world we +have always assumed almost as an axiom that America has nothing to do +with Europe, is only in the faintest degree concerned with its politics +and developments, that by happy circumstance of geography and history we +are isolated and self-sufficing, able to look with calm detachment upon +the antics of the distant Europeans. When a European landed on these +shores we were pretty certain that he left Europe behind him; only quite +recently, indeed, have we realized that we were affected by what he +brought with him in the way of morals and traditions, and only now are +we beginning dimly to realize that what goes on on the other side of the +world can be any affair of ours. The famous query of a certain American +statesmen, "What has America to do with abroad?" probably represented at +bottom the feelings of most of us. + +In so far as we established commercial relations with Europe at all, we +felt and still feel probably that they were relations of hostility, that +we were one commercial unit, Europe another, and that the two were in +competition. In thinking thus, of course, we merely accepted the view of +international politics common in Europe itself, the view, namely, that +nations are necessarily trade rivals--the commercial rivalry of Britain +and Germany is presumed to be one of the factors explaining the outbreak +of the present war. The idea that nations do thus compete together for +the world's trade is one of the axioms of all discussion in the field of +international politics. + +Well, both these assumptions in the form in which we make them involve +very grave fallacies, the realization of which will shortly become +essential to the wise direction of this country's policy. If our policy, +in other words, is to be shrewd and enlightened, we must realize just +how both the views of international relationship that I have indicated +are wrong. + +I will take first the more special one--that of the assumed necessary +rivalry of nations in trade--as its clearer understanding will help in +what is for us the larger problem of the general relationship of this +country to other civilized powers. I will therefore try and establish +first this proposition--that nations are not and can not be trade rivals +in the sense usually accepted; that, in other words, there is a +fundamental misconception in the prevailing picture of nations as +trading units--one might as well talk of red-haired people being the +trade rivals of black-haired people. + +And I will then try and establish a second proposition, namely, that we +are intimately concerned with the condition of Europe, and are daily +becoming more so, owing to processes which have become an integral part +of our fight against nature, of the feeding and clothing of the world; +that we cannot much longer ignore the effects of those tendencies which +bind us to our neighbors; that the elementary consideration of +self-protection will sooner or later compel us to accept the facts and +recognize our part and lot in the struggles of Christendom; and that if +we are wise, we shall not take our part therein reluctantly, dragged at +the heels of forces we cannot resist, but will do so consciously, +anticipating events. In other words, we shall take advantage of such +measure of detachment as we do possess, to take the lead in a saner +organization of western civilization; we shall become the pivot and +centre of a new world State. + +There is not the faintest hope of America taking this lead unless a push +or impetus is given to her action by a widespread public feeling, based +on the recognition of the fallacy of the two assumptions with which I +began this article. For if America really is independent of the rest of +the world, little concerned with what goes on therein, if she is in a +position to build a sort of Chinese wall about herself, and, secure in +her own strength, to develop a civilization and future of her own, still +more if the weakness and disintegration of foreign nations, however +unfortunate for them, is for America an opportunity of expanding trade +and opportunities, why then, of course, it would be the height of folly +for the United States to incur all the risks and uncertainties of an +adventure into the sea of foreign politics. + +What as a matter of simple fact is the real nature of trade between +nations? If we are to have any clear notion at all as to just what truth +there is in the notion of the necessary commercial rivalry of States, we +must have some fairly clear notion of how the commercial relationship of +nations works. And that can best be illustrated by a supposititious +example. At the present time we are talking, for instance, of +"capturing" German or British or French trade. + +Now, when we talk thus of "German" trade in the international field, +what do we mean? Here is the ironmaster in Essen making locomotives for +a light railway in an Argentine province, (the capital for which has +been subscribed in Paris)--which has become necessary because of the +export of wool to Bradford, where the trade has developed owing to sales +in the United States, due to high prices produced by the destruction of +sheep runs, owing to the agricultural development of the West. + +But for the money found in Paris, (due, perhaps, to good crops in wine +and olives, sold mainly in London and New York,) and the wool needed by +the Bradford manufacturer, (who has found a market for blankets among +miners in Montana, who are smelting copper for a cable to China, which +is needed because the encouragement given to education by the Chinese +Republic has caused Chinese newspapers to print cable news from +Europe)--but for such factors as these, and a whole chain of equally +interdependent ones throughout the world, the ironmaster in Essen would +not have been able to sell his locomotives. + +How, therefore, can you describe it as part of the trade of "Germany" +which is in competition with the trade of "Britain" or "France" or +"America"? But for the British, French, and American trade, it could not +have existed at all. You may say that if the Essen ironmaster could have +been prevented from selling his locomotives the order would have gone to +an American one. + +[Illustration: H.M. PETER I + +King of Servia] + +[Illustration: WALTER H. PAGE + +American Ambassador to Great Britain + +_(Photo from Paul Thompson)_] + +But this community of German workmen, called into existence by the +Argentina trade, maintains by its consumption of coffee a plantation in +Brazil, which buys its machinery in Chicago. The destruction, +therefore, of the Essen trade, while it might have given business to the +American locomotive maker, would have taken it from, say, an American +agricultural implement maker. The economic interests involved sort +themselves, irrespective of the national groupings. I have summarized +the whole process as follows, and the need for getting some of these +simple things straight is my excuse for quoting myself: + + Co-operation between nations has become essential for the very + life of their peoples. But that co-operation does not take + place as between States at all. A trading corporation, + "Britain" does not buy cotton from another corporation, + "America." A manufacturer in Manchester strikes a bargain with + a merchant in Louisiana in order to keep a bargain with a dyer + in Germany, and three or a much larger number of parties enter + into virtual, or, perhaps, actual, contract, and form a + mutually dependent economic community, (numbering, it may be, + with the work people in the group of industries involved, some + millions of individuals)--an economic entity, so far as one + can exist, which does not include all organized society. + + The special interests of such a community may become hostile + to those of another community, but it will almost certainly + not be a "national" one, but one of a like nature, say a + shipping ring or groups of international bankers or Stock + Exchange speculators. The frontiers of such communities do not + coincide with the areas in which operate the functions of the + State. + + How could a State, say Britain, act on behalf of an economic + entity such as that just indicated? By pressure against + America or Germany? But the community against which the + British manufacturer in this case wants pressure exercised is + not "America" or "Germany"--both Americans and Germans are his + partners in the matter. He wants it exercised against the + shipping ring or the speculators or the bankers who are in + part British.... + + This establishes two things, therefore: The fact that the + political and economic units do not coincide, and the fact + which follows as a consequence--that action by political + authorities designed to control economic activities which take + no account of the limits of political jurisdiction is + necessarily irrelevant and ineffective.--(From "Arms and + Industry: A Study of the Foundations of International Polity." + Page 28. Putnams: New York.) + +The fallacy of the idea that the groups we call nations must be in +conflict because they struggle together for bread and the means of +sustenance is demonstrated immediately when we recall the simple facts +of historical development. When, in the British Islands, the men of +Wessex were fighting with the men of Sussex, far more frequently and +bitterly than today the men of Germany fight with those of France, or +either with those of Russia, the separate States which formed the island +were struggling with one another for sustenance, just as the tribes +which inhabited the North American Continent at the time of our arrival +there were struggling with one another for the game and hunting grounds. +It was in both cases ultimately a "struggle for bread." + +At that time, when Britain was composed of several separate States, that +struggled thus with one another for land and food, it supported with +great difficulty anything between one and two million inhabitants, just +as the vast spaces now occupied by the United States supported about a +hundred thousand, often subject to famine, frequently suffering great +shortage of food, able to secure just the barest existence of the +simplest kind. + +Today, although Britain supports anything from twenty to forty times, +and North America something like a thousand times, as large a population +in much greater comfort, with no period of famine, with the whole +population living much more largely and deriving much more from the soil +than did the men of the Heptarchy, or the Red Indians, the "struggle for +bread" does not now take the form of struggle between groups of the +population. The more they fought, the less efficiently did they support +themselves; the less they fought one another, the more efficiently did +they all support themselves. + +This simple illustration is at least proof of this, that the struggle +for material things did not involve any necessary struggle between the +separate groups or States; for those material things are given in +infinitely greater abundance when the States cease to struggle. +Whatever, therefore, was the origin of those conflicts, that origin was +not any inevitable conflict in the exploitation of the earth. If those +conflicts were concerned with material things at all, they arose from a +mistake about the best means of obtaining them, exploiting the earth, +and ceased when those concerned realized the mistake. + +Just as Britain supported its population better when Englishmen gave up +fighting between themselves, so the world as a whole could support its +population better if it gave up fighting. + +Moreover, we have passed out of the stage when we could massacre a +conquered population to make room for us. When we conquer an inferior +people like the Filipinos, we don't exterminate them, we give them an +added chance of life. The weakest don't go to the wall. + +But at this point parenthetically I want to enter a warning. You may +say, if this notion of the rivalry of nations is false, how do you +account for the fact of its playing so large a part in the present war? + +Well, that is easily explained--men are not guided necessarily by their +interest even in their soberest moments, but by what they believe to be +their interest. Men do not judge from the facts, but from what they +believe to be the facts. War is the "failure of human understanding." +The religious wars were due to the belief that two religions could not +exist side by side. It was not true, but the false belief provoked the +wars. Our notions as to the relation of political power to a nation's +prosperity are just as false, and this fallacy, like the older one, +plays its part in the causation of war. + +Now, let us for a moment apply the very general rule thus revealed to +the particular case of the United States at this present juncture. + +American merchants may in certain cases, if they are shrewd and able, do +a very considerably increased trade, though it is just as certain that +other merchants will be losing trade, and I think there is pretty +general agreement that as a matter of simple fact the losses of the war +so far have for America very considerably and very obviously +overbalanced the gains. The loss has been felt so tangibly by the United +States Government, for instance, that a special loan had to be voted in +order to stop some of the gaps. Whole States, whose interests are bound +up with staples like cotton, were for a considerable time threatened +with something resembling commercial paralysis. + +While we may admit advances and gains in certain isolated directions, +the extra burden is felt in all directions of commerce and industry. And +that extra burden is visible through finance--the increased cost of +money, the scarcity of capital, the lower negotiability of securities, +the greater uncertainty concerning the future. It is by means of the +financial reaction that America, as a whole, has felt the adverse +effects of this war. There is not a considerable village, much less a +considerable city, not a merchant, not a captain of industry in the +United States that has not so felt it. It is plainly evident that by the +progressive dearness of money, the lower standard of living that will +result in Europe, the effect on immigration, and other processes which I +will touch upon at greater length later, any temporary stimulus which a +trade here and there may receive will be more than offset by the +difficulties due to financial as apart from industrial or commercial +reactions. + +This war will come near to depriving America for a decade or two of its +normal share of the accumulated capital of the older peoples, whether +that capital be used in paying war indemnities or in paying off the cost +of the war or in repairing its ravages. In all cases it will make +capital much dearer, and many enterprises which with more abundant +capital might have been born and might have stimulated American industry +will not be born. For the best part of a generation perhaps the +available capital of Europe will be used to repair the ravages of war +there, to pay off the debts created by war, and to start life normally +once more. We shall suffer in two ways. + +In a recent report issued by the Agricultural Department at Washington +is a paragraph to the effect that one of the main factors which have +operated against the development of the American farm is the difficulty +that the farmer has found in securing abundant capital and the high +price that he has to pay for it when he can secure it. It will in the +future be of still higher price, and still less abundant, because, of +course, the capital of the world is a common reservoir--if it is dearer +in one part, it is dearer to some extent in all parts. + +So that if for many years the American farmhouse is not so well built as +it might be, the farm not so well worked, rural life in America not so +attractive as it might be, the farmer's wife burdened with a little more +labor than she might otherwise have, and if she grows old earlier than +she might otherwise, it will be in part because we are paying our share +of the war indemnities and the war costs. + +But this scarcity of capital operates in another way. One of the most +promising fields for American enterprise is, of course, in the +undeveloped lands to the south of us, but in the development of those +lands we have looked and must look for the co-operation of European +capital. Millions of French and British money have poured into South +America, building docks and railroads and opening up the country, and +that development of South America has been to our advantage because +quite frequently these enterprises were under the actual management of +Americans, using to the common advantage the savings of the thrifty +Frenchman and the capital of the wealthy Englishman. + +For, of course, as between the older and the newer worlds there has gone +on this very beneficent division of labor: the Old World having +developed its soil, built its cities, made its roads, has more capital +available for outside employment than have the population of newer +countries that have so much of this work before them. And now this +possibility of fruitful co-operation is, for the time being, and it may +be for many years, suspended. I say nothing of the loss of markets in +the older countries which will be occasioned by sheer loss of population +and the lower standard of living. That is one of the more obvious but +not perhaps the most important of the ways in which the war affects us +commercially. + +Speaking purely in terms of commercial advantage--and these, I know, do +not tell the whole story (I am not for a moment pretending they +do)--the losses that we shall suffer through this war are probably very +much more considerable than those we should suffer by the loss of the +Philippines in the event, say, of their being seized by some hostile +power; and we suffer these losses, although not a single foreign soldier +lands upon our soil. It is literally and precisely true to say that +there is not one person from Hudson Bay to Cape Horn that will not be +affected in some degree by what is now going on in Europe. And it is at +least conceivable that our children and children's children will feel +its effects more deeply still. + +Nor is America escaping the military any more than she has escaped the +commercial and financial effects of this war. She may never be drawn +into active military co-operation with other nations, but she is +affected none the less. Indeed the military effects of this war are +already revealing themselves in a demand for a naval programme immensely +larger than any American could have anticipated a year ago, by plans for +an enormously enlarged army. All this is the most natural result. + +Just consider, for instance, the ultimate effect of a quite possible +outcome of the present conflict--Germany victorious and the Prussian +effort next directed at, say, the conquest of India. Imagine India +Prussianized by Germany, so that, with the marvelous efficiency in +military organization which she has shown, she is able to draw on an +Asiatic population of something approaching 400,000,000. + +Whether the situation then created would really constitute a menace for +us or not, this much would be certain--that the more timid and timorous +among us would believe it to be a menace, and it would furnish an +irresistible plea for a very greatly enlarged naval and military +establishment. We too, in that case would probably be led to organize +our nation on the lines on which the European military nations have +organized theirs, with compulsory military service, and so forth. + +Indeed, even if Germany is not victorious the future contains +possibilities of a like result; imagine, what is quite possible, that +Russia becomes the dominant factor in Europe after this war and places +herself at the head of a great Slav confederacy of 200,000,000, with her +power extending incidentally to the Pacific coast of Asia, and, it may +be the day after tomorrow, over 100,000,000 or 200,000,000 of Asiatics. +We should thus have a militarized power of 200,000,000 or 300,000,000 or +400,000,000 souls, autocratically governed, endowed with western +technical knowledge in the manipulation of the instruments of war, +occupying the Pacific coast line directly facing our Pacific coast line. +It is quite conceivable, therefore, that as the outcome of either of the +two possible results of this war we may find ourselves embarked upon a +great era of militarization. + +Our impregnability does not protect us from militarism. It is quite true +that this country, like Russia, cannot be permanently invaded; it is +quite true that hostile navies need not necessarily be resisted by +navies of our own so far as the protection of our coasts is concerned. +But there is no such thing as absolute certainty in these matters. While +personally I believe that no country in the world will ever challenge +the United States, that the chances are a hundred to one against it, it +is on just that one chance that the militarist bases his plea for +armaments and secures them. + +But, unfortunately, we are already committed to a good deal more than +just mere defense of American territory; problems arising out of the +Philippines and the Panama Canal and the Monroe Doctrine have already +committed us to a measure of intervention in the political affairs of +the outside world. In brief, if the other nations of the world have +great armies and navies--and tomorrow those other nations will include a +reorganized China as they already include a westernized Japan--if there +is all that weight of military material which might be used against us, +then in the absence of those other guarantees which I shall suggest, we +shall be drawn into piling up a corresponding weight of material as +against that of the outside world. + +And, of course, just as we cannot escape the economic and the military +reaction of European development, neither can we escape the moral. If +European thought and morality did, by some fatality, really develop in +the direction of a Nietzschean idealization of military force, we might +well get in the coming years a practical submergence of that morality +which we believe to be distinctively American, and get throughout the +older hemisphere a type of society based upon authority, reproducing it +may be some features of past civilizations, Mongol, Asiatic, or +Byzantine. If that were to happen, if Europe were really to become a +mere glorified form of, say, certain Asiatic conceptions that we all +thought had had their day, why, then, of course America could not escape +a like transformation of outlook, ideals, and morals. + +For there is no such thing as one nation standing out and maintaining +indefinitely a social spirit, an attitude toward life and society +absolutely distinct and different from that of the surrounding world. +The character of a society is determined by the character of its ideas, +and neither tariffs nor coastal defenses are really efficient in +preventing the invasion of ideas, good or bad. The difference between +the kind of society which exists in Illinois today and that which +existed there 500 years ago is not a difference of physical vigor or of +the raw materials of nature; the Indian was as good a man physically as +the modern Chicagoan, and possessed the same soil. What makes the +difference between the two is accumulated knowledge, the mind. And there +never was yet on this planet a change of ideas which did not sooner or +later affect the whole planet. + +The "nations" that inhabited this continent a couple of thousand years +ago were apparently quite unconcerned with what went on in Europe or +Asia, say, in the domain of mathematical and astronomical knowledge. But +the ultimate effect of that knowledge on navigation and discovery was +destined to affect them--and us--profoundly. But the reaction of +European thought upon this continent, which originally required twenty, +or, for that matter, two hundred or two thousand years to show itself, +now shows itself, in the industrial and commercial field, for instance, +through our banking and Stock Exchanges, in as many hours, or, for that +matter, minutes. + +It is difficult, of course, for us to realize the extent to which each +nation owes its civilization to others, how we have all lived by taking +in each other's washing. As Americans, for instance, we have to make a +definite effort properly to realize that our institutions, the sanctity +of our homes and all the other things upon which we pride ourselves, are +the result of anything but the unaided efforts of a generation or two of +Americans, perhaps owing a little to certain of the traditions that we +may have taken from Britain. + +One has to stop and uproot impressions that are almost instinctive, to +remember that our forefathers reached these shores by virtue of +knowledge which they owed to the astronomical researches of Egyptians +and Chaldeans, who inspired the astronomers of Greece, who inspired +those of the Renaissance in Italy, Spain, and Germany, keeping alive and +developing not merely the art of measuring space and time, but also that +conception of order in external nature without which the growth of +organized knowledge, which we call science, enabling men to carry on +their exploitation of the world, would have been impossible; that our +very alphabet comes from Rome, who owed it to others; that the +mathematical foundation of our modern mechanical science--without which +neither Newton nor Watt nor Stevenson nor Ericson nor Faraday nor Edison +could have been--is the work of Arabs, strengthened by Greeks, protected +and enlarged by Italians; that our conceptions of political +organization, which have so largely shaped our political science, come +mainly from the Scandinavian colonists of a French province; that +British intellect, to which perhaps we owe the major part of our +political impulses, has been nurtured mainly by Greek philosophy; that +our Anglo-Saxon law is principally Roman, and our religion almost +entirely Asiatic in its origins; that for those things which we deem to +be the most important in our lives, our spiritual and religious +aspirations, we go to a Jewish book interpreted by a Church Roman in +origin, reformed mainly by the efforts of Swiss and German theologians. + +And this interaction of the respective elements of the various nations, +the influence of foreigners, in other words, and of foreign ideas, is +going to be far more powerful in the future than it has been in the +past. Morally, as well as materially, we are a part of Europe. The +influence which one group exercises on another need not operate through +political means at all; indeed, the strongest influences are +non-political. + +American life and civilization may be transformed by European +developments, though the Governments of Europe may leave us severely +alone. Luther and Calvin had certainly a greater effect in England than +Louis XIV. or Napoleon. Gutenberg created in Europe a revolution more +powerful than all the military revolutions of the last ten centuries. +Greece and Palestine did not transform the world by their political +power. Yet these simple and outstanding truths are persistently ignored +by our political and historical philosophers and theorists. For the most +part our history is written with a more sublime disregard of the simple +facts of the world than is shown perhaps in any other department of +human thought and inquiry. + +You may today read histories of Europe written by men of worldwide and +pre-eminent reputation, professing to tell the story of the development +of human society, in which whole volumes will be devoted to the effect +of a particular campaign or military alliance in influencing the +destinies of a people like the French or the German. But in those +histories you will find no word as to the effect of such trifles as the +invention of the steam engine, the coming of the railroad, the +introduction of the telegraph and cheap newspapers and literature on the +destiny of those people; volumes as to the influence which Britain may +have had upon the history of France or Germany by the campaigns of +Marlborough, but absolutely not one word as to the influence which +Britain had upon the destinies of those people by the work of Watt and +Stephenson. + +A great historian philosopher laying it down that the "influence" of +England was repelled or offset by this or that military alliance, +seriously stated that "England" was losing her influence on the +Continent at a time when her influence was transforming the whole lives +of Continental people to a greater degree than they had been transformed +since the days of the Romans. + +I have gone into this at some length to show mainly two things--first, +that neither morally nor materially, neither in our trade nor in our +finance, nor in our industry, nor in all those intangible things that +give value to life can there be such a thing as isolation from the rest +of Christendom. If European civilization takes a "wrong turning"--and it +has done that more than once in the past--we can by no means escape the +effects of that catastrophe. We are deeply concerned, if only because we +may have to defend ourselves against it and in so doing necessarily +transform in some degree our society and ourselves. + +And I wanted to show, secondly, that not only as a simple matter of fact +as things stand are we in a very real sense dependent upon Europe, that +we want European capital and European trade, and that if we are to do +the best for American prosperity we must increase that dependence, but +that if we are effectively to protect those things that go deeper even +than trade and prosperity, we must co-operate with Europe intellectually +and morally. It is not for us a question of choice. For good or evil, we +are part of the world affected by what the rest of the world becomes and +affected by what it does. And I want to show in my next article that +only by frankly facing the fact (which we cannot deny) that we are a +part of the civilized world and must play our part in it, shall we +achieve real security for our material and moral possessions and do the +best that we know for the general betterment of American life. + + +II. + +AMERICA'S FUTURE ATTITUDE + +In my last article I attempted to show how deeply must America feel, +sooner or later, and for good or evil, the moral and material results +of the upheavals in Europe and the new tendencies that will be generated +by them. I attempted to show, too, how impossible it is for us to escape +our part of all the costs, how we shall pay our share of the +indemnities, and how our children and children's children may be +affected even more profoundly than we ourselves. + +The shells may not hit us, yet there is hardly a farmhouse in our +country that will not, however unconsciously, be affected by these +far-off events. We may not witness the trains of weary refugees trailing +over the roads, but (if we could but see the picture) there will be an +endless procession of our own farmers' wives with a hardened and +shortened life and their children with less ample opportunities. + +And our ideals of the future will in some measure be twisted by the +moral and material bankruptcy of Europe. Those who consider at all +carefully the facts hinted at in my last article--too complex to be more +than hinted at in the space available--will realize that the "isolation" +of America is an illusion of the map, and is becoming more so every day; +that she is an integral part of Occidental civilization whether she +wishes it or not, and that if civilization in Europe takes the wrong +turn we Americans would suffer less directly but not less vitally than +France or Britain or Germany. + +All this, of course, is no argument for departing from our traditional +isolation. Our entrance into the welter might not change things or it +might change them for the worse or the disadvantages might be such as to +outweigh the advantages. The sensible question for America is this: "Can +we affect the general course of events in Europe--in the world, that +is--to our advantage by entering in; and will the advantage of so doing +be of such extent as to offset the risks and costs?" + +Before answering that question I want to indicate by very definite +proposals or propositions a course of action and a basis for estimating +the effect. I will put the proposal with reference to America's future +attitude to Europe in the form of a definite proposition thus: + + That America shall use her influence to secure the abandonment + by the powers of Christendom of rival group alliances and the + creation instead of an alliance of all the civilized powers + having as its aim some common action--not necessarily + military--which will constitute a collective guarantee of each + against aggression. + +Thus when Germany, asked by the Allies at the prospective peace to +remove the menace of her militarism by reducing her armaments, replies, +"What of my protection against Russia?" Christendom should, with +America's help, be in a position to reply: "We will all protect you +against Russia, just as we would all protect Russia against you." + +The considerations which support such a policy on America's part are +mainly these: First, that if America does not lend the assistance of her +detachment from European quarrels to such an arrangement, Europe of +herself may not prove capable of it. Second, that if Europe does not +come to some such arrangement the resulting unrest, militarism, moral +and material degeneration, for the reasons above indicated and for +others to be indicated presently, will most unfavorably affect the +development of America, and expose her to dangers internal and external +much greater than those which she would incur by intervention. Third, +that if America's influence is in the manner indicated made the deciding +factor in the establishment of a new form of world society, she would +virtually take the leadership of Western civilization, and her capital +become the centre of the political organization of the new world State. +While "world domination" by military means has always proved a dangerous +diet for all nations that have eaten of it heretofore, the American form +of that ambition would have this great difference from earlier +forms--that it would be welcomed instead of being resisted by the +dominated. America would have given a new meaning to the term and found +a means of satisfying national pride, certainly more beneficial than +that which comes of military glory. + +I envisage the whole problem, however, first and last in this +discussion on the basis of America's interest; and the test which I +would apply to the alternatives now presenting themselves is simply +this: What on balance is most advantageous, in the broadest and largest +sense of the term, in its moral as well as its material sense, to +American interest? + +Now I know full well that there is much to be said against the step +which I think America should initiate. I suppose the weight of the +reasons against it would be in some such order as the following: First, +that it is a violation of the ancient tradition of American statecraft +and of the rule laid down by Washington concerning the avoidance of +entangling alliances. Second, that it may have the effect which he +feared of dragging this country into war on matters in which it had no +concern. Third, that it will militarize the country, and so, Fourth, +lead to the neglect of those domestic problems upon which the progress +of our nation depends. + +I will take the minor points first and will deal with the major +consideration presently. + +First, I would remind the reader of what I pointed out in the last +article, that there is no such thing as being unaffected by the military +policies of Europe, and there never has been. At this present moment a +campaign for greatly increased armaments is being waged on the strength +of what is taking place in the Old World, and our armaments are directly +and categorically dictated by what foreign nations do in the matter. So +that it is not a question in practice of being independent of the +policies of other nations; we are not independent of their policies. + +We may refuse to co-operate with them, to have anything to do with them. +Even then our military policy will be guided by theirs, and it is at +least conceivable that in certain circumstances we should become +thoroughly militarized by the need for preparing against what our people +would regard as the menace of European military ambitions. This +tendency, if it became sufficiently acute, would cause neglect of +domestic problems hardly less mischievous than that occasioned by war. + +In my last article I touched upon a quite possible turn of the alliance +groupings in Europe--the growing influence of Russia, the extension of +that influence to the Asiatic populations on her borders, (Japan and +Russia are already in alliance,) so that within the quite measurable +future we may be confronted by a military community drawing on a +population of 500,000,000 souls, autocratically governed and endowed +with all the machinery of destruction which modern science has given to +the world. A Russo-Chino-Japanese alliance might on behalf of the +interest or dignity of one of the members of such a group challenge this +country in some form or another, and a Western Europe with whom we had +refused to co-operate for a common protection might as a consequence +remain an indifferent spectator of the conflict. + +Such a situation would certainly not relieve us from the burdens of +militarism merely because we declined to enter into any arrangement with +the European powers. As a matter of fact, of course, this present war +destroyed the nationalist basis of militarism itself. The militarist may +continue to talk about international agreement between nations being +impossible as a means of insuring a nation's safety, and a nation having +no security but the strength of its own arms, but when it actually comes +to the point even he is obliged to trust to agreement with other nations +and to admit that even in war a nation can no longer depend merely upon +the strength of its arms; it has to depend upon co-operation, which +means an agreement of some kind with other nations as well. + +Just as the nations have by forces stronger than their own volition been +brought into industrial and commercial co-operation, so, strangely +enough, have they been brought by those same forces into military +co-operation. While the warrior and militarist have been talking the old +jargon of nationalism and holding international co-operation up to +derision as a dream, they have themselves been brought to depend upon +foreigners. War itself has become internationalist. + +There is something of sardonic humor in the fact that it is the greatest +war of history which is illustrating the fact that even the most +powerful of the European nations must co-operate with foreigners for its +security. For no one of the nine or ten combatants of the present war +could have maintained its position or defended itself alone. There is +not one nation involved that would not believe itself in danger of +destruction but for the help of foreigners; there is not one whose +national safety does not depend upon some compact or arrangement with +foreign nations. France would have been helpless but for the help of +Britain and of Russia. Russia herself could not have imposed her will +upon Germany if Germany could have thrown all her forces on the eastern +frontier. Austria could certainly not have withstood the Russian flood +single handed. Quite obviously the lesser nations, Serbia, Belgium, and +the rest, would be helpless victims but for the support of their +neighbors. + +And it should be noted that this international co-operation is not by +any means always with similar and racially allied nations. Republican +France finds itself, and has been for a generation, the ally of +autocratic Russia. Australia, that much more than any other country has +been obsessed by the yellow peril and the danger from Japan, finds +herself today fighting side by side with the Japanese. And as to the +ineradicable hostility of races preventing international co-operation, +there are fighting together on the soil of France as I write, Flemish, +Walloons, and negroes from Senegal, Turcos from Northern Africa, Gurkhas +from India, co-operating with the advance on the other frontier of +Cossacks, and Russians of all descriptions. This military and political +co-operation has brought together Mohammedan and Christian; Catholic, +Protestant, and Orthodox; negro, white and yellow; African, Indian, and +European; monarchist, republican, Socialist, reactionary--there seems +hardly a racial, religious, or political difference that has stood in +the way of rapid and effective co-operation in the common need. + +Thus the soldier himself, while defending the old nationalist and +exclusive conceptions, is helping to shrink the spaces of the world and +break down old isolations and show how interests at the uttermost ends +of the earth react one upon the other. + +But even apart from this influence, as already noted, America cannot +escape the military any more than she has escaped the commercial and +financial effects of this war. She may never be drawn into active +military co-operation with other nations, but she is affected none the +less--by a demand for a naval programme immensely larger than any +American could have anticipated a year since, by plans for an enormously +enlarged army. + +That, it will be argued, is the one thing needed--to be stronger than +our prospective enemy. And, of course, any enemy--whether he be one +nation or a group--who really does contemplate aggression, would on his +side take care to be stronger than us. War and peace are matters of two +parties, and any principle which you may lay down for one is applicable +to the other. When we say "Si vis pacem, para bellum" we must apply it +to all parties. One eminent upholder of this principle has told us that +the only way to be sure of peace is to be so much stronger than your +enemy that he will not dare to attack you. Apply that to the two parties +and you get this result--here are two nations or two groups of nations +likely to quarrel. How shall they keep the peace? And we say quite +seriously that they will keep the peace if each is stronger than the +other. + +This principle, therefore, which looks at first blush like an axiom, is, +as a matter of fact, an attempt to achieve a physical impossibility and +always ends, as it has ended in Europe on this occasion, in explosion. +You cannot indefinitely pile up explosive material without an accident +of some sort occurring; it is bound to occur. But you will note this: +that the militarist--while avowing by his conduct that nations can no +longer in a military sense be independent, that they are obliged to +co-operate with others and consequently depend upon some sort of an +arrangement, agreement, compact, alliance with others--has adopted a +form of compact which merely perpetuates the old impossible situation on +a larger scale! He has devised the "balance of power." + +For several generations Britain, which has occupied with reference to +the Continent of Europe somewhat the position which we are now coming to +occupy with regard to Europe as a whole, has acted on this +principle--that so long as the powers of the Continent were fairly +equally divided she felt she could with a fair chance of safety face +either one or the other. But if one group became so much stronger than +the other that it was in danger of dominating the whole Continent, then +Britain might find herself faced by an overwhelming power with which she +would be unable to deal. To prevent this she joined the weaker group. +Thus Britain intervened in Continental politics against Napoleon as she +has intervened today against the Kaiser. + +But this policy is merely a perpetuation on a larger scale of the +principle of "each being stronger than the other." Military power, in +any case, is a thing very difficult to estimate; an apparently weaker +group or nation has often proved, in fact, to be the stronger, so that +there is a desire on the part of both sides to give the benefit of the +doubt to themselves. Thus the natural and latent effort to be strongest +is obviously fatal to any "balance." Neither side, in fact, desires a +balance; each desires to have the balance tilted in its favor. This sets +up a perpetual tendency toward rearrangement, and regroupings and +reshufflings in these international alliances sometimes take place with +extraordinary and startling rapidity, as in the case of the Balkan +States. + +It is already illustrated in the present war; Italy has broken away from +a definite and formal alliance which every one supposed would range her +on the German side. There is at least a possibility that she may finally +come down upon the Anglo-Franco-Russian side. You have Japan, which +little more than a decade ago was fighting bitterly against Russia, +today ranged upon the side of Russia. + +The position of Russia is still more startling. In the struggles of the +eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries Britain was almost always on +the side of Russia; then for two generations she was taught that any +increase of the power of Russia was a particularly dangerous menace. +That once more was a decade ago suddenly changed, and Britain is now +fighting to increase both relatively and absolutely the power of a +country which her last war on the Continent was fought to check. The war +before that which Great Britain fought upon the Continent was fought in +alliance with Germans against the power of France. As to the Austrians, +whom Britain is now fighting, they were for many years her faithful +allies. So it is very nearly true to say of nearly all the combatants +respectively that they have no enemy today that was not, historically +speaking, quite recently an ally, and not an ally today that was not in +the recent past an enemy. + +These combinations, therefore, are not, never have been, and never can +be permanent. If history, even quite recent history, has any meaning at +all, the next ten or fifteen or twenty years will be bound to see among +these tan combatants now in the field rearrangements and permutations +out of which the crushed and suppressed Germany that is to follow the +war--a Germany which will embrace, nevertheless, a hundred million of +the same race, highly efficient, highly educated, trained for +co-ordination and common action--will be bound sooner or later to find +her chance. + +If America should by any catastrophe join Britain or any other nation +for the purpose of maintaining a "balance of power" in the world, then +indeed would her last state be worse than her first. The essential vice +of the balance of power is that it is based upon a fundamentally false +assumption as to the real relationship of nations and as to the function +and nature of force in human affairs. The limits of the present article +preclude any analysis of most of the monstrous fallacies, but a hint +can be given of one or two. + +First, of course, if you could get such a thing as a real "balance of +power"--two parties confronting one another with about equal forces--you +would probably get a situation most favorable to war. Neither being +manifestly inferior to the other, neither would be disposed to yield; +each being manifestly as good as the other, would feel in "honor" bound +to make no concession. If a power quite obviously superior to its rival +makes concessions the world may give it credit for magnanimity in +yielding, but otherwise it would always be in the position of being +compelled to vindicate its courage. Our notions of honor and valor being +what they are, no situation could be created more likely to bring about +deadlocks and precipitate fights. All the elements are there for +bringing about that position in which the only course left is "to fight +it out." + +The assumption underlying the whole theory of the balance of power is +that predominant military power in a nation will necessarily--or at +least probably--be exercised against its weaker neighbors to their +disadvantage. Thus Britain has acted on the assumption that if one power +dominated the Continent, British independence, more truly perhaps +British predominance in the world would be threatened. + +Now, how has a society of individuals--the community within the +frontiers of a nation--met this difficulty which now confronts the +society of nations, the difficulty that is of the danger of the power of +an individual or a group? They have met it by determining that no +individual or group shall exercise physical power or predominance over +others; that the community alone shall be predominant. How has that +predominance been secured? By determining that any one member attacked +shall be opposed by the whole weight of the community, (exercised, say, +through the policeman.) If A flies at B's throat in the street with the +evident intention of throttling him to death, the community, if it is +efficient, immediately comes to the support of B. + +And you will note this: that it does not allow force to be used for the +settlement of differences by anybody. The community does not use force +as such at all; it merely cancels the force of units and determines that +nobody shall use it. It eliminates force. And it thus cancels the power +of the units to use it against other units (other than as a part of the +community) by standing ready at all times to reduce the power of any one +unit to futility. If A says that B began it, the community does not say, +"Oh, in that case you may continue to use your force; finish him off." +It says, on the contrary, "Then we'll see that B does not use his force; +we'll restrain him, we won't have either of you using force. We'll +cancel it and suppress it wherever it rears its head." For there is this +paradox at the basis of all civilized intercourse: force between men has +but one use--to see that force settles no difference between them. + +And this has taken place because men--individually--have decided that +the advantage of the security of each from aggression outweighs the +advantage which each has in the possible exercise of aggression. When +nations have come to the same decision--and not a moment before--they +will protect themselves from aggression in precisely the same way--by +agreeing between them that they will cancel by their collective power +the force of any one member exercised against another. + +I emphasize the fact that you must get this recognition of common +interest in a given action before you can get the common action. We have +managed it in the relations between individuals because, the numbers +being so much greater than in the case of nations, individual dissent +goes for less. The policeman, the judge, the jailer have behind them a +larger number relatively to individual exceptions than is the case with +nations. For the existence of such an arrangement by no means implies +that men shall be perfect, that each shall willingly obey all the laws +which he enforces. It merely implies that his interest in the law as a +whole is greater than his interest in its general violation. + +No man for a single day of his life observes all the Ten Commandments, +yet you can always secure a majority for the support of the Ten +Commandments, for the simple reason that while there are a great many +who would like to rob, all are in favor of being protected against the +robber. While there are a great many who would like on occasion to kill, +all are in favor of being protected against being killed. The +prohibition of this act secures universal support embracing "all of the +people all of the time"; the positive impulse to it is isolated and +occasional--with some individuals perhaps all the time, but with all +individuals only some of the time, if ever. + +When you come to the nations, there is less disproportion between the +strength of the unit and the society. Hence nations have been slower +than individuals in realizing their common interest. Each has placed +greater reliance on its own strength for its protection. Yet the +principle remains the same. There may be nations which desire for their +own interest to go to war, but they all want to protect themselves +against being beaten. You have there an absolutely common interest. The +other interest, the desire to beat, is not so universal; in fact, if any +value can be given whatever to the statement of the respective +statesmen, such an interest is non-existent. + +There is not a single statesman in Christendom today who would admit for +a moment that it is his desire to wage war on a neighboring nation for +the purpose of conquering it. All this warfare is, each party to it +declares, merely a means of protecting itself against the aggression of +neighbors. Whatever insincerity there may be in these declarations we +can at least admit this much, that the desire to be safe is more +widespread than the desire to conquer, for the desire to be safe is +universal. + +We ought to be able, therefore, to achieve, on the part of the majority, +action to that end. And on this same principle there can be no doubt +that the nations as a whole would give their support to any plan which +would help to secure them from being attacked. It is time for the +society of nations to take this first step toward the creation of a +real community; to agree, that is, that the influence of the whole shall +be thrown against the one recalcitrant member. + +The immensely increased contact between nations which has set up a +greater independence (in the way hinted at in my last article) has given +weight to the interest in security and taken from the interest in +aggression. The tendency to aggression is often a blind impulse due to +the momentum of old ideas which have not yet had time to be discredited +and disintegrated by criticism. And of organization for the really +common interest--that of security against aggression--there has, in +fact, been none. If there is one thing certain it is that in Europe last +July the people did not want war; they tolerated it, passively dragged +by the momentum of old forces which they could not even formulate. The +really general desire has never been organized; any means of giving +effect to a common will--such as is given it in society within the +frontiers--has never so far been devised. + +I believe that it is the mission of America in her own interest to +devise it; that the circumstances of her isolation, historical and +geographical, enable her to do for the older peoples--and herself--a +service which by reason of their circumstances, geographical and +historical, they cannot do for themselves. + +The power that she exercises to this end need not be military. I do not +think that it should be military. This war has shown that the issues of +military conflict are so uncertain, depending upon all sorts of physical +accidents, that no man can possibly say which side will win. The present +war is showing daily that the advantage does not always go with numbers, +and the outcome of war is always to some extent a hazard and a gamble, +but there are certain forces that can be set in operation by nations +situated as the United States, that are not in any way a gamble and a +hazard, the effect of which will be quite certain. + +I refer to the pressure of such a thing as organized non-intercourse, +the sending of a country to moral, social, economic Coventry. We are, I +know, here treading somewhat unknown ground, but we have ample evidence +to show that there do exist forces capable of organization, stronger, +and more certain in their operation than military forces. That the world +is instinctively feeling this is demonstrated by the present attitude of +all the combatants in Europe to the United States. The United States +relatively to powers like Russia, Britain, and Germany is not a great +military power, yet they are all pathetically anxious to secure the +good-will of the United States. + +Why? + +It can hardly be to save the shock to their moral feelings which would +come from the mere disapproval of people on the other side of the world. +If any percentage of what we have read of German methods is true, if +German ethics bear the faintest resemblance to what they are so often +represented to be, Germany must have no feeling in the political sphere +to be hurt by the moral disapproval of the people of the United States. +If German statesmen are so desperately anxious as they evidently are to +secure the approval and good-will of the United States it is because +they realize, however indistinctly, that there lie in the hands of the +United States powers which could be loosed, more portentous than those +held by the masters of many legions. + +Just what these powers are and how they might be used to give America +greater security than she could achieve by arms, to place her at the +virtual head of a great world State, and to do for mankind as a whole a +service greater than any yet recorded in written history, must be left +to the third and concluding article of this series. + + +III. + +AMERICA AS LEADER. + +In the preceding article I indicated that America might undertake at +this juncture of international affairs an intervention in the politics +of the Old World which is of a kind not heretofore attempted by any +nation, an intervention, that is to say, that should not be military, +but in the first instance mediatory and moral, having in view if needs +be the employment of certain organized social and economic forces which +I will detail presently. + +The suggestion that America should take any such lead is resisted first +on the ground that it is a violation of her traditional policy, and +secondly that "economic and social forces" are bound to be ineffective +unless backed by military, so that the plea would involve her in a +militarist policy. With reference to these two points, I pointed out in +the preceding article that America's isolation from a movement for world +agreement would infallibly land her in a very pronounced militarist +policy, the increase of her armaments, the militarization of her +civilization and all that that implies. + +There are open to America at this present moment two courses: one which +will lead her to militarism and the indefinite increase of +armaments--that is the course of isolation from the world's life, from +the new efforts that will be made toward world organization; the other +to anticipate events and take the initiative in the leadership of world +organization, which would have the effect of rendering western +civilization, including herself, less military, less dependent upon +arms, and put the development of that civilization on a civilist rather +than a militarist basis. + +I believe that it is the failure to realize that this intervention can +be non-military in character which explains the reluctance of very many +Americans to depart from their traditional policy of non-intervention. +With reference to that point it is surely germane to remember that the +America of 1914 is not the America of 1776; circumstances which made +Washington's advice sound and statesmanlike have been transformed. The +situation today is not that of a tiny power not yet solidified, remote +from the main currents of the world's life, out-matched in resources by +any one of the greater powers of Europe. America is no longer so remote +as to have little practical concern with Europe. Its contacts with +Europe are instantaneous, daily, intimate, innumerable--so much so +indeed that our own civilization will be intimately affected and +modified by certain changes which threaten in the older world. + +I will put the case thus: Suppose that there are certain developments in +Europe which would profoundly threaten our own civilization and our own +security, and suppose further that we could without great cost to +ourselves so guide or direct those changes and developments as to render +them no longer a menace to this country. If such a case could be +established, would not adherence to a formula established under +eighteenth century conditions have the same relation to sound politics +that the incantations and taboos of superstitious barbarians have to +sound religion? And I think such a case can be established. + +I wonder whether it has occurred to many Americans to ask why all the +belligerents in this present war are showing such remarkable deference +to American public opinion. Some Americans may, of course, believe that +it is the sheer personal fascination of individual Americans or simple +tenderness of moral feeling that makes Great Britain, France, Russia, +Germany, and Austria take definitely so much trouble at a time when they +have sufficient already, to demonstrate that they have taken the right +course, that they are obeying all the laws of war, that they are not +responsible for the war in any way, and so forth. Is it simply that our +condemnation would hurt their feelings? This hardly agrees with certain +other ideas which we hold as to the belligerents. + +There is something beyond this order of motive at the bottom of the +immense respect which all the combatants alike are paying to American +opinion. It happened to the writer recently to meet a considerable +number of Belgian refugees from Brussels, all of them full of stories +(which I must admit were second or third or three-hundredth hand) of +German barbarity and ferocity. Yet all were obliged to admit that German +behavior in Brussels had on the whole been very good. But that, they +explained, was "merely because the American Consul put his foot down." +Yet one is not aware that President Wilson had authorized the American +Consul so much as to hint at the possible military intervention of +America in this war. Nevertheless there can be no doubt that these +"Huns," so little susceptible in our view for the most part to moral +considerations, were greatly influenced by the opinion of America; and +we know also that the other belligerents have shown the same respect for +the attitude of the United States. + +I think we have here what so frequently happens in the development of +the attitude of men toward large general questions: the intuitive +recognition of a truth which those who recognize it are quite unable to +put into words. It is a self-protective instinct, a movement that is +made without its being necessary to think it out. (In the way that the +untaught person is able instantly to detect the false note in a tune +without knowing that such things as notes or crotchets and quavers +exist.) + +It is quite true that the Germans feared the bad opinion of the world +because the bad opinion of the world may be translated into an element +of resistance to the very ends which it is the object of the war to +achieve for Germany. + +Those ends include the extension of German influence, material and +moral, of German commerce and culture. But a world very hostile to +Germany might quite conceivably check both. We say, rightly enough, +probably, that pride of place and power had its part--many declare the +prominent part--in the motives that led Germany into this war. But it is +quite conceivable that a universal revulsion of feeling against a power +like Germany might neutralize the influence she would gain in the world +by a mere extension of her territorial conquests. + +Russia, for instance, has nearly five times the population and very many +times the area of France; but one may doubt whether even a Russian would +assert that Russian influence is five or ten times greater than that of +France; still less that the world yielded him in any sense a +proportionately greater deference than it yields the Frenchman. The +extent to which the greatest power can impose itself by bayonets is very +limited in area and depth. All the might of the Prussian Army cannot +compel the children of Poland or of Lorraine to say their prayers in +German; it cannot compel the housewives of Switzerland or Paraguay or of +any other little State that has not a battleship to its name to buy +German saucepans if so be they do not desire to. There are so many other +things necessary to render political or military force effective, and +there are so many that can offset it altogether. + +We see these forces at work around us every day accomplishing miracles, +doing things which a thousand years of fighting was never able to +do--and then say serenely that they are mere "theories." Why do Catholic +powers no longer execute heretics? They have a perfect right--even in +international law--to do so. What is it that protects the heretic in +Catholic countries? The police? But the main business of the police and +the army used to be to hunt him down. What is controlling the police and +the army? + +By some sort of process there has been an increasing intuitive +recognition of a certain code which we realize to be necessary for a +decent society. It has come to be a sanction much stronger than the +sanction of law, much more effective than the sanction of military +force. During the German advance on Paris in August last I happened to +be present at a French family conference. Stories of the incredible +cruelties and ferocity of the Germans were circulating in the Northern +Department, where I happened to be staying. + +Every one was in a condition of panic, and two Frenchmen, fathers of +families, were seeing red at the story of all these barbarities. But +they had to decide--and the thing was discussed at a little family +conference--where they should send their wives and children. And one of +these Frenchmen, the one who had been most ferocious in his condemnation +of the German barbarian, said quite naïvely and with no sense of irony +or paradox: "Of course, if we could find an absolutely open town which +would not be defended at all the women folk and children would be all +right." His instinct, of course, was perfectly just. The German +"savage" had had three quarters of a million people in his absolute +power in Brussels, and so far as we know, not a child or a woman has +been injured. + +Indeed, in normal times our security against foreigners is not based +upon physical force at all. I suppose during the last century some +hundreds of thousands of British and American tourists have traveled +through the historic cities of Germany, their children have gone to the +German educational institutions, their invalids have been attended by +German doctors and cut up by German surgeons in German sanatoria and +health resorts, and I am quite sure that it never occurred to any one of +these hundreds of thousands that their little children when in the +educational institutions of these "Huns" were in any way in danger. It +was not the guns of the American Navy or the British Navy that were +protecting them; the physical force of America or of Great Britain could +not certainly be the factor operative in, say, Switzerland or Austria, +yet every Summer tens of thousands of them trust their lives and those +of their women and children in the remote mountains of Switzerland on no +better security than the expectation that a foreign community over whom +we have no possibility of exercising force will observe a convention +which has no sanction other than the recognition that it is to their +advantage to observe it. + +And we thus have the spectacle of millions of Anglo-Saxons absolutely +convinced that the sanctity of their homes and the safety of their +property are secure from the ravages of the foreigner only because they +possess a naval and military force that overawes him, yet serenely +leaving the protection of that military force, and placing life and +property alike within the absolute power of that very foreigner against +whose predatory tendencies we spend millions in protecting ourselves. + +No use of military power, however complete and overwhelming, would +pretend to afford a protection anything like as complete as that +afforded by these moral forces. Sixty years ago Britain had as against +Greece a preponderance of power that made her the absolute dictator of +the latter's policy, yet all the British battleships and all the threats +of "consequences" could not prevent British travelers being murdered by +Greek brigands, though in Switzerland only moral forces--the recognition +by an astute people of the advantage of treating foreigners well--had +already made the lives and property of Britons as safe in that country +as in their own. + +In the same way, no scheme of arming Protestants as against Catholics, +or Catholics as against Protestants (the method which gave us the wars +of religion and massacre of St. Bartholomew) could assure that general +security of spiritual and intellectual possessions which we now in large +measure enjoy. So indeed with the more material things, France, Great +Britain, and some of the older nations have sunk thousands of millions +in foreign investments, the real security of which is not in any +physical force which their Government could possibly exercise, but the +free recognition of foreigners that it is to their advantage to adhere +to financial obligations. Englishmen do not even pretend that the +security of their investments in a country like the United States or the +Argentine is dependent upon the coercion which the British Government is +able to exercise over these communities. + +The reader will not, I think, misunderstand me. I am not pleading that +human nature has undergone or will undergo any radical transformation. +Rather am I asserting that it will not undergo any; that the intention +of the man of the tenth century in Europe was as good as that of the man +of the twentieth, that the man of the tenth century was as capable of +self-sacrifice--was, it may be, less self-seeking. But what I am trying +to hint is that the shrinking of the world by our developed +intercommunication has made us all more interdependent. + +The German Government moves its troops against Belgium; a moratorium is +immediately proclaimed in Rio de Janeiro, a dozen American Stock +Exchanges are promptly closed and some hundreds of thousands of our +people are affected in their daily lives. This worldwide effect is not +a matter of some years or a generation or two. It is a matter of an +hour; we are intimately concerned with the actions of men on the other +side of the world that we have never seen and never shall see; and they +are intimately concerned with us. We know without having thought it out +that we are bound together by a compact; the very fact that we are +dependent upon one another creates as a matter of fact a partnership. We +are expecting the other man to perform his part; he has been doing so +uninterruptedly for years, and we send him our goods or we take his bill +of exchange, or our families are afloat in his ships, expecting that he +will pay for his goods, honor the bill of exchange, navigate safely his +ship--he has undertaken to do these things in the world-wide partnership +of our common labor and then he fails. He does not do these things, and +we have a very lively sense of the immorality of the doctrine which +permits him to escape doing them. + +And so there are certain things that are not done, certain lengths to +which even in war time we cannot go. What will stop the war is not so +much the fighting, any more than Protestant massacres prevented Catholic +massacres. Men do not fear the enemy soldiers; they do fear the turning +of certain social and moral forces against them. The German Government +does not hesitate for a moment to send ten thousand of its own people to +certain death under enemy guns even though the military advantage of so +doing may be relatively trifling. But it dare not order the massacre of +ten thousand foreign residents in Berlin. There is some force which +makes it sometimes more scrupulous of the lives of its enemy than of the +lives of its own people. + +Yet why should it care? Because of the physical force of the armies +ranged against it? But it has to meet that force in any case. It fears +that the world will be stirred. In other words, it knows that the world +at large has a very lively realization that in its own interest certain +things must not be done, that the world would not live together as we +now know it, if it permitted those things to be done. It would not so +permit them. + +At the bottom of this moral hesitation is an unconscious realization of +the extent of each nation's dependence upon the world partnership. It is +not a fear of physical chastisement; any nation will go to war against +desperate odds if a foreign nation talks of chastising it. It is not +that consideration which operates, as a thousand examples in history +prove to us. There are forces outside military power more visible and +ponderable than these. + +There exists, of course, already a world State which has no formal +recognition in our paper constitutions at all, and no sanction in +physical force. If you are able to send a letter to the most obscure +village of China, a telegram to any part of the planet, to travel over +most of the world in safety, to carry on trade therewith, it is because +for a generation the Post Office Departments of the world have been at +work arranging traffic and communication details, methods of keeping +their accounts; because the ship owner has been devising international +signal codes; the banker arranging conditions of international credit; +because, in fact, not merely a dozen but some hundreds of international +agreements, most of them made not between Governments at all, but +between groups and parties directly concerned, have been devised. + +There is no overlord enforcing them, yet much of our daily life depends +upon their normal working. The bankers or the shipowners or the makers +of electric machinery have met in Paris or Brussels and decided that +such shall be the accepted code, such the universal measurement for the +lamp or instrument, such the conditions for the bill of exchange and +from the moment that there is an agreement you do not need any sanction. +If the instrument does not conform to the measurement it is unsalable +and that is sanction enough. + +[Illustration: ANTONIO SALANDRA + +Minister of the Interior and President of the Italian Ministry + +_(Photo from Bain)_] + +[Illustration: JAMES W. GERARD + +American Ambassador to the German Empire] + +We have seen in the preceding article that the dependence of the nations +goes back a good deal further than we are apt to think; that long before +the period of fully developed intercommunication, all nations owed +their civilization to foreigners. It was to their traffic with Gaul and +the visits of the Phoenician traders that the early inhabitants of the +British Isles learned their first steps in arts and crafts and the +development of a civilized society, and even in what we know as the Dark +Ages we find Charlemagne borrowing scholars from York to assist him in +civilizing the Continent. + +The civilization which our forefathers brought with them to America was +the result of centuries of exchange in ideas between Britain and the +Continent, and though in the course of time it had become something +characteristically Anglo-Saxon, its origins were Greek and Arabic and +Roman and Jewish. But the interdependence of nations today is of an +infinitely more vital and insistent kind, and despite superficial +setbacks becomes more vital every day. As late as the first quarter of +the nineteenth century, for instance, Britain was still practically +self-sufficing; her very large foreign trade was a trade in luxuries. +She could still produce her own food, her population could still live on +her own soil. + +But if today by some sort of magic Britain could kill off all foreigners +the means of livelihood for quite an appreciable portion of her +population would have disappeared. Millions would be threatened by +actual starvation. For Britain's overseas trade, on which so large a +proportion of the population actually lives, is mainly with the outside +world and not with her own empire. We have seen what isolation merely +from two countries has meant for Great Britain. Britain is still +maintaining her contacts with the world as a whole, but the cessation of +relationship with two countries has precipitated the gravest financial +crisis known in all her history, has kept her Stock Exchanges closed for +months, has sent her Consols to a lower point than any known since the +worst period of the Napoleonic wars, and has compelled the Government +ruthlessly to pledge its credit for the support of banking institutions +and all the various trades that have been most seriously hit. + +Nor is Germany's isolation altogether complete. She manages through +neutral countries and otherwise to maintain a considerable current of +relationship with the outside world, but how deeply and disastrously the +partial severance of contact has affected Germany we shall not at +present, probably at no time, in full measure know. + +All this gives a mere hint of what the organized isolation by the entire +world would mean to any one nation. Imagine the position of a civilized +country whose ports no ship from another country would enter, whose +bills no banker would discount, a country unable to receive a telegram +or a letter from the outside world or send one thereto, whose citizens +could neither travel in other countries or maintain communications +therewith. It would have an effect in the modern world somewhat +equivalent to that of the dreadful edicts of excommunication and +interdict which the papal power was able to issue in the mediaeval +world. + +I am aware, of course, that such a measure would fall very hardly upon +certain individuals in the countries inflicting this punishment, but it +is quite within the power of the Governments of those countries to do +what the British Government has done in the case of persons like +acceptors of German bills who found themselves threatened with +bankruptcy and who threatened in consequence to create great disturbance +around them because of the impossibility of securing payment from the +German indorsers. The British Government came to the rescue of those +acceptors, used the whole national credit to sustain them. It is +expensive, if you will, but infinitely less expensive than a war, and, +finally, most of the cost of it will probably be recovered. + +Now if that were done, how could a country so dealt with retaliate? She +could not attack all the world at once. Upon those neighbors more +immediately interested could be thrown the burden of taking such +defensive military measures as the circumstances might dictate. You +might have a group of powers probably taking such defensive measures and +all the powers of Christendom co-operating economically by this +suggested non-intercourse. It is possible even that the powers as a +whole might contribute to a general fund indemnifying individuals in +those States particularly hit by the fact of non-intercourse. I am +thinking, for instance, of shipping interests in a port like Amsterdam +if the decree of non-intercourse were proclaimed against a power like +Germany. + +We have little conception of the terror which such a policy might +constitute to a nation. It has never been tried, of course, because even +in war complete non-intercourse is not achieved. At the present time +Germany is buying and selling and trading with the outside world, cables +from Berlin are being sent almost as freely to New York as cables from +London and German merchants are making contracts, maintaining +connections of very considerable complexity. But if this machinery of +non-intercourse were organized as it might be, there would be virtually +no neutrals, and its effect in our world today would be positively +terrifying. + +It is true that the American administration did try something resembling +a policy of non-intercourse in dealing with Mexico. But, the thing was a +fiction. While the Department of State talked of non-intercourse the +Department of the Treasury was busy clearing ships for Mexico, +facilitating the dispatch of mails, &c. And, of course, Mexico's +communication with Europe remained unimpaired; at the exact moment when +the President of the United States was threatening Huerta with all sorts +of dire penalties Huerta's Government was arranging in London for the +issue of large loans and the advertisements of these Mexican loans were +appearing in The London Times. So that the one thing that might have +moved Huerta's Government the United States Government was unable to +enforce. In order to enforce it, it needed the co-operation of other +countries. + +I have spoken of the economic world State--of all those complex +international arrangements concerning Post Offices, shipping, banking, +codes, sanctions of law, criminal research, and the rest, on which so +much of our civilized life depends. This world State is unorganized, +incoherent. It has neither a centre nor a capital, nor a meeting place. +The shipowners gather in Paris, the world's bankers in Madrid or Berne, +and what is in effect some vital piece of world regulation is devised in +the smoking room of some Brussels hotel. The world State has not so much +as an office or an address, The United States should give it one. Out of +its vast resources it should endow civilization with a Central Bureau of +Organization--a Clearing House of its international activities as it +were, with the funds needed for its staff and upkeep. + +If undertaken with largeness of spirit, it would become the capital of +the world. And the Old World looks to America to do this service, +because it is the one which it cannot do for itself. Its old historic +jealousies and squabbles, from which America is so happily detached, +prevent any one power taking up and putting through this work of +organization, but America could do it, and do it so effectively that +from it might well flow this organization of that common action of all +the nations against any recalcitrant member of which I have spoken as a +means of enforcing non-militarily a common decision. + +It is this world State which it should be the business of America during +the next decade or two to co-ordinate, to organize. Its organization +will not come into being as the result of a week-end talk between +Ambassadors. There will be difficulties, material as well as moral, +jealousies to overcome, suspicions to surmount. But this war places +America in a more favorable position than any one European power. The +older powers would be less suspicious of her than of any one among their +number. America has infinitely greater material resources, she has a +greater gift for improvised organization, she is less hidebound by old +traditions, more disposed to make an attempt along new lines. + +That is the most terrifying thing about the proposal which I make--it +has never been tried. But the very difficulties constitute for America +also an immense opportunity. We have had nations give their lives and +the blood of their children for a position of supremacy and superiority. +But we are in a position of superiority and supremacy which for the most +part would be welcomed by the world as a whole and which would not +demand of America the blood of one of her children. It would demand some +enthusiasm, some moral courage, some sustained effort, faith, patience, +and persistence. It would establish new standards in, and let us hope a +new kind of, international rivalry. + +One word as to a starting point and a possible line of progress. The +first move toward the ending of this present war may come from America. +The President of the United States will probably act as mediator. The +terms of peace will probably be settled in Washington. Part of the terms +of peace to be exacted by the Allies will probably be, as I have already +hinted, some sort of assurance against future danger from German +militarist aggression. + +The German, rightly or wrongly, does not believe that he has been the +aggressor--it is not a question at all of whether he is right or wrong; +it is a question of what he believes. And he believes quite honestly and +sincerely that he is merely defending himself. So what he will be mainly +concerned about in the future is his security from the victorious +Allies. + +Around this point much of the discussion at the conclusion of this +present war will range. If it is to be a real peace and not a truce an +attempt will have to be made to give to each party security from the +other, and the question will then arise whether America will come into +that combination or not. I have already indicated that I think she +should not come in, certainly I do not think she will come in, with the +offer of military aid. But if she stays out of it altogether she will +have withdrawn from this world congress that must sit at the end of the +war a mediating influence which may go far to render it nugatory. + +And when, after it may be somewhat weary preliminaries, an international +council of conciliation is established to frame the general basis of +the new alliance between the civilized powers for mutual protection +along the lines indicated, America, if she is to play her part in +securing the peace of the world, must be ready to throw at least her +moral and economic weight into the common stock, the common moral and +economic forces which will act against the common enemy, whoever he may +happen to be. + +That does not involve taking sides, as I showed in my last article. The +policeman does not decide which of two quarrelers is right; he merely +decides that the stronger shall not use his power against the weaker. He +goes to the aid of the weaker, and then later the community deals with +the one who is the real aggressor. One may admit, if you will, that at +present there is no international law, and that it may not be possible +to create one. But we can at least exact that there shall be an inquiry, +a stay; and more often than not that alone would suffice to solve the +difficulty without the application of definite law. + +It is just up to that point that the United States should at this stage +be ready to commit herself in the general council of conciliation, +namely, to say this: "We shall throw our weight against any power that +refuses to give civilization an opportunity at least of examining and +finding out what the facts of the dispute are. After due examination we +may reserve the right to withdraw from any further interference between +such power and its antagonist. But, at least, we pledge ourselves to +secure that by throwing the weight of such non-military influence as we +may have on to the side of the weaker." That is the point at which a new +society of nations would begin, as it is the point at which a society of +individuals has begun. And it is for the purpose of giving effect to her +undertaking in that one regard that America should become the centre of +a definite organization of that world State which has already cut +athwart all frontiers and traversed all seas. + +It is not easy without apparent hyperbole to write of the service which +America would thus render to mankind. She would have discovered a new +sanction for human justice, would have made human society a reality. She +would have done something immeasurably greater, immeasurably more +beneficent than any of the conquests recorded in the long story of man's +mostly futile struggles. The democracy of America would have done +something which the despots and the conquerors of all time, from +Alexander and Caesar to Napoleon and the Kaiser, have found to be +impossible. Dangerous as I believe national vanity to be, America would, +I think, find in the pride of this achievement--this American leadership +of the human race--a glory that would not be vain, a world victory which +the world would welcome. + + + + +SIR CHRISTOPHER CRADOCK. + +By JOHN E. DOLSON. + + + Through the fog of the fight we could dimly see, + As ever the flame from the big guns flashed, + That Cradock was doomed, yet his men and he, + With their plates shot to junk, and their turrets smashed, + Their ship heeled over, her funnels gone, + Were fearlessly, doggedly fighting on. + + Out-speeded, out-metaled, out-ranged, out-shot + By heavier guns, they were not out-fought. + Those men--with the age-old British phlegm, + That has conquered and held the seas for them, + And the courage that causes the death-struck man + To rise on his mangled stumps and try, + With one last shot from his heated gun, + To score a hit ere his spirit fly, + Then sink in the welter of red, and die + With the sighting squint fixed on his dead, glazed eye-- + Accepted death as part of the plan. + + So the guns belched flame till the fight had run + Into night; and now, in the distance dim, + We could see, by the flashes, the dull, dark loom + Of their hull, as it bore toward the Port of Doom, + Away on the water's misty rim-- + Cradock and his few hundred men, + Never, in time, to be seen again. + + While into the darkness their great shells streamed, + Little the valiant Germans dreamed + That Cradock was teaching them how to go + When the fate their daring, itself, had sealed, + Waiting, as yet, o'er the ocean's verge, + To their eyes undaunted would stand revealed; + And, snared by a swifter, stronger foe, + Out-classed, out-metaled, out-ranged, out-shot + By heavier guns, but not out-fought, + They, too, would sink in the sheltering surge. + + + + +Battle of the Suez Canal + +A First-Hand Account of the Unsuccessful Turkish Invasion + +[From The London Times, Feb. 19, 1915.] + + +ISMAILIA, Feb. 10. + +Though skirmishing had taken place between the enemy's reconnoitring +parties and our outposts during the latter part of January, the main +attack was not developed until Feb. 2, when the enemy began to move +toward the Ismailia Ferry. They met a reconnoitring party of Indian +troops of all arms, and a desultory engagement ensued, to which a +violent sand storm put a sudden end about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. +The main attacking force pushed forward toward its destination after +nightfall. From twenty-five to thirty galvanized iron pontoon boats, +seven and a half meters in length, which had been dragged in carts +across the desert, were hauled by hand toward the water, with one or two +rafts made of kerosene tins in a wooden frame. All was ready for the +attack. + +The first warning of the enemy's approach was given by a sentry of a +mountain battery, who heard, to him, an unknown tongue across the water. +The noise soon increased. It would seem that Mudjah Ideen ("Holy +Warriors")--said to be mostly old Tripoli fighters--accompanied the +pontoon section and regulars of the Seventy-fifth Regiment, for loud +exhortations often in Arabic of "Brothers die for the faith; we can die +but once," betrayed the enthusiastic irregular. + +The Egyptians waited till the Turks were pushing their boats into the +water; then the Maxims attached to the battery suddenly spoke and the +guns opened with case at point-blank range at the men and boats crowded +under the steep bank opposite them. + +Immediately, a violent fire broke out on both sides of the canal, the +enemy replying to the rifles and machine gun fire and the battery on our +bank. Around the guns it was impossible to stand up, but the gunners +stuck to the work, inflicting terrible punishment. + +A little torpedo boat with a crew of thirteen patrolling the canal +dashed up and landed a party of four officers and men to the south of +Tussum, who climbed up the eastern bank and found themselves in a +Turkish trench, and escaped by a miracle with the news. Promptly the +midget dashed in between the fires and enfiladed the eastern bank amid a +hail of bullets, and destroyed several pontoon boats lying unlaunched on +the bank. It continued to harass the enemy, though two officers and two +men were wounded. + +As the dark, cloudy night lightened toward dawn fresh forces came into +action. The Turks, who occupied the outer, or day, line of the Tussum +post, advanced, covered by artillery, against the Indian troops holding +the inner, or night, position, while an Arab regiment advanced against +the Indian troops at the Serapeum post. + +The warships on the canal and lake joined in the fray. The enemy brought +some six batteries of field guns into action from the slopes west of +Kataib-el-Kheil. Shells admirably fused made fine practice at all the +visible targets, but failed to find the battery above mentioned, which, +with some help from a detachment of infantry, beat down the fire of the +riflemen on the opposite bank and inflicted heavy losses on the hostile +supports advancing toward the canal. A chance salvo wounded four men of +the battery, but it ran more risk from a party of about twenty of the +enemy who had crossed the canal in the dark and sniped the gunners from +the rear till they were finally rounded up by the Indian cavalry and +compelled to surrender. + +Supported by land naval artillery the Indian troops took the offensive. +The Serapeum garrison, which had stopped the enemy three-quarters of a +mile from the position, cleared its front, and the Tussum garrison by a +brilliant counter-attack drove the enemy back. Two battalions of +Anatolians of the Twenty-eighth Regiment were thrown vainly into the +fight. Our artillery gave them no chance, and by 3:30 in the afternoon a +third of the enemy, with the exception of a force that lay hid in bushy +hollows on the east bank between the two posts, were in full retreat, +leaving many dead, a large proportion of whom had been killed by +shrapnel. + +Meanwhile the warships on the lake had been in action. A salvo from a +battleship woke up Ismailia early, and crowds of soldiers and some +civilians climbed every available sandhill to see what was doing till +the Turkish guns sent shells sufficiently near to convince them that it +was safer to watch from cover. A husband and wife took a carriage and +drove along the lake front, much peppered by shells, till near the old +French hospital, when they realized the danger and suddenly whisked +around and drove back full gallop to Ismailia. + +But the enemy's fire did more than startle. At about 11 in the morning +two six-inch shells hit the Hardinge near the southern entrance of the +lake. The first damaged the funnel and the second burst inboard. Pilot +Carew, a gallant old merchant seaman, refused to go below when the +firing opened and lost a leg. Nine others were wounded. One or two +merchantmen were hit, but no lives were lost. A British gunboat was +struck. + +Then came a dramatic duel between the Turkish big gun or guns and a +warship. The Turks fired just over and then just short of 9,000 yards. +The warship sent in a salvo of more six-inch shells than had been fired +that day. + +During the morning the enemy moved toward Ismailia Ferry. The infantry +used the ground well, digging shelter pits as they advanced, and were +covered by a well-served battery. An officer, apparently a German, +exposed himself with the greatest daring, and watchers were interested +to see a yellow "pie dog," which also escaped, running about the +advancing line. Our artillery shot admirably and kept the enemy from +coming within 1,000 yards of the Indian outposts. In the afternoon the +demonstration--for it was no more--ceased but for a few shells fired as +"a nightcap." During the dark night that followed some of the enemy +approached the outpost line of the ferry position with a dog, but +nothing happened, and day found them gone. + +At the same time as the fighting ceased at the ferry it died down at El +Kantara. There the Turks, after a plucky night attack, came to grief on +our wire entanglements. Another attempt to advance from the southeast +was forced back by an advance of the Indian troops. The attack, during +which it was necessary to advance on a narrow front over ground often +marshy with recent inundations against our strong position, never had a +chance. Indeed, the enemy was only engaged with our outpost line. + +Late in the afternoon of the 3d there was sniping from the east bank +between Tussum and Serapeum and a man was killed in the tops of a +British battleship. Next morning the sniping was renewed, and the Indian +troops, moving out to search the ground, found several hundred of the +enemy in the hollow previously mentioned. During the fighting some of +the enemy, either by accident or design, held up their hands, while +others fired on the Punjabis, who were advancing to take the surrender, +and killed a British officer. A sharp fight with the cold steel +followed, and a British officer killed a Turkish officer with a sword +thrust in single combat. The body of a German officer with a white flag +was afterward found here, but there is no proof that the white flag was +used. Finally all the enemy were killed, captured, or put to flight. + +With this the fighting ended, and the subsequent operations were +confined to "rounding up" prisoners and to the capture of a considerable +amount of military material left behind. The Turks who departed with +their guns and baggage during the night of the 3d still seemed to be +moving eastward. + +So ended the battle of the Suez Canal. Our losses have been amazingly +small, totaling about 111 killed and wounded. + +[Illustration: Showing the Turkish points of concentration in Palestine +and the principal routes leading thence to the Suez Canal. The +intervening desert Peninsula of Sinai constitutes a formidable obstacle +to an invading force. Inset is a map of the Ottoman Empire showing in +the northeast the Caucasus, where the Turks were routed by the Russians, +who later advanced on Erzerum and Tabriz. The British expedition in the +Persian Gulf region occupied Basra and was on Feb. 1, 1915, at Kurna, +the point of confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates.] + +Our opponents have probably lost nearly 3,000 men. The Indian troops +bore the brunt of the fighting and were well supported by the British +and French warships and by the Egyptian troops. The Turks fought bravely +and their artillery shot well if unluckily, but the intentions of the +higher command are still a puzzle to British officers. + +Did Djemal Pasha intend to try to break through our position under cover +of demonstrations along a front over ninety miles in length with a total +force, perhaps, of 25,000 men, or was he attempting a reconnoissance in +force? If the former is the case, he must have had a low idea of British +leadership or an amazing belief in the readiness and ability of +sympathizers in Egypt to support the Turk. Certainly he was misinformed +as to our positions, and on the 4th we buried on the eastern bank the +bodies of two men, apparently Syrians or Egyptians, who were found with +their hands tied and their eyes bandaged. Probably they were guides who +had been summarily killed, having unwittingly led the enemy astray. If, +on the other hand, Djemal Pasha was attempting a reconnoissance, it was +a costly business and gave General Wilson a very handsome victory. + +Till the last week of January there had been some doubt as to the road +by which the Ottoman Commander in Chief in Syria intended to advance on +the canal. Before the end of the month it was quite clear that what was +then believed to be the Turkish advanced guard, having marched with +admirable rapidity from Beersheba via El Auja, Djebel Libni, and +Djifjaffa, was concentrating in the valleys just east of +Kataib-el-Kheil, a group of hills lying about ten miles east of the +canal, where it enters Lake Timsah. A smaller column detached from this +force was sighted in the hills east of Ismailia Ferry. Smaller bodies +had appeared in the neighborhood of El Kantara and between Suez and the +Bitter Lakes. + +The attacks on our advanced posts at El Kantara on the night of Jan. 26 +and 27, and at Kubri, near Suez, on the following night, were beaten +off. Hostile guns fired occasional shells, while our warships returned +the compliment at any hostile column that seemed to offer a good target, +and our aeroplanes dropped bombs when they had the chance; but in +general the enemy kept a long distance off and was tantalizing. Our +launches and boats, which were constantly patrolling the canal, could +see him methodically intrenching just out of range of the naval guns. + +By the night of Feb. 1 the enemy had prepared his plan of attack. To +judge both from his movements during the next two days and the documents +found on prisoners and slain, it was proposed to attack El Kantara while +making a demonstration at El Ferdan, further south, and prevent +reinforcements at the first-named post. The demonstration at Ismailia +Ferry by the right wing of the Kataib-el-Kheil force which had been +partly refused till then in order to prevent a counter-attack from the +ferry, was designed to occupy the attention of the Ismailia garrison, +while the main attack was delivered between the Tussum post, eight miles +south of Ismailia, and the Serapeum post, some three miles further +south. Eshref Bey's highly irregular force in the meantime was to +demonstrate near Suez. + +The selection of the Tussum and Serapeum section as the principal +objective was dictated both by the consideration that success here would +bring the Turks a few miles from Ismailia, and by the information +received from patrols that the west bank of the canal between the posts, +both of which may be described as bridgeheads, were unoccupied by our +troops. The west bank between the posts is steep and marked by a long, +narrow belt of trees. The east bank also falls steeply to the canal, but +behind it are numerous hollows, full of brushwood, which give good +cover. Here the enemy's advanced parties established themselves and +intrenched before the main attack was delivered. + + + + +A Full-Fledged Socialist State + +While Germany's Trade and Credit Are Holding Their Breath + +By J. Laurence Laughlin + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, March 9, 1915.] + + + Professor Laughlin, who makes the following remarkable study + of the German financial emergency, was lecturer on political + economy in Berlin on the invitation of the Prussian Cultur + Ministerium in 1906, and since 1892 has been head of the + Department of Political Economy in the University of Chicago. + He is acknowledged to be one of the foremost American + economists and the views here expressed are based on wide + information. + +In a great financial emergency conditions are immediately registered in +the monetary and credit mechanism. Although the German Government and +the Reichsbank had obviously been preparing for war long before, as soon +as mobilization was ordered there was a currency panic. The private +banks stopped payment in gold. Crowds then besieged the Reichsbank in +order to get its notes converted into gold. Then the Banking act was +suspended, so that the Reichsbank and private banks were freed from the +obligation to give out gold for notes. At once all notes went to a +discount in the shops as compared with gold. Thereupon, in summary +fashion, the Military Governor of Berlin declared the notes to be a full +legal tender and announced that any shop refusing to take them at par +would be punished by confiscation of goods. + +In Germany, as is well known, the main currency is supplied by the +Reichsbank, covered by at least 33-1/3 per cent. in gold or silver, and +the remaining two-thirds by commercial paper. Immediately after the +outbreak of war there was a prodigious increase of loans at the +Reichsbank, in consequence of which borrowers received notes or deposit +accounts. Usually transactions are carried through by use of notes, and +not by checks, as with us. On July 23, 1914, the notes stood at +$472,500,000; deposits at $236,000,000; discounted bills and advances at +$200,000,000. On Aug. 31 notes had increased to $1,058,500,000; deposits +to $610,000,000; discounts and advances to $1,113,500,000, (by October +this amount was lowered to about $750,000,000.) On the latter date the +specie reserve stood at $409,500,000, or more than the legal one-third. +Loans had been increased 556 per cent.; notes 223 per cent., and +deposits 258 per cent. In short, $586,000,000 of notes had been issued +beyond the amount required in normal times, (July 23.) Clearly this +additional amount was not required by an increased exchange of goods, +but by those persons whose resources were tied up and who needed a means +of payment. The same was true of the large increase of deposits which +resulted from the larger loans. A liberal policy of discounting was +followed by which loans were given on the basis of securities or stocks +of goods on hand. That is, non-negotiable assets were converted into a +means of payment either in the form of notes or deposit credits. + +At this juncture there was created a currency something after +the fashion of the Aldrich-Vreeland emergency notes in this +country. War credit banks were established by law to issue notes +(Darlehnskassenscheine) in denominations of 10, 15, 20, and 50 marks as +loans on stocks in trade and securities of all kinds, and were charged +6-1/2 per cent. interest. The goods on which these notes could be issued +were not removed, but stamped with a Government seal. While not a legal +tender, the notes were receivable at all imperial agencies. On +securities classed at the Reichsbank as Class I. loans could be made up +to 60 per cent. of their value as of July 31; as Class II., 40 per +cent.; on the other German securities bearing a fixed rate of return, +50 per cent.; on other German securities bearing a varying rate of +return, 40 per cent.; on Russian securities, a lower percentage. These +institutions, therefore, took up some of the burden that would otherwise +have fallen on the loan item of the Reichsbank. Hence the Reichsbank +account does not show the whole situation. + +To this point the methods followed were much the same as in London. Then +came unusual happenings. In London for a few days the banks had wavered +as to maintaining gold payments, but only temporarily. In Berlin drastic +measures were undertaken to accumulate gold in the Reichsbank. Vienna +reports it to be well known that Germany had been for eighteen months +before straining every nerve to obtain gold. Whatever sums of gold were +included in the so-called "war chest" in Spandau (said to be +$30,000,000) were also deposited with the Reichsbank. Gold was even +smuggled across the borders of Holland on the persons of spies. Urgent +demands were made upon the people to turn in gold from patriotic +motives. In this way over $400,000,000 of gold was gathered by July, +1914; and by the end of the year, after five months of war, it had risen +to $523,000,000. Was Germany to maintain gold payments as well as Great +Britain? + +Evidently not. Gold was not given for notes on presentation. For +purposes of exchanging goods the notes were in excess. Inconvertible, +they must go to a discount with gold or with the money of outside +countries using gold. But in order to get imports from other nations, +like Holland, Scandinavia, and Denmark, Germany must either send goods, +or gold, or securities. German industries, except those making war +supplies, were not producing over 25 per cent. of capacity, and many +were closed. The Siemens-Schuckert Works, even before the Landsturm was +called out, lost 40 per cent. of their men on mobilization. The Humboldt +Steel Works, near Cologne, employing 4,000 men, were closed early in +August, as were nearly all the great iron works in the district between +Düsseldorf and Duisburg. Probably 50 to 75 per cent. of the workers +were called to the colors. The skilled artisans were in the army or in +munition factories; the railways were in the hands of the military; and +the merchant marine was shut up in home or foreign ports. There were +said to be 1,500 idle ships in Hamburg alone. Few goods could be +exported. Gold was refused for export, of course. A serious liquidation +in foreign securities had been going on long before the war. Some +foreign securities must have still remained. However that may be, a +claim to funds in Germany (i.e., a bill drawn on Germany) was not +redeemable in gold, and it fell in price. In normal times a bill could +not fall below the shipping point in gold, (par with us for 4 marks is +95-1/4 cents in gold;) but, since gold could not be sent, exchange on +Germany could fall to any figure, set only by a declining demand. +Already bills on Germany have been quoted in New York at 82, showing a +depreciation of German money in the international field of about 13 per +cent. Likewise, as early as the first week of September, the Reichsbank +notes were reported at a discount of 20 per cent., and as practically +non-negotiable in a neighboring country like Holland. + +The inevitable consequence of a depreciated currency must be a rise of +prices, usually greater than the actual percentage of depreciation. To +meet this situation there came a device possible in no other commercial +country. The Government fixed prices at which goods could be sold. This +mediaeval device could be enforced only in a land where such State +interference had been habitual, and, of course, could give to the notes +the fictitious purchasing power only inside the country. After the +Christian Science fashion, one had only to believe the notes were of +value to make them so; but in the cold world outside German jurisdiction +their value would be gauged by the chances of getting gold for them. +Here, then, we find Germany in all the mazes of our ancient +"greenbackism," but still in possession of a large stock of gold. As +soon as the war ends she may be able to return to gold payments at an +early date--very much as did France after the ordeal of the +Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871. + +In the present war conditions, however, largely cut off from other +countries, (except some small trade with Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, +and the like,) all ordinary relations which would influence German +credit and industry must be counted out. There is no comparison of her +prices and money with those of other countries in a free market, or with +even a limited transportation of exports and imports. All commercial +measurements are suspended for the time. Trade and credit are holding +their breath. How long can they do it? Germany may have food enough; but +how long can the stoppage of industry go on? + +Moreover, attention must be called to one momentous thing. We are seeing +today, under military law, the greatest experiment in socialism ever +witnessed. All wealth, income, industry, capital, and labor are in the +direct control and use of a military State. Food, everything, may be +taken and distributed in common. I think never before in history have we +had such a gigantic, full-fledged illustration of socialism in actual +operation. + +In the meanwhile, even though food may be provided, the reduction of +industry in general has cut incomes right and left. That is, fewer goods +are produced and exchanged. But goods are the basis of all credit. The +less the goods exchanged, the less the credit operations. Nevertheless, +the extraordinary issues of banknotes, the increase of deposits, as a +result of quintupling the loans, means that former commitments in goods +and securities cannot be liquidated. That is, the enormous increase of +bank liabilities, to a considerable and unknown percentage, is not +supported by liquid assets. These assets are "canned." Will they keep +sweet? There is no new business, no foreign trade, sufficient to take up +old obligations and renew those which are unpayable. Lessened incomes +mean lessened consumption and lessened demand for goods. Hence the +credit system is based on an uncertain and insecure foundation, +dependent wholly upon contingencies far in the future which may, or may +not, take the non-liquid assets out of cold storage and give them their +original value. + +Moreover, apart from definite destruction of wealth and capital in the +war--which must be enormous, as represented by the national loans--the +losses from not doing business in all main industries during the whole +period of the war (except in making war supplies) must be very great. As +it affects the income and expenditure of the working classes, it may be +roughly measured by the great numbers of unemployed. If they are used on +public works, their income is made up from taxes on the wealth of +others. Luxuries will disappear, and not be produced or imported. +Incomes expressed in goods, or material satisfactions, have been +diminished--which is of no serious consequence, if they cover the +minimum of actual subsistence. The prolongation of the war will, then, +depend on the ability to provide the supplies for war. + +The need for a medium of exchange is oversupplied. The lack is in the +goods to be exchanged. The enormous extension of German note issues does +not, and can not, diminish. In this country the expansion of credit and +money immediately after the war (manifested by the issue of Clearing +House certificates and emergency banknotes) has been cleared away by +liquidation. In Germany the "canned" assets behind the depreciated +currency cannot be liquidated until the end of the war. And their worth +at that time will depend much on the future course of the war and the +terms of peace. If German territory should be overrun and the tangible +forms of capital in factories and fixed capital be destroyed, much of +the liquidation might be indefinitely prolonged. Whatever of foreign +trade is permanently lost would also increase the difficulties. + +In a great financial emergency nearly every country has, at one time or +another, been tempted to confuse the monetary with the fiscal functions +of the Treasury. To borrow by the issue of money seems to have a +seductive charm hard to resist. Lloyd George established a new precedent +for Great Britain by issuing nearly $200,000,000 of Government currency +notes, but this was done to provide notes for the public instead of coin +(£1 and 10s.) and made unnecessary any emergency issues by the Bank of +England, and a large gold fund has been accumulated behind them so that +they are convertible. In Germany it does not seem likely that the +Treasury notes will be largely used (having increased from $16,500,000 +to about $200,000,000) as a means of borrowing, since the new loans are +being issued in terms of longer maturities. + +J. LAURENCE LAUGHLIN. + + + + +LETTERS FROM WIVES + +[By Cable to The New York Tribune.] + + +London, March 8.--Edward Page Gaston, an American business man long +resident in London, has just returned from Belgium, and brought with him +many sad and touching relics of the battlefields in that distressful +country, chiefly from the neighborhood of Mons. These pathetic memorials +include letters from wives, sweethearts, and friends at home and letters +written by soldiers now dead and never posted. + +Turning these letters over, one comes across such an expression as this: +"I congratulate you on your promotion. It seems too good to be true. +Good-bye and God bless you, dear. God keep you in health and bring you +safely back." + +Alas! the soldier who got that letter came back no way at all to his +sweetheart or his friends. + +"If you don't come back, what shall I do?" is the cry that comes from +another woman's heart, and he did not come back. + +Mr. Gaston is going to put himself into communication with the War +Office with regard to the fate of the relics, and as far as possible, +they will be sent to the rightful owners. + + + + +"WAR CHILDREN." + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +Paris, Feb. 24.--Professor Pinard of the Academy of Medicine contributes +an article to the Matin showing that "war children" are stronger and +healthier than their predecessors, and that France is rapidly repairing +her battle losses. + +An analysis of the Paris statistics for the last six months reveals a +diminution of the death rate among mothers and children and a decrease +in the number of children born dead. + +Dr. Pinard further asserts that an extensive comparison of living +children with those born earlier shows that the average weight of "war +babies" is considerably higher than it used to be. This he considers due +to the giving of natural instead of artificial nourishment by the +mothers in consequence of the more serious attitude they take to their +duty to the State. + +This, says the professor, is one more instance of the spirit of +regeneration animating France. + + + + +No Premature Peace For Russia + +Proceedings at Opening of the Duma, Petrograd, Feb. 9, 1915 + +[From The London Times.] + + +PETROGRAD, Feb. 9. + +The main impression left upon all who attended today's proceedings in +the Duma may be summed up in a few words. The war has not shaken the +determination of the Russian people to carry through the struggle to a +victorious end. + +Practically the whole House had assembled--the few vacant seats were due +to death, chiefly on the field of battle--and the patriotic spirit +permeating the proceedings was just as deeply emphasized as it was six +months ago. The debates were several times interrupted by the singing of +the National anthem, thunders of applause greeted the speeches of the +President, the Premier, and the Foreign Minister, and the ovation to the +British and French Ambassadors was, if anything, warmer and more +enthusiastic than on the previous occasion. + +I noticed that members applauded with special emphasis the words in +which the President expressed his firm conviction that all efforts to +disunite the Allies would prove fruitless. + +In the course of his address the President eloquently and eulogistically +referred to the rôle of Russia's allies in the present war. Speaking of +England, he said: + + Noble and mighty England, with all her strength, has come + forward to defend the right. Her services to the common cause + are great, their value inestimable. We believe in her and + admire her steadfastness and valor. + + The enemies of Russia have already frequently attempted to sow + discord in these good and sincere relations, but such efforts + are vain. The Russian truth-loving national soul, sensitive of + any display of mendacity or insincerity, was able to sift the + chaff from the wheat, and faith in our friends is unshaken. + There is not a single cloud on the clear horizon of our + lasting allied harmony. Heartfelt greetings to you, true + friends, rulers of the waves and our companions in arms. May + victory and glory go with you everywhere! + +These remarks were constantly interrupted by outbursts of tremendous +applause and by an ovation in honor of Sir George Buchanan, who bowed +his acknowledgments. + +Alluding to temperance reform, the orator fervently exclaimed: + + Accept, great monarch, the lowly reverence of thy people. Thy + people firmly believe that an end has been put for all + eternity to this ancient curse. + + The terrible war can not and must not end otherwise than + victoriously for us and our allies. We will fight till our + foes submit to the conditions and demands which the victors + dictate to them. We are weary of the incessant brandishing of + the sword, the menaces to Slavdom, and the obstacles to its + natural growth. We will fight till the end, till we win a + lasting peace worthy of the great sacrifices we have offered + to our fatherland. In the name of our electorate, we here + declare, "So wishes all Russia." + + And you, brave warrior knights in the cold trenches, proudly + bearing the standard of Russian imperialism, hearken to this + national outburst. Your task is difficult. You are surrounded + with trials and privations, but then you are Russian, for whom + no obstacles exist. + +A scene of indescribable enthusiasm ensued, the House rising and singing +the national hymn. + +The President's peroration was in part as follows: + +The Premier, in the opening sentences of the speech which followed, +said: "Our heroic army, the flower and the pride of Russia, strong as +never before in its might, notwithstanding all its losses, grows and +strengthens." He did not fail to remind his hearers that the war is yet +far from ended, but he added that the Government, from the first, had +soberly looked the danger in the face and frankly warned the country of +the forthcoming sacrifices for the common cause and also for the +strengthening of the mutual gravitation of the Slavonic races. He +briefly referred to the Turkish defeat in the Caucasus as opening before +the Russians a bright historical future on the shores of the Black Sea. + +The Premier alluded to the tremendous change wrought in the national +life by the abolition of the liquor traffic, which he designated a +second serfdom vanishing at the behest of the Czar. After a few years of +sober, persistent labor, we would no longer recognize Russia. The war +had further raised the question of the creation in the world's markets +of favorable conditions to the export of our agricultural products, and +a general revision of conditions calculated hereafter to guarantee to +Russia a healthy development on the principle of entire independence of +Germany in all branches of the national life. In this direction the +Government had already drafted and was preparing a series of elaborate +measures. He concluded with the expression of his conviction that, if +all fulfilled their duty in the spirit of profound devotion to the +Emperor and of deep faith in the triumph of the country, the near future +would open before us perhaps the best pages in Russian history. + +The speeches of a peasant Deputy and a Polish representative were +particularly impressive and well received. The Socialist leader's demand +for peace called forth a smart rejoinder from a member of his own party. + + +M. SAZANOF'S SPEECH. + +This afternoon the session of the Duma was opened in the presence of the +whole Cabinet, the members of the Council of the Empire, the Diplomatic +Corps, and the Senators. The public galleries were filled. + +M. Sazanof began his speech by recalling that six months ago in that +place he had explained why Russia, in face of the brutal attempt by +Germany and Austria upon the independence of Serbia and Belgium, had +been able to adopt no other course than to take up arms in defense of +the rights of nations. Russia, standing closely united and admirably +unanimous in her enthusiasm against an enemy which had offered +provocation, did not remain isolated, because she was immediately +supported by France and Great Britain and, soon afterward, by Japan. + +Passing in review the events of the war, the Minister said that the +valiant Russian troops, standing shoulder to shoulder with their allies, +had secured fresh laurels for their crown of glory. The Russian arms +were marching steadfastly toward their goal, assured of final victory +against an enemy who, blinded by the hope of an easy victory, was making +desperate efforts, having recourse to all kinds of subterfuges, even the +distortion of the truth. + +To the relations of good neighborliness, faithfully maintained by +Russia, Germany had everywhere opposed resistance, seeking to embroil +Russia with neighboring countries, especially those to which Russia was +bound by important interests. + + All this [continued M. Sazanof] is sufficient for us to judge + the value of German statements regarding the alleged + envelopment of Germany by the Triple Entente. Equally + worthless are the assertions that it was not Germany who began + the war, for irrefutable documents exist to prove the + contrary. Among the malevolent German inventions figure + reports of Jewish pogroms which the Russian troops are alleged + to have organized. I seize this opportunity of speaking in the + parliamentary tribune to deny this calumny categorically, for, + if the Jewish population in the theatre of war is suffering, + that is an inevitable evil, since the inhabitants of regions + where hostilities are proceeding are always severely tried. + Moreover, eyewitnesses are unanimous in stating that the + greatest devastation in Poland is the work of the Germans and + Austrians. + + The German Ambassador in Washington has zealously spread these + reports in the attempt to create in the United States a + feeling hostile to us, but the good sense of the Americans has + prevented them from falling into the clumsily laid snare. I + hope that the good relations between Russia and America will + not suffer from these German intrigues. + + The "Orange Book" recently published proved that the events on + the Bosporus which preceded the war with Turkey were the + result of German treachery toward the Ottoman Empire, which + invited German instructors and the mission of General Liman + von Sanders, hoping to perfect its army with the object of + assuring its independence against the Russian danger + insinuated by Berlin. Germany, however, took advantage of this + penetration into the Turkish Army to make that army a weapon + in realizing her political plans. + + All the acts of the Turks since the appearance of the Goeben + in the Dardanelles had been committed under the pressure of + Germany, but the efforts of the Turks to evade responsibility + for these acts could not prevent them from falling into the + abyss into which they were rolling. The events on the + Russo-Turkish frontier, while covering Russian arms with fresh + glory, will bring Russia nearer to the realization of the + political and economic problems bound up with the question of + Russia's access to the open sea. + +Passing to the documents relating to reforms in Armenia recently +distributed among members of the Duma, M. Sazanof said: + + The Russian Government disinterestedly endeavored to alleviate + the lot of the Armenians, and the Russo-Turkish agreement of + Jan. 26, 1914, is a historical document in which Turkey + recognizes the privileged position of Russia in the Armenian + question. When the war ends this exclusive position of Russia + will be employed by the Imperial Government in a direction + favorable to the Armenian population. Having drawn the sword + in the defense of Serbia, Russia is acting under the influence + of her sentiments toward a sister nation whose grandeur of + soul in the present war has closely riveted the two countries. + +After referring with satisfaction to the gallantry of Montenegro in +fighting as she was doing in the common cause, M. Sazanof proceeded to +speak of Greece. The relations of Russia with this tried friend of +Serbia, he said, were perfectly cordial, and the tendency of the +Hellenic people to put an end to the sufferings of their co-religionists +groaning under the Ottoman yoke had the entire sympathy of the Imperial +Government. + +Passing to Rumania, M. Sazanof said that the relations between Russia +and Rumania retained the friendly character which they acquired on the +occasion of the visit of the Czar to Constanza. The constant Russophile +demonstrations in Bucharest and throughout the whole country during the +Autumn had brought into relief the hostile feelings of the Rumanians +toward Austria-Hungary. He continued: + + You are probably waiting, gentlemen, for a reply to a question + which interests the whole world, viz., the attitude of those + non-combatant countries whose interests counsel them to + embrace the cause of Russia and that of her allies. In effect, + public opinion in these countries, responsive to all that is + meant by the national ideal, has long since pronounced itself + in this sense, but you will understand that I cannot go into + this question very profoundly, seeing that the Governments of + these countries, with which we enjoy friendly relations, have + not yet taken a definite decision. Now, it is for them to + arrive at this decision, for they alone will be responsible to + their respective nations if they miss a favorable opportunity + to realize their national aspirations. + + I must also mention with sincere gratitude the services + rendered to us by Italy and Spain in protecting our + compatriots in enemy countries. I must also emphasize the care + lavished by Sweden on Russian travelers who were the victims + of German brutality. I hope that this fact will strengthen the + relations of good neighborliness between Russia and Sweden, + which we desire to see still more cordial than they are. + +Referring to Russo-Persian relations, M. Sazonof said: + + Before the war with Turkey, we succeeded in putting an end to + the secular Turco-Persian quarrel by means of the delimitation + of the Persian Gulf and Mount Ararat region, thanks to which + we preserved for Persia a disputed territory with an area of + almost 20,000 square versts, part of which the Turks had + invaded. Since the war the Persian Government has declared its + neutrality, but this has not prevented Germany, Austria, and + Turkey from carrying on a propaganda with the object of + gaining Persian sympathies. These intrigues have been + particularly intense in Azerbaijan, where the Turks succeeded + in attracting to their side some of the Kurds in that country. + Afterward Ottoman troops, violating Persian neutrality, + crossed the Persian frontier and, supported by Kurdish bands, + penetrated the districts where our detachments were in + cantonments and transformed Azerbaijan into a part of the + Russo-Turkish theatre of war. + + I must say in passing that the presence of our troops in + Persia is in no way a violation of neutrality, for they were + sent there some years ago with the object of maintaining order + in our frontier territory, and preventing its invasion by the + Turks, who wished to establish there an advantageous base of + action against the Caucasus. The Persian Government, + powerless to take effective action against this aggression, + protested, but without success. I must state that + Anglo-Russian relations in regard to Persian affairs are more + than ever based on mutual and sincere confidence and + co-operation, which are a guarantee of the pacific settlement + of any eventual conflict. + +Passing to the Far East, M. Sazanof said the agreements signed in 1907 +and 1910 with Japan had borne fruit during the present war, for Japan +was with them. She had driven the Germans from the Pacific Ocean, and +had seized the German base of Kiao-chau. Although Japan did not sign the +agreement of Aug. 23, yet, since the Anglo-Japanese alliance contained +an undertaking that a separate peace should not be concluded, therefore +the German Government could not hope for peace with Japan before she had +concluded peace with Great Britain, Russia, and France. Consequently, +their relations with Japan gave them a firm friend. The demands +addressed by Japan to China contain nothing contrary to our interests. + +As for Russo-Chinese interests, he could state their constant +improvement. The _pourparlers_ in regard to Mongolia, though slow, were +friendly, and he hoped to be able to announce shortly the signature of a +triple Russo-Chinese-Mongolian treaty, which, while safeguarding the +interests of Russia, would not injure those of China. + +In conclusion, M. Sazanof expressed the hope that the close union of all +Russians around the throne, which had been manifested since the +beginning of the war, would remain unchanged until the completion of the +great national task. + +Speakers of the Progressist, Octobrist, and Nationalist Centre Parties +agreed that a premature peace would be a crime against their country and +humanity, and that therefore Russia was prepared to make every sacrifice +so that Germany might be definitely crushed. + +At the end of the sitting the following resolution was unanimously +adopted: + +_The Duma, saluting the glorious exploits of our soldiers, sends to the +Russian Army and Navy a cordial greeting and to our allies an expression +of sincere esteem and sympathy. It expresses its firm conviction that +the great national and liberating objects of the present war will be +achieved, and declares the inflexible determination of the Russian +Nation to carry on the war until conditions shall have been imposed on +the enemy assuring the peace of Europe and the restoration of right and +justice_. + + + + +TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOILS! + +By MADELEINE LUCETTE RYLEY. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + + The Victor true is he who conquers fear, + Who knows no time save now--no place but here. + Who counts no cost--who only plays the game. + To him shall go the prize--Immortal Fame! + +To the illustrious ruler and his gallant little nation, whose heroism +and bravery are surely unparalleled in the whole of our world's history, +I bow my head in respectful homage. + + + + +Lessons of the War to March Ninth + +By Charles W. Eliot + +President Emeritus of Harvard University. + + +CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 9, 1915. + +_To the Editor of The New York Times:_ + +The observant world has now had ample opportunity to establish certain +conclusions about the new kind of war and its availability as means of +adjusting satisfactorily international relations; and it seems desirable +in the interest of durable peace in Europe that those conclusions should +be accurately stated and kept in public view. + +In the first place, the destructiveness of war waged on the scale and +with the intensity which conscript armies, the new means of +transportation and communication, the new artillery, the aeroplanes, the +high explosives, and the continuity of the fighting on battle fronts of +unexampled length, by night as well as by day, and in stormy and wintry +as well as moderate weather, make possible, has proved to be beyond all +power of computation, and could not have been imagined in advance. Never +before has there been any approach to the vast killing and crippling of +men, the destruction of all sorts of man's structures--buildings, +bridges, viaducts, vessels, and docks--and the physical ruin of +countless women and children. On the seas vessels and cargoes are sunk, +instead of being carried into port as formerly. + +Through the ravaging of immense areas of crop-producing lands, the +driving away of the people that lived on them, and the dislocation of +commerce, the food supplies for millions of non-combatants are so +reduced that the rising generation in several countries is impaired on a +scale never approached in any previous war. + +In any country which becomes the seat of war an immense destruction of +fixed capital is wrought; and at the same time the quick capital of all +the combatants, accumulated during generations, is thrown into the +furnace of war and consumed unproductively. + +In consequence of the enormous size of the national armies and the +withdrawal of the able-bodied men from productive industries, the +industries and commerce of the whole world are seriously interrupted, +whence widespread, incalculable losses to mankind. + +These few months of war have emphasized the interdependence of nations +the world over with a stress never before equaled. Neutral nations far +removed from Europe have felt keenly the effects of the war on the +industries and trades by which they live. Men see in this instance that +whatever reduces the buying and consuming capacity of one nation will +probably reduce also the producing and selling capacity of other +nations; and that the gains of commerce and trade are normally mutual, +and not one-sided. + +All the contending nations have issued huge loans which will impose +heavy burdens on future generations; and the yield of the first loans +has already been spent or pledged. The first loan issued by the British +Government was nearly twice the national debt of the United States; and +it is supposed that its proceeds will be all spent before next Summer. +Germany has already spent $1,600,000,000 since the war broke out--all +unproductively and most of it for destruction. She will soon have to +issue her second great loan. In short, the waste and ruin have been +without precedent, the destruction of wealth has been enormous, and the +resulting dislocations of finance, industries, and commerce will long +afflict the coming generations in all the belligerent nations. + +All the belligerent nations have already demonstrated that neither urban +life, nor the factory system, nor yet corroding luxury has caused in +them any physical or moral deterioration which interferes with their +fighting capacity. The soldiers of these civilized peoples are just as +ready for hand-to-hand encounters with cold steel as any barbarians or +savages have ever been. The primitive combative instincts remain in full +force and can be brought into play by all the belligerents with +facility. The progress of the war should have removed any delusions on +this subject which Germany, Austria-Hungary, or any one of the Allies +may have entertained. The Belgians, a well-to-do town people, and the +Serbians, a poor rural population, best illustrate this continuity of +the martial qualities; for the Belgians faced overwhelming odds, and the +Serbians have twice driven back large Austrian forces, although they +have a transport by oxen only, an elementary commissariat, no medical or +surgical supplies to speak of, and scanty munitions of war. On the other +hand, the principal combatants have proved that with money enough they +can all use effectively the new methods of war administration and the +new implements for destruction. These facts suggest that the war might +be much prolonged without yielding any results more decisive than those +it has already yielded; indeed, that its most probable outcome is a +stalemate--unless new combatants enter the field. + +Fear of Russian invasion seemed at first to prompt Germany to war; but +now Germany has amply demonstrated that she has no reason to look with +any keen apprehension on possible Russian aggression upon her territory, +and that her military organization is adequate for defense against any +attack from any quarter. The military experience of the last seven +months proves that the defense, by the temporary intrenchment method, +has a great advantage over the attack; so that in future wars the +aggressor will always be liable to find himself at a serious +disadvantage, even if his victim is imperfectly prepared. + +These same pregnant months have also proved that armies can be assembled +and put into the field in effective condition in a much shorter time +than has heretofore been supposed to be possible; provided there be +plenty of money to meet the cost of equipment, transportation, and +supplies. Hence, the advantages of maintaining huge active armies, ready +for instant attack or defense, will hereafter be less considerable than +they have been supposed to be--if the declaration of war by surprise, as +in August last, can hereafter be prevented. These considerations, taken +in connection with the probable inefficacy against modern artillery of +elaborate fortifications, suggest the possibility of a reduction +throughout Europe of the peace-footing armies. It is conceivable that +the Swiss militia system should satisfy the future needs of most of the +European States. + +Another important result of the colossal war has been achieved in these +seven months. It has been demonstrated that no single nation in any part +of the world can dominate the other nations, or, indeed, any other +nation, unless the other principal powers consent to that domination; +and, in the present state of the world, it is quite clear that no such +domination will be consented to. As soon as this proposition is accepted +by all the combatants, this war, and perhaps all war between civilized +nations, will cease. It is obvious that in the interest of mankind the +war ought not to cease until Germany is convinced that her ambition for +empire in Europe and the world cannot be gratified. _Deutschland über +alles_ can survive as a shout of patriotic enthusiasm; but as a maxim of +international policy it is dead already, and should be buried out of the +sight and memory of men. + +It has, moreover, become plain that the progress in civilization of the +white race is to depend not on the supreme power of any one nation, +forcing its peculiar civilization on other nations, but on the peaceful +development of many different nationalities, each making contributions +of its own to the progress of the whole, and each developing a social, +industrial, and governmental order of its own, suited to its territory, +traditions, resources, and natural capacities. + +The chronic irritations in Europe which contributed to the outbreak of +the war and the war itself have emphasized the value and the toughness +of natural national units, both large and small, and the inexpediency of +artificially dividing such units, or of forcing natural units into +unnatural associations. These principles are now firmly established in +the public opinion of Europe and America. No matter how much longer the +present war may last, no settlement will afford any prospect of lasting +peace in Europe which does not take just account of these principles. +Already the war has demonstrated that just consideration of national +feelings, racial kinship, and common commercial interests would lead to +three fresh groupings in Europe--one of the Scandinavian countries, one +of the three sections into which Poland has been divided, and one of the +Balkan States which have a strong sense of Slavic kinship. In the case +of Scandinavia and the Balkan States the bond might be nothing more than +a common tariff with common ports and harbor regulations; but Poland +needs to be reconstructed as a separate kingdom. Thoroughly to remove +political sores which have been running for more than forty years, the +people of Schleswig-Holstein and Alsace-Lorraine should also be allowed +to determine by free vote their national allegiance. Whether the war +ends in victory for the Allies, or in a draw or deadlock with neither +party victorious and neither humiliated, these new national adjustments +will be necessary to permanent peace in Europe. All the wars in Europe +since 1864 unite in demonstrating that necessity. + +Again, the war has already demonstrated that colonies or colonial +possessions in remote parts of the world are not a source of strength to +a European nation when at war, unless that nation is strong on the +seas. Affiliated Commonwealths may be a support to the mother country, +but colonies held by force in exclusive possession are not. Great +Britain learned much in 1775 about the management of colonies, and again +she learned in India that the policy of exploitation, long pursued by +the East India Company, had become undesirable from every point of view. +As the strongest naval power in the world, Great Britain has given an +admiral example of the right use of power in making the seas and harbors +of the world free to the mercantile marine of all the nations with which +she competes. Her free-trade policy helped her to wise action on the +subject of commercial extension. Nevertheless, the other commercial +nations, watching the tremendous power in war which Great Britain +possesses through her wide, though not complete, control of the oceans, +will rejoice when British control, though limited and wisely used, is +replaced by an unlimited international control. This is one of the most +valuable lessons of the great war. + +Another conviction is strongly impressed upon the commercial nations of +the world by the developments of seven months of extensive fighting by +land and sea, namely, the importance of making free to all nations the +Kiel Canal and the passage from the Black Sea to the Aegean. So long as +one nation holds the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, and another nation +holds the short route from the Baltic to the North Sea, there will be +dangerous restrictions on the commerce of the world--dangerous in the +sense of provoking to war, or of causing sores which develop into +malignant disease. Those two channels should be used for the common +benefit of mankind, just as the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal is +intended to be. Free seas, free inter-ocean canals and straits, the +"open door," and free competition in international trade are needed +securities for peace. + +These lessons of the war are as plain now as they will be after six +months or six years more fighting. Can the belligerent nations--and +particularly Germany--take them to heart now, or must more millions of +men be slaughtered and more billions of human savings be consumed +before these teachings of seven fearful months be accepted? + +For a great attainable object such dreadful losses and sufferings as +continuation of the war entails might perhaps be borne; but the last +seven months have proved that the objects with which Austria-Hungary and +Germany went to war are unattainable in the present state of Europe. +Austria-Hungary, even with the active aid of Germany and Turkey, cannot +prevail in Serbia against the active or passive resistance of Serbia, +Russia, Rumania, Greece, Italy, France, and Great Britain. Germany +cannot crush France supported by Great Britain and Russia, or keep +Belgium, except as a subject and hostile province, and in defiance of +the public opinion of the civilized world. In seven months Great +Britain and France have made up for their lack of preparedness and have +brought the military operations of Germany in France to a standstill. On +the other hand, Great Britain and France must already realize that they +cannot drive the German armies out of France and Belgium without a +sacrifice of blood and treasure from which the stoutest hearts may well +shrink. + +Has not the war already demonstrated that jealous and hostile coalitions +armed to the teeth will surely bring on Europe not peace and advancing +civilization, but savage war and an arrest of civilization? Has it not +already proved that Europe needs one comprehensive union or federation +competent to procure and keep for Europe peace through justice? There is +no alternative except more war. + +CHARLES W. ELIOT. + + + + +BELGIUM'S KING AND QUEEN + +By PAUL HERVIEU + +Translation by Florence Simmonds. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + +Once upon a time there lived a King and a Queen.... + +Indeed, it would be the most touching and edifying fairy-tale +imaginable, this true story of H.M. Albert I. and H.M. Queen Elizabeth. + +It would tell of their quiet and noble devotion to their daily tasks, of +the purity of their happy family life.... + +Suddenly, the devil would intervene, with his threats and his offers.... + +Then we should hear of the sovereigns and the people of Belgium agreeing +at once in their sense of honor and heroism. + +Then the dastardly invasion, and the innumerable host of infernal +spirits breathing out sulphur, belching torrents of iron, and raining +fire; city dwellings transformed into the shattered columns of +cemeteries; innocent creatures tortured and victimized; and the King and +Queen with their kingdom reduced to a sandhill on the shore, and the +remnant of their valiant army around them. + +And at last, at last! That turn of the tide which all humanity worthy of +the name desires so ardently, and which even the baser sort now sees to +be surely approaching. + +At this point in the story, at this page of the legendary tale, how the +children would clap their hands, with all that love of justice innate in +children, and how the faces of worthy parents would beam with the +approval of satisfied consciences! + +And in the future, those who contemplate the royal arms with the pious +admiration due to them, will see a blooming rose side by side with the +lion of Belgium, typifying the immortal share of H.M. Queen Elizabeth in +the glory of H.M. Albert I. + + + + +THE EUROPEAN WAR AS SEEN BY CARTOONISTS + + +[German Cartoon] + +The American Protest + +[Illustration: _--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._ + +JOHN BULL: "Now, what's he throwing at me for? A little bit of piracy is +no reason for getting bad-tempered."] + + +[French Cartoon] + +The Peasant and the War + +[Illustration: _--From Le Rire, Paris_ + +"Confound their infernal shells! If a feller didn't have to work it +would be better to stay home these days."] + + +[German Cartoon] + +Victory! + +[Illustration: _--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._ + +[This cartoon was published on the Kaiser's birthday, Jan. 27, 1915.]] + + +[English Cartoon] + +"The Outcast" + +[Illustration: _--From Punch, London._ + +A place in the shadow.] + + +[Italian Cartoon] + +The Dream of a Madman + +[Illustration: _--From L'Asino, Rome._ + +WILLIAM: "Attention! Forward! March! One--two...."] + + +[German Cartoon] + +Night Scene in Trafalgar Square + +[Illustration: _--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._ + +"Goddam, Mister Nelson! What are you looking for down here?" + +"Well, just suppose you stay up there for a while among the Zeppelins +yourself."] + + +[English Cartoon] + +The Riddle of the Sands + +[Illustration: _--From Punch, London._ + +TURKISH CAMEL: "Where to?" + +GERMAN OFFICER: "Egypt." + +TURKISH CAMEL: "Guess again."] + + +[German Cartoon] + +The Theatre in the Field + +[Illustration: THE ENGLISH THEATRE IN THE FIELD--"With the permission of +French and Kitchener, Hicks's Operetta Company went from London to the +front and played before the British soldiers."] + +[Illustration: THE GERMAN THEATRE IN THE FIELD--"Major Walter Kirchoff +(of the Royal Opera House). Lieutenant Hall Wegener (of the German +Theatre). Dispatch Rider, Carl Clewing (of the Royal Playhouse)." + +_--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._] + + +[English Cartoon] + +Trench Amenities + +[Illustration: _--From Punch, London._ + +BRITISH TOMMY (returning to trench in which he has lately been fighting, +now temporarily occupied by the enemy): "Excuse me--any of you blighters +seen my pipe?"] + + +[Italian Cartoon] + +Quo Vadis? + +[Illustration: _--From L'Asino, Rome._] + + +[German Cartoon] + +The Gutter Snipes + +[Illustration: _--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._] + + +[German Cartoon] + +A London Family Scene + +[Illustration: _--From Meggendorfer-Blaetter, Munich._ + +(A favorite theme of German cartoonists is England's supposed mortal +terror of Zeppelins.)] + + +[English Cartoon] + +The Dissemblers + +[Illustration: --_From Punch, London._ + +EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA: "Now what do we really want to say?" + +SULTAN OF TURKEY: "Well, of course we couldn't say that; not on his +birthday."] + + +[German Cartoon] + +Lord Kitchener Wants You! + +[Illustration: _--From Simplicissimus, Munich._ + +"Lord Kitchener needs recruits!"] + + +[English Cartoon] + +Willy-Nilly + +[Illustration: _--From The Sketch, London._ + +GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT: "Our progress is maintained."] + + +[German Cartoon] + +A Shaky Affair + +[Illustration: _--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._ + +THE TRIPLE VICTORY: "Confound it, there goes another pillar."] + + +[English Cartoon] + +The Return of the Raider + +[Illustration: _--From Punch, London._ + +KAISER: "Well, I _AM_ surprised!" + +TIRPITZ: "So were we."] + + +[Italian Cartoon] + +What Is There Inside? + +[Illustration: _--From L'Asino, Rome._ + +(The words that the observer has uncovered are as follows: _Militarism, +Religious Mania, Megalomania, Loquacity, Homicidal Mania, Imperialism, +Neronism_.)] + + +[English Cartoon] + +"Sound and Fury" + +[Illustration: _--From Punch, London._ + +KAISER: "Is all my high seas fleet safely locked up?" + +ADMIRAL VON TIRPITZ: "Practically all, Sire." + +KAISER: "Then let the starvation of England begin!"] + + +[English Cartoon] + +The Flight That Failed + +[Illustration: _--From Punch, London._ + +THE EMPEROR: "What! No babes, sirrah?" + +THE MURDERER: "Alas, Sire, none." + +THE EMPEROR: "Well, then, no babes, no iron crosses."] + + +[English Cartoon] + +"A Fortified Town" + +[Illustration: _--From The Sketch, London._ + +A. Little Muddlecome, as known to its inhabitants. + +B. Little Muddlecome, the fortified town--according to Germany.] + + +[South African Cartoon] + +No Family Resemblance + +[Illustration: _--From The Cape Times, Cape Town, South Africa._ + +THE GERMAN EAGLE (tearfully): "As bird to bird--surely _you_ won't +desert me?" + +THE AMERICAN EAGLE: "Desert you! I'm an eagle, not a vulture!"] + + + + +The Chances of Peace and the Problem of Poland + +By J. Ellis Barker + +[_From The Nineteenth Century and After, Leonard Scott Publishing +Company._] + + +A century ago, at the Congress of Vienna, the question of Poland proved +extremely difficult to solve. It produced dangerous friction among the +assembled powers, and threatened to lead to the break-up of the +congress. The position became so threatening that, on the 3d of January, +1815, Austria, Great Britain, and France felt compelled to conclude a +secret separate alliance directed against Prussia and Russia, the allies +of Austria and Great Britain in the war against Napoleon. Precautionary +troop movements began, and war among the allies might have broken out +had not, shortly afterward, Napoleon quitted Elba and landed in France. +Fear of the great Corsican reunited the powers. + +Because of the great and conflicting interests involved, the question of +Poland may prove of similar importance and difficulty at the congress +which will conclude the present war. Hence, it seems desirable to +consider it carefully and in good time. It is true that the study of the +Polish problem does not seem to be very urgent at the present moment. In +view of the slow progress of the Allies in the east and west, it appears +that the war will be long drawn out. Still, it is quite possible that it +will come to an early and sudden end. Austria-Hungary is visibly tiring +of the hopeless struggle into which she was plunged by Germany, and +which hitherto has brought her nothing but loss, disgrace, and disaster. +After all, the war is bound to end earlier or later in an Austro-German +defeat, and if it should be fought to the bitter end Austria-Hungary +will obviously suffer far more severely than will Germany. A protracted +war, which would lead merely to the lasting impoverishment of Germany, +would bring about the economic annihilation of impecunious Austria. +Besides, while a complete defeat would cause to Germany only the loss of +territories in the east, west, and north which are largely inhabited by +disaffected Poles, Frenchmen, and Danes, and would not very greatly +reduce the purely German population of Germany, it would probably result +in the dissolution of the Dual Monarchy, which lacks a homogeneous +population, and it might lead to Austria's disappearance as a great +State. If complete disaster should overwhelm the empire of Francis +Joseph, Hungary would undoubtedly make herself independent. The Dual +Monarchy would become a heap of wreckage, and in the end the German +parts of Austria would probably become a German province, Vienna a +provincial Prussian town, the proud Hapsburgs subordinate German +princelings. If, on the other hand, Austria-Hungary should make quickly +a separate peace with her opponents, she would presumably lose only the +Polish parts of Galicia to the new kingdom of Poland, and Bosnia and +Herzegovina to Serbia; and she might receive most satisfactory +compensation for these losses by the acquisition of the German parts of +Silesia and by the adherence of the largely Roman Catholic South German +States, which have far more in common with Austria than with Protestant +Prussia. As a result of the war, Austria-Hungary might be greatly +strengthened at Germany's cost, provided the monarchy makes peace +without delay. In any case, only by an early peace can the bulk of the +lands of the Hapsburgs be preserved for the ruling house, and can +national bankruptcy be avoided. There is an excellent and most valuable +precedent for such action on Austria's part. Bismarck laid down the +essence of statesmanship in the maxim "Salus Publica Suprema Lex," and +defined in his memoirs the binding power of treaties of alliance by the +phrase "Ultra posse nemo obligatur." Referring particularly to the +Austro-German alliance, he wrote that "no nation is obliged to sacrifice +its existence on the altar of treaty fidelity." Before long the Dual +Monarchy may take advantage of Bismarck's teaching. After all, it cannot +be expected that she should go beyond her strength, and that she should +ruin herself for the sake of Germany, especially as she cannot thereby +save that country from inevitable defeat. Austria-Hungary should feel +particularly strongly impelled to ask for peace without delay, as her +recent and most disastrous defeat in Serbia has exasperated the people +and threatens to lead to risings and revolts not only in the Slavonic +parts of the monarchy but also in Hungary. Civil war may be said to be +in sight. + +The Dual Monarchy is threatened besides by the dubious and expectant +attitude of Italy and Rumania. If Austria-Hungary should hesitate much +longer to make peace, Italy and Rumania may find a sufficient pretext +for war and may join the Entente powers. Italy naturally desires to +acquire the valuable Italian portions of Austria-Hungary on her borders, +and Rumania the very extensive Rumanian parts of the Dual Monarchy +adjoining that kingdom. To both powers it would be disastrous if +Austria-Hungary should make peace before they had staked out their +claims by militarily occupying the territory which they covet. Both +States may therefore be expected to abandon their neutrality and to +invade Austria-Hungary without delay as soon as they hear that that +country seriously contemplates entering upon peace negotiations; it +follows that if Austria-Hungary wishes to withdraw from the stricken +field she must open negotiations with the utmost secrecy and conclude +them with the utmost speed. It is clear that if Italy and Rumania should +be given the much desired opportunity of joining the Entente powers, +the Dual Monarchy would lose not only Polish Galicia and Serbian Bosnia +and Herzegovina but Rumanian Transylvania and the Banat, with about +5,000,000 inhabitants, and the largely Italian Trentino, Istria, and +Dalmatia, with at least 1,000,000 people, as well. These vast losses +would probably lead to the total dismemberment of the State, for the +remaining subject nationalities would also demand their freedom. +Self-preservation is the first law and the first duty of individuals and +of States. It is therefore conceivable, and is indeed only logical, that +Austria-Hungary will conclude overnight a separate peace. If she should +take that wise and necessary step, isolated Germany would either have to +give up the unequal struggle or fight on single-handed. In the latter +case, her defeat would no doubt be rapid. It seems, therefore, quite +possible that the end of the war may be as sudden as was its beginning. +Hence, the consideration of the Polish question seems not only useful +but urgent.... + +From the very beginning Prussia, Austria, and Russia treated Poland as a +corpus vile, and cut it up like a cake, without any regard to the +claims, the rights, and the protests of the Poles themselves. Although +history only mentions three partitions, there were in reality seven. +There were those of 1772, 1793, and 1795, already referred to; and these +were followed by a redistribution of the Polish territories in 1807, +1809, and 1815. In none of these were the inhabitants consulted or even +considered. The Congress of Vienna established the independence of +Cracow, but Austria-Hungary, asserting that she considered herself +"threatened" by the existence of that tiny State, seized it in 1846. + +While Prussia, Austria, and Russia, considering that might was right, +had divided Poland among themselves, regardless of the passionate +protests of the inhabitants, England had remained a spectator, but not a +passive one, of the tragedy. She viewed the action of the allies with +strong disapproval, but although she gave frank expression to her +sentiments, she did not actively interfere. After all, no English +interests were involved in the partition. It was not her business to +intervene. Besides, she could not successfully have opposed +single-handed the joint action of the three powerful partner States, +especially as France, under the weak Louis XV., held aloof. However, +English statesmen refused to consider as valid the five partitions which +took place before and during the Napoleonic era. + +The Treaty of Chaumont of 1814 created the Concert of Europe. At the +Congress of Vienna of 1815 the frontiers of Europe were fixed by general +consent. As Prussia, Austria, and Russia refused to recreate an +independent Poland, England's opposition would have broken up the +concert, and might have led to further wars. Unable to prevent the +injustice done to Poland by her opposition, and anxious to maintain the +unity of the powers and the peace of the world, England consented at +last to consider the partition of Poland as a fait accompli, and +formally recognized it, especially as the Treaty of Vienna assured the +Poles of just and fair treatment under representative institutions. +Article I. of the Treaty of Vienna stated expressly: + + Les Polonais, sujets respectifs de la Russie, de l'Autriche et + de la Prusse, obtiendront une représentation et des + institutions nationales réglées d'après le mode d'existence + politique que chacun des gouvernements auxquels ils + appartiennent jugera utile et convenable de leur accorder. + +By signing the Treaty of Vienna, England recognized not explicitly, but +merely implicitly, the partition of Poland, and she did so unwillingly +and under protest. Lord Castlereagh stated in a circular note addressed +to Russia, Prussia, and Austria, that it had always been England's +desire that an independent Poland, possessing a dynasty of its own, +should be established, which, separating Austria, Russia, and Prussia, +should act as a buffer State between them; that, failing its creation, +the Poles should be reconciled to being dominated by foreigners, by just +and liberal treatment which alone would make them satisfied. His note, +which is most remarkable for its far-sightedness, wisdom, force, and +restraint, was worded as follows: + + The undersigned, his Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary + of State for Foreign Affairs and Plenipotentiary to the + Congress of Vienna, in desiring the present note concerning + the affairs of Poland may be entered on the protocol, has no + intention to revive controversy or to impede the progress of + the arrangements now in contemplation. His only object is to + avail himself of this occasion of temperately recording, by + the express orders of his Court, the sentiments of the British + Government upon a European question of the utmost magnitude + and influence. + + The undersigned has had occasion in the course of the + discussions at Vienna, for reasons that need not be gone into, + repeatedly and earnestly to oppose himself, on the part of his + Court, to the erection of a Polish Kingdom in union with and + making part of the Imperial Crown of Russia. + + The desire of his Court to see an independent power, more or + less considerable in extent, established in Poland under a + distinct dynasty, and as an intermediate State between the + three great monarchies, has uniformly been avowed, and if the + undersigned has not been directed to press such a measure, it + has only arisen from a disinclination to excite, under all the + apparent obstacles to such an arrangement, expectations which + might prove an unavailing source of discontent among the + Poles. + + The Emperor of Russia continuing, as it is declared, still to + adhere to his purpose of erecting that part of the Duchy of + Warsaw which is to fall under his Imperial majesty's dominion, + together with his other Polish provinces, either in whole or + in part, into a kingdom under the Russian sceptre; and their + Austrian and Prussian Majesties, the sovereigns most + immediately interested, having ceased to oppose themselves to + such an arrangement--the undersigned adhering, nevertheless, + to all his former representations on this subject has only + sincerely to hope that none of those evils may result from + this measure to the tranquillity of the North, and to the + general equilibrium of Europe, which it has been his painful + duty to anticipate. But in order to obviate as far as possible + such consequences, it is of essential importance to establish + the public tranquillity throughout the territories which + formerly constituted the Kingdom of Poland, upon some solid + and liberal basis of common interest, by applying to all, + however various may be their political institutions, a + congenial and conciliatory system of administration. + + Experience has proved that it is not by counteracting all + their habits and usages as a people that either the happiness + of the Poles, or the peace of that important portion of + Europe, can be preserved. A fruitless attempt, too long + persevered in, by institutions foreign to their manner and + sentiments to make them forget their existence, and even + language, as a people, has been sufficiently tried and failed. + It has only tended to excite a sentiment of discontent and + self-degradation, and can never operate otherwise than to + provoke commotion and to awaken them to a recollection of past + misfortunes. + + [Illustration: [map]] + + The undersigned, for these reasons, and in cordial concurrence + with the general sentiments which he has had the satisfaction + to observe the respective Cabinets entertained on this + subject, ardently desires that the illustrious monarchs to + whom the destinies of the Polish Nation are confided, may be + induced, before they depart from Vienna, to take an engagement + with each other to treat as Poles, under whatever form of + political institution they may think fit to govern them, the + portions of that nation that may be placed under their + respective sovereignties. The knowledge of such a + determination will best tend to conciliate the general + sentiment to their rule, and to do honor to the several + sovereigns in the eyes of their Polish subjects. This course + will consequently afford the surest prospect of their living + peaceably and contentedly under their respective + Governments.... + +This dispatch was sent on the 12th of January, 1815, exactly a century +ago. The warnings were not heeded and the past century has been filled +with sorrow for the Poles and with risings and revolutions, as Lord +Castlereagh clearly foretold.... + +In Western Russia, in Eastern Prussia, and in Galicia there dwell about +20,000,000 Poles. If the war should end, as it is likely to end, in a +Russian victory, a powerful kingdom of Poland will arise. According to +the carefully worded manifesto of the Grand Duke the united Poles will +receive full self-government under the protection of Russia. They will +be enabled to develop their nationality, but it seems scarcely likely +that they will receive entire and absolute independence. Their position +will probably resemble that of Quebec in Canada, or of Bavaria in +Germany, and if the Russians and Poles act wisely they will live as +harmoniously together as do the French-speaking "habitants" of Quebec +and the English-speaking men of the other provinces of Canada. Russia +need not fear that Poland will make herself entirely independent, and +only the most hot-headed and short-sighted Poles can wish for complete +independence. Poland, having developed extremely important manufacturing +industries, requires large free markets for their output. Her natural +market is Russia, for Germany has industrial centres of her own. She can +expect to have the free use of the precious Russian markets only as long +as she forms part of that great State. At present, a spirit of the +heartiest good-will prevails between Russians and Poles. The old +quarrels and grievances have been forgotten in the common struggle. The +moment is most auspicious for the resurrection of Poland. + +While Prussia has been guilty of the partition of Poland, Russia is +largely to blame for the repeated revolts and insurrection of her Polish +citizens.... + +When the peace conditions come up for discussion at the congress which +will bring the present war to an end--and that event may be nearer than +most men think--the problem of Poland will be one of the greatest +difficulty and importance. Austria-Hungary has comparatively little +interest in retaining her Poles. The Austrian Poles dwell in Galicia +outside the great rampart of the Carpathian Mountains, which form the +natural frontier of the Dual Monarchy toward the northeast. The loss of +Galicia, with its oilfields and mines, may be regrettable to +Austria-Hungary, but it will not affect her very seriously. To Germany, +on the other hand, the loss of the Polish districts will be a fearful +blow. The supreme importance which Germany attaches to the Polish +problem may be seen from this, that Bismarck thought it the only +question which could lead to an open breach between Germany and +Austria-Hungary. According to Crispi's Memoirs, Bismarck said to the +Italian statesman on the 17th of September, 1877: + + There could be but one cause for a breach in the friendship + that unites Austria and Germany, and that would be a + disagreement between the two Governments concerning Polish + policy.... If a Polish rebellion should break out and Austria + should lend it her support, we should be obliged to assert + ourselves. We cannot permit the reconstruction of a Catholic + kingdom so near at hand. It would be a Northern France. We + have one France to look to already, and a second would become + the natural ally of the first, and we should find ourselves + entrapped between two enemies. + + The resurrection of Poland would injure us in other ways as + well. It could not come about without the loss of a part of + our territory. We cannot possibly relinquish either Posen or + Dantsic, because the German Empire would remain exposed on the + Russian frontier, and we should lose an outlet on the Baltic. + +In the event of Germany's defeat a large slice of Poland, including the +wealthiest parts of Silesia, with gigantic coal mines, iron works, &c., +would be taken away from her, and if the Poles should recover their +ancient province of West Prussia, with Dantsic, Prussia's hold upon East +Prussia, with Königsberg, would be threatened. The loss of her Polish +districts would obviously greatly reduce Germany's military strength and +economic power. It may therefore be expected that Germany will move +heaven and earth against the re-creation of the Kingdom of Poland, and +that she will strenuously endeavor to create differences between Russia +and her allies. The statesmen of Europe should therefore, in good time, +firmly make up their minds as to the future of Poland. + +J. ELLIS BARKER. + + + + +THE REDEMPTION OF EUROPE + +By ALFRED NOYES. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + + _... donec templa refeceris_ + + Under which banner? It was night + Beyond all nights that ever were. + The Cross was broken. Blood-stained might + Moved like a tiger from its lair; + And all that heaven had died to quell + Awoke, and mingled earth with hell. + + For Europe, if it held a creed, + Held it through custom, not through faith. + Chaos returned, in dream and deed. + Right was a legend; Love--a wraith; + And That from which the world began + Was less than even the best in man. + + God in the image of a Snake + Dethroned that dream, too fond, too blind, + The man-shaped God whose heart could break, + Live, die, and triumph with mankind. + A Super-snake, a Juggernaut, + Dethroned the highest of human thought. + + The lists were set. The eternal foe + Within us as without grew strong, + By many a super-subtle blow + Blurring the lines of right and wrong + In Art and Thought, till nought seemed true + But that soul-slaughtering cry of New! + + New wreckage of the shrines we made + Thro' centuries of forgotten tears ... + We knew not where their scorn had laid + Our Master. Twice a thousand years + Had dulled the uncapricious Sun. + Manifold worlds obscured the One; + + Obscured the reign of Law, our stay, + Our compass through this darking sea, + The one sure light, the one sure way, + The one firm base of Liberty: + The one firm road that men have trod + Through Chaos to the Throne of God. + + Choose ye, a hundred legions cried, + Dishonor or the instant sword! + Ye chose. Ye met that blood-stained tide. + A little kingdom kept its word; + And, dying, cried across the night, + Hear us, O earth, we chose the Right! + + Whose is the victory? Though ye stood + Alone against the unmeasured foe; + By all the tears, by all the blood + That flowed, and have not ceased to flow; + By all the legions that ye hurled: + Back, thro' the thunder-shaken world; + + By the old that have not where to rest, + By the lands laid waste and hearths defiled; + By every lacerated breast, + And every mutilated child, + Whose is the victory? Answer ye, + Who, dying, smiled at tyranny? + + Under the sky's triumphal arch + The glories of the dawn begin. + Our dead, our shadowy armies march + E'en now, in silence, through Berlin; + Dumb shadows, tattered, blood-stained ghosts + But cast by what swift following hosts? + + And answer, England! At thy side, + Thro' seas of blood, thro' mists of tears, + Thou that for Liberty hast died + And livest, to the end of years! + And answer, Earth! Far off, I hear + The peans of a happier sphere: + + The trumpet blown at Marathon + Resounded over earth and sea, + But burning angel lips have blown + The trumpets of thy Liberty; + For who, beside thy dead, could deem + The faith, for which they died, a dream? + + Earth has not been the same since then. + Europe from thee received a soul, + Whence nations moved in law, like men, + As members of a mightier whole, + Till wars were ended.... In that day, + So shall our children's children say. + + + + +Germany Will End the War + +Only When a Peace Treaty Shall Assure Her Power + +By Maximilian Harden + + + Maximilian Harden, who in the following article sets forth the + ends which Germany is striving to accomplish in the war, is + the George Bernard Shaw of Germany. He is considered the + leading German editor and an expert in Germany on foreign + politics. As editor and proprietor of Die Zukunft, his fiery, + brooding spirit and keen insight and wit, coupled with powers + of satire and caricature, made him a solitary and striking + independent figure in the German press years before the other + newspapers of Germany dared to criticise or attack the + Government or the persons at the head of it. + + After the dismissal of Prince Bismarck by the present Kaiser, + Harden not only saw, but constantly and audaciously + criticised, the weaknesses in the character of the Emperor. + For this dangerous undertaking he was three times brought to + trial for lèse majesté, and spent a year as a prisoner in a + Prussian fortress. In 1907 he figured in a libel suit brought + by General Kuno von Moltke, late Military Governor of Berlin, + who, together with Count Zu Eulenburg and Count Wilhelm von + Hohenau, one of the Emperor's Adjutants, had been mentioned by + Harden in his paper as members of the so-called Camarilla or + "Round Table" that sought to influence the Emperor's political + actions by subtle manipulations. He was sentenced to four + months' imprisonment, but appealed the case, and was let off + two years later with a fine of $150. + + In recently publishing the German article which is herewith + translated the German New Vorker Revue carefully disclaimed + any agreement with the sentiments therein expressed by Harden, + which, it pointed out, must be regarded only as typical of + German public opinion as is George Bernard Shaw of public + opinion in England. + +The scorners of war, the blonde, black, and gray children who have been +defiling his name with syrupy tongues of lofty humanity and with +slanderous scoldings, all have become silent. Or else they snort +soldiers' songs; annihilate in confused little essays the allied powers +arrayed against us; entreat a civilized world (Kulturwelt) juggling for +mere turkey heads, to please grant us permission to do heavy and cruel +deeds, to wage fierce and headlong war! Already they seem prepared to +answer absolutely and unqualifiedly in the affirmative Luther's question +whether "men of war also can be considered in a state of grace." + +They write and talk much about the great scourge of war. That is all +quite true. But we should also bear in mind how much greater is the +scourge which is fended off by war. The sum and substance of the matter +is this: In looking upon the office of war one must not consider how it +strangles, burns, destroys. For that is what the simple eyes of children +do which do not further watch the surgeon when he chops off a hand or +saws off a leg; which do not see or perceive that it is a matter of +saving the entire body. So we must look upon the office of war and of +the sword with the eyes of men, and understand why it strangles and why +it wreaks cruel deeds. Then it will justify itself and prove of its own +accord that it is an office divine in itself, and as necessary and +useful to the world as is eating, drinking, or any other work. But that +some there are who abuse the office of war, who strangle and destroy +without need, out of sheer wantonness--that is not the fault of the +office, but of the person. Is there any office, work, or thing so good +that wicked and wanton persons will not abuse it? + +The organ tone of such words as these at last rolls forth once more in +their native land. + +Therefore cease the pitiful attempts to excuse Germany's action. No +longer wail to strangers, who do not care to hear you, telling them how +dear to us were the smiles of peace we had smeared like rouge upon our +lips, and how deeply we regret in our hearts that the treachery of +conspirators dragged us, unwilling, into a forced war. Cease, you +publicists, your wordy war against hostile brothers in the profession, +whose superiority you cannot scold away, and who merely smile while they +pick up, out of your laboriously stirred porridge slowly warmed over a +flame of borrowed alcohol, the crumbs on which their "selfishness" is to +choke! That national selfishness does not seem a duty to you, but a sin, +is something you must conceal from foreign eyes. + +Cease, also, you popular writers, the degraded scolding of enemies that +does not emanate from passion but out of greedy hankering for the +applause of the masses, and which continually nauseates us amid the +piety of this hour! Because our statemen failed to discover and foil +shrewd plans of deception is no reason why we may hoist the flag of most +pious morality. Not as weak-willed blunderers have we undertaken the +fearful risk of this war. We wanted it. Because we had to wish it and +could wish it. May the Teuton devil throttle those whiners whose pleas +for excuses make us ludicrous in these hours of lofty experience. We do +not stand, and shall not place ourselves, before the court of Europe. +Our power shall create new law in Europe. Germany strikes. If it +conquers new realms for its genius, the priesthood of all the gods will +sing songs of praise to the good war. + +Only he who is specially trained for a race of troops may go along into +the field. Only the man versed in statecraft should be allowed to +participate in the talk about the results of war. Not he who has out +yonder proved an unworthy diplomat, nor the dilettante loafer sprayed +with the perfume of volatile emotions. Manhood liability to military +service requires manhood suffrage? That question may rest for the time +being; likewise the desire for equality of that right shall not be +argued today. But common sense should warn against the assumption of an +office without the slightest special preliminary training. Politics is +an art that can be mastered not in the leisure hours of the brain, but +only by the passionate, self-sacrificing devotion of a whole lifetime. +Now seek around you. + +We are at the beginning of a war the development and duration of which +are incalculable, and in which up to date no foe has been brought to his +knees. To guide the sword to its goal, Tom, Dick, and Harry, Poet +Arrogance and Professor Crumb advertise their prowess in the newspaper +Advice and Assistance. Brave folk, whose knowledge concerning this new +realm of their endeavor emanates solely from that same newspaper! +Because they have for three months been busily reading their morning, +noon, and evening editions, they think they have a special call to +speak. Without knowledge of things that have transpired before, without +knowledge of the persons concerned, without a suspicion of the needs of +the situation and its possibilities, they judge the peoples of the earth +and divide the world. Stupid talk, with which irreverent officiousness +seeks to while away and shorten the period of anxious waiting for +customers; but to prepare quietly and wisely and mightily in advance for +terms of peace, that is the duty of the statesman. + +We are waging this war not in order to punish those who have sinned, nor +in order to free enslaved peoples and thereafter to comfort ourselves +with the unselfish and useless consciousness of our own righteousness. +We wage it from the lofty point of view and with the conviction that +Germany, as a result of her achievements and in proportion to them, is +justified in asking, and must obtain, wider room on earth for +development and for working out the possibilities that are in her. The +powers from whom she forced her ascendency, in spite of themselves, +still live, and some of them have recovered from the weakening she gave +them. Spain and the Netherlands, Rome and Hapsburg, France and England, +possessed and settled and ruled great stretches of the most fruitful +soil. Now strikes the hour for Germany's rising power. The terms of a +peace treaty that does not insure this would leave the great effort +unrewarded. Even if it brought dozens of shining billions into the +National Treasury, the fate of Europe would be dependent upon the +United States of America. + +We are waging war for ourselves alone; and still we are convinced that +all who desire the good would soon be able to rejoice in the result. For +with this war there must also end the politics that have frightened away +all the upright from entering into intimate relations with the most +powerful Continental empire. We need land, free roads into the ocean, +and for the spirit and language and wares and trade of Germany we need +the same values that are accorded such goods anywhere else. + +Only four persons not residents of Essen knew about the new mortar which +the firm of Friedrich Krupp manufactured at its own expense and which +later, because its shell rapidly smashed the strongest fortifications of +reinforced concrete, our military authorities promptly acquired. Must we +be ashamed of this instrument of destruction and take from the lips of +the "cultured world" the wry reproach that from "Faust" and the Ninth +Symphony we have sunk our national pride to the 42-centimeter guns? No! +Only firm will and determination to achieve, that is to say, German +power, distinguishes the host of warriors now embattled on the five huge +fields of blood from the race of the poets and thinkers. Their brains, +too, yearn back, throbbing for the realm of the muses. Before the +remains of the Netherland Gothic, before the wonders of Flemish +painting, their eyes light up in pious adoration. From the lips of the +troops that marched from three streets into the parade plaza in Brussels +there burst, when the last man stood in the ranks--and burst +spontaneously--a German song. Out of all the trenches joyous cheers of +thanks rise for the fearless musicmaster who, amid the raging fire, +through horns and trumpets, wrapped in earth-colored gray, leads his +band in blowing marches and battle songs and songs of dancing into the +ears of the Frenchmen, harkening with pleasure. + +Not only for the territories that are to feed their children and +grandchildren is this warrior host battling, but also for the +conquering triumph of the German genius, for the forces of sentiment +that rise from Goethe and Beethoven and Bismarck and Schiller and Kant +and Kleist, working on throughout time and eternity. + +And never was there a war more just; never one the result of which could +bring such happiness as must this, even for the conquered. In order that +that spirit might conquer we were obliged to forge the mightiest weapons +for it. Over the meadows of the Scheldt is wafted the word of the King: + + How proud I feel my heart flame + When in every German land + I find such a warrior band! + For German land, the German sword! + Thus be the empire's strength preserved! + +This strength was begotten by that spirit. The fashioning of such +weapons was possible only because millions of industrious persons, with +untiring and unremitting labors, transformed the poor Germany into the +rich Germany, which was then able to prepare and conduct the war as a +great industry. And what the spirit created once again serves the +spirit. It shall not lay waste, nor banish us free men into slavery, but +rather it shall call forth to the light of heaven a new, richer soul of +life out of the ruins of a storm-tossed civilization. It shall, it must, +it will conquer new provinces for the majesty of the noble German spirit +(Deutschheit) that never will grow chill and numb, as the Roman did. +Otherwise--and even though unnumbered billions flowed into the +Rhine--the expense of this war would be shamefully wasted. + +Our army did not set out to conquer Belgian territory. + +In the war against four great powers, the west front of which alone +stretched from the North Sea to the Alps, from Ghent almost to Geneva, +it seemed impossible to achieve on Europe's soil a victory that would +strengthen the roots of the conquering race. Gold cannot indemnify for +the loss of the swarming young life which we were obliged to mourn even +after ten weeks of war; and if, amid ten thousand of the fine fellows +who died, there was even a single creative mind, then thousands of +millions could not pay for its destruction. + +And what stretch of land necessary for the German people, or useful in +the real sense of the word, could France or even Russia vacate for us in +Europe? To be "unassailable"--to exchange the soul of a Viking for that +of a New Yorker, that of the quick pike for that of the lazy carp whose +fat back grows moss covered in a dangerless pond--that must never become +the wish of a German. And for the securing of more comfortable frontier +protection only a madman would risk the life that is flourishing in +power and wealth. Now we know what the war is for--not for French, +Polish, Ruthenian, Esthonian, Lettish territories, nor for billions of +money; not in order to dive headlong after the war into the pool of +emotions and then allow the chilled body to rust in the twilight dusk of +the Deliverer of Races. + +No! To hoist the storm flag of the empire on the narrow channel that +opens and locks the road into the ocean. I could imagine Germany's war +lord, if, after Ostend, Calais, too, is captured, sending the armies and +fleets back home from the east and front the west, and quietly saying to +our enemies: + +"You now have felt what Germany's strength and determination can do, and +hereafter you will probably weigh the matter well before you venture to +attack us. Of you Germany demands nothing further. Not even +reimbursement for its expenses in this war--for those it is reimbursed +by the wholesale terror which it evoked all around in the Autumn +battles. Do you want anything of us? We shall never refuse a challenge +to a quarrel. We shall remain in the Belgian netherland, to which we +shall add the thin strip of coast up to the rear of Calais, (you +Frenchmen have enough better harbors, anyway;) we terminate, of our own +accord, this war which, now that we have safeguarded our honor, can +bring us no other gains; we now return to the joy of fruitful work, and +will grasp the sword again only if you attempt to crowd us out of that +which we have won with our blood. Of a solemn peace conference, with +haggling over terms, parchment, and seal, we have no need. The prisoners +are to be freed. You can keep your fortresses if they do not seem to you +to be worthless, if the rebuilding of them still seems worth while to +you. Tomorrow is again a common day." + +Do not lapse into dreams about United States of Europe, about +mild-intentioned division of the Coburg heritage, (a bit of it to +Holland, a bit to Luxemburg, perhaps even a bit to France. Any one with +even the slightest nobility of feeling would reject the proffered dish +of poison with a gesture of disgust,) nor be lulled into delusions of +military and tax conventions that would deprive the country of its free +right of determining its own destiny. + +To the Belgians we are the Arch-imp and the Tenant of the Pool of Hell! +We would remain so, even if every stone in Louvain and in Malines were +replaced by its equivalent in gold. That rage can be overcome only after +the race, praised by Schiller's fiery breath, sees its neighbors close +at hand and draws advantage from intimate relations with them. Antwerp +not pitted against, but working with, Hamburg and Bremen; Liège, side by +side with Essen's, Berlin's, and Swabia's gun factories--Cockerill in +combination with Krupp; iron, coal, woven stuff from old Germany and +Belgium, introduced into the markets of the world by one and the same +commercial spirit; our Kamerun and their Congo--such a warm blaze of +advantage has burned away many a hatred. The wise man wins as his friend +the deadly foe whose skull he cannot split, and he will rather rule and +allow to feast on exceptional dainties this still cold and shy new +friend than lose potential well-wishers of incalculable future +good-will. + +Only, never again a withered Reichsland! (imperial territory.) From +Calais to Antwerp, Flanders, Limburg, Brabant, to behind the line of the +Meuse forts, Prussian! (German Princes no longer haggle, German tribes +no longer envy one another;) the Southern triangle with Alsace and +Lorraine--and Luxemburg, too, if it desires--is to be an independent +federated State, intrusted to a Catholic noble house. Then Germany would +know for what it shed its blood. + +We need land for our industries, a road into the ocean, an undivided +colony, the assurance of a supply of raw materials and the most fertile +well-spring of prosperity--a people industrious and efficient in its +work. + +Here they are: Ore and copper, glass and sugar, flax and wool. But here, +too, there once lived Jan and Hubert van Eyck, Rubens, the reveler +Ruysbroek, and Jordeans of the avid eyes. Here there always lived--to be +sure,-in twilight--Germania's little soul, fluttering imagination. + +And is there not here, too, that which--all too stormily and, as a +rule, in all too harsh a tone of abuse--every German heart yearns for, a +victory over England? On the seas such victory cannot be quickly won, +indeed; can, indeed, never be won without great sacrifice. But with the +German Empire, whose mortars loom threatening from one coast of the +Channel, whose flag floats over the two greatest harbors of Europe and +over the Congo basin--England would have to come into a friendly +agreement as a power of equal strength, entitled to equal rights. If it +is unwilling to do so? Lion, leap! On our young soil we await thee! The +day of adventure wanes. But for the German who dares unafraid to desire +things the harvest labor of heroic warriors has quickly filled the +store-house. + + + + +LOUVAIN'S NEW STREETS + +[By The Associated Press.] + + +LONDON, March 9.--The decision of the municipal authorities of Louvain, +Belgium, to give American names to certain streets of the city is set +forth in a formal resolution of thanks which was adopted on Washington's +Birthday by the Burgomaster and Aldermen of Louvain and sent to the +American Commission for Relief in Belgium. The resolution concludes as +follows: + +"The cradle of a university of five centuries' standing, and today +herself partly in ruins, the City of Louvain cannot fail to associate +with the memory of Washington, one of the greatest Captains, the name of +the learned professor whose admirable precepts and high political +attainments, as also his firmness of character and dignity of life, all +contributed to carry him successively to the Presidency of Princeton +University, the Governorship of New Jersey, and finally the Presidency +of the United States. + +"In order to perpetuate to future generations remembrances of these +sentiments and our ardent gratitude, the Burgomaster and Aldermen have +decided this day that in the new parts of the city, as they rise out of +the ruins, three streets or squares shall receive the illustrious names +of President Wilson, Washington, and American Nation." + + + + +The State of Holland + +An Answer to H.G. Wells by Hendrik Willem van Loon + + +_To the Editor of The New York Times:_ + +My attention has been drawn to an article by H.G. Wells, published by +THE NEW YORK TIMES and by CURRENT HISTORY in its March number which +proposed that Holland give Germany the coup de grace, suddenly attack +Aix and Cologne, cut off Germany's line of supplies, and thereby help +win the war for the cause of justice. I am not writing this answer in +any official capacity, but I have reason to believe that I write what +most of my fellow-countrymen feel upon the subject. + +Holland is neutral. The country is just as neutral as Belgium would have +been had she not been invaded; as neutral as Denmark and Switzerland and +the other small countries which are suffering so severely through this +war. If any power should attack Holland, Holland would no longer be +neutral, but would inundate the central part of the provinces of North +and South Holland, would occupy the very strong position around +Amsterdam, and would fight to the end. But unless attacked directly +Holland will take no part in this war. + +Mr. Wells hints at the idea of the righteousness of the cause of the +Allies. All races and all colors have been brought together to beat +Germany. Now Holland ought to do the same. She is in a position to +exercise great power with her fresh troops. In the name of humanity, +which has been so grievously maltreated in Belgium, let her join. I +think that the answer of the greater part of our people would be +somewhat as follows: + +No quarrel was ever made by a single person. It takes two to start a +fight. England and Germany are fighting for the supremacy of commerce. +In the course of this quarrel Belgium has been sacrificed. We are +extremely sorry. We have opened our frontiers to all of our southern +neighbors, They were welcome to flee to us with all their belongings. We +shall take care of them so long as they wish to stay. Our position is +not always easy. The Dutch and the Belgian characters are very +different. We do not always understand each other. But in the main the +Belgians know that we shall share our food with them until the last, +that in every way we shall make them as comfortable as we can. We are +not a very graceful people. We often lack a certain charm of manner. The +little potentates who are the Mayors of our small frontier towns are not +always very tactful. But these things are minor matters. Holland is the +natural place of refuge for her southern neighbors, and as long as they +suffer from the German domination they know that with us they are safe. +But should we have gone with the Allies when the Belgians suffered +through no fault of their own? + +For France there is in Holland the greatest personal sympathy. But she +is far away from Holland. The direct issue is between England and +Germany. The Hollander likes England, fashions his life as much as +possible after the English pattern, prefers to do business with English +people. Yet is there any reason why Holland should make the possible +sacrifice of her own existence for the benefit of England? + +Will Mr. Wells kindly glance through his history and see what we as a +nation have suffered at the hands of England? + +During three centuries we fought with England about a principle laid +down by Grotius of Delft. We claimed that the sea was an open highway, +free to all navigators. England used her best legal talent to prove the +contrary. In this struggle we exhausted ourselves and we finally lost. +Incidentally we saw our richest colonies go into the possession of +England. The very colony in which I am writing this letter was taken +from us in time of peace. Of course all this is past history and no +Hollander is going to accuse an Englishman of acts committed by his +great-grandfather. But the people will remember all those things, +however vaguely, and they will distrust the nation that has constantly +done them harm. We gave England her best King, (if one is to believe Mr. +Macaulay.) William III. in order to destroy the power of Louis XIV., and +greatly for the benefit of England incidentally, did the greatest harm +to the country of his origin. After 1715, totally exhausted, we were +obliged to see how England got ahead of us. + +Then there are some other small items. I take one at random. While the +Duke of Wellington danced the polka in Brussels the Prince of Orange +with a small Dutch army stopped Napoleon's progress at Quatre Bras, and +by disobeying the orders of the British commander saved the army of the +allies and made the victory of Waterloo possible. Our thanks for this +self-sacrifice was the mild abuse of Mr. Thackeray and other gentlemen +who have ever since laughed at the clumsy Dutch troops who in truth so +valiantly assisted the British and Prussians. In this matter a little +more generosity on the part of British historians would have made us +feel more cordial toward our English neighbors. It was ever thus. To +read the story of the Armada one would believe that the English +destroyed this dangerous Spanish fleet. As a matter of fact, competent +historians know that certainly one-half of the glory for that feat goes +to the Dutch sailors, who prevented the Spaniards from getting their +supplies, their pilots, and their auxiliary army. These are merely +examples. They are all small things. But there are so many of them, they +return with such persistent regularity, that we would feel very little +inclination to risk our national existence for a nation which, according +to our feeling, (rightly or wrongly, I am not debating that question,) +has never treated us with fairness, and which we had to fight for over +three centuries before it would accept those general principles of +international law which first of all were laid down by Grotius in the +beginning of the seventeenth century. + +Remember, however, that this does not mean any hostility to England. Mr. +Wells undoubtedly knows that our ships have invariably done noble work +in rescuing the victims of submarine attacks. He will know that our +Government (to the great anger of Germany) has construed the articles of +several international treaties in the most liberal way and has +immediately released all such British subjects as were thrown upon our +coast through the accidents of war. He will also know, if he has read +the papers, that our entire country has turned out to do homage to the +bravery of those men. The danger to the sailor of a British man-of-war +who lands in Holland is that he will be killed by a severe attack of +nicotine poisoning caused by the cigars which the people, in their +desire to show their feelings and unable to break the strict law of +neutrality, shower upon the Englishman who is fished out of the North +Sea by our trawlers or our steamers. + +But away deep under this very strong personal sympathy for England, and +with very sincere admiration for the British form of government, the +people of Holland cannot easily overcome a feeling of vague distrust +that the nation which in the past has so often abused them cannot +entirely be counted upon to treat them justly this time. Incidentally, I +may say that the bungling of Mr. Churchill in Antwerp, which we know +much better than do the people of England, is another reason why we are +a bit afraid of the island across the North Sea. + +We are indeed in the position of a dog that has often been beaten +innocently and that is now smiled upon and asked to be good and attack +another person who has never done him any harm. The comparison may not +be very flattering to us, but Mr. Wells will understand what I mean. We +have had the Germans with us always. Personally, taking them by and +large, we like them not. Their ways are not our ways. Our undisciplined +race abhors their system. We have seen the misery which they caused in +Belgium more closely than any one else. The endless letters and +pamphlets with which the Germans have inundated our land to prove the +justice of their cause have made no impression whatsoever. We have with +our own eyes seen the victims of their very strict explanation of +Section 58, Article I., of the German military penal code. We have seen +the Belgians hanging by their own red handkerchiefs, and we have with +our own hands fed the multitude that had been deprived of everything. On +the other hand, Germany has up to date been most scrupulous in her +behavior toward us. In the past she has never done us any harm. We may +not like her, but she has in a very careful way avoided all friction and +has treated us with great consideration. + +In view of all this, in view of the very sober attitude of our people +upon all matters of our daily life, in view of these historical +reflections, which have a very decided influence, would it be quite fair +without any provocation on the side of Germany to go forth and attack +her in the back, now that she is in such very dangerous straits? I +repeat that this may not be the exact sentiment of all of my countrymen, +but I believe that very many of us feel things that way. Perhaps we +disagree in minor details, but we agree about the main issue. + +We love our country. For centuries we have fought to maintain our +individual civilization against the large neighbors who surround us. We +try to live up to our good reputation as a home for all those who +suffer. The people who are made homeless by Germany come to us and we +try to feed them on such grain as the British Government allows to pass +through the Channel. We try to continue in our duty toward all our +neighbors, even when they declare the entire North Sea (in which we also +have a certain interest) as a place of battle and blow up our ships with +their mines. We patiently destroy the mines which swim away from our +neighbors' territorial waters and land upon our shores. In short, we +perform a very difficult act of balancing as well as we can. But it +seems to us that under difficult circumstances we are following the only +correct road which can lead to the ultimate goal which we wish to +reach--the lasting respect of all those who will judge us without +prejudice and malice. + +It is very kind of Mr. Wells to offer us territorial compensation, but +we respectfully decline such a reward for the sort of attack which was +popular in the days of the old Machiavelli. + +HENDRIK WILLEM VAN LOON. + +New York, Feb. 26, 1915. + +[Illustration] + + + + +Hungary After the War + +By a Correspondent of The London Times + +[From The London Times, Jan. 20, 1915.] + + +The allied powers are agreed that the European resettlement must be +inspired by the principle of nationality. It will be but just if Hungary +suffers severely from its application, for during the past forty years +no European Government has sinned so deeply and persistently against +that principle as has her Magyar Government. The old Hungary, whose name +and history are surrounded by the glamour of romance, was not the modern +"Magyarland." Its boasted constitutional liberties were, indeed, +confined to the nobles, and the "Hungarian people" was composed, in the +words of Verböczy's Tripartitum Code, of "prelates, barons, and other +magnates, also all nobles, but not commoners." But the nobles of all +Hungarian races rallied to the Hungarian banner, proud of the title of +civis hungaricus. John Hunyádi, the national hero, was a Rumane; Zrinyi +was a Croat, and many another paladin of Hungarian liberty was a +non-Magyar. Latin was the common language of the educated. But with the +substitution of Magyar for Latin during the nineteenth century, and with +the growth of what is called the "Magyar State Idea," with its +accompaniment of Magyar Chauvinism, all positive recognition of the +rights and individuality of non-Magyar races gradually vanished. + +The Magyar language itself is incapable of expressing the difference +between "Hungarian" and "Magyar." The difference is approximately the +same as between "British" and "English." The "Magyar State" set itself +to Magyarize education and every feature of public life. Any protest was +treated as "incitement against the Magyar State Idea" and was made +punishable by two years' imprisonment. It was as though a narrow-minded +English Administration should set itself to obliterate all traces of +Scottish, Welsh, and Irish national feeling; or as though the Government +of India should ignore the existence of all save one race and language +in our great dependency. + +In comparison with the Government of "Magyarland," the Government of +Austria was a model of tolerance. In Austria, Poles and Ruthenes, +Czechs, Germans, Italians, Serbo-Croatians, and Slovenes were entitled +to the public use of their own languages and enjoyed various degrees of +provincial self-government. The Austrian side of every Austro-Hungarian +banknote bore an indication of its value in every language of the +empire, whereas the Hungarian side was printed in Magyar alone. This was +done in order to foster the belief that Hungary was entirely Magyar. + +In reality, Hungary is as polyglot as Austria. Exact statistics are not +obtainable, since the Magyar census returns have long been deliberately +falsified for "Magyar State" reasons. Roughly speaking, it may, however, +be said that, in Hungary proper, i.e., exclusive of Croatia-Slavonia, +where the population is almost entirely Serbo-Croatian, there are +perhaps 8,500,000 Magyars, including nearly 1,000,000 professing and a +large number of baptized Jews. Against this total there are more than +2,000,000 Germans, including the numerous colonies on the Austrian +border, the Swabians of the south, and the Saxons of Transylvania; more +than 2,000,000 Slovaks, who inhabit chiefly the northwestern counties; +between three and four million Rumanes, living between the Theiss and +the Eastern Carpathians; some 500,000 Ruthenes, or Little Russians, who +inhabit the northeastern counties; some 600,000 Serbs and Croats in the +central southern counties; 100,000 Slovenes along the borders of Styria +and Carinthia; and some 200,000 other non-Magyars, including about +90,000 gypsies, who speak a language of their own. Taking the population +of Hungary proper at 18,000,000, the Magyars are thus in a minority, +which becomes more marked when Croatia-Slavonia with its population of +2,600,000 southern Slavs is added. + +[Illustration: Distribution of Nationalities in Hungary.] + +It would have been possible for the Magyars, after the restoration of +the Hungarian Constitution under the Dual Settlement of 1867, to have +built up a strong and elastic Transleithan polity based on the +recognition of race individualities and equality of political rights for +all. The non-Magyars would have accepted Magyar leadership the more +readily in that they had been dragooned and oppressed by Austria during +the period of reaction after 1849 as ruthlessly as the Magyars +themselves. Deák and Eötvös, who were the last prominent Magyar public +men with a Hungarian, as distinguished from a narrowly Magyar, +conception of the future of their country, pleaded indeed for fair +treatment of the non-Magyars, and trusted to the attractive force of the +strong Magyar nucleus to settle automatically the question of precedence +in the State. But in 1875, when Koloman Tisza, the father of Count +Stephen Tisza, took office, these wise counsels were finally and +definitely rejected in favor of what Baron Bánffy afterward defined as +"national Chauvinism." Magyarization became the watchword of the State +and persecution its means of action. Koloman Tisza concluded with the +monarch a tacit pact under which the Magyar Government was to be left +free to deal as it pleased with the non-Magyars as long as it supplied +without wincing the recruits and the money required for the joint army. +The Magyar Parliament became almost exclusively representative of the +Magyar minority of the people. Out of the 413 constituencies of Hungary +proper more than 400 were compelled, by pressure, bribery, and +gerrymandering, to return Magyar or Jewish Deputies. The press and the +banks fell entirely into Jewish hands, and the Magyarized Jews became +the most vociferous of the "national Chauvinists." + +Nothing like it has been seen before or since--save the Turkish +revolution of 1908, when the Young Turks, under Jewish influence, broke +away from the relatively tolerant methods of the old régime and adopted +the system of forcible "Turkification" that led to the Albanian +insurrections of 1910-12, to the formation of the Balkan League, and to +the overthrow of Turkey in Europe. + +The bitter fruits of the policy of Magyarization are now ripening. The +oppressed Rumanes look not toward Austria, as in the old days when +their great Bishop Siaguna made them a stanch prop of the Hapsburg +dynasty, but across the Carpathians to Bucharest; the Serbo-Croatians of +Hungary, Croatia-Slavonia, and Dalmatia, whose economic and political +development the Magyars have deliberately hampered, turn their eyes no +longer, as in the days of Jellatchich, toward Vienna, but await +wistfully the coming of the Serbian liberators; the Ruthenes of the +northeast hear the tramp of the Russian armies; the Slovaks of the +northwest watch with dull expectancy for the moment when, united with +their Slovak kinsmen of Moravia and their cousins, the Czechs of +Bohemia, they shall form part of an autonomous Slav province stretching +from the Elbe to the Danube. For the Magyars, who have thrown to the +winds the wisdom of the wisest men, fate may reserve the possession of +the fertile and well-watered Central Hungarian plain. There they may +thrive in modesty and rue at their leisure the folly of having +sacrificed their chance of national greatness to the vain pursuit of the +"Magyar State Idea" under the demoralizing influence of Austro-German +imperialism. + + + + +THE WATCHERS OF THE TROAD + +By HARRY LYMAN KOOPMAN + + + Where Ilium's towers once rose and stretched her plain, + What forms, beneath the late moon's doubtful beam, + Half living, half of moonlit vapor, seem? + Surely here stand apart the kingly twain, + Here Ajax looms, and Hector grasps the rein, + Here Helen's fatal beauty darts a gleam, + Andromache's love here shines o'er death supreme. + To them, while wave-borne thunders roll amain + From Samos unto Ida, Calchas, seer + Of all that shall be, speaks: "Not the world's end + Is this, but end of our old world of strife, + Which, lasting until now, shall perish here. + Henceforth shall men strive but as friend and friend + Out of this death to rear a new world's life." + + + + +The Union of Central Europe + +An Argument in Favor of a Union of the States Now Allied With Germany + +By Franz von Liszt + + + Professor Franz von Liszt, author of the following article, is + Director of the Criminal Law Seminar of the University of + Berlin, and is regarded as one of the leading experts on + criminal law in Germany. The article was published in the Neue + Badische Landes-Zeitung of Mannheim, and evoked bitter + criticism from many imperialistic quarters in the German + press. + +When new directions of development are first taken in history, it +usually requires the lapse of several decades before we understand them +in their true importance, and it takes much longer before proper terms +describing them are adopted generally. In the interim, misconceptions of +all kinds are the necessary consequence of clouded perception and +confused terminology, especially when, for purposes of party politics, +there figures in a greater or less degree a certain unwillingness to +understand. + +Such misunderstandings are not devoid of danger in times of peace; they +may become pregnant with fate when, as in our day, the leading nations +of the earth stand at the threshhold of a great change in their history. +I am anxious, therefore, to defend against objections raised with more +or less intentional misunderstanding the thoughts which I expressed in +my recently published essay, "A Central European Union of States as the +Next Goal of German Foreign Policy." + +Let us for once put aside the word "Imperialism." Surely we are all +agreed as one that it is an absolute essential of life for the German +Empire to carry on world-politics, (Weltpolitik.) We have been engaged +in that since the eighties of the nineteenth century. The first colonial +possessions which the German Empire obtained were the fruits of a +striving for world-politics that had not yet at that time come to full +and clear consciousness. + +But, conscious of our goal, we did not attempt the paths of +world-politics until the end of the last century. At the celebration of +the twenty-fifth anniversary of the German Empire, on Jan. 18, 1896, our +Kaiser uttered the words: "The German Empire has become a world empire, +(Aus dem deutschen Reich ist ein Weltreich geworden.)" And the German +Empire's groping for its way in world-politics found its expression in +the first naval proposal of Tirpitz in the year 1898. + +At that time the Imperial Chancellor Prince Hohenlohe expressly +designated the policy of the German Empire as "world politics." Thereby +a goal was sketched for the development of the German Empire. We have +not lost sight of it since then, keeping unconfused despite many an +illusion and many a failure. And today we all live in the firm faith +that the world war, which we are determined to bring to a victorious +conclusion by the exertion of all our forces as a people, will bring us +the safe guarantee for the attainment of our goal in world politics. + +On that score, then, there is absolutely no difference of opinion. But +there does appear to be considerable difference of opinion as to the +conception of world politics. Under that name one may mean a policy +directed toward world domination (Weltherrschaft.) For that kind of +world politics the word "Imperialism," borrowed from the period of Roman +world domination of the second century of the Christian era, fits +precisely. + +Imperialism aims, directly or indirectly, through peaceful or forceful +annexation or economic exploitation, to make the whole inhabited earth +subject to its sway. Imperialistic is the policy of Great Britain, which +has subjected one-fifth of the inhabited area of the earth to its sway +and knows no bounds to the expansion of English rule. Imperialistic, +too, is the policy of Russia, which for centuries has been extending its +huge tentacles toward the Atlantic and toward the Mediterranean, the +Pacific, and the Indian Oceans, never sated. + +Such world domination has never endured permanently; it can endure least +of all in our days, in which an array of mighty armed powers stand +prepared to guard their independence. World domination sooner or later +leads inevitably to an alliance of the States whose independence is +threatened; and thereby it leads to the overthrow of the disturber of +the peace. That, as we all confidently hope, will be the fate of England +as well as of Russia in the present war.... + +World politics, however, may mean something else; policies based upon +world value, (Weltgeltung.) The policy based on world domination differs +from that based on world value, in that the former denies the equal +rights of other States, while the latter makes that its premise. The +State that asserts its rights to world values demands for itself what it +concedes to the others: its right to expand and develop its political +and economic influence, and to have a voice in the discussion whenever +the political or economical relations of the various States at any point +in the inhabited globe approach a state of change.... + +In this sense has the German Empire heretofore engaged in world politics +in contrast with Russia and England. That it cannot be carried on +successfully without overseas colonies, a strong foreign fleet, naval +bases, and telegraphic connections through cable or wireless telegraph +apparatus, needs no further elucidation. For this sort of world politics +also the name "Imperialism" may be used. But such use of the word is +misleading; I shall therefore hereafter avoid it. + +And herein I think I have uncovered the deeper reason for an early +misunderstanding of great consequence. It seems as though in a +certain--to be sure, not a very great or very influential--circle of our +German fellow-citizens the opinion prevails that the German Empire +should substitute its claims for world domination for those of England. +Such a view cannot be too soon or too sharply rebuked. + +The claim for world domination would set the German Empire for many +years face to face with a long series of bloody wars, the issue of which +cannot be in doubt a moment to any one familiar with history. The +enforcement of this claim, moreover, would of itself be the surrender of +the German spirit to the spirit of our present opponent in the war. The +idea of world domination, imperialism in the true sense of the word, is +not a product grown on German soil; it is imported from abroad. To +maintain that view in all seriousness is treachery to the inmost spirit +of the German soul. + +Perhaps I am mistaken in taking it for granted that such thoughts are +today haunting many minds. Perhaps it is merely a matter of misapplied +use of a large sounding word. In that case, however, it is absolutely +necessary to create clear thinking. I take it for granted that I am +voicing the sentiments of the souls of the vast overwhelming majority of +Germans when I say: "We shall wage the war, if need be, to the very end, +against the English and Russian lust for world domination, and for +Germany's world value (Weltgeltung.") + +But forthwith there appears a further difference of opinion, to be taken +not quite so seriously, which I shall endeavor to define as objectively +as possible. The German conservative press seems to be of the opinion +that the goal for the winning of which we are waging the great war, and +concerning which we are all of one mind, will be definitely attained +immediately upon the conclusion of the war. + +I, on the other hand, am convinced that in order permanently to insure +for ourselves the fruits of victory, even after a victorious conclusion +of the war, we shall need long and well planned labors of peace.... + +In my essay I used the statement: "England's claim for the domination +of the sea, and therein for the domination of the world, remains a great +danger to the peace of the world." To this view I adhere firmly. Let us +take it for granted that the most extravagant hopes of our most reckless +dreamers are fulfilled, that England is crowded out of Egypt, +Mesopotamia, Persia, and is involved in a long-lasting war with the +native Indians. An impossibly large dose of political naïveté is needed +in order to make us believe that England would take this loss quietly +for all time. + +We may differ on the question whether we should meet England's efforts +for rehabilitation of her world dominion in warlike, or, as I take it, +in peaceful ways; but it would be an unpardonable piece of stupidity for +us to rock ourselves to sleep in the mad delusion that those efforts +would not be exerted. Even were England forced to her knees, she would +not immediately give up her claim for world domination. We must count +upon that. + +And, counting upon that, we must estimate our own forces very carefully; +rather account them weaker than they really are, than the reverse. I did +that in my essay, and that is why the conservative press was so wrought +up over it. To be sure, it carefully avoided discussing my reasons. + +I started from the conception of world power which is fairly well +established in the present political literature. From a point of view +taken also by conservative writers I demanded as a characteristic of +world power, in addition to the size of territories and the number of +population, above all, the economic independence that makes it possible +for a State, in a case of need, to produce, without export or import, +all foodstuffs, necessities, raw materials, and all the finished or +half-finished products it needs for its consumers in normal times, as +well as to insure the sale of its surplus. + +It is patent that this economic independence is influenced by the +geographical position of the fatherland and its colonies. Now, I +defended the theory (and my opponents made no attempt to confute it) +that even after a victorious war the German Empire would not have fully +attained this economic independence; that, accordingly, after the +conclusion of peace, we must exert every effort to insure this economic +independence in one way or another. + +As to the course which we must follow to attain this goal, there may be +various opinions. I proposed the establishment of a union of Central +European States. The conservative press characterized that as "utterly +pretentious."... + +If the course I have proposed is considered inadvisable, let another be +proposed. But on what colonies, forsooth, do those gentlemen count, that +could furnish us with cotton and ore, petroleum and tobacco, wood and +silk, and whatever else we need, in the quantity and quality we need? +What colonies that could offer us--do not forget that--markets for the +sale of our exporting industries? Even after the war we shall be +dependent upon exports to and imports from abroad. + +And so there is no other way of safeguarding our economic independence +against England and Russia than by an economic alliance with the States +that are our allies in this war, or at least that do not make common +cause with our enemies. Aside from the fact, which I shall not discuss +here, that only such an alliance can insure a firm position for us on +the Atlantic Ocean, which in the next decades is bound to be the area of +competition for the world powers. + +Politics are not a matter of emotion, but of calm, intelligent +deliberation. Let us leave emotional politics to our enemies. It is the +German method to envisage the goal steadily, and with it the roads that +lead to that goal. Our goal is not world domination. Whoever tries to +talk that belief into the mind of the German people may confuse some +heads that are already not very clear; but he cannot succeed in +substituting Napoleon I. for Bismarck as our master teacher. + +Our goal can only be the establishing of our value in the world among +world powers, with equal rights to the same opportunities. And in order +to attain this goal we must, even after the conclusion of peace, exert +all our forces. A people that thinks it can rest on its laurels after +victory has been won runs the risk sooner or later of losing that for +which its sons shed their blood on the field of battle. With the +conclusion of peace there begins for us anew the unceasing peaceful +competition and the maintenance and strengthening of the world value +which we have won through the war. German imperialism is and will remain +the work of peace. + + + + +TWO POOR LITTLE BELGIAN FLEDGLINGS + +By PIERRE LOTI. + +Translation by Florence Simmonds. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + +At evening, in one of our southern towns, a train full of Belgian +refugees ran into the station, and the poor martyrs, exhausted and +bewildered, got out slowly, one by one, on the unfamiliar platform, +where French people were waiting to receive them. Carrying a few +possessions caught up at random, they had got into the carriages without +even asking whither they were bound, urged by their anxiety to flee, to +flee desperately from horror and death, from unspeakable mutilation and +Sadic outrage--from things that seemed no longer possible in the world, +but which, it seems, were lying dormant in pietistic German brains, and +had suddenly belched forth upon their land and ours, like a belated +manifestation of original barbarism. They no longer possessed a village, +nor a home, nor a family; they arrived like jetsam cast up by the +waters, and the eyes of all were full of terrified anguish. Many +children, little girls whose parents had disappeared in the stress of +fire and battle; and aged women, now alone in the world, who had fled, +hardly knowing why, no longer caring for life, but moved by some obscure +instinct of self-preservation. + +Two little creatures, lost in the pitiable throng, held each other +tightly by the hand, two little boys obviously brothers, the elder, who +may have been five years old, protecting the younger, of about three. No +one claimed them, no one knew them. How had they been able to +understand, finding themselves alone, that they, too, must get into this +train to escape death? Their clothes were decent, and their little +stockings were thick and warm; clearly they belonged to humble but +careful parents; they were, doubtless, the sons of one of those sublime +Belgian soldiers who had fallen heroically on the battlefield, and whose +last thought had perhaps been one of supreme tenderness for them. They +were not even crying, so overcome were they by fatigue and sleepiness; +they could scarcely stand. They could not answer when they were +questioned, but they seemed intent, above all, upon keeping a tight hold +of each other. Finally the elder, clasping the little one's hand +closely, as if fearing to lose him, seemed to awake to a sense of his +duty as protector, and, half asleep already, found strength to say, in a +suppliant tone, to the Red Cross lady bending over him: "Madame, are +they going to put us to bed soon?" For the moment this was all they were +capable of wishing, all that they hoped for from human pity--to be put +to bed. + +They were put to bed at once, together, of course, still holding each +other tightly by the hand; and, nestling one against the other, they +fell at the same moment into the tranquil unconsciousness of childish +slumber. + +Once, long ago, in the China Sea, during the war, two little frightened +birds, smaller even than our wrens, arrived, I know not how, on board +our ironclad, in our Admiral's cabin, and all day long, though no one +attempted to disturb them, they fluttered from side to side, perching on +cornices and plants. + +At nightfall, when I had forgotten them, the Admiral sent for me. It was +to show me, now without emotion, the two little visitors who had gone to +roost in his room, perched upon a slender silken cord above his bed. +They nestled closely together, two little balls of feathers, touching +and almost merged one in the other, and slept without the slightest +fear, sure of our pity. And those little Belgians sleeping side by side +made me think of the two little birds lost in the China Sea. There was +the same confidence and the same innocent slumber--but a greater +tenderness was about to watch over them. + + + + +What the Germans Desire + +Not Conquest, but a New Economical System of Europe + +By Gustaf Sioesteen + + + The subjoined letter from Berlin, published originally in the + Swedish Goteborgs Handels-Tidnung of Oct. 26, 1914, was + immediately translated by the British Legation in + Stockholm--this is the official English translation--and sent + by the legation to Sir Edward Grey. THE NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT + HISTORY is informed from a trustworthy source that the article + is interpreted in London as expressing the real aims of + Germany at the end of the war, should that power be + successful. The founding of a commercial United States of + Europe by means of an economical organization with new + "buffer" States to be created between the German Empire and + Russia, and with the other smaller European States, would be, + according to this interpretation, the purpose of Germany at + the conclusion of a victorious war. The passage in the Berlin + correspondent's letter declaring that only such an enormous + central European customs union, in the opinion of leading + German statesmen, "could hold the United States of North + America at bay" in order that, after this present war, the + "world would only have to take into account two first-class + powers, viz., Germany and the United States of America," is of + peculiar interest to Americans. + +BERLIN, Oct. 21. + +Counting one's chickens before they are hatched is a pardonable failing +with nations carrying on war with the feeling that their all is at +stake. When sorrow is a guest of every household, when monetary losses +cause depression, and the cry arises time after time, "What will be the +outcome of all this?" then only the fairest illusions and the wildest +flights of fancy can sustain the courage of the masses. + +These illusions are not only egotistical but, curiously enough, +altruistic, since mankind, even when bayoneting their fellow-creatures, +want to persuade themselves and others that this is done merely for the +benefit of their adversary. In accordance with this idea, in the opinion +of all parties, the war will be brought to an end with an increase of +power for their native country, as also a new Eden prevail throughout +the whole civilized world. + +The enemies of Germany, though they have hitherto suffered an almost +unbroken series of reverses in the war, have already thoroughly thrashed +out the subject as to what the world will look like when Germany is +conquered. In German quarters the press has likewise painted the future, +but the following lines are not intended to increase the row of fancy +portraits, but merely to throw light on what is new in the demands +conceived. + +My representations are founded on special information, and I deem it +best to make them now, when the most fantastic descriptions of the +all-absorbing desire of conquest on the part of Germany have circulated +in the press of the entire world. + +Among other absurdities it has been declared that Germany intends to +claim a fourth of France, making this dismembered country a vassal +State, bound to the triumphal car of the conqueror by the very heaviest +chains. It is incredible, but true, that such a statement has been made +in the press by a Frenchman, formerly President of the Council. + +In direct opposition to the fictitious demands of the Germans, I can +advance a proposition which may sound paradoxical, viz., that the +leading men in Germany, the Emperor and his advisers, after bringing the +war to a victorious issue, will seriously seek expedients to _avoid_ +conquests, so far as this is compatible with the indispensable demands +of order and stability for Europe. + +First, as regards France. The entire world, as also the Germans, are +moved to pity by her fate. Germany has never entertained any other wish +than to be at peace with her western frontier. A considerable portion of +France is now laid waste, and in a few weeks millions of soldiers will +have been poured into still wider portions of this beautiful country. On +what are the inhabitants of these French provinces to exist when the +German and French armies have requisitioned everything eatable? Germany +cannot feed the inhabitants of the French provinces occupied, nor can +the Belgians do so, I imagine, for the provisions of Germany are simply +sufficient for their own needs, England preventing any new supply on any +large scale. + +This is a totally new state of things in comparison with 1870, when +Germany was still an agrarian country and had, moreover, a free supply +on all her frontiers. + +Can the French Government allow a considerable portion of their own +population actually to starve, or be obliged to emigrate to other parts +of France, there to live the life of nomads at the expense of England, +while the deserted provinces are given over to desolation? + +The idea prevails here that the French will compel their Government to +enter on and conclude a separate treaty of peace when the fatal +consequences of the war begin to assume this awful guise. England does +not appear to have considered that this would be the result of her +system of blockade. + +The German conditions of peace as regards France will be governed by two +principal factors with respect to their chief issues. + +The first is the complete unanimity of the Emperor and the Chancellor +that _no population, not speaking German, will be incorporated in the +German Empire, or obtain representation in the Diet_. Germany already +has sufficient trouble with the foreign element now present in the Diet. +Consequently there can be no question of any considerable acquisition of +territory from France, but the demands of Germany simply extend to the +_iron-ore fields of Lorraine_, which are certainly of considerable +value. For France these mining fields are of far less consideration +than for Germany, whose immense iron trade is far more in need of the +iron mines. + +The second factor is that the Germans, owing to the strong public +opinion, _will never consent to Belgium regaining her liberty_. The +Chancellor of the Empire has, as long as it was possible, been opposed +to the annexation of Belgium, having preferred, even during hostilities, +to have re-established the Belgian Kingdom. It is significant that the +military authorities have prohibited the German press from discussing +the question of the future of Belgium. It is evident that there has +prevailed a wish to leave the question open in order to insure a +solution offering various possibilities. But subsequent to the discovery +of the Anglo-Belgian plot, as previously stated, all idea of reinstating +Belgium has been discarded. + +The annexation of Belgium, however, makes it possible to grant France +less stringent conditions. So long as Belgium--under some form of +self-government--is under German sway there is no hope of revenge of +France, and the conviction prevails here that after this war France will +abstain from her dreams of aggrandizement and become pacific. Germany +can then make reductions in the burdens laid on her people for military +service by land. + +To arrange the position of Belgium in relation to Germany will be a very +interesting problem for German policy. + +It is obvious that the annexation of Belgium cannot be defended from the +point of view of the principle of nationality. The Belgians--half of +them French, half of them Flemish--undoubtedly deem themselves but one +nation. As a mitigating circumstance in favor of the annexation it is +urged--above and beyond the intrigues carried on by Belgium with the +English--that Belgium, in days of yore, for a long time formed a portion +of the German Empire, and that the inhabitants of the little country, to +a considerable degree, gain their livelihood by its being a land of +transit for German products. Nationally, the annexation is not to be +defended, but geographically, economically, and from a military point +of view it is comprehensible. + +At the east front of the central powers very different conditions +prevail. _Austria has no desire to make the conquest of any territory_; +indeed, just the contrary, would probably be willing to cede a portion +of Galicia in favor of new States. _Germany has not the slightest +inclination to incorporate new portions of Slav or Lettish regions._ +Both Germans and Austrians wish to establish free _buffer States_ +between themselves and the great Russian Empire. + +Not even the Baltic provinces, where Germans hold almost the same +position as the Swedes in Finland, form an object for the German desire +of conquest, but her wish is to make them, as also _Finland_, an +independent State. Furthermore, the Kingdom of _Poland_ and a Kingdom of +_Ukraine_ would be the outcome of decisive victories for the central +powers. + +What Germany would demand of these new States, whose very existence was +the outcome of her success at arms, would simply be an _economical +organization in common with the German Empire_, an enormous central +European "Zollverein" ("Customs Union") with Germany at its heart. It is +only such a union, in the opinion of leading German statesmen, which +could hold the United States of North America at bay, and after this +present war, moreover, the world would only have to take into account +_two_ first-class powers, viz., Germany and the United States of +America. + +A commencement of this new economical connection is being made by the +negotiations entered on by representatives of _Austria-Hungary_ and +_Germany_ concerning the proposed formation of a _Customs Union_. Since +this union would include 120,000,000 individuals, it must be evident +what an immense attraction it must exert on the surrounding smaller +nations. _Switzerland_ and _Holland_ can scarcely escape this +attraction, and the _Scandinavian countries_, it is said, would probably +find it to their advantage, together with a liberated _Finland_, to +form a _Northern Customs Union_, which later, on an independent basis, +could _enter in close union with the vast "Zollverein" of Central +Europe_. + +This "Zollverein" would then include about 175,000,000 individuals. The +adhesion of _Italy_ to the vast union would not be inconceivable, and +then the combination of the United States of Europe, founded on a +voluntary commercial union, would be approaching its realization. + +Such a commercial union, embracing various peoples, could only lead to +moderation in foreign politics, and would be the best guarantee for the +peace of the universe. A brisk interchange of commodities, a fruitful +interchange of cultural ideas would result from such a union, connecting +the polar seas with the Mediterranean, and the Netherlands with the +Steppes of Southern Russia. + +All States participating in this union would gain thereby. But one +European country would be the loser, _Great Britain, the land of promise +for the middleman_; that, according to German comprehension, at present +gains a living by skimming the cream from the trade industry of other +nations by facilitating the exchange of goods, and making profits by +being the banking centre of the world. + +The Germans declare that there is no reason for such a middleman's +existence in our day. The banking system is now so developed in all +civilized lands that, for example Sweden can remit direct to Australia +or the Argentine for goods obtained thence, instead of making payment +via London and there rate, by raising the exchange for sovereigns to an +unnatural height, so that, as matter of fact, England levies a tax on +all international interchange of commodities. + +In opposition to this glorious vision of the days to come, which the +Germans wish to realize by their victories in war, there is the alluring +prospect of the Allies that by their victory they will deal a deathblow +to _German militarism_. While the English, with their 200,000 troops, +are good enough to promise no conquest of German territory--what says +Russia to this?--at the close of the war, in the opinion of the Britons, +there would still remain 65,000,000 Germans right in the centre of +Europe, organized as a kingdom burdened with a war indemnity to a couple +of tens of milliards in marks. + +This nation, however, strengthened by 15,000,000 Germans in Austria, +would be the greatest bearers of culture in the wide world--the nation +with the best technical equipment of all others, glowing with ambition, +with military training second to none, and gifted with an immense rate +of increase as regards population. This nation would be forced to lay +down her arms, lying as it does between the overbearing gigantic realm +in the east and the warlike French to the west. The idea is +incomprehensible. The universe would behold a competition in armaments +such as it had never seen. + +A victorious Germany, on the other hand, would become less and less +military, since she _would not need_ to arm herself to such an extent as +now. She is already chiefly an industrial country. Her desire is to be +wealthy, and wealth invariably smothers military instincts. Germany has +set up far greater ideals as regards social developments than other +countries, and all she asks is to be left in peace calmly to carry out +these plans in the future. _German militarism can only be conquered by +the victory being on her side, since she has no thought of military +supremacy, but simply of founding a new economical organization in +Europe._ + +GUSTAF SIOESTEEN. + + + + +ADDRESS TO KING ALBERT OF BELGIUM + +By EMIL VERHAEREN. + +Translation by Florence Simmonds. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + +Sire: This request to pay my respectful homage to you has given me the +first real pleasure I have been permitted to feel since the good days of +Liège. At this moment you are the one King in the world whose subjects, +without exception, unite in loving and admiring him with all the +strength of their souls. This unique fate is yours, Sire. No leader of +men on earth has had it in the same degree as you. + +In spite of the immensity of the sorrow surrounding you, I think you +have a right to rejoice, and the more so as your consort, her Majesty +the Queen, shares this rare privilege with you. + +Sire, your name will be great throughout the ages to come. You are in +such perfect sympathy with your people that you will always be their +symbol. Their courage, their tenacity, their stifled grief, their pride, +their future greatness, their immortality all live in you. Our hearts +are yours to their very depths. Being yourself, you are all of us. And +this you will remain. + +Later on, when you return to your recaptured and glorious Belgium, you +will only have to say the word, Sire, and all disputes will lose their +bitterness and all antagonisms fade away. After being our strength and +defender, you will become our peacemaker and reconciler. With deepest +respect, + +EMIL VERHAEREN. + + + + +Foreshadowing a New Phase of War + +Financing the Allies and Small Nations Preparing for War + +By Lloyd George, British Chancellor of the Exchequer + + + That there are "also other States preparing for war," and that + financial arrangements had been made for their participation + against Germany by the allied Governments of Great Britain, + France, and Russia; moreover, that Russia would be enabled + within a few months to export considerable quantities of her + grain and do her own financing--this statement preceded the + bombardment of the forts in the Dardanelles, probably to clear + the way for Russia's commerce--are the outstanding features of + the speech by Lloyd George presented below, foreshadowing a + new phase in the war. The speech was made in the House of + Commons on Feb. 15, 1915, to explain the results of the + financial conference between the allied powers to unite their + monetary resources, held in Paris during the week of Feb. 1. + It may be regarded as one of the most momentous utterances of + the war. + +PARLIAMENTARY REPORT. + +_The Chancellor of the Exchequer, (Mr. Lloyd George,)_ who was called +upon by the Speaker, said: I shall do my best to conform to the +announcement of the Prime Minister that the statement I have to make +about the financial conference in Paris shall be a brief one, but I am +afraid my right honorable friend assumed that we are all endowed with +the extraordinary gift of compression which he himself possesses. +[Laughter.] The arrangements that were made between the three Ministers +for recommendation to their respective Governments commit us to heavy +engagements, and it is, therefore, important I should report them in +detail to the House, and find some reason why we should undertake such +liabilities. + +This is the most expensive war which has ever been waged in material, in +men, and in money. The conference in Paris was mostly concerned with +money. For the year ending Dec. 31 next the aggregate expenditure of the +Allies will not be far short of £2,000,000,000. The British Empire will +be spending considerably more than either of our two great +allies--probably up to £100,000,000 to £150,000,000 more than the +highest figure to be spent by the other two great allies. We have +created a new army; we have to maintain a huge navy. We are paying +liberal separation allowances. We have to bring troops from the ends of +the earth; we have to wage war not merely in Europe, but in Asia, in +North, East, and South Africa. I must say just a few words as to the +relative position of the three great countries which led us to make the +arrangements on financial matters which we recommend to our respective +Governments. Britain and France are two of the richest countries in the +world. In fact, they are the great bankers of the world. We could pay +for our huge expenditure on the war for five years, allowing a +substantial sum for depreciation, out of the proceeds of our investments +abroad. France could carry on the war for two or three years at least +out of the proceeds of her investments abroad, and both countries would +still have something to spare to advance to their allies. This is a most +important consideration, for at the present moment the Allies are +fighting the whole of the mobilized strength of Germany, with perhaps +less than one-third of their own strength. The problem of the war to the +Allies is to bring the remaining two-thirds of their resources and +strength into the fighting line at the earliest possible moment. This is +largely, though by no means entirely, a question of finance. + +Russia is in a different position from either Britain or France. She is +a prodigiously rich country in natural resources--about the richest +country in the world in natural resources. Food, raw material--she +produces practically every commodity. She has a great and growing +population, a virile and industrious people. Her resources are +overflowing and she has labor to develop them in abundance. By a stroke +of the pen Russia has since the war began enormously increased her +resources by suppressing the sale of all alcoholic liquors. [Cheers.] It +can hardly be realized that by that means alone she has increased the +productivity of her labor by something between 30 and 50 per cent., just +as if she had added millions of laborers to the labor reserves of Russia +without even increasing the expense of maintaining them, and whatever +the devastation of the country may be Russia has more than anticipated +its wastage by that great act of national heroism and sacrifice. +[Cheers.] The great difficulty with Russia is that, although she has +great natural resources, she has not yet been able to command the +capital within her own dominions to develop those resources even during +the times of peace. In time of war she has additional difficulties. She +cannot sell her commodities for several reasons. One is that a good deal +of what she depends upon for raising capital abroad will be absorbed by +the exigencies of the war in her own country. Beyond that the yield of +her minerals will not be quite as great, because the labor will be +absorbed in her armies. + +There is not the same access to her markets. She has difficulty in +exporting her goods, and in addition to that her purchases abroad are +enormously increased in consequence of the war. Russia, therefore, has +special difficulty in the matter of financing outside purchases for the +war. Those are some of the difficulties with which we were confronted. + +France has also special difficulties. I am not sure that we quite +realize the strain put upon that gallant country [cheers] up to the +present moment. For the moment she bears far and away the greatest +strain of the war in proportion to her resources. She has the largest +proportion of her men under arms. The enemy are in occupation of parts +of her richest territory. They are within fifty-five miles of her +capital, exactly as if we had a huge German army at Oxford. It is only a +few months since the bankers of Paris could hear the sound of the +enemy's guns from their counting houses, and they can hear the same +sound now, some of them, from their country houses. In those +circumstances the money markets of a country are not at their very best. +That has been one of the difficulties with which France has been +confronted in raising vast sums of money to carry on the war and helping +to finance the allied States. + +There is a wonderful confidence, notwithstanding these facts, possessing +the whole nation. [Cheers.] Nothing strikes the visitor to Paris more +than that. There is a calm, a serene confidence, which is supposed to be +incompatible with the temperament of the Celt by those who do do not +know it. [Laughter.] There is a general assurance that the Germans have +lost their tide, and that now the German armies have as remote a chance +of crushing France as they have of overrunning the planet Mars. +[Cheers.] That is the feeling which pervades every class of the +community, and that is reflected in the money market there. The +difficulties of France in that respect are passing away, and the +arrangement that has now been made in France for the purpose of raising +sums of money to promote their military purposes will, I have not the +faintest doubt, be crowned with the completest success. [Cheers.] + +But we have a number of small States which are compelled to look to the +greater countries in alliance for financial support. There is Belgium, +which until recently was a very rich country, devastated, desolate, and +almost entirely in the hands of the enemy, with an army and a civil +government to maintain, but with no revenue. We have to see that she +does not suffer [cheers] until the period of restoration comes to her, +and compensation. [Cheers.] Then there is Serbia, with the population of +Ireland--a people of peasants maintaining an army of 500,000 and +fighting her third great war within two years, and fighting that with +great resource, great courage, and bravery. [Cheers.] But she had no +reserve of wealth, and now no exports with which she can purchase +munitions of war outside, and she has hardly any manufactures of her +own. That is the position as far as the smaller States are concerned. + +_There are also other States preparing for war, and it is obviously our +interest that they should be well equipped for that task._ They can only +borrow in the French and English markets. + +But we had our own special difficulties, and I think I ought to mention +those. Two-thirds of our food supplies are purchased abroad. The +enormous quantities of raw materials for our manufactures and our +industries are largely absorbed in war equipment, and our ships in war +transport. We cannot pay as usual in exports, freights, and services; +our savings for the moment are not what they would be in the case of +peace. We cannot, therefore, pay for our imports in that way. We have to +purchase abroad. We have to increase our purchases abroad for war +purposes. In addition to that we have to create enormous credits to +enable other countries to do the same thing. The balance is, therefore, +heavily against us for the first time. There is no danger, but in a +conference of the kind we had at Paris I could not overlook the fact +that it was necessary for us to exercise great vigilance in regard to +our gold. + +These were the complex problems we had to discuss and adjust, and we had +to determine how we could most effectually mobilize the financial +resources of the Allies so as to be of the greatest help to the common +cause. For the moment undoubtedly ours is still the best market in the +world. An alliance in a great war to be effective needs that each +country must bring all its resources, whatever they are, into the common +stock. An alliance for war cannot be conducted on limited liability +principles. If one country in the alliance has more trained and armed +men ready with guns, rifles, and ammunition than another she must bring +them all up against the common enemy, without regard to the fact that +the others cannot for the moment make a similar contribution. But it is +equally true that the same principle applies to the country with the +larger navy or the country with the greater resources in capital and +credit. They must be made available to the utmost for the purpose of the +alliance, whether the other countries make a similar contribution or +not. That is the principle upon which the conference determined to +recommend to their respective Governments a mobilization of our +financial resources for the war. + +The first practical suggestion we had to consider was the suggestion +that has been debated very considerably in the press--the suggestion of +a joint loan. We discussed that very fully and we came to the conclusion +that it was the very worst way of utilizing our resources. It would have +frightened every Bourse and attracted none. It would have made the worst +of every national credit and the best of none. Would the interest paid +have been the interest upon which we could raise money, the rate at +which France could have raised money, or the rate at which Russia could +raise money? If we paid a high rate of interest we could never raise +more money at low rates. If instead of raising £350,000,000 a few weeks +ago for our own purposes we had floated a great joint loan of +£1,000,000,000, the House can very well imagine what the result would +have been. We decided after a good deal of discussion and reflection +that each country should raise money for its own needs within its own +markets in so far as their conditions allowed, but that if help were +needed by any country for outside purchases then those who could best +afford to render assistance for the time being should do so. + +There was only one exception which we decided to recommend, and that was +in the case of borrowings by small States. We decided that each of the +great allied countries should contribute a portion of every loan made to +the small States who were either in with us now or prepared to come in +later on, that the responsibility should be divided between the three +countries, and that at an opportune moment a joint loan should be +floated to cover the advances either already made, or to be made, to +these countries outside the three great allied countries. That was the +only exception we made in respect of joint loans. Up to the present very +considerable advances have been made by Russia, by France, and by +ourselves to other countries. It is proposed that, if there is an +opportune moment on the market, these should be consolidated at some +time or other into one loan, that they should be placed upon the markets +of Russia, France, and Great Britain, but that the liability shall be +divided into three equal parts. + +With regard to Russia, we have already advanced £32,000,000 for +purchases here and elsewhere outside the Russian Empire. Russia has also +shipped £8,000,000 of gold to this country, so that we have established +credits in this country for Russia to the extent of £40,000,000 already. +France has also made advances in respect of purchases in that country. +Russia estimates that she will still require to establish considerable +credits for purchases made outside her own country between now and the +end of the year. I am not sure for the moment that it would be desirable +for me to give the exact figure; I think it would be better not, because +it would give an idea of the extent to which purchases are to be made +outside by Russia. But for that purpose she must borrow. _The amount of +her borrowing depends upon what Russia can spare of her produce to sell +in outside markets and also on the access to those markets._ + +_If Russia is able within the course of the next few weeks or few months +to export a considerable quantity of her grain, as I hope she will be, +as in fact we have made arrangements that she should, [cheers,] then +there will not be the same need to borrow for purchases either in this +country or outside, because she can do her own financing to that +extent._ + +The two Governments decided to raise the first £50,000,000 in equal sums +on the French and British markets respectively. That will satisfy +Russian requirements for a considerable time. As to further advances, +the allied countries will consider when the time arrives how the money +should be raised according to the position of the money markets at that +time. I have said that we gave a guarantee to Russia that she need not +hesitate a moment in giving her orders for any purchases which are +necessary for the war on account of fear of experiencing any difficulty +in the matter of raising money for payments. We confidently anticipate +that by the time these first advances will have been exhausted the +military position will have distinctly improved both in France and in +Russia. + +I may say that Treasury bills to the extent of £10,000,000 on the credit +of Russia have been issued within the last few days. At 12 o'clock today +the list closed, and the House will be very glad to hear that the amount +was not merely subscribed but oversubscribed by the market, because this +country is not quite as accustomed to Russian securities as France, and, +therefore, it was an experiment. I think it is a very good omen for our +relations, not merely during the war, but for our relations with Russia +after the war, that the first great loan of that kind on Russian credit +in the market has been such a complete success. + +Now we have to consider the position of this country with regard to the +possibility of our gold flitting in the event of very great credits +being established in this country. The position of the three great +allied countries as to gold is exceptionally strong. Russia and France +have accumulated great reserves which have been barely touched so far +during the war. I do not think the French reserve has been touched at +all, or has been used in the slightest degree, and I think as far as the +Russian reserve is concerned it has only been reduced by the transfer of +£8,000,000 of gold from Russia to this country. Our accumulation of gold +is larger than it has ever been in the history of this country. It has +increased enormously since the commencement of the war. It is not nearly +as large as that of Russia, France, or Germany, but it must be borne in +mind that there is this distinction in our favor; up to the present we +have had no considerable paper currency, and this is the great free +market for the gold of the world. The quantity imported every year of, +what shall I call it, raw gold, comes to something like £50,000,000, and +here I am excluding what comes here by exchanges. The collapse of the +rebellion in South Africa assures us of a large and steady supply from +that country, and, therefore, there is no real need for any +apprehension. + +But still it would not have been prudent for us to have overlooked +certain possibilities. I have already pointed out some of them--the +diminution of exports, the increase of our imports, the absorption of +our transports for war purposes, large credits established for our own +and other countries, and a diminution in our savings for investments +abroad. There is just a possibility that this might have the effect of +inducing the export of gold to other countries. We therefore have to +husband our gold and take care lest it should take wings and swarm to +any other hive. We therefore made arrangements at this conference +whereby, if our stock of gold were to diminish beyond a certain +point--that is a fairly high point--the Banks of France and Russia +should come to our assistance. + +We have also made arrangements whereby France should have access to our +markets for Treasury bills issued in francs. We have also initiated +arrangements which we hope will help to restore the exchanges in respect +of bills held in this country against Russian merchants, who, owing to +the present difficulties of exchange, cannot discharge their liabilities +in this country. They are quite ready and eager to pay, they have the +money to pay, but, owing to difficulties of exchange, they cannot pay +bills owing in this country. We therefore propose to accept Russian +Treasury bills against these bills of exchange due from Russian +merchants, Russia collecting the debts in rubles in her own country and +giving us the Treasury bills in exchange. We hope that will assist very +materially in the working of the exchanges. It will be very helpful to +business between the two countries, and incidentally it will be very +helpful to Russia herself in raising money in her own country for the +purpose of financing the war. + +We also received an undertaking from the Russian Government in return +for the advances which we were prepared to make, that Russia would +facilitate the export of Russian produce of every kind that may be +required by the allied countries. This, I believe, will be one of the +most fruitful parts of the arrangements entered into. An arrangement has +also been made about the purchases by the allied countries in the +neutral countries. There was a good deal of confusion. We were all +buying in practically the same countries; we were buying against each +other; we were putting up prices; it ended not merely in confusion, but +I am afraid in a good deal of extravagance, because we were increasing +prices against each other. It was very necessary that there should be +some working arrangement that would eliminate this element of +competition and enable us to co-ordinate, as it were, these orders. +There will be less delay, there will be much more efficiency, and we +shall avoid a good deal of the extravagance which was inevitable owing +to the competition between the three countries. + +I have done my best to summarize very briefly the arrangements which +have been entered into, and I would only like to say this in conclusion. +After six months of negotiation by the cable and three days of +conferring face to face we realized that better results were achieved by +means of a few hours of businesslike discussion by men anxious to come +to a workable arrangement than by reams of correspondence. +Misconceptions and misunderstandings were cleared away in a second which +otherwise might take weeks to ferment into mischief, and it was our +conclusion that these conferences might with profit to the cause of the +Allies be extended to other spheres of co-operation. [Cheers.] + + + + +Britain's Unsheathed Sword + +By H.H. Asquith, England's Prime Minister + + + Stating the estimated costs of the war to Great Britain, + outlining the operations of the French and British allied + fleets in the Dardanelles, declaring the Allies' position in + retaliation for the German "war zone" decree against Great + Britain, and reaffirming the chief terms of peace, stated in + his Guildhall speech of last November, on which alone England + would consent to sheathe the sword, the following speech, + delivered in the House of Commons on March 1, 1915, by Prime + Minister Asquith, is one of the most important of the war. + +_In Committee of Supply._ + +_Mr. Asquith, who was loudly cheered on rising, moved the supplementary +vote of credit of £37,000,000 to meet the expenditure on naval and +military operations and other expenditure arising out of the war during +the year 1914-1915. He said:_ + +The first of the two votes which appear upon the paper, the one which +has just been read out, provides only for the financial year now +expiring, and is a supplementary vote of credit. The vote that follows +is a vote of credit for the financial year 1915-1916. I think it will +probably be convenient if in submitting the first vote to the committee +I make a general statement covering the whole matter. I may remind the +committee that on Aug. 6 last year the House voted £100,000,000 in the +first vote of credit, and that on Nov. 15 the House passed a +supplementary vote of credit for £225,000,000, thus sanctioning total +votes of credit for the now expiring financial year of £325,000,000. It +has been found that this amount will not suffice for the expenditure +which will have been incurred up to March 31, and we are therefore +asking for a further vote of £37,000,000 to carry on the public service +to that date. If the committee assents to our proposals it will raise +the total amount granted by votes of credit for the year 1914-1915 to +£362,000,000. I need not say anything as to the purposes for which this +vote is required. They are the same as upon the last occasion. But I +ought to draw attention to one feature in which the supplementary vote, +which comes first, differs from the vote to be subsequently proposed for +the services of the year 1915-1916. At the outbreak of the war the +ordinary supply on a peace basis had been voted by the House, and +consequently the votes of credit for the now current financial year, +like those on all previous occasions, were to be taken in order to +provide the amounts necessary for naval and military operations in +addition to the ordinary grants of Parliament. It consequently follows +that the expenditure charged, or chargeable, to votes of credit for this +financial year represent, broadly speaking, the difference between the +expenditure of the country on a peace footing and that expenditure upon +a war footing. The total on that basis, if this supplementary vote is +assented to, will be £362,000,000. + +For reasons the validity of which the committee has recognized on +previous occasions, I do not think it desirable to give the precise +details of the items which make up the total, but without entering into +that I may roughly apportion the expenditure. For the army and the navy, +according to best estimates which can at present be framed, out of the +total given there will be required approximately £275,000,000. That is +in addition, as I have already pointed out, to the sum voted before the +war for the army and the navy, which amounted in the aggregate to a +little over £80,000,000. That leaves unaccounted for a balance of +£87,000,000, of which approximately £38,000,000 represents advances for +war expenditure made, or being made, to the self-governing dominions, +Crown colonies, and protectorates, as explained in the Treasury minute +last November, under which his Majesty's Government have undertaken to +raise the loans required by the dominions to meet the heavy expenditure +entailed upon them on the credit of the imperial exchequer. In addition +to that sum of £38,000,000 there has been an advance to Belgium of +£10,000,000, and to Serbia of £800,000. Further advances to these allies +are under consideration, the details of which it is not possible yet to +make public. The balance of, roughly, £28,000,000 is required for +miscellaneous services covered by the vote of credit which have not yet +been separately specified. + +I think the committee will be interested to know what the actual cost of +the war will have been to this country as far as we can estimate on +March 31, the close of the financial year. The war will then have lasted +for 240 days and the votes of credit up to that time, assuming this vote +is carried, will amount to £362,000,000. It may be said, speaking +generally, that the average expenditure from votes of credit will have +been, roughly, £1,500,000 per day throughout the time. That, of course, +is the excess due to the war over the expenditure on a peace footing. +That represents the immediate charge to the taxpayers of this country +for this year. But, as the committee knows, a portion of the expenditure +consists of advances for the purpose of assisting or securing the food +supplies of this country and will be recoverable in whole, or to a very +large extent, in the near future. A further portion represents advances +to the dominions and to other States which will be ultimately repaid. If +these items are excluded from the account the average expenditure per +day of the war is slightly lower, but after making full allowance for +all the items which are in the nature of recoverable loans, the daily +expenditure does not work out at less than £1,200,000. + +These figures are averages taken over the whole period from the outbreak +of the war, but at the outbreak of the war, after the initial +expenditure on mobilization had been incurred, the daily expenditure was +considerably below the average, as many charges had not yet matured. The +expenditure has risen steadily and is now well over the daily average +that I have given. To that figure must be added, in order to give a +complete account of the matter, something for war services other than +naval or military. At the beginning of the year these charges are not +likely to be very considerable, but it will probably be within the mark +to say that from April I we shall be spending over £1,700,000 a day +above the normal, in consequence of the war. + +Perhaps now I may say something which is not strictly in order on this +vote, but concerns the vote of credit for the ensuing year, which +amounts, as appears on the paper, to £250,000,000. The committee will at +once observe an obvious distinction between the votes of credit taken +for the current financial year and that which we propose to take for the +ensuing year. As I have already pointed out, at the outbreak of war the +ordinary supply of the year had been granted by the House, and +accordingly the votes of credit for 1914-1915 were for the amounts +required beyond the ordinary grants of Parliament for the cost of +military and naval operations. When we came to frame the estimates for +the ensuing year, 1915-1916, the Treasury was confronted with the +difficulty, which amounted to an impossibility, of presenting to +Parliament estimates in the customary form for navy and army +expenditure, apart from the cost of the war. All the material +circumstances have been set out in the Treasury minute of Feb. 5, and in +principle have been approved by the House. As the committee will +remember, the total of the estimates which we have presented for the +army and the navy amount to only £15,000 for the army and £17,000 for +the navy, and the remainder of the cost of both these services will be +provided for out of votes of credit, and the vote of credit now being +proposed provides for general army and navy service in as far as +specific provision is not made for them in the small estimates already +presented. This vote of credit, therefore, has two features which I +believe are quite unique, and without precedent. In the first place, it +is the largest single vote on record in the annals of this House, and, +secondly, as I have said, it provides for the ordinary as well as for +the emergency expenditure of the army and the navy. The House may ask on +what principle or basis has this sum of £250,000,000 been arrived at. Of +course it is difficult, and indeed impossible, to give any exact +estimate, but as regards the period, so far as we can forecast it, for +which this vote is being taken, it has been thought advisable to take a +sum sufficient, so far as we can judge, to provide for all the +expenditure which will come in course of payment up to approximately the +second week in July--that is to say, a little over three months, or +something like 100 days of war expenditure. + +As regards the daily rate of expenditure--I have dealt hitherto with the +expenditure up to March 31--the War Office calculates that from the +beginning of April, 1915, the total expenditure on army services will be +at the rate of £1,500,000 per day, with a tendency to increase. The +total expenditure on the navy at the commencement of April will, it is +calculated, amount to about £400,000 per day. The aggregate expenditure +on the army and the navy services at the beginning of 1915-1916 is +therefore £1,900,000 per day, with a tendency to increase, and for the +purpose of our estimate the figure we have taken is a level £2,000,000 a +day. On a peace footing the daily expenditure upon the army and the navy +on the basis of the estimates approved last year was about £220,000 per +day. So that the difference between £2,000,000 and £220,000 represents +what we estimate to be the increased expenditure due to the war during +the 100 days for which we are now providing. + +There are other items belonging to the same category as those to which I +have already referred in dealing with the supplementary vote with regard +to advances to our own dominions and other States for which provision +has also had to be made, and the balance of the total of £250,000,000 +for which we are now asking, beyond the actual estimated expenditure for +the army and the navy, will be applied to those and kindred or +emergency purposes. Before I pass from the purely monetary aspect of the +matter, it may be interesting to the committee to be reminded of what +has been our expenditure upon the great wars of the past. In the great +war which lasted for over twenty years, from 1793 to 1815, the total +cost as estimated by the best authorities was £831,000,000. The Crimean +war may be put down, taking everything into account, at £70,000,000. The +total cost of the war charges in South Africa from 1899 to March 31, +1903, was estimated in a return presented to Parliament at £211,000,000. +In presenting these two votes of credit the Government are making a +large pecuniary demand on the House, a demand which in itself and beyond +comparison is larger than has ever been made in the House of Commons by +any British Minister in the whole course of our history. + +We make it with the full conviction that after seven months of war the +country and the whole empire are every whit as determined as they were +at the outset [cheers] if need be at the cost of all we can command both +in men and in money to bring a righteous cause to a triumphant issue. +[Cheers.] There is much to encourage and to stimulate us in what we see. +Nothing has shaken and nothing can shake our faith in the unbroken +spirit of Belgium, [cheers,] in the undefeated heroism of indomitable +Serbia, in the tenacity and resource with which our two great allies, +one in the west and the other in the east, hold their far-flung lines +and will continue to hold them till the hour comes for an irresistible +advance. [Cheers.] Our own dominions and our great dependency of India +have sent us splendid contributions of men, a large number of whom +already are at the front, and before very long, in one or another of the +actual theatres of war, the whole of them will be in the fighting line. +[Cheers.] We hear today with great gratification that the Princess +Patricia's Canadian regiment has been doing, during these last few days, +most gallant and efficient service. [Cheers.] + +We have no reason to be otherwise than satisfied with the progress of +recruiting here at home. [Cheers.] The territorial divisions now fully +trained are capable--I say it advisedly--of confronting any troops in +the world, [cheers,] and the new armies, which have lately been under +the critical scrutiny of skilled observers, are fast realizing all our +most sanguine hopes. A war carried on upon this gigantic scale and under +conditions for which there is no example in history is not always or +every day a picturesque or spectacular affair. Its operations are of +necessity in appearance slow and dragging. Without entering into +strategic details, I can assure the committee that with all the +knowledge and experience which we have now gained, his Majesty's +Government have never been more confident than they are today in the +power as well as the will of the Allies to achieve ultimate and durable +victory. [Cheers.] I will not enter in further detail to what I may call +the general military situation, but I should like to call the attention +of the committee for a few moments to one or two aspects of the war +which of late have come prominently into view. + +I will refer first to the operations which are now in progress in the +Dardanelles. [Cheers.] It is a good rule in war to concentrate your +forces on the main theatre and not to dissipate them in disconnected and +sporadic adventures, however promising they may appear to be. That +consideration, I need hardly say, has not been lost sight of in the +councils of the Allies. There has been and there will be no denudation +or impairment of the forces which are at work in Flanders, and both the +French and ourselves will continue to give them the fullest, and we +believe the most effective, support. Nor, what is equally important, has +there for the purpose of these operations been any weakening of the +grand fleet. [Cheers.] The enterprise which is now going on, and so far +has gone on in a manner which reflects, as I think the House will agree, +the highest credit on all concerned, was carefully considered and +conceived with very distinct and definite objects--political, strategic, +and economical. Some of these objects are so obvious as not to need +statement and others are of such a character that it is perhaps better +for the moment not to state them. [Laughter and cheers.] But I should +like to advert for a moment, without any attempt to forecast the future, +to two features in this matter. The first is, that it once more +indicates and illustrates the close co-operation of the Allies--in this +case the French and ourselves--in the new theatre and under somewhat +dissimilar conditions to those which have hitherto prevailed, and to +acknowledge what I am sure the House of Commons will be most ready to +acknowledge, that the splendid contingent from the French Navy that our +allies have supplied [cheers] is sharing to the full both the hazards +and the glory of the enterprise. [Cheers.] The other point on which I +think it is worth while to dwell for a moment is that this operation +shows in a very significant way the copiousness and the variety of our +naval resources. [Cheers.] In order to illustrate that remark, take the +names of the ships which have actually been mentioned in the published +dispatches. The Queen Elizabeth, [cheers,] the first ship to be +commissioned of the newest type of what are called superdreadnoughts, +with guns of power and range never hitherto known in naval warfare. +[Cheers.] Side by side with her is the Agamemnon, the immediate +predecessor of the dreadnought, and in association with them the +Triumph, the Cornwallis, the Irresistible, the Vengeance, and the +Albion--representing, I think I am right in saying, three or four +different types of the older predreadnought battleship which have been +so foolishly and so prematurely regarded in some quarters as obsolete or +negligible--all bringing to bear the power of their formidable +twelve-inch guns on the fortifications, with magnificent accuracy and +with deadly effects. [Cheers.] When, as I have said, these proceedings +are being conducted, so far as the navy is concerned, without +subtraction of any sort or kind from the strength and effectiveness of +the grand fleet, I think a word of congratulation is due to the +Admiralty for the way in which it has utilized all its resources. +[Cheers.] + +I pass from that to another new factor in these military and naval +operations--the so-called German "blockade" of our coasts. [Cheers.] I +shall have to use some very plain language. [Cheers.] I may, perhaps, +preface what I have to say by the observation that it does not come upon +us as a surprise. [Cheers.] This war began on the part of Germany with +the cynical repudiation [cheers] of a solemn treaty on the avowed +grounds that when a nation's interests required it, right and good faith +must give way to force. ["Hear, hear!"] The war has been carried on, +therefore, with a systematic--not an impulsive or a casual--but a +systematic violation of all the conventions and practices by which +international agreements had sought to mitigate and to regularize the +clash of arms. [Cheers.] She has now, I will not say reached a climax, +for we do not know what may yet be to come, but she has taken a further +step without any precedent in history by mobilizing and organizing not +upon the surface but under the surface of the sea a campaign of piracy +and pillage. [Prolonged cheers.] + +Are we--can we--here I address myself to the neutral countries of the +world--are we to or can we sit quiet as though we were still under the +protection of the restraining rules and the humanizing usages of +civilized warfare? [Cheers.] We think we cannot. [Cheers.] The enemy, +borrowing what I may, perhaps, for this purpose call a neutral flag from +the vocabulary of diplomacy, describe these newly adopted measures by a +grotesque and puerile perversion of language as a "blockade." +[Laughter.] What is a blockade? A blockade consists in sealing up the +war ports of a belligerent against sea-borne traffic by encircling their +coasts with an impenetrable ring of ships of war. [Cheers.] + +Where are these ships of war? [Cheers.] Where is the German Navy? +[Cheers.] What has become of those gigantic battleships and cruisers on +which so many millions of money have been spent and in which such vast +hopes and ambitions have been invested? I think, if my memory serves +me, they have only twice during the course of these seven months been +seen upon the open sea. Their object in both cases was the same--murder, +[cheers,] civilian outrage, and wholesale destruction of property in +undefended seaside towns, and on each occasion when they caught sight of +the approach of a British force they showed a clean pair of heels, and +they hurried back at the top of their speed to the safe seclusion of +their mine fields and their closely guarded forts. + +_Lord R. CECIL_--Not all. [Laughter.] + +_Mr. ASQUITH_--No; some had misadventures on the way. ["Hear, hear!" and +laughter.] The plain truth is--the German fleet is not blockading, +cannot blockade, and never will blockade our coasts. + +I propose now to read to the committee the statement which has been +prepared by his Majesty's Government and which will be public property +tomorrow. It declares, I hope in sufficiently plain and unmistakable +terms, the view which we take, not only of our rights, but of our duty. +[Cheers.] + +Germany has declared that the English Channel, the north and west coasts +of France, and the waters around the British Isles are a "war area" and +has officially notified that all enemy ships found in that area will be +destroyed and that neutral vessels may be exposed to danger. This is, in +effect, a claim to torpedo at sight, without regard to the safety of +crew or passengers, any merchant vessel under any flag. As it is not in +the power of the German Admiralty to maintain any surface craft in these +waters, the attack can only be delivered by submarine agency. The law +and custom of nations in regard to attacks on commerce have always +presumed that the first duty of the captor of a merchant vessel is to +bring it before a prize court, where it may be tried, and where the +regularity of the capture may be challenged, and where neutrals may +recover their cargoes. The sinking of prizes is in itself a questionable +act, to be resorted to only in extraordinary circumstances and after +provision has been made for the safety of all the crew or passengers--if +there are passengers on board. The responsibility for discriminating +between neutral and enemy vessels, and between neutral and enemy cargo, +obviously rests with the attacking ship, whose duty it is to verify the +status and character of the vessel and cargo and to preserve all papers +before sinking or even capturing the ship. So, also, is the humane duty +to provide for the safety of the crews of merchant vessels, whether +neutral or enemy, an obligation on every belligerent. It is on this +basis that all previous discussions of the law for regulating warfare at +sea have proceeded. + +The German submarine fulfills none of these obligations. She enjoys no +local command of the waters in which she operates. She does not take her +captures within the jurisdiction of a prize court; she carries no prize +crew which she can put on board the prize she seizes. She uses no +effective means of discriminating between a neutral and an enemy vessel; +she does not receive on board, for safety, the crew of the vessel she +sinks. Her methods of warfare are, therefore, entirely outside the scope +of any of the international instruments regulating operations against +commerce in time of war. The German declaration substitutes +indiscriminate destruction for regulated capture. [Cheers.] Germany is +adopting these methods against peaceful traders and non-combatant crews +with the avowed object of preventing commodities of all kinds, including +food for the civil population, from reaching or leaving the British +Isles and Northern France. + +Her opponents are therefore driven to frame retaliatory measures [loud +cheers] in order, in their turn, to prevent commodities of any kind +[loud cheers] from reaching or leaving the German Empire. [Renewed +cheers.] These measures will, however, be enforced by the British and +French Governments, without risk to neutral ships or to neutral or +non-combatant lives, and with strict observance of the dictates of +humanity. The British and French Governments will therefore hold +themselves free to detain and take into port ships carrying goods of +presumed enemy destination, ownership, or origin. It is not intended to +confiscate such vessels or cargoes unless they would be otherwise liable +to confiscation. Vessels with cargoes which have sailed before this date +will not be affected. [Loud cheers.] + +That, Sir, is our reply. [Cheers.] I may say, before I comment upon it, +that the suggestion which I see is put forward from a German quarter +that we have rejected some proposal or suggestion made to the two powers +by the United States Government--I will not say anything more than that +it is quite untrue. On the contrary, all we have said to the United +States Government is that we are taking it into careful consideration +in consultation with our allies. + +Now the committee will have observed that in the statement which I have +just read of the retaliatory measures we propose to adopt, the words +"blockade" and "contraband" and other technical terms of international +law do not occur. And advisedly so. In dealing with an opponent who has +openly repudiated all the principles both of law and of humanity we are +not going to allow our efforts to be strangled in a network of juridical +niceties. [Cheers.] We do not intend to put into operation any measures +which we do not think to be effective, [cheers,] and I need not say we +shall carefully avoid any measure which would violate the rules either +of humanity or of honesty. But, subject to those two conditions, I say +not only to our enemy, but I say it on behalf of the Government, and I +hope on behalf of the House of Commons, that under existing conditions +there is no form of economic pressure to which we do not consider +ourselves entitled to resort. [Loud cheers.] If, as a consequence, +neutrals suffer inconvenience and loss of trade, we regret it, but we +beg them to remember that this phase of the war was not initiated by us. +[Cheers.] We do not propose either to assassinate their seamen or to +destroy their goods. What we are doing we do solely in self-defense. + +If, again, as is possible, hardship is caused to the civil and +non-combatant population of the enemy by the cutting off of supplies, we +are not doing more in this respect than was done in the days when +Germany still acknowledged the authority of the law of nations +sanctioned by the first and the greatest of her Chancellors, and as +practiced by the expressed declaration of his successor. We are quite +prepared to submit to the arbitrament of neutral opinion in this war in +the circumstances in which we have been placed. We have been moderate +and restrained, and we have abstained from things which we were provoked +and tempted to do, and we have adopted the policy which recommends +itself to reason, common sense, and to justice. + +This new aspect of the war only serves to illustrate and to emphasize +the truth that the gravity and the magnitude of the task which we have +undertaken does not diminish, but increases, as the months roll by. The +call for men to join our fighting forces, which is our primary need, has +been and is being nobly responded to here at home and throughout the +empire. That call, we say with all plainness and directness, was never +more urgent or more imperious than today. For this is a war not only of +men but of material. To take only one illustration, the expenditure upon +ammunition on both sides has been on a scale and at a rate which is not +only without all precedent but is far in excess of any expert forecast. +At such a time patriotism has cast a heavy burden on the shoulders of +all who are engaged in trades or manufactures which directly or +indirectly minister to the equipment of our forces. It is a burden, let +me add, which falls, or ought to fall, with even weight on both +employers and employed. [Cheers.] Differences as to remuneration or as +to profit, as to hours and conditions of labor, which in ordinary times +might well justify a temporary cessation of work should no longer be +allowed to do so. The first duty of all concerned is to go on producing +with might and main what the safety of the State requires, [cheers,] and +if this is done I can say with perfect confidence the Government on its +part will insure a prompt and equitable settlement of disputed points, +and in cases of proved necessity will give on behalf of the State such +help as is in their power. [Cheers.] Sailors and soldiers, employers and +workmen in the industrial world are all at this moment partners and +co-operators in one great enterprise. The men in the shipyards and the +engineering shops, the workers in the textile factories, the miner who +sends the coal to the surface, the dockyard laborer who helps to load +and unload the ships, and those who employ and organize and supervise +their labors are one and all rendering to their country a service as +vital and as indispensable as the gallant men who line the trenches in +Flanders or in France or who are bombarding fortresses in the +Dardanelles. [Cheers.] + +I hear sometimes whispers, hardly more than whispers, of possible terms +of peace. Peace is the greatest human good, but this is not the time to +talk of peace. Those who talk of peace, however excellent their +intentions, are in my judgment victims, I will not say of wanton, but of +grievous self-delusion. Just now we are in the stress and tumult of a +tempest which is shaking the foundations of the earth. The time to talk +of peace is when the great tasks in which we and our allies embarked on +the long and stormy voyage are within sight of accomplishment. Speaking +at the Guildhall at the Lord Mayor's banquet last November I used this +language, which has since been repeated almost in the same terms by the +Prime Minister of France, and which I believe represents the settled +sentiment and purpose of the country. I said: + + We shall never sheathe the sword which we have not lightly + drawn until Belgium recovers in full measure all and more than + she has sacrificed, until France is adequately secured against + the menace of aggression, until the rights of the smaller + nationalities of Europe are placed upon an unassailable + foundation, and until the military domination of Prussia is + wholly and finally destroyed. [Cheers.] + +What I said early in November, now, after four months, I repeat today. +We have not relaxed nor shall we relax in the pursuit of every one and +all of the aims which I have described. These are great purposes, and to +achieve them we must draw upon all our resources, both material and +spiritual. On the one side, the material side, the demands presented in +these votes is for men, for money, for the fullest equipment of the +purposes of war. On the other side, what I have called the spiritual +side, the appeal is to those ancient inbred qualities of our race which +have never failed us in times of stress--qualities of self-mastery, +self-sacrifice, patience, tenacity, willingness to bear one another's +burdens, a unity which springs from the dominating sense of a common +duty, unfailing faith, inflexible resolve. [Loud cheers.] + + + + +Sweden's Scandinavian Leadership + +By a Swedish Political Expert + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 4, 1915.] + + +In common with a majority of the other countries of Europe, Sweden has +had a full measure of experience in the difficulties confronting neutral +powers while a world struggle like the present European conflict is in +progress, and has learned that, even if it may prove effective in +averting blood-shed, neutrality does not by any means insure a nation +against the other vicissitudes of war. Aside from operations of a purely +military character, the groups of belligerent powers are carrying on a +commercial warfare of constantly increasing intensity. It is +characteristic, perhaps, that both parties to the struggle, as time goes +on, appear to become more and more indifferent to the injury +incidentally inflicted on neutral countries. + +Geographically situated so that it might provide easy transit for +shipments both to Russia and to the German Empire, Sweden, as a matter +of course, has become the object of lively interest to both groups of +warring nations in their dual concern of securing advantages to +themselves and placing obstacles in the way of the enemy. From the very +beginning, however, Sweden has maintained an attitude of strictest +neutrality and of loyal impartiality toward both sides in the struggle. +It is the object of this article to set forth as briefly as possible the +manner in which the neutrality of Sweden has been made manifest. + +Immediately after the war broke out in August last year the Swedish +Government proclaimed its intention to remain neutral throughout the +conflict. Simultaneous action was taken by the Government for the +strengthening of the country's defenses, in the firm conviction that +only if there was behind it the armed strength with which to enforce it +would the neutrality of Sweden be respected. A move of the most profound +significance--the first in our endeavors to create in Scandinavia a +neutral "centre" and to gird ourselves with a greater strength to make +our peaceful intentions effective--was made on Aug. 8 of last year, when +the Foreign Ministers of Sweden and Norway appeared in the +representative assemblies of both peoples and delivered identically +worded explanatory communications in which was embodied a statement to +the effect that the Swedish and Norwegian Governments had agreed to +maintain their neutrality throughout the war at any cost, and that the +two Governments had exchanged mutually binding and satisfactory +assurances with a view to preventing any situation growing out of the +state of war in Europe from precipitating either country into acts of +hostility directed against the other. + +In the meantime, neutral commerce and shipping during the months that +followed were exposed to most serious infringements by the warring +powers, such as the closing of ports by mines; limitations in the rights +of neutral shipping to the use of the sea (mare libre) and of other +established routes of maritime trade; arbitrary broadening in the +definition of what shall constitute contraband of war, &c. As an +instance it may be stated that England for a time treated magnetic iron +ore as contraband of war and that Germany still persists in so +regarding certain classes of manufactured wood. In both these instances +Swedish exports have suffered severely. On initiative taken by the +Swedish Government in the middle of last November the Governments of +Sweden, Denmark, and Norway lodged identically worded protests with the +envoys of certain of the powers engaged in the war against measures +taken by them which threatened serious disturbance to neutral traffic. + +[Illustration: SIR PERCY SCOTT + +British Admiral, Who Asserted Before the War Began That the Submarine +Had Sounded the Deathknell of the Dreadnought + +_(Photo from Rogers)_] + +[Illustration: GENERAL LOUIS BOTHA + +The Famous Boer Leader, Premier of the Union of South Africa, Now +Commanding the British South African Forces + +_(Photo from Paul Thompson)_] + +One further step--of the utmost importance through what it accomplished +toward establishing firmly the position of the neutral States in the +north--was the meeting between the Kings of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark +at Malmö on Dec. 19 last. This meeting was especially designed to +provide an opportunity for taking counsel together regarding means which +may be resorted to for the purpose of limiting and counteracting the +economical difficulties imposed on the three countries through the war. +The meeting at Malmö served not only to give most powerful expression to +the common determination of the northern kingdoms to remain neutral, but +it became the means also of agreeing upon and adopting a modus vivendi +for continued co-operation between the three countries during the war +for the protection of interests they have in common. + +In this manner Sweden has led in a movement to establish for the +northern countries a potential policy of neutrality with the practical +aim of limiting and reducing to a minimum the economical difficulties +consequent upon the existing state of war. + +From what already has been said it appears clearly, too, how completely +without justification have been the accusations which have been voiced +from time to time in the press of countries that enter into either of +the belligerent groups--that Sweden, now in one respect and now in +another, had shown partiality to the adversary. Thus, suspicion has been +cast, with no justification whatever, on the circumstance that during +the last month Sweden has imported large quantities of necessaries +which would have been both valuable and helpful to the belligerents. And +yet, this increase in the Swedish imports is very readily explained on +the ground that it was necessary, partly, in order to make up for an +existing shortage in supplies due to stopped traffic during the first +months of the war, and, partly, to insure ability to fill Swedish +demands for some time to come. A country which desires to remain neutral +is not in a position to submit to dictation from any of the belligerent +nations, but this very thing is frequently interpreted by one party to a +struggle as involving an understanding with the other. + +But Sweden's peaceful resolve and her fixed determination to maintain +her life as a nation against all attempts at encroachment would count +for little if behind her word there did not exist the strength to make +it good and material resources to fall back on when the demand comes. +That these exist in Sweden will be shown in the following with some data +of Sweden's economics. + +With a population of 5,700,000, distributed over an area of 448,000 +square kilometers, (170,977 square miles,) as compared with 9,415,000 +square kilometers (3,025,600 square miles) in the United States, Sweden, +in comparison with European countries in general, is very sparsely +inhabited. The possibilities for growth and development, however, are +great owing to natural resources, which are both rich and varied. Of +Sweden's area, 40,000 square kilometers (15,266 square miles) is +cultivated land. The value of the annual production of grain is +estimated at about 340,000,000 kroner, (about $91,900,000,) offset by an +import of grain which exceeds the export by about 70,000,000 kroner, +(about $18,900,000.) From this it appears that agriculture as yet +retains its place as the principal industry of the country. With the +bigger half of the country's area timber and the rivers well adapted to +logging, Sweden quite naturally has become one of the foremost countries +in the world in the export of lumber, wood pulp, and manufactured wood. +Another natural product of Sweden, and one of the utmost importance, is +iron ore, of which there was exported in 1913 to the value of about +69,000,000 kroner, (about $18,500,000,) chiefly from the large mineral +fields in the northernmost part of the country. Besides this production +of raw material, Sweden has important manufacturing industries which +thrive as a result of the abundant supply of water power, an extensive +network of railroads, and a shipping industry which is in a state of +flourishing development. + +The total output of our Swedish industries (mining not included) in 1912 +was appraised at a net (manufacturing) value of 1,778,000,000 kroner, +(about $481,600,000.) Of this total, 476,000,000 kroner (about +$128,600,000) represents foodstuffs and luxuries, 353,000,000 kroner +(about $95,400,000) wood products, &c.; 222,000,000 kroner ($60,000,000) +textile products, and so on. + +A few figures will illustrate Sweden's exchange of products with foreign +countries. In 1912 the foreign trade of Sweden reached a total of +1,554,000,000 kroner, (about $420,000,000.) The imports aggregated +794,000,000 kroner (about $214,600,000) and the exports 760,000,000 +kroner, (about $205,400,000,) thus showing a relatively advantageous +trade balance. Of the imported values, 28 per cent. was foodstuffs and +luxuries, 45 per cent. raw materials, and 26 per cent. articles +manufactured either wholly or in part. Of the exports, 14 per cent. was +foodstuffs and luxuries, 23 per cent. raw materials, and not less than +63 per cent. articles of manufacture, finished completely or in part. + +The principal industrial products represented among these exports are +enumerated here: + + Kroner +Wood products 1,912,000,000 $516,700,000[1] +Pulp and paper 134,000,000 36,000,000 +Metal products 105,000,000 28,400,000 +Machinery 56,000,000 15,400,000 +Matches 16,000,000 4,300,000 +Pottery products 15,000,000 4,000,000 + +[Footnote 1: The amounts in this column are close approximates.] + +With regard to our exports, there have been especially large increases +in those of pulp and machinery. The principal types of machinery which +figure among the exports of Sweden are milk separators, oil motors, +telephone apparatus, electric engines, and ball bearings. In these +exports are plainly indicated the inventive genius of the Swedes and +their aptitude for technical and industrial pursuits. + +With reference to the Swedish railroads, this fact is deserving of +mention: Sweden leads all Europe with 2.5 kilometers to each 1,000 +inhabitants, (United States has 4.14 kilometers.) The mercantile marine +of Sweden has experienced powerful growth in recent years. In 1912, with +a net tonnage of 805,000, it held the sixth place among the merchant +fleets of Europe, being ahead of, among other countries, Spain, Russia, +and the Netherlands. Especially has the growth in Sweden's merchant +marine been pronounced since 1904, when the first regular ocean lines +with Swedish vessels were established. Today Swedish steamship lines are +maintaining regular traffic with all parts of the world. Thus, among +other things, Sweden has established freight lines, with steamers plying +to both the east and west coasts of North America. Quite recently, +despite the financial crisis brought on by the war, a company has been +formed with the object of establishing passenger traffic with Swedish +steamships of high speed between Gothenburg and either New York or +Boston. + +After scrutinizing these figures the reader ought not to be surprised at +the assertion that Sweden is exceptionally well situated from an +economical point of view, and, perhaps, is among the countries which +have been least affected by the economical crisis consequent upon the +war. The national debt of Sweden, which was created very largely with a +view to financing the construction of the Government railroads and for +other productive purposes, is at present only 720,000,000 kroner, (about +$194,500,000.) This is only 126 kroner (a small fraction above $34) for +each inhabitant, while the corresponding figure for France in 1913 was +591 kroner, (nearly $160;) the Netherlands, 282 kroner, ($70.62;) Great +Britain, 280 kroner, ($70.57;) Germany, 276 kroner, ($70.40;) Italy, 270 +kroner, ($70.30,) &c. Against the national debt of 720,000,000 kroner +(about $194,500,000) Sweden has Crown assets at this time appraised at +1,761,000,000 kroner net, (nearly $476,000,000.) + +Another evidence of the splendid financial condition of Sweden is +afforded in the fact that, since the war broke out and countries which +under normal conditions might be looked to for loans had closed their +markets to foreign nations, the domestic market has been able to supply +fully all, both public and private, demands for funds. Thus, when the +Swedish Government, early last October, sought a loan of 30,000,000 +kroner at home, this was fully subscribed in three days. Nor have +municipalities or private banks encountered any difficulty in placing +bonds for amounts of considerable size in the domestic market. The only +loan for which the Swedish Government has contracted abroad during the +crisis was for $5,000,000, and this was placed in New York for the +purpose of facilitating payments for large purchases of American grain. + +[Illustration: [map of Scandinavia]] + +At least a few words with particular reference to the commercial +intercourse between Sweden and the United States. According to +statistics from the year 1912, the imports of Sweden from the United +States were of the aggregate value of 60,000,000 kroner, (about +$16,200,000,) while the exports aggregated 32,000,000 kroner, (about +$8,600,000.) The principal imports were: Cotton, 17,000,000 kroner, +(about $4,600,000;) oils, 12,000,000 kroner, (about $3,240,000;) copper, +6,200,000 kroner, (about $1,675,000;) machinery, 5,000,000 kroner, +(about $1,350,000;) grain and flour, 2,300,000 kroner, (about $621,000;) +bacon, 1,700,000 kroner, (about $460,000.) The principal articles of +export in the same year were: Pulp, 12,400,000 kroner, (about +$3,350,000;) manufactured iron and steel, 8,100,000 kroner, (about +$2,200,000;) iron ore, 3,600,000 kroner, (about $973,000;) paper, +2,100,000 kroner, (about $568,000;) elastic gum refuse, 1,900,000 +kroner, (about $514,000;) matches, 1,300,000 kroner, (about $350,000.) + +Since the outbreak of hostilities in August last year there has been a +tremendous increase in trade between Sweden and the United States. The +tonnage employed in this trade has been multiplied many times in order +adequately to care for the traffic. Sweden has sought to secure in the +United States a multiplicity of necessaries which under normal +conditions have been obtained from the belligerent countries. From the +United States, too, there has come an increased demand for many Swedish +products. + +It is to be hoped that a large portion of this commerce, which has been +the artificial outgrowth of unusual conditions, will continue, even +after the present world crisis shall happily have become a thing of the +past. Surely, it would be to the mutual advantage of both countries to +develop and strengthen their direct trade relations. + + + + +FROM ENGLAND + +By MAURICE HEWLETT. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + + O men of mickle heart and little speech, + Slow, stubborn countrymen of heath and plain, + Now have ye shown these insolent again + That which to Caesar's legions ye could teach, + That slow-provok'd is long-provok'd. May each + Crass Caesar learn this of the Keltic grain, + Until at last they reckon it in vain + To browbeat us who hold the Western reach. + + For even as you are, we are, ill to rouse, + Rooted in Custom, Order, Church, and King; + And as you fight for their sake, so shall we, + Doggedly inch by inch, and house by house; + Seeing for us, too, there's a dearer thing + Than land or blood--and that thing Liberty. + + + + +War Correspondence + +The Beloved Hindenburg + +A Pen Portrait of the German Commander in Chief in the East + +[By a Staff Correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +GERMAN GREAT HEADQUARTERS, EAST, Feb. 10.--But for the "field gray" coat +and the militant mustache, I should have taken him for a self-made +American, a big business man or captain of industry, as he sat at his +work desk, the telephone at his elbow, the electric push-buttons and +reams of neat reports adding to the illusion. Quiet, unassuming, and +democratic, he yet makes the same impression of virility and colossal +energy that Colonel Roosevelt does, but with an iron restraint of +discipline which the American never possessed, and an earnestness of +face and eye that I had only seen matched in his Commander in Chief, the +Kaiser. Here was a man whom the most neutral American could instantly +admire and honor, regardless of the merits of the controversy. It was +Hindenburg, the well beloved, the hope of Germany. He has already been +"done" by journalists and Senator Beveridge, but 70,000,000 are pinning +their faith to him, which makes him worth "doing" again--and again. + +For a moment I nearly forgot that I was an American with "nerve," bent +on making him say something, preferably indiscreet; it seemed almost a +shame to bother this man whose brain was big with the fate of empire. +But, although I hadn't been specially invited, but had just "dropped in" +in informal American fashion, the Commander in Chief of all his Kaiser's +forces in the east stopped making history long enough to favor me with a +short but thought-provoking interview. + +As to his past performances, the Field Marshal genially referred to the +detailed official summary; as to the future, he protested. + +"I am not a prophet. But this I can say. Tell our friends in +America--and also those who do not love us--that I am looking forward +with unshakable confidence to the final victory--and a well-earned +vacation," he added whimsically. "I should like nothing better than to +visit your Panama Exposition and meet your wonderful General Goethals, +the master builder, for I imagine our jobs are spiritually much akin; +that his slogan, too, has been 'durchhalten' ('hold out') until +endurance and organization win out against heavy odds." + +Then with sudden, paradoxical, terrific quiet earnest: "Great is the +task that still confronts us, but greater my faith in my brave troops." +One got indelibly the impression that he loved them all, suffered under +their hardships and sorrowed for their losses. + +"For you, this war is only a titanic drama; we Germans feel it with our +hearts," he said thoughtfully. + +The Field Marshal spoke warmly of the Austro-Hungarian troops, and cited +the results of the close co-operation between his forces and the +Austrian armies as striking proof of the proverb, "In union is +strength." Like all other German Generals whom I had "done," he, too, +had words of unqualified praise for the bravery of his enemies. "The +Russians fight well; but neither mere physical bravery nor numbers, nor +both together, win battles nowadays." + +"How about the steam roller?" + +"It hasn't improved the roads a bit, either going forward or backward," +he said with a grim smile. + +"Are you worrying over Grand Duke Nicholas's open secret?" I asked, +citing the report via Petrograd and London of a new projected Russian +offensive that was to take the form, not of a steam roller, but of a +"tidal wave of cavalry." + +"It will dash against a wall of loyal flesh and blood, barbed with +steel--if it comes," he said simply. + +My impression, growing increasingly stronger the more I have seen, that +German military success had been to no small extent made possible by +American inventive genius and high-speed American methods, received +interesting partial confirmation from the Field Marshal, whose keen, +restless mind, working over quite ordinary material, produced the new +suggestive combination of ideas that, while "America might possibly be +materially assisting Germany's enemies with arms, ammunition, and other +war material, certain it was that America, in the last analysis, had +helped Germany far more." + +"But for America, my armies would possibly not be standing in Russia +today--without the American railroading genius that developed and made +possible for me this wonderful weapon, thanks largely to which we have +been able with comparatively small numbers to stop and beat back the +Russian millions again and again--steam engine versus steam roller. Were +it for nothing else, America has proved one of our best friends, if not +an ally. + +"We are also awaiting with genuine interest the receipt of our first +American guns," the Field Marshal added. How was Germany expecting to +get guns from America? He was asked to explain the mystery. + +"I read somewhere in the papers that a large shipment of heavy cannon +had left America for Russia," he said with dry humor, "in transit for +us--for if they're consigned to the Russians, we'll have them sooner or +later, I hope;" adding, with his habitual tense earnestness, "the +Americans are something more than shrewd, hard-headed business men. +Have they ever vividly pictured to themselves a German soldier smashed +by an American shell, or bored through the heart by an American bullet? +The grim realism of the battlefield--that should make also the business +man thoughtful." + +"Shall you go west when you have cleaned up here in the east?" I +suggested. + +"I can't betray military secrets which I don't know myself, even to +interest the newspaper readers," he said. He gave me the impression, +however, that, east or west, he would be found fighting for the +Fatherland so long as the Fatherland needed him. + +"Now it means work again. You must excuse me," he concluded, +courteously. "You want to go to the front. Where should you like to go?" + +"To Warsaw," I suggested, modestly. + +"I, too," he laughed, "but today--ausgeschlossen, ('nothing doing,' in +Americanese.) Still--that may be yet." + +"May I come along, your Excellency?" + +"Certainly, then you can see for yourself what sort of 'barbarians' we +Germans are." + +"Dropping in on Hindenburg" yields some unimportant but interesting +by-products. The railroad Napoleon, as all the world knows, lives and +works in a palace, but this palace doesn't overawe one who has beaten +professionally at the closed portals of Fifth Avenue. It would be +considered a modest country residence in Westchester County or on Long +Island. Light in color and four stories high, including garret, it looks +very much like those memorials which soap kings and sundry millionaires +put up to themselves in their lifetime--the American college dormitory, +the modern kind that is built around three sides of a small court. The +palace is as simple as the man. + +The main entrance, a big iron gateway, is flanked by two guardhouses +painted with white and black stripes, the Prussian "colors," and two +unbluffable Landsturm men mount guard, who will tell you to go around to +the back door. + +The orderly who opens the front door is a Sergeant in field gray +uniform. You mount a flight of marble steps, and saunter down a marble +hall, half a block long. It is the reception hall. It is furnished with +magnificent hand-carved, high-backed chairs without upholstery, lounging +not being apparently encouraged here. They are Gothic structures backed +up against the walls. There is no Brussels or Axminster carpet on the +cold marble floor--not even Turkish rugs. Through this palace hall, up +by the ceiling, runs a thick cable containing the all-important +telephone wires. The offices open off the hall, the doors labeled with +neatly printed signs telling who and what is within. If you should come +walking down the street outside at 3 A.M. you would probably see the +lights in Hindenburg's office still burning, as I did. At 3:30 they went +out, indicating that a Field Marshal's job is not a sinecure. + + + + +Feeling of the German People + +Complete Confidence in Victory and Resentment Toward England + +[By a Staff Correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +BERLIN, Feb. 12.--To the neutral American, intent only on finding out +the truth, the most thought-provoking feature here (overlooked by +foreign correspondents because of its very featureless obviousness) is +the fact that Germany today is more confident of winning than at any +time in the three months I have been here. This confidence must not be +confused with cocksureness; it is rather the "looking forward with quiet +confidence to ultimate victory," as General von Heeringen phrased it. +Even more important is the corollary that, while the Germans have +apparently never had any doubt that they would win out in the end, this +"ultimate victory" does not seem so far off to them today as it did +three months ago. + +To one who has had an opportunity of personally sounding the +undercurrents of German public opinion, this quiet optimism that has +become noticeable only in the past few weeks (totally different in +character from the enthusiasm that followed the declaration of war) has +seemed particularly significant. Three months ago I was incessantly +asked by Germans "how the situation looked to an American," and "how +long I thought the war would last." When left to answer their own +question, they almost invariably remarked: "It may last a long while +yet." Today neutral opinion is no longer anxiously or even eagerly +sought. The temporary need for this sort of moral support seems to have +passed, and there are many indications that the well-informed layman +expects 1915 to see the wind-up of the war, while I have talked with not +a few professional men who have expressed the opinion that the war will +be over by Summer--except against England. + +This unanimous exception is significant because it indicates that to the +German mind the war with Russia and France is, in prize-ring parlance, a +twenty-round affair, which can and will be won on points, whereas with +England it is a championship fight to a finish, to be settled only by a +knockout. The idea is that Russia will be eliminated as a serious factor +by late Spring at the latest, and then, Westward Ho! when France will +not prolong the agony unduly, but will seize the first psychological +moment that offers peace with honor, leaving Germany free to fight it +out with the real enemy, England, though as to how, when, and where the +end will come, there is less certainty and agreement. Some think that +the knockout will be delivered in the shadow of the Pyramids; others, +and probably the majority, believe that the winning blow must and will +be delivered on English soil itself. + +Time here is no factor, for the war against England is taking on +increasingly an almost religious character; from the German point of +view, it will soon be, not a war, but a crusade. I get one clue to this +in the new phrase of leave-taking that has gained an astounding currency +in the past few weeks. Instead of saying "Good-bye" or "Auf +Wiedersehen," the German now says: "God punish England!" to which the +equally fervent rejoinder is, "May He do so!" This new, polite formula +for leave-taking originated among the officers and men in the field, but +you hear it on all sides now, uttered with a sincerity and earnestness +that is peculiarly impressive. The new style of saying "good-bye" has at +least the merit of being no longer a perfunctory piece of rhetoric. + +This optimism is no nation-wide attack of insanity, for the German, +thorough even in forming his opinions, is the last person in the world +to harbor delusions, and there is a perfect realization of the titanic +task that still confronts Germany. Nor is this confidence in ultimate +victory due to lack of information or to being kept in the dark by the +"iron censorship," for the "iron censorship" is itself a myth. It is +liberal, even judged by democratic standards, and surprisingly free from +red tape. There is no embargo on the importation of foreign newspapers; +even the anti-German journals of neutral countries have free entry and +circulation, while at a number of well-known cosmopolitan cafés you can +always read The London Times and The Daily Chronicle, only three days +old, and for a small cash consideration the waiter will generally be +able to produce from his pocket a Figaro, not much older. Not only +English and French, but, even more, the Italian, Dutch, and Scandinavian +papers are widely read and digested by Germans, while the German papers +not only print prominently the French official communiqués, the Russian +communiqués when available, and interesting chunks from the British +"eyewitness" official reports, but most of their feature stories--the +vivid, detailed war news--come from allied sources via correspondents in +neutral countries. The German censor's task is here a relatively simple +one, for German war correspondents never allow professional enthusiasm +to run away with practical patriotism, and you note the--to an +American--amusing and yet suggestive spectacle of war correspondents +specializing in descriptions of sunsets and scenery. + +The German was never much of a newspaper reader before the war, but now +he can challenge the American commuter as an absorbent of the printed +word. And not only has the German been suddenly educated into an avid +newspaper reader, but he has developed a tendency to think for himself, +to read between the lines, and interpret sentences. Thus, no German has +any illusions about the military prowess of Austria; but her failure has +caused no hard feelings. "The spirit is willing, but the leadership is +weak," is the kindly verdict, with the hopeful assumption that the +addition of a little German yeast will raise the standard of Austrian +efficiency and improve the quality of leadership. + +The Germans, being neither mad nor misinformed, why they face a world of +foes with this new confidence becomes a question of importance to any +one who wants to understand the real situation here. The answer is +Hindenburg--not only the man himself, but all that he stands for, the +personification of the German war spirit, the greatest moral asset of +the empire today. He is idolized not only by the soldiers, but by the +populace as well; not only by the Prussians, but by the Bavarians and +even the Austrians. You cannot realize what a tremendous factor he has +become until you discover personally the Carlylean hero worship of which +he is the object. + +Hindenburg woke up one morning to find himself famous; but his +subsequent speedy apotheosis was probably not entirely spontaneous. In +fact, there is reason to believe that he was carefully groomed for the +rôle of a national hero at a critical time, the process being like the +launching by American politicians of a Presidential or Gubernatorial +boom at a time when a name to conjure with is badly needed. He is a +striking answer to the Shakespearean question. His name alone is worth +many army corps for its psychological effect on the people; it has a +peculiarly heroic ring to the German ear, and part of the explanation of +its magic lies probably in the fact that the last syllable, "burg," +means fortress or castle. He inspires the most unbounded confidence in +the German people; the Field Marshal looms larger than his Kaiser. + +The cigarmakers were the first to recognize his claims to immortality +and to confer it on him; but now almost every conceivable sort of +merchandise except corsets is being trade marked Hindenburg. Babies, +fishing boats, race horses, cafés, avenues and squares, a city of +60,000, a whole county, are being named after him, and minor poets are +taking his name in vain daily, "Hindenburg Marches" are being composed +in endless procession, a younger brother is about to publish his +biography, and legends are already thickly clustering about his name. He +laid the Russian bugaboo before it had a chance to make its début; there +is not today the slightest nervousness about the possible coming of the +Cossacks, and there will not be, so long as the Commander in Chief of +all the armies in the east continues to find time to give sittings to +portrait painters, pose for the moving-picture artists, autograph +photographs, appear on balconies while school children sing patriotic +airs, answer the Kaiser's telegrams of congratulation, acknowledge +decorations, receive interminable delegations, personages, and +journalists, and perform all the other time-consuming duties incident to +having greatness thrust upon you; for things obviously cannot be in a +very bad way when the master strategist can thus take "time out" from +strategizing. But the influence of "our Hindenburg," as he is often +affectionately called, is wider than the east; the magic of his name +stiffens the deadline in the west, and the man in the street, whose +faith is great, feels sure that when he has fought his last great battle +in the east the turn of the French and English will come. + +While the German in the street, thanks largely to Hindenburg, regards +the military situation with optimism, he sees no grounds for pessimism +in the present political situation. Italy and Bulgaria are regarded as +"safe." + +How the Germans regard the economic, industrial, and financial situation +is rather hard to estimate, because their practical patriotism keeps +them from making any public parade of their business troubles and +worries, if they have any. The oft-repeated platitude that you would +never suspect here that a war was going on if you didn't read the papers +is quite just. Conditions--on the surface--are so normal that there is +even a lively operatic fight on in Munich, where the personal friction +between Musical Director Walters and the star conductor, Otto Hess, has +caused a crisis in the affairs of the Royal Munich Opera, rivaling in +interest the fighting at the front. + +There are certainly fewer "calamity howlers" here than on Broadway +during boom times, and you see no outward evidence of hard times, no +acute poverty, no misery, no derelicts, for the war-time social +organization seems as perfect as the military. In the last three months +only one beggar has stopped me on the streets and tried to touch my +heart and pocketbook--a record that seems remarkable to an American who +has run the nocturnal gauntlet of peace-time panhandlers on the Strand +or the Embankment. + +Business is most certainly not going on as usual. You note many shops +and stores with few or no customers in them. About the only people who +are making any money are army contractors and the shopkeepers who sell +things available for "Liebesgaben" ("love gifts") for the troops in the +field. Those businesses hardest hit by the war are in a state of +suspended animation, embalmed by the credit of the State. + +But, again, the influence of Hindenburg is wider than the east--and the +west; it permeates the business world and stiffens the economic backbone +of the nation. It is no exaggeration to say that the whole German +people, barring the inevitable though small percentage of weaklings, is +trying with terrific earnestness to live up to the homely Hindenburgian +motto, "Durchhalten!" ("Hold out,") or, in more idiomatic American, "See +the thing through." + + + + +Bombardment of the Dardanelles + +First Allied Attack Described by an Onlooker + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, March 8, 1915.] + + +Athens, Saturday, March 6, (Dispatch to The London Daily +Chronicle.)--The bombardment of the Dardanelles forts, according to the +latest news, proceeds with success and cautious thoroughness. It is now +anticipated that before another two weeks are over the allied fleet will +be in the Sea of Marmora, and Constantinople will quickly fall to the +victorious Allies. + +Two features of the operations make extreme caution necessary for the +attacking battleships. In the first place, the number of mines laid in +the strait has been found to be enormous. They must all be picked up, +and the work takes considerable time, seeing that it must be done +thoroughly. + +In the second place, the larger batteries, against whom the allied fleet +is contending, are very skillfully hidden. + +I have had an interesting talk with a gentleman who has just arrived +from Tenedos, where, from the height of Mount Ilios, he witnessed the +bombardment. He tells me: + +"The sight was most magnificent. At first the fleet was ranged in a +semi-circle some miles out to sea from the entrance to the strait. It +afforded an inspiring spectacle as the ships came along and took up +position, and the picture became most awe-inspiring when the guns began +to boom. + +"The bombardment at first was slow, shells from the various ships +screaming through the air at the rate of about one every two minutes. +Their practice was excellent, and with strong glasses I could see huge +masses of earth and stonework thrown high up into the air. The din, even +at the distance, was terrific, and when the largest ship, with the +biggest guns in the world, joined in the martial chorus, the air was +rent with ear-splitting noise. + +"The Turkish batteries, however, were not to be drawn, and, seeing this, +the British Admiral sent one British ship and one French ship close +inshore toward the Sedd-el-Bahr forts. + +"It was a pretty sight to see the two battleships swing rapidly away +toward the northern cape, spitting fire and smoke as they rode. They +obscured the pure atmosphere with clouds of smoke from their funnels and +guns; yet through it all I could see they were getting home with the +shots they fired. + +"As they went in they sped right under the guns of the shore batteries, +which could no longer resist the temptation to see what they could do. +Puffs of white smoke dotted the landscape on the far shore, and dull +booms echoed over the placid water. Around the ships fountains of water +sprang up into the air. The enemy had been drawn, but his marksmanship +was obviously very bad. I think I am right in saying that not a single +shot directed against the ships came within a hundred yards of either." + + + + +The French Battlefront + +Account of First Extended View of the Intrenchments Defending France + +[By a Special Correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +Paris, March 7.--I have just been permitted a sight of the French +Army--the first accorded to any correspondent in so comprehensive a +measure since the outbreak of the war. Under the escort of an officer of +General Joffre's staff, I was allowed along a great section of the +fighting line, into the trenches under fire, and also received +scientific detailed information regarding this least known of European +forces. + +France has been so silent about her army and her Generals and so +indifferent to the use of journalism in the war it is scarcely realized +even in France that 450 of the 500 miles of fighting front are held by +the French and only the remaining fifty by the British and Belgians. At +the outbreak of the war no newspaper men were allowed with the army, and +those who managed to get to the front, including myself, all returned to +Paris under escort. Although we saw what a powerful machine it was and +knew it was getting stronger every day, we were permitted to say very +little about it--Germany, meanwhile, granting interviews, taking war +correspondents to trenches and up in balloons in the campaign for +neutral sympathy. + +France, or, rather, General Joffre, for his is the first and last word +on the subject of war correspondents, gradually decided to combat the +German advertising. + +Only he decided to go them one better, as I hope to show. There have +been several trips, all tryouts. I was informed at the Foreign Office a +month ago that when the representative of so important a paper as THE +NEW YORK TIMES was to be taken to the front it would be for a more +important trip than any up to that date--that I was to be saved up for +such an occasion as I am now privileged to describe. + +I propose to give as few names of places and Generals as possible, +first, to meet the wishes of the personal censor, who is the same +officer who escorted me throughout the trip, and, second, because I +believe general facts relating to the morale of the French Army and +their prospects in the Spring campaign will be of more interest than +specific details concerning places where the lines have been established +for the past six months. + +From scores of letters received from America the first question which +seems to arise in the minds of neutrals outside the war zone is, What +are the prospects of the Germans taking Paris when the second great +phase of the war is really under way? First, let me admit that a lurking +fear that the Germans might penetrate the lines had caused me to make +certain arrangements for the hasty exit of my family from Paris as soon +as the Spring fighting began. I am now willing to cancel these +arrangements, for I am convinced there is no danger to Paris. + +The German Army, in my opinion, will never for a second time dictate +terms of peace in Paris. I feel that I am in a position to make the +statement, founded on an unusual knowledge of the facts, that should +German ambition again fly that high they would need at least 3,000,000 +men concentrated before the fortifications of Paris--these in addition +to the enormous force to oppose the French and allied field armies. + +The defenses of Paris since the city had its narrow escape before the +battle of the Marne present one of the wonders of the world. Not only +has Gallieni's army intrenched the surrounding country and barb-wired it +until the idea of any forward advance seems preposterous, but every foot +of ground is measured and the exact artillery ranges taken to every +other foot of ground. + +For instance, from every single trench which also contains an artillery +observatory the exact distance is recorded to every other trench, to +every house, hillock, tree, and shrub behind which the enemy might +advance. In fact, the German organization which threatened to rule the +world seems overtaken by French organization which became effective +since the war began. + +All through the trip it was this new spirit of organization that +impressed me most. I have sent you many cables on the new spirit of the +French, but never before dared to picture them in the rôle which to my +mind they never before occupied--that of organizers. I started the trip +to see the real French Army in the most open but unexpectant frame of +mind. For weeks I had read only laconic official communiqués that told +me nothing. I saw well-fed officers in beautiful limousines rolling +about Paris with an air that the war was a million miles away. The best +way now to explain my enthusiasm is to give the words of a famous +English correspondent, also just returned from a similar trip, (he is +Frederic Villiers, who began war corresponding with Archibald Forbes at +the battle of Plevna, and this is his seventeenth war,) who said: + +"In all my life this trip is the biggest show I have ever had." + +The first point on the trip where the French intelligence proved +superior to the German was that I was allowed to pay my own expenses. +With the exception of motor cars and a hundred courtesies extended by +the scores of French officers, I paid my own railroad fare, hotel and +food bills. + +"This army has nothing to hide," said one of the greatest Generals to +me. "You see what you like, go where you desire, and if you cannot get +there, ask." + +This General was de Maud'Huy, the man who with a handful of territorials +stopped the Prussian Guard before Arras shortly after the battle of the +Marne and who since then has never lost a single trench. His name is +now scarcely known, even in France, but I venture the prophecy that when +the French Army marches down the Champs Elysées after the war is over, +when the vanguard passes under the Arch de Triomph, de Maud'Huy--a +nervous little firebrand--will be right up in the front rank with +Joffre. + +While our party did all the spectacular stunts the Germans have offered +the correspondents in such profusion, such as visiting the trenches, +where in our case a German shell burst thirty feet from us, splattering +us with mud, also where snipers sent rifle balls hissing only a few feet +away, almost our greatest treats were the scientific daily discourses +given by our Captain concerning the entire history of the first +campaign, explaining each event leading up to the present position of +the two armies. He gave the exact location of every French and allied +army corps on the entire front. + +On the opposite side of the line he demonstrated the efficiency of the +French secret service by detailing the position and name of every German +regiment, also the date and the position it now holds. Thus, we were +able to know during the journey that it was the crack Prussian Guard +that was stopped by de Maud'Huy's Territorials and that the English +section under General French was opposed by Saxons. + +Our Captain by these lectures gave us an insight into the second great +German blunder after the failure to occupy Paris, which was the failure +immediately to swing a line across Northern France, thus cutting off +Calais and Boulogne, where they could really have leveled a pistol at +England's head. He explained that it was the superiority of the French +cavalry that dictated that the line should instead run straight north +through the edge of Belgium to the sea. His explanations went further +than this, for he refuted many military arguments to the effect that +cavalry became obsolete with the advent of aeroplanes. + +Cavalry formerly was used to screen the infantry advance and also for +shock purposes in the charges. Now that the lines are established, it +is mostly used with the infantry in the trenches; but in the great race +after the Marne to turn the western flanks it was the cavalry's ability +to outstrip the infantry that kept the Germans from practically all of +Northern France. In other words, the French chausseurs, more brilliant +than the Uhlans, kept that northern line straight until the infantry +corps had time to take up position. + +My introduction to the real French Army was made at the point of +junction with the English troops, so I was thus able to make some +comparison between the types of the Allies. I did not see the Germans +except as prisoners, although on this trip I was sometimes within a few +yards of their lines. With all consideration for the statement that they +are the greatest fighting machine the world has ever seen, all I can say +is that the greatest fighting machine I have even seen is the French +Army. + +To me they seem invincible from the standpoints of power, intelligence, +and humanity. This latter quality specially impressed me. I do not +believe any army with such high ideals can easily be beaten, and I judge +not only from Generals in command, but the men in the trenches. One +morning I was going through the trenches near the most important point +where the line was continually under fire. + +Passing from the second line to a point less than a hundred yards from +the German rifles I came face to face with a General of division. He was +sauntering along for the morning's stroll he chose to take in the +trenches with his men rather than on the safer roads at the rear. He +smoked a cigarette and seemed careless of danger. He continually patted +his soldiers on the back as he passed and called them "his little +braves." + +I could not help wondering whether the German General opposite was +setting his men the same splendid example. I inquired the French +General's name; he was General Fayolle, conceded by all the armies to be +the greatest artillery expert in the world. Comradeship between officers +and men always is well known in the French Army, but I never before +realized how the officers were so willing to accept quite the same fate. + +In Paris the popular appellation for a German is "boche." Not once at +the front did I hear this word used by officers or men. They deplore it, +just as they deplore many things that happen in Paris. Every officer I +talked to declared the Germans were a brave, strong enemy; they waste no +time calling them names. + +"They are wonderful, but we will beat them," was the way one officer +summed up the general feeling. + +Another illustration of the French officer at the front: The City of +Vermelles of 10,000 inhabitants was captured from the Germans after +fifty-four days' fighting. It was taken literally from house to house, +the French engineers sapping and mining the Germans out of every +stronghold, destroying every single house, incidentally forever +upsetting my own one-time idea that the French are a frivolous people. +So determined were they to retake this town that they fought in the +streets with artillery at a distance of twenty-one feet, probably the +shortest range artillery duel in the history of the world. + +The Germans before the final evacuation buried hundreds of their own +dead. Every yard in the city was filled with little crosses--the ground +was so trampled that the mounds of graves were crushed down level with +the ground--and on the crosses are printed the names with the number of +the German regiments. At the base of every cross there rests either a +crucifix or a statue of the Virgin or a wreath of artificial flowers, +all looted from the French graveyard. + +With the German graves are French graves made afterward. I walked +through this ruined city where, aside from the soldiery, the only sign +of life I saw was a gaunt, prowling cat. With me past these hundreds of +graves walked half a dozen French officers. They did not pause to read +inscriptions; they did not comment on the loot and pillage of the +graveyard; they scarcely looked even at the graves, but they kept +constantly raising their hands to their caps in salute regardless of +whether the cross numbered a French or a German life destroyed. + +We were driving along back of the advance lines. On the road before us +was a company of territorial infantry who had been eight days in the +trenches and were now to have two days of repose at the rear. Plodding +along the same road was a refugee mother and several little children in +a donkey cart; behind the cart, attached by a rope, trundled a baby +buggy with the youngest child inside. The buggy suddenly struck a rut in +the road and overturned, spilling the baby into the mud. Terrible wails +arose, and the soldiers stiffened to attention. Then, seeing the +accident, the entire company broke ranks and rescued the infant. They +wiped the dirt from its face and restored it to its mother in the cart. + +So engrossing was the spectacle our motor halted, and our Captain from +Great General Headquarters in his gorgeous blue uniform climbed from the +car, discussing with the mother the safety of a baby buggy riding behind +a donkey cart, at the same time congratulating the soldier who rescued +the child. + +Our trip throughout moved with that clockwork precision usually +associated only with the Germans. The schedule throughout the week never +varied from the arrangements made before we left Paris. When we arrived +at certain towns we were handed slips of paper bearing our names and the +hotel number of our room. + +Amazing meals appeared at most amazing places, all the menus carefully +thought out days before. Imagine fresh trout served you with other +famous French delicacies in a little house in the battle zone, where +only a few hundred yards of barbed wire and a few feet more of air +separated you from the German trenches. During the German advance, also +after the battle of the Marne, there were many towns in the districts +where it was impossible to obtain tobacco, spirits, or food staples. +This condition has entirely abated, and the commissariat is now so well +supplied that soldiers have sufficient tobacco even in the trenches. + +It was my privilege to take a brief ride at the front in an antebellum +motor bus of glorious memory--there being nothing left in Paris but the +subway. Buses are now used to carry fresh meat, although they have been +used in transporting troops and also ammunition. We trundled quite +merrily along a little country road in Northern France, the snow-white +fields on either side in strange contrast to the scenery when last I +rode in that bus. I am sure I rode in the same bus before the war in my +daily trips to the Paris office of THE NEW YORK TIMES. Its sides are +bullet riddled now, but the soldier conductor still jingles the bell to +the motorman, although he carries a revolver where he used to wear the +register for fares. + +Trench life was one of the most interesting surprises of the trip. Every +night since the war began I have heard pitying remarks about "the boys +in the trenches," especially if the nights were cold. I was, therefore, +prepared to find the men standing in water to the knees, shivering, +wretched, sick, and unhappy. I found just the contrary--the trenches +were clean, large, and sanitary, although, of course, mud is mud. I +found the bottoms of the trenches in every instance corduroy-lined with +modern drains, which allowed the feet to keep perfectly dry, and also +the large dugouts where the men, except those doing sentry duty, sleep +comfortably on dry straw. There are special dugouts for officers and +artillery observers. + +I also visited a large, perfectly equipped Red Cross First Aid camp, all +built underground, extending from one line of trenches to another. All +trenches, communication traverses, and observatory dugouts have received +names which are printed on shingles affixed to the trenches on little +upright posts. For instance, we entered one section of the trenches +through Boyau d'Espagne, we traversed Avenue de Bois, Avenues Wagram and +Friedland, and others commemorating Napoleonic victories. The dugouts of +officers and observers were all called villas--Villa Chambéry, Villa +Montmorency being examples. It all seemed like cozy camp life +underground except that three times the morning of our visit it was +necessary to flatten ourselves against the mud sidewalls while dead men +on crossed rifles were carried out, every head in that particular bit of +trench being bared as the sad procession disappeared. + +Although the maps show the lines of fighting to be rather wavy, one must +go to the front really to appreciate the irregular zigzag, snakelike +line that it really is. The particular bit of trenches we visited cover +a front of twelve miles, but so irregular is the line, so intricate and +vast the system of intrenchments, that they measure 200 miles on that +particular twelve-mile fighting front. + +When one leaves the trenches at the rear of the communication boyaux, it +is astonishing how little of the war can be seen. Ten feet after we left +our trenches we could not see even the entrance. We stood in a beautiful +open field having our pictures taken, and a few hundred yards away our +motor waited behind some trees. Suddenly we heard a "zip zip" over our +heads. German snipers were taking shots at us. + +In addition to the enormous force of men constantly in the trenches +along the entire line there is an equal size reserve line directly +behind them in case of sudden attack. The artillery is posted +considerably further to the rear along with revictualing stations, +aeroplane hangars, and headquarters of the Generals, but through all +this enormous mass of men which we passed daily going to and from our +front observation posts never once did we get the impression of parade. +Three were just troops, troops, troops everywhere, every hamlet, every +village filled with them, every crossroads with their sentries. All of +them, hardened by Winter and turns in the trenches, are in splendid +condition, and as opposed to the Germans, at least to the German +prisoners I have seen, each French soldier has a clear and definite +knowledge of what the war is all about. The greatest event of his day is +when the Paris newspapers arrive. + +[Illustration] + +What impressed me greatly was that in all the officers' quarters were +copies of the French "Yellow Book," the English "White Paper" and German +documents attempting to prove their innocence in causing the conflict. +It is not sufficient for French Generals or officers just to go to war; +they must know why they go to war, down to the last papers in the case. +In six months the French privates have acquired one habit from the +British Tommies--that is drinking tea. Back of every section of trenches +I found huge tea canteens, where thousands of cups are served daily to +the soldiers who have decided for the first time in their life they +really like such stuff. There one sees more soldiers at the same time +than at any other place in the fighting zone; there they sit and discuss +the future calmly and confidently, there being a distinct feeling that +the war is likely to be over next Summer. + +No one knows what the Spring tactics of General Joffre will be. Along +the section of the front I visited the officers are all satisfied that +the Commander in Chief's "nibbling tactics" have forced the Germans to +retire on the average of two to three miles all along the line. The very +name of that great man is spoken with reverence, almost with awe, by his +"children at the front." + +I, therefore, from the facilities given me, can only make one assertion +in summing up my opinion of the French grand army of 1915, that it is +strong, courageous, scientifically intelligent, and well trained as a +champion pugilist after months of preparation for the greatest struggle +of his career. The French Army waits eager and ready for the gong. + +[Illustration] + + + + +Dodging Shells + +[From The London Morning Post, Feb. 1, 1915.] + + +The Echo de Paris has published today a letter that throws a +considerable amount of light upon the psychology of the French soldier, +and that shows how he behaves himself when subjected to very trying fire +and compelled to act on his own initiative. It is written by the man to +his wife, and is as follows: + +I am acting as guard to a convoy, and am comfortably installed, with no +work to do, in the house of an old woman who has lent me a candle and +writing materials. I shan't be suffering from the cold in the way I have +done on previous nights, as I have a roof over me and a fire. What +luxury! It's been freezing for several nights, and you feel the frost +when you are sleeping in the open. But that is nothing to the three days +we passed in the village of ----. We were stationed in the mairie. In +front of us in the clock tower an artillery Captain was taking +observations. On the road between the church and the mairie a Sergeant +and four artillerymen were sending orders to the battery behind us. +Suddenly a shell struck. We saw the artillerymen on the ground and the +Sergeant alone left standing. + +The fire was so thick that no one could think of going out. But suddenly +one of the men moved, so I got up to find out about it, taking care to +put on my knapsack. When I was among them I found that one had been hit +right in the heart; two others were dying, one with his head in a pulp +and the other with his thigh broken and the calf of his leg torn to a +jelly. I helped the Sergeant to mend the telephone wire that had been +broken by the shell, and all the time we were having shells and bits of +brick breaking around us. + +Then I went back to the mairie, and asked for some one who would not be +frightened to come with me. Two of us went off to the village for a +stretcher. I found one at the old ambulance, and was just leaving it +when I heard the scream of a shell, and took cover in the chimney--just +in time. A big black brute smashed half the house in. My comrade and I +hurried off after the wounded man. Our pals were watching us from the +mairie, wondering if we should ever get back. Old Gérome, (that's me,) +they said, will get back all right, and when back at the mairie I began +to give the wounded man first aid. Another shell came along, and the +place shook, window panes rained upon us, and dust blinded us, but at +last it cleared. + +Left alone with my wounded man I went on dressing him, and when the +others got back I got them to help me take him to the schoolhouse near +by. I got congratulated by my comrades and the senior Sergeant, but the +Colonel and Lieutenant said nothing, though later I heard they were +pleased with me, but suddenly the Colonel said: "We can't stop here. Go +and see if there's room in the cellars of the castle for four officers +and thirty men. If there is don't come back, as we will follow you." + +We got there at last, two of us, but the owner took a long time opening. +Meanwhile scraps of roofs and walls were raining on us, but with our +knapsacks on our heads we were a bit protected. At last our knocks were +answered, and we learned that there was room for four officers, but not +for thirty men! The Colonel and the men had to be warned, so my comrade +started running back and I followed about fifteen yards behind. + +We passed a gap in the houses, with no cover, nothing but gardens. A +shell came along. I dropped, while the other man hid in a doorway. The +bits of it sang about our ears. I then sang out: "As you are nearly +there, go on, and I'll see if there is room in the farm near by." I +reached the houses and waited to see that he got through, because if +he'd fallen I should have had to go back to warn the rest. As he was +going two shells burst in the courtyard of the mairie, and I thought +of the Colonel and the rest, but at last my comrade; reached the place +and went in, and I was free to try for the farm. + +[Illustration: VICE ADMIRAL SIR DAVID BEATTY + +Youngest of British Admirals, Whose Fleet Sank the _Bluecher_, and Won +the Battle of the Bight of Heligoland + +_(From the painting by Philip Alexius Laszlo de Lombos)_] + +[Illustration: COUNT VON REVENTLOW + +The German Naval Critic Who Has Intimated That the United States Might +Be a Divided Nation in Case of War] + +On my way I met a friend and asked him to join me. At the time I was +thinking of you all, and it was not till later that I got frightened. +There were five horses at the gate of the farm. I shifted them and +showed my friend the entrance to the cellar. It was narrow, and he lost +time through his knapsack, and these are the occasions when your life +depends on seconds. I heard the scream that I know only too well, and +guessed where the beast would lodge, and called out to him "That's for +us." I shrank back with my knapsack over my head and tried to bury +myself in the corner among the coal. + +I had no time, though. The shell reached, smashed down part of the +house, and burst in the basement a couple of yards from me. I heard no +more, but stone, plaster, and bricks fell all around me on the coal +heap. I was gasping, but found myself untouched. I got up and saw the +poultry struggling and the horses struck down. I ran to the cellar, with +the same luck as my friend. + +My knapsack caught me. A shell screamed a second time again for us, and +it struck, wallop, on the gable, while the ruins fell around my head. I +pulled at my knapsack so vigorously that I fell into the cellar, and +some of our men who were there called "Here's a poor brute done in." Not +a bit of it. I was not touched then either.... At last the bombardment +stopped, and we all got out. I noticed about forty hens. Some were +pulped. Others had had their heads and legs cut off. In the muddle three +horses lay dead. Their saddles were in ribbons. Equipment, revolvers, +swords, all that had been left above the cellar had vanished, but there +were bits of them to be seen on the roof. My rifle, which had been torn +from my hands, was in fragments, and I was stupefied at not having been +hit. I noticed, however, that my wrappings that were rolled around my +knapsack had been pierced by a splinter of shell that had stuck an it. +Later in the evening when I started cutting at my bread the knife +stuck. I broke the bread open and found another bit of shell in it. I +don't yet know why I was not made mincemeat of that day. There were +fifty chances to one against me. + +The two following days I stopped in the cellar, hearing nothing but +their big shells, while the farm and the buildings near it were smashed +in. Now it is all over. I am all right and bored to death mounting guard +over wagons ten miles from the firing line, with a crowd of countrymen +who have been commandeered with their wagons. + +I ought to tell you that the two shells I saw fall on the mairie when my +comrade was going there unfortunately killed one and wounded five. It +was a bit of luck for me, as I always used to be hanging about the +courtyard. That's the sad side of it, but we have an amusing time all +the same. [The writer goes on to explain how he and his friends dressed +up some men of straw in uniform and induced the Germans to shoot at +them, and finally to charge them, while they fired at the Germans and +brought several of them down. He continues.] + +But that's nothing to what they'll get, and their villages will get, and +their mairies, chateaux, and farms, and cellars, when we get there. I +will respect old men, women, and children, but let their fighting men +look out. I don't mind sacrificing my life to do my duty, and to defend +those I love and who love me, but if I've got to lose my skin I want to +lose it in Boche-land. I want the joy of getting into their dirty +Prussia to avenge our beautiful land. Bandits! Let them and their +choucroute factories look out! If you saw the countryside we are +recovering--there's nothing left but ruins. Everything burned and +smashed to bits. Cattle, more dead than alive, are bolting in all +directions, and as for our poor women, when I see them I would destroy +everything. + +Our officers say: "We'll never be able to hold our men when we get into +their country." But I say that I want to go there all the same, and yet +when I say that I had a German prisoner to guard at the mairie. I gave +him half my bread and knocked walnuts off the trees for him. All the +time I saw five or more villages in flames around. Well, it all proves +that a soldier should never say what he will do tomorrow. My job is to +protect the flag, and the Boches can come on. Before they get it they'll +have to get me.... Vive la France! + + + + +Somali Volunteers + +[From The London Times, Nov. 10, 1914.] + + +_We have received from a correspondent a copy of a petition signed by +the principal Somali chiefs in Jubaland, praying that they may be +allowed to fight for England. The terms of this interesting document are +as follows:_ + +To His Highness the Governor, Through the Hakim of Jubaland: Salaams, +yea, many salaams, with God's mercy, blessing, and peace. After salaams, + +We, the Somali of Jubaland, both Herti and Ogaden, comprising all the +tribes and including the Maghavbul, but not including the Tulamuya +Ogaden, who live in Biskaya and Tanaland and the Marehan, desire humbly +to address you. + +In former days the Somali have fought against the Government. Even +lately the Marehan have fought against the Government. Now we have heard +that the German Government have declared war on the English Government. +Behold, our "fitna" against the English Government is finished. As the +monsoon wind drives the sandhills of our coast into new forms, so does +this news of German evildoing drive our hearts and spears into the +service of the English Government. The Jubaland Somali are with the +English Government. Daily in our mosques we pray for the success of the +English armies. Day is as night and night is as day with us until we +hear that the English are victorious. God knows the right. He will help +the right. We have heard that Indian askaris have been sent to fight for +us in Europe. Humbly we ask why should not the Somali fight for England +also? We beg the Government to allow our warriors to show their loyalty. +In former days the Somali tribes made fitna against each other. Even now +it is so; it is our custom; yet, with the Government against the +Germans, we are as one, ourselves, our warriors, our women, and our +children. By God it is so. By God it is so. By God it is so. + +A few days ago many troops of the military left this country to eat up +the Germans who have invaded our country in Africa. May God prosper +them. Yet, O Hakim, with all humbleness we desire to beg of the +Government to allow our sons and warriors to take part in this great war +against the German evildoers. They are ready. They are eager. Grant them +the boon. God and Mohammed are with us all. + +If Government wish to take away all the troops and police from Jubaland, +it is good. We pledge ourselves to act as true Government askaris until +they return. + +We humbly beg that this our letter may be placed at the feet of our King +and Emperor, who lives in England, in token of our loyalty and our +prayers. + +[Here follow the signatures of all the principal Somali chiefs and +elders living in Jubaland.] + + + + +When King Peter Re-Entered Belgrade + +[From The New York Evening Post, Feb. 15, 1915.] + + +PARIS, Jan. 29. + +So King Peter himself became priest; and the great cathedral was filled +with the sobbing of his people. + +Everybody knows the story of the deliverance of Belgrade; how the little +Serbian Army fell back for strategic reasons as the Austrians entered +the city, but finally, after seventeen days of fighting without rest, +(for the Serbian Army has had no reserves since the Turkish war,) knit +its forces together, marched 100 miles in three days, and drove the +Austrians headlong out of the capital. + +King Peter rode at the head of his army. Shrapnel from the Austrian guns +was still bursting over the city. But the people were too much overjoyed +to mind. They lined the sidewalks and threw flowers as the troops +passed. The soldiers marched in close formation; the sprays clung to +them, and they became a moving flower garden. The scream of an +occasional shell was drowned in the cheers. + +They are emotional people, these Serbians. And something told them that, +even with death and desolation all about them, they had reason to be +elated. A few hours before, the Austrians had been established in +Belgrade, confident that they were there to stay for months, if not for +years. Now they were fleeing headlong over the River Save, their +commissariat jammed at the bridge, their fighting men in a rout. + +So King Peter rode through the streets of the capital with his army, and +came to the cathedral. The great church was locked, because the priests +had left the city on errands of mercy. But a soldier went through a +window and undid the portals. The King and his officers and some of the +soldiers and as many of the people as could get in crowded into the +cathedral. And, lacking some one to say mass, the King became a +priest--which is an ancient function of Kings--and, as he knelt, the +officers and soldiers and people knelt. There was a vast silence for a +moment; and then, in every part of the church, a sobbing. + +This account is a free translation of a woman's letter, in Serbian, +received in this city a few days ago by Miss Helen Losanich, who is here +with Mme. Slavko Grouitch to interest Americans in helping her +countrymen back to their devastated farms. Mme. Grouitch is an American +by birth; but Miss Losanich is a Serbian, with the black hair and +burning black eyes of the Slavs, and boasting twenty years perhaps. Her +sister, Mme. Marincovich, is wife of the Serbian Minister of Commerce +and Agriculture. It was Mme. Marincovich who had written the letter. + +"I've just had this letter from my sister in Serbia," cried Miss +Losanich, when a friend called, and she waved in one hand a dozen sheets +closely written in a script that resembled Russian. "I've hardly had +time to read it myself. But we will sit down and translate it into +English, if you say. + +"She says here that, when the Austrians had to leave Belgrade, they took +1,200 people as hostages--non-combatants, you know. When they came into +the city first they gave assurances that all non-combatants would be +safe; but for the last few days before they left, no non-combatant could +walk on the street without being taken up as a hostage. + +"Just imagine, it says here that they even took a little boy. He can +fight when he is older, they say. You know, the Turks used to do that. +They came and took our boys of nine and ten years, and trained them as +soldiers in their janissaries; and when they had forgotten their own +country they sent them back to fight against it. It is terrible, isn't +it! + +"The Austrians took the furniture from our people's houses and carried +it across the River Save to the Semlin. They behaved frightfully, my +sister says; brought all kinds of people with them, including women from +the very lowest class; broke into the houses and stole the ladies' +toilettes. One lady with many beautiful dresses found them all cut to +ribbons when she got back to Belgrade. + +"The Austrians brought lots of tea and crackers and conserves with them. +Some soldiers had taken a lady's evening gown and pinned strawberries +from strawberry-jam all over it, in appropriate places, and laid the +gown out for the lady to see." + +A merry smile illuminated Miss Losanich's face as she read this part of +the letter. + +"Our brother," she went on, "entered Belgrade with the army. He came +back to Nish on leave about Christmas, the Serbian Christmas, which is +about thirteen days later than yours. Nish is the temporary capital; and +my sister is there. He told them all about Belgrade. He had been to his +house; the whole house was upset, drawers forced, old letters opened and +thrown on the floor, papers strewn about, King Peter's picture +(autographed by the King) thrown on the floor, and King Ferdinand's +picture stamped on. + +"Brother went to a private sanitarium that our uncle has in Belgrade. +The Austrians had seized this, and had begun making it over for a +hospital. They wanted the Bulgarian Red Cross installed. They had +brought quantities of biscuits and tea and conserves. But they had to +leave in such a hurry they couldn't take the things with them. 'And +now,' my sister says, 'we are eating them!' + +"Across the street four of our cousins live--young men. They are all at +the front now"--Miss Losanich laughed outright as she read this +part--"their house was entered and all their clothes taken; dress suits, +smoking jackets, linen, and all those things. It makes me laugh; it's +naughty, I know. But they used to go out a good deal. I have seen them +in those clothes so often. One of them wanted to marry me. He used to go +out a great deal"--this with another merry peal of laughter. + +"Mme. Grouitch's house was undisturbed; and ours. We used to know the +Austrian attaché before the war. He was rather a nice fellow. Played +tennis with us a good deal, and so on. He came into Belgrade with his +army, and he came around to our house. The servants recognized him, +because, you see, they knew him. The servants had stayed behind. He +seemed to think he would like to make my sister's house his quarters, +but after he had thought about it a while he went away. + +"She says that she would like to go back to Belgrade, but the railroad +has been destroyed--a big viaduct of stone at Ralya, about 17 kilometers +from Belgrade; and they have to go from Ralya to Belgrade by carriage. +There are so many wagons of the commissariat on the road--so many +carriages have been seized by the Government--it is impossible for +private citizens to get through. + +"A gibbet was put up in the square after the Austrians came into the +city and a man was hanged the first morning, in spite of the fact that +the Austrians had promised safety to the non-combatants. Dr. Edward +Ryan, the head of the American Red Cross in Belgrade, protested, and the +gibbet was taken down. But my sister says that eighteen more people were +hanged in the fortress down by the Save--she hears--where they wouldn't +be seen. + +"Mr. Bisserce, a Belgian, is director of the electric lighting plant in +Belgrade. He is a nice man, and, being a Belgian, he does not like the +Austrians. He wouldn't light the town until they made him, and he +wouldn't give them a map of the system at all. He was bound in ropes and +taken away as a hostage, and they haven't heard from him since. + +"The most touching thing was the entrance of King Peter--" whereupon +Miss Losanich told the story related above. + +"Rubbish, straw, and dead horses were strewn through all the streets +when the King and the army came in. The shooting was still going on. +There was a jam of commissariat wagons at the bridge--you know there is +a bridge across the Save. The Austrians couldn't get across fast enough, +there was so much confusion--too many wanting to get over at one time. +The Serbian artillery was shooting at them all the time. Presently the +middle of the bridge went down. The men and the horses and the +carriages and the wagons all went down together. They were pinned down +by the masses of stone, but there were so many of them that they filled +up the river and stuck up above the water. It was so bad that our people +couldn't clear it up--so there is an awful odor all over the town. + +"She says that the Austrians brought 17,000 wounded, thinking that they +were going to stay for months--and perhaps for ever. They turned over +quantities of them to Dr. Ryan at the American Red Cross Hospital. + +"General Franck, the Austrian commander, made a remark--and he must have +made it to Dr. Ryan, although my sister doesn't say so. General Franck +said: 'If the Russians had fought the way the Serbians have, there +wouldn't be an Austrian soldier left!' + +"That's a good deal for the head of the Austrians to say, isn't it? We +always expected victory; but even the most optimistic of us were +surprised at what our peasant soldiers did. + +"In the flight, the Austrians could not take care of their wounded, she +says, and sent them back to Belgrade, many of them, as prisoners. Many +must have died during the flight, too, for they got a jolting that +wounded men can't stand. + +"Our brother, who was a professor of chemistry, is a Sergeant now in +charge of two German Krupp guns, which were captured from Turkey in the +other war. He is at Banovo Brdo, a residence section outside Belgrade, +on a hill. All the villas have been destroyed by the Austrian artillery +fire. + +"And," continued Miss Losanich, "she says that the toys sent by the +Americans were received in Nish and distributed to the poor children for +Christmas, and that the feeling of cordiality toward the Americans is +growing fast." + + + + +THE DRAGON'S TEETH + +BY CAROLINE DUER + + + Oh, sunny, quiet, fruitful fields of France, + Golden and green a month ago, + Through you the great red tides of war's advance + Sweep raging to and fro. + For patient toil of years, + Blood, fire and tears + Reward you now! + + The dragon's teeth are sown, and in a night + There springs to life the armed host! + And men leap forth bewildered to the fight, + Legion for legion lost! + "Toll for my tale of sons," + Roar out the guns, + "Cost what it cost!" + + This is a "holy war"! A holy war? + With thousand millions maimed and dead! + To show one Power dares more than others dare-- + That higher rears one Head! + How will you count your gain, + Lord of the slain, + When all is said? + + The dragon's teeth are sown, and in a night + There springs to life the armed host! + And men leap forth bewildered to the fight, + Legion for legion lost! + "Toll for my tale of sons," + Roar out the guns, + "Cost what it cost!" + + Oh, tragedy of Nations! Who may see + The outcome, or foretell the end? + Hark men and weeping women, misery + That none may mend. + Ruin in peaceful marts, + Dazed commerce, stricken arts. + God, to the ravaged hearts + Some mercy send! + + The dragon's teeth are sown, and in a night + There springs to life the armed host! + And men leap forth bewildered to the fight, + Legion for legion lost! + "Toll for my tale of sons," + Roar out the guns, + "Cost what it cost!" + +Copyright, 1914, by The New York Times Company. + + + + +The Greatest of Campaigns + +The French Official Account + + + The Associated Press received in London on March 5, 1915, an + official French historical review of the operations in the + western theatre of war from its beginning up to the end of + January, the first six months, which in terseness and dramatic + power will rank among the world's most important military + documents. The first chapter of the review was released for + publication by The Associated Press on March 16 and appears + below. It is one of those documents, rare in military annals, + that frankly confesses a succession of initial reverses and + official incompetence, only retrieved by exercise of the + utmost skill in retreat. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FRENCH SETBACKS IN AUGUST. + +The first month of the campaign began with successes and finished with +defeats for the French troops. Under what circumstances did these come +about? + +Our plan of concentration had foreseen the possibility of two principal +actions, one on the right between the Vosges and the Moselle, the other +on the left to the north of Verdun-Toul line, this double possibility +involving the eventual variation of our transport. On Aug. 2, owing to +the Germans passing through Belgium, our concentration was substantially +modified by General Joffre in order that our principal effort might be +directed to the north. + +From the first week in August it was apparent that the length of time +required for the British Army to begin to move would delay our action in +connection with it. This delay is one of the reasons which explain our +failures at the end of August. + +Awaiting the moment when the operations in the north could begin, and to +prepare for it by retaining in Alsace the greatest possible number of +German forces, the General in Chief ordered our troops to occupy +Mulhouse, (Mülhousen,) to cut the bridges of the Rhine at Huningue and +below, and then to flank the attack of our troops, operating in +Lorraine. + +This operation was badly carried out by a leader who was at once +relieved of his command. Our troops, after having carried Mulhouse, lost +it and were thrown back on Belfort. The work had, therefore, to be +recommenced afresh, and this was done from Aug. 14 under a new command. + +Mulhouse was taken on the 19th, after a brilliant fight at Dornach. +Twenty-four guns were captured from the enemy. On the 20th we held the +approaches to Colmar, both by the plain and by the Vosges. The enemy had +undergone enormous losses and abandoned great stores of shells and +forage, but from this moment what was happening in Lorraine and on our +left prevented us from carrying our successes further, for our troops in +Alsace were needed elsewhere. On Aug. 28 the Alsace army was broken up, +only a small part remaining to hold the region of Thann and the Vosges. + + +THE OPERATIONS IN LORRAINE. + +The purpose of the operations in Alsace was, namely, to retain a large +part of the enemy's forces far from the northern theatre of operations. +It was for our offensive in Lorraine to pursue still more directly by +holding before it the German army corps operating to the south of Metz. + +This offensive began brilliantly on Aug. 14. On the 19th we had reached +the region of Saarburg and that of the Etangs, (lakes,) and we held +Dieuze, Morhange, Delme, and Château Salins. + +On the 20th our success was stopped. The cause is to be found in the +strong organization of the region, in the power of the enemy's +artillery, operating over ground which had been minutely surveyed, and, +finally, in the default of certain units. + +On the 22d, in spite of the splendid behavior of several of our army +corps, notably that of Nancy, our troops were brought back on to the +Grand Couronne, while on the 23d and 24th the Germans concentrated +reinforcements--three army corps, at least--in the region of Lunéville +and forced us to retire to the south. + +This retreat, however, was only momentary. On the 25th, after two +vigorous counter-attacks, one from south to north and the other from +west to east, the enemy had to fall back. From that time a sort of +balance was established on this terrain between the Germans and +ourselves. Maintained for fifteen days, it was afterward, as will be +seen, modified to our advantage. + + +OPERATIONS IN BELGIAN LUXEMBOURG. + +There remained the principal business, the battle of the +north--postponed owing to the necessity of waiting for the British Army. +On Aug. 20 the concentration of our lines was finished and the General +in Chief gave orders for our centre and our left to take the offensive. +Our centre comprised two armies. Our left consisted of a third army, +reinforced to the extent of two army corps, a corps of cavalry, the +reserve divisions, the British Army, and the Belgian Army, which had +already been engaged for the previous three weeks at Liège, Namur, and +Louvain. + +[Illustration: [map]] + +The German plan on that date was as follows: From seven to eight army +corps and four cavalry divisions were endeavoring to pass between Givet +and Brussels, and even to prolong their movements more to the west. Our +object was, therefore, in the first place, to hold and dispose of the +enemy's centre and afterward to throw ourselves with all available +forces on the left flank of the German grouping of troops in the north. + +On Aug. 21 our offensive in the centre began with ten army corps. On +Aug. 22 it failed, and this reverse appeared serious. + +The reasons for it are complex. There were in this affair individual and +collective failures, imprudences committed under the fire of the enemy, +divisions ill-engaged, rash deployments, precipitate retreats, a +premature waste of men, and, finally, the inadequacy of certain of our +troops and their leaders, both as regards the use of infantry and +artillery. + +In consequence of these lapses the enemy, turning to account the +difficult terrain, was able to secure the maximum of profit from the +advantages which the superiority of his subaltern complements gave him. + + +OPERATIONS SOUTH OF SAMBRE. + +In spite of this defeat our manoeuvre had still a chance of success, if +our left and the British Army obtained a decisive result. This was +unfortunately not the case. On Aug. 22, at the cost of great losses, the +enemy succeeded in crossing the Sambre and our left army fell back on +the 24th upon Beaumont-Givet, being perturbed by the belief that the +enemy was threatening its right. + +On the same day, (the 24th,) the British Army fell back after a German +attack upon the Maubeuge-Valenciennes line. On the 25th and 26th its +retreat became more hurried. After Landrecies and Le Cateau it fell back +southward by forced marches. It could not from this time keep its hold +until after crossing the Marne. + +The rapid retreat of the English, coinciding with the defeat sustained +in Belgian Luxembourg, allowed the enemy to cross the Meuse and to +accelerate, by fortifying it, the action of his right. + +The situation at this moment may be thus summed up: Either our frontier +had to be defended on the spot under conditions which the British +retreat rendered extremely perilous, or we had to execute a strategic +retirement which, while delivering up to the enemy a part of the +national soil, would permit us, on the other hand, to resume the +offensive at our own time with a favorable disposition of troops, still +intact, which we had at our command. The General in Chief determined on +the second alternative. + + +PREPARATION OF THE OFFENSIVE. + +Henceforward the French command devoted its efforts to preparing the +offensive. To this end three conditions had to be fulfilled: + +1. The retreat had to be carried out in order under a succession of +counter-attacks which would keep the enemy busy. + +2. The extreme point of this retreat must be fixed in such a way that +the different armies should reach it simultaneously, ready at the moment +of occupying it to resume the offensive all together. + +3. Every circumstance permitting of a resumption of the offensive before +this point should be reached must be utilized by the whole of our forces +and the British forces. + + +THE FRENCH COUNTER-ATTACK. + +The counter-attacks, executed during the retreat, were brilliant and +often fruitful. On Aug. 20 we successfully attacked St. Quentin to +disengage the British Army. Two other corps and a reserve division +engaged the Prussian Guard and the Tenth German Army Corps, which was +debouching from Guise. By the end of the day, after various +fluctuations, the enemy was thrown back on the Oise and the British +front was freed. + +On Aug. 27 we had also succeeded in throwing back upon the Meuse the +enemy, who was endeavoring to gain a foothold on the left bank. Our +successes continued on the 28th in the woods of Marfée and of Jaulnay. +Thanks to them we were able, in accordance with the orders of the +General in Chief, to fall back on the Buzancy-Le Chesne-Bouvellemont +line. + +Further to the right another army took part in the same movement and +carried out successful attacks on Aug. 25 on the Othain and in the +region of Spincourt. + +On the 26th these different units recrossed the Meuse without being +disturbed and were able to join in the action of our centre. Our armies +were, therefore, again intact and available for the offensive. + +On Aug. 26 a new army composed of two army corps, five reserve +divisions, and a Moorish brigade was constituted. This army was to +assemble in the region of Amiens between Aug. 27 and Sept. 1 and take +the offensive against the German right, uniting its action with that of +the British Army, operating on the line of Ham-Bray-sur-Somme. + + +CONTINUATION OF THE RETREAT. + +The hope of resuming the offensive was from this moment rendered vain by +the rapidity of the march of the German right wing. This rapidity had +two consequences, which we had to parry before thinking of advancing. On +the one hand, our new army had not time to complete its detraining, and, +on the other hand, the British Army, forced back further by the enemy, +uncovered on Aug. 31 our left flank. Our line, thus modified, contained +waves which had to be redressed before we could pass to the offensive. + +To understand this it is sufficient to consider the situation created by +the quick advance of the enemy on the evening of Sept. 2. + +A corps of cavalry had crossed the Oise and advanced as far as Château +Thierry. The First Army, (General von Kluck,) comprising four active +army corps and a reserve corps, had passed Compiègne. + +The Second Army, (General von Bülow,) with three active army corps and +two reserve corps, was reaching the Laon region. + +The Third Army, (General von Hausen,) with two active army corps and a +reserve corps, had crossed the Aisne between the Château Porcien and +Attigny. + +More to the east the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Armies, namely, +twelve army corps, four reserve corps, and numerous Ersatz formations, +were in contact with our troops, the Fourth and Fifth Armies between +Vouziers and Verdun and the others in the positions which have been +indicated above, from Verdun to the Vosges. + +It will, therefore, be seen that our left, if we accepted battle, might +be in great peril through the British forces and the new French Army, +operating more to the westward, having given way. + +A defeat in these conditions would have cut off our armies from Paris +and from the British forces and at the same time from the new army which +had been constituted to the left of the English. We should thus be +running the risk of losing by a single stroke the advantage of the +assistance which Russia later on was to furnish. + +General Joffre chose resolutely for the solution which disposed of these +risks, that is to say, for postponing the offensive and the continuance +of the retreat. In this way he remained on ground which he had chosen. +He waited only until he could engage in better conditions. + +In consequence, on Sept. 1, he fixed as an extreme limit for the +movement of retreat, which was still going on, the line of +Bray-sur-Seine, Nogent-sur-Seine, Arcis-sur-Aube, Vitry-le-François, and +the region to the north of Bar-le-Duc. This line might be reached if the +troops were compelled to go back so far. They would attack before +reaching it, as soon as there was a possibility of bringing about an +offensive disposition, permitting the co-operation of the whole of our +forces. + + +THE EVE OF THE OFFENSIVE. + +On Sept. 5 it appeared that this desired situation existed. + +The First Germany Army, carrying audacity to temerity, had continued its +endeavor to envelop our left, had crossed the Grand Morin, and reached +the region of Chauffry, to the south of Rebaix and of Esternay. It aimed +then at cutting our armies off from Paris, in order to begin the +investment of the capital. + +The Second Army had its head on the line Champaubert, Etoges, Bergeres, +and Vertus. + +The Third and Fourth Armies reached to Chalons-sur-Marne and +Bussy-le-Repos. The Fifth Army was advancing on one side and the other +from the Argonne as far as Triacourt-les-Islettes and Juivecourt. The +Sixth and Seventh Armies were attacking more to the east. + +But--and here is a capital difference between the situation of Sept. 5 +and that of Sept. 2--the envelopment of our left was no longer possible. + +In the first place, our left army had been able to occupy the line of +Sézanne, Villers-St. Georges and Courchamps. Furthermore, the British +forces, gathered between the Seine and the Marne, flanked on their left +by the newly created army, were closely connected with the rest of our +forces. + +This was precisely the disposition which the General in Chief had wished +to see achieved. On the 4th he decided to take advantage of it, and +ordered all the armies to hold themselves ready. He had taken from his +right two new army corps, two divisions of infantry, and two divisions +of cavalry, which were distributed between his left and his centre. + +On the evening of the 5th he addressed to all the commanders of armies a +message ordering them to attack. + +"The hour has come," he wrote, "to advance at all costs, and to die +where you stand rather than give way." + +_(To be continued in the next issue.)_ + + + + +BY THE NORTH SEA. + +By W.L. COURTNEY. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + + Death and Sorrow and Sleep: + Here where the slow waves creep, + This is the chant I hear, + The chant of the measureless deep. + + What was sorrow to me + Then, when the young life free + Thirsted for joys of earth + Far from the desolate sea? + + What was Sleep but a rest, + Giving to youth the best + Dreams from the ivory gate, + Visions of God manifest? + + What was Death but a tale + Told to faces grown pale, + Worn and wasted with years-- + A meaningless thing to the bale? + + Death and Sorrow and Sleep: + Now their sad message I keep, + Tossed on the wet wind's breath, + The chant of the measureless deep. + + + + +When Marthe Chenal Sang the "Marseillaise" + +By Wythe Williams + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 14, 1915.] + + +I went to the Opéra Comique the other day to hear Marthe Chenal sing the +"Marseillaise." For several weeks previous I had heard a story going the +rounds of what is left of Paris life to the effect that if one wanted a +regular old-fashioned thrill he really should go to the Opéra Comique on +a day when Mlle. Chenal closed the performance by singing the French +national hymn. I was told there would be difficulty in securing a seat. + +I was rather skeptical. I also considered that I had had sufficient +thrills since the beginning of the war, both old fashioned and new. I +believed also that I had already heard the "Marseillaise" sung under the +best possible circumstances to produce thrills. One of the first nights +after mobilization 10,000 Frenchmen filled the street beneath the +windows of THE NEW YORK TIMES office, where I was at work. They sang the +"Marseillaise" for two hours, with a solemn hatred of their national +enemy sounding in every note. The solemnity changed to a wild passion as +the night wore on. Finally, cuirassiers of the guard rode through the +street to disperse the mob. It was a terrific scene. + +So I was willing to admit that the "Marseillaise" is probably the most +thrilling and most martial national song ever written, but I was just +not keen on the subject of thrills. + +Then one day a sedate friend went to the Opéra Comique and came away in +a raving condition. It was a week before his ardor subsided. He declared +that this rendition of a song was something that will be referred to in +future years. "Why," he said, "when the war is over the French will +talk about it in the way Americans still talk concerning Jenny Lind at +Castle Garden, or De Wolf Hopper reciting 'Casey at the Bat.'" + +This induced me to go. I was convinced that whether I got a thrill or +not the singing of the "Marseillaise" by Chenal had become a distinct +feature of Paris life during the war. + +I never want to go again. To go again might deepen my impression--might +better register the thrill. But then it might not be just the same. I +would be keyed to such expectancy that I might be disappointed. Persons +in the seats behind me might whisper. And just as Chenal got to the +"Amour sacré de la patrie" some one might cough. I am confident that +something of the sort would surely happen. I want always to remember +that ten minutes while Chenal was on the stage just as I remember it +now. So I will not go again. + +The first part of the performance was Donizetti's "Daughter of the +Regiment," beautifully sung by members of the regular company. But +somehow the spectacle of a fat soprano nearing forty in the role of the +twelve-year-old vivandière, although impressive, was not sublime. A +third of the audience were soldiers. In the front row of the top balcony +were a number of wounded. Their bandaged heads rested against the rail. +Several of them yawned. + +After the operetta came a "Ballet of the Nations." The "nations," of +course, represented the Allies. We had the delectable vision of the +Russian ballerina dancing with arms entwined about several maids of +Japan. The Scotch lassies wore violent blue jackets. The Belgian girls +carried large pitchers and rather wept and watered their way about the +stage. There were no thrills. + +After the intermission there was not even available standing space. The +majority of the women were in black--the prevailing color in these days. +The only touches of brightness and light were in the uniforms of the +officers liberally sprinkled through the orchestra and boxes. + +Then came "Le Chant du Depart," the famous song of the revolution. The +scene was a little country village. The principals were the officer, the +soldier, the wife, the mother, the daughter, and the drummer boy. There +was a magnificent soldier chorus and the fanfare of drums and trumpets. +The audience then became honestly enthusiastic. I concluded that the +best Chenal could do with the "Marseillaise," which was next on the +programme, would be an anti-climax. + +The orchestra played the opening bars of the martial music. With the +first notes the vast audience rose. I looked up at the row of wounded +leaning heavily against the rail, their eyes fixed and staring on the +curtain. I noticed the officers in the boxes, their eyes glistening. I +heard a convulsive catch in the throats of persons about me. Then the +curtain lifted. + +I do not remember what was the stage setting. I do not believe I saw it. +All I remember was Chenal standing at the top of a short flight of +steps, in the centre near the back drop. I indistinctly remember that +the rest of the stage was filled with the soldier chorus and that near +the footlights on either side were clusters of little children. + +"Up, sons of France, the call of glory"---- + +Chenal swept down to the footlights. The words of the song swept over +the audience like a bugle call. The singer wore a white silk gown draped +in perfect Grecian folds. She wore the large black Alsatian head dress, +in one corner of which was pinned a small tri-colored cockade. She has +often been called the most beautiful woman in Paris. The description +was too limited. With the next lines she threw her arms apart, drawing +out the folds of the gown into the tricolor of France--heavy folds of +red silk draped over one arm and blue over the other. Her head was +thrown back. Her tall, slender figure simply vibrated with the feeling +of the words that poured forth from her lips. She was noble. She was +glorious. She was sublime. With the "March on, March on" of the chorus, +her voice arose high and fine over the full orchestra, and even above +her voice could be sensed the surging emotions of the audience that +seemed to sweep over the house in waves. + +I looked up at the row of wounded. One man held his bandaged head +between his hands and was crying. An officer in a box, wearing the +gorgeous uniform of the headquarters staff, held a handkerchief over his +eyes. + +Through the second verse the audience alternately cheered and stamped +their feet and wept. Then came the wonderful "Amour sacré de la +patrie"--sacred love of home and country--verse. The crashing of the +orchestra ceased, dying away almost to a whisper. Chenal drew the folds +of the tricolor cloak about her. Then she bent her head and, drawing the +flag to her lips, kissed it reverently. The first words came like a sob +from her soul. From then until the end of the verse, when her voice +again rang out over the renewed efforts of the orchestra, one seemed to +live through all the glorious history of France. At the very end, when +Chenal drew a short jeweled sword from the folds of her gown and stood, +silent and superb, with the folds of the flag draped about her, while +the curtain rang slowly down, she seemed to typify both Empire and +Republic throughout all time. All the best of the past seemed +concentrated there as that glorious woman, with head raised high, looked +into the future. + +And as I came out of the theatre with the silent audience I said to +myself that a nation with a song and a patriotism such as I had just +witnessed could not vanish from the earth--nor again be vanquished. + + + + +A War of Commerce to Follow + +By Sir William Ramsay + + + That commerce in Germany is regarded as war, that the + "powerful mass of the German State" is projected into methods + meant to kill off the trade of other nations, and that after + the war between the nations the German war with British trade + will be resumed, is the burden of this address. Sir William + Ramsay delivered it in Manchester on Jan. 22, 1915, before + representatives of British associations of employers and of + leading industrial concerns in many parts of the United + Kingdom, making up the Employers' Parliamentary Association. + Sir William is one of the world's great chemists. + +I suppose that among my audience some are convinced free traders, while +some believe that our commercial interests would be better served by a +measure of protection. This is neither the time nor the place, nor have +I the knowledge and ability for a discussion of this much-debated +question. Nor will I reveal my own private views, except in so far as to +say that I agree with the majority. But, as the question cannot be +ignored, I should like to say that I hold firmly the conviction that all +trade should be carried on for the mutual advantage of the parties +engaged. The old fable of Æsop may be quoted, which relates to a quarrel +between the different members of the body. Every one of us can be, and +should be, helpful to every other, independent of nation, country, and +creed. That is, I am sure, what lies on the conscience of each one of +us, as an ultimate end to be struggled for, although perhaps by many +considered unattainable. + +For the same kind of reason, it appears to me that we all think that +peace is a blessing, and war a curse. For under peace commerce and +industry prosper; science and the arts flourish; friendships are made +and adorn the amenities of life. Moreover, our religious traditions in +all Christian countries, and in some non-Christian ones like China, +influence us to believe that war is wrong, indefensible, and, in the +present year of our Lord, an anachronism. + +We imagined, perhaps not most, but many of us, that no important +European nation thought differently. Your leading Liberal paper, The +Manchester Guardian, on July 22, 1908, wrote, "Germany, though the most +military of nations, is probably the least warlike"; and this doubtless +represented the views of the majority of Englishmen. Some of us knew +better. I have, or had, many German friends; we have lived for many +years on a footing of mutual kindliness; but it was impossible to +disregard the signs of the times. The reason of this war is at bottom, +as we have now discovered, the existence of a wholly different ideal in +the Germanic mind from that which lies at the base of the Latin, +Anglo-Saxon, Dutch, or Scandinavian nations. Such a statement as this is +sweeping; it can be illustrated by a trivial tale. In 1912 an +international scientific congress met at Berlin; I was a member. +Although the conventional language was German, in compliment to our +hosts, it turned out that in the long run all discussions were conducted +in French. After such a sitting, the members separated, the German +committee remaining behind for business purposes. The question of +language was raised, I think by a Dutchman, in the corridor. Of the +representatives of the fourteen or fifteen nations present, all were +agreed on this--that they were not going to be compelled to publish in +German; some chose English; some French; Spanish was suggested as a +simple and easily understood language; but there was no love lost +between the "foreign" and the German representatives, and this not the +least on personal, but purely on national grounds. Acknowledging to the +full the existence of high-minded German gentlemen, it is a sad fact +that the character of the individuals of the nation is not acceptable +to individuals of other nations. Listen to a quotation from a letter I +have received from a very distinguished Swiss: "Une chose me frappait +aussi, dans les tendances allemandes, une incroyable inconscience. +Accaparer le bien d'autrui leur paraissait si naturel qu'ils ne +comprenaient même pas que l'on eût quelque desir de se défendre. Le +monde entier était fait pour constituer le champ d'exploitation de +l'Allemagne, et celui qui s'opposait á l'accomplissement de cette +destinée était, pour tout allemand, l'objet d'une surprise." +[Translation: "One thing has also struck me in German tendencies; that +is an unbelievable want of conscience. To grab the belongings of others +appeared to them so natural, that they did not understand that one had +some wish to defend himself. The whole world was made for the field of +German operations, and whoever placed himself in opposition to the +accomplishment of this destiny was for every German the object of +surprise."] The view is not new; the feeling of surprise at opposition +was expressed wittily by a French poet in the words: + + Cet animal est trés mechant; + Lorsqu'on l'attaque, il se defend. + + This animal is full of spite; + If you attack him, he will bite. + +Well, gentlemen, this war has opened the eyes of some of us, and has +confirmed the fears of others. Not one of us wanted to fight. Our hand +was forced, so that we could not have abstained without national and +personal dishonor. + +Now, I do not think it is even yet realized that Germany's methods in +trade have been, and are, as far as possible identical, with her methods +in war. Let me rub this in. As long ago as 1903, at a meeting of the +Society of Chemical Industry, under the Presidency of your +fellow-citizen, Mr. Levinstein, I pointed out that under the German +State there was a trade council, the object of which was to secure and +keep trade for Germany. This council had practical control of duties, +bounties, and freights; its members were representative of the different +commercial interests of the empire; and they acted, as a rule, without +control from the Reichstag. You can read what I said for yourselves, if +you think it worth while, in The Journal of the Society of Chemical +Industry for 1903. + +Let me give you a simple case of the operations of that trade council. +_Ex uno disce omnes._ A certain firm had a fairly profitable monopoly in +a chemical product which it had maintained for many years. It was not a +patented article, but one for which the firm had discovered a good +process of manufacture. About six years ago this firm found that its +Liverpool custom was being transferred to German makers. On inquiry, it +transpired that the freight on this particular article from Hamburg to +Liverpool had been lowered. The firm considered its position, and by +introducing economies it found that it could still compete at a profit. +A year later German manufacturers lowered the price substantially, so +that the English firm could not sell without making a dead loss. It +transpired that the lowering of price was due to a heavy export bounty +being paid to the German manufacturers by the German State. + +It is the bringing of the heavy machinery of State to bear on the +minutiæ of commerce which makes it impossible to compete with such +methods. One article after another is attacked, as opportunity offers; +British manufacture is killed; and Germany acquires a monopoly. No trade +is safe; its turn may not have come. + +Much has been said about British manufacture of dyestuffs, and much +nonsense has been written about the lack of young British chemists to +help in their manufacture. There is no lack of able inventive young +British chemists. Owing to the unfairness of German competition by +methods just exemplified, a manufacturer, as a rule, does not care to +risk capital in the payment of a number of chemists for making "fine +chemicals." He finds "heavy chemicals" simpler. I do not wonder at his +decision, though I lament it. There are also other reasons. The duty on +methyl alcohol (for which no rebate is given) makes it impossible to +introduce economically methyl groups into dyes; the restrictions +incident on the use of duty-free alcohol do not commend themselves to +manufacturers; these constitute other obstacles in the way of the +British color maker. Lastly, our patent regulations are even yet not +what they might be, although an attempt has recently been made to +improve them. The British manufacturer is thus trebly handicapped. + +Besides, the English competitor is at a disadvantage owing to what may +be termed systematic and fraudulent attacks, for which no redress has +been obtainable. Thus the manufacturers of Sheffield still complain, I +suppose justly, that German articles for foreign consumption bear the +words "Sheffield steel" stamped upon them. I myself have been approached +by a German swindler with the proposition that I should assist his firm +in infringing patents; he was surprised and pained to learn that I did +not consider his proposal an honorable one. + +Nor are methods like these confined to business or manufacture; they +have greatly affected British shipping. Our shipping companies, in good +faith, have associated themselves with others in "conferences," +apparently for the mutual advantage of all, forgetting that behind the +German companies lay the powerful mass of the German State. Tramp +steamers, and with them cheap freights to the East, have been +eliminated. The Royal Commission on Shipping Rings, which met some years +ago, referring to the system obtaining in Germany, and fostered by the +German Government, on charging through rates on goods from towns in the +interior to the port of destination, observed in its report: "Such rates +constitute a direct subsidy to the export trade of German manufacturers, +and an indirect subsidy to those German lines by whom alone they are +available. And as they are only rendered possible by the action of the +German Government, it appears to us that the British lines can in no way +be held responsible for the preferences which these rates afford to +German goods." Now, our Government pays large mail subsidies to many of +our shipping companies. Could these not be so utilized that it would +become impossible for Germans to capture our trade by indirect state +bounties? + +These are a few examples (and your greater knowledge will enable you to +supplement them with many others) of the methods which have been +employed against us by Germans with the co-operation--nay, the active +support--of their State. + +Of late a new factor has appeared. The German Imperial Chancellor made +his noteworthy (or notorious) remark about a "scrap of paper." And Dr. +von Bethmann-Hollweg, speaking in the Reichstag, acknowledged openly +that the German Nation had been guilty of a "wrong" to Belgium. This +breach of faith has the approval of the whole German people. Do they +realize what it means? Are they not aware that no treaty, political or +otherwise, with the German people is worth the paper it is written on? +That the country and its inhabitants have forfeited all claims to trust? +That no one, in future, should make a bargain with a German, knowing +that he is a dishonorable and dishonored man?... Germany has made many +blunders--an almost inconceivable number of blunders; but this +blundering crime is surely the culminating point of blunder. Did any +nation ever before deliberately throw away its political, commercial, +financial, and social credit to no purpose? To gain what? England as an +adversary, and the contempt of the whole civilized world. Her treatment +of the poor Belgian civilians has added to contempt, loathing and scorn. + +Now, gentlemen, you see our problem. At, the end of this war we shall +have Germans again as trade rivals; if there is a German State our +German rivals will be backed by their State. They will, as they have +done before, steal our inventions, use trickery and fraud to oust us +from world markets, and we know now that we need not expect any bargain +to be binding. I am not a commercial man; science is supposed to be +above such trickery. Yet I read a few days ago, not as a single example, +but only as the last I happen to remember, an article by a +distinguished American professor, protesting with great moderation that +an important scientific generalization which he published in 1902 had +been annexed, without acknowledgment, by a versatile and adroit +professor in the University of Berlin--an acquaintance of my own--in the +year 1906; and it was not until 1910 that the latter was made to confess +his guilt, with much subterfuge and blustering. + +Commerce, indeed, is in Germany regarded as war; we now know it, and we +must meet war by war. How is that war to be waged? + +I can see only two methods. One is recommended by a writer in The +Observer of the 10th inst., who acknowledges himself to have been a +lifelong free trader. His remedy is a 25 per cent. duty on all German +goods, and on German goods only, imported (or rather offered for import) +into Great Britain and her colonies, and also that German passenger +liners and freight boats should not be allowed to call at any one of the +ports of the empire. His reasons are fully stated in his letter; it is +signed "A City Merchant." + +The other method is perhaps less apt to offend free trade +susceptibilities; it is to impose on what remains of our opponents at +the conclusion of this war free trade for a term of years. It remains to +be seen whether we shall be powerful enough to insist on this measure, +or to persuade our allies that it is one likely to fulfill the proposed +end. It is, so far as I see, the only other alternative. + +Those who are thoroughly convinced of the benefits of free trade should +welcome this suggestion, unless, indeed, they think that such a blessing +is not deserved by Germany. On the other hand, they may comfort +themselves with the certain knowledge that no possible punishment +inflicted on the Germans could possibly be more galling and repulsive to +them. Doubtless, too, it would suit the books of our allies very well, +who could impose on German goods any duty they thought fit, and deposit +their surplus and inferior goods in Germany at a price which would defy +competition. But these are questions which I must leave to those more +conversant with the merits and demerits of free trade and protection +than I am. + +Whatever view you take, you cannot but acknowledge that the situation +calls for early and anxious deliberation, and well-thought-out and firm +action; and it must be action taken as a nation--through our +Government--whatever the political complexion of the Government may be +at the close of the war. It is for you, as members of the Employers' +Parliamentary Association, to make up your minds what you wish to do; +above all, to agree, and to take steps to force the Government in power +to carry out your wishes. + + + + +BELGIUM. + +By EDITH WHARTON. + +[From King Albert's Book.] + + + _La Belgique regrette rien._ + + Not with her ruined silver spires, + Not with her cities shamed and rent, + Perish the imperishable fires + That shape the homestead from the tent. + + Wherever men are stanch and free, + There shall she keep her fearless state, + And, homeless, to great nations be + The home of all that makes them great. + + + + +Desired Peace Terms for Europe + +Outlined by Proponents for the Allies and for Germany + + +_The following forecast of the terms of peace which the Allies could +enforce upon Germany and Austria is made for The New York Times Current +History by a former Minister of France, one of the leading publicists of +the French Republic:_ + +The Allies will decline to treat with any member of the Hohenzollern or +Hapsburg family or any delegates representing them and will insist on +dealing with delegations representing the German and Austro-Hungarian +people elected by their respective Parliaments or by direct vote of the +people, if they so desire. + +The Allies will facilitate in every possible way negotiations between +Austria-Hungary and Italy with a view to the latter obtaining the +southern part of the Tyrol, known as Trentino, and the Peninsula of +Istria, known as Trieste. + +The 200 miles "strait" channel (Dardanelles, Sea of Marmora, and +Bosporus,) between Turkey in Europe and Turkey in Asia, is to be +declared free to the ships of all nations, and under the direction of an +international commission, which will also administer Turkey in Europe +and form a permanent court of arbitration for all questions which may +arise among Rumania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, and Greece. In +settling the status of Albania respect will be paid to the wishes of the +inhabitants. + +Alsace and Lorraine, after rectifications of the French boundary line in +accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants, are to be annexed to +Belgium, whose permanent neutrality will be guaranteed by the powers. +Schleswig-Holstein is to be returned to Denmark and the Kiel Canal made +an international waterway, under either an international commission or a +company which will operate it as the Suez Canal is operated. + +Poland is to be declared an autonomous State under the protection of +Russia, and its boundaries are to be restored as they were in 1715. + +The Allies will also entertain a proposition for the restoration of the +independence of Hungary and the geographical integrity of the country as +it was in 1715. + +The delegates representing the German people must pledge themselves that +military conscription shall be abolished among them for a period of +twenty-five years. + +The status of all German colonies and protectorates is to be settled by +a joint commission appointed by the Governments of England, Japan, and +France. + +The ownership of Italy and Greece to the Aegean Islands, now in their +respective possessions, is to be confirmed by the powers and guarantees +shall be given that the said islands shall not be fortified. + +The ownership of England to the Island of Cyprus is to be confirmed by +the powers and her protectorate over Egypt acknowledged. + +The Mediterranean Sea is to be declared a "maritime area" to be policed +by England, France, and Italy. + + +_Here is the declaration of peace terms by the Central Committee for +National Patriotic Organization of England:_ + +Great Britain can never willingly make peace with Germany until the +power of Prussian militarism is completely destroyed and there is no +possibility of our children or our children's children being forced +again to fight for the national existence. As far as we are concerned, +this is a fight to a definite finish. We must either win all along the +line or we must be completely defeated and our empire destroyed. Our +allies fully share the same conviction. The thousands of lives already +lost, and, alas! still to be lost, will have been tragically wasted if +the German menace remains to terrorize Europe and to stunt the progress +of civilization. In order to convince public opinion that the only peace +worth having is a peace absolutely on our own terms, a Central Committee +for National Patriotic Organization has been formed from the members of +all the four political parties. The committee will, in addition, take +steps to lay a clear statement of the British case before neutral +countries. Both the tasks it has undertaken are of the first importance, +and it should have the support of every patriot. + + +GERMANY'S PROGRAM. + +_Professor Ernst Haeckel, the militant German zoologist, supplies, in an +interview in the Berliner Tagesblatt, the following summary:_ + +Freedom from the tyranny of England to be secured as follows: + + 1. The invasion of the British piratical State by the German + Army and Navy and the occupation of London. + + 2. The partition of Belgium, the western portion as far as + Ostend and Antwerp to become a German Federal State; the + northern portion to fall to Holland, and the southeastern + portion to be added to Luxemburg, which also should become a + German Federal State. + + 3. Germany to obtain the greater part of the British colonies + and of the Congo State. + + 4. France to give up a portion of her northeastern provinces. + + 5. Russia to be reduced to impotency by the re-establishment + of the Kingdom of Poland, which should be united with + Austria-Hungary. + + 6. The Baltic Provinces of Russia to be restored to Germany. + + 7. Finland to become an independent kingdom and be united with + Sweden. + + +_An article by Georges Clemenceau, in L'Homme Enchaîné, reports the +following view of the German terms accredited to Count Bernstorff, +German Ambassador at Washington:_ + +One of my friends in America informs me of a curious conversation +between an influential banker and the German Ambassador, Count +Bernstorff. The banker, who had just handed over a substantial check for +the German Red Cross, asked Count Bernstorff what the Kaiser would take +from France after the victory. + +The Ambassador did not seem the least surprised at this somewhat +premature question. He answered it quite calmly, ticking off the various +points on his fingers as follows: + + 1. All the French colonies, including the whole of Morocco, + Algeria, and Tunis. + + 2. All the country northeast of a straight line from + Saint-Valéry to Lyons, that is to say, more than one quarter + of French territory, including 15,000,000 inhabitants. + + 3. An indemnity of 10,000,000,000 francs, ($2,000,000,000.) + + 4. A tariff allowing all German goods to enter France free + during twenty-five years, without reciprocity for French goods + entering Germany. After this period the Treaty of Frankfurt + will again be applied. + + 5. The suppression of recruiting in France during twenty-five + years. + + 6. The destruction of all French fortresses. + + 7. France to hand over 3,000,000 rifles, 2,000 cannon, and + 40,000 horses. + + 8. The protection of all German patents without reciprocity. + + 9. France must abandon Russia and Great Britain. + + 10. A treaty of alliance with Germany for twenty-five years. + + +_Dr. Bernhard Dernburg, late German Colonial Secretary of State, has +published an article in The Independent, in which this forecast +appears_: + +1. Germany will not consider it wise to take any European territory, but +will make minor corrections of frontiers for military purposes by +occupying such frontier territory as has proved a weak spot in the +German armor. + +2. Belgium belongs geographically to the German Empire. She commands the +mouth of the biggest German stream; Antwerp is essentially a German +port. That Antwerp should not belong to Germany is as much an anomaly as +if New Orleans and the Mississippi delta had been excluded from +Louisiana, or as if New York had remained English after the War of +Independence. Moreover, Belgium's present plight was her own fault. She +had become the vassal of England and France. Therefore, while "probably" +no attempt would be made to place Belgium within the German Empire +alongside Bavaria, Württemberg, and Saxony, because of her non-German +population, she will be incorporated in the German Customs Union after +the Luxemburg pattern. + +3. Belgian neutrality, having been proved an impossibility, must be +abolished. Therefore the harbors of Belgium must be secured for all time +against British or French invasion. + +4. Great Britain having bottled up the North Sea, a mare liberum must be +established. England's theory that the sea is her boundary, and all the +sea her territory down to the three-mile limit of other powers, cannot +be tolerated. Consequently the Channel coasts of England, Holland, +Belgium, and France must be neutralized even in times of war, and the +American and German doctrine that private property on the high seas +should enjoy the same freedom of seizure as private property does on +land must be guaranteed by all nations. This condition Herr Dernburg +accompanies by an appeal to the United States duly to note, and Britain +is making commercial war upon Germany. + +5. All cables must be neutralized. + +6. All Germany's colonies are to be returned. Germany, in view of her +growing population, must get extra territory capable of population by +whites. The Monroe Doctrine bars her from America, therefore she must +take Morocco, "if it is really fit for the purpose." + +7. A free hand must be given to Germany in the development of her +commercial and industrial relations with Turkey "without interference." +This would mean a recognized sphere of German influence from the Persian +Gulf to the Dardanelles. + +8. There must be no further development of Japanese influence in +Manchuria. + +9. All small nations, such as Finland, Poland, and the Boers in South +Africa, if they support Germany, must have the right to frame their own +destinies, while Egypt is to be returned, if she desires it, to Turkey. + +These conditions, Herr Dernburg concludes, would "fulfill the peaceful +aims which Germany has had for the last forty-four years." They show, in +his opinion, that Germany has no wish for world dominion or for any +predominance in Europe incommensurate with the rights of the 122,000,000 +Germans and Austrians. + + + + +THE BRITISH VOLUNTEERS. + +By KATHERINE DRAYTON MAYRANT SIMONS, JR. + + + We are coming, Mother, coming + O'er the seas--your Younger Sons! + From the mighty-mouthed Saint Lawrence + Or where sacred Ganges runs, + We are coming for your blessing + By a ritual of guns! + + We are coming, Mother, coming + On the way our fathers came! + For their spirits rise to beckon + At the whisper of your name; + And we come that you may knight us + By your accolade of flame! + + We are coming, Mother, coming! + For the death is less to feel + Than to hear you call unanswered? + 'Tis the Saxon's old appeal, + And we come to prove us worthy + By its ordeal of steel! + + + + +Chronology of the War + +Showing Progress of Campaigns on All Fronts and Collateral Events from +Jan. 31, 1915, up to and Including Feb. 28, 1915. + +Continued from the last Number. + + +CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN EUROPE + +Feb. 1--Russians retake Borjimow trenches and capture men of Landsturm; +severe cold hampers operations in Galicia. + +Feb. 2--Germans advance, with heavy losses, southward toward the Vistula +and eastward between Bejoun and Orezelewo. + +Feb. 3--Russians again pour into Hungary as Austrians yield important +positions; German position north of the Vistula is insecure. + +Feb. 4--Von Hindenburg hurls 50,000 men at Russian lines near Warsaw. + +Feb. 5--Russians reported to have killed 30,000 Germans under Gen. +Mackensen; Russians recapture Gumine. + +Feb. 6--General German offensive is looked for; Russians shift troops in +East Galicia and Bukowina. + +Feb. 7--Germans rush reinforcements to East Prussia; second line of +trenches pierced by Russians near Borjimow; Austrians resume attacks on +Montenegrin positions on the Drina. + +Feb. 8--Russian cavalry sweeps northward toward East Prussia; Russians +move their right wing forward in the Carpathians but retire in Bukowina; +Germans shift 600,000 troops from Poland to East Prussia, using motor +cars; Italians say that 15,000 Germans died in attempting to take +Warsaw. + +Feb. 9--Austro-German forces attack Russians at three points in the +Carpathians; Russians begin the evacuation of Bukowina, where Austrians +have had successes; Russians make a wedge in East Prussia across +Angorapp River. + +Feb. 10--Fierce fighting in the Carpathian passes; Russians are +retreating from Bukowina. + +Feb. 11--Russians fall back in Mazurian Lake district; they still hold +Czernowitz. + +Feb. 12--Von Hindenburg, as a result of a several days' battle, wins a +great victory over the Tenth Russian Army in the Mazurian Lake region, +part of the operations taking place under the eyes of the Kaiser; more +than 50,000 prisoners are taken, with fifty cannon and sixty machine +guns; the Russians retreat in disorder across the frontier, their loss +in killed and wounded being estimated at 30,000; a second line of +defense is being strengthened by the Russians; Paris announces the +complete failure of German offensive in Poland. + +Feb. 14--Russians check Germans in Lyck region; battle raging in +Bukowina; Albanians invade Servia and force Servians to retreat from the +frontier. + +Feb. 15--Russian lines hold in the north; Austrians state that Bukowina +has been entirely evacuated by the Russians; Germans retake Czernowitz. + +Feb. 16--Germans occupy Plock and Bielsk; Russians fall back in North +Poland; Austrians win in Dukla Pass; Servians drive back Albanian +invaders. + +Feb. 17--Germans prepare for attack along whole Russian front; cholera +and typhus gain headway in Poland. + +Feb. 18--Belgrade bombarded; Germans try to cut off Warsaw. + +Feb. 19--Germans abandon march to Niemen; they march toward Plonsk from +two directions; they occupy Tauroggen. + +Feb. 20--Germans repulsed at Ossowetz; Russians bombard Przemysl; +Germans capture French Hospital Corps in East Prussia. + +Feb. 21--Russians force fighting from East Prussia to Bukowina. + +Feb. 22--Russians make progress in Galicia and the Carpathians; it is +said that German and Austrian armies are being merged. + +Feb. 23--Russians force Germans back along the Bobr; Germans assemble +greater forces at Przanysz; Russians destroy two Austrian brigades +between Stanislau and Wyzkow; Austrians repulsed near Krasne. + +Feb. 24--Russians have successes in the Carpathians near Uzrok Pass. + +Feb. 25--Germans besiege Ossowetz; Russians gain in the Carpathians and +again invade Bukowina; Russian wedge splits Austrian Army in the +Carpathians; fighting on Stanislau Heights. + +Feb. 26--Fighting in progress on a 260-mile front; battle in north sways +to East Prussian frontier; Germans retire in Przanysz region; Germans +claim capture of eleven Russian Generals in Mazurian Lake battle; snow +and intense cold hinder operations in Bukowina. + +Feb. 27--Germans retire in the north; Russians recapture Przanysz; +German battalion annihilated on the Bobr; Russians advance in Galicia +and claim recapture of Stanislau and Kolomea; stubborn fighting north of +Warsaw. + +Feb. 28--Russians are attacking along whole front; Germans checked in +North Poland and many taken prisoners; General Brusiloff's army is +claimed by the Russians to have thus far captured 188,000 Austrians. + + +CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN EUROPE. + +Feb. 1--Germans evacuate Cernay and burn Alsatian towns as French +advance. + +Feb. 3--Germans try to retake Great Dune; Allies make gains in Belgium; +fighting at Westende. + +Feb. 5--Allies are making a strong offensive movement in Belgium. + +Feb. 7--British take German trenches at Guinchy. + +Feb. 9--Germans again bombard Rheims, Soissons, and other places; +fighting on skis is occurring in Alsace. + +Feb. 14--Germans are making preparations for an offensive movement in +Alsace. + +Feb. 16--French forces gain in Champagne and advance on a two-mile +front; fighting in La Bassée. + +Feb. 18--Allies make offensive movements; Germans give up Norroy. + +Feb. 23--Germans use Austrian twelve-inch howitzers for bombardment of +Rheims. + +Feb. 26--French gain on the Meuse. + +Feb. 28--Germans advance west of the Vosges, forcing French back four +miles on a thirteen-mile front; French gain in Champagne, taking many +trenches. + + +CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA. + +Feb. 3--Portugal is sending reinforcements to Angola, much of which is +in German hands, although there has been no declaration of war between +Portugal and Germany; some of the anti-British rebels in South Africa +surrender. + +Feb. 4--Germans have evacuated Angola; some South African rebel leaders, +including "Prophet" Vankenbsburg, surrender. + +Feb. 6--Germans are repulsed at Kakamas, a Cape Colony village. + +Feb. 13--Germans have won a success against the British on the Orange +River; German East Africa is reported now clear of the enemy; Germans +have invaded Uganda and British East Africa. + +Feb. 16--Trial of General De Wet and other South African rebel leaders +is begun. + +Feb. 21--German newspaper report charges that German missionaries are +tortured by pro-British Africans. + +Feb. 26--Botha heads British troops that plan invasion of German +Southwest Africa. + + +TURKISH AND EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN. + +Feb. 1--Turks withdraw forces from Adrianople to defend Tchatalja; +Russian victories over Turks in the Caucasus and at Tabriz prove to be +of a sweeping character; Turks have been massacring Persians. + +Feb. 2--American Consul, Gordon Paddock, prevented much destruction by +Turks at Tabriz. + +Feb. 3--Turks, while trying to cross Suez Canal, are attacked by +British, many of them being drowned; Turks are driven back at Kurna by +British gunboats. + +Feb. 4--Turks routed, with heavy loss, in two engagements on the Suez +Canal, New Zealand forces being engaged; Turks are near Armageddon. + +Feb. 5--British take more Turkish prisoners. + +Feb. 7--British expect Turks again to attack Suez Canal, and make plans +accordingly. + +Feb. 8--Turks in Egypt are in full retreat; their losses in dead have +been heavy. + +Feb. 13--British wipe out Turkish force at Tor. + +Feb. 17--Work of Consul Paddock in saving British property at Tabriz is +praised in British House of Commons. + +Feb. 22--Turks are massacring Armenians in Caucasus towns; Turks make +general retirement on Damascus. + +Feb. 28--Turks have evacuated the Sinai Peninsula. + + +NAVAL RECORD--GENERAL. + +Feb. 1--German submarine seen near Liverpool; there is a new theory that +infernal machines in coal caused blowing up of the Formidable and the +Bulwark. + +Feb. 2--English shipping paper offers reward of $2,500 to first British +merchant vessel that sinks a German submarine; German submarine tries to +torpedo British hospital ship Asturias; men from a Swedish warship are +killed by a mine. + +Feb. 3--German auxiliary is sunk by British cruiser Australia off +Patagonia; German destroyer reported sunk by Russians in the Baltic. + +Feb. 4--British ships shell Germans at Westende. + +Feb. 5--Germans deny that Russians sank a destroyer in the Baltic. + +Feb. 7--Allied fleets menace the Dardanelles. + +Feb. 9--Turkish cruiser bombards Yalta; Russians shell Trebizond. + +Feb. 10--Germans are said to have sunk casks of petrol off the English +coast for use by their submarines; French Government, in report to +neutrals, denounces sinking of refugee ship Admiral Ganteaume. + +Feb. 11--Cargo of American steamship Wilhelmina, bound for Hamburg, is +seized by British at Falmouth, and a prize court will pass upon question +whether food destined only for German civilians can go through in +neutral bottoms; it is generally understood that the Wilhelmina shipment +was made as a test case; German submarines, driven into Norwegian ports +by storm, are forced to put to sea again. + +Feb. 13--Two British steamers long overdue are believed to have been +sunk by the Germans. + +Feb. 14--Canada is guarding her ports more vigilantly; the Captain of +British steamer Laertes is decorated for saving his ship from a German +submarine by fast manoeuvring. + +Feb. 15--British steamer Wavelet hits mine in English Channel and is +badly damaged; British submarines are in the Baltic; Austrian fleet +bombards Antivari. + +Feb. 16--Captain of the German battle-cruiser Blücher dies from +pneumonia contracted when his ship went down in the North Sea fight; +British merchant collier Dulwich is torpedoed and sunk off French coast. + +Feb. 17--French steamer Ville de Lille is sunk by German submarine. + +Feb. 18--German auxiliary cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm has sunk six British +ships off the coast of Brazil. + +Feb. 20--Allied fleets are pounding the Dardanelles forts with great +effect; German steamer Holger interned at Buenos Aires. + +Feb. 21--Berlin papers report that a British transport, loaded with +troops, has been sunk. + +Feb. 22--Two German submarines are missing; Germans are building +submarines near Antwerp. + +Feb. 23--Australian mail boat Maloja fired on by armed merchantman in +English Channel; operations at the Dardanelles interrupted by +unfavorable weather. + +Feb. 24--British capture German steamer Gotha; British armed merchantman +Clan Macnaughton reported missing. + +Feb. 25--The four principal forts at the entrance of the Dardanelles are +reduced by the allied British and French fleet; three German submarines +are sent to Austria for use in the Adriatic and Mediterranean. + +Feb. 26--Inner forts of Dardanelles are being shelled; mine sweeping +begun; wreckage indicates disaster to German submarine U-9 off Norwegian +coast; French destroyer Dague hits Austrian mine off Antivari; Allies +blockade coast of German East Africa. + +Feb. 27--Forty British and French warships penetrate the Dardanelles +for fourteen miles; French cruiser seizes, in the English Channel, the +American steamer Dacia, which was formerly under German registry and +belonged to the Hamburg-American Line, and takes her to Brest; a French +prize court will determine the validity of her transfer to American +registry; British skipper reports that the German converted cruiser +Prinz Eitel Friedrich sank a British ship and a French ship in December. + +Feb. 28--Allied fleet prepares to engage the strongest and last of the +Dardanelles defenses; land attack in conjunction with the fleet is being +considered; English and French flags now fly over wrecked forts; London +welcomes seizure of Dacia by French. + + +NAVAL RECORD--WAR ZONE. + +Feb. 4--Germany proclaims the waters around Great Britain and Ireland, +except a passage north of Scotland, a war zone from and after Feb. 18, +and states that neutral ships entering the zone will be in danger, in +consequence of the misuse of neutral flags said to have been ordered by +the British Government. + +Feb. 6--Decree is discussed by President Wilson and the Cabinet; dangers +of complications for the United States are foreseen; indignation is +expressed in Italy, Holland, and Denmark; text of the decree is +submitted to the United States State Department by Ambassador Gerard. + +Feb. 9--Some European neutrals intend to have the names of their ships +printed in huge letters on ships' sides and the national colors painted +on. + +Feb. 11--The State Department makes public the text of the American +note, dated Feb. 10, sent to Ambassador Gerard for delivery to the +German Government; the note is firm but friendly, and tells Germany that +the United States will hold her "to a strict accountability" should +commanders of German vessels of war "destroy on the high seas an +American vessel or the lives of American citizens." + +Feb. 12--Ambassador Gerard delivers the American note to the German +Foreign Secretary and has a long conference with him. + +Feb. 13--The German Legation at The Hague warns neutral vessels against +entering the war zone; German Foreign Office comments on the friendly +tone of the American note; Germany has requested the United States to +advise ship owners to man vessels sailing to German ports with subjects +of neutral States. + +Feb. 15--Germany communicates to the United States through Ambassador +von Bernstorff a preliminary answer to the American note; Germany would +be willing to recede from her decree if England would permit foodstuffs +to enter Germany for use by the civilian population; the preliminary +answer is cabled to Ambassador Page for presentation to the British +Foreign Office as a matter of information; Italy and Holland protest to +Germany against war zone decree; Winston Churchill, in Parliament, hints +at retaliation. + +Feb. 18--Germany replies to American note; reply is friendly in tone, +but its substance causes concern in Washington; Germany still disclaims +responsibility for fate of neutral vessels in war zone; war zone decree +now in effect; ships are moving in and out of British ports as usual; +Norwegian steamer Nordcap is blown up by a mine. + +Feb. 19--German submarines torpedo Norwegian tanker Belridge near +Folkestone and French steamer Denorah off Dieppe; British Government +suspends passenger travel between England and the Continent; Irish +Channel services are continued, and it is said that the ships may fly +the Irish flag. + +Feb. 20--British steamer Cambank sunk by submarine in Irish Sea; +Norwegian steamer Bjarka sunk by mine off Denmark; it is reported that +hundreds of armed merchant ships are hunting for German submarines. + +Feb. 21--American steamer Evelyn sunk by mine off coast of Holland, +eight men being lost; German submarine U-12 sinks British steamer +Downshire; Dutch vessels sail from Amsterdam painted with the national +colors; traffic between England and Sweden is suspended. + +Feb. 22--The United States, through Ambassadors Page and Gerard, +presents notes to England and Germany proposing modifications of war +zone decree by Germany and an arrangement by which England would allow +food to enter Germany, for the use of civilians only; ships leave +Savannah with the American flag painted on their sides. + +Feb. 23--American steamer Carib sunk by a mine off German coast, three +men being lost; Norwegian steamer Regin destroyed off Dover; British +collier Brankshome Chine attacked in English Channel; Swedish steamer +Specia sunk by mine in North Sea; British limit traffic in Irish +Channel; twelve ships, of which two were American, have been sunk or +damaged since the war zone decree went into effect; Germany includes +Orkney and Shetland Islands in war zone. + +Feb. 24--Germany, replying to Italian protest, promises to respect +Italian flag; British steamer Harpalion torpedoed off Beachy Head; +Minister van Dyke reports that the Carib was sunk outside route +prescribed by the German instructions. + +Feb. 25--British steamer Western Coast lost in English Channel; British +steamer Deptford hits a mine off Scarborough; Scandinavian conference +decides against convoying ships; sailings between Sweden and England +resumed. + +Feb. 26--It is reported from London that the Allies favor reprisals +against Germany by which shipment of all commodities to and from Germany +will be stopped; formal announcement from Premier Asquith expected in a +few days; German submarines allow Dutch steamer to pass; Swedish +steamship Svarton hits mine; passenger service between England and +Flushing to be resumed. + + +NAVAL RECORD--NEUTRAL FLAGS + +Feb. 6--Lusitania, warned of submarines, flies American flag in Irish +Sea on voyage to Liverpool. + +Feb. 7--British Foreign Office issues statement upholding use of +American flag by Lusitania and declares that the practice of thus +protecting merchant ships is well established; passengers uphold Capt. +Dow's act. + +Feb. 8--British Government says that Capt. Dow was not ordered by +Government officials to use neutral flag. + +Feb. 11--The State Department makes public the text of the American +note, dated Feb. 10, sent to Ambassador Page for delivery to the British +Government; the note asks the British authorities to do all in their +power to prevent the deceptive use of the American flag by British ships +and suggests that responsibility might rest upon Great Britain in case +of destruction of American ships by Germans; according to passengers +arriving in New York, the Cunarder Orduna flew American flag as +precaution against submarine attack before Lusitania did. + +Feb. 15--Holland sends protest to England against use by British ships +of neutral flags. + +Feb. 19--England, replying to American note, says that the United States +and other neutrals should not grudge the use of their flags to avoid +danger, and that the use of neutral flags has hitherto been generally +permitted. + + +AERIAL RECORD. + +Feb. 1--Germans drop bombs on Dunkirk; Russia threatens to treat air +raiders of unfortified towns as pirates. + +Feb. 2--French airmen burn castle in Alsace where German staff officers +are housed. + +Feb. 3--Swiss troops fire on German airmen; indications are that +England will not uphold Russia's threat to treat hostile aviators as +pirates. + +Feb. 4--Body of German aviator engaged in Christmas Day raid found in +the Thames. + +Feb. 5--Allies' airmen force German General to abandon Altkirch +headquarters; Germany protests against Russian threat against aviators. + +Feb. 6--British aviator sinks German submarine. + +Feb. 10--Allies' aviators damaged Düsseldorf arsenal in recent raid; +bombs dropped in Adrianople; French bring down aviator who had dropped +bombs on Paris. + +Feb. 11--Bomb dropped by British airmen kills thirty-five Germans in +Antwerp fort; Dunkirk repulses raid by German aviator. + +Feb. 12--Thirty-four British airships raid Belgian coast seaports; +Ostend station set on fire; Grahame-White narrowly escapes drowning; +attack intended as a check for German blockade plans; French aviators +raid German aerdome in Alsace. + +Feb. 13--Germany states that the British raid of yesterday caused +"regrettable damage to the civilian population"; two British airmen +killed at Brussels. + +Feb. 14--Excitement in Ottawa over report of German raid; French +aeroplanes rout Zeppelin near Mülhausen. + +Feb. 15--Austrian aviators fire on Montenegrin royal family at Rieka. + +Feb. 16--British aviators make another raid in Belgium; French attack +aerdome at Ghistelle and attack Eichwald in Alsace. + +Feb. 17--Copenhagen reports explosion of a Zeppelin off the coast of +Jutland; Allies' airmen attack network of Belgian canals, which may be +used as submarine base. + +Feb. 18--Another Zeppelin wrecked off the coast of Jutland. + +Feb. 19--French aviator drops bombs on Ostend; Germany apologizes to +Switzerland for aviator's flight over Swiss territory. + +Feb. 20--Austrian aviator drops bombs on Cettinje; England distributes +illustrated posters showing differences between English and German +aircraft. + +Feb. 21--German aeroplane drops bombs on Braintree, Colchester, and +Marks Tey, little damage being done. + +Feb. 22--Zeppelin bombards Calais, killing five; Buckingham Palace and +other places in London are guarded against aeroplane attack. + +Feb. 23--German aeroplane seen off the English coast. + +Feb. 24--Three British aviators lost in raid on Belgium. + +Feb. 27--French aviators bombard Metz; Germans drop bombs on Nieuport. + + +AUSTRALIA. + +Feb. 2--Second contingent of troops reaches Egypt; Minister of Defense +says that Government has placed no limit on number of men to be sent. + + +AUSTRIA. + +Feb. 2--Government issues warning that Rumanian volunteers caught +serving with Russians will be shot. + +Feb. 6--Two Czech newspapers suspended for comments on the war +unacceptable to the authorities; editors of papers in Styria threaten to +stop publication unless censorship is relaxed. + +Feb. 9--Commercial and political organizations protest against muzzling +of the press. + +Feb. 12--Czechs clamor for independence; Hungarian Deputies have been +conferring with Rumanian Deputies to try to reach an agreement about +Transylvania which would keep Rumania out of the war; the negotiations +have now been abandoned, as Rumanians wanted complete autonomy for +Transylvania. + +Feb. 13--Entire Austro-Hungarian Landsturm is called out. + +Feb. 15--Church bells may be melted to supply copper. + +Feb. 21--Foreign Minister Burian and German Imperial Chancellor +Bethmann-Hollweg have three long conferences in Vienna. + +Feb. 22--Austrian and German troops have been concentrating for several +days along the Swiss-Italian border; miles of trenches have been dug. + +Feb. 24--Germany is reported to be bringing strong pressure on Austria +to induce the latter to cede to Italy her Italian province of Trent and +a portion of the Istrian Peninsula for the purpose of keeping Italy +neutral. + +Feb. 28--Full text of Austro-Hungarian "Red Book" is published in THE +NEW YORK TIMES; it is estimated that the total Austrian loss, killed, +wounded and prisoners, is now 1,600,000. + + +BELGIUM. + +Feb. 5--Government protests against annulment by Germany of exequaturs +of Consuls of neutral powers. + +Feb. 8--Letter from Cardinal Mercier to the higher clergy of his diocese +protests against violation of his rights as a Belgian and as a Cardinal; +legation in Washington denounces tax imposed by Germans on refugees who +fail to return to Belgium. + +Feb. 18--Germany withdraws interdiction against correspondence by +Cardinal Mercier with Belgian Bishops. + +Feb. 24--Belgian women in Brussels are ordered by Germans to stop +wearing hats made after style of Belgian soldiers' caps. + +Feb. 27--Committee appointed by Germans to investigate condition of +Belgian art treasures reports that the actual destruction has been +insignificant, while objects which have been damaged can be repaired. + + +BULGARIA. + +Feb. 2--Forces have been sent to organize the naval defense of +Dedeagatch. + +Feb. 3--Premier Radoslavoff says that the Government is neutral, but +that the Macedonian question causes apprehension. + +Feb. 10--Government plans to remain neutral despite German loan. + + +CANADA. + +Feb. 3--Unusual measures taken to guard the Duke of Connaught, Governor +General, at the opening of Parliament. + +Feb. 8--The first working day of Parliament; party leaders declare there +will be a political truce during the war; Government to have ample +funds; Colonial Secretary sends dispatch reviewing military operations +from British viewpoint and stating that no Canadian troops are yet on +the firing line except the Princess Patricia Light Infantry. + +Feb. 10--Sixty-five Canadians have died in the encampment at Salisbury +Plain, England. + +Feb. 14--Excitement in Ottawa over report of intended German air raid +from American soil. + +Feb. 15--Parliament buildings, Royal Mint, and Rideau Hall, the Governor +General's residence, are darkened in fear of German air raid. + +Feb. 16--Government asks United States to guard American end of +international bridges; the whole of the first contingent is now in +France. + +Feb. 19--Guards at international bridges are doubled. + + +ENGLAND. + +Feb. 3--It is planned to devote the present session of Parliament +entirely to war measures. + +Feb. 5--Official estimates place the number of effective men in the +army, exclusive of those serving in India, at 3,000,000. + +Feb. 8--Premier Asquith tells Parliament that British losses to Feb. 4 +are about 104,000 in killed, wounded, and missing. + +Feb. 9--Admiral Lord Charles Beresford suggests public hanging of +captured German sea and air raiders. + +Feb. 10--At a cost of $100,000 the Government has converted Donington +Hall, Leicestershire, one of the most beautiful old places in England, +into a rest home for captured German officers. + +Feb. 11--Government plans to publish biweekly communications from Field +Marshal French. + +Feb. 12--First exchanges of disabled prisoners between England and +Germany are arranged through the Papal Nuncio at Berlin. + +Feb. 13--Pamphlet issued to the public gives instructions as to how to +act in case of German invasion. + +Feb. 15--First troops of new armies are pouring into France; enemy +subjects denied admittance at ports. + +Feb. 17--Board of Trade plans to compensate all merchant seamen who may +be injured during hostilities. + +Feb. 18--Victoria Cross is conferred on twelve men, one of whom, +Corporal Leary of the Irish Guards, killed eight Germans in hand-to-hand +combat and took two Germans prisoners. + +Feb. 23--Captain who was formerly in command of the super-dreadnought +Audacious, generally stated to have been sunk by a mine on Oct. 27, is +made a Rear Admiral; promotion revives rumors that the Audacious was +saved and is being repaired; British merchant shipping loss thus far is +$26,750,000, including both ships and cargoes, the Liverpool and London +War risks Association citing figures as showing the efficacy of British +Navy's protection. + +Feb. 25--Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, announces in the House of +Commons that Great Britain is in "entire accord with Russia's desire for +access to the sea." + +Feb. 27--Six newspaper correspondents, including one American, are to be +permitted to go to the front under auspices of the War Office, according +to present plans. + + +GERMANY. + +Feb. 1--Official order has been issued that all stocks of copper and +other metals used for war purposes are to be reserved for the army. + +Feb. 4--German refugees from Kiao-Chau reach New York. + +Feb. 5--It is reported that a sham railroad station has been built +outside of Cologne to deceive French aviators; the Second Secretary of +the British Legation is arrested in Brussels. + +Feb. 6--An Alsatian is condemned to death for fighting in French Army. + +Feb. 7--French prisoner condemned to two years' imprisonment for +defacing portrait of the Kaiser. + +Feb. 8--Government orders neutrals expelled from Alsace; Archbishop of +Cologne writes pastoral letter predicting victory. + +Feb. 9--Cardinal von Hartman says that the motto of the day is "Trust in +God and hold out"; there is a scene in Prussian Diet, when two +Socialists protest against the war. + +Feb. 10--Socialists indorse the war at a meeting in Mainz. + +Feb. 11--Berlin communes suggest that all members of the Emden's crew +be authorized to add the word Emden to their names. + +Feb. 12--Government warns against offering insults to Americans. + +Feb. 14--Many French civilians are freed; the Kaiser is said to be fifth +in popularity among contemporary German heroes, von Hindenburg being +first and the Crown Prince second. + +Feb. 15--Substitute for petrol is stated to have been found. + +Feb. 16--Spaniards are expelled from Baden; Iron Crosses given to +Emden's men; German nurses and surgeons are acquitted by the French of +charges of pillage at Peronne. + +Feb. 19--Passport rules are made stricter; all men of last reserve are +stated to have been called out. + +Feb. 20--New submarines, airships, and two more dreadnoughts are under +construction. + +Feb. 21--Afternoon entertainments are suppressed in Berlin. + +Feb. 22--Boys from seventeen to twenty are, it is reported, to be called +out for Landsturm; charges of cruelty to British prisoners of war are +denied. + +Feb. 24--Frankfurter Zeitung estimates that prisoners of war now held in +Germany and Austria are 1,035,000, 75 per cent. being held by the +Germans. + +Feb. 27--Admiral von Pohl, Chief of the Admiralty Staff, has been +selected as successor to Admiral von Ingenohl, who has been removed from +command of the battle fleet; manufacturing and agriculture enterprises +in the occupied parts of France and Belgium are being kept alive under +the management of Germans to contribute to support of the armies; high +school teachers and pupils are in the army. + +Feb. 28--It is reported that Ambassador von Bernstorff is to be recalled +to Berlin and that Baron Treutler, a friend of the Kaiser, will be his +successor; the total Prussian losses are now 1,102,212, in killed, +wounded, and prisoners. + + +GREECE. + +Feb. 1--Nation at large is declared to be ready to join war on behalf of +Serbia. + +Feb. 9--The Government believes that Germany should respect Greek rights +in the naval war zone. + +Feb. 14--There is danger of Greece's becoming involved in hostilities +because of the Albanian invasion of Serbia. + + +ITALY. + +Feb. 2--Reservists in England warned to be ready to respond to call. + +Feb. 7--Russia plans to send to Italy many Austrian prisoners of Italian +nationality. + +Feb. 8--Soldiers of Second Category are to remain under colors until +May; meeting in Padua is held in favor of joining the war and of +dissolving the Triple Alliance. + +Feb. 9--Federation of the Italian Press condemns pro-German propaganda; +Garibaldi visits Joffre. + +Feb. 10--Garibaldi, in London, says that popular feeling in Italy is +against Germans and Austrians. + +Feb. 20--One million men are under arms; Premier Salandra avoids war +debate in Parliament; volunteers await arrival of Garibaldi to head +expedition to aid Allies. + +Feb. 23--It is planned to call more men to the colors. + +Feb. 27--Premier Salandra, addressing Chamber of Deputies, says the +nation does not desire war but is ready to make any sacrifice to realize +her aspirations. + + +RUMANIA. + +Feb. 19--There is much uneasiness throughout the nation as Parliament +reopens after a recess. + +Feb. 20--Russian Minister to Rumania reports to the Russian Foreign +Minister that, as far as he can gather, Rumania intends to continue her +policy of armed neutrality and that Russia should not rely upon Rumanian +co-operation. + +Feb. 23--The nation is alarmed by the revival of the traditional Russian +policy of obtaining command of Constantinople and the straits; Rumania +stands for the internationalization of Constantinople, the Bosporus, and +the Dardanelles, free passage of the Dardanelles being held vital for +her existence. + + +RUSSIA. + +Feb. 2--Six German subjects and two Russians are sentenced to prison for +collecting funds for German Navy; Government issues statement giving +instances of alleged German cruelties to Russians in Germany after +declaration of war. + +Feb. 3--Girl who fought in nineteen battles is awarded the St. George's +Cross. + +Feb. 4--It is stated that regimental chaplains sometimes lead men in +charges after the officers are killed or wounded. + +Feb. 9--Lvov (Lemberg) to be recognized as Russian; Sir Edward Grey may +send British commercial attaché there; Duma opens; Foreign Minister +Sazonof assails Germany and declares that her intrigues caused the war. + +Feb. 10--Resolution is unanimously adopted by the Duma declaring that +the Russian Nation is determined to carry on the war until such +conditions have been imposed on the enemy as will insure the peace of +Europe; Prof. Paul N. Milukoff, speaking in the Duma in behalf of the +Constitutional Democrats, says that the principal task is the +acquisition of Constantinople and the straits. + +Feb. 13--Duma adopts resolutions asking war relief for provinces +suffering from the war and an inquiry by commission into enemies' +alleged violations of international law; the session is suspended until +not later than the middle of December. + +Feb. 20--It is planned to put war prisoners to work. + +Feb. 24--Russian Ambassador at Washington presents to United States +Government a "mémoire" dealing with atrocities and violations of the +laws and usages of war alleged to have been committed by German and +Austro-Hungarian armies along the Polish and East Prussian frontiers; +the communication is also delivered to other neutral Governments, and it +is planned to bring it before all the Red Cross societies of the world. + +Feb. 26--Consul in London says men living abroad will be held liable for +military service. + + +SERBIA. + +Feb. 15--Prince Alexine Karageorgevitch of Serbia arrives in London with +photographs in support of charges of atrocities alleged to have been +committed against Serbian women and children by Austrians during the +Austrian occupation. + + +TURKEY. + +Feb. 1--There is widespread suffering in Palestine and Syria. + +Feb. 3--Abdul Hamid advises peace. + +Feb. 6--Archives of the Porte are moved to Asia Minor; Field Marshal von +der Goltz's rule is stated to be absolute; it is reported that +able-bodied men are exempted from service on payment of money. + +Feb. 13--The Russians hold a total of 49,000 Turkish prisoners of war, +according to estimates from Petrograd; a strict mail censorship prevails +in Syria. + +Feb. 15--Officers who conspired to stop the war are court-martialed. + +Feb. 16--French Vice Consul at Sana is freed from detention. + +Feb. 20--Jerusalem authorities are ordered to guard non-Moslems as a +result of intervention of United States Ambassador Morgenthau. + +Feb. 21--More reserves are called out; bitterness toward Germans is +being expressed in Syria. + +Feb. 27--At a Cabinet Council in Constantinople it was decided to +transfer the seat of Government to Broussa in Asia Minor. + + +UNITED STATES. + +Feb. 2--Werner Horn, a German, tries to blow up the Canadian Pacific +Railroad bridge over the St. Croix River between Vanceboro, Me., and New +Brunswick; attempt is a failure, bridge being only slightly damaged; he +is arrested in Maine; Canada asks for his extradition. + +Feb. 5--Horn sentenced to jail for thirty days on the technical charge +of injuring property, several windows in Vanceboro having been broken by +the explosion. + +Feb. 24--R.P. Stegler, a German naval reservist, confesses to Federal +authorities in New York, when arrested, details of alleged passport +frauds by which German spies travel as American citizens, and charges +that Capt. Boy-Ed, German Naval Attaché at Washington, is involved; +Federal Grand Jury in Boston begins inquiry to determine whether Horn +violated law regulating interstate transportation of explosives. + +Feb. 25--Capt. Boy-Ed denies the truth of statements made by Stegler +involving him; Stegler is held for alleged obtaining of a United States +passport by fraud; two other men under arrest. + +Feb. 28--German Embassy at Washington issues a statement characterizing +Stegler's allegations about Capt. Boy-Ed as "false and fantastic," and +"of a pathological character," and hinting at attempted blackmail. + + +RELIEF WORK. + +Feb. 2--It is planned to send a Belgian relief ship with supplies +donated wholly by the people of New York State; France facilitates entry +of tobacco sent by Americans as gift to French soldiers; organization is +formed in New York called the War Relief Clearing House for France and +Her Allies to systematize shipment of supplies. + +Feb. 3--Russia permits supplies to be sent to captives, but Russian +military authorities will do the distributing. + +Feb. 4--Steamer Aymeric sails with cargo of food from twelve States for +Belgium. + +Feb. 5--Russia refuses to permit relief expeditions to minister to +German and Austrian prisoners in Siberia; the United States asks that an +American doctor be permitted to accompany Red Cross supplies to observe +their distribution; American Commission for Relief in Belgium is sending +food to some towns and villages of Northern France in hands of the +Germans, where the commission's representatives have found distressing +conditions. + +Feb. 7--New York women plan to equip a lying-in hospital for destitute +mothers of Belgium. + +Feb. 10--Steamer Great City sails with supplies for the Belgians +estimated to be worth $530,000, this being the most valuable cargo yet +shipped; the shipment represents gifts from every State, 50,000 persons +having contributed; Rockefeller Foundation is negotiating in Rumania for +grain for people of Poland. + +Feb. 12--American Girls' Aid Society sends apparel to France sufficient +to clothe 20,000 persons. + +Feb. 13--Otto H. Kahn lends his London residence for the use of +soldiers and sailors who have been made blind during the war. + +Feb. 14--Rockefeller Foundation reports that the situation in Belgium is +without a parallel in history; Commission for Relief announces that it +is possible to send money direct from United States to persons in +Belgium. + +Feb. 16--Queen Mary sends letter of thanks for gifts to the +British-American War Relief Committee; American Red Cross sends a large +consignment of supplies to Russia and Poland. + +Feb. 19--London Times Fund for the sick and wounded passes the +$5,000,000 mark, thought in London to be a record for a popular fund; +steamer Batiscan sails with donations from thirty States; Red Cross +ships seventeen automobile ambulances for various belligerents donated +by students of Yale and Harvard. + +Feb. 22--Sienkiewicz and Paderewski appeal through Paris newspapers for +help for Poland. + +Feb. 23--Rockefeller Foundation's report to Industrial Commission shows +an expenditure of $1,009,000 on war relief up to Jan. 1; food, not +clothes, is Belgium's need, so the Commission for Relief in Belgium +announces from London office. + +Feb. 24--Plans are made for American children to send a ship to be known +as the "Easter Argosy--a Ship of Life and Love" with a cargo for the +children of Belgium. + +Feb. 25--Queen Alexandra thanks British-American War Relief Committee. + +Feb. 26--The American Belgian Relief Fund is now $946,000. + +Feb. 27--Doctors and nurses sail to open the French Hospital of New York +in France. + + + + +THE GREAT SEA FIGHT. + +By J. ROBERT FOSTER. + + + In my watch on deck at the turn of the night + I saw the spindrift rise, + And I saw by the thin moon's waning light + The shine of dead men's eyes. + They rose from the wave in armor bright, + The men who never knew fear; + They rose with their swords to their hips strapped tight, + And stripped to their fighting gear. + + I hauled below, but to and fro + I saw the dead men glide, + With never a plank their bones to tow, + As the slippery seas they ride. + While the bale-star burned where the mists swayed low + They clasped each hand to hand, + And swore an oath by the winds that blow-- + They swore by the sea and land. + + They swore to fight till the Judgment Day, + Each night ere the cock should crow, + Where the thunders boom and the lightnings play + In the wrack of the battle-glow. + They swore by Drake and Plymouth Bay, + The men of the Good Hope's crew, + By the bones that lay in fierce Biscay, + And they swore by Cradock, too-- + + That every night, ere the dawn flamed red, + For each man there should be twain + Upon the ships that make their bed + Where England rules the Main. + They pledged--and the ghost of Nelson led-- + When the last ship's gunner fell, + They would man the guns--these men long dead-- + And ram the charges well. + + So we'll choose the night for the Great Sea Fight + Nor ever give chase by day, + Our compeers rise in the white moonlight, + In the wash of the flying spray; + And if we fall in the battle-blight, + The shade of a man long dead + Fights on till dawn on the sea burns bright + And Victory, overhead! + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT HISTORY; THE +EUROPEAN WAR, VOL 2, NO. 1, APRIL, 1915)*** + + +******* This file should be named 15478-8.txt or 15478-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/4/7/15478 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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