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diff --git a/15480.txt b/15480.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f4905da --- /dev/null +++ b/15480.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15021 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, New York Times Current History; The European +War, Vol 2, No. 3, June, 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. 3, June, 1915 + April-September, 1915 + + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 27, 2005 [eBook #15480] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT HISTORY; +THE EUROPEAN WAR, VOL 2, NO. 3, JUNE, 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 15480-h.htm or 15480-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/4/8/15480/15480-h/15480-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/4/8/15480/15480-h.zip) + + + + + +The New York Times + +CURRENT HISTORY + +A Monthly Magazine + +THE EUROPEAN WAR, VOLUME II + +April, 1915-September, 1915 + +With Index + +Number III, June, 1915 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: (logo) THE N.Y. TIMES] + + + +New York +The New York Times Company + +1915 + + + + +CONTENTS + +NUMBER III. JUNE, 1915. + +THE LUSITANIA CASE (With Map) + +PRESIDENT WILSON'S SPEECHES AND NOTE TO GERMANY + +History of a Series of Attacks on American Lives in the German War Zone + + Page + +AMERICAN NOTE TO GERMANY 409 + +GERMAN EMBASSY'S WARNING AND THE CONSEQUENCE 413 + German Official Report 413 + British Coroner's Verdict 414 + German Note of Regret 415 + England Answers Germany 415 + Captain Turner Testifies 417 + Lusitania's First Cabin List 418 + +DESCRIPTIONS BY SURVIVORS + Submarine Crew Observed 420 + Ernest Cowper's Account 420 + Charles Frohman's Death 422 + Alfred Vanderbilt's Heroic End 423 + Klein and Hubbard Lost 423 + +GERMANY JUSTIFIES THE DEED + German Official Report 424 + Britain's Denial 424 + Collector Malone's Denial 424 + German Foreign Office Note on Neutrals 425 + Dr. Dernburg's Defense 426 + +GERMAN PRESS OPINION + Comment in Germany and Austria 427 + German-American Press Comment 430 + +FALABA, CUSHING, GULFLIGHT + Case of the Falaba 433 + Case of the Cushing 434 + Case of the Gulflight 435 + +AIM OF GERMAN SUBMARINE WARFARE 436 + By Professor Flamm of Charlottenburg + +THREE SPEECHES BY PRESIDENT WILSON + "AMERICA FIRST"--Address to the Associated Press 438 + "HUMANITY FIRST"--Address at Philadelphia 441 + "AMERICA FOR HUMANITY"--Address at the Fleet Review in New York 443 + +TWO EX-PRESIDENT'S VIEWS + Mr. Roosevelt Speaks 444 + Mr. Taft Speaks 446 + +PRESIDENT WILSON'S NOTE 447 + By Ex-President William H. Taft + +ANOTHER VIEW (Poem) 447 + By Beatrice Barry + +IN THE SUBMARINE WAR ZONE 447 + By The Associated Press + +AMERICAN SHIPMENTS OF ARMS 448 + By Count von Bernstorff + +AMERICAN REPLY TO COUNT VON BERNSTORFF 449 + +MUNITIONS FROM NEUTRALS 451 + Colloquy in the House of Commons + +GERMANY AND THE LUSITANIA 452 + By Dr. Charles W. Eliot + +APPEALS FOR AMERICAN DEFENSE 455 + +THE DROWNED SAILOR (Poem) 457 + By Maurice Hewlett + + +WAR WITH POISONOUS GASES (With Maps) + +THE GAP AT YPRES MADE BY GERMAN CHLORINE VAPOR BOMBS + +Reports by the Official "Eyewitness" and Dr. J.S. Haldane, F.R.S. + +DR. HALDANE'S REPORT 458 + +THE "EYEWITNESS" STORY 459 + +WHAT THE GERMANS SAY 462 + +THE CANADIANS AT YPRES 463 + +VAPOR WARFARE RESUMED 471 + +TO CERTAIN GERMAN PROFESSORS OF CHEMICS (Poem) 478 + By Sir Owen Seaman in Punch + +SEVEN DAYS OF WAR EAST AND WEST (With Map) 479 + By a Military Expert of The New York Times + +AUSTRO-GERMAN SUCCESS 484 + By Major E. Moraht + +THE CAMPAIGN IN THE CARPATHIANS (With Map) 486 + Russian Victory Succeeded by Reverses + + +ITALY IN THE WAR (With Maps) + +HER MOVE AGAINST AUSTRO-HUNGARY + +Last Phase of Italian Neutrality and Causes of the Struggle + +DECLARATION OF WAR 490 + +FRANCIS JOSEPH'S DEFIANCE 490 + +ITALY'S CABINET EMPOWERED 491 + +ITALY'S JUSTIFICATION 494 + By Foreign Minister Sonnino + +GERMAN HATRED OF ITALY 497 + +ITALY'S NEUTRALITY--THE LAST PHASE 499 + German, Serbian, and Italian Press Opinion + +ANNUNCIATION (Poem) 503 + By Ernst Lissauer + + +THE DARDANELLES (With Map) 504 + +ALLIES' SECOND CAMPAIGN WITH FLEETS AND LAND FORCES + +"WAR BABIES" 516 + From The Suffragette of London + +THE EUROPEAN WAR AS SEEN BY CARTOONISTS 517 + (With a Selection of American Cartoons on the Lusitania Case) + +WHAT IS OUR DUTY? 533 + By Emmeline Pankhurst + +THE SOLDIER'S PASS (Poem) 536 + By Maurice Hewlett + +THE GREAT END 537 + By Arnold Bennett + +GERMAN WOMEN NOT YET FOR PEACE 540 + By Gertrude Baumer + +DIAGNOSIS OF THE ENGLISHMAN 541 + By John Galsworthy + +MY TERMS OF PEACE 545 + By George Bernard Shaw + +A POLICY OF MURDER 546 + By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle + +THE SOLDIER'S EPITAPH (Poem) 548 + From Truth + +THE WILL TO POWER 549 + By Eden Phillpotts + + +ALLEGED GERMAN ATROCITIES + +REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT + +And Presided Over by The Right Hon. Viscount Bryce +Formerly British Ambassador at Washington + + +WARRANT OF BRYCE COMMITTEE'S APPOINTMENT 551 + PART I 555 + PART II 580 + +SCRIABIN'S LAST WORDS 591 + +CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR 592 + +THE DRINK QUESTION (Poem) 612 + From _Truth_ + + + + +[Illustration: H.M. QUEEN ELIZABETH + +Queen of the Belgians. Though Born a Bavarian Duchess, She Has Equaled +Her Husband in Devotion to Belgium + +(Photo from Bain News Service.)] + +[Illustration: KRONPRINZ WILHELM AND HIS FAMILY + +The Kronprinzessin Cecilie and the Little Princes Wilhelm, Ludwig +Ferdinand, Hubertus, and Friedrich + +(Photo by American Press Assoc.)] + + + + +The New York Times + +CURRENT HISTORY + +A MONTHLY MAGAZINE + +THE EUROPEAN WAR + +JUNE, 1915 + + + + +THE LUSITANIA CASE + +President Wilson's Speeches and Note to Germany + +History of a Series of Attacks on American Lives in the German War Zone + + + President Wilson's note to Germany, written consequent on the + torpedoing by a German submarine on May 7, 1915, of the + British passenger steamship Lusitania, off Kinsale Head, + Ireland, by which over 100 American citizens lost their lives, + is dated six days later, showing that time for careful + deliberation was duly taken. The President's Secretary, Joseph + P. Tumulty, on May 8 made this statement: + + "Of course, the President feels the distress and the gravity + of the situation to the utmost, and is considering very + earnestly, but very calmly, the right course of action to + pursue. He knows that the people of the country wish and + expect him to act with deliberation as well as with firmness." + + Although signed by Mr. Bryan, as Secretary of State, the note + was written originally by the President in shorthand--a + favorite method of Mr. Wilson in making memoranda--and + transcribed by him on his own typewriter. The document was + then presented to the members of the President's Cabinet, a + draft of it was sent to Counselor Lansing of the State + Department, and, after a few minor changes, it was transmitted + by cable to Ambassador Gerard in Berlin. + +DEPARTMENT OF STATE, +WASHINGTON, May 13, 1915. + +The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador at Berlin: + +Please call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and after reading to him +this communication leave with him a copy. + +In view of recent acts of the German authorities in violation of +American rights on the high seas, which culminated in the torpedoing and +sinking of the British steamship Lusitania on May 7, 1915, by which over +100 American citizens lost their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable +that the Government of the United States and the Imperial German +Government should come to a clear and full understanding as to the grave +situation which has resulted. + +The sinking of the British passenger steamer Falaba by a German +submarine on March 28, through which Leon C. Thrasher, an American +citizen, was drowned; the attack on April 28 on the American vessel +Cushing by a German aeroplane; the torpedoing on May 1 of the American +vessel Gulflight by a German submarine, as a result of which two or more +American citizens met their death; and, finally, the torpedoing and +sinking of the steamship Lusitania, constitute a series of events which +the Government of the United States has observed with growing concern, +distress, and amazement. + +Recalling the humane and enlightened attitude hitherto assumed by the +Imperial German Government in matters of international right, and +particularly with regard to the freedom of the seas; having learned to +recognize the German views and the German influence in the field of +international obligation as always engaged upon the side of justice and +humanity; and having understood the instructions of the Imperial German +Government to its naval commanders to be upon the same plane of humane +action prescribed by the naval codes of other nations, the Government of +the United States was loath to believe--it cannot now bring itself to +believe--that these acts, so absolutely contrary to the rules, the +practices, and the spirit of modern warfare, could have the countenance +or sanction of that great Government. It feels it to be its duty, +therefore, to address the Imperial German Government concerning them +with the utmost frankness and in the earnest hope that it is not +mistaken in expecting action on the part of the Imperial German +Government which will correct the unfortunate impressions which have +been created, and vindicate once more the position of that Government +with regard to the sacred freedom of the seas. + +The Government of the United States has been apprised that the Imperial +German Government considered themselves to be obliged by the +extraordinary circumstances of the present war and the measures adopted +by their adversaries in seeking to cut Germany off from all commerce, to +adopt methods of retaliation which go much beyond the ordinary methods +of warfare at sea, in the proclamation of a war zone from which they +have warned neutral ships to keep away. This Government has already +taken occasion to inform the Imperial German Government that it cannot +admit the adoption of such measures or such a warning of danger to +operate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights of American +shipmasters or of American citizens bound on lawful errands as +passengers on merchant ships of belligerent nationality, and that it +must hold the Imperial German Government to a strict accountability for +any infringement of those rights, intentional or incidental. It does not +understand the Imperial German Government to question those rights. It +assumes, on the contrary, that the Imperial Government accept, as of +course, the rule that the lives of noncombatants, whether they be of +neutral citizenship or citizens of one of the nations at war, cannot +lawfully or rightfully be put in jeopardy by the capture or destruction +of an unarmed merchantman, and recognize also, as all other nations do, +the obligation to take the usual precaution of visit and search to +ascertain whether a suspected merchantman is in fact of belligerent +nationality or is in fact carrying contraband of war under a neutral +flag. + +The Government of the United States, therefore, desires to call the +attention of the Imperial German Government with the utmost earnestness +to the fact that the objection to their present method of attack against +the trade of their enemies lies in the practical impossibility of +employing submarines in the destruction of commerce without disregarding +those rules of fairness, reason, justice, and humanity which all modern +opinion regards as imperative. It is practically impossible for the +officers of a submarine to visit a merchantman at sea and examine her +papers and cargo. It is practically impossible for them to make a prize +of her; and, if they cannot put a prize crew on board of her, they +cannot sink her without leaving her crew and all on board of her to the +mercy of the sea in her small boats. These facts it is understood the +Imperial German Government frankly admit. We are informed that in the +instances of which we have spoken time enough for even that poor measure +of safety was not given, and in at least two of the cases cited not so +much as a warning was received. Manifestly, submarines cannot be used +against merchantmen, as the last few weeks have shown, without an +inevitable violation of many sacred principles of justice and humanity. + +American citizens act within their indisputable rights in taking their +ships and in traveling wherever their legitimate business calls them +upon the high seas, and exercise those rights in what should be the +well-justified confidence that their lives will not be endangered by +acts done in clear violation of universally acknowledged international +obligations, and certainly in the confidence that their own Government +will sustain them in the exercise of their rights. + +There was recently published in the newspapers of the United States, I +regret to inform the Imperial German Government, a formal warning, +purporting to come from the Imperial German Embassy at Washington, +addressed to the people of the United States, and stating, in effect, +that any citizen of the United States who exercised his right of free +travel upon the seas would do so at his peril if his journey should take +him within the zone of waters within which the Imperial German Navy was +using submarines against the commerce of Great Britain and France, +notwithstanding the respectful but very earnest protest of his +Government, the Government of the United States. I do not refer to this +for the purpose of calling the attention of the Imperial German +Government at this time to the surprising irregularity of a +communication from the Imperial German Embassy at Washington addressed +to the people of the United States through the newspapers, but only for +the purpose of pointing out that no warning that an unlawful and +inhumane act will be committed can possibly be accepted as an excuse or +palliation for that act or as an abatement of the responsibility for its +commission. + +Long acquainted as this Government has been with the character of the +Imperial Government, and with the high principles of equity by which +they have in the past been actuated and guided, the Government of the +United States cannot believe that the commanders of the vessels which +committed these acts of lawlessness did so except under a +misapprehension of the orders issued by the Imperial German naval +authorities. It takes it for granted that, at least within the practical +possibilities of every such case, the commanders even of submarines were +expected to do nothing that would involve the lives of noncombatants or +the safety of neutral ships, even at the cost of failing of their object +of capture or destruction. It confidently expects, therefore, that the +Imperial German Government will disavow the acts of which the Government +of the United States complains; that they will make reparation so far as +reparation is possible for injuries which are without measure, and that +they will take immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of anything so +obviously subversive of the principles of warfare for which the Imperial +German Government have in the past so wisely and so firmly contended. + +The Government and people of the United States look to the Imperial +German Government for just, prompt, and enlightened action in this vital +matter with the greater confidence, because the United States and +Germany are bound together not only by special ties of friendship, but +also by the explicit stipulations of the Treaty of 1828, between the +United States and the Kingdom of Prussia. + +Expressions of regret and offers of reparation in case of the +destruction of neutral ships sunk by mistake, while they may satisfy +international obligations, if no loss of life results, cannot justify or +excuse a practice the natural and necessary effect of which is to +subject neutral nations and neutral persons to new and immeasurable +risks. + +The Imperial German Government will not expect the Government of the +United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance +of its sacred duty of maintaining the rights of the United States and +its citizens and of safeguarding their free exercise and enjoyment. + +BRYAN. + + + + +THE WARNING AND THE CONSEQUENCE-- + + +THE GERMAN WARNING. + +[On Saturday, May 1, the day that the Lusitania left New York on her +last voyage, the following advertisement bearing the authentication of +the German Embassy at Washington appeared in the chief newspapers of the +United States, placed next the advertisement of the Cunard Line: + + NOTICE! + + TRAVELLERS intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are + reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her + allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war + includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in + accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German + Government vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or of any + of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and + that travellers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great + Britain or her allies do so at their own risk. + + IMPERIAL GERMAN EMBASSY + + WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 22, 1915. + +Despite this warning, relying on President Wilson's note to Germany of +Feb. 10, 1915, which declared that the United States would "hold the +Imperial Government of Germany to a strict accountability" for such an +act within the submarine zone; relying, also, on the speed of the ship, +and hardly conceiving that the threat would be carried out, over two +thousand men, women, and children embarked. The total toll of the dead +was 1,150, of whom 114 were known to be American citizens. + +The German Embassy's warning advertisement was repeated on May 8, the +day following the loss of the Lusitania. On May 12 the German Embassy +notified the newspapers to discontinue publication of the advertisement, +which had been scheduled to appear for the third time on the following +Saturday.] + + +GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_BERLIN, May 14, (via Amsterdam to London, May 15.)--From the report +received from the submarine which sank the Cunard Line steamer Lusitania +last Friday the following official version of the incident is published +by the Admiralty Staff over the signature of Admiral Behncke:_ + +The submarine sighted the steamer, which showed no flag, May 7 at 2:20 +o'clock, Central European time, afternoon, on the southeast coast of +Ireland, in fine, clear weather. + +At 3:10 o'clock one torpedo was fired at the Lusitania, which hit her +starboard side below the Captain's bridge. The detonation of the torpedo +was followed immediately by a further explosion of extremely strong +effect. The ship quickly listed to starboard and began to sink. + +The second explosion must be traced back to the ignition of quantities +of ammunition inside the ship. + +_It appears from this report that the submarine sighted the Lusitania at +1:20 o'clock, London time, and fired the torpedo at 2:10 o'clock, London +time. The Lusitania, according to all reports, was traveling at the rate +of eighteen knots an hour. As fifty minutes elapsed between the sighting +and the torpedoing, the Lusitania when first seen from the submarine +must have been distant nearly fifteen knots, or about seventeen land +miles. The Lusitania must have been recognized at the first appearance +of the tops of her funnels above the horizon. To the Captain on the +bridge of the Lusitania the submarine would have been at that time +invisible, being below the horizon._ + +[Illustration: Map Showing Locations of Ships Attacked in Submarine War +Zone with American Citizens Aboard.] + + +BRITISH CORONER'S VERDICT. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_KINSALE, Ireland, May 10.--The verdict, rendered here today by the +coroner's jury, which investigated five deaths resulting from the +torpedoing of the Lusitania, is as follows:_ + +We find that the deceased met death from prolonged immersion and +exhaustion in the sea eight miles south-southeast of Old Head of +Kinsale, Friday, May 7, 1915, owing to the sinking of the Lusitania by +torpedoes fired by a German, submarine. + +We find that the appalling crime was committed contrary to international +law and the conventions of all civilized nations. + +We also charge the officers of said submarine and the Emperor and the +Government of Germany, under whose orders they acted, with the crime of +wholesale murder before the tribunal of the civilized world. + +We desire to express sincere condolences and sympathy with the relatives +of the deceased, the Cunard Company, and the United States, many of +whose citizens perished in this murderous attack on an unarmed liner. + + +GERMAN NOTE OF REGRET. + +_BERLIN, (via London,) May 10.--The following dispatch has been sent by +the German Foreign Office to the German Embassy at Washington:_ + +Please communicate the following to the State Department: The German +Government desires to express its deepest sympathy at the loss of lives +on board the Lusitania. The responsibility rests, however, with the +British Government, which, through its plan of starving the civilian +population of Germany, has forced Germany to resort to retaliatory +measures. + +In spite of the German offer to stop the submarine war in case the +starvation plan was given up, British merchant vessels are being +generally armed with guns and have repeatedly tried to ram submarines, +so that a previous search was impossible. + +They cannot, therefore, be treated as ordinary merchant vessels. A +recent declaration made to the British Parliament by the Parliamentary +Secretary in answer to a question by Lord Charles Beresford said that at +the present practically all British merchant vessels were armed and +provided with hand grenades. + +Besides, it has been openly admitted by the English press that the +Lusitania on previous voyages repeatedly carried large quantities of war +material. On the present voyage the Lusitania carried 5,400 cases of +ammunition, while the rest of her cargo also consisted chiefly of +contraband. + +If England, after repeated official and unofficial warnings, considered +herself able to declare that that boat ran no risk and thus +light-heartedly assumed responsibility for the human life on board a +steamer which, owing to its armament and cargo, was liable to +destruction, the German Government, in spite of its heartfelt sympathy +for the loss of American lives, cannot but regret that Americans felt +more inclined to trust to English promises rather than to pay attention +to the warnings from the German side. + +FOREIGN OFFICE. + + +ENGLAND ANSWERS GERMANY.[A] + +[By The Associated Press.] + +[Footnote A: In Germany's reply to the American protest against certain +features of the "war zone" order, which was received in Washington on +Feb. 14, occurred this expression: + + If the United States ... should succeed at the last moment in + removing the grounds which make that procedure [submarine + warfare on merchant vessels] an obligatory duty for Germany + ... and thereby make possible for Germany legitimate + importation of the necessaries of life and industrial raw + material, then the German Government ... would gladly draw + conclusions from the new situation. + +In the German note to the American Government justifying the sinking of +the Lusitania presented above, appears this clause: + + In spite of the German offer to stop the submarine war in case + the starvation plan was given up.... + +These two expressions are referred to in the British official statement, +published herewith, in these words: + + It was not understood from the reply of the German Government + [of Feb. 14] that they were prepared to abandon the principle + of sinking British vessels by submarine. + +Whether this may regarded as an opening for the renewal of the German +offer in explicit terms, with the implication that England might accept +it, is not explained.] + + +_LONDON, Wednesday, May 12.--Inquiry in official circles elicited last +night the following statement, representing the official British view of +Germany's justification for torpedoing the Lusitania which Berlin +transmitted to the State Department at Washington:_ + +The German Government states that responsibility for the loss of the +Lusitania rests with the British Government, which through their plan of +starving the civil population of Germany has forced Germany to resort to +retaliatory measures The reply to this is as follows: + +As far back as last December Admiral von Tirpitz, (the German Marine +Minister,) in an interview, foreshadowed a submarine blockade of Great +Britain, and a merchant ship and a hospital ship were torpedoed Jan. 30 +and Feb. 1, respectively. + +The German Government on Feb. 4 declared their intention of instituting +a general submarine blockade of Great Britain and Ireland, with the +avowed purpose of cutting off supplies for these islands. This blockade +was put into effect Feb. 18. + +As already stated, merchant vessels had, as a matter of fact, been sunk +by a German submarine at the end of January. Before Feb. 4 no vessel +carrying food supplies for Germany had been held up by his Majesty's +Government except on the ground that there was reason to believe the +foodstuffs were intended for use of the armed forces of the enemy or the +enemy Government. + +His Majesty's Government had, however informed the State Department on +Jan. 29 that they felt bound to place in a prize court the foodstuffs of +the steamer Wilhelmina, which was going to a German port, in view of the +Government control of foodstuffs in Germany, as being destined for the +enemy Government and, therefore, liable to capture. + +The decision of his Majesty's Government to carry out the measures laid +down by the Order in Council was due to the action of the German +Government in insisting on their submarine blockade. + +This, added to other infractions of international law by Germany, led to +British reprisals, which differ from the German action in that his +Majesty's Government scrupulously respect the lives of noncombatants +traveling in merchant vessels, and do not even enforce the recognized +penalty of confiscation for a breach of the blockade, whereas the German +policy is to sink enemy or neutral vessels at sight, with total +disregard for the lives of noncombatants and the property of neutrals. + +The Germans state that, in spite of their offer to stop their submarine +war in case the starvation plan was given up, Great Britain has taken +even more stringent blockade measures. The answer to this is as follows: + +It was not understood from the reply of the German Government that they +were prepared to abandon the principle of sinking British vessels by +submarine. + +They have refused to abandon the use of mines for offensive purposes on +the high seas on any condition. They have committed various other +infractions of international law, such as strewing the high seas and +trade routes with mines, and British and neutral vessels will continue +to run danger from this course, whether Germany abandons her submarine +blockade or not. + +It should be noted that since the employment of submarines, contrary to +international law, the Germans also have been guilty of the use of +asphyxiating gas. They have even proceeded to the poisoning of water in +South Africa. + +The Germans represent British merchant vessels generally as armed with +guns and say that they repeatedly ram submarines. The answer to this is +as follows: + +It is not to be wondered at that merchant vessels, knowing they are +liable to be sunk without warning and without any chance being given +those on board to save their lives, should take measures for +self-defense. + +With regard to the Lusitania: The vessel was not armed on her last +voyage, and had not been armed during the whole war. + +The Germans attempt to justify the sinking of the Lusitania by the fact +that she had arms and ammunition on board. The presence of contraband on +board a neutral vessel does render her liable to capture, but certainly +not to destruction, with the loss of a large portion of her crew and +passengers. Every enemy vessel is a fair prize, but there is no legal +provision, not to speak of the principles of humanity, which would +justify what can only be described as murder because a vessel carries +contraband. + +The Germans maintain that after repeated official and unofficial +warnings his Majesty's Government were responsible for the loss of life, +as they considered themselves able to declare that the boat ran no risk, +and thus "light-heartedly assume the responsibility for the human lives +on board a steamer which, owing to its armament and cargo, is liable to +destruction." The reply thereto is: + +First--His Majesty's Government never declared the boat ran no risk. + +Second--The fact that the Germans issued their warning shows that the +crime was premeditated. They had no more right to murder passengers +after warning them than before. + +Third--In spite of their attempts to put the blame on Great Britain, it +will tax the ingenuity even of the Germans to explain away the fact that +it was a German torpedo, fired by a German seaman from a German +submarine, that sank the vessel and caused over 1,000 deaths. + + +CAPTAIN TURNER TESTIFIES. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_KINSALE, Ireland, May 10.--The inquest which began here Saturday over +five victims of the Lusitania was concluded today. A vital feature of +the hearing was the testimony of Captain W.T. Turner of the lost +steamship. Coroner Horga questioned him:_ + +"You were aware threats had been made that the ship would be torpedoed?" + +"We were," the Captain replied. + +"Was she armed?" + +"No, Sir." + +"What precautions did you take?" + +"We had all the boats swung when we came within the danger zone, between +the passing of Fastnet and the time of the accident." + +The Coroner asked him whether he had received a message concerning the +sinking of a ship off Kinsale by a submarine. Captain Turner replied +that he had not. + +"Did you receive any special instructions as to the voyage?" + +"Yes, Sir." + +"Are you at liberty to tell us what they were?" + +"No, Sir." + +"Did you carry them out?" + +"Yes, to the best of my ability." + +"Tell us in your own words what happened after passing Fastnet." + +"The weather was clear," Captain Turner answered. "We were going at a +speed of eighteen knots. I was on the port side and heard Second +Officer Hefford call out: + +"'Here's a torpedo.' + +"I ran to the other side and saw clearly the wake of a torpedo. Smoke +and steam came up between the last two funnels. There was a slight +shock. Immediately after the first explosion there was another report, +but that may possibly have been internal. + +"I at once gave the order to lower the boats down to the rails, and I +directed that women and children should get into them. I also had all +the bulkheads closed. + +"Between the time of passing Fastnet, about 11 o'clock, and of the +torpedoing I saw no sign whatever of any submarines. There was some haze +along the Irish coast, and when we were near Fastnet I slowed down to +fifteen knots. I was in wireless communication with shore all the way +across." + +Captain Turner was asked whether he had received any messages in regard +to the presence of submarines off the Irish coast. He replied in the +affirmative. Questioned regarding the nature of the message, he replied: + +"I respectfully refer you to the Admiralty for an answer." + +"I also gave orders to stop the ship," Captain Turner continued, "but we +could not stop. We found that the engines were out of commission. It was +not safe to lower boats until the speed was off the vessel. As a matter +of fact, there was a perceptible headway on her up to the time she went +down. + +"When she was struck she listed to starboard. I stood on the bridge when +she sank, and the Lusitania went down under me. She floated about +eighteen minutes after the torpedo struck her. My watch stopped at 2:36. +I was picked up from among the wreckage and afterward was brought aboard +a trawler. + +"No warship was convoying us. I saw no warship, and none was reported to +me as having been seen. At the time I was picked up I noticed bodies +floating on the surface, but saw no living persons." + +"Eighteen knots was not the normal speed of the Lusitania, was it?" + +"At ordinary times," answered Captain Turner, "she could make 25 knots, +but in war times her speed was reduced to 21 knots. My reason for going +18 knots was that I wanted to arrive at Liverpool bar without stopping, +and within two or three hours of high water." + +"Was there a lookout kept for submarines having regard to previous +warnings?" + +"Yes, we had double lookouts." + +"Were you going a zigzag course at the moment the torpedoing took +place?" + +"No. It was bright weather, and land was clearly visible." + +"Was it possible for a submarine to approach without being seen?" + +"Oh, yes; quite possible." + +"Something has been said regarding the impossibility of launching the +boats on the port side?" + +"Yes," said Captain Turner, "owing to the listing of the ship." + +"How many boats were launched safely?" + +"I cannot say." + +"Were any launched safely?" + +"Yes, and one or two on the port side." + +"Were your orders promptly carried out?" + +"Yes." + +"Was there any panic on board?" + +"No, there was no panic at all. It was all most calm." + +"How many persons were on board?" + +"There were 1,500 passengers and about 600 crew." + +By the foreman of the jury--In the face of the warnings at New York that +the Lusitania would be torpedoed, did you make any application to the +Admiralty for an escort? + +"No, I left that to them. It is their business, not mine. I simply had +to carry out my orders to go, and I would do it again." + +Captain Turner uttered the last words of this reply with great emphasis. + +By the Coroner--I am very glad to hear you say so, Captain. + +By a juryman--Did you get a wireless to steer your vessel in a northern +direction? + +"No," replied Captain Turner. + +"Was the course of the vessel altered after the torpedoes struck her?" + +"I headed straight for land, but it was useless. Previous to this the +watertight bulkheads were closed. I suppose the explosion forced them +open. I don't know the exact extent to which the Lusitania was damaged." + +"There must have been serious damage done to the watertight bulkheads?" + +"There certainly was, without doubt." + +"Were the passengers supplied with lifebelts?" + +"Yes." + +"Were any special orders given that morning that lifebelts be put on?" + +"No." + +"Was any warning given before you were torpedoed?" + +"None whatever. It was suddenly done and finished." + +"If there had been a patrol boat about might it have been of +assistance?" + +"It might, but it is one of those things one never knows." + +With regard to the threats against his ship Captain Turner said he saw +nothing except what appeared in the New York papers the day before the +Lusitania sailed. He had never heard the passengers talking about the +threats, he said. + +"Was a warning given to the lower decks after the ship had been struck?" +Captain Turner was asked. + +"All the passengers must have heard the explosion," Captain Turner +replied. + +Captain Turner, in answer to another question, said he received no +report from the lookout before the torpedo struck the Lusitania. + +Ship's Bugler Livermore testified that the watertight compartments were +closed, but that the explosion and the force of the water must have +burst them open. He said that all the officers were at their posts and +that earlier arrivals of the rescue craft would not have saved the +situation. + +After physicians had testified that the victims had met death through +prolonged immersion and exhaustion the Coroner summed up the case. + +He said that the first torpedo fired by the German submarine did serious +damage to the Lusitania, but that, not satisfied with this, the +Germans had discharged another torpedo. The second torpedo, he said, +must have been more deadly, because it went right through the ship, +hastening the work of destruction. + +[Illustration: "Lusitania's" First Cabin List + +May 22, 1915. + +List of + +SALOON PASSENGERS + +BY THE QUADRUPLE-SCREW TURBINE + +R.M.S. "Lusitania" + + +Captain + +* W.T. Turner, R.N.R. + + +Staff-Captain + +@ J.C. ANDERSON + + +@ CHIEF ENGINEER--A. BRYCE + +@ SURGEON--J.F. McDERMOTT + +@ ASST SURGEON--J. GARRY + +@ CHIEF OFFICER--J.T. PIPER + +@ PURSER--J.A. McCUBBIN + +* 2ND PURSER--P. DRAPER + +* CHIEF STEWARD--J.V. JONES + + +From New York to Liverpool, May 1st 1915. + + + Mr. Henry Adams England. + Mrs. Adams England. + Mr. A.H. Adams London, Eng. +* Mr. William McM. Adams London, Eng. +* Lady Allan Montreal, Can. +* and maid (_Emily Davies_) + Miss Anna Allan Montreal, Can. +@ Miss Gwen Allan Montreal, Can. +* and maid (_Annie Walker_) +* Mr. N.N. Alles New York, N.Y. +* Mr. Julian de Ayala Liverpool, Eng. + (_Consul General for Cuba at Liverpool_) + +* Mr. James Baker England. + Miss Margaret A. Baker New York, N.Y. +* Mr. Allan Barnes Toronto, Ont. +* Mr. G.W.B. Bartlett London, Eng. + Mrs. Bartlett London, Eng. + Mr. Lindon Bates Jr. New York, N.Y. +* Mr. J.J. Battersby Stockport, Eng. +* Mr. Oliver Bernard Boston, Mass. +* Mr. Charles P. Bernard New York, N.Y. +@ Mr. Albert C. Bilicke Los Angeles, Cal. +* Mrs. Bilicke Los Angeles, Cal. + Mr. Harry B. Baldwin New York, N.Y. + Mrs. Baldwin New York, N.Y. + Mr. Leonidas Bistis Greece. + Mr. James J. Black Liverpool, Eng. + Mr. Thomas Bloomfield New York, N.Y. +* Mr. James Bohan Toronto, Canada. +* Mr. Harold Boulton Jr. Chicago, Ill. +* Mr. Charles W. Bowring New York, N.Y. + Miss Dorothy Braithwaite Montreal, Can. +* Miss Josephine Brandell New York, N.Y. +@ Mr. C.T. Brodrick Boston, Mass. +* Mr. J.H. Brooks Bridgeport, Conn. + Mrs. Mary C. Brown New York, N.Y. +@ Mr. H.A. Bruno Montclair, N.J. + Mrs. Bruno Montclair, N.J. +* Mrs. J.S. Burnside Toronto, Ont. +* and maid (_Martha Waites_) Toronto, Ont. + Miss Iris Burnside Toronto, Ont. +* Mr. A.J. Byington London, Eng. +* Mr. Michael G. Byrne New York, N.Y. +* Mr. Peter Buswell England. +@ Mr. William H.H. Brown Buffalo, N.Y. +* Mr. Hy. G. Burgess England. + +* Mr. Robert W. Cairns Booked on Board + Mr. Conway S. Campbell-Johnston Los Angeles, Cal. +@ Mrs. Campbell-Johnston Los Angeles, Cal. + Mr. Alexander Campbell London, Eng. +@ Mr. David L. Chabot Montreal, Can. +* Mrs. W. Chapman Toronto, Canada. +* Mr. John H. Charles Toronto, Canada. +* Miss Doris Charles Toronto, Canada. +* Rev. Cowley Clarke London, Eng. +* Mr. A.R. Clarke Toronto, Canada. +@ Mr. W. Broderick Cloete San Antonio, Tex. +* Mr. H.G. Colebrook Toronto, Canada. +* Miss Dorothy Conner New York, N.Y. +@ Mr. George R. Copping Toronto, Canada. + Mrs. Copping Toronto, Canada. +@ Mrs. William Crichton New York, N.Y. + Mr. Paul Crompton Philadelphia, Pa. + Mrs. Crompton Philadelphia, Pa. + Master Peter Crompton (_8 months_) + and nurse (_Dorothy D. Allen_) +@ Master Steven Crompton Philadelphia, Pa. + (_17 years_) + Master John David Crompton Philadelphia. Pa. + (_6 years_) + Master Paul Romelly Crompton Philadelphia, Pa. + (_9 years_) + Miss Alberta Crompton Philadelphia, Pa. + (_12 years_) + Miss Catherine Crompton Philadelphia, Pa. + (_10 Years_) +@ Mr. Robert W. Crooks Toronto, Canada. +* Mr. A.B. Cross F. Malay States. + +* Mr. Harold M. Daly Ottawa, Ont. +@ Mr. Robert E. Dearbergh New York, N.Y. +@ Mrs. A. Depage Belgium. + Mr. C.A. Dingwall London, Eng. + Miss C. Dougall Guelph, Ont. + Mr. Audley Drake Detroit, Mich. + Mr. Alan Dredge British Honduras. + Mrs. Dredge British Honduras. + Mr. James Dunsmuir Toronto, Canada. + + Mr. W.A. Emond Quebec, Can. + + Mr. John Fenwick Switzerland +* Dr. Howard Fisher New York, N.Y. + Mr. Justin M. Forman New York, N.Y. + Mr. Chas. F. Fowles New York, N.Y. +@ Mrs. Fowles New York, N.Y. + Mr. Richard R. Freeman Jr. Boston, Mass. + Mr. J. Friedenstein London, Eng. + Mr. Edwin W. Friend Farmington, Ct. +@ Mr. Charles Frohman New York, N.Y. +@ and valet (_Wm. Stainton_) + +* Mr. Fred. J. Gauntlett New York, N.Y. + Mr. Mathew Gibson Glasgow, Scot. + Mr. George A. Gilpin England. + Mr. Edgar Gorer London, Eng. +* Mr. Oscar F. Grab New York, N.Y. + Mr. Montagu T. Grant Chicago, Ill. + Mrs. Grant Chicago, Ill. + + Mr. Frederick S. Hammond Toronto, Canada. +* Mrs. F.S. Hammond Toronto, Canada. +* Mr. O.H. Hammond New York, N.Y. + Mrs. O.H. Hammond New York, N.Y. +* Mr. C.C. Hardwick New York, N.Y. + Mr. John H. Harper New York, N.Y. +* Mr. Dwight C. Harris New York, N.Y. + Mr. F.W. Hawkins Winnipeg, Man. +@ Miss Katheryn Hickson New York, N.Y. +* Mr. Charles T. Hill London, Eng. + Mr. William S. Hodges Philadelphia, Pa. + Mrs. Hodges Philadelphia, Pa. +@ Master W.S. Hodges Jr. Philadelphia, Pa. + Master Dean W. Hodges Philadelphia, Pa. +* Master W.R.G. Holt Montreal, Can. +* Mr. Thomas Home Toronto, Canada. +@ Mr. Albert L. Hopkins New York, N.Y. +* Dr. J.T. Houghton Saratoga Springs, N.Y. + Mr. Elbert Hubbard E. Aurora, N.Y. + Mrs. Hubbard E. Aurora, N.Y. + Miss P. Hutchinson England. + +* Mr. C.T. Jeffery Chicago, Ill. +* Mr. Francis B. Jenkins New York, N.Y. +* Miss Rita Jolivet Paris, France. +@ Miss Margaret D. Jones Honolulu, Hawaii. + +* Mr. W. Keeble Toronto, Canada. +* Mrs. Keeble Toronto, Canada. + Mr. Francis C. Kellett Tuckahoe, N.Y. +* Mr. Maitland Kempson Toronto, Canada. +* Dr. Owen Kenan New York, N.Y. + Mrs. C. Hickson Kennedy New York, N.Y. + Mr. Harry J. Keser Philadelphia, Pa. +@ Mrs. Keser Philadelphia, Pa. +* Mr. Geo. A. Kessler New York, N.Y. +@ Mr. Thos. B. King New York, N.Y. + Mr. Charles Klein London, Eng. + Mr. C. Harwood Knight Baltimore, Md. + Miss Elaine H. Knight Baltimore, Md. +* Mr. S.M. Knox Philadelphia, Pa. + + Sir Hugh Lane England. +* Mrs. H.H. Lassetter London, Eng. +* Mr. F. Lassetter London, Eng. +* Mr. Charles E. Lauriat Jr. Boston, Mass. + Mr. C.A. Learoyd Sidney, Aus. +* Mrs. Learoyd Sidney, Aus. +* and maid (_Marg't Hurley_) +* Mr. James Leary New York, N.Y. + Mr. Evan A. Leigh Liverpool, Eng. +* Mr. Isaac Lehmann New York, N.Y. +* Miss Dilane Lehmann Booked on Board +* Mr. Martin Lehmann Booked on Board + Mr. Joseph Levinson Jr. Canada. + Mr. Gerald A. Letts New York, N.Y. + Mr. F. Guy Lewin England. +* Mrs. Popham Lobb New York, N.Y. +* Mr. R.R. Lockhart Toronto, Canada. + Mr. Allen D. Loney New York, N.Y. + Mrs. Loney New York, N.Y. + and maid (_Elise Boutellier_) +* Miss Virginia Loney New York, N.Y. + Mrs. A.C. Luck Worcester, Mass. + Master Eldridge C. Luck Worcester, Mass. + Master Kenneth T. Luck Worcester, Mass. + +* Mr. John W. McConnel Manchester, Eng. + Mr. William McLean France. + Mr. F.E. MacLennan Glasgow, Scot. +* Mr. Louis McMurray Toronto, Canada. + Mr. Fred. A. McMurtry New York, N.Y. +@ Mrs. Henry D. Macdona New York, N.Y. +* Lady Mackworth Cardiff, Wales. + Mr. Stewart S. Mason Boston, Mass. +@ Mrs. Mason Boston, Mass. +* Mr. Arthur T. Mathews Montreal, Can. +@ Rev. Basil W. Maturin Oxford, Eng. + Mr. George Maurice London, Eng. + Mr. Maurice B. Medbury New York, N.Y. + Capt. J.B. Miller Washington, D.C. + Mr. Charles V. Mills New York, N.Y. + Mr. James D. Mitchell England. + Mr. R.T. Moodie Gainesville, Tex. +* Mrs. M.S. Morell Toronto, Canada. + Mr. K.J. Morrison Canada. +* Mr. G.G. Mosley England. + Mrs. C. Munro Liverpool, Eng. + Mr. Herman A. Myers New York, N.Y. +* Mr. Joseph L. Myers New York, N.Y. + +@ Mr. F.G. Naumann England. +@ Mr. Gustaf Adolf Nyblom Canada. + +* Mr. F. Orr-Lewis Montreal, Can. +* and manservant (_Geo. Slingsby_) +* Mrs. A.B. Osborne Hamilton, Ont. + Mrs. T.O. Osbourne Glasgow, Scot. + +* Mrs. F. Padley Liverpool, Eng. +@ Mr. Frederico G. Padila Liverpool, Eng. + (_Consul Gen'l for Mexico at Liverpool_) + Mr. J.H. Page New York, N.Y. +@ Mr. M.N. Pappadopoulo Greece. +* Mrs. Pappadopoulo Greece. +* Mr. Frank Partridge New York, N.Y. +@ Mr. Charles E. Paynter Liverpool, Eng. +* Miss Irene Paynter Liverpool, Eng. + Mr. F.A. Peardon Toronto, Can. +@ Dr. F.S. Pearson New York, N.Y. +@ Mrs. Pearson New York, N.Y. +* Major F. Warren Pearl New York, N.Y. +* Mrs. Pearl New York, N.Y. +* infant + and maid (_Greta Lorenson_) + Miss Amy W.W. Pearl New York, N.Y. + Miss Susan W. Pearl New York, N.Y. +* and maid (_Alice Lines_) +* Master Stuart Duncan D. Pearl New York, N.Y. + Mr. Edwin Perkins England. +* Mr. Frederick J. Perry Buffalo, N.Y. +@ Mr. Albert Norris Perry Buffalo, N.Y. +* Mr. Wallace B. Phillips New York, N.Y. +* Mr. Robinson Pirie Hamilton, Ont. +* Mr. William J. Pierpoint Liverpool, Eng. +@ Mr. Charles A. Plamondon Chicago, Ill. +@ Mrs. Plamondon Chicago, Ill. + Mr. Henry Pollard Washington, D.C. +* Miss Theodate Pope Farmington, Ct. + and maid (_Emily Robinson_) London, Eng. +* Mr. Eugene H. Posen New York, N.Y. + Mr. George A. Powell Toronto, Ont. + +* Mr. Norman A. Ratcliff England. +* Mr. Robert Rankin New York, N.Y. +* Mr. A.L. Rhys-Evans Cardiff, Wales. + Mr. Chas. E. Robinson Philadelphia, Pa. + Mrs. Robinson Philadelphia, Pa. + Mr. Frank A. Rogers Toronto, Canada. +@ Mrs. Rogers Toronto, Canada. +* Mr. Percy W. Rogers Toronto, Can. + Mr. Thos. W. Rumble Toronto, Canada. + Mrs. G. Sterling Ryerson Toronto, Canada. +* Miss Laura Ryerson Toronto, Canada. + + Mr. Leo M. Schwabacher Baltimore, Md. +* Mr. August W. Schwarte New York, N.Y. + Mr. Max M. Schwarcz New York, N.Y. + Mr. A.J. Scott Manila, P.I. +@ Mr Percy W. Seccombe Peterboro, N.H. + Miss Elizabeth Seccombe Peterboro, N.H. + Mr. Victor E. Shields Cincinnati, Ohio. + Mrs. Shields Cincinnati, Ohio. +@ Mrs. R.D. Shymer New York, N.Y. + Mr. Jacobus Sigurd Sweden. + Mr. Thomas J. Silva Temple, Texas. +* Mr. Thomas Slidell New York, N.Y. +* Mrs. Jessie Taft Smith Braceville, O. + Mr. Henry B. Sonneborn Baltimore, Md. +@ Comd'r. J. Foster Stackhouse London, Eng. +@ Mrs. George W. Stephens Montreal, Can. + and maid (_Elise Oberlin_) + Master John H.C. Stephens Montreal, Can. + and nurse (_Carolina Milten_) + Mr. Duncan Stewart Montreal, Can. + Mr. Herbert S. Stone New York, N.Y. +@ Mr. Martin van Straaten London, Eng. + Mr. Julius Strauss Hamilton, Ont. + Mr. Alex. Stuart Glasgow, Scot. +* Mr. Charles F. Sturdy Montreal, Can. + +* Mr. R.L. Taylor Montreal, Can. + Mr. F.B. Tesson Philadelphia, Pa. + Mrs. Tesson Philadelphia, Pa. +* Mr. D.A. Thomas Cardiff, Wales. + Mr. E. Blish Thompson Seymour, Indiana. +* Mrs. Thompson Seymour, Indiana. +@ Mr. Georges Tiberghien France. +* Mr. R.J. Timmis Gainesville, Texas. +* Mr. F.E.O. Tootal London, Eng. +* Mr. Ernest Townley Toronto, Canada. +@ Mr. Isaac F. Trumbull Bridgeport, Conn. +* Mr. Scott Turner Lansing, Mich. +* Mr. G.H. Turton Melbourne, Australia. + + Mr. Alfred G. Vanderbilt New York, N.Y. + and valet (_Ronald Denyer_) +* Mr. W.A.F. Vassar London, Eng. +@ Mr. G.L.P. Vernon London, Eng. + +* Mrs A.T. Wakefield Honolulu, Hawaii. + Mr. David Walker New York, N.Y. + Mrs. Wallace Watson Montreal, Can. + Mrs. Anthony Watson England. +@ Mrs. Catherine E. Willey Lake Forest, Ill. + Mr. Thomas H. Williams Liverpool, Eng. + Mr. Charles F. Williamson New York, N.Y. + Mr. Winter Liverpool, Eng. +* Mrs. A.S. Witherbee New York, N.Y. + Master A.S. Witherbee Jr. (_3 yrs._) New York, N.Y. + Mr. Lothrop Withington Boston, Mass. + Mr. Walter Wright Scotland. +@ Mr. Arthur John Wood England. +* Mr. Robt. C. Wright Cleveland, Ohio. + + Mr. J.M. Young Hamilton, Ont. + Mrs. Young Hamilton, Ont. +* Mr. Philip J. Yung Antwerp, Belgium + + +Total number of Saloon Passengers 293 + +Survivors marked * +Identified Dead marked @ + +(This list, as corrected to May 22, 1915--the final revision--is a +facsimile of the broadside issued by the Cunard Company. It will be +noted that all of Paul Crompton's family perished, including himself, +his wife, and six children.)] + + +The characteristic courage of the Irish and British people was +manifested at the time of this terrible disaster, the Coroner continued, +and there was no panic. He charged that the responsibility "lay on the +German Government and the whole people of Germany, who collaborated in +the terrible crime." + +"I propose to ask the jury," he continued, "to return the only verdict +possible for a self-respecting jury, that the men in charge of the +German submarine were guilty of willful murder." + +The jury then retired and prepared their verdict. + + + + +Descriptions by Survivors + + +SUBMARINE CREW OBSERVED. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +LONDON, May 10.--The Fishguard correspondent of The Daily News quotes +the Rev. Mr. Guvier of the Church of England's Canadian Railway Mission, +a Lusitania survivor, as saying that when the ship sank a submarine rose +to the surface and came within 300 yards of the scene. + +"The crew stood stolidly on the deck," he said, "and surveyed their +handiwork. I could distinguish the German flag, but it was impossible to +see the number of the submarine, which disappeared after a few minutes." + + +ERNEST COWPER'S ACCOUNT. + +_QUEENSTOWN, Saturday, May 8, 3:18 A.M.--A sharp lookout for submarines +was kept aboard the Lusitania as she approached the Irish coast, +according to Ernest Cowper, a Toronto newspaper man, who was among the +survivors landed at Queenstown._ + +_He said that after the ship was torpedoed there was no panic among the +crew, but that they went about the work of getting passengers into the +boats in a prompt and efficient manner._ + +"As we neared the coast of Ireland," said Mr. Cowper, "we all joined in +the lookout, for a possible attack by a submarine was the sole topic of +conversation. + +"I was chatting with a friend at the rail about 2 o'clock, when suddenly +I caught a glimpse of the conning tower of a submarine about a thousand +yards distant. I immediately called my friend's attention to it. +Immediately we both saw the track of a torpedo, followed almost +instantly by an explosion. Portions of splintered hull were sent flying +into the air, and then another torpedo struck. The ship began to list to +starboard. + +"The crew at once proceeded to get the passengers into boats in an +orderly, prompt, and efficient manner. Miss Helen Smith appealed to me +to save her. I placed her in a boat and saw her safely away. I got into +one of the last boats to leave. + +"Some of the boats could not be launched, as the vessel was sinking. +There was a large number of women and children in the second cabin. +Forty of the children were less than a year old." + +From interviews with passengers it appears that when the torpedoes burst +they sent forth suffocating fumes, which had their effect on the +passengers, causing some of them to lose consciousness. + +Two stokers, Byrne and Hussey of Liverpool, gave a few details. They +said the submarine gave no notice and fired two torpedoes, one hitting +No. 1 stoke hole and the second the engine room. The first torpedo was +discharged at 2 o'clock. In twenty-five minutes the great liner +disappeared. + +The Cunard Line agent states that the total number of persons aboard the +Lusitania was 2,160. + + +MR. KESSLER'S DESCRIPTION. + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +_LONDON, Monday, May 10.--Survivors of the Lusitania arriving in London +yesterday from Queenstown told some of their tragic experiences to_ THE +NEW YORK TIMES _correspondent._ + +_They forcibly expressed the opinion that the Lusitania was badly +handled in being run into waters where it was known submarines were +waiting. Although not for a moment attempting to shift the blame from +the "murderous Germans" for the sinking of a ship full of innocent +passengers, they insisted that the officers of the steamship, knowing +that submarines were lurking off the Irish coast, ought to have taken a +different path to avoid all danger...._ + +_George A. Kessler of New York, in an interview, gave the following +description of the Lusitania sinking and of preliminary incidents +aboard:_ + +"On Wednesday I saw the crew taking tarpaulins from the boats, and I +went up to the Purser and said: + +"'It's all right drilling your crew, but why don't you drill your +passengers?' + +"The Purser said he thought it was a good idea, and added, 'Why not tell +Captain Turner, Sir?' + +"The next day I had a conversation with the Captain, and to him +suggested that the passengers should receive tickets, each with a number +denoting the number of the boat he should make for in case anything +untoward happened. I added that this detail would minimize difficulties +in the event of trouble. + +"The Captain replied that this suggestion was made after the disaster to +the Titanic. The Cunard people had thought it over and considered it +impracticable. He added that, of course, he could not act on the advice +given, because he should first have the authority of the Board of Trade. + +"I talked with the Captain generally about the torpedo scare, which +neither of us regarded as of any moment. The Captain (you understand, of +course, that we were smoking and chatting) explained his plans to me. He +said that they were then slowing down, (in fact, we were going only +about eighteen knots,) and that the ship would be slowed down until they +got somewhere further on the voyage, and then they would go at all speed +and get over the war zone. + +"I asked him what the war zone was, and he said 500 miles from +Liverpool. + +"According to the next day's run, ending about two hours before the +mishap occurred, we were about 380 or 390 miles from Liverpool. So we +were in the war zone, and we were going only at a speed of eighteen +knots at the critical moment. + +"For the two days previous, as well as I remember, the mileage was 506 +and 501, and on Thursday the mileage was 488. On Friday I was playing +bridge when the pool was put up on the day's run and I heard twenty +numbers go from 480 to 499. I thought it would be a grand speculation to +buy the lowest number, as we were going so slow. I did buy it, and paid +$100. The amount in the pool was between $300 and $350, and when the +pool was declared, I was the winner. + +"The steward offered to hand over the money if I would go to his cabin, +but I said that he could pay me later. + +"Shortly after the steward had left me I was on the upper deck and +looking out to sea. I saw all at once the wash of a torpedo, indicated +by a snake-like churn of the surface of the water. It may have been +about thirty feet away. And then came a thud." + +_Mr. Kessler told of the general rush for the deck and the second +explosion. Then he continued:_ + +"Mr. Berth and his wife, from New York, first-class passengers, were the +last ones I spoke to. I should say that all the passengers in the dining +saloon had come up on deck. The upper deck was crowded, and, of course, +the passengers were wondering what was the matter, few really believing +what it proved to be. Still they began to lower boats, and then things +began to happen very quickly. + +"Mr. Berth was trying to persuade his wife to get into a boat. She said +she would not do so without him. He said, 'Oh, come along, my darling; I +will be all right,' and I added to his persuasions. + +"I saw him help her into the boat with the ropes of the davits. I fell +into the same boat, and we were slipped down into the water over the +side of the liner, which was bulging out, the list being the other way. +The boat struck the water, and after some seconds (it may have been a +minute) I looked up and cried out, 'My God, the Lusitania is gone!' + +"We saw the entire bulk, which had been almost upright just a few +seconds before, suddenly lurch over away from us. Then she seemed to +stand upright in the water, and the next instant the keel of the vessel +caught the keel of the boat in which we were floating, and we were +thrown into the water. There were only about thirty people in the boat, +and I should say that all were stokers or third-class passengers. There +may have been one or two first class; I cannot recall who they were. + +"When the boat was overturned I sank fifteen or twenty feet. I thought I +was gone. However, I had my lifebelt around me, and managed to rise +again to the surface. There I floated for possibly ten or fifteen +minutes, when I saw and made a grab at a collapsible lifeboat at which +other passengers were also grabbing. We managed to get it shipshape and +clamber in. There were eight or nine in the boat, all stokers except one +or two third-class passengers. + +"It was partly filled with water and in the scramble which occurred the +boat was overturned, and once more we were pitched into the water. This +occurred, I should say, eight times, the boat usually righting itself. +Before we were picked up by the Bluebell six of the party of eight or +nine were lying drowned in the bilge water which was in the bottom." + +_When asked what he thought the effect of the sinking would be on the +United States, Mr. Kessler answered:_ + +"My God! what can America do? Nothing will bring back these people to +life. + +"It was cold-blooded, deliberate murder, and nothing else--the greatest +murder the world has ever known. How will going to war mend that?" + +_To the question whether the loss of the liner could have been avoided, +Mr. Kessler said slowly:_ + +"That is a very serious question, and I hesitate to give an opinion on +matters which are purely technical. + +"Still, it seems to me as a landsman, and one who has crossed the ocean +a great many times, that the safety of the Lusitania lay in speed. We +were in the war zone by 140 or 150 miles, and every moment that we +dawdled at fifteen or eighteen knots was an increase of our risk of +being torpedoed. + +"Again, (and of course I merely make the comment,) I cannot understand +why there were no destroyers or patrol boats about, as we certainly had +been led to expect there would be when we reached the war zone. + +"The ship was torpedoed at 2:05 P.M. My watch stopped at 2:30. It was 5 +o'clock when I was picked up by the Bluebell, and it was 10 o'clock +before we were landed in Queenstown." + + +CHARLES FROHMAN'S DEATH. + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +_LONDON, May 10.--A highly interesting story was told tonight by Rita +Jolivet, the actress, who stood calmly chatting with Charles Frohman and +Alfred G. Vanderbilt during the last tense moments before the Lusitania +sank. The three of them, together with G.L.S. Vernon, Miss Jolivet's +brother-in-law, and Mr. Scott, who had come all the way from Japan to +enlist, joined hands and stood waiting to face death together. Miss +Jolivet said:_ + +We stood talking about the Germans and the rumor which had gained +currency that a man, obviously of German origin, had been arrested for +tampering with the wireless. The story was that the man had been +discovered at 1 o'clock in the morning a day or two before doing +something to the wireless apparatus and had been immediately imprisoned. +I did not see the man arrested, so I am not sure about the story's +truth, but there were good grounds for believing it. + +We determined not to enter the boats, and just a minute or two before +the end Mr. Frohman said with a smile: "Why fear death? It is the most +beautiful adventure that life gives us." + +Mr. Scott fetched three lifebelts, one for Mr. Vanderbilt, one for Mr. +Frohman, and one for my brother-in-law. He said he was not going to wear +one himself, and my brother-in-law also refused to put his on. I hear +that Mr. Vanderbilt gave his to a lady, Mrs. Scott. I helped to put a +lifebelt on Mr. Frohman. My brother-in-law took hold of my hand and I +grasped the hand of Mr. Frohman, who, as you know, was lame. Mr. Scott +took hold of his other hand, and Mr. Vanderbilt joined the row, too. We +had made up our minds to die together. + +Then Mr. Frohman, in a perfectly calm voice, said: "They've done for us; +we had better get out." He knew that his beautiful adventure was about +to begin. He had hardly spoken when, with a tremendous roar, a great +wave swept along the deck and we were all divided in a moment. I have +not seen any of those brave men alive since. Mr. Frohman, Mr. +Vanderbilt, and my brother-in-law were drowned. When Mr. Frohman's body +was recovered there was the most beautiful and peaceful smile upon his +lips. + + +VANDERBILT'S HEROIC END. + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +_LONDON, May 9.--Two survivors of the Lusitania disaster have given +testimony that Alfred G. Vanderbilt died heroically; that he went to +death to save the life of a woman._ + +_Thomas Slidell, a friend of Mr. Vanderbilt, who lives at the +Knickerbocker Club in New York, and was traveling with him, told of the +sacrifice first. Then tonight Norman Ratcliffe, who lives in Gillingham, +Kent, and was returning from Japan, offered verification. Mr. Ratcliffe +was rescued, after clinging to a box in the sea for three hours. With +him was a steward of the Lusitania. He said:_ + +This steward told me he had seen Mr. Vanderbilt on the Lusitania's deck, +shortly after the ship was struck, with a lifebelt about his body. When +the ship gave every indication that it would sink within a few minutes, +the steward said, Mr. Vanderbilt took off his lifebelt and gave it to a +woman who passed him on the deck, trembling with fear of the fate she +expected to meet. The steward said Mr. Vanderbilt turned back, as though +to look for another belt, and he saw him no more. + +_Telling of his last moments on the ship and his last sight of Mr. +Vanderbilt, Mr. Slidell said:_ + +I saw Alfred G. Vanderbilt only a few minutes before I left the ship. He +was standing with a lifebelt in his hand. A woman came up to him, and I +saw him place the belt around the woman. He had none for himself, and I +know that he could not swim. + +Only the day before we had been talking of a day and a dawn some years +ago when we went down the bay at New York in his yacht and waited to +welcome and dip our flag to the Lusitania on her maiden voyage. We saw +the first and last of her. Vanderbilt, who had given largely to the Red +Cross, was returning to England in order to offer a fleet of wagons and +himself as driver to the Red Cross Society, for he said he felt every +day that he was not doing enough. + + +KLEIN AND HUBBARD LOST. + +_Oliver O. Bernard, scenic artist of Covent Garden, said:_ + +Only one or two of the shining marks which disasters at sea seem +invariably to involve have lived to tell the Lusitania's tale. +Vanderbilt, the sportsman, is gone. Genial Charles Klein, the +playwright, is gone. That erratic American literary genius, Elbert +Hubbard, is gone, and with him a wife to whom he seemed particularly +devoted. And Charles Frohman is gone. + +Frohman's was the only body I could recognize in the Queenstown +mortuary, and perhaps it will interest his many friends in London and +New York to know that the famous manager's face in death gives +uncommonly convincing evidence that he died without a struggle. It wears +a serenely peaceful look. + +Frohman must have found it more difficult for him to take his place in a +lifeboat than any other man on the ship. He was quite lame, and hobbled +about on deck laboriously with a heavy cane. He seldom came to the +general dining saloon, either out of sensitiveness or because of +distress caused by his leg. + +I last saw Alfred G. Vanderbilt standing at the port entrance to the +grand saloon. He stood there the personification of sportsmanlike +coolness. In his right hand was grasped what looked to me like a large +purple leather jewel case. It may have belonged to Lady Mackworth, as +Mr. Vanderbilt had been much in company of the Thomas party during the +trip, and evidently had volunteered to do Lady Mackworth the service of +saving her gems for her. Mr. Vanderbilt was absolutely unperturbed. In +my eyes, he was the figure of a gentleman waiting unconcernedly for a +train. He had on a dark striped suit, and was without cap or other head +covering. + + + + +Germany Justifies the Deed + + +[It should be borne in mind that the subjoined official and +semi-official out-givings on behalf of Germany, announcing the +destruction of the Lusitania, justifying it, striving to implicate the +British Government, and to some extent modifying the original war zone +proclamation of Feb. 18, 1915, were published prior to the receipt by +the German Imperial Government of President Wilson's note of May 13. +British official rejoinders and a statement by the Collector of the Port +of New York are included under this head.--Editor.] + + +GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. + +_BERLIN, May 8, (via wireless to London Sunday, May 9.)--The following +official communication was issued tonight:_ + +The Cunard liner Lusitania was yesterday torpedoed by a German submarine +and sank. + +The Lusitania was naturally armed with guns, as were recently most of +the English mercantile steamers. Moreover, as is well known here, she +had large quantities of war material in her cargo. + +Her owners, therefore, knew to what danger the passengers were exposed. +They alone bear all the responsibility for what has happened. + +Germany, on her part, left nothing undone to repeatedly and strongly +warn them. The Imperial Ambassador in Washington even went so far as to +make a public warning, so as to draw attention to this danger. The +English press sneered at the warning and relied on the protection of the +British fleet to safeguard Atlantic traffic. + + +BRITAIN'S DENIAL. + +_LONDON, May 8.--The British Government today made the following +announcement:_ + +The statement appearing in some newspapers that the Lusitania was armed +is wholly false. + + +COLLECTOR MALONE'S DENIAL. + +_In_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _of May 9, 1915, the following report appeared:_ + +Dudley Field Malone, Collector of the Port, gave an official denial +yesterday to the German charge that the Lusitania had guns mounted when +the left this port on Saturday, May 1. He said: + +"This report is not correct. The Lusitania was inspected before sailing, +as is customary. + +"No guns were found, mounted or unmounted, and the vessel sailed without +any armament. No merchant ship would be allowed to arm in this port and +leave the harbor." + +This statement was given out by the Collector yesterday morning at his +home, 270 Riverside Drive. + +Herman Winter, Assistant Manager of the Cunard Line, 22 State Street, +who was on the Lusitania for three hours before she sailed for +Liverpool, denied the report that she ever carried any guns. + +"It is true," Mr. Winter said, "that she had aboard 4,200 cases of +cartridges, but they were cartridges for small arms, packed in separate +cases, and could not have injured the vessel by exploding. They +certainly do not come under the classification of ammunition. The United +States authorities would not permit us to carry ammunition, classified +as such by the military authorities, on a passenger liner. For years we +have been sending small-arms cartridges abroad on the Lusitania." + +[Illustration: SIR ROBERT BORDEN, K.C.M.G. + +Prime Minister of Canada] + +[Illustration: H.R.H. FIELD MARSHAL THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT + +Uncle of George V. and Governor General of Canada + +_(Photo from P.S. Rogers.)_] + +"The Lusitania had 1,250 steel shrapnel cases, but they were empty. +There was no explosive of any sort aboard. As to the report that the +Lusitania had guns aboard, I cannot assert too strongly that it is +positively untrue. There were no guns whatever aboard. The Lusitania was +an unarmed passenger steamer. Furthermore she never has been armed, and +never carried an unmounted gun or rifle out of port in times of war or +peace." + +"Then you unqualifiedly declare that the Lusitania was not armed against +submarines?" he was asked. + +"The ship," Mr Winter replied, "was as defenseless against undersea and +underhanded attack as a Hoboken ferryboat in the North River would be +against one of the United States battleships." + +Captain D.J. Roberts, Marine Superintendent of the Cunard Line, said +yesterday that he was prepared to testify under oath in any court and +from his personal knowledge that the Lusitania did not carry any guns +when she sailed from New York at 12:28 P.M. on May 1 for Liverpool. + +"It is my invariable custom to go through the passenger ships every day +they are in port," he said, "and I made my last inspection of the +Lusitania on sailing day at 7 A.M. There were no guns or plates or +mountings where guns could be fitted on the Lusitania, nor have there +been since she has been in the service. The ship has never carried +troops or been chartered by the British Government for any purpose +whatsoever. + +"In order that there should be no mistake about the ensigns flown by +British merchant vessels, the Admiralty ordered after war had been +declared that only the red ensign, a square red flag with the union jack +in the corner, should be shown at the stern of a merchantman, and the +white St. George's ensign by all war vessels, whether armored or +unarmored. These are the only two flags that are hoisted on British +ships today, with the exception of the company's house flag, when they +are entering port or passing at sea, and the mail flag on the foremast, +which every steamship flies coming in to denote that she has mails on +board. + +"Before the war both the Lusitania and the Mauretania flew the blue +ensign of the Royal Naval Reserve, which any British merchant vessel is +allowed to do if her commander and officers and two-thirds of the crew +belong to the reserve." + + +NEUTRALS IN THE WAR ZONE. + +[German Foreign Office Note.] + +[Special to The New York Times.] + +_WASHINGTON, May 11.--Secretary Bryan received from Ambassador Gerard at +Berlin today the text of an official declaration by the German +Government of its policy with respect to American and other neutral +ships meeting German submarines in the naval war zone around the British +Isles and in the North Sea. This declaration was handed to Mr. Gerard by +the German Foreign Office which explained that it was being issued as a +"circular statement" in regard to "mistaken attacks by German submarines +on commerce vessels of neutral nations."_ + +First--The Imperial German Government has naturally no intention of +causing to be attacked by submarines or aircraft such neutral ships of +commerce in the zone of naval warfare, more definitely described in the +notice of the German Admiralty staff of Feb. 4 last, as have been guilty +of no hostile act. On the contrary, the most definite instructions have +repeatedly been issued to German war vessels to avoid attacks on such +ships under all circumstances. Even when such ships have contraband of +war on board they are dealt with by submarines solely according to the +rules of international law applying to prize warfare. + +Second--Should a neutral ship nevertheless come to harm through German +submarines or aircraft on account of an unfortunate (X) [mistake?] in +the above-mentioned zone of naval warfare, the German Government will +unreservedly recognize its responsibility therefor. In such a case it +will express its regrets and afford damages without first instituting a +prize court action. + +Third--It is the custom of the German Government as soon as the sinking +of a neutral ship in the above-mentioned zone of naval warfare is +ascribed to German war vessels to institute an immediate investigation +into the cause. If grounds appear thereby to be given for association of +such a hypothesis the German Navy places itself in communication with +the interested neutral Government so that the latter may also institute +an investigation. If the German Government is thereby convinced that the +ship has been destroyed by Germany's war vessels, it will not delay in +carrying out the provisions of Paragraph 2 above. In case the German +Government, contrary to the viewpoint of the neutral Government is not +convinced by the result of the investigation, the German Government has +already on several occasions declared itself ready to allow the question +to be decided by an international investigation commission, according to +Chapter 3 of The Hague Convention of Oct. 18, 1907, for the peaceful +solution of international disputes. + +_This circular is understood to have been rather reassuring to high +officials of the United States Government, although it does not cover +the attitude of the German Government toward the treatment to be +accorded to Americans and other neutral noncombatants, men, women, and +children, on board vessels flying the flag of England, France, or +Russia. The absence of any allusion to the principle involved in the +Lusitania case is believed here to mean that the statement was prepared +and was ready for promulgation before the destruction of the Lusitania +on Friday. Several days usually have been required for messages to come +to Washington from Ambassador Gerard, by roundabout cable relay route, +and it is believed that this dispatch is no exception in this respect._ + + +DR. DERNBURG'S DEFENSE. + +_The sinking of the Lusitania as a man-of-war was justified by Dr. +Bernhard Dernburg, late German Colonial Secretary and recognized as +quasi-official spokesman of the German Imperial Government in the United +States, in a statement issued in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 8, 1915. The +statement reads:_ + +Great Britain declared the North Sea a war zone in the Winter. No +protest was made by the United States or any neutral. Great Britain held +up all neutral ships carrying non-contraband goods, detaining them, +buying or confiscating their cargoes. + +Great Britain constantly changed the contraband lists, so no foodstuffs +of any kind have actually reached Germany since the war began. +International law says foodstuffs destined for the civil population must +pass. It does not recognize any right to starve out a whole people. + +As a consequence, and in retaliation, Germany declared the waters around +England a war zone, and started a submarine warfare. It became known in +February that British ships were flying the American flag as a +protection. + +Great Britain replied by officially declaring its purpose to starve +120,000,000 Germans and Austrians. The United States very thoughtfully +tried to mediate, proposing that foodstuffs should be passed and +submarine warfare be stopped. + +Germany agreed; England turned the proposal down. Then, in order to +protect American passengers, they were warned by public advertisement of +the danger of sailing under the flag of a belligerent. + +Vessels carrying contraband of war are liable to destruction unless they +can be taken to a port of the country that captures them. The right of +search need not be exercised if it is certain such ships carry +contraband. + +Oil is contraband, like war ammunition and all metals. The master of the +Gulflight (an American oil tank steamer sunk recently) swore before +customs officials to his cargo of oil for France. + +The master of the Lusitania similarly swore to his manifest of cargo of +metals and ammunition. Both the Gulflight and the Lusitania carried +contraband when attacked, it is obvious. + +The Lusitania's manifest showed she carried for Liverpool 260,000 pounds +of brass; 60,000 pounds of copper; 189 cases of military goods; 1,271 +cases of ammunition, and for London, 4,200 cases of cartridges. + +Vessels of that kind can be seized and be destroyed under The Hague +rules without any respect to a war zone. The Lusitania was a British +auxiliary cruiser, a man-of-war. On the same day she sailed the +Cameronia, another Cunarder, was commandeered in New York Harbor for +military service. + +The fact is that the Lusitania was a British war vessel under orders of +the Admiralty to carry a cargo of contraband of war. The passengers had +had full warning, first by the German note to England in February, +second by advertisement. + +Germany wants to do anything reasonable so as not to make the United +States or its citizens suffer in any way. But she cannot do so unless +Americans will take necessary precautions to protect themselves from +dangers of which they are cognizant. + +What Germany has done, she has done by way of retaliation after her +offer through President Wilson, regarding submarine warfare, was turned +down and after Britain declared the war was directed toward the +120,000,000 innocent noncombatants, women and children. + +Americans can do their own thinking when the facts are laid before them. +I have really no authority to speak. But my mission in the United +States is to inform your people of the German attitude. The German +Ambassador, Count von Bernstorff, can speak only in official phrases. I +talk straight out, bluntly. + +_Dr. Dernburg put much stress on the fact that the Cunard Line officials +did not warn American passengers that the ship carried a large store of +ammunition and other contraband of war. He continued:_ + +Did they issue a warning? I would like an answer. If that warning was +not given, American passengers were being used as a cloak for England's +war shipments. + +It is not reasonable that such a vessel could not be sunk because there +were American passengers on board. They had been warned by Germany of +the danger. + +England could hire one American to travel to and fro on each of her +ships, carry on shipments of arms, and place her men-of-war anywhere, if +American passengers can be used as shields. + +_Asked whether he expected action by the United States because of the +Lusitania's sinking, Dr. Dernburg said:_ + +That is a question I cannot discuss. I can only say that any ship flying +the American flag and not carrying contraband of war is and will be as +safe as a cradle. But any other ship, not so exempt, is as unsafe as a +volcano--or as was the Lusitania. + +_When he was told that the Transylvania, another Cunard liner, sailed +from New York on May 7, to cover the same route as the Lusitania, Dr. +Dernburg said:_ + +I can only say that the German warnings will reappear henceforth by +advertisement. That is significant. + + + + +German Press Opinion + + +_Contrasting with the attitude of the German-American press since the +issuance of President Wilson's note of May 13 to the German Imperial +Government, the comment of the press in Germany has been in accordance +with the German official statements put forth prior to the receipt of +the American note. Under date of May 9, 1915, the following dispatch by +The Associated Press was received from Berlin:_ + +_Commenting on the destruction Lusitania, the Berliner Tageblatt says:_ + +With deep emotion we learn of the destruction of the Lusitania, in +which countless men lost their lives. We lament with sincere hearts +their hard fate, but we know we are completely devoid of blame. + +We may be sure that through the English telegrams communicated to the +world indignation will again be raised against Germany, but we must hope +that calm reflection will later pronounce the verdict of condemnation +against the British Admiralty. + +The many who are now sorrowing may raise complaint against Winston +Spencer Churchill, First Lord of the British Admiralty, who, by +conscienceless instructions which must bring him the curse of mankind, +conjured up this cruel warfare.... + +The Lusitania was a warship on the list of English auxiliary cruisers +and carried armament of twelve strongly mounted guns. She was more +strongly mounted with guns than any German armored cruiser. As an +auxiliary cruiser she must have been prepared for attack. + +_Count von Reventlow, the naval expert, says, in the Tages Zeitung:_ + +The American Government probably will make the case the basis for +diplomatic action, but it could have prevented the loss of American +lives by appropriate instructions. It is the American Government's +fault, therefore, if it did not take Germany's war zone declarations +seriously enough. + +_The writer declares, further, that Germany had full and trustworthy +information that the Lusitania carried a cargo of war material, as she +had on previous trips._ + +_The Lokal Anzeiger also assumes that the steamship was carrying +munitions of war, and maintains that this and "the fact that she was a +fully armed cruiser completely justifies her destruction under the laws +of warfare."_ + +_The Kreuz Zeitung, after referring to the warning issued by Ambassador +von Bernstorff, adds:_ + +If citizens of neutral States were lost with the sunken ship they must +bear the full blame. + +_Some papers further testify the sinking of the steamer because on a +previous occasion she had resorted to the expedient of flying the +American flag. Germania, the clerical organ, deprecates probable +attempts by Germany's antagonists to make moral capital against her out +of the sinking of the Lusitania and the loss of life. The paper says:_ + +We can look forward to such efforts with a clear conscience, for we have +proceeded correctly. We can only answer to those who place their +sympathies above justice, that war is war. + +_An editorial article in the Frankfurter Zeitung was quoted in an +Amsterdam dispatch to The London Times of May 10, as follows:_ + +The Lusitania has been sent to the bottom. That is the announcement +which must arouse measureless horror among many thousands. + +A giant ship of the British merchant fleet, a vessel of over 31,000 +tons, one of the most famous of the fast steamers of the +British-American passenger service, a ship full of people, who had +little or nothing to do with the war, has been attacked and sunk by a +German torpedo. This is the announcement which in a few words indicates +a mighty catastrophe to a ship with 2,000 people aboard. + +We always feel that it is tragic and all too hard when war inflicts +wounds on those who do not carry its weapons. + +We lament similarly the fate of the unfortunate villages and towns where +war rages and the innocent victims of bombs who, far behind the +trenches, and often without our being able to estimate the meaning of +this murder, are snatched from the ranks of the unarmed. + +Much more terrible is the fate of those who on the high sea, many +hundreds in number, suddenly see death before their eyes. + +A German war vessel has sunk the ship. It has done its duty. + +For the German Navy the sinking of the Lusitania means an extraordinary +success. Its destruction demolished the last fable with which the people +of England consoled themselves; on which hostile shipping relied when it +dared to defy the German warnings. + +We do not need to seek grounds to justify the destruction of a British +ship. She belonged to the enemy and brought us harm. She has fallen to +our shots. + +The enemy and the whole world were warned that he who ventured to trust +himself within her staked his life. + +_The London Daily Mail of May 16 quotes from Der Tag the following +article by Herr von Rath, who is described as a favorite spokesman in +the Wilhelmstrasse:_ + +President Wilson is very much troubled by the drowning of so many +American citizens, and we Germans sincerely share his feelings, but we +see in the Lusitania affair one of the many cruel necessities which the +struggle for existence brings with it. + +If, as English reports try to make us believe, Mr. Wilson is now +meditating revenge, we will not disturb him in this occupation, but +would only hope that his demands will be addressed to the right and not +the wrong quarters. + +The right address is England. On the German side, everything was done to +warn American travelers from the impending peril, while British +irresponsibility and arrogance nullified the effect of the German +admonition. + +Mr. Wilson is certainly in a precarious position. After showing himself +so weak in the face of the long and ruthless British provocations, he +has to play the strong man with Germany. Otherwise he will lose what +prestige he has left, and he knows that in the background the pretender +to the throne, Mr. Roosevelt, is lurking. + +But what are the gallant shouters in the United States thinking about? +Should the United States send troops to take part in the fighting in +Flanders? The gigantic losses of their Canadian neighbors should not +exactly encourage them, from a military standpoint. Moreover the United +States are so weak that they have never even been able to impose their +will on Mexico or to do anything to the still more unpleasant Japanese +than to clench their fists in their pockets. + +Should their superdreadnoughts cross the Atlantic Ocean? England has +not even useful work for her own ironclads in this war. What would +American warships do? + +How about our Germanic brethren in the United States--the half million +German and Austro-Hungarian reservists who are not permitted to take +part in the defense of their home lands? Will they stand with folded +arms and see their fatherlands attacked? + +What the United States has already done to support our enemies is, apart +from interference with private property, the worst which she could do to +us. We have nothing more to expect or to fear. Therefore, the threats of +our erstwhile friend Roosevelt leave us quite cold. + +Let the United States also preserve up from warmed-up humanitarian +platitudes, for her craven submission to England's will is promoting an +outrageous scheme to deliver Germany's women and children to death by +starvation. + +_A wireless dispatch from Berlin to Sayville, L.I., on May 16 reported +this outgiving by the Overseas News Agency:_ + +The whole German press, particularly the Cologne Gazette, the Frankfort +Gazette and the Berliner Tageblatt, deeply regret the loss of American +lives caused by the sinking of the Lusitania. + +The Tages Zeitung and other newspapers state that the responsibility +rests with the British Government, which, attempting to starve the +peaceful civilian population of a big country, forced Germany in +self-defense to declare British waters a war zone; with shipowners, who +allowed passengers to embark on an armed steamer carrying war material, +and neglected German warnings against entering the war zone, and, +finally, with the English press. + +Heartfelt sympathy is expressed by the German press and public for the +victims of the catastrophe and their relatives. + +_From The Hague, via London, on May 19 a special cable to_ THE NEW YORK +TIMES _reported that, acting apparently under official instructions, +several leading German newspapers had on that day joined in a fierce +attack on the United States, making a concerted demand that Germany +refuse to yield to the American protest._ + +_Practically all these newspapers repeat the same arguments, declaring +that neutrals entering the war zone do so at their own risk, and that +the Americans aboard the Lusitania "were shielding contraband goods with +their persons." The Berliner Tageblatt said:_ + +The demand of the Washington Government must be rejected. Indeed, the +whole note hardly merits serious consideration. Its "firm tone" is only +a cloak to hide America's consciousness of her own culpability. If +American citizens, in spite of the warnings of the German Admiralty, +intrusted themselves on the Lusitania, the blame for the consequences +falls on themselves and their Government. + +Can the United States affirm that there were no munitions aboard? If +not, it has not the shadow of a right to protest. + + +GERMAN-AMERICAN PRESS COMMENTS. + +_Under the heading "The President's Note," Herman Ridder, editor of the +New Yorker Staats-Zeitung, one of the leading German-American +newspapers, said in that publication on May 15:_ + +The attitude assumed by the President, in the note delivered yesterday +to the German Government, toward the infringement of our rights on the +seas is diplomatically correct and must compel the support of the entire +American people. + +We have suffered grievously at the hands of more than one of the +belligerent nations, but for the moment we are dealing only with +Germany. The note recites a series of events which the Government of the +United States could not silently pass by, and demands reparation for +American lives lost and American property already destroyed and a +guarantee that the rights of the United States and its citizens shall be +observed in the future. All this the German Government may well grant, +frankly and unreservedly and without loss of honor or prestige. It +would be incomprehensible if it did not do so. + +The note admits, as most diplomatic documents do, of two +interpretations. They will be applied to it variously, as the reader is +inclined to pessimism or to optimism. It is a document in which lies the +choice of war or peace evenly balanced. I prefer to read into it all the +optimism which can be derived from the knowledge that two nations, +historically like-minded and bound to one another by strong ties of +friendship, seldom go to war over matters which can be settled without +resort to the arbitrament of arms. There is no question outstanding +today between the United States and Germany which cannot be settled +through diplomatic channels. I am inclined all the more to this optimism +by the temperament and character of the President of the United for the +time being. + +I see in the note great possibilities for good. The undersea activities +of the German Navy in their effect upon the rights of the United States +and its citizens form, properly, the burden of its argument. We are +addressing Germany, and it is only over her submarine policy that our +interests have clashed with hers. The note takes cognizance, however, of +the inter-relation of Germany's submarine policy and the British policy +of "starving out Germany." The President has opened an avenue to the +full discussion of the rights and obligations of submarines in naval +warfare, and when Germany has stated her case it is not only not +impossible but it is highly probable that he will be asked to suggest a +modus vivendi by which the objectionable features of both these policies +may be removed. + +The situation is basically triangular and it is difficult to see how the +settlement of our difficulties with Germany can escape involving at the +same time the rectification of Great Britain's methods of dealing with +the trade between neutral countries and her adversaries. It is but a +step from the position of mediator in a question of this sort to that of +mediator in the larger questions which make for war or peace. I believe +that the note contains the hopeful sign that these things may come to +pass. + +The possibilities are there and the President, I am confident, will +overlook no possibility of advancing the cause of an early return of +peace to Europe nor leave any unturned stone to free this country of the +dangers and inconveniences which have become the concomitants of the +European struggle. Out of the troubled waters of our present relations +with Germany may thus come a great and, we may hope, a lasting good. +Should this happily be the case, the wisdom of the President will have +been confirmed and the thankfulness of the nation secured to him. On the +other hand, should his pacific hand be forced by those who wax fat and +wealthy on strife and the end should be disaster untold to the country, +he will still have the consolation of having fought a good battle and of +knowing that he was worsted only by the irresistible force of demagogy +in this country or abroad. + +The subject with which the note deals is one of the same paramount +importance to Germany as it is to this country, and we must wait in +patience for Germany's reply; and I, for one, shall wait in the +confidence that when it is received it will be found to offer a basis +for a friendly solution of the questions which exist between Germany and +the United States and, not unlikely, for those further steps which I +have intimated. + +_Under the caption "A Word of Earnest Advice," the evening edition of +the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung on May 14 issued the following warning to +Germans and German-Americans:_ + +The times are grave--even very grave.... A conflict between America and +the old Fatherland is threatening. Such a conflict must rend the heart +of every German-American who has acquired the rights of citizenship +here, who has founded a new career for himself and brought up his +children. + +It is probably unnecessary to give any advice to the American citizens +among our readers in regard to their conduct in this grave time. A +series of years must pass before an immigrant can obtain his +citizenship papers; nobody is forced to become a citizen. Of the man who +has voluntarily become a citizen of the United States we may therefore +expect that he knows the conditions here obtaining the institutions of +the country of his adoption, as well as his rights and duties. But there +are thousands upon thousands of our readers who are not citizens, and to +them a serious word of advice shall now be addressed. In the grave time +of the conflict let efforts be made to avoid every personal conflict. It +is not necessarily cowardly to deny one's descent, but it is not +necessary, either, to make demonstrations. + +Where there is life there is hope. The hope still is entertained that +the conflict will be eliminated, that the bond of friendship between +Germany and America will not be torn. Through thoughtless Hotspurs, who +allow themselves to be carried away by excitement and do not dam up the +flood of their eloquence, much mischief can be done. Keeping away from +the public places where the excited groups congregate and discuss the +burning questions of the day must be urgently recommended. It was for +many a sport to participate in these discussions, and with more or less +skill, but always energetically to champion the German cause. + +The American is in general very liberal in regard to expression of +opinion. He likes to hear also the "other side," but it must not be +forgotten that in times of conflict the "other side" may be regarded as +the "enemy side." What has heretofore sounded harmless may now be +interpreted as a criticism made against the United States. But the +American as a rule repels a criticism made by strangers against the +affairs of his own country. Through heated discussions and unwise +demonstrations nothing is at present to be achieved but much can be +spoiled. + +Grave times! + +Calmness is now the first duty of citizenship--for all non-citizens. + +But whoever is a citizen--he would be doing well in any event to stay +away from the streets and squares where the noisy ones congregate. + +There are very many Germans whose motto here, too, is: "We Germans fear +God and nothing else in the world." But whoever bellows that into the +ears of hundreds of persons of hostile mind in the public market place +is either a fool or--weary of life. + +In submarine warfare the Germans may be superior to the British, but in +undermining the latter are superior to the former. They have now +succeeded in undermining the friendship between Uncle Sam and the +Deutsche Michel. Let us hope that the fuse can be extinguished before +the explosion follows. + +_Charles Neumeyer, editor of The Louisville (Ky.) Anzeiger, in a +dispatch on May 14 to_ THE NEW YORK TIMES, _said of President Wilson's +note:_ + +The American note to Berlin evidences the desire of the President to +hold Germany to strict accountability for the loss of American lives in +the Lusitania disaster. This proceeding on the part of the American +Government is eminently just and proper. If the President had failed to +hold Germany to strict accountability he would have failed of his +official duty. The President's forceful action cannot be but of salutary +effect in this country also. It gives the American people the assurance +that the Government at Washington is prepared and ready for the +protection of American citizens wherever they may chance to be. + +There was a time when the Government did not resort to very vigorous +measures in this respect. American citizens while traveling abroad were +frequently subject to insult and violence, and the authorities at +Washington seemingly paid little heed to complaints. The result was that +the American citizen abroad was not held in that respect which emanates +from the knowledge that his home Government is prepared to go to the +length of its ability, if necessary, to accord him protection. + +One or two of the demands formulated against Germany do not meet with +our approval. The President demands a cessation of German submarine +warfare on merchant vessels, but while the interruption of the +starvation plan adopted by England against the civil population is urged +upon the latter it will continue. The starvation plan is primarily being +waged against the weak and helpless, and is, therefore, responsible. It +is also in violation of the spirit if not the letter of international +law. If the President can force a demand for the cessation of the +submarine warfare, he ought also to have the right to demand the lifting +of the starvation blockade. The tragedy was chiefly due to either +stupidity or design on the part of the British Admiralty in failing to +afford proper protection to the ship. While we do not agree with the +President on some points in his note, we repose the fullest confidence +in his patriotism as well as his deliberate judgment as giving assurance +that, whatever the outcome, the case of the American people rests in +trustworthy hands. + +The people should by their action spare him unnecessary embarrassment +and rely for a satisfactory solution of the grave questions confronting +us on his patriotism and honesty. + +_A dispatch on May 14 to_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _from Max Burgheim, editor +of the Freie Presse of Cincinnati, Ohio, reads:_ + +The part of the note referring to the Lusitania catastrophe had better +been directed to London. England, not Germany, is responsible for the +destruction of the Lusitania. England, through the violation of the +rights of nations and the brutal threat to starve 70,000,000 Germans, +has forced Germany to a policy against English commerce of which the +Lusitania was a victim. Germany declared to our President her +willingness to stop submarine warfare if England would allow the +importation of food for the German civil population. England +contemptuously cast aside the President's mediation. + +It has not yet been proved that submarine warfare is not in keeping with +international law. Distinguished authorities on international law have +declared that Germany was not only justified but bound to adopt this +method in the hour of need, because it is the only effective defense +against England's warfare. Germany cannot cease this warfare unless she +wishes to surrender with tied hands to a ruthless enemy. All we can +justly ask of Germany is that neutral ships be not attacked, and that +damages be paid in case of loss through mistakes. Germany has already +agreed to this. + + + + +Falaba, Cushing, Gulflight + + +CASE OF THE FALABA. + +_A Washington dispatch to_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _on March 31, 1915, +reported that the records of the State Department's Passport Bureau show +that a passport was issued on June 1, 1911, to Leon Chester Thrasher, a +passenger aboard the British African steamship Falaba, which was +torpedoed by a German submarine in the "zone of naval warfare" on March +28. The American citizenship of Thrasher, who was drowned, has been +established._ + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +LONDON, Wednesday, March 31.--An American citizen, Leon Chester +Thrasher, an engineer, was among the victims of the German submarine +that sank the British steamer Falaba in St. George's Channel last Sunday +with a loss of 111 lives. Mr. Thrasher's name is included in the +official list of the missing. For the last year he had been employed on +the Gold Coast, British West Africa, and it is presumed he was returning +to his post when he met his death at the hands of the German sea +raiders. + +The Daily Mail says Mr. Thrasher was bound for Secondee, West Africa. +Reference to the form which has to be filled out to satisfy the Board of +Trade and customs requirements by every passenger embarking at a British +port before tickets will be issued shows that Mr. Thrasher was a citizen +of the United States. Here are the particulars: + +Name, Leon Chester Thrasher; age, last birthday, 31; single; sex, male; +profession, engineer; country of residence for last twelve months, Gold +Coast Colony, West Africa; country of intended residence for next twelve +months, the same; country of which citizen or subject, United States of +America; present address, 29 Cartwright Gardens, St. Pancras, W.C. + +When Mr. Thrasher went on board the Falaba he produced an American +passport. + +_The British Official Press Bureau on April 8 issued the following +report on the destruction of the Falaba:_ + +It is not true that sufficient time was given the passengers and the +crew of this vessel to escape. The German submarine closed in on the +Falaba, ascertained her name, signaled her to stop, and gave those on +board five minutes to take to the boats. It would have been nothing +short of a miracle if all the passengers and crew of a big liner had +been able to take to their boats within the time allotted. + +While some of the boats were still on their davits the submarine fired a +torpedo at short range. This action made it absolutely certain that +there must be great loss of life and it must have been committed +knowingly with the intention of producing that result. + +The conduct of all on board the Falaba appears to have been excellent. +There was no avoidable delay in getting out the boats. To accuse the +Falaba's crew of negligence under the circumstances could not easily be +paralleled. + + +THE GERMAN DEFENSE. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_BERLIN, April 13, (via Amsterdam to London, April 14.)--A semi-official +account of the sinking of the British steamer Falaba by a German +submarine on March 28 was made public here today. It follows:_ + +On receiving the signal "Stop, or I fire," the Falaba steamed off and +sent up rocket signals to summon help, and was only brought to a +standstill after a chase of a quarter of an hour. + +Despite the danger of an attack from the steamer or from other vessels +hurrying up, the submarine did not immediately fire, but signaled that +the steamer must be abandoned within ten minutes. The men of the Falaba +quickly entered the boats, although the launching took place in an +unseamanlike manner. They failed to give assistance, which was possible, +to passengers struggling in the water. + +From the time of the order to leave the ship until the torpedo was +discharged not ten but twenty-three minutes elapsed, prior to which +occurred the chase of the steamer, during which period time might have +been used to get the boats ready. + +The torpedo was fired only when the approach of suspicious-looking +vessels, from which an attack was to be expected, compelled the +commander of the submarine to take quick action. When the torpedo was +discharged nobody was seen on board the ship except the Captain, who +bravely stuck to his post. + +Afterward some persons became visible who were busy about a boat. + +Of the crew of the submarine, the only ones on deck were those serving +the cannon or those necessary for signaling. It was impossible for them +to engage in rescue work, because the submarine could not take on +passengers. + +Every word is superfluous in defending our men against malignant +accusations. At the judicial proceedings in England no witness dared +raise accusations. It is untrue that at any time the submarine displayed +the English flag. The submarine throughout the affair showed as much +consideration for the Falaba as was compatible with safety. + + +COMMANDER SCHMITZ'S STORY. + +[From The New York Times, May 6, 1915.] + +_J.J. Ryan, the American cotton broker who went to Germany on March 30 +and sold 28,000 bales of cotton he had shipped to Bremen and Hamburg, +returned yesterday on the Cunard liner Carpathia very well satisfied +with the results of his trip. He said:_ + +While I was in Bremen I met Commander Schmitz of the German submarine +U-28, which sank the British African liner Falaba off the English coast +on March 28. He told me that he regretted having been compelled to +torpedo the vessel, as she had passengers on board. In explanation, he +said: + +"I warned the Captain of the Falaba to dismantle his wireless apparatus +and gave him ten minutes in which to do it and get his passengers off. +Instead of acting upon my demand he continued to send messages out to +torpedo destroyers that were less than twenty miles away, to come as +quickly as possible to his assistance. + +"At the expiration of the ten minutes I gave him a second warning about +dismantling his wireless apparatus and waited twenty minutes, and then I +torpedoed the ship, as the destroyers were getting close up and I knew +they would go to the rescue of the passengers and crew." + +I mentioned the fact to the commander that it had been reported by some +of the survivors of the liner that while the men and women were +struggling for their lives in the icy water his crew were standing on +the deck of the submarine laughing. He looked very gravely at me and +replied, "That is not true, and is most cruelly unjust to my men. They +were crying, not laughing, when the boats were capsized and threw the +people into the water." + + +CASE OF THE CUSHING. + +[Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +_WASHINGTON, May 1.--Secretary Bryan today received from American +Minister Henry van Dyke at The Hague a report on the attack by German +aviators on the American steamship Cushing and said tonight that this +report would be immediately cabled to Ambassador Gerard at Berlin for +his information. Ambassador Gerard will bring the matter to the +attention of the German Government. The report from Minister van Dyke +was very brief, and read as follows:_ + +The American Consul at Rotterdam reports that the American steamship +Cushing, Captain Herland, with petroleum from New York to Rotterdam, +flying the American flag, was attacked by German aeroplanes near the +North Hinder Lightship, afternoon April 29. Three bombs dropped, one +struck ship, causing damage, but no life lost. + +_The report of Captain Lars Larsen Herland, master of the American tank +steamer Cushing, made upon his arrival in Philadelphia, Penn., on May +19, 1915, is as follows:_ + +The airmen swept in narrow circles over the tanker, trying to get +directly over the funnel, with the idea, apparently, of dropping a bomb +into it and wrecking the engine room. + +When attacked the Cushing was about twenty-five miles from Antwerp and +eight miles from the North Hinder Lightship. It was near 7 o'clock in +the evening, but the sun had barely touched the horizon, and there was +ample light for the pilot of the biplane to see the words, "Cushing, New +York, United States of America," painted on each side of the vessel in +letters eight feet high, and to note the Stars and Stripes at the +masthead and the taffrail. + +When the airship was first noted it was several thousand feet in the +air, but dropped as it approached the ship, and soon was only about 500 +feet up. Suddenly it swooped down to about 300 feet above the Cushing. +Then there was a tremendous explosion, and a wave flooded the stern +deck. A second bomb missed the port quarter by a foot or so, and sent +another wave over the lower deck. + +The biplane swung up into the wind, hung motionless for a second or so, +then came the third bomb, which just grazed the starboard rail and shot +into the sea. + +The airship hung around for a few minutes, then headed toward the Dutch +coast. She was flying a white flag, with a black cross in the centre, +the pennant of the German air fleet. + + +CASE OF THE GULFLIGHT. + +_Official confirmation of the attack on May 1, 1915, by a German +submarine on the American oil tank steamer Gulflight off the Scilly +Islands came to the State Department at Washington on May 3 in +dispatches from Joseph G. Stephens, the United States Consul at +Plymouth, England. Two members of the crew were drowned, the Captain +died of heart failure, and thirty-four members of the crew were saved. +Following is the sworn statement of Ralph E. Smith, late chief officer +and now master of the Gulflight, received from Ambassador Page and +published by the State Department at Washington on May 11:_ + +I am Ralph E. Smith, now master of the steamship Gulflight. At the +commencement of the voyage I was chief officer. The ship left port at +Port Arthur on the 10th day of April, 1915, about 4 P.M., laden with a +tank cargo of gasoline and wooden barrels of lubricating oil. The voyage +was uneventful. + +When about half way across the Atlantic the wireless operator told me +there was a British cruiser in our vicinity and that he had heard +messages from this ship the whole time since leaving Port Arthur, but +she made no direct communication with or to our ship. From the sound of +the wireless messages given out by the British ship, she seemed to +maintain the same distance from us until about three days before we +reached the mouth of the English Channel. + +On the first day of May, about 11 o'clock in the forenoon, we spoke two +British patrol vessels named Iago and Filey. We were then about +twenty-two miles west of the Bishop Lighthouse. The patrol vessels asked +where we were bound. After informing them we were bound for Rouen, they +ordered us to follow them to the Bishop. The Filey took up a position a +half mile distant on our port bow, the Iago off our starboard quarter +close to us. We steered as directed, and at about 12:22, the second +officer, being on watch, sighted a submarine on our port bow--slightly +on the port bow--steaming at right angles to our course. The submarine +was in sight for about five minutes, when she submerged about right +ahead of us. I saw her, but could not distinguish or see any flag flying +on her. + +The Gulflight was then steering about true east, steaming about eight +miles an hour, flying a large American ensign, six feet by ten feet. +The wind was about south, about eight miles an hour in force. I +personally observed our flag was standing out well to the breeze. + +Immediately after seeing the submarine I went aft and notified the crew +and came back and went on the bridge and heard the Captain make the +remark that that must be a British submarine, as the patrol boats took +no notice of it. + +About 12:50 an explosion took place in the Gulflight on the bluff of the +starboard bow, sending vast quantities of water high in the air, coming +down on the bridge and shutting everything off from our view. After the +water cleared away our ship had sunk by the head so that the sea was +washing over the foredeck, and the ship appeared to be sinking. + +Immediately after I went aft to see to the boats. On my way I saw one +man overboard on the starboard side. The water at that time was black +with oil. The boats were lowered and the crew got into them without +delay or damage. After ascertaining there was no one left on board the +ship I got in my boat and we were picked up by the patrol vessel Iago +and were advised by her crew to leave the scene. We proceeded toward St. +Mary's, but the dense fog which then came on prevented us getting into +the harbor that night. + +About 2:30 in the morning following I saw Captain Gunter, master of the +Gulflight, who had been sleeping in the room of the skipper of the Iago, +standing in the room with a queer look in his face. I asked him what his +trouble was, and he made no reply. Then he reached for the side of the +berth with his hands, but did not take hold. I went in the room, but he +fell before I reached him. + +He was taken on deck, as the cabin was small and hot. After reaching the +deck he seemed to revive and said: "I am cold." After that he had +apparently two fainting attacks and then expired in a third one--this +being about 3:40. + +We arrived at St. Mary's, Scilly, about 10 o'clock on the morning of May +2. The Gulflight was towed to Crow Sound, Scilly, on May 2 by British +patrol vessels, and Commander Oliver, senior naval officer of the Port +of Scilly, sent for some one to come on board the Gulflight, and I went, +and the ship was anchored about 6 P.M. + +I again left the ship that evening--she being then in charge of the +Admiralty. I visited the ship on Monday. I went out again on Tuesday, +but it was too rough to get on board. To the best of my knowledge there +was no examination of the vessel made by divers until Wednesday about 3 +P.M., when members from the American Embassy were present. The divers at +this time made an external examination only of the ship's bottom and +left the ship with me at 5:40 P.M. + + + + +Aim of Submarine Warfare + +[From The London Times, April 30, 1915.] + + +Dr. Flamm, Professor of Ship Construction at the Technical High School +at Charlottenburg, publishes in the Vossische Zeitung an extraordinary +article on the impending destruction of the British Empire by German +submarines. Whatever Professor Flamm's professional opinion may be +worth, he is evidently attacking his task with a passionate hatred of +England that leaves nothing to be desired. + +Professor Flamm begins by explaining how England has been protected for +centuries by her insularity. He writes: + + This country, whose dishonorable Government produced this + terrible world war by the most contemptible means, and solely + in selfish greed of gain, has always been able to enjoy the + fruits of its unscrupulousness because it was reckoned as + unassailable. But everything is subject to change, and that + applies today to the security of England's position. Thank + God, the time has now come when precisely its complete + encirclement by the sea has become the greatest danger for the + existence of the British Nation. + +The writer explains that England cannot be self-supporting, and, +strangely enough, admits that recognition of this fact justifies British +naval policy. He proceeds: + + The time, however, has passed in which even the strongest + squadron of battleships or cruisers can protect England's + frontiers and secure imports from oversea. Technical progress, + in the shape of submarines, has put into the hands of all + England's enemies the means at last to sever the vital nerve + of the much-hated enemy, and to pull him down from his + position of ruler of the world, which he has occupied for + centuries with ever-increasing ruthlessness and selfishness. + What science has once begun she continues, and for every + shipbuilder in the whole world there is now no sphere which + offers a stronger stimulus to progressive activity than the + sphere of the submarines. Here an endless amount of work is + being, and will be, done, because the reward which beckons on + the horizon is an extraordinarily high one, an extraordinarily + profitable one, a reward containing the most ideal blessings + for humanity--the destruction of English world supremacy, the + liberation of the seas. This exalted and noble aim has today + come within reach, and it is German intellect and German work + that have paved the way. + +It will be noted that Professor Flamm, as other contemporary German +writers, believes that submarines, like Shakespeare, are a German +invention. He is also, notwithstanding the experience of two and a half +months, confident that the German "submarine blockade" will both be +successful and become popular with neutrals. Building upon the German +myth that Captain Weddigen's submarine, U-29, was destroyed while saving +life, Professor Flamm "expects" that the neutrals will stop all traffic +with England, "in view of the cowardly and cunning method of fighting of +the English." + +Professor Flamm then discusses Germany's prospects, as follows: + + Anybody who wants to fight England must not attempt it by + striving to bring against England larger and more numerous + battleships and cruisers. That would be not only unwise but + also very costly. He must try another method, which makes + England's great sea power completely illusory, and gives it + practically no opportunity for activity. This method is the + cutting-off of imports by submarine fleets. Let it not be + said that the attainment of this end requires a very great + deal of material. England, as can easily be seen from the map, + possesses a fairly limited number of river mouths and ports + for rapid development of her great oversea trade. Beginning in + the northeast, those on the east coast are mainly the Firth of + Forth, the mouths of the Tyne and Humber, and then the Thames; + in the south, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Plymouth, with some + neighboring harbors; in the west, the Bristol Channel, the + Mersey, the Solway, and the Clyde. These are the entries that + have to be blocked in order to cut off imports in a way that + will produce the full impression. For this purpose 150 of the + submarines of today fully suffice, so that the goal is within + reach. Moreover, the development of this arm will enormously + increase its value, and so, come what may, England must reckon + with the fact that her world supremacy cannot much longer + exist, and that the strongest navy can make no difference. + When once the invisible necktie is round John Bull's neck, his + breathing will soon cease, and the task of successfully + putting this necktie on him is solely a question of technical + progress and of time, which now moves so fast. + +Professor Flamm ends with a passage about German submarine bases. It +would be more intelligible if he had made up his mind whether Germany is +going to take Calais or whether, according to another popular German +theory, England is going to annex the north coast of France. He writes: + +"The eyes of France also will one day be opened when, having been +sufficiently weakened, she is compelled to leave the north coast of +France, including Calais, to her friend of today. Precisely this coast +which England has seized may be expected now to remain in English +possession for the purpose of better and surer control of the Channel, +for there can be no doubt that this control renders, and will render, +difficult for the German submarines effective activity in the Irish +Sea--an activity which will become all the easier as soon as Calais has +been freed of the enemy, or is even in German possession. + +"Thus before very long a world fate should befall England. The trees do +not grow up to heaven. England, through her criminal Government, has +stretched the bow too tight, and so it will snap." + + + + +THREE SPEECHES BY PRESIDENT WILSON + + + In New York at the annual luncheon of The Associated Press on + April 20, 1915; at Philadelphia in Convention Hall on May 10, + in an address to 4,000 newly naturalized citizens, and again + at New York in his speech on the navy, May 17, delivered at + the luncheon given for the President by the Mayor's Committee + formed for the naval review, Mr. Wilson set forth the + principles on which he would meet the crises of the European + war as they affect the United States. The texts of the three + speeches appear below. + + +I. + +"AMERICA FIRST." + +[_President Wilson's address on April 20, 1915, to the members of The +Associated Press at their annual luncheon in New York:_] + +I am deeply gratified by the generous reception you have accorded me. It +makes me look back with a touch of regret to former occasions when I +have stood in this place and enjoyed a greater liberty than is granted +me today. There have been times when I stood in this spot and said what +I really thought, and I pray God that those days of indulgence may be +accorded me again. But I have come here today, of course, somewhat +restrained by a sense of responsibility that I cannot escape. + +For I take The Associated Press very seriously. I know the enormous part +that you play in the affairs not only of this country, but the world. +You deal in the raw material of opinion and, if my convictions have any +validity, opinion ultimately governs the world. + +It is, therefore, of very serious things that I think as I face this +body of men. I do not think of you, however, as members of The +Associated Press. I do not think of you as men of different parties or +of different racial derivations or of different religious denominations, +I want to talk to you as to my fellow-citizens of the United States. For +there are serious things which as fellow-citizens we ought to consider. + +The times behind us, gentlemen, have been difficult enough, the times +before us are likely to be more difficult because, whatever may be said +about the present condition of the world's affairs, it is clear that +they are drawing rapidly to a climax, and at the climax the test will +come, not only of the nations engaged in the present colossal struggle, +it will come for them of course, but the test will come to us +particularly. + +Do you realize that, roughly speaking, we are the only great nation at +present disengaged? I am not speaking, of course, with disparagement of +the greater of those nations in Europe which are not parties to the +present war, but I am thinking of their close neighborhood to it. I am +thinking how their lives much more than ours touch the very heart and +stuff of the business; whereas, we have rolling between us and those +bitter days across the water three thousand miles of cool and silent +ocean. + +Our atmosphere is not yet charged with those disturbing elements which +must be felt and must permeate every nation of Europe. Therefore, is it +not likely that the nations of the world will some day turn to us for +the cooler assessment of the elements engaged? + +I am not now thinking so preposterous a thought as that we should sit in +judgment upon them. No nation is fit to sit in judgment upon any other +nation, but that we shall some day have to assist in reconstructing the +processes of peace. Our resources are untouched; we are more and more +becoming by the force of circumstances the mediating nation of the world +in respect to its finances. We must make up our minds what are the best +things to do and what are the best ways to do them. + +We must put our money, our energy, our enthusiasm, our sympathy into +these things; and we must have our judgments prepared and our spirits +chastened against the coming of that day. So that I am not speaking in a +selfish spirit when I say that our whole duty for the present, at any +rate, is summed up in this motto, "America first." Let us think of +America before we think of Europe, in order that America may be fit to +be Europe's friend when the day of tested friendship comes. The test of +friendship is not now sympathy with the one side or the other, but +getting ready to help both sides when the struggle is over. + +The basis of neutrality, gentlemen, is not indifference; it is not +self-interest. The basis of neutrality is sympathy for mankind. It is +fairness, it is good-will at bottom. It is impartiality of spirit and of +judgment. I wish that all of our fellow-citizens could realize that. + +There is in some quarters a disposition to create distempers in this +body politic. Men are even uttering slanders against the United States +as if to excite her. Men are saying that if we should go to war upon +either side there will be a divided America--an abominable libel of +ignorance. America is not all of it vocal just now. It is vocal in +spots. + +But I for one have a complete and abiding faith in that great silent +body of Americans who are not standing up and shouting and expressing +their opinions just now, but are waiting to find out and support the +duty of America. I am just as sure of their solidity and of their +loyalty and of their unanimity, if we act justly, as I am that the +history of this country has at every crisis and turning point +illustrated this great lesson. + +We are the mediating nation of the world. I do not mean that we +undertake not to mind our own business and to mediate where other people +are quarreling. I mean the word in a broader sense. We are compounded of +the nations of the world. We mediate their blood, we mediate their +traditions, we mediate their sentiments, their tastes, their passions; +we are ourselves compounded of those things. + +We are, therefore, able to understand all nations; we are able to +understand them in the compound, not separately, as partisans, but +unitedly, as knowing and comprehending and embodying them all. It is in +that sense that I mean that America is a mediating nation. The opinion +of America, the action of America, is ready to turn and free to turn in +any direction. + +Did you ever reflect upon how almost all other nations, almost every +other nation has through long centuries been headed in one direction? +That is not true of the United States. The United States has no racial +momentum. It has no history back of it which makes it run all its +energies and all its ambitions in one particular direction; and America +is particularly free in this, that she has no hampering ambitions as a +world power. + +If we have been obliged by circumstances or have considered ourselves to +be obliged by circumstances, in the past to take territory which we +otherwise would not have thought of taking, I believe I am right in +saying that we have considered it our duty to administer that territory, +not for ourselves, but for the people living in it, and to put this +burden upon our consciences not to think that this thing is ours for our +use, but to regard ourselves as trustees of the great business for those +to whom it does really belong, trustees ready to hand over the cosmic +trust at any time when the business seems to make that possible and +feasible. That is what I mean by saying we have no hampering ambitions. + +We do not want anything that does not belong to us. Isn't a nation in +that position free to serve other nations, and isn't a nation like that +ready to form some part of the assessing opinion of the world? + +My interest in the neutrality of the United States is not the petty +desire to keep out of trouble. To judge by my experience I have never +been able to keep out of trouble. I have never looked for it, but I have +always found it. I do not want to walk around trouble. If any man wants +a scrap--that is, an interesting scrap and worth while--I am his man. I +warn him that he is not going to draw me into the scrap for his +advertisement, but if he is looking for trouble--that is, the trouble of +men in general--and I can help a little, why, then, I am in for it. But +I am interested in neutrality because there is something so much +greater to do than fight, because there is something, there is a +distinction waiting for this nation that no nation has ever yet got. +That is the distinction of absolute self-control and self-mastery. + +Whom do you admire most among your friends? The irritable man? The man +out of whom you can get a "rise" without trying? The man who will fight +at the drop of the hat, whether he knows what the hat is dropped for or +not? + +Don't you admire and don't you fear, if you have to contest with him, +the self-mastered man who watches you with calm eye and comes in only +when you have carried the thing so far that you must be disposed of? +That is the man you respect. That is the man who you know has at bottom +a much more fundamental and terrible courage than the irritable, +fighting man. + +Now, I covet for America this splendid courage of reserve moral force, +and I wanted to point out to you gentlemen simply this: There is news +and news. There is what is called news from Turtle Bay, that turns out +to be falsehood, at any rate in what it is said to signify, and which if +you could get the nation to believe it true might disturb our +equilibrium and our self-possession. We ought not to deal in stuff of +that kind. We ought not to permit things of that sort to use up the +electrical energy of the wires, because its energy is malign, its energy +is not of the truth, its energy is of mischief. + +It is possible to sift truth. I have known some things to go out on the +wires as true when there was only one man or one group of men who could +have told the originators of the report whether it was true or not, and +they were not asked whether it was true or not for fear it might not be +true. That sort of report ought not to go out over the wires. + +There is generally, if not always, somebody who knows whether that thing +is so or not, and in these days above all other days we ought to take +particular pains to resort to the one small group of men or to the one +man, if there be but one, who knows whether those things are true or +not. + +The world ought to know the truth, but the world ought not at this +period of unstable equilibrium to be disturbed by rumor, ought not to be +disturbed by imaginative combinations of circumstances or, rather, by +circumstances stated in combination which do not belong in combination. +For we are holding--not I, but you and gentlemen engaged like you--the +balances in your hand. This unstable equilibrium rests upon scales that +are in your hands. For the food of opinion, as I began by saying, is the +news of the day. I have known many a man go off at a tangent on +information that was not reliable. Indeed, that describes the majority +of men. The world is held stable by the man who waits for the next day +to find out whether the report was true or not. + +We cannot afford, therefore, to let the rumors of irresponsible persons +and origins get into the atmosphere of the United States. We are +trustees for what I venture to say is the greatest heritage that any +nation ever had, the love of justice and righteousness and human +liberty. For fundamentally those are the things to which America is +addicted and to which she is devoted. + +There are groups of selfish men in the United States, there are coteries +where sinister things are purposed, but the great heart of the American +people is just as sound and true as it ever was. And it is a single +heart; it is the heart of America. It is not a heart made up of sections +selected out of other countries. + +So that what I try to remind myself of every day when I am almost +overcome by perplexities, what I try to remember, is what the people at +home are thinking about. I try to put myself in the place of the man who +does not know all the things that I know and ask myself what he would +like the policy of this country to be. Not the talkative man, not the +partisan man, not the man that remembers first that he is a Republican +or Democrat, or that his parents were Germans or English, but who +remembers first that the whole destiny of modern affairs centres largely +upon his being an American first of all. + +If I permitted myself to be a partisan in this present struggle I would +be unworthy to represent you. If I permitted myself to forget the +people who are not partisans I would be unworthy to represent you. I am +not saying that I am worthy to represent you, but I do claim this degree +of worthiness--that before everything else I love America. + +[Illustration: THE LATE ARCHDUKE FERDINAND + +Whose Assassination at Serajevo Precipitated the European War] + +[Illustration: H.M. NICHOLAS I. + +King of Montenegro, the Smallest of the Allied Powers + +_(Photo (C) American Press Assn.)_] + + +II. + +"HUMANITY FIRST." + +[_President Wilson's speech in Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Penn., May +10, 1915, before 4,000 newly naturalized citizens:_] + +It warms my heart that you should give me such a reception, but it is +not of myself that I wish to think tonight, but of those who have just +become citizens of the United States. This is the only country in the +world which experiences this constant and repeated rebirth. Other +countries depend upon the multiplication of their own native people. +This country is constantly drinking strength out of new sources by the +voluntary association with it of great bodies of strong men and +forward-looking women. And so by the gift of the free will of +independent people it is constantly being renewed from generation to +generation by the same process by which it was originally created. It is +as if humanity had determined to see to it that this great nation, +founded for the benefit of humanity, should not lack for the allegiance +of the people of the world. + +You have just taken an oath of allegiance to the United States. Of +allegiance to whom? Of allegiance to no one, unless it be God. Certainly +not of allegiance to those who temporarily represent this great +Government. You have taken an oath of allegiance to a great ideal, to a +great body of principles, to a great hope of the human race. You have +said, "We are going to America," not only to earn a living, not only to +seek the things which it was more difficult to obtain where you were +born, but to help forward the great enterprises of the human spirit--to +let men know that everywhere in the world there are men who will cross +strange oceans and go where a speech is spoken which is alien to them, +knowing that, whatever the speech, there is but one longing and +utterance of the human heart, and that is for liberty and justice. + +And while you bring all countries with you, you come with a purpose of +leaving all other countries behind you--bringing what is best of their +spirit, but not looking over your shoulders and seeking to perpetuate +what you intended to leave in them. I certainly would not be one even to +suggest that a man cease to love the home of his birth and the nation of +his origin--these things are very sacred and ought not to be put out of +our hearts--but it is one thing to love the place where you were born +and it is another thing to dedicate yourself to the place to which you +go. You cannot dedicate yourself to America unless you become in every +respect and with every purpose of your will thorough Americans. You +cannot become thorough Americans if you think of yourselves in groups. +American does not consist of groups. A man who thinks himself as +belonging to a particular national group in America has not yet become +an American, and the man who goes among you to trade upon your +nationality is no worthy son to live under the Stars and Stripes. + +My urgent advice to you would be not only always to think first of +America, but always, also, to think first of humanity. You do not love +humanity if you seek to divide humanity into jealous camps. Humanity can +be welded together only by love, by sympathy, by justice, not by +jealousy and hatred. I am sorry for the man who seeks to make personal +capital out of the passions of his fellow-men. He has lost the touch and +ideal of America, for America was created to unite mankind by those +passions which lift and not by the passions which separate and debase. + +We came to America, either ourselves or in persons of our ancestors, to +better the ideals of men, to make them see finer things than they had +seen before, to get rid of things that divide, and to make sure of the +things that unite. It was but a historical accident no doubt that this +great country was called the "United States," and yet I am very +thankful that it has the word "united" in its title; and the man who +seeks to divide man from man, group from group, interest from interest, +in the United States is striking at its very heart. + +It is a very interesting circumstance to me, in thinking of those of you +who have just sworn allegiance to this great Government, that you were +drawn across the ocean by some beckoning finger of hope, by some belief, +by some vision of a new kind of justice, by some expectation of a better +kind of life. + +No doubt you have been disappointed in some of us; some of us are very +disappointing. No doubt you have found that justice in the United States +goes only with a pure heart and a right purpose as it does everywhere +else in the world. No doubt what you found here didn't seem touched for +you, after all, with the complete beauty of the ideal which you had +conceived beforehand. + +But remember this, if we had grown at all poor in the ideal, you brought +some of it with you. A man does not go out to seek the thing that is not +in him. A man does not hope for the thing that he does not believe in, +and if some of us have forgotten what America believed in, you, at any +rate, imported in your own hearts a renewal of the belief. That is the +reason that I, for one, make you welcome. + +If I have in any degree forgotten what America was intended for, I will +thank God if you will remind me. + +I was born in America. You dreamed dreams of what America was to be, and +I hope you brought the dreams with you. No man that does not see visions +will ever realize any high hope or undertake any high enterprise. + +Just because you brought dreams with you, America is more likely to +realize the dreams such as you brought. You are enriching us if you came +expecting us to be better than we are. + +See, my friends, what that means. It means that Americans must have a +consciousness different from the consciousness of every other nation in +the world. I am not saying this with even the slightest thought of +criticism of other nations. You know how it is with a family. A family +gets centred on itself if it is not careful and is less interested in +the neighbors than it is in its own members. + +So a nation that is not constantly renewed out of new sources is apt to +have the narrowness and prejudice of a family. Whereas, America must +have this consciousness, that on all sides it touches elbows and touches +hearts with all the nations of mankind. + +The example of America must be a special example. The example of America +must be the example not merely of peace because it will not fight, but +of peace because peace is the healing and elevating influence of the +world and strife is not. + +There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight. There is such a +thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to convince +others by force that it is right. + +So, if you come into this great nation as you have come, voluntarily +seeking something that we have to give, all that we have to give is +this: We cannot exempt you from work. No man is exempt from work +anywhere in the world. I sometimes think he is fortunate if he has to +work only with his hands and not with his head. It is very easy to do +what other people give you to do, but it is very difficult to give other +people things to do. We cannot exempt you from work; we cannot exempt +you from the strife and the heart-breaking burden of the struggle of the +day--that is common to mankind everywhere. We cannot exempt you from the +loads that you must carry; we can only make them light by the spirit in +which they are carried. That is the spirit of hope, it is the spirit of +liberty, it is the spirit of justice. + +When I was asked, therefore, by the Mayor and the committee that +accompanied him to come up from Washington to meet this great company of +newly admitted citizens I could not decline the invitation. I ought not +to be away from Washington, and yet I feel that it has renewed my spirit +as an American. + +In Washington men tell you so many things every day that are not so, +and I like to come and stand in the presence of a great body of my +fellow-citizens, whether they have been my fellow-citizens a long time +or a short time, and drink, as it were, out of the common fountains with +them and go back feeling that you have so generously given me the sense +of your support and of the living vitality in your hearts, of its great +ideals which made America the hope of the world. + + +III. + +AMERICA FOR HUMANITY. + +[_President Wilson's address to the Mayor's Committee in New York, May +17, 1915, on the occasion of the naval parade and review in the +Hudson:_] + +Mr. Mayor, Mr. Secretary, Admiral Fletcher, and Gentlemen of the Fleet: +This is not an occasion upon which it seems to me that it would be wise +for me to make many remarks, but I would deprive myself of a great +gratification if I did not express my pleasure in being here, my +gratitude for the splendid reception which has been accorded me as the +representative of the nation, and my profound interest in the navy of +the United States. That is an interest with which I was apparently born, +for it began when I was a youngster and has ripened with my knowledge of +the affairs and policies of the United States. + +I think it is a natural, instinctive judgment of the people of the +United States that they express their power appropriately in an +efficient navy, and their interest is partly, I believe, because that +navy somehow is expected to express their character, not within our own +borders where that character is understood, but outside our borders, +where it is hoped we may occasionally touch others with some slight +vision of what America stands for. + +But before I speak of the navy of the United States I want to take +advantage of the first public opportunity I have had to speak of the +Secretary of the Navy, to express my confidence and my admiration, and +to say that he has my unqualified support, for I have counseled with +him in intimate fashion. I know how sincerely he has it at heart that +everything that the navy does and handles should be done and handled as +the people of the United States wish them handled--because efficiency is +something more than organization. Efficiency runs into every +well-considered detail of personnel and method. Efficiency runs to the +extent of lifting the ideals of a service above every personal interest. +So that when I speak my support of the Secretary of the Navy I am merely +speaking my support of what I know every true lover of the navy to +desire and to purpose, for the navy of the United States is a body +specially trusted with the ideal of America. + +I like to image in my thought this ideal. These quiet ships lying in the +river have no suggestion of bluster about them--no intimation of +aggression. They are commanded by men thoughtful of the duty of citizens +as well as the duty of officers--men acquainted with the traditions of +the great service to which they belong--men who know by touch with the +people of the United States what sort of purposes they ought to +entertain and what sort of discretion they ought to exercise in order to +use those engines of force as engines to promote the interests of +humanity. + +For the interesting and inspiring thing about America, gentlemen, is +that she asks nothing for herself except what she has a right to ask for +humanity itself. We want no nation's property; we wish to question no +nation's honor; we wish to stand selfishly in the way of the development +of no nation; we want nothing that we cannot get by our own legitimate +enterprise and by the inspiration of our own example, and, standing for +these things, it is not pretention on our part to say that we are +privileged to stand for what every nation would wish to stand for, and +speak for those things which all humanity must desire. + +When I think of the flag that those ships carry, the only touch of color +about them, the only thing that moves as if it had a settled spirit in +it, in their solid structure, it seems to me I see alternate strips of +parchment upon which are written the rights of liberty and justice and +strips of blood spilt to vindicate those rights, and then, in the +corner, a prediction of the blue serene into which every nation may swim +which stands for these great things. + +The mission of America is the only thing that a sailor or soldier should +think about; he has nothing to do with the formulation of her policy; he +is to support her policy, whatever it is--but he is to support her +policy in the spirit of herself, and the strength of our policy is that +we, who for the time being administer the affairs of this nation, do not +originate her spirit; we attempt to embody it; we attempt to realize it +in action we are dominated by it, we do not dictate it. + +And so with every man in arms who serves the nation--he stands and waits +to do the thing which the nation desires. America sometimes seems +perhaps to forget her programs, or, rather, I would say that sometimes +those who represent her seem to forget her programs, but the people +never forget them. It is as startling as it is touching to see how +whenever you touch a principle you touch the hearts of the people of the +United States. They listen to your debates of policy, they determine +which party they will prefer to power, they choose and prefer as +ordinary men; but their real affection, their real force, their real +irresistible momentum, is for the ideas which men embody. + +I never go on the streets of a great city without feeling that somehow I +do not confer elsewhere than on the streets with the great spirit of the +people themselves, going about their business, attending to the things +which concern them, and yet carrying a treasure at their hearts all the +while, ready to be stirred not only as individuals, but as members of a +great union of hearts that constitutes a patriotic people. + +And so this sight in the river touches me merely as a symbol of that, +and it quickens the pulse of every man who realizes these things to have +anything to do with them. When a crisis occurs in this country, +gentlemen, it is as if you put your hand on the pulse of a dynamo, it is +as if the things which you were in connection with were spiritually +bred. You had nothing to do with them except, if you listen truly, to +speak the things that you hear. These things now brood over the river, +this spirit now moves with the men who represent the nation in the navy, +these things will move upon the waters in the manoeuvres; no threat +lifted against any man, against any nation, against any interest, but +just a great, solemn evidence that the force of America is the force of +moral principle, that there is not anything else that she loves and that +there is not anything else for which she will contend. + + + + +Two Ex-Presidents' Views + + +MR. ROOSEVELT SPEAKS. + +[Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +_SYRACUSE, N.Y., May 7.--Ex-President Roosevelt, after learning details +of the sinking of the Lusitania, made this statement late tonight:_ + +This represents not merely piracy, but piracy on a vaster scale of +murder than old-time pirates ever practiced. This is the warfare which +destroyed Louvain and Dinant and hundreds of men, women, and children in +Belgium. It is a warfare against innocent men, women, and children +traveling on the ocean, and our own fellow-countrymen and countrywomen, +who are among the sufferers. + +It seems inconceivable that we can refrain from taking action in this +matter, for we owe it not only to humanity, but to our own national +self-respect. + +_On May 9 a Syracuse dispatch to_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _conveyed this +statement from Mr. Roosevelt:_ + +On the night of the day that the disaster occurred I called the +attention of our people to the fact that the sinking of the Lusitania +was not only an act of simple piracy, but that it represented piracy +accompanied by murder on a vaster scale than any old-time pirate had +ever practiced before being hanged for his misdeeds. + +I called attention to the fact that this was merely the application on +the high seas, and at our expense, of the principles which when applied +on land had produced the innumerable hideous tragedies that have +occurred in Belgium and in Northern France. + +I said that not only our duty to humanity at large but our duty to +preserve our own national self-respect demanded instant action on our +part and forbade all delay. + +I can do little more than reiterate what I then said. + +When the German decree establishing the war zone was issued, and of +course plainly threatened exactly the type of tragedy which has +occurred, our Government notified Germany that in the event of any such +wrongdoing at the expense of our citizens we would hold the German +Government to "a strict accountability." + +The use of this phrase, "strict accountability," of course, must mean, +and can only mean, that action will be taken by us without an hour's +unnecessary delay. It was eminently proper to use the exact phrase that +was used, and, having used it, our own self-respect demands that we +forthwith abide by it. + +_On May 11, following the report of President Wilson's speech at +Philadelphia, Mr. Roosevelt stated the course which he considered that +this country should adopt, reported as follows in a Syracuse dispatch +to_ THE NEW YORK TIMES: + +Colonel Roosevelt announced today what action, in his opinion, this +country should take toward Germany because of the sinking of the +Lusitania. Colonel Roosevelt earnestly said that the time for +deliberation was past and that within twenty-four hours this country +could, and should, take effective action by declaring that all commerce +with Germany forthwith be forbidden and that all commerce of every kind +permitted and encouraged with France, England, and "the rest of the +civilized world." + +Colonel Roosevelt said that for America to take this step would not mean +war, as the firm assertion of our rights could not be so construed, but +he added that we would do well to remember that there were things worse +than war. + +The Colonel has been reading President Wilson's speech carefully, and +what seemed to impress him more than anything else was this passage from +it: + +"There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight. There is such +a thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to convince +others by force that it is right." + +Asked if he cared to make any comment upon the speech of the President, +Mr. Roosevelt said: + +"I think that China is entitled to draw all the comfort she can from +this statement and it would be well for the United States to ponder +seriously what the effect upon China has been of managing her foreign +affairs during the last fifteen years on the theory thus enunciated. + +"If the United States is satisfied with occupying some time in the +future the precise international position that China now occupies, then +the United States can afford to act on this theory. But it cannot act on +this theory if it desires to retain or regain the position won for it by +the men who fought under Washington and by the men who, in the days of +Abraham Lincoln, wore the blue under Grant and the gray under Lee. + +"I very earnestly hope that we will act promptly. The proper time for +deliberation was prior to sending the message that our Government would +hold Germany to a strict accountability if it did the things it has now +actually done. The 150 babies drowned on the Lusitania the hundreds of +women drowned with them, scores of these women and children being +Americans, and the American ship, the Gulflight, which was torpedoed, +offer an eloquent commentary on the actual working of the theory that +force is not necessary to assert, and that a policy of blood and iron +can with efficacy be met by a policy of milk and water. + +"I see it stated in the press dispatches from Washington that Germany +now offers to stop the practice on the high seas, committed in violation +of the neutral rights that she is pledged to observe, if we will abandon +further neutral rights, which by her treaty she has solemnly pledged +herself to see that we exercise without molestation. Such a proposal is +not even entitled to an answer. The manufacturing and shipment of arms +and ammunition to any belligerent is moral or immoral according to the +use to which the arms and munitions are to be put. If they are to be +used to prevent the redress of the hideous wrongs inflicted on Belgium, +then it is immoral to ship them. If they are to be used for the redress +of those wrongs and the restoration of Belgium to her deeply wronged and +unoffending people, then it is eminently moral to send them. + +"Without twenty-four hours' delay this country could, and should, take +effective action by declaring that in view of Germany's murderous +offenses against the rights of neutrals, all commerce with Germany shall +be forthwith forbidden, and all commerce of every kind permitted and +encouraged with France, England, and the rest of the civilized world. +This would not be a declaration of war. It would merely prevent +munitions of war being sent to a power which by its conduct has shown +willingness to use munitions to slaughter American men and women and +children. I do not believe the assertion of our rights means war, but we +will do well to remember there are things worse than war. + +"Let us, as a nation, understand that peace is worthy only when it is +the handmaiden of international righteousness and of national +self-respect." + + +MR. TAFT SPEAKS. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +MILWAUKEE, May 8.--"The news of the sinking of the Lusitania as it comes +this morning is most distressing," said former President Taft on his +arrival from Madison today. "It presents a situation of the most +difficult character, properly awakening great national concern. + +"I do not wish to embarrass the President of the Administration by a +discussion of the subject at this stage of the information, except to +express confidence that the President will follow a wise and patriotic +course." + +_That it is possible for the United States to hold Germany "strictly +accountable" for the destruction of American lives on the Lusitania +without resort to war is Mr. Taft's opinion, reported in the following +dispatch from Philadelphia to_ THE NEW YORK TIMES _on May 11:_ + +"We must bear in mind that if we have a war it is the people, the men +and women, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, who must pay with +lives and money the cost of it, and therefore they should not be hurried +into the sacrifices until it is made clear that they wish it and know +what they are doing when they wish it." + +This was the keynote of a speech by ex-President Taft at the celebration +of the fiftieth anniversary of the Union League's occupancy of the +historic home which it occupies in this city. + +"Is war the only method of making a nation accountable? Let us look into +our own history. England connived at the fitting out of armed vessels, +to prey on our commerce, to attack our navy, and to kill our sailors. We +protested, and what did we do then? We held her strictly accountable in +the Geneva Conference. Was not our honor as much preserved by this +method as it would have been had we declared war? + +"I agree that the inhumanity of the circumstances in the case now +presses us on, but in the heat of even just indignation is this the best +time to act, when action involves such momentous consequences and means +untold loss of life and treasure? There are things worse than war, but +delay, due to calm deliberation, cannot change the situation or minimize +the effect of what we finally conclude to do. + +"With the present condition of the war in Europe, our action, if it is +to be extreme, will not lose efficiency by giving time to the people, +whose war it will be, to know what they are facing. + +"A demand for war that cannot survive the passion of the first days of +public indignation and will not endure the test of delay and +deliberation by all the people is not one that should be yielded to." + + + + +President Wilson's Note + +By Ex-President William H. Taft. + + +_At the dinner of Methodist laymen in New York on May 14, 1915, +following the publication of President Wilson's note to Germany, +ex-President Taft said:_ + +"Admirable in tone, moderate in the judicial spirit that runs through +the entire communication, dignified in the level that the writer takes +with respect to international obligations, accurate in its statement of +international law, he puts the case of the United States in a way that +may well call for our earnest concurrence and confirmation." + + + + +Another View + +By Beatrice Barry. + + +"When the torch is near the powder"--when a boat, f'r instance, sinks, +And the "hyphens" raise a loud hurrah and blow themselves to drinks; +When 'bout a hundred neutral lives are snuffed out like a torch, +An' "hyphens" read the news an' smoke, a-settin' on the porch-- +Well, it's then the native's kind o' apt to see a little red, +An' it's hardly fair to criticise the burning things he sed. +For since the eagle's not a bird that thrives within a cage, +One kind o' hears with sympathy his screams of baffled rage. + +There's something sort o' horrible, that catches at the breath, +To visualize some two score babes most foully done to death; +To see their fright, their struggles--to watch their lips turn blue-- +There ain't no use denyin', it will raise the deuce with you. +O yes, God bless the President--he's an awful row to hoe, +An' God grant, too, that peace with honor hand in hand may go, +But let's not call men "rotters," 'cause, while we are standing pat, +They lose their calm serenity, an' can't see things like that! + + + + +In the Submarine War Zone + +[By The Associated Press.] + + +LIVERPOOL, May 16.--The passengers on board the American Line steamer +Philadelphia, which arrived here today from New York, the steamer +docking at 1 P.M., experienced during the voyage much anxiety. On Friday +afternoon, out in the Atlantic off the west coast of Ireland, a cruiser +appeared and approached the liner. The chief topic of conversation +during the voyage had been about the German submarine activities, and +the sight of the warship caused some alarm. The cruiser approached near +enough to the steamer to exchange signals with her. + +A number of passengers spent last night on deck in their chairs with +lifebelts beside them in case of danger. The boats of the Philadelphia +were ready for use. The steamer kept a course much further out from the +Irish coast than the Lusitania was traversing when she was torpedoed. + +The port officials subjected the passengers of the Philadelphia to a +careful examination to discover if there were any spies on board, but +nobody was detained. By reason of this precaution it was more than an +hour after the steamer arrived before her passengers began to debark. + + + + +American Shipments of Arms + +By Count von Bernstorff, German Ambassador at Washington + + + Count von Bernstorff, the German Ambassador, made public on + April 11, 1915, a memorandum addressed to the United States + Government on April 4, complaining of its attitude toward the + shipment of war munitions to the Allies and the non-shipment + of foodstuffs to Germany. After picturing the foreign policy + of the United States Government as one of futility, Count von + Bernstorff's memorandum says it must be "assumed that the + United States Government has accepted England's violations of + international law." Its full text appears below, followed by + that of the American State Department's reply. + +The different British Orders in Council have altered the universally +recognized rules of international law in such a one-sided manner that +they arbitrarily suppress the trade of neutral countries with Germany. +Already, prior to the last Order in Council, the shipment of conditional +contraband, especially foodstuffs, to Germany was practically +impossible. In fact, prior to the protest which the American Government +made in London on Dec. 28, 1914, not a single shipment of such goods for +Germany has been effected from the United States. + +Also, after the lodging of the protest, and as far as is known to the +German Embassy, only one such shipment has been attempted by an American +skipper. Ship and cargo were immediately seized by the British, and are +still detained at a British port. As a pretext for this unwarranted +action the British Government referred to a decree of the German Federal +Council concerning the wheat trade, although this decree only covered +wheat and flour and no other foodstuffs, although imported foodstuffs +were especially exempt from this decree, and although the German +Government had given all necessary guarantees to the United States +Government, and had even proposed a special organization in order to +secure these foodstuffs for the exclusive consumption of the civilian +population. + +The seizure of an American ship under these circumstances was in +contradiction with the recognized principles of international law. +Nevertheless the United States Government has not yet obtained the +release of the ship, nor has it after eight months of war succeeded in +safeguarding the legitimate American trade with Germany. Such a delay, +especially when the supply of foodstuffs is concerned, seems equivalent +to complete failure. It is therefore to be assumed that the United +States Government has accepted England's violations of international +law. + +Furthermore has to be considered the attitude of the Government of the +United States concerning the question of the exportation of war +material. The Imperial Embassy hopes to agree with the Government of the +United States in assuming that, with regard to the question of +neutrality, there is not only the formal side to be considered, but also +the spirit in which neutrality is enforced. + +Conditions in the present war are different from those in any former +wars. For this reason it is not justified to point at the fact that +perhaps in former wars Germany furnished belligerents with war material, +because in those former cases the question was not whether any war +material was to be furnished to the belligerents but merely which one of +the competing countries would furnish it. In the present war, with the +exception of the United States, all the countries capable of a +noteworthy production of war material are either at war themselves or +completing their armaments, and have accordingly prohibited the +exportation of war material. Therefore the United States of America is +the only country in a position to export war material. This fact ought +to give a new meaning to the idea of neutrality, independent of the +formal law. + +Instead of that, and in contradiction with the real spirit of +neutrality, an enormous new industry of war materials of every kind is +being built up in the United States, inasmuch as not only the existing +plants are kept busy and enlarged, but also new ones are continually +founded. + +The international agreements for the protection of the right of neutrals +originate in the necessity of protecting the existing industries of the +neutral countries. They were never intended to encourage the creation of +entirely new industries in neutral States, as, for instance, the new war +industry in the United States, which supplies only one party of the +belligerents. + +In reality the American industry is supplying only Germany's enemies. A +fact which is in no way modified by the purely theoretical willingness +to furnish Germany as well, if it were possible. + +If the American people desire to observe true neutrality, they will find +means to stop the exclusive exportation of arms to one side, or at +least to use this export trade as a means to uphold the legitimate trade +with Germany, especially the trade in foodstuffs. This spirit of +neutrality should appear the more justified to the United States as it +has been maintained toward Mexico. + +According to the declaration of a Congressman, made in the House +Committee for Foreign Relations Dec. 30, 1914, President Wilson is +quoted as having said on Feb. 4, 1914, when the embargo on arms for +Mexico was lifted: + + "We should stand for genuine neutrality, considering the + surrounding facts of the case." He then held in that case, + because Carranza had no ports, while Huerta had them and was + able to import these materials, that "it was our duty as a + nation to treat them (Carranza and Huerta) upon an equality if + we wished to observe the true spirit of neutrality as compared + with a mere paper neutrality." + +This conception of "the true spirit of neutrality," if applied to the +present case, would lead to an embargo on arms. + + + + +The American Reply + + +_The following note, which contains a vigorous rebuke to the German +Ambassador for the freedom of his remarks on the course taken by the +United States toward the belligerent powers, was made public at +Washington on April 21, 1916. It was then reported that the note was +finally drafted by President Wilson himself and written by him on his +own typewriter at the White House, although it is signed by Mr. Bryan as +Secretary of State:_ + +I have given thoughtful consideration to your Excellency's note of the +4th of April, 1915, inclosing a memorandum of the same date, in which +your Excellency discusses the action of this Government with regard to +trade between the United States and Germany, and the attitude of this +Government with regard to the exportation of arms from the United States +to the nations now at war with Germany. + +I must admit that I am somewhat at a loss how to interpret your +Excellency's treatment of these matters. There are many circumstances +connected with these important subjects to which I would have expected +your Excellency to advert but of which you make no mention, and there +are other circumstances to which you do refer which I would have +supposed to be hardly appropriate for discussion between the Government +of the United States and the Government of Germany. + +I shall take the liberty, therefore, of regarding your Excellency's +references to the course, pursued by the Government of the United +States, with regard to interferences with trade from this country such +as the Government of Great Britain have attempted, as intended merely to +illustrate more fully the situation to which you desire to call our +attention, and not as an invitation to discuss that course. + +Your Excellency's long experience in international affairs will have +suggested to you that these relations of the two Governments with one +another cannot wisely be made a subject of discussion with a third +Government, which cannot be fully informed as to the facts, and which +cannot be fully cognizant of the reasons for the course pursued. + +I believe, however, that I am justified in assuming that what you desire +to call forth is a frank statement of the position of this Government in +regard to its obligations as a neutral power. + +The general attitude and course of policy of this Government in the +maintenance of its neutrality I am particularly anxious that your +Excellency should see in their true light. I had hoped that this +Government's position in these respects had been made abundantly clear, +but I am, of course, perfectly willing to state it again. + +This seems to me the more necessary and desirable because, I regret to +say, the language, which your Excellency employs in your memorandum, is +susceptible of being construed as impugning the good faith of the United +States in the performance of its duties as a neutral. + +I take it for granted that no such implication was intended, but it is +so evident that your Excellency is laboring under certain false +impressions that I cannot be too explicit in setting forth the facts as +they are, when fully reviewed and comprehended. + +In the first place, this Government has at no time and in no manner +yielded any one of its rights as a neutral to any one of the present +belligerents. + +It has acknowledged, as a matter of course, the right of visit and +search and the right to apply the rules of contraband of war to articles +of commerce. It has, indeed, insisted upon the use of visit and search +as an absolutely necessary safeguard against mistaking neutral vessels +for vessels owned by any enemy and against mistaking legal cargoes for +illegal. It has admitted also the right of blockade if actually +exercised and effectively maintained. + +These are merely the well-known limitations which war places upon +neutral commerce on the high seas. But nothing beyond these has it +conceded. + +I call your Excellency's attention to this, notwithstanding it is +already known to all the world as a consequence of the publication of +our correspondence in regard to these matters with several of the +belligerent nations, because I cannot assume that you have official +cognizance of it. + +In the second place, this Government attempted to secure from the German +and British Governments mutual concessions with regard to the measures +those Governments respectively adopted for the interruption of trade on +the high seas. This it did, not of right, but merely as exercising the +privileges of a sincere friend of both parties and as indicating its +impartial good-will. + +The attempt was unsuccessful, but I regret that your Excellency did not +deem it worthy of mention in modification of the impressions you +expressed. We had hoped that this act on our part had shown our spirit +in these times of distressing war, as our diplomatic correspondence had +shown our steadfast refusal to acknowledge the right of any belligerent +to alter the accepted rules of war at sea in so far as they affect the +rights and interests of neutrals. + +In the third place, I note with sincere regret that in discussing the +sale and exportation of arms by citizens of the United States to the +enemies of Germany, your Excellency seems to be under the impression +that it was within the choice of the Government of the United States, +notwithstanding its professed neutrality and its diligent efforts to +maintain it in other particulars, to inhibit this trade, and that its +failure to do so manifested an unfair attitude toward Germany. + +This Government holds, as I believe your Excellency is aware and as it +is constrained to hold in view of the present indisputable doctrines of +accepted international law, that any change in its own laws of +neutrality during the progress of a war, which would affect unequally +the relations of the United States with the nations at war, would be an +unjustifiable departure from the principle of strict neutrality, by +which it has consistently sought to direct its actions, and I +respectfully submit that none of the circumstances, urged in your +Excellency's memorandum, alters the principle involved. + +The placing of an embargo on the trade in arms at the present time would +constitute such a change and be a direct violation of the neutrality of +the United States. It will, I feel assured, be clear to your Excellency +that holding this view and considering itself in honor bound by it, it +is out of the question for this Government to consider such a course. + +I hope that your Excellency will realize the spirit in which I am +drafting this reply. The friendship between the people of the United +States and the people of Germany is so warm and of such long standing, +the ties which bind them to one another in amity are so many and so +strong, that this Government feels under a special compulsion to speak +with perfect frankness, when any occasion arises which seems likely to +create any misunderstanding, however slight or temporary, between those +who represent the Governments of the two countries. + +It will be a matter of gratification to me if I have removed from your +Excellency's mind any misapprehension you may have been under regarding +either the policy or the spirit and purposes of the Government of the +United States. + +Its neutrality is founded upon the firm basis of conscience and +good-will. + +Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. + +W.J. BRYAN. + + + + +Munitions From Neutrals + +[Colloquy in the House of Commons, May 4, 1915.] + + +Sir E. Grey, in reply to Sir A. Markham, (L., Mansfield,) said: The +United States Government have not at any time during the present war +supplied any war material of any kind to his Majesty's Government, and I +do not suppose that they have supplied any of the belligerents. It has +always been a recognized legitimate practice, and wholly consistent with +international law, for manufacturers in a neutral country to sell +munitions of war to belligerents. They were supplied in this way from +Germany to Russia during the Russo-Japanese war, and from Germany to +Great Britain during the Boer war, and are no doubt being supplied in +the same way from manufacturers in neutral countries to belligerents +now. + +Mr. MacNeill (N., South Donegal)--Has not the rule always been, before +The Hague Conferences at all, that subjects of neutral nations are +allowed to supply munitions of war at their own risk? + +Sir E. Grey--It is wholly consistent with international law that that +practice should go forward, and if there be any question of departure +from neutrality I think it will be, not in permitting that practice, but +in interfering with it. [Cheers.] + + + + +Germany and the Lusitania + +By Charles W. Eliot + +_President Emeritus of Harvard University._ + + + That the sinking of the Lusitania was an act which outraged + not only the existing conventions of the civilized world but + the moral feelings of present civilized society is the view + put forth in his letter to THE NEW YORK TIMES, appearing May + 15, 1915, by one of the most distinguished commentators on the + war. Dr. Eliot counsels that America's part is to resist such + a no-faith policy while keeping its neutral status. + +Cambridge, Mass., May 13, 1915. + +_To the Editor of The New York Times:_ + +The sinking of a great merchant vessel, carrying 2,500 noncombatant men, +women, and children, without giving them any chance to save their lives, +was in violation of long-standing conventions among civilized nations, +concerning the conduct of naval warfare. The pre-existing conventions +gave to a German vessel of war the right to destroy the Lusitania and +her cargo, if it were impossible to carry her into port as a prize; but +not to drown her passengers and crew. The pre-existing conventions or +agreements were, however, entered into by the civilized nations when +captures at sea were made by war vessels competent to take a prize into +some port, or to take off the passengers and crew of the captured +vessel. + +The German Government now alleges that submarines are today the only +vessels it can employ effectively for attack on British commerce in the +declared war zone about the British Isles, since the rest of the German +Navy cannot keep the seas in face of the superior British Navy. Germany +further alleges that the present British blockade of German ports is +conducted in a new way--that is, by vessels which patrol the German +coast at a greater distance from the actual harbors than was formerly +the international practice; and hence, that Germany is justified in +conducting her attack on British commerce in a novel way also. In short, +Germany argues that her military necessities compel her to sink enemy +commercial vessels without regard to the lives of passengers and crews, +in spite of the fact that she was party to international agreements that +no such act should be committed. + +The lesson which the sinking of the Lusitania teaches is, therefore, +this: Germany thinks it right to disregard on grounds of military +necessity existing international conventions with regard to naval +warfare, precisely as she disregarded the agreed-upon neutrality of +Belgium on the ground of military necessity. As in the case of Belgium +she had decided many years beforehand to violate the international +neutrality agreement, and had made all her plans for reaching Paris in a +few weeks by passing through Belgium, so on the sea she had decided +months ago that the necessity of interfering as much as possible with +British commerce and industries warrants her total disregard of the +existing rules of naval warfare, and has deliberately contrived the +sinking of merchant vessels without regard to the lives of the people on +board. + +Again, when Germany thought it necessary on her quick march toward Paris +not only to crush the Belgian Army but to terrify the noncombatant +population of Belgium into complete submission by bombarding and burning +cities, towns, and villages, by plundering and shooting noncombatants, +by imposing heavy fines and ransoms, and by holding noncombatants as +hostages for the peaceable behavior of all Belgian citizens, she +disregarded all the conventions made by the civilized nations within +seventy years for mitigating the horrors of war, and justified her +action on the ground that it was a military necessity, since in no other +way could she immediately secure the safety of her communications as +she rushed on Paris. The civilized world had supposed that each nation +would make war only on the public forces and resources of its +antagonist; but last August Germany made ferocious war on noncombatants +and private property. + +The sinking of the Lusitania is another demonstration that the present +German Government will not abide by any international contracts, +treaties, or agreements, if they, at a given moment, would interfere +with any military or naval course of action which the Government deems +necessary. + +These demonstrated policies and purposes of the German Empire raise the +fundamental question--how is the civilization of the white race to be +carried forward? How are the real welfare of that race and the happiness +of the individuals that compose it to be hereafter furthered? Since the +revolutions in England, America, and France, it has been supposed that +civilization was to be advanced by international agreements or treaties, +by the co-operation of the civilized nations in the gradual improvement +of these agreements, and by the increasing practical effect given to +them by nations acting in co-operation; but now comes the German Empire +with its military force, immense in numbers and efficient beyond all +former experience through the intelligent use for destructive purposes +of the new powers attained by applied science, saying not only in words, +but in terrible acts: "We shall not abide by any international contracts +or agreements into which we may have previously entered, if at the +passing moment they interfere or conflict with the most advantageous +immediate use of our military and naval force." If this doctrine shall +now prevail in Europe, the foundations of modern civilization and of all +friendly and beneficial commerce the world over will be undermined. + +The sinking of the Lusitania, therefore, makes perfectly clear the +nature of the problem with which the three Allies in Europe are now +struggling. They are resisting with all the weapons of war a nation +which declares that its promises are good only till it is, in its own +judgment, under the military necessity of breaking them. + +The neutral nations are looking on at this tremendous conflict between +good-faith nations and no-faith nations with intense anxiety and sorrow, +but no longer in any doubt as to the nature of the issue. The sinking of +the Lusitania has removed every doubt; because that was a deliberate act +in full sight of the world, and of a nature not to be obscured or +confused by conflicting testimonies or questions about possible +exaggeration of outrages or about official responsibility for them. The +sinking of the Lusitania was an act which outraged not only the existing +conventions of the civilized world in regard to naval warfare, but the +moral feelings of present civilized society. + +The neutral nations and some of the belligerent nations feel another +strong objection to the present German way of conducting war on land and +sea, namely that it brutalizes the soldier and the sailor to an +unprecedented degree. English French, and Russian soldiers on the one +side can contend with German, Austrian and Turkish soldiers on the other +with the utmost fierceness from trenches or in the open, use new and old +weapons of destruction, and kill and wound each other with equal ardor +and resolution, and yet not be brutalized or degraded in their moral +nature, if they fight from love of country or with self-sacrificing +loyalty to its spiritual ideals; but neither soldiers nor sailors can +attack defenseless noncombatants, systematically destroy towns and +villages, and put to death captured men, women, and children without +falling in their moral nature before the brutes. That he obeyed orders +will not save from moral ruin the soldier or sailor who does such deeds. +He should have refused to obey such orders and taken the consequences. +This is true even of the privates, but more emphatically of the +officers. The white race has often been proud of the way in which its +soldiers and sailors have fought in many causes--good, bad, and +indifferent; because they fought bravely took defeat resolutely, and +showed humanity after victory. The German method of conducting war +omits chivalry, mercy, and humanity, and thereby degrades the German +Nation and any other nation which sympathizes with it or supports its +methods. It is no answer to the world's objection to the sinking of the +Lusitania that Great Britain uses its navy to cut off from Germany food +and needed supplies for its industries, for that is a recognized and +effective method of warfare; whereas the sinking of an occasional +merchant ship with its passengers and crew is a method of warfare +nowhere effective, and almost universally condemned. If war, with its +inevitable stratagems, ambuscades, and lies must continue to be the +arbiter in international disputes, it is certainly desirable that such +magnanimity in war as the conventions of the last century made possible +should not be lost because of Germany's behavior in the present European +convulsion. It is also desirable to reaffirm with all possible emphasis +that fidelity to international agreements is the taproot of human +progress. + +On the supposition that the people of the United States have learned the +lesson of the Lusitania, so far as an understanding of the issues at +stake in this gigantic war is concerned, can they also get from it any +guidance in regard to their own relation to the fateful struggle? +Apparently, not yet. With practical unanimity the American people will +henceforth heartily desire the success of the Allies, and the decisive +defeat of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey. With practical unanimity +they will support whatever action the Administration at Washington shall +decide to take in the immediate emergency; but at present they do not +feel that they know whether they can best promote the defeat of the +Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey by remaining +neutral or by taking active part in the conflict. Unless a dismemberment +of Austria-Hungary is brought about by Italy and Rumania or some other +Balkan State entering the war on the side of the Allies, it now seems as +if neither party would acknowledge defeat until exhausted or brought to +a sudden moral collapse. Exhaustion in war can best be prevented by +maintaining in activity the domestic industries and general +productiveness of the nation involved in war and those of the neutral +nations which are in position to feed it, and manufacture for it +munitions, clothing, and the other supplies that war demands. While +remaining strictly neutral, North and South America can be of great +service to the Allies. To be sure, as a neutral the United States will +be obliged to give some aid to Germany and her allies, such, for +example, as harboring the interned commercial fleet of Germany; but this +aid will be comparatively insignificant. The services which the American +republics can thus render to the cause of liberty and civilization are +probably more considerable than any they could render by direct +contributions of military or naval force. Kept free from the drain of +war, the republics will be better able to supply food, clothing, +munitions, and money to the Allies both during the war and after the +conclusion of peace. + +On the whole, the wisest thing the neutral nations can do, which are +remote from the theatres of war, and have no territorial advantages to +seek at the coming of peace, is probably to defend vigorously and with +the utmost sincerity and frankness all the existing rights of neutrals. +By acting thus in the present case they will promote national +righteousness and hinder national depravity, discourage, for the future, +domination by any single great power in any part of the world, and help +the cause of civilization by strengthening the just liberty and +independence of many nations--large and small, and of different +capacities and experiences--which may reasonably hope, if the Prussian +terror can be abolished, to live together in peaceful co-operation for +the common good. + + + + +Appeals for American Defense + +Need of Further Protecting Neutral Rights Set Forth. + + +By GEORGE W. WICKERSHAM. + +_Formerly United States Attorney General._ + +_To the Editor of The New York Times:_ + +The destruction of the Lusitania by the Germans, and the wanton killing +of American men, women, and children, without warning, brings sharply +before the American people the question of how long the present sexless +policy of the conduct of our affairs is to be continued. Germany has +apparently decided to run amuck with civilization. It is now for the +American people to decide whether this nation has any virility left, or +if it is content to sink to the level of China. + +A very clear course, it seems to me, is open for us to pursue: We should +cancel all diplomatic relations with a country which has declared war +upon civilization, recall our Ambassador from Berlin, and hand Count +Bernstorff his passports. Congress should be summoned in extra session, +and an appropriation of at least $250,000,000 asked to put us in a +condition to protect our rights as a neutral civilized power. At the +same time we should invite all neutral nations of the world to join us +in a council of civilization to agree upon the steps to be taken to +protect the interests of all neutral powers and their citizens from such +wanton acts of destruction of life and property as those which Germany +has been committing and which have culminated in the destruction of the +Lusitania and of so many of her passengers. + +Until now the National Administration has been proceeding not only on +the basis of "safety first," but of safety first, last, and all the +time. The time has arrived when we must remember the truth of what +Lowell so well expressed, that + + 'Tis man's perdition to be safe, when for the truth he ought + to die. + +GEORGE W. WICKERSHAM. + + +BY THE NATIONAL SECURITY LEAGUE. + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 11, 1915.] + +_The army, navy, and coast defenses of the United States are declared to +be inadequate in an open letter signed by Joseph H. Choate, Alton B. +Parker, Henry L. Stimson, and S. Stanwood Menken, which was given out +yesterday in support of the plans of the National Security League. This +organization, which maintains offices at 31 Pine Street, has embarked on +a national campaign for better war defenses, and its appeal for members +and supporters is expressed by the catch-phrase, "a first defense army +of 1,000,000 workers."_ + +_The letter of Messrs. Choate, Parker, Stimson, and Menken contains most +of the arguments put forth by the league in asking public support and +enrollment. Its text follows:_ + +Careful investigation by our committees who have looked into the +question of national defense brings to light the following conditions of +affairs: + +According to official Government reports, there are barely 30,000 mobile +troops in continental United States. These are distributed among +fifty-two widely scattered posts, which would make it impossible to +mobilize quickly at any given point. Even this small force is short of +officers, ammunition, and equipment. Furthermore, it has no organized +reserve. + +Our National Guard, with negligible exceptions, is far below its paper +strength in men, equipment, and efficiency. + +Our coast defenses are inadequate, our fortifications insufficiently +manned and without adequate organized reserves. + +Our navy is neither adequate nor prepared for war. This, our first line +of defense, is inadequately manned, short of ammunition, and has no +organized reserve of trained men. Our submarine flotilla exists chiefly +upon paper. Fast scout cruisers, battle cruisers, aeroplanes, mine +layers, supply ships, and transports are lacking. Target practice has +been neglected or altogether omitted. + +In view of this condition of affairs, and since there is no assurance +that the United States will not again become involved in war, "and since +a peaceful policy even when supported by treaties, is not a sufficient +guarantee against war, of which the subjugation of Belgium and the +present coercion of China by a foreign power are noteworthy examples; +and the United States cannot safely intrust the maintenance of its +institutions and nationality to the mere negations of peace, and since +we are not adequately prepared to maintain our national policies, and +since the present defenseless condition of the nation is due to the +failure of Congress not only to follow the carefully considered plans of +our naval and military advisers, but also to provide any reasonable +measure for gradually putting such plans into practice, it is manifest +that until a workable plan for a world alliance has been evolved and +agreed to by the principal nations, with proper guarantee of good faith, +the United States must undertake adequate military preparations for its +defense." + +In the meantime the National Security League feels impelled to call +public attention to our deplorable condition of unpreparedness. At the +same time the league issues an appeal for public support in behalf of +the following program for better national defense: + +1. Legislation correcting present wasteful methods of military +appropriations and disbursement. + +2. Adoption of a definite military policy. + +3. A stronger, better balanced navy. + +4. An effective mobile army. + +5. Larger and better equipped National Guard. + +6. The creation of an organized reserve for each branch of our military +service. + +All those interested in the work of the league are invited to send their +names and contributions to the National Security League, 31 Pine +Street, New York City. + +[The letter is addressed to "present and former members of the Cabinet, +to members of Congress, to Governors of our States and Territories, to +Mayors of all American cities, to Chambers of Commerce and Boards of +Trade, to merchants' associations, to colleges and universities, to +university clubs and alumni associations, to all patriotic +organizations, to all women's clubs, and to all American citizens." + +"Until a satisfactory plan of disarmament has been worked out and agreed +upon by the nations of the world," says a statement, "the United States +must be adequately prepared to defend itself against invasion. A +military equipment sufficient for this purpose can be had without +recourse to militarism. The league was formed as a preparation not for +war, but against war."] + + +BY THE NAVY LEAGUE. + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 12, 1915.] + +The Navy League of the United States, of which General Horace Porter is +President and which includes in its membership Herbert L. Satterlee, +George von L. Meyer, Beekman Winthrop, J. Pierpont Morgan, Governor +Emmet O'Neal of Alabama, Senator James D. Phelan of California, Cardinal +Gibbons, Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root, Edward T. Stotesbury, Benjamin +Ide Wheeler, Joseph H. Choate, George B. Cortelyou, C. Oliver Iselin, +Seth Low, Myron T. Herrick, Alton B. Parker, and scores of other men +prominent in the public and business life of the country, through its +Executive Committee adopted a resolution yesterday calling upon +President Wilson to call Congress in extra session to authorize a bond +issue of $500,000,000, which sum, it is stated, is "needed to provide +this country with adequate means of naval defense." + +[Illustration: RAYMOND POINCARE + +President of the French Republic Since Feb. 18, 1913 + +_(Photo from P.S. Rogers.)_] + +[Illustration: THE RIGHT HON. H.H. ASQUITH + +Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland + +_(Photo from Brown Bros.)_] + +The resolution, which was adopted at a session at which members of the +Executive Committee consulted by long-distance telephone, some of them +being in Washington and others in New York at the Union League Club, +read: + +"In view of the crisis in our foreign relations, we, as +representatives of the Navy League of the United States, express our +emphatic belief that Congress should be immediately assembled and that +measures should be taken at once to strengthen our national defense. Our +most pacific country should, because of its supreme love of peace, +possess preponderant naval strength and adequate military strength. A +large bond issue of, if necessary, $500,000,000 should be authorized at +once. These bonds would be rapidly absorbed by the American people for +such a purpose. Equipped with a mighty fleet, American life and +American rights would be scrupulously respected by all belligerents. In +such case there would be no thought of our entering into war. + +"GENERAL HORACE PORTER, + President; + +"ROBERT M. THOMPSON, + Chairman Executive Committee; + +"CHARLES A. FOWLER, + +"PERRY BELMONT, + +"JOHN C. O'LAUGHLIN, + +"FRANK J. SYMES." + + + + +The Drowned Sailor + +By MAURICE HEWLETT. + +[From "Sing Songs of the War."] + + + Last night I saw my true love stand + All shadowy by my bed. + He had my locket in his hand; + I knew that he was dead. + + "Sweetheart, why stand you there so fast, + Why stand you there so grave?" + "I think," said he, "this hour's the last + That you and I can have. + + "You gave me this from your fair breast, + It's never left me yet; + And now it dares not seek the nest + Because it is so wet. + + "The cold gray sea has covered it, + Deep in the sand it lies; + While over me the long weeds flit + And veil my staring eyes. + + "And there are German sailors laid + Beside me in the deep; + We have no need of gun nor blade, + United in our sleep." + + "Dear heart, dear heart, come to my bed, + My arms are warm and sweet!" + "Alack for you, my love," he said, + "My limbs would wet the sheet. + + "Cold is the bed that I lie on + And deep beneath the swell; + No voice is left to make my moan + And bid my love farewell." + + Now I am widow that was wife-- + Would God that they could prove + What law should rule, without the strife + That's robbed me of my love! + + + + +War With Poisonous Gases + +The Gap at Ypres Made by German Chlorine Vapor Bombs + +Reports by the Official "Eyewitness" + +and + +Dr. J.S. Haldane, F.R.S. + + +_Dr. John Scott Haldane, F.R.S., who has conducted the investigation for +the British War Office, is a brother of Lord Haldane. He is a graduate +in medicine of Edinburgh University and an M.A. of Oxford and an LL.D. +of Birmingham. For many years he has been engaged in scientific +investigation, and has contributed largely to the elucidation of the +causes of death in colliery and mine explosions He is the author of a +work on the physiology of respiration and air analysis._ + +_Professor Baker, F.R.S., who is carrying out chemical investigations +into the nature of the gases, is Professor of Chemistry in the Imperial +College of Science and Technology, London. He was a Scholar in Natural +Science at Balliol. He has conducted important experiments into the +nature of gases._ + +_Sir Wilmot Herringham, M.D. Oxon., is a physician to St. Bartholomew's +Hospital and Vice Chancellor of the London University._ + +_Lieutenant McNee, M.B., M. Ch. Glasgow, a Carnegie Research Fellow, is +assistant to the Professor of Pathology in Glasgow University and has +conducted many investigations of an important character in pathology and +chemical pathology._ + +General Headquarters, +British Expeditionary Force, +April 27, 1915. + +To Earl Kitchener, Secretary of State for War. + +My Lord: I have the honor to report that, as requested by you yesterday +morning, I proceeded to France to investigate the nature and effects of +the asphyxiating gas employed in the recent fighting by the German +troops. After reporting myself at General Headquarters I proceeded to +Bailleul with Sir Wilmot Herringham, Consulting Physician to the British +Force, and examined with him several men from Canadian battalions who +were at the No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station suffering from the effects +of the gas. + +These men were lying struggling for breath and blue in the face. On +examining the blood with the spectroscope and by other means, I +ascertained that the blueness was not due to the presence of any +abnormal pigment. There was nothing to account for the blueness +(cyanosis) and struggle for air but the one fact that they were +suffering from acute bronchitis, such as is caused by inhalation of an +irritant gas. Their statements were that when in the trenches they had +been overwhelmed by an irritant gas produced in front of the German +trenches and carried toward them by a gentle breeze. + +One of them died shortly after our arrival. A post-mortem examination +was conducted in our presence by Lieutenant McNee, a pathologist by +profession, of Glasgow University. The examination showed that death was +due to acute bronchitis and its secondary effects. There was no doubt +that the bronchitis and accompanying slow asphyxiation were due to the +irritant gas. + +Lieutenant McNee had also examined yesterday the body of a Canadian +Sergeant who had died in the clearing station from the effects of the +gas. In this case, also, very acute bronchitis and oedema of the lungs +caused death by asphyxiation. + +A deposition by Captain Bertram, Eighth Canadian Battalion, was +carefully taken down by Lieutenant McNee. Captain Bertram was then in +the clearing station, suffering from the effects of the gas and from a +wound. From a support trench, about 600 yards from the German lines, he +had observed the gas. He saw, first of all, a white smoke arising from +the German trenches to a height of about three feet. Then in front of +the white smoke appeared a greenish cloud, which drifted along the +ground to our trenches, not rising more than about seven feet from the +ground when it reached our first trenches. Men in these trenches were +obliged to leave, and a number of them were killed by the effects of the +gas. We made a counter-attack about fifteen minutes after the gas came +over, and saw twenty-four men lying dead from the effects of the gas on +a small stretch of road leading from the advanced trenches to the +supports. He was himself much affected by the gas still present, and +felt as if he could not breathe. + +The symptoms and the other facts so far ascertained point to the use by +the German troops of chlorine or bromine for purposes of asphyxiation. + +There are also facts pointing to the use in German shells of other +irritant substances, though in some cases at least these agents are not +of the same brutally barbarous character as the gas used in the attack +on the Canadians. The effects are not those of any of the ordinary +products of combustion of explosives. On this point the symptoms +described left not the slightest doubt in my mind. + +Professor H.B. Baker, F.R.S., who accompanied me, is making further +inquiries from the chemical side. + +I am, my Lord, your obedient servant, + +J.S. HALDANE. + +_The following announcement was issued by the British War Office on +April 29, 1915:_ + +Thanks to the magnificent response already made to the appeal in the +press for respirators for the troops, the War Office is in a position to +announce that no further respirators need be made. + + +THE "EYEWITNESS" STORY. + +_The following descriptive account was communicated by the British +Official Eyewitness present with General Headquarters, supplementing his +continuous narrative of the movements of the British force and the +French armies in immediate touch with it:_ + +April 27, 1915. + +Since the last summary there has been a sudden development in the +situation on our front, and very heavy fighting has taken place to the +north and northeast of Ypres, which can be said to have assumed the +importance of a second battle for that town. With the aid of a method of +warfare up to now never employed by nations sufficiently civilized to +consider themselves bound by international agreements solemnly ratified +by themselves, and favored by the atmospheric conditions, the Germans +have put into effect an attack which they had evidently contemplated and +prepared for some time. + +Before the battle began our line in this quarter ran from the +cross-roads at Broodseinde, east of Zonnebeke on the Ypres-Moorslede +Road to the cross-roads half a mile north of St. Julien, on the +Ypres-Poelcapelle Road, roughly following the crest of what is known as +the Grafenstafel Ridge. The French prolonged the line west of the +Ypres-Poelcapelle Road, whence their trenches ran around the north of +Langemarck to Steenstraate on the Yperlee Canal. The area covered by the +initial attack is that between the canal and the Ypres-Poelcapelle Road, +though it was afterward extended to the west of the canal and to the +east of the road. + +An effort on the part of the Germans in this direction was not +unexpected, since movements of troops and transport behind their front +line had been detected for some days. Its peculiar and novel nature, +however, was a surprise which was largely responsible for the measure of +success achieved. Taking advantage of the fact that at this season of +the year the wind not infrequently blows from the north, they secretly +brought up apparatus for emitting asphyxiating vapor or gas, and +distributed it along the section of their front line opposite that of +our allies, west of Langemarck, which faced almost due north. Their plan +was to make a sudden onslaught southwestward, which, if successful, +might enable them to gain the crossings on the canal south of Bixschoote +and place them well behind the British left in a position to threaten +Ypres. + +The attack was originally fixed for Tuesday, the 20th, but since all +chances of success depended on the action of the asphyxiating vapor it +was postponed, the weather being unfavorable. On Thursday, the 22d, the +wind blew steadily from the north, and that afternoon, all being ready, +the Germans put their plan into execution. Since then events have moved +so rapidly and the situation has moved so frequently that it is +difficult to give a consecutive and clear story of what happened, but +the following account represents as nearly as can be the general course +of events. The details of the gas apparatus employed by them are given +separately, as also those of the asphyxiating grenades, bombs, and +shells of which they have been throwing hundreds. + +At some time between 4 and 5 P.M. the Germans started operations by +releasing gases with the result that a cloud of poisonous vapor rolled +swiftly before the wind from their trenches toward those of the French +west of Langemarck, held by a portion of the French Colonial Division. +Allowing sufficient time for the fumes to take full effect on the troops +facing them, the Germans charged forward over the practically +unresisting enemy in their immediate front, and, penetrating through the +gap thus created, pressed on silently and swiftly to the south and west. +By their sudden irruption they were able to overrun and surprise a large +proportion of the French troops billeted behind the front line in this +area and to bring some of the French guns as well as our own under a hot +rifle fire at close range. + +The first intimation that all was not well to the north was conveyed to +our troops holding the left of the British line between 5 and 6 P.M. by +the withdrawal of some of the French Colonials and the sight of the wall +of vapor following them. Our flank being thus exposed the troops were +ordered to retire on St. Julien, with their left parallel to but to the +west of the highroad. The splendid resistance of these troops, who saved +the situation, has already been mentioned by the Commander in Chief. + +Meanwhile, apparently waiting till their infantry had penetrated well +behind the Allies' line, the Germans had opened a hot artillery fire +upon the various tactical points to the north of Ypres, the bombardment +being carried out with ordinary high-explosive shell and shrapnel of +various calibres and also with projectiles containing asphyxiating gas. +About this period our men in reserve near Ypres, seeing the shells +bursting, had gathered in groups, discussing the situation and +questioning some scattered bodies of Turcos who had appeared; suddenly a +staff officer rode up shouting "Stand to your arms," and in a few +minutes the troops had fallen in and were marching northward to the +scene of the fight. + +Nothing more impressive can be imagined than the sight of our men +falling in quietly in perfect order on their alarm posts amid the scene +of wild confusion caused by the panic-stricken refugees who swarmed +along the roads. + +In the meantime, to the north and northeast of the town, a confused +fight was taking place, which gave proof not only of great gallantry and +steadiness on the part of the troops referred to above, but of +remarkable presence of mind on the part of their leaders. Behind the +wall of vapor, which had swept across fields, through woods, and over +hedgerows, came the German firing line, the men's mouths and noses, it +is stated, protected by pads soaked in a solution of bicarbonate of +soda. Closely following them again came the supports. These troops, +hurrying forward with their formation somewhat broken up by the +obstacles encountered in their path, looked like a huge mob bearing down +upon the town. A battery of 4.7-inch guns a little beyond the left of +our line was surprised and overwhelmed by them in a moment. Further to +the rear and in a more easterly direction were several field batteries, +and before they could come into action the Germans were within a few +hundred yards. Not a gun, however, was lost. + +One battery, taken in flank, swung around, fired on the enemy at +point-blank range, and checked the rush. Another opened fire with the +guns pointing in almost opposite directions, the enemy being on three +sides of them. It was under the very heavy cannonade opened about this +time by the Germans, and threatened by the advance of vastly superior +numbers, that our infantry on our left steadily, and without any sign of +confusion, slowly retired to St. Julien, fighting every step. + +Help was not long in arriving, for some of our reserves near Ypres had +stood to arms as soon as they were aware of the fact that the French +line had been forced, and the officers on their own initiative, without +waiting for orders, led them forward to meet the advancing enemy, who, +by this time, were barely two miles from the town. These battalions +attacked the Germans with the bayonet, and then ensued a melee, in which +our men more than held their own, both sides losing very heavily. + +One German battalion seems to have been especially severely handled, the +Colonel being captured among several other prisoners. Other +reinforcements were thrown in as they came up, and, when night fell, the +fighting continued by moonlight, our troops driving back the enemy by +repeated bayonet charges, in the course of which our heavy guns were +recaptured. + +By then the situation was somewhat restored in the area immediately +north of Ypres. Further to the west, however, the enemy had forced their +way over the canal, occupying Steenstraate and the crossing at Het +Sast, about three-quarters of a mile south of the former place, and had +established themselves at various points on the west bank. All night +long the shelling continued, and about 1:30 A.M. two heavy attacks were +made on our line in the neighborhood of Broodseinde, east of Zonnebeke. +These were both repulsed. The bombardment of Ypres itself and its +neighborhood had by now redoubled in intensity and a part of the town +was in flames. + +In the early morning of Friday, the 23d, we delivered a strong +counter-attack northward in co-operation with the French. Our advance +progressed for some little distance, reaching the edge of the wood about +half a mile west of St. Julien and penetrating it. Here our men got into +the Germans with the bayonet, and the latter suffered heavily. The +losses were also severe on our side, for the advance had to be carried +out across the open. But in spite of this nothing could exceed the dash +with which it was conducted. One man--and his case is typical of the +spirit shown by the troops--who had had his rifle smashed by a bullet, +continued to fight with an intrenching tool. Even many of the wounded +made their way out of the fight with some article of German equipment as +a memento. + +About 11 A.M., not being able to progress further, our troops dug +themselves in, the line then running from St. Julien practically due +west for about a mile, whence it curved southwestward before turning +north to the canal near Boesinghe. Broadly speaking, on the section of +the front then occupied by us the result of the operations had been to +remove to some extent the wedge which the Germans had driven into the +allied line, and the immediate danger was over. During the afternoon our +counter-attack made further progress south of Pilkem, thus straightening +the line still more. Along the canal the fighting raged fiercely, our +allies making some progress here and there. During the night, however, +the Germans captured Lizerne, a village on the main road from Ypres to +Steenstraate. + +When the morning of the 24th came the situation remained much the same, +but the enemy, who had thrown several bridges across the canal, +continued to gain ground to the west. On our front the Germans, under +cover of their gas, made a further attack between 3 and 4 A.M. to the +east of St. Julien and forced back a portion of our line. Nothing else +in particular occurred until about mid-day, when large bodies of the +enemy were seen advancing down the Ypres-Poelcapelle road toward St. +Julien. Soon after a very strong attack developed against that village +and the section of the line east of it. Under the pressure of these +fresh masses our troops were compelled to fall back, contesting every +inch of ground and making repeated counter-attacks; but until late at +night a gallant handful, some 200 to 300 strong, held out in St. Julien. +During the night the line was re-established north of the hamlet of +Fortuin, about 700 yards further to the rear. All this time the fighting +along the canal continued, the enemy forcing their way across near +Boesinghe, and holding Het Sast, Steenstraate, and Lizerne strongly. The +French counter-attacked in the afternoon, captured fifty prisoners, and +made some further progress toward Pilkem. The Germans, however, were +still holding the west bank firmly, although the Belgian artillery had +broken the bridge behind them at Steenstraate. + +On the morning of Sunday, the fourth day of the battle, we made a strong +counter-attack on St. Julien, which gained some ground but was checked +in front of the village. To the west of it we reached a point a few +hundred yards south of the wood which had been the objective on the 23d +and which we had had to relinquish subsequently. In the afternoon the +Germans made repeated assaults in great strength on our line near +Broodseinde. These were backed up by a tremendous artillery bombardment +and the throwing of asphyxiating bombs; but all were beaten off with +great slaughter to the enemy, and forty-five prisoners fell into our +hands. When night came the situation remained unchanged. + +This determined offensive on the part of the enemy, although it has +menaced Ypres itself, has not so far the appearance of a great effort to +break through the line and capture the Channel ports, such as that made +in October. Its initial success was gained by the surprise rendered +possible by the use of a device which Germany pledged herself not to +employ. The only result upon our troops has been to fill them with an +even greater determination to punish the enemy and to make him pay +tenfold for every act of "frightfulness" he has perpetrated. + +Along the rest of the British front nothing of special importance has +occurred. + + +WHAT THE GERMANS SAY. + +_The comments of the German newspapers on the advance of the imperial +army north of Ypres readily admitted and justified the use of +asphyxiating gases. The leading Prussian military organ, the Kreuz +Zeitung, said:_ + +The moral success of our victory is quite upon a level with its +strategic value. It has again been proved that in the west also we are +at any time in a position to take the offensive, and that, +notwithstanding their most violent efforts, it is impossible for the +English and the French to throw back or to break through our battle +line. + +_In another article the Kreuz Zeitung said:_ + +When the French report says that we used a large number of asphyxiating +bombs, our enemies may infer from this that they always are making a +mistake when by their behavior they cause us to have recourse to new +technical weapons. + +_Dealing with the same subject in a leading article, the Frankfurter +Zeitung declared:_ + +It is quite possible that our bombs and shells made it impossible for +the enemy to remain in his trenches and artillery positions, and it is +even probable that missiles which emit poisonous gases have actually +been used by us, since the German leaders have made it plain that, as +an answer to the treacherous missiles which have been used by the +English and the French for many weeks past, we, too, shall employ gas +bombs or whatever they are called. The German leaders pointed out that +considerably more effective materials were to be expected from German +chemistry, and they were right. + +But, however destructive these bombs and shells may have been, do the +English and the other people think that it makes a serious difference +whether hundreds of guns and howitzers throw hundreds of thousands of +shells on a single tiny spot in order to destroy and break to atoms +everything living there, and to make the German trenches into a terrible +hell as was the case at Neuve Chapelle, or whether we throw a few shells +which spread death in the air? These shells are not more deadly than the +poison of English explosives, but they take effect over a wider area, +produce a rapid end, and spare the torn bodies the tortures and pains of +death. + +_The Frankfurter Zeitung then compared the results achieved as +follows:_ + +The shells of Neuve Chapelle cost the Germans a trench and a village, +but on the edge of the ruin the German ring remained firm and strong. +How was it at Ypres? The enemy was thrown back on a front of more than +five and a half miles. Along this whole front we gained two miles. These +figures would signify little in comparison with the distance to the sea, +but our next goal is Ypres, and on the north we are now only a few +kilometers from this stronghold. + +_The Cologne Gazette referred to Sir John French's reports as follows:_ + +It is delightful to read the complaints about the use of shells +containing asphyxiating gases. This sounds particularly well out of the +mouth of the Commander in Chief of a nation which for centuries past has +trodden every provision of international law under foot. + + + + +The Canadians at Ypres + +[From the Canadian Record Officer.] + + +_The full narrative of the part played by the Canadians at Ypres is +given in a communication from the Record Officer now serving with the +Canadian Division at the front and published in the British press on May +1, 1915. The division was commanded by a distinguished English General, +but these "amateur soldiers of Canada," as the narrator describes them, +were officered largely by lawyers, college professors, and business men +who before the war were neither disciplined nor trained. Many striking +deeds of heroism and self-sacrifice were performed in the course of +their brilliant charge and dogged resistance, which, in the words of Sir +John French, "saved the situation" in the face of overwhelming odds._ + +On April 22 the Canadian Division held a line of, roughly, 5,000 yards, +extending in a northwesterly direction from the Ypres-Roulers Railway to +the Ypres-Poelcapelle road, and connecting at its terminus with the +French troops. The division consisted of three infantry brigades in +addition to the artillery brigades. Of the infantry brigades the First +was in reserve, the Second was on the right, and the Third established +contact with the Allies at the point indicated above. + +The day was a peaceful one, warm and sunny, and except that the previous +day had witnessed a further bombardment of the stricken town of Ypres, +everything seemed quiet in front of the Canadian line. At 5 o'clock in +the afternoon a plan, carefully prepared, was put into execution against +our French allies on the left. Asphyxiating gas of great intensity was +projected into their trenches, probably by means of force pumps and +pipes laid out under the parapets. The fumes, aided by a favorable wind, +floated backward, poisoning and disabling over an extended area those +who fell under their effect. + +The result was that the French were compelled to give ground for a +considerable distance. The glory which the French Army has won in this +war would make it impertinent to labor the compelling nature of the +poisonous discharges under which the trenches were lost. The French did, +as every one knew they would do, all that stout soldiers could do, and +the Canadian Division, officers and men, look forward to many occasions +in the future in which they will stand side by side with the brave +armies of France. + +[Illustration: POSITION BEFORE DISCHARGE OF GAS + +Contrast this with: + +POSITION AFTER DISCHARGE OF GAS] + +The immediate consequences of this enforced withdrawal were, of course, +extremely grave. The Third Brigade of the Canadian Division was without +any left, or, in other words, its left was in the air. Rough diagrams +may make the position clear. + +It became imperatively necessary greatly to extend the Canadian lines to +the left rear. It was not, of course, practicable to move the First +Brigade from reserve at a moment's notice, and the line, extending from +5,000 to 9,000 yards, was naturally not the line that had been held by +the Allies at 5 o'clock, and a gap still existed on its left. The new +line, of which our recent point of contact with the French formed the +apex, ran quite roughly as follows: + +[Illustration: POSITION ON FRIDAY MORNING] + +As shown above, it became necessary for Brig. Gen. Turner, commanding +the Third Brigade, to throw back his left flank southward to protect his +rear. In the course of the confusion which followed upon the +readjustments of position, the enemy, who had advanced rapidly after his +initial successes, took four British 4.7 guns in a small wood to the +west of the village of St. Julien, two miles in the rear of the original +French trenches. + +The story of the second battle of Ypres is the story of how the Canadian +Division, enormously outnumbered--for they had in front of them at least +four divisions supported by immensely heavy artillery--with a gap still +existing, though reduced, in their lines, and with dispositions made +hurriedly under the stimulus of critical danger, fought through the day +and through the night, and then through another day and night; fought +under their officers until, as happened to so many, those perished +gloriously, and then fought from the impulsion of sheer valor because +they came from fighting stock. + +The enemy, of course, was aware--whether fully or not may perhaps be +doubted--of the advantage his breach in the line had given him, and +immediately began to push a formidable series of attacks upon the whole +of the newly-formed Canadian salient. If it is possible to distinguish +when the attack was everywhere so fierce, it developed with particular +intensity at this moment upon the apex of the newly formed line, running +in the direction of St. Julien. + +It has already been stated that four British guns were taken in a wood +comparatively early in the evening of the 22d. In the course of that +night, and under the heaviest machine-gun fire, this wood was assaulted +by the Canadian Scottish, Sixteenth Battalion of the Third Brigade, and +the Tenth Battalion of the Second Brigade, which was intercepted for +this purpose on its way to a reserve trench. The battalions were +respectively commanded by Lieut. Col. Leckie and Lieut. Col. Boyle, and +after a most fierce struggle in the light of a misty moon they took the +position at the point of the bayonet. At midnight the Second Battalion, +under Colonel Watson, and the Toronto Regiment, Queen's Own, Third +Battalion, under Lieut. Col. Rennie, both of the First Brigade, brought +up much-needed reinforcement, and though not actually engaged in the +assault were in reserve. + +All through the following days and nights these battalions shared the +fortunes and misfortunes of the Third Brigade. An officer who took part +in the attack describes how the men about him fell under the fire of the +machine guns, which, in his phrase, played upon them "like a watering +pot." He added quite simply, "I wrote my own life off." But the line +never wavered. When one man fell another took his place, and with a +final shout the survivors of the two battalions flung themselves into +the wood. The German garrison was completely demoralized, and the +impetuous advance of the Canadians did not cease until they reached the +far side of the wood and intrenched themselves there in the position so +dearly gained. They had, however, the disappointment of finding that the +guns had been blown up by the enemy, and later on in the same night a +most formidable concentration of artillery fire, sweeping the wood as a +tropical storm sweeps the leaves from a forest, made it impossible for +them to hold the position for which they had sacrificed so much. + +The fighting continued without intermission all through the night, and, +to those who observed the indications that the attack was being pushed +with ever-growing strength, it hardly seemed possible that the +Canadians, fighting in positions so difficult to defend and so little +the subject of deliberate choice, could maintain their resistance for +any long period. At 6 A.M. on Friday it became apparent that the left +was becoming more and more involved, and a powerful German attempt to +outflank it developed rapidly. The consequences, if it had been broken +or outflanked, need not be insisted upon. They were not merely local. + +It was therefore decided, formidable as the attempt undoubtedly was, to +try and give relief by a counter-attack upon the first line of German +trenches, now far, far advanced from those originally occupied by the +French. This was carried out by the Ontario First and Fourth Battalions +of the First Brigade, under Brig. Gen. Mercer, acting in combination +with a British brigade. + +It is safe to say that the youngest private in the rank, as he set his +teeth for the advance, knew the task in front of him, and the youngest +subaltern knew all that rested upon its success. It did not seem that +any human being could live in the shower of shot and shell which began +to play upon the advancing troops. They suffered terrible casualties. +For a short time every other man seemed to fall, but the attack was +pressed ever closer and closer. + +The Fourth Canadian Battalion at one moment came under a particularly +withering fire. For a moment--not more--it wavered. Its most gallant +commanding officer, Lieut. Col. Burchill, carrying, after an old +fashion, a light cane, coolly and cheerfully rallied his men and, at the +very moment when his example had infected them, fell dead at the head of +his battalion. With a hoarse cry of anger they sprang forward, (for, +indeed, they loved him,) as if to avenge his death. The astonishing +attack which followed--pushed home in the face of direct frontal fire +made in broad daylight by battalions whose names should live for ever in +the memories of soldiers--was carried to the first line of German +trenches. After a hand-to-hand struggle the last German who resisted was +bayoneted, and the trench was won. + +The measure of this success may be taken when it is pointed out that +this trench represented in the German advance the apex in the breach +which the enemy had made in the original line of the Allies, and that it +was two and a half miles south of that line. This charge, made by men +who looked death indifferently in the face, (for no man who took part in +it could think that he was likely to live,) saved, and that was much, +the Canadian left. But it did more. Up to the point where the assailants +conquered, or died, it secured and maintained during the most critical +moment of all the integrity of the allied line. For the trench was not +only taken, it was held thereafter against all comers, and in the teeth +of every conceivable projectile, until the night of Sunday, the 25th, +when all that remained of the war-broken but victorious battalions was +relieved by fresh troops. + +It is necessary now to return to the fortunes of the Third Brigade, +commanded by Brig. Gen. Turner, which, as we have seen, at 5 o'clock on +Thursday was holding the Canadian left, and after the first attack +assumed the defense of the new Canadian salient, at the same time +sparing all the men it could to form an extemporized line between the +wood and St. Julien. This brigade also was at the first moment of the +German offensive, made the object of an attack by the discharge of +poisonous gas. The discharge was followed by two enemy assaults. +Although the fumes were extremely poisonous, they were not, perhaps +having regard to the wind, so disabling as on the French lines, (which +ran almost east to west,) and the brigade, though affected by the fumes, +stoutly beat back the two German assaults. + +Encouraged by this success, it rose to the supreme effort required by +the assault on the wood, which has already been described. At 4 o'clock +on the morning of Friday, the 23d, a fresh emission of gas was made both +upon the Second Brigade, which held the line running northeast, and upon +the Third Brigade, which, as has been fully explained, had continued the +line up to the pivotal point, as defined above, and had then spread down +in a southeasterly direction. It is, perhaps, worth mentioning that two +privates of the Forty-eighth Highlanders who found their way into the +trenches commanded by Colonel Lipsett, Ninetieth Winnipeg Rifles, Eighth +Battalion, perished in the fumes, and it was noticed that their faces +became blue immediately after dissolution. + +The Royal Highlanders of Montreal, Thirteenth Battalion, and the +Forty-eighth Highlanders, Fifteenth Battalion, were more especially +affected by the discharge. The Royal Highlanders, though considerably +shaken, remained immovable upon their ground. The Forty-eighth +Highlanders, which, no doubt, received a more poisonous discharge, was +for the moment dismayed, and, indeed, their trench, according to the +testimony of very hardened soldiers, became intolerable. The battalion +retired from the trench, but for a very short distance, and for an +equally short time. In a few moments they were again their own men. They +advanced upon and occupied the trenches which they had momentarily +abandoned. + +In the course of the same night the Third Brigade, which had already +displayed a resource, a gallantry, and a tenacity for which no eulogy +could be excessive, was exposed (and with it the whole allied case) to a +peril still more formidable. + +[Illustration: The German rush across the Yser-Ypres Canal was checked +at Lizerne and opposite Boesinghe. The shaded area on the map marks the +scene of the battle. Within this area are Steenstraate, Het Sast, +Pilkem, St. Julien, and Langemarck, all of which the Germans claimed to +have captured.] + +It has been explained, and, indeed, the fundamental situation made the +peril clear, that several German divisions were attempting to crush or +drive back this devoted brigade, and in any event to use their enormous +numerical superiority to sweep around and overwhelm its left wing. At +some point in the line which cannot be precisely determined the last +attempt partially succeeded, and in the course of this critical struggle +German troops in considerable though not in overwhelming numbers swung +past the unsupported left of the brigade, and, slipping in between the +wood and St. Julien, added to the torturing anxieties of the long-drawn +struggle by the appearance, and indeed for the moment the reality, of +isolation from the brigade base. + +In the exertions made by the Third Brigade during this supreme crisis it +is almost impossible to single out one battalion without injustice to +others, but though the efforts of the Royal Highlanders of Montreal, +Thirteenth Battalion, were only equal to those of the other battalions +who did such heroic service, it so happened by chance that the fate of +some of its officers attracted special attention. + +Major Norsworth, already almost disabled by a bullet wound, was +bayoneted and killed while he was rallying his men with easy +cheerfulness. The case of Captain McCuaig, of the same battalion, was +not less glorious, although his death can claim no witness. This most +gallant officer was seriously wounded, in a hurriedly constructed +trench, at a moment when it would have been possible to remove him to +safety. He absolutely refused to move and continued in the discharge of +his duty. + +But the situation grew constantly worse, and peremptory orders were +received for an immediate withdrawal. Those who were compelled to obey +them were most insistent to carry with them, at whatever risk to their +own mobility and safety, an officer to whom they were devotedly +attached. But he, knowing, it may be, better than they, the exertions +which still lay in front of them, and unwilling to inflict upon them the +disabilities of a maimed man, very resolutely refused, and asked of them +one thing only, that there should be given to him, as he lay alone in +the trench, two loaded Colt revolvers to add to his own, which lay in +his right hand as he made his last request. And so, with three revolvers +ready to his hand for use, a very brave officer waited to sell his life, +wounded and racked with pain, in an abandoned trench. + +On Friday afternoon the left of the Canadian line was strengthened by +important reinforcements of British troops amounting to seven +battalions. From this time forward the Canadians also continued to +receive further assistance on the left from a series of French +counter-attacks pushed in a northeasterly direction from the canal bank. + +But the artillery fire of the enemy continually grew in intensity, and +it became more and more evident that the Canadian salient could no +longer be maintained against the overwhelming superiority of numbers by +which it was assailed. Slowly, stubbornly, and contesting every yard, +the defenders gave ground until the salient gradually receded from the +apex, near the point where it had originally aligned with the French, +and fell back upon St. Julien. + +Soon it became evident that even St. Julien, exposed to fire from right +and left, was no longer tenable in the face of overwhelming numerical +superiority. The Third Brigade was therefore ordered to retreat further +south, selling every yard of ground as dearly as it had done since 5 +o'clock on Thursday. But it was found impossible, without hazarding far +larger forces, to disentangle the detachment of the Royal Highlanders of +Montreal, Thirteenth Battalion, and of the Royal Montreal Regiment, +Fourteenth Battalion. The brigade was ordered, and not a moment too +soon, to move back. It left these units with hearts as heavy as those +with which his comrades had said farewell to Captain McCuaig. The +German tide rolled, indeed, over the deserted village, but for several +hours after the enemy had become master of the village the sullen and +persistent rifle fire which survived showed that they were not yet +master of the Canadian rearguard. If they died, they died worthily of +Canada. + +The enforced retirement of the Third Brigade (and to have stayed longer +would have been madness) reproduced for the Second Brigade, commanded by +Brig. Gen. Curry, in a singularly exact fashion, the position of the +Third Brigade itself at the moment of the withdrawal of the French. The +Second Brigade, it must be remembered, had retained the whole line of +trenches, roughly 2,500 yards, which it was holding at 5 o'clock on +Thursday afternoon, supported by the incomparable exertions of the Third +Brigade, and by the highly hazardous deployment in which necessity had +involved that brigade. The Second Brigade had maintained its lines. + +It now devolved upon General Curry, commanding this brigade, to +reproduce the tactical maneuvres with which, earlier in the fight, the +Third Brigade had adapted itself to the flank movement of overwhelming +numerical superiority. He flung his left flank around south, and his +record is, that in the very crisis of this immense struggle he held his +line of trenches from Thursday at 5 o'clock till Sunday afternoon. And +on Sunday afternoon he had not abandoned his trenches. There were none +left. They had been obliterated by artillery. He withdrew his undefeated +troops from the fragments of his field fortifications, and the hearts of +his men were as completely unbroken as the parapets of his trenches were +completely broken. In such a brigade it is invidious to single out any +battalion for special praise, but it is, perhaps, necessary to the story +to point out that Lieut. Col. Lipsett, commanding the Ninetieth Winnipeg +Rifles, Eighth Battalion of the Second Brigade, held the extreme left of +the brigade position at the most critical moment. + +The battalion was expelled from the trenches early on Friday morning by +an emission of poisonous gas, but, recovering in three-quarters of an +hour, it counter-attacked, retook the trenches it had abandoned, and +bayoneted the enemy. And after the Third Brigade had been forced to +retire Lieut. Col. Lipsett held his position, though his left was in the +air, until two British regiments filled up the gap on Saturday night. + +The individual fortunes of these two brigades have brought us to the +events of Sunday afternoon, but it is necessary, to make the story +complete, to recur for a moment to the events of the morning. After a +very formidable attack the enemy succeeded in capturing the village of +St. Julien, which has so often been referred to in describing the +fortunes of the Canadian left. This success opened up a new and +formidable line of advance, but by this time further reinforcements had +arrived. Here, again, it became evident that the tactical necessities of +the situation dictated an offensive movement as the surest method of +arresting further progress. + +General Alderson, who was in command of the reinforcements, accordingly +directed that an advance should be made by a British brigade which had +been brought up in support. The attack was thrust through the Canadian +left and centre, and as the troops making it swept on, many of them +going to certain death, they paused an instant, and, with deep-throated +cheers for Canada, gave the first indication to the division of the warm +admiration which their exertions had excited in the British Army. + +The advance was indeed costly, but it could not be gainsaid. The story +is one of which the brigade may be proud, but it does not belong to the +special account of the fortunes of the Canadian contingent. It is +sufficient for our purpose to notice that the attack succeeded in its +object, and the German advance along the line, momentarily threatened, +was arrested. + +We had reached, in describing the events of the afternoon, the points at +which the trenches of the Second Brigade had been completely destroyed. +This brigade, the Third Brigade, and the considerable reinforcements +which this time filled the gap between the two brigades, were gradually +driven fighting every yard upon a line running, roughly, from Fortuin, +south of St. Julien, in a northeasterly direction toward Passchendaele. +Here the two brigades were relieved by two British brigades, after +exertions as glorious, as fruitful, and, alas! as costly as soldiers +have ever been called upon to make. + +Monday morning broke bright and clear and found the Canadians behind the +firing line. This day, too, was to bring its anxieties. The attack was +still pressed, and it became necessary to ask Brig. Gen. Curry whether +he could once more call upon his shrunken brigade. "The men are tired," +this indomitable soldier replied, "but they are ready and glad to go +again to the trenches." And so once more, a hero leading heroes, the +General marched back the men of the Second Brigade, reduced to a quarter +of its original strength, to the very apex of the line as it existed at +that moment. + +This position he held all day Monday; on Tuesday he was still occupying +the reserve trenches, and on Wednesday was relieved and retired to +billets in the rear. + +Such, in the most general outline, is the story of a great and glorious +feat of arms. A story told so soon after the event, while rendering bare +justice to units whose doings fell under the eyes of particular +observers, must do less than justice to others who played their +part--and all did--as gloriously as those whose special activities it is +possible, even at this stage, to describe. But the friends of men who +fought in other battalions may be content in the knowledge that they, +too, shall learn, when time allows the complete correlation of diaries, +the exact part which each unit played in these unforgettable days. It is +rather accident than special distinction which had made it possible to +select individual battalions for mention. + +It would not be right to close even this account without a word of +tribute to the auxiliary services. The signalers were always cool and +resourceful. The telegraph and telephone wires being constantly cut, +many belonging to this service rendered up their lives in the discharge +of their duty, carrying out repairs with the most complete calmness in +exposed positions. The dispatch carriers, as usual, behaved with the +greatest bravery. Theirs is a lonely life, and very often a lonely +death. One cycle messenger lay upon the ground, badly wounded. He +stopped a passing officer and delivered his message, together with some +verbal instructions. These were coherently given, but he swooned almost +before the words were out of his mouth. + +The artillery never flagged in the sleepless struggle in which so much +depended upon its exertions. Not a Canadian gun was lost in the long +battle of retreat. And the nature of the position renders such a record +very remarkable. One battery of four guns found itself in such a +situation that it was compelled to turn two of its guns directly about +and fire upon the enemy in positions almost diametrically opposite. + +It is not possible in this account to attempt a description of the +services rendered by the Canadian Engineers or the Medical Corps. Their +members rivaled in coolness, endurance, and valor the Canadian infantry, +whose comrades they were, and it is hoped in separate communications to +do justice to both these brilliant services. + +No attempt has been made in this description to explain the recent +operations except in so far as they spring from, or are connected with, +the fortunes of the Canadian Division. It is certain that the exertions +of the troops who reinforced and later relieved the Canadians were not +less glorious, but the long, drawn-out struggle is a lesson to the whole +empire. "Arise, O Israel!" The empire is engaged in a struggle, without +quarter and without compromise, against an enemy still superbly +organized, still immensely powerful, still confident that its strength +is the mate of its necessities. To arms, then, and still to arms! In +Great Britain, in Canada, in Australia there is need, and there is need +now, of a community organized alike in military and industrial +co-operation. + +That our countrymen in Canada, even while their hearts are still +bleeding, will answer every call which is made upon them, we well know. + +The graveyard of Canada in Flanders is large; it is very large. Those +who lie there have left their mortal remains on alien soil. To Canada +they have bequeathed their memories and their glory. + + On Fame's eternal camping ground + Their silent tents are spread, + And Glory guards with solemn round + The bivouac of the dead. + + + + +Vapor Warfare Resumed + + +SIR JOHN FRENCH'S REPORT. + +_The British Press Bureau authorized the publication of the following +report, dated May 3, by Field Marshal Sir John French on the employment +by the Germans of poisonous gases as weapons of warfare:_ + +The gases employed have been ejected from pipes laid into the trenches, +and also produced by the explosion of shells specially manufactured for +the purpose. The German troops who attacked under cover of these gases +were provided with specially designed respirators which were issued in +sealed patent covers. + +This all points to long and methodical preparation on a large scale. A +week before the Germans first used this method they announced in their +official _communique_ that we were making use of asphyxiating gases. At +the time there appeared to be no reason for this astounding falsehood, +but now, of course, it is obvious that it was part of the scheme. It is +a further proof of the deliberate nature of the introduction by the +Germans of a new and illegal weapon, and shows that they recognized its +illegality, and were anxious to forestall neutral and possibly domestic +criticism. + +Since the enemy has made use of this method of covering his advance with +a cloud of poisoned air, he has repeated it both in offense and defense +whenever the wind has been favorable. The effect of this poison is not +merely disabling or even painlessly fatal as suggested in the German +press. Those of its victims who do not succumb on the field and who can +be brought into hospital suffer acutely, and in a large proportion of +cases die a painful and lingering death. Those who survive are in little +better case, as the injury to their lungs appears to be of a permanent +character, and reduces them to a condition which points to their being +invalids for life. + +These facts must be well known to the German scientists who devised this +new weapon and to the military authorities who have sanctioned its use. +I am of opinion that the enemy has definitely decided to use these gases +as a normal procedure, and that protests will be useless. + + +THE "EYEWITNESS" STORY. + +_The following descriptive account, communicated by the British +Eyewitness present with General Headquarters, continues and supplements +the narrative published on April 29 of the movements of the British +force and the French armies in immediate touch with it:_ + +April 30, 1915. + +As will have been gathered from the last summary, assaults accompanied +with gas were not made on every position of the front held by the +British to the north of Ypres at the same time. At one point it was not +until the early morning of Saturday, April 24, that the Germans brought +this method into operation against a section of our line not far from +our left flank. + +Late on Thursday afternoon the men here saw portions of the French +retiring some distance to the west, and observed the cloud of vapor +rolling along the ground southward behind them. Our position was then +shelled with high explosives until 8 P.M. On Friday also it was +bombarded for some hours, the Germans firing poison shells for one hour. +Their infantry, who were intrenched about 120 yards away, evidently +expected some result from their use of the latter, for they put their +heads above the parapets, as if to see what the effect had been on our +men, and at intervals opened rapid rifle fire. The wind, however, was +strong and dissipated the fumes quickly, our troops did not suffer +seriously from their noxious effect, and the enemy did not attempt any +advance. + +On Saturday morning, just about dawn, an airship appeared in the sky to +the east of our line at this point, and dropped four red stars, which +floated downward slowly for some distance before they died out. When our +men, whose eyes had not unnaturally been fixed on this display of +pyrotechnics, again turned to their front it was to find the German +trenches rendered invisible by a wall of greenish-yellow vapor, similar +to that observed on the Thursday afternoon, which was bearing down on +them on the breeze. Through this the Germans started shooting. During +Saturday they employed stupefying gas on several occasions in this +quarter, but did not press on very quickly. One reason for this, given +by a German prisoner, is that many of the enemy's infantry were so +affected by the fumes that they could not advance. + +To continue the narrative from the night of Sunday, April 25. At 12:30 +A.M., in face of repeated attacks, our infantry fell back from a part of +the Grafenstafel Ridge, northwest of Zonnebeke, and the line then ran +for some distance along the south bank of the little Haanebeek stream. +The situation along the Yperlee Canal remained practically unchanged. + +When the morning of the 26th dawned the Germans, who had been seen +massing in St. Julien, and to the east of the village on the previous +evening, made several assaults, which grew more and more fierce as the +hours passed, but reinforcements were sent up and the position was +secured. Further east, however, our line was pierced near Broodseinde, +and a small body of the enemy established themselves in a portion of our +trenches. In the afternoon a strong, combined counter-attack was +delivered by the French and British along the whole front from +Steenstraate to the east of St. Julien, accompanied by a violent +bombardment. This moment, so far as can be judged at present, marked the +turning point of the battle, for, although it effected no great change +in the situation, it caused a definite check to the enemy's offensive, +relieved the pressure, and gained a certain amount of ground. + +During this counter-attack the guns concentrated by both sides on this +comparatively narrow front poured in a great volume of fire. From the +right came the roar of the British batteries, from the left the rolling +thunder of the _soixante-quinze_, and every now and then above the +turmoil rose a dull boom as a huge howitzer shell burst in the vicinity +of Ypres. On the right our infantry stormed the German trenches close to +St. Julien, and in the evening gained the southern outskirts of the +village. In the centre they captured the trenches a little to the south +of the Bois des Cuisinirs, west of St. Julien, and still further west +more trenches were taken. This represented an advance of some 600 or 700 +yards, but the gain in ground could not at all points be maintained. +Opposite St. Julien we fell back from the village to a position just +south of the place, and in front of the Bois des Cuisinirs and on the +left of the line a similar retirement took place, the enemy making +extensive use of his gas cylinders and of machine guns placed in farms +at or other points of vantage. None the less, the situation at nightfall +was more satisfactory than it had been. We were holding our own well all +along the line and had made progress at some points. On the right the +enemy's attacks on the front of the Grafenstafel Ridge had all been +repulsed. + +In the meantime the French had achieved some success, having retaken +Lizerne and also the trenches round Het Sast, captured some 250 +prisoners, and made progress all along the west bank of the canal. Heavy +as our losses were during the day, there is little doubt that the enemy +suffered terribly. Both sides were attacking at different points, the +fighting was conducted very largely in the open, and the close +formations of the Germans on several occasions presented excellent +targets to our artillery, which did not fail to seize its opportunities. + +[Illustration: GENERAL SIR IAN HAMILTON + +Commanding the Allied Expeditionary Forces Operating Against the +Dardanelles + +_(Photo from P.S. Rogers.)_] + +[Illustration: ANDREW BONAR LAW + +The Canadian-born Leader of the Opposition in the British House of +Commons + +_(Photo by Bassano.)_] + +Nothing in particular occurred during the night. + +The morning of the 27th found our troops occupying the following +positions: North of Zonnebeke the right of the line still held the +eastern end of the Grafenstafel Ridge, but from here it bent +southwestward behind the Haanebeek stream, which it followed to a point +about half a mile east of St. Julien. Thence it curved back again to the +Vamheule Farm, on the Ypres-Poelcappelle road, running from here in a +slight southerly curve to a point a little west of the Ypres-Langemarck +road, where it joined the French. In the last mentioned quarter of the +field it followed generally the line of a low ridge running from west to +east. On the French front the Germans had been cleared from the west +bank of the canal, except at one point, Steenstraate, where they +continued to hold the bridgehead. + +About 1 P.M. a counter-attack was made by us all along the line between +the canal and the Ypres-Poelcappelle road, and for about an hour we +continued to make progress. Then the right and centre were checked. A +little later the left was also held up, and the situation remained very +much as it had been on the previous day. The Germans were doubtless much +encouraged by their initial success, and their previous boldness in +attack was now matched by the stubborn manner in which they clung on to +their positions. In the evening the French stormed some trenches east of +the canal, but were again checked by the enemy's gas cylinders. + +The night passed quietly, and was spent by us in reorganizing and +consolidating our positions. The enemy did not interfere. This is not +surprising, in view of the fact that by Tuesday evening they had been +fighting for over five days. Their state of exhaustion is confirmed by +the statements of the prisoners captured by the French, who also +reported that the German losses had been very heavy. + +On Wednesday, the 28th, there was a complete lull on this sector of our +line, and the shelling was less severe. Some fighting, however, occurred +along the canal, the French taking over 100 prisoners. + +Nothing of any importance has occurred on other parts of the front. On +the 27th, at the Railway Triangle opposite Guinchy, the south side of +the embankment held by the Germans was blown up by our miners. On the +28th a hostile aeroplane was forced to descend by our anti-aircraft +guns. On coming down in rear of the German lines, it was at once fired +upon and destroyed by our field artillery. Another hostile machine was +brought down by rifle fire near Zonnebeke. + +Splendid work has been done during the past few days by our airmen, who +have kept all the area behind the hostile lines under close observation. +On the 26th they bombed the stations of Staden, Thielt, Courtrai, +Roubaix, and other places, and located an armored train near Langemarck, +which was subsequently shelled and forced to retire. There have been +several successful conflicts in the air, on one occasion a pilot in a +single seater chasing a German machine to Roulers, and forcing it to +land. + +The raid on Courtrai unfortunately cost the nation a very gallant life, +but it will live as one of the most heroic episodes of the war. The +airman started on the enterprise alone in a biplane. On arrival at +Courtrai he glided down to a height of 300 feet and dropped a large bomb +on the railway junction. While he did this he was the target of hundreds +of rifles, of machine guns, and of anti-aircraft armament, and was +severely wounded in the thigh. Though he might have saved his life by at +once coming down in the enemy's lines, he decided to save his machine at +all costs, and made for the British lines. Descending to a height of +only 100 feet in order to increase his speed, he continued to fly and +was again wounded, this time mortally. He still flew on, however, and +without coming down at the nearest of our aerodromes went all the way +back to his own base, where he executed a perfect landing and made his +report. He died in hospital not long afterward.[A] + +[Footnote A: The obituary columns of The Times of April 30 contained the +following notice under "Died of Wounds": + + RHODES-MOORHOUSE.--On Tuesday, the 27th April, of wounds + received while dropping bombs on Courtrai the day before, + WILLIAM BARNARD RHODES RHODES-MOORHOUSE, Second Lieutenant, + Royal Flying Corps, aged 27, dear elder son of Mr. and Mrs. + Edward Moorhouse of Parnham House, Dorset, and most loved + husband of Linda Rhodes-Moorhouse.] + +The outstanding feature of the action of the past week has been the +steadiness of our troops on the extreme left; but of the deeds of +individual gallantry and devotion which have been performed it would be +impossible to narrate one-hundredth part. At one place in this quarter a +machine gun was stationed in the angle of a trench when the German rush +took place. One man after another of the detachment was shot, but the +gun still continued in action, though five bodies lay around it. When +the sixth man took the place of his fallen comrades, of whom one was his +brother, the Germans were still pressing on. He waited until they were +only a few yards away, and then poured a stream of bullets on to the +advancing ranks, which broke and fell back, leaving rows of dead. He was +then wounded himself. + +Under the hot fire to which our batteries were subjected in the early +part of the engagement telephone wires were repeatedly cut. The wire +connecting one battery with its observing officer was severed on nine +separate occasions, and on each occasion repaired by a Sergeant, who did +the work out in the open under a perfect hail of shells. + +_On May 5 the following account of the British Official Eyewitness, +continuing the report of April 30, was published:_ + +About 5 P.M. a dense cloud of suffocating vapors was launched from their +trenches along the whole front held by the French right and by our left +from the Ypres-Langemarck road to a considerable distance east of St. +Julien. The fumes did not carry much beyond our front trenches. But +these were to a great extent rendered untenable, and a retirement from +them was ordered. + +No sooner had this started than the enemy opened a violent bombardment +with asphyxiating shells and shrapnel on our trenches and on our +infantry as they were withdrawing. Meanwhile our guns had not been idle. +From a distance, perhaps owing to some peculiarity of the light, the gas +on this occasion looked like a great reddish cloud, and the moment it +was seen our batteries poured a concentrated fire on the German +trenches. + +Curious situations then arose between us and the enemy. The poison belt, +the upper part shredding into thick wreaths of vapor as it was shaken by +the wind, and the lower and denser part sinking into all inequalities of +the ground, rolled slowly down the trenches. Shells would rend it for a +moment, but it only settled down again as thickly as before. + +Nevertheless, the German infantry faced it, and they faced a hail of +shrapnel as well. In some cases where the gas had not reached our lines +our troops held firm and shot through the cloud at the advancing +Germans. In other cases the men holding the front line managed to move +to the flank, where they were more or less beyond the affected area. +Here they waited until the enemy came on and then bayoneted them when +they reached our trenches. + +On the extreme left our supports waited until the wall of vapor reached +our trenches, when they charged through it and met the advancing Germans +with the bayonet as they swarmed over the parapets. + +South of St. Julien the denseness of the vapor compelled us to evacuate +trenches, but reinforcements arrived who charged the enemy before they +could establish themselves in position. In every case the assaults +failed completely. Large numbers were mown down by our artillery. Men +were seen falling and others scattering and running back to their own +lines. Many who reached the gas cloud could not make their way through +it, and in all probability a great number of the wounded perished from +the fumes. + +It is to that extent, from a military standpoint, a sign of weakness. +Another sign of weakness is the adoption of illegal methods of fighting, +such as spreading poisonous gas. It is a confession by the Germans that +they have lost their former great superiority in artillery and are, in +any cost, seeking another technical advantage over their enemy as a +substitute. + +Nevertheless, this spirit, this determination on the part of our enemies +to stick at nothing must not be underestimated. Though it may not pay +the Germans in the long run, it renders it all the more obvious that +they are a foe that can be overcome only by the force of overwhelming +numbers of men and guns. + +Further to the east a similar attack was made about 7 P.M. which seems +to have been attended with even less success, and the assaulting +infantry was at once beaten back by our artillery fire. + +It was not long before all our trenches were reoccupied and the whole +line re-established in its original position. The attack on the French +met with the same result. + +_The Eyewitness then relates incidents showing the steadiness of the +Indian troops, who, he says, "advanced under a murderous fire, their war +cry swelling louder and louder above the din."_ + +Prisoners captured in the recent fighting, the narrative continues, +stated that one German corps lost 80 per cent. of its men in the first +week; that the losses from our artillery fire, even during days when no +attacks were taking place, had been very heavy and that many of their +own men had suffered from the effects of the gas. + +_The writer concludes as follows:_ + +In regard to the recent fighting on our left, the German offensive, +effected in the first instance by surprise, resulted in a considerable +gain of ground for the enemy. Between all the earlier German efforts, +the only difference was that on this latest occasion the attempt was +carried out with the aid of poisonous gases. + +There is no reason why we should not expect similar tactics in the +future. They do not mean that the Allies have lost the initiative in the +Western theatre, nor that they are likely to lose it. They do mean, +however, and the fact has been repeatedly pointed out, that the enemy's +defensive is an active one, that his confidence is still unshaken and +that he still is able to strike in some strength where he sees the +chance or where mere local advantage can be secured. + +The true idea of the meaning of the operations of the Allies can be +gained only by bearing in mind that it is their primary object to bring +about the exhaustion of the enemy's resources in men. + +In the form now assumed by this struggle--a war of attrition--the +Germans are bound ultimately to lose, and it is the consciousness of +this fact that inspires their present policy. This is to achieve as +early as possible some success of sufficient magnitude to influence the +neutrals, to discourage the Allies, to make them weary of the struggle +and to induce the belief among the people ignorant of war that nothing +has been gained by the past efforts of the Allies because the Germans +have not yet been driven back. It is being undertaken with a political +rather than a strategical object. + +_The official British Eyewitness, under date of May 11, 1915, gives an +account of the German attempts on the previous Saturday and Sunday to +break the British lines around Ypres, and of the beginning of the +Anglo-French offensive north of Arras. He said:_ + +The calm that prevailed Thursday and Friday proved to be only the lull +before the storm. Early Saturday morning it became apparent that the +Germans were preparing an attack in strength against our line running +east and northeast from Ypres, for they were concentrating under cover +of a violent artillery fire, and at about 10 o'clock the battle began in +earnest. + +At that hour the Germans attacked our line from the Ypres-Poelcappelle +road to within a short distance of the Menin highroad, it being +evidently their intention while engaging us closely on the whole of this +sector to break our front in the vicinity of the Ypres-Roulers Railway, +to the north and to the south of which their strongest and most +determined assaults were delivered. + +Under this pressure our front was penetrated at some points around +Frezenberg, and at 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon we made a +counter-attack between the Zonnebeke road and the railway in order to +recover the lost ground. Our offensive was conducted most gallantly, but +was checked before long by the fire of machine guns. + +Meanwhile, the enemy launched another attack through the woods south of +the Menin road, and at the same time threatened our left to the north of +Ypres with fresh masses. Most desperate fighting ensued, the German +infantry coming on again and again and gradually forcing our troops +back, though only for a short distance, in spite of repeated +counter-attacks. + +During the night the fighting continued to rage with ever-increasing +fury. It is impossible to say at exactly what hour our line was broken +at different points, but it is certain that at one time the enemy's +infantry poured through along the Poelcappelle road, and even got as far +as Wieltje at 9 P.M. + +There was also a considerable gap in our front about Frezenberg, where +hostile detachments had penetrated. At both points counter-attacks were +organized without delay. To the east of the salient the Germans first +were driven back to Frezenberg, but there they made a firm stand, and +under pressure of fresh reinforcements we fell back again toward +Verlorenhoek. + +Northeast of the salient a counter-attack carried out by us about 1 A.M. +was more successful. Our troops swept the enemy out of Wieltje at the +bayonet's point, leaving the village strewn with German dead and, +pushing on, regained most of the ground to the north of that point. And +so the fight surged to and fro throughout the night. All around the +scene of the conflict the sky was lit up by the flashes of the guns and +the light of blazing villages and farms, while against this background +of smoke and flame, looking out in the murky light over the crumbling +ruins of the old town, rose the battered wreck of the cathedral town +and the spires of Cloth Hall. + +When Sunday dawned there came a short respite, and the firing for a time +died down. The comparative lull enabled us to reorganize and consolidate +our position on the new line we had taken up and to obtain some rest +after the fatigue and strain of the night. It did not last long, +however, and in the afternoon the climax of the battle was reached, for, +under the cover of intense artillery fire, the Germans launched no less +than five separate assaults against the east of the salient. + +To the north and northeast their attacks were not at first pressed so +hard as on the south of the Menin road, where the fighting was +especially fierce. In the latter direction masses of infantry were +hurled on with absolute desperation and were beaten off with +corresponding slaughter. + +At one point, north of the town, 500 of the enemy advanced from the +wood, and it is affirmed by those present that not a single man of them +escaped. + +On the eastern face, at 6:30 P.M., an endeavor was made to storm the +grounds of the Chateau Hooge, a little north of the Menin road, but the +force attempting it broke and fell back under the hail of shrapnel +poured upon them by our guns. It was on this side, where they had to +face the concentrated fire of guns, Maxims and rifles again and again in +their efforts to break their way through, that the Germans incurred +their heaviest losses, and the ground was literally heaped with dead. + +They evidently, for the time being at least, were unable to renew their +efforts, and as night came on the fury of their offensive gradually +slackened, the hours of darkness passing in quietness. + +During the day our troops saw some of the enemy busily employed in +stripping the British dead in our abandoned trenches, east of the Hooge +Chateau, and several Germans afterward were noticed dressed in khaki. + +So far as the Ypres region is concerned, this for us was a most +successful day. Our line, which on the northeast of the salient had, +after the previous day's fighting, been reconstituted a short distance +behind the original front, remained intact. Our losses were +comparatively slight, and, owing to the targets presented by the enemy, +the action resolved itself on our part into pure killing. + +The reason for this very determined effort to crush our left on the part +of the Germans is not far to seek. It is probable that for some days +previously they had been in possession of information which led them to +suppose that we intended to apply pressure on the right of our line, and +that their great attack upon Ypres on the 7th, 8th, and 9th was +undertaken with a view to diverting us from our purpose. + +In this the Germans were true to their principles, for they rightly hold +that the best manner of meeting an expected hostile offensive is to +forestall it by attacking in some other quarter. In this instance their +leaders acted with the utmost determination and energy and their +soldiers fought with the greatest courage. + +The failure of their effort was due to the splendid endurance of our +troops, who held the line around the salient under a fire which again +and again blotted out whole lengths of the defenses and killed the +defenders by scores. Time after time along those parts of the front +selected for assault were parapets destroyed, and time after time did +the thinning band of survivors build them up again and await the next +onset as steadily as before. + +Here, in May, in defense of the same historic town, have our +incomparable infantry repeated the great deeds their comrades performed +half a year ago and beaten back most desperate onslaughts of hostile +hordes backed by terrific artillery support. + +The services rendered by our troops in this quarter cannot at present be +estimated, for their full significance will only be realized in the +light of future events. But so far their devotion has indirectly +contributed in no small measure to the striking success already achieved +by our allies. + +Further south, in the meantime, on Sunday another struggle had been in +progress on that portion of the front covered by the right of our line +and the left of the French, for when the firing around Ypres was +temporarily subsiding during the early hours of the morning another and +even more tremendous cannonade was suddenly started by the artillery of +the Allies some twenty miles to the south. + +The morning was calm, bright, and clear, and opposite our right, as the +sun rose, the scene in front of our line was the most peaceful +imaginable. Away to the right were Guinchy, with its brickfields and the +ruins of Givenchy. To the north of them lay low ground, where, hidden by +trees and hedgerows, ran the opposing lines that were about to become +the scene of the conflict, and beyond, in the distance, rose the long +ridge of Aubers, the villages crowning it standing out clear cut against +the sky. + +At 5 o'clock the bombardment began, slowly at first and then growing in +volume until the whole air quivered with the rush of the larger shells +and the earth shook with the concussion of guns. In a few minutes the +whole distant landscape disappeared in smoke and dust, which hung for a +while in the still air and then drifted slowly across the line of +battle. + +Shortly before 6 o'clock our infantry advanced along our front between +the Bois Grenier and Festubert. On the left, north of Fromelles, we +stormed the German first line trenches. Hand-to-hand fighting went on +for some time with bayonet, rifle, and hand grenade, but we continued to +hold on to this position throughout the day and caused the enemy very +heavy loss, for not only were many Germans killed in the bombardment, +but their repeated efforts to drive us from the captured positions +proved most costly. + +On the right, to the north of Festubert, our advance met with +considerable opposition and was not pressed. + +Meanwhile, the French, after a prolonged bombardment, had taken the +German positions north of Arras on a front of nearly five miles, and had +pushed forward from two to three miles, capturing 2,000 prisoners and +six guns. This remarkable success was gained by our allies in the course +of a few hours. + +As may be supposed from the nature of the fighting which has been in +progress, our losses have been heavy. On other parts of the front our +action was confined to that of the artillery, but this proved most +effective later, all the communications of the enemy being subjected to +so heavy and accurate a fire that in some quarters all movement by +daylight within range of our lines was rendered impracticable. At one +place opposite our centre a convoy of ammunition was hit by a shell, +which knocked out six motor lorries and caused two to blow up. Opposite +our centre we fired two mines, which did considerable damage to the +enemy's defenses. + +During the day also our aeroplanes attacked several points of +importance. One of our airmen, who was sent to bomb the canal bridge +near Don, was wounded on his way there, but continued and fulfilled his +mission. Near Wytschaete, one of our aviators pursued a German aeroplane +and fired a whole belt from his machine gun at it. The Taube suddenly +swerved, righted itself for a second, and then descended from a height +of several thousand feet straight to the ground. + +On the other hand, a British machine unfortunately was brought down over +Lille by the enemy's anti-aircraft guns, but it is hoped that the +aviator escaped. + +_In regard to the German allegation, that the British used gas in their +attacks on Hill 60, the Eyewitness says:_ + +No asphyxiating gases have been employed by us at any time, nor have +they yet been brought into play by us. + + + + +To Certain German Professors of Chemics + +[From Punch, May 5, 1915.] + + + When you observed how brightly other tutors + Inspired the yearning heart of Youth; + How from their lips, like Pilsen's foaming pewters, + It sucked the fount of German Truth; + There, in your Kaiserlich laboratory, + "We, too," you said, "will find a task to do, + And so contribute something to the glory + Of God and William Two. + + "Bring forth the stink-pots. Such a foul aroma + By arts divine shall be evoked + As will to leeward cause a state of coma + And leave the enemy blind and choked; + By gifts of culture we will work such ravages + With our superbly patriotic smells + As would confound with shame those half-baked savages, + The poisoners of wells." + + Good! You have more than matched the rival pastors + That tute a credulous Fatherland; + And we admit that you are proved our masters + When there is dirty work in hand; + But in your lore I notice one hiatus: + Your Kaiser's scutcheon with its hideous blot-- + You've no corrosive in your apparatus + Can out that damned spot! + + O.S. + + + + +Seven Days of War East and West + +Fighting of the Second Week in May on French and Russian Fronts. + +[By a Military Expert of THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +The sinking of the Lusitania has, for the week ended May 15, so +completely absorbed the attention of the press and the interest of the +public that the military operations themselves have not received the +notice that otherwise would have been awarded them. The sinking of this +ship, with the delicate diplomatic situation between Germany and the +United States which the act brought about, is not a military or naval +operation as such, and comments on it have no place in this column. At +the same time there is an indirect effect of the drowning of hundreds of +British citizens which will have a very direct bearing on Britain's +military strength and policy. + +The British public is notably hard to stir, are slow to act, and almost +always underrate their adversary. In almost every war, from 1775 down to +and including the South African war, England, with a self-assurance that +could only be based on ignorance of true conditions, has started with +only a small force, and it has been only when this force has been +defeated and used up that the realization of the true needs of the +situation has dawned. Then, and then only, has recruiting been possible +at a pace commensurate with the necessity. + +In the Boer war, for example, every one in England, official and +civilian, believed that 30,000 men would be more than enough to defeat +the South African burghers. Yet ten times 30,000 British soldiers were +operating in the Transvaal and Orange Free State before the war ended. + +In the present conflict Lord Kitchener himself admits that there are +many times the number of British soldiers in France than was thought +would be necessary when war was declared. And even up to May 6 the +British public was not thoroughly aroused. Many of the peasants in the +back counties hardly believed the war was a reality. Recruiting was +slow, there was but little enthusiasm, and Lord Haldane's thinly veiled +hint that a draft might soon become necessary was almost unnoticed. + +But the sinking of the Lusitania has brought the war home to England as +nothing else has or could have done, and all England is aflame with a +bitterness against Germany which is already increasing the flow of +recruits and cannot but add to the fighting efficiency of the men now at +the front. The effect will be far-reaching throughout the British +Empire, and will do much to solve the problem which faced the organizers +of Great Britain's forces of how to get sufficient volunteers to swell +the volume of the French expeditionary force and to replace the +casualties. + +To turn to the direct military operations in the various theatres of +war, no week since last Fall has witnessed more important activities or +offensive movements conducted on such a scale. On both western and +eastern fronts truly momentous actions involving great numbers of men +have been under way, and though not yet concluded, have advanced so far +as to give a reasonable basis for estimating the results. + + +ON THE WESTERN FRONT. + +On the western front the principal scenes of action have been the front +from Nieuport to Arras, the Champagne district, and the southern side of +the German wedge from its apex at St. Mihiel to Pont-a-Mousson. On the +northern part of the Allies' line from Ypres to Nieuport the Germans +have been the aggressors. They have selected as the principal points of +attack the Belgian line back of the Yser just south of Nieuport and the +point of juncture of the British with the Belgian lines. + +Both attacks have the same general object--the bending back of the line +between these two points with a vision, for the future, of Dunkirk and +Calais. The attack along the Yser has not been pushed to any extent, and +what advantage there is rests with the Belgians. In fact, the Belgians +have advanced somewhat and have been able to throw a bridge across the +Yser near St. George, just east of Nieuport, on the Nieuport-Bruges +road. + +Around Ypres the fighting has been more than usually fierce and +desperate. Blow after blow has been struck, first by one side, then by +the other. Both German and British have admittedly suffered enormous +losses, but the positions of their respective lines are almost unchanged +from those occupied a week ago. The German gains of last week in the +vicinity of Steenstraate produced in the British lines around Ypres a +sharp salient, and it is against the sides of this salient that the +Germans have been hurling their forces. + +The town of Ypres is now in complete ruins, and, although it would +normally be of importance because of the fact that it is the point of +crossing of a number of roads, this importance is destroyed by the fact +that it is entirely dominated by the German artillery. As long as this +state of affairs exists the town has practically no strategic value. All +that the Germans can accomplish if they take Ypres will have been a +flattening out of the British salient. + +Germany cannot be content with occasional bending of the Allies' line. +The process is too slow and too costly. Germany has almost, if not +quite, reached her maximum strength, and the losses she now suffers will +be difficult to replace. Viewing the situation entirely from the German +standpoint, success can only mean breaking through and attacking the two +exposed flanks at the point pierced. This would force a retreat as in +the case of the Russian lines along the Dunajec, which will be taken up +later on. No other form of action can be decisive, though it might +permit a little more of Belgian or French territory to change hands. +This would, of course, in case the war were declared a draw, give +Germany an additional advantage in the discussion of terms of peace, +especially if the rule of uti posseditis were applied as a basis from +which to begin negotiations. But this contingency is too remote for +present consideration. + +As to the probability of German success around Ypres, it seems to grow +less as time passes. After the first rush was over and the British lines +had time to re-form Germany has accomplished nothing. Moreover, it is +certain that in back of the short twenty-five miles of line held by the +British troops there is a reserve of almost a half million men. No other +portion of the battle line in either theatre has such great latent +strength ready to be thrown in when the critical moment comes. Just why +it has not been used so far is a mystery, the solution of which can be +found only in the brain of Sir John French. But it is known to be in +France and is there for a purpose. + +From Loos to Arras the French have undertaken the most ambitious and the +most successful offensive movement made in the west since Winter set in. +The entire French line along this front of twenty-five miles, taking the +Germans by surprise, has gone forward a distance varying from one-half +to two and a half miles. The attack was launched at an extremely +opportune moment. The Germans were, in the first place, extremely busy +in the north at Ypres, and were making every effort to drive that attack +home. The probabilities were, therefore, that the line in front of the +Arras-Loos position was none too strong, and that such reserves as could +be spared had been sent north. Then, again, it would tend to divert +attention from the Ypres line, and so relieve somewhat the pressure on +the British lines at that point. + +The objective of the French attack seems to have been the town of Lens, +which is the centre of the coal district of France. Loos, which is +about three miles north of Lens, has been one of the centres of +fighting. This indicates how close the French are to their objective. +Lens is an important railroad centre, and is the point of junction of +many roads which radiate in all directions. As yet the French advance is +not sufficient to denote anything, but another step in the "nibbling" +process by means of which the French have kept the Germans occupied for +some months. + +In the German angle, from Etain to St. Mihiel to Pont-a-Mousson, the +French achieved what will probably prove to be the greatest local +success of the past week. That is, the complete occupation of the Le +Pretre woods. Sooner or later the continual French encroachments on the +German area of occupation must cause the straightening out of this line +and the retirement of the Germans to the supporting forts of Metz. The +object of all the French moves against this angle has been the town of +Thiancourt, on the German supply line from Metz. The capture of the last +German line of trenches in the Pretre Forest brings the French within +six miles of this town. When the French reach the northern edge of this +forest, and they must be very close to it now, it will be a simple +matter to drop shells into Thiancourt and seriously endanger every train +that comes in. + +On the rest of the western front there have been a number of isolated +actions, notably in the Champagne district, in the Argonne Forest and +north of Flirey, between St. Mihiel and Pont-a-Mousson. They have been +of no particular advantage however, and seem to have had no definite +purpose beyond making additions to the casualty lists. + +Considering the results of the week's operations in the west, therefore, +it is safe to say that the advantage lies with the Allies. That part of +the line which has been thrown on the defensive has more than held its +own, while the French offense has resulted in a considerable advance +over a wide front. If we may draw any comparison at all from this, it +must be that the German line is not nearly so impenetrable as the +British, and that when the Allies think the attempt will justify the +losses that will be inevitably sustained, the German line can be broken +even though the rupture may be quickly healed. + + +IN THE EASTERN THEATRE. + +In the eastern theatre interest still centres in the battles in Galicia. +In Western Galicia, between the Dunajec and the San, the Russian forces +are steadily giving way before the attacks of the Germanic allies. Their +retreat, which, during the past week, has been rapid, has been well +protected by heavy rear guard actions, which have temporarily delayed +the pursuing Austrians at various points. At the same time, however, but +little respite was given to the Russians. + +German and Austrian reports as to the number of prisoners and amount of +booty will bear scrutiny, and, taken into consideration with recent +disturbances in Italy, may safely be discounted. The surrender of such +large bodies of troops, even in the Russian Army, cannot be forced when +the lines of retreat are open or when sufficient notice is given that +such lines are dangerously menaced. It is only when troops are +surrounded or when a large hostile force is thrust in between units, as +happened some months ago with the Tenth Russian Army in the Masurian +Lakes district, that such surrenders occur. + +This does not apply, of course, to the wounded, and in the present case +the Russians, through the enforced rapidity of their retreat, must +necessarily in many instances have left their wounded on the field of +battle to fall into the hands of the pursuing enemy. Certainly the +Russian losses were heavy. Equally certain is it that the battle for the +Carpathian passes is now history. + +This is evident from a brief review of the Russian position on the +Carpathian front, with particular reference to the necessary lines of +communications and an outline of the present Russian position as +accurately as it can at present be determined. It must be stated at this +point, however, that this position is a matter of doubt, as reports +from Vienna and from Petrograd are greatly at variance as to what has +been accomplished. + +It was noted last week that the Russian line formed a huge crescent, the +longer arc of which (and this was the Carpathian front) extended from +Bartfeld north, then east along the Carpathian crests, north of Uzsok to +a point on the Stryi River. This line is over 100 miles long. It was +dependent for supplies on five roads, three of which were fairly good +dirt roads, the other two railroads; of the latter one runs through +Uzsok, and is so far east that only a small section of the line was +reached by it. + +The main line, however, has been supplied from the remaining four, all +of which turn off either from the one lateral railroad from Przemysl to +Jaslo or from the dirt road between Jaslo and Sanok, and run south to +the various passes. As this latter road simply loops the railroad +between these two points, the entire Russian Carpathian line may be +considered to have been supplied by the lateral railroad from Sanok to +Jaslo. In proportion to the number of troops that had to be fed and +supplied, these lines were only too few, and the marvel is that Russia +was able to keep up the necessary flow of food and ammunition throughout +her effort against the Carpathian passes. The possession of all of these +roads was the sine qua non of Russian success. The loss of any one of +them would affect so many miles of her line that the whole line would +have felt the influence. + +The Austrian troops are said to have reached the lower San, but no +particular point is mentioned. Nothing is said about the upper San or +the stretch of Galicia between the two. It may, therefore, be assumed +that the Russian left is on the Vistula, near the confluence of the San, +and that the general line runs from there south, probably through +Rzeszow along the valley of the Wistok River, occupying the wooded hills +east of that river, and bending eastward slightly toward the upper San. +This means that all of the lines of communication that supplied the +Carpathian front except the line through Uzsok Pass are now in Austrian +hands. + +Russia still clings tenaciously to Uzsok, however, doubtless having +under consideration the possibility that Italy may enter the war, and +that another advance against the Carpathians may then be made. In such a +contingency the Russian losses in the various engagements around Uzsok +would not have been in vain. + +Russia has answered the Austrian drive from the west by a vigorous +offense against the defenses of Bukowina Province. The Austrian forces +east of the San River are divided--one part which has been extremely +active against the Russians being on the east bank of the Stryi, and the +other, which has been quiescently defensive, along the Bistritza, the +latter line running almost due east and west. This latter force the +Russians struck, using large bodies of Cossack cavalry in a flanking +movement from the north. The Austrian retreat has been more precipitate, +and the losses greater in proportion than in the Russian retreat from +the Dunajec. + +If in addition the Rumanians came across Transylvania and caught the +Austrians in the rear the defeat would almost offset that of the +Russians in the west. Rumania's advent into the war is, however, still a +matter of doubt, and any conclusions predicated on that assumption are +entirely speculative. + +The two known facts in regard to the Galician situation are that in +Western Galicia the Russian Dunajec line is retreating, uncovering and +therefore involving in its retreat the troops in the Carpathians, and in +Eastern Galicia the Russians seem to have the greater measure of +success. Of the two, however, the operations in Western Galicia are of +infinitely greater importance. Eventually the Russian retreat will +probably reach the general line of the San River north of Jaroslau, +where there will be an opportunity to re-form on a much shorter line, +and after recuperation of men and supplies preparations for a new +offense may be begun. + +[Illustration: Operation on the Russian Front + +This map records the action for the week ended May 15. In the extreme +north, in the Russian Baltic Province of Courland, the Germans still +held the port of Libau, (1,) and a fierce battle was in progress south +of Shavli, (2,) where the Russians stopped the raid toward Mitau. + +In South Poland and West Galicia the changes brought about by the great +Austro-German drive of 1,500,000 men from Cracow are shown by the heavy +dotted and solid lines. The dotted line shows the approximate position +of the German battle front when the drive began and the solid line its +approximate position according to latest advices from Berlin and Vienna, +Jaroslau (3) being the latest important position reported captured. + +In extreme Eastern Galicia the situation was reversed, the dotted line +showing roughly the position of the Russian line when the counter-drive +by the Czar's forces was launched and the solid line its position, so +far as was ascertainable, on May 15.] + +Their defeat, however, has been a severe blow, and has cost Russia a +terrible price in men and in guns, the latter of which she could less +afford to lose. On the other hand, they have inflicted terrible +punishment on the victors, so that the victory partakes of a Pyrrhian +character. + +In the meantime operations in the Dardanelles are being pressed, but are +not reported with sufficient definiteness to give an idea as to the +probable result. + + + + +Austro-German Success + +By Major E. Moraht. + + +_Major E. Moraht, the military expert of the Berliner Tageblatt, +discussed the operations on the eastern war front as follows in the +Tageblatt of April 30:_ + +Austria-Hungary, through its latest decision to create a supplementary +Landsturm service law, has given notice that it desires under any +circumstances to be able to wage the war for a longer time, if +conditions should compel it to do so. Thus are contradicted all the +reports spread by ill-informed correspondents of foreign newspapers, who +sought to create the impression that Austria-Hungary was tired and had +not the energy to face the situation such as it is. Furthermore, the +acceptance of the supplementary Landsturm service gave testimony, in the +Hungarian Parliament, of the unanimity in which the Hungarian Nation +unites as soon as it is a question of furthering the armed preparedness +of the army. + +The Landsturm law heretofore had two defects--it included in its scope +only the once-trained men liable to Landsturm service up to the age of +42 years, and restricted the use of certain Landsturm troops to certain +areas. Hereafter it will be possible to use the men capable of bearing +arms up to the fiftieth year, though, to be sure, only in case the +younger classes have in general already been exhausted. It will also be +possible to draw Hungarian formations and Austrian Landsturm troops in +such a manner that the area available will offer no more difficulties. +Even though the new law will presumably hold good only during the +present war, the impression created by the decision of the +Austro-Hungarian Government on the enemy and on neutrals cannot be a +slight one. We in Germany can only congratulate the peoples of our ally, +so willing to make sacrifices, upon this resolve, and no one among us +will be able to deny recognition thereof, the less because we ourselves, +according to human calculations will not have to adopt such an extension +of Landsturm service. + +Our northeastern army has again been heard of. After a considerable time +the situation has again changed, and that, too, in our favor. The +battles northeast and east of Suwalki have again revived and have given +into our hands the Russian trenches along a front of twenty kilometers. +Between Kovno and Grodno, both situated on the Niemen, we must note in +our battle line the towns of Mariampol, Kalwarya, and the territory east +of Suwalki. This front has opposed to it the two Russian fortresses +mentioned and between them the bridgeheads at Olita and Sereje. Owing to +the brevity of the latest report, it cannot be told whether our attack +found an end in the Russian positions. It may be that the attack went +further and won territory at least twenty kilometers wide toward the +Niemen. Moreover, we have learned that the Russians still held on north +of Prasznysz, where on April 27 they lost prisoners and machine guns. + +No answer is given by the sparse reports from the eastern army to the +question of the entire foreign press: "Where has Hindenburg been keeping +himself?" Wishes and speculations may thus busy themselves as much as +they like with the answering of that question. In the Russian version +of the war situation there is reference to advance guard skirmishes in +the territory of Memel, a brief interruption of the quiet southeast of +Augustowa and before Ossowicz. The Russians are clearly worried by the +possibility of an undertaking of the navy against the Russian Baltic +coast. + +The territory of the fighting in the Carpathians still claims the chief +interest--especially because everywhere where the general position and +the weather conditions and topographical conditions permitted the +Austro-Hungarian-German offensive has begun. As has been emphasized on +previous occasions, the eagerness for undertaking actions on the part of +our allies had never subsided at any point, in spite of the strenuous +rigors of a stationary warfare. As early as April 14 an advance +enlivened the territory northwest of the Uzsok Pass. The position on the +heights of Tucholka has been won. The heights west and east of the +Laborez valley are in the hands of the Austro-German allies, and each +day furnishes new proofs of the forward pressure. Of especial importance +is the capture of Russian points of support southeast of Koziouwa, east +of the Orawa valley. The advance takes its course against the Galician +town of Stryi. The progress which the Austro-German southern army made +has so far been moving in the same direction, and one can understand why +the Russians instituted the fiercest counter-attacks in order to force +the allied troops to halt in this territory. The counter-attacks, +however, ended with a collapse of the Russians, and the resultant +pursuit was so vigorous that twenty-six more trenches were wrested from +the foe. Daily our front is being advanced in a northeasterly direction, +and there is little prospect for the Russians of being able to oppose +successful resistance to our pressure. For it is not a matter of the +success of a single fighting group that has been shoving forward like a +wedge from the great line of attack, but of a strategic offensive led as +a unit, and everywhere winning territory, the time for which seems to +have arrived. + +It is an important fact that the eastern group of the Austro-Hungarian +army will clearly not be shattered. At Zaleszcyki a stand is being +maintained, and at Boyan on the Pruth the Austrian mortars have driven +the Russians out of their next-to-the-last positions before the +Bessarabian frontier. + +The speech of the Hungarian Minister of Defense of the Realm, Baron +Hazai, who a few days ago discussed the military situation of the recent +past in exhaustive fashion, is very interesting in many respects. It +doubtless aimed to set in the right light the bravery of the +Austro-Hungarian Army, for there have been persons who took little or no +note of the achievements of that army. The Minister selected examples +from the warfare of the eighteenth century, the time of the lukewarm +campaigns, and the warfare of the nineteenth century, the era of logical +and energetical battles. From this period of mobile wars, that were +carried on under the principle of energy, he came to the preparations +for the present war and estimated the number of soldiers which the +belligerent parties had drawn to the colors at between 25,000,000 and +26,000,000 men. More than half of these are to be regarded as warriors, +while the rest are doing service as reserves for the army or in the +lines of support and communication outside the fighting zone. The +highest number of fighters on a single theatre of the war included from +six to seven million fighters on both sides. The long trench warfare, +the Minister rightly pointed out, demands greater energy than was ever +demanded at any time of the troops, and a loss of from 10 per cent. to +15 per cent. of the fighting force today no longer keeps back the +leaders from executing far-going decisions. Today the fronts clash, not +in one-day or several day battles, but for weeks and months at a time, +so that many of the fighters even now have already taken part in 100 +battles. These instructive and appreciative words from an authoritative +station throw a bright light upon the strength of the nations which are +sacrificing their forces in a sense of duty to their fatherland. But +the lesson which the homeland should draw from such unprecedented +self-sacrifice consists of this--always to stand as a firm protective +wall behind the army, never to deny it recognition and encouraging +approval, and to dissipate its cares for the present and for the future. + + + + +The Campaign in the Carpathians + +Russian Victory Succeeded by Reverses and Defeat. + + +THE VICTORY IN APRIL. + +[By the Correspondent of The London Times.] + +Petrograd, April 18. + +_A dispatch from the Headquarters Staff of the Commander in Chief says:_ + +At the beginning of March, (Old Style,) in the principal chain of the +Carpathians, we only held the region of the Dukla Pass, where our lines +formed an exterior angle. All the other passes--Lupkow and further +east--were in the hands of the enemy. + +In view of this situation, our armies were assigned the further task of +developing, before the season of bad roads due to melting snows began, +our positions in the Carpathians which dominated the outlets into the +Hungarian plain. About the period indicated great Austrian forces, which +had been concentrated for the purpose of relieving Przemysl, were in +position between the Lupkow and Uzsok Passes. + +It was for this sector that our grand attack was planned. Our troops had +to carry out a frontal attack under very difficult conditions of +terrain. To facilitate their attack, therefore, an auxiliary attack was +decided upon on a front in the direction of Bartfeld as far as the +Lupkow. This secondary attack was opened on March 19 and was completely +developed. + +On the 23rd and 28th of March our troops had already begun their +principal attack in the direction of Baligrod, enveloping the enemy +positions from the west of the Lupkow Pass and on the east near the +source of the San. + +The enemy opposed the most desperate resistance to the offensive of our +troops. They had brought up every available man on the front from the +direction of Bartfeld as far as the Uzsok Pass, including even German +troops and numerous cavalrymen fighting on foot. His effectives on this +front exceeded 300 battalions. Moreover, our troops had to overcome +great natural difficulties at every step. + +Nevertheless, from April 5--that is, eighteen days after the beginning +of our offensive--the valor of our troops enabled us to accomplish the +task that had been set, and we captured the principal chain of the +Carpathians on the front Reghetoff-Volosate, 110 versts (about 70 miles) +long. The fighting latterly was in the nature of actions in detail with +the object of consolidating the successes we had won. + +To sum up: On the whole Carpathian front, between March 19 and April 12, +the enemy, having suffered enormous losses, left in our hands, in +prisoners only, at least 70,000 men, including about 900 officers. +Further, we captured more than thirty guns and 200 machine guns. + +On April 16 the actions in the Carpathians were concentrated in the +direction of Rostoki. The enemy, notwithstanding the enormous losses he +had suffered, delivered, in the course of that day, no fewer than +sixteen attacks in great strength. These attacks, all of which were +absolutely barren of result, were made against the heights which we had +occupied further to the east of Telepovce. + +Our troops, during the night of the 16th-17th, after a desperate fight, +stormed and captured a height to the southeast of the village of Polen, +where we took many prisoners. Three enemy counter-attacks on this +height were repulsed. + +[Illustration: [map]] + +In other sectors all along our front there is no change. + + +THE GRAND DUKE'S STRATEGY. + +Petrograd, April 19. + +Today's record of the brilliant feats of the Russian Army in the +Carpathians during the past month, contained in the survey of the Grand +Duke, presents only one aspect--the discomfiture of the Austro-German +forces. The Neue Freie Presse gives some indication of the other aspect. + +In a recent issue it stated that "the fortnight's battle around the +Lupkow and Uzsok Passes has been one of the most obstinate in history. +The Russians succeeded in forcing the Austrians out of their positions. +The difficulties of the Austro-Hungarian Army are complicated by the +weather and the lack of ammunition and food." The question naturally +suggests itself, why did these difficulties not equally disturb the +Russian operations? On our side the difficulties of transport were, if +anything, greater. The enemy was backed by numerous railways, with +supplies close at hand, and was fighting on his native soil, and these +advantages undoubtedly compensated for the greater difficulties of +commissariat for the larger numbers of Austro-Germans. But from the +avowal of the Neue Freie Presse it is suggested here that the Austrians +were disorganized. The causes of this disorganization are attributed by +military observers to the mixing up of German with Austrian units, +rendering the task of command and supply very difficult. + +The Grand Duke is fully prepared to take the field as soon as the allied +commanders decide that the time for a general action has come. Never has +the spirit of the Russian Army been firmer. + +The critics this morning comment on the official communique detailing a +gigantic task brilliantly fulfilled by the Carpathian army during March. +Our position in the region of the Dukla Pass early last month exposed us +to pressure from two sides, and might have involved the necessity of +evacuating the main range. Our army thus required to extend its +positions commanding the outlets to the Hungarian plain, before the +Spring thaws, in face of a large hostile concentration between Lupkow +and Uzsok. The chief attack was directed against the latter section, and +an auxiliary attack against the Bartfeld-Lupkow section. The auxiliary +attack began on March 19 against the Austro-German left flank and +reached its full development four days later. Mistaking the auxiliary +for the principal attack, the enemy began an advance from the Bukowina, +hoping to divert us from Uzsok, but, instead, the larger portion of our +army assailed the enemy's flanks while a smaller body advanced against +Rostoki, surmounting the immense difficulties of mountain warfare in +Springtime. + +By means of the envelopment of both his flanks the enemy was, by April +5, dislodged from the main range on the entire seventy-mile front from +Regetow to Wolosate. Convinced that we were directing our chief efforts +against his flanks, the enemy now strove to break our resistance in the +Rostoki direction, but, after sixteen futile attacks, he was obliged to +cede the commanding height of Telepovce, our occupation of which will +probably compel him to evacuate his positions at Polen and Smolnik and +withdraw to the valley of the Cziroka, a tributary of the Laborez. + + +DEFEAT IN EARLY MAY. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_VIENNA, May 13, (via Amsterdam to London, May 14.)--An official +statement issued here tonight after recalling that in November and +December at Lodz and Limanowa the Austro-Germans compelled the Russians +to draw back on a front to the extent of 400 kilometers, (about 249 +miles,) thereby stopping the Russian advance into Germany, continues:_ + +From January to the middle of April the Russians vainly exerted +themselves to break through to Hungary, but they completely failed with +heavy losses. Thereupon the time had come to crush the enemy in a common +attack with a full force of the combined troops of both empires. + +[Illustration: VICE ADMIRAL JOHN M. DE ROBECK + +Commanding the Allied Fleet Operating Against the Dardanelles + +_(Photo (C) American Press Assn.)_] + +[Illustration: FIELD MARSHAL BARON VON DER GOLTZ + +Commander of the First Turkish Army, Formerly Military Governor of +Belgium + +_(Photo from Paul Thompson.)_] + +A victory at Tarnow and Gorlice freed West Galicia from the enemy and +caused the Russian fronts on the Nida and in the Carpathians to give +way. In a ten days' battle the victorious troops beat the Russian Third +and Eighth Armies to annihilation, and quickly covered the ground from +the Dunajec and Beskids to the San River--130 kilometers (nearly 81 +miles) of territory. + +From May 2 to 12 the prisoners taken numbered 143,500, while 100 guns +and 350 machine guns were captured, besides the booty already mentioned. +We suppressed small detachments of the enemy scattered in the woods in +the Carpathians. + +Near Odvzechowa the entire staff of the Russian Forty-eighth Division of +Infantry including General Korniloff, surrendered. The best indication +of the confusion of the Russian Army is the fact that our Ninth Corps +captured in the last few days Russians of fifty-one various regiments. +The quantity of captured Russian war material is piled up and has not +yet been enumerated. + +North of the Vistula the Austro-Hungarian troops are advancing across +Stopnica. The German troops have captured Kielce. + +East of Uzsok Pass the German and Hungarian troops took several Russian +positions on the heights and advanced to the south of Turka, capturing +4,000 prisoners. An attack is proceeding here and in the direction of +Skole. + +In Southeast Galicia strong hostile troops are attacking across +Horodenka. + +_BERLIN, (via London,) May 13.--The German War Office announced today +that in the recent fighting in Galicia and Russian Poland 143,500 +Russians had been captured. It also stated that 69 cannon and 255 +machine guns had been taken from the Russians, and that the victorious +Austrian and German forces, continuing their advance eastward in +Galicia, were approaching the fortress of Przemysl. The statement +follows:_ + +The army under General von Mackensen in the course of its pursuit of the +Russians reached yesterday the neighborhood of Subiecko, on the lower +Wisloka, and Kolbuezowa, northeast of Debica. Under the pressure of this +advance the Russians also retreated from their positions north of the +Vistula. In this section the troops under General von Woyrech, closely +following the enemy, penetrated as far as the region northwest of +Kielce. + +In the Carpathians Austro-Hungarian and German troops under General von +Linsingen conquered the hills east of the upper Stryi and took 3,650 men +prisoners, as well as capturing six machine guns. + +At the present moment, while the armies under General von Mackensen are +approaching the Przemysl fortress and the lower San, it is possible to +form an approximate idea of the booty taken. In the battles of Tarnow +and Gorlice, and in the battles during the pursuit of these armies, we +have so far taken 103,500 Russian prisoners, 69 cannon, and 255 machine +guns. In these figures the booty taken by the allied troops fighting in +the Carpathians and north of the Vistula is not included. This amounts +to a further 40,000 prisoners. + + + + +Mr. Rockefeller and Serbia + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +LONDON, Thursday, May 13.--A Paris dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph +Company, quoting the Cri de Paris, says: + +"John D. Rockefeller has just sent 35,000,000 francs ($5,000,000) to +Prince Alexis of Serbia, President of the Serbian Red Cross Society. + +"Prince Alexis married last year an American woman, Mrs. Hugo Pratt, +whose father loaned years ago L2,000 to Rockefeller when the oil king +started in business." + + + + +Italy in the War + +Her Move Against Austro-Hungary + +Last Phase of Italian Neutrality and Causes of the Struggle + + +DECLARATION OF WAR. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_VIENNA, May 23, (via Amsterdam and London, May 24.)--The Duke of +Avarna, Italian Ambassador to Austria, presented this afternoon to Baron +von Burian, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, the following +declaration of war:_ + +Vienna, May 23, 1915. + +Conformably with the order of his Majesty the King, his august +sovereign, the undersigned Ambassador of Italy has the honor to deliver +to his Excellency, the Foreign Minister of Austria-Hungary, the +following communication: + +"Declaration has been made, as from the fourth of this month, to the +Imperial and Royal Government of the grave motives for which Italy, +confident in her good right, proclaimed annulled and henceforth without +effect her treaty of alliance with Austria-Hungary, which was violated +by the Imperial and Royal Government, and resumed her liberty of action +in this respect. + +"The Government of the King, firmly resolved to provide by all means at +its disposal for safeguarding Italian rights and interests, cannot fail +in its duty to take against every existing and future menace measures +which events impose upon it for the fulfillment of national aspirations. + +"His Majesty the King declares that he considers himself from tomorrow +in a state of war with Austria-Hungary." + +The undersigned has the honor to make known at the same time to his +Excellency the Foreign Minister, that passports will be placed this very +day at the disposal of the Imperial and Royal Ambassador at Rome, and he +will be obliged to his Excellency if he will kindly have his passports +handed to him. + +Avarna. + + +FRANCIS JOSEPH'S DEFIANCE. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +_LONDON, May 24, 5:45 A.M.--A Reuter dispatch from Amsterdam says the +Vienna Zeitung publishes the following autograph letter from Emperor +Francis Joseph to Count Karl Stuergkh:_ + +Dear Count Stuergkh: I request you to make public the attached manifesto +to my troops: + +"VIENNA, May 23.--Francis Joseph to his troops: + +"The King of Italy has declared war on me. Perfidy whose like history +does not know was committed by the Kingdom of Italy against both allies. +After an alliance of more than thirty years' duration, during which it +was able to increase its territorial possessions and develop itself to +an unthought of flourishing condition, Italy abandoned us in our hour of +danger and went over with flying colors into the camp of our enemies. + +"We did not menace Italy; did not curtail her authority; did not attack +her honor or interests. We always responded loyally to the duties of our +alliance and afforded her our protection when she took the field. We +have done more. When Italy directed covetous glances across our frontier +we, in order to maintain peace and our alliance relation, were resolved +on great and painful sacrifices which particularly grieved our paternal +heart. But the covetousness of Italy, which believed the moment should +be used, was not to be appeased, so fate must be accommodated. + +"My armies have victoriously withstood mighty armies in the north in +ten months of this gigantic conflict in most loyal comradeship of arms +with our illustrious ally. A new and treacherous enemy in the south is +to you no new enemy. Great memories of Novara, Mortaro, and Lissa, which +constituted the pride of my youth; the spirit of Radetzky, Archduke +Albrecht, and Tegetthoff, which continues to live in my land and sea +forces, guarantee that in the south also we shall successfully defend +the frontiers of the monarchy. + +"I salute my battle-tried troops, who are inured to victory. I rely on +them and their leaders. I rely on my people for whose unexampled spirit +of sacrifice my most paternal thanks are due. I pray the Almighty to +bless our colors and take under His gracious protection our just cause." + + +ITALY'S CABINET EMPOWERED. + +[By The Associated Press.] + +Rome, May 20.--Amid tremendous enthusiasm the Chamber of Deputies late +today adopted, by a vote of 407 to 74, the bill conferring upon the +Government full power to make war. + +The bill is composed of a single article and reads as follows: + + The Government is authorized in case of war and during the + duration of war to make decisions with due authority of law, + in every respect required, for the defense of the State, the + guarantee of public order, and urgent economic national + necessities. The provisions contained in Articles 243 to 251 + of the Military Code continue in force. The Government is + authorized also to have recourse until Dec. 31, 1915, to + monthly provisional appropriations for balancing the budget. + This law shall come into force the day it is passed. + +All members of the Cabinet maintain absolute silence regarding what step +will follow the action of the Chamber. Former Ministers and other men +prominent in public affairs declare, however, that the action of +Parliament virtually was a declaration of war. + +When the Chamber reassembled this afternoon after its long recess there +were present 482 Deputies out of 500, the absentees remaining away on +account of illness. The Deputies especially applauded were those who +wore military uniforms and who had asked permission for leave from their +military duties to be present at the sitting. + +All the tribunes were filled to overflowing. No representatives of +Germany, Austria, or Turkey were to be seen in the diplomatic tribune. +The first envoy to arrive was Thomas Nelson Page, the American +Ambassador, who was accompanied by his staff. M. Barrere, Sir J. Bennell +Rodd, and Michel de Giers, the French, British, and Russian Ambassadors, +respectively, appeared a few minutes later and all were greeted with +applause, which was shared by the Belgian, Greek, and Rumanian +Ministers. George B. McClellan, former Mayor of New York, occupied a +seat in the President's tribune. + +A few minutes before the session began the poet, Gabriele d'Annunzio, +one of the strongest advocates of war, appeared in the rear of the +public tribune, which was so crowded that it seemed impossible to +squeeze in anybody else. But the moment the people saw him they lifted +him shoulder high and passed him over their heads to the first row. The +entire Chamber and all those occupying the other tribunes rose and +applauded for five minutes, crying, "Viva d'Annunzio!" Later thousands +sent him their cards, and in return received his autograph, bearing the +date of this eventful day. + +Signor Marcora, President of the Chamber, took his place at 3 o'clock. +All the members of the House and everybody in the galleries stood up to +acclaim the old follower of Garibaldi. + +Premier Salandra, followed by all the members of the Cabinet, entered +shortly afterward. It was a solemn moment. Then a delirium of cries +broke out. "Viva Salandra!" roared the Deputies, and the cheering lasted +for five minutes. Premier Salandra appeared to be much moved by the +demonstration. + +After the formalities of the opening Premier Salandra arose and said: + +"Gentlemen: I have the honor to present to you a bill to meet the +eventual expenditures of a national war"--an announcement that was +greeted by further prolonged applause. + +The Premier began an exposition of the situation of Italy before the +opening of hostilities in Europe. He declared that Italy had submitted +to every humiliation from Austria-Hungary for the love of peace. By her +ultimatum to Serbia Austria had annulled the equilibrium of the Balkans +and prejudiced Italian interests there. + +Notwithstanding this evident violation of the treaty of the Triple +Alliance, Italy endeavored during long months to avoid a conflict, but +these efforts were bound to have a limit in time and dignity. "This is +why the Government felt itself forced to present its denunciation of the +Triple Alliance on May 4," said Premier Salandra, who had difficulty in +quieting the wild cheering that ensued. When he had succeeded in so +doing he continued, amid frequent enthusiastic interruptions: + + Italy must be united at this moment, when her destinies are + being decided. We have confidence in our august chief, who is + preparing to lead the army toward a glorious future. Let us + gather around this well-beloved sovereign. + + Since Italy's resurrection as a State she has asserted herself + in the world of nations as a factor of moderation, concord, + and peace, and she can proudly proclaim that she has + accomplished this mission with a firmness which has not + wavered before even the most painful sacrifices. + + In the last period, extending over thirty years, she + maintained her system of alliances and friendships chiefly + with the object of thus assuring the European equilibrium, + and, at the same time, peace. In view of the nobility of this + aim Italy not only subordinated her most sacred aspiration, + but has also been forced to look on, with sorrow, at the + methodical attempts to suppress specifically the Italian + characteristics which nature and history imprinted on those + regions. + + The ultimatum which the Austro-Hungarian Empire addressed last + July to Serbia annulled at one blow the effects of a + long-sustained effort by violating the pact which bound us to + that State, violated the pact, in form, for it omitted to + conclude a preliminary agreement with us or even give us + notification, and violated it also in substance, for it sought + to disturb, to our detriment, the delicate system of + territorial possessions and spheres of influence which had + been set up in the Balkan Peninsula. + + But, more than any particular point, it was the whole spirit + of the treaty which was wronged, and even suppressed, for by + unloosing in the world a most terrible war, in direct + contravention of our interests and sentiments, the balance + which the Triple Alliance should have helped to assure was + destroyed and the problem of Italy's national integrity was + virtually and irresistibly revived. + + Nevertheless, for long months, the Government has patiently + striven to find a compromise, with the object of restoring to + the agreement the reason for being which it had lost. These + negotiations were, however, limited not only by time, but by + our national dignity. Beyond these limits the interests both + of our honor and of our country would have been compromised. + +Signor Salandra was interrupted time and time again by rounds of +applause from all sides, and the climax was reached when he made a +reference to the army and navy. Then the cries seemed interminable, and +those on the floor of the House and in the galleries turned to the +Military Tribune, from which the officers answered by waving their hands +and handkerchiefs. At the end of the Premier's speech there were +deafening "vivas" for the King, war, and Italy. + +Only thirty-four Intransigent Socialists refused to join in the cheers, +even in the cry "Viva Italia!" and they were hooted and hissed. + +After the presentation of the bill conferring full powers upon the +Government the President of the Chamber submitted the question whether a +committee of eighteen members should be elected. Out of the 421 Deputies +who voted 367 cast their ballot in the affirmative. The other 54 were +against. The opposition was composed of Socialists and some adherents of +ex-Premier Giolitti. + +Foreign Minister Sonnino then rose, and, taking a copy of the "Green +Book" from his pocket, said: "I have the honor to present to the Chamber +a book containing an account of all the pourparlers with Austria from +the 9th of September to the 4th of May." He handed the book to Signor +Marcora. + +The Chamber then adjourned until 5 o'clock, when the committee reported +in favor of the bill, and it was adopted. + +[Illustration: Italy and the Austrian Frontier + +The shaded portions on the Austrian frontier represent the provinces of +"Italia Irredenta," which Italy would win back.] + + +ITALY'S JUSTIFICATION. + +_The first complete official statement of the difficulties between Italy +and Austria-Hungary, which forced the Italian declaration of war against +the Dual Monarchy, was made public in Washington on May 25 by Count V. +Macchi di Cellere, the Italian Ambassador. It took the form of a +carefully prepared telegraphic statement to the Ambassador from Signor +Sonnino, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, with instructions that +it be delivered in the form of a note to the Government of the United +States. After presenting the communication to Secretary Bryan, Count +Cellere made public the following translation of its full text:_ + +The Triple Alliance was essentially defensive and designed solely to +preserve the status quo, or, in other words, the equilibrium, in Europe. +That these were its only objects and purposes is established by the +letter and spirit of the treaty as well as by the intentions clearly +described and set forth in official acts of the Ministers who created +the alliance and confirmed and renewed it in the interest of peace, +which always has inspired Italian policy. + +The treaty, as long as its intents and purposes had been loyally +interpreted and regarded and as long as it had not been used as a +pretext for aggression against others, greatly contributed to the +elimination and settlement of causes of conflict, and for many years +assured to Europe the inestimable benefits of peace. + +But Austria-Hungary severed the treaty by her own hands. She rejected +the response of Serbia, which gave to her all the satisfaction she could +legitimately claim. She refused to listen to the conciliatory proposals +presented by Italy in conjunction with other powers in the effort to +spare Europe from a vast conflict certain to drench the Continent with +blood and to reduce it to ruin beyond the conception of human +imagination, and finally she provoked that conflict. + +Article I. of the treaty embodied the usual and necessary obligation of +such pacts--the pledge to exchange views upon any fact and economic +questions of a general nature that might arise pursuant to its terms. +None of the contracting parties had the right to undertake, without a +previous agreement, any step the consequence of which might impose a +duty upon the other signatories arising out of the Alliance, or which +would in any way whatsoever encroach upon their vital interests. This +article was violated by Austria-Hungary when she sent to Serbia her note +dated July 23, 1914, an action taken without the previous assent of +Italy. + +Thus, Austria-Hungary violated beyond doubt one of the fundamental +provisions of the treaty. The obligation of Austria-Hungary to come to a +previous understanding with Italy was the greater because her obstinate +policy against Serbia gave rise to a situation which directly tended to +the provocation of a European war. + +As far back as the beginning of July, 1914, the Italian Government, +preoccupied by the prevailing feeling in Vienna, caused to be laid +before the Austro-Hungarian Government a number of suggestions advising +moderation, and warning it of the impending danger of a European +outbreak. The course adopted by Austria-Hungary against Serbia +constituted, moreover, a direct encroachment upon the general interests +of Italy, both political and economical, in the Balkan Peninsula. +Austria-Hungary could not for a moment imagine that Italy could remain +indifferent while Serbian independence was being trodden upon. + +On a number of occasions theretofore Italy gave Austria to understand, +in friendly but clear terms, that the independence of Serbia was +considered by Italy as essential to Balkan equilibrium. Austria-Hungary +was further advised that Italy could never permit that equilibrium to be +disturbed to her prejudice. This warning had been conveyed not only by +her diplomats in private conversations with responsible Austro-Hungarian +officials but was proclaimed publicly by Italian statesmen on the floors +of Parliament. + +Therefore when Austria-Hungary ignored the usual practices and menaced +Serbia by sending her an ultimatum without in any way notifying the +Italian Government of what she proposed to do, indeed leaving that +Government to learn of her action through the press rather than through +the usual channels of diplomacy, when Austria-Hungary took this +unprecedented course she not only severed her alliance with Italy but +committed an act inimical to Italy's interests. + +The Italian Government had obtained trustworthy information that the +complete program laid down by Austria-Hungary with reference to the +Balkans was prompted by a desire to decrease Italy's economical and +political influence in that section, and tended directly and indirectly +to the subservience of Serbia to Austria-Hungary, the political and +territorial isolation of Montenegro, and the isolation and political +decadence of Rumania. + +This attempted diminution of the influence of Italy in the Balkans would +have been brought about by the Austro-Hungarian program, even though +Austria-Hungary had no intention of making further territorial +acquisitions. Furthermore attention should be called to the fact that +the Austro-Hungarian Government had assumed the solemn obligation of +prior consultation of Italy as required by the special provisions of +Article VII. of the treaty of the Triple Alliance, which, in addition to +the obligation of previous agreements, recognized the right of +compensation to the other contracting parties in case one should occupy +temporarily or permanently any section of the Balkans. + +To this end, the Italian Government approached the Austro-Hungarian +Government immediately upon the inauguration of Austro-Hungarian +hostilities against Serbia, and succeeded in obtaining reluctant +acquiescence in the Italian representations. Conversations were +initiated immediately after July 23, for the purpose of giving a new +lease of life to the treaty which had been violated and thereby annulled +by the act of Austria-Hungary. + +This object could be attained only by the conclusion of new agreements. +The conversations were renewed, with additional propositions as the +basis, in December 1914. The Italian Ambassador at Vienna at that time +received instructions to inform Count Berchtold, the Austro-Hungarian +Minister for Foreign Affairs, that the Italian Government considered it +necessary to proceed without delay to an exchange of views and +consequently to concrete negotiations with the Austro-Hungarian +Government concerning the complex situation arising out of the conflict +which that Government had provoked. + +Count Berchtold at first refused. He declared that the time had not +arrived for negotiations. Subsequently, upon our rejoinder, in which the +German Government united, Count Berchtold agreed to exchange views as +suggested. We promptly declared, as one of our fundamental objects, that +the compensation on which the agreement should be based should relate to +territories at the time under the dominion of Austria-Hungary. + +The discussion continued for months, from the first days of December to +March, and it was not until the end of March that Baron Burian offered a +zone of territory comprised within a line extending from the existing +boundary to a point just north of the City of Trent. + +In exchange for this proposed cession the Austro-Hungarian Government +demanded a number of pledges, including among them an assurance of +entire liberty of action in the Balkans. Note should be made of the fact +that the cession of the territory around Trent was not intended to be +immediately effective as we demanded, but was to be made only upon the +termination of the European war. We replied that the offer was not +acceptable, and then presented the minimum concessions which could meet +in part our national aspirations and strengthen in an equitable manner +our strategic position in the Adriatic. + +These demands comprised: The extension of the boundary in Trentino, a +new boundary on the Isonzo, special provision for Trieste, the cession +of certain islands of the Curzolari Archipelago, the abandonment of +Austrian claims in Albania, and the recognition of our possession of +Avlona and the islands of the Aegean Sea, which we occupied during our +war with Turkey. + +At first our demands were categorically rejected. It was not until +another month of conversation that Austria-Hungary was induced to +increase the zone of territory she was prepared to cede in the Trentino +and then only as far as Mezzo Lombardo, thereby excluding the territory +inhabited by people of the Italian race, such as the Valle del Noce, Val +di Fasso, and Val di Ampezzo. Such a proposal would have given to Italy +a boundary of no strategical value. In addition the Austro-Hungarian +Government maintained its determination not to make the cession +effective before the end of the war. + +The repeated refusals of Austria-Hungary were expressly confirmed in a +conversation between Baron Burian and the Italian Ambassador at Vienna +on April 29. While admitting the possibility of recognizing some of our +interests in Avlona and granting the above-mentioned territorial cession +in the Trentino, the Austro-Hungarian Government persisted in its +opposition to all our other demands, especially those regarding the +boundary of the Isonzo, Trieste, and the islands. + +The attitude assumed by Austria-Hungary from the beginning of December +until the end of April made it evident that she was attempting to +temporize without coming to a conclusion. Under such circumstances Italy +was confronted by the danger of losing forever the opportunity of +realizing her aspirations based upon tradition, nationality, and her +desire for a safe position in the Adriatic, while other contingencies in +the European conflict menaced her principal interests in other seas. + +Hence Italy faced the necessity and duty of recovering that liberty of +action to which she was entitled and of seeking protection for her +interests, apart from the negotiations which had been dragging uselessly +along for five months and without reference to the Treaty of Alliance +which had virtually failed as a result of its annullment by the action +of Austria-Hungary in July, 1914. + +It would not be out of place to observe that the alliance having +terminated and there existing no longer any reason for the Italian +people to be bound by it, though they had loyally stood by it for so +many years because of their desire for peace, there naturally revived in +the public mind the grievances against Austria-Hungary which for so many +years had been voluntarily repressed. + +While the Treaty of Alliance contained no formal agreement for the use +of the Italian language or the maintenance of Italian tradition and +Italian civilization in the Italian provinces of Austria, nevertheless +if the alliance was to be effective in preserving peace and harmony it +was indisputably clear that Austria-Hungary, as our ally, should have +taken into account the moral obligation of respecting what constituted +some of the most vital interests of Italy. + +Instead, the constant policy of the Austro-Hungarian Government was to +destroy Italian nationality and Italian civilization all along the coast +of the Adriatic. A brief statement of the facts and of the tendencies +well known to all will suffice. + +Substitution of officials of the Italian race by officials of other +nationalities; artificial immigration of hundreds of families of a +different nationality; replacement of Italian by other labor; exclusion +from Trieste by the decree of Prince Hohenlohe of employes who were +subjects of Italy; denationalization of the judicial administration; +refusal of Austria to permit an Italian university in Trieste, which +formed the subject of diplomatic negotiations; denationalization of +navigation companies; encouragement of other nationalities to the +detriment of the Italian, and, finally, the methodical and unjustifiable +expulsion of Italians in ever-increasing numbers. + +This deliberate and persistent policy of the Austro-Hungarian Government +with reference to the Italian population was not only due to internal +conditions brought about by the competition of the different +nationalities within its territory, but was inspired in great part by a +deep sentiment of hostility and aversion toward Italy, which prevailed +particularly in the quarters closest to the Austro-Hungarian Government +and influenced decisively its course of action. + +Of the many instances which could be cited it is enough to say that in +1911, while Italy was engaged in war with Turkey, the Austro-Hungarian +General Staff prepared a campaign against us, and the military party +prosecuted energetically a political intrigue designed to drag in other +responsible elements of Austria. The mobilization of an army upon our +frontier left us in no doubt of our neighbor's sentiment and intentions. + +The crisis was settled pacifically through the influence, so far as +known, of outside factors; but since that time we have been constantly +under apprehension of a sudden attack whenever the party opposed to us +should get the upper hand in Vienna. All of this was known in Italy, and +it was only the sincere desire for peace prevailing among the Italian +people which prevented a rupture. + +After the European war broke out, Italy sought to come to an +understanding with Austria-Hungary with a view to a settlement +satisfactory to both parties which might avert existing and future +trouble. Her efforts were in vain, notwithstanding the efforts of +Germany, which for months endeavored to induce Austria-Hungary to comply +with Italy's suggestions, thereby recognizing the propriety and +legitimacy of the Italian attitude. Therefore Italy found herself +compelled by the force of events to seek other solutions. + +Inasmuch as the Treaty of Alliance with Austria-Hungary had ceased +virtually to exist and served only to prolong a state of continual +friction and mutual suspicion, the Italian Ambassador at Vienna was +instructed to declare to the Austro-Hungarian Government that the +Italian Government considered itself free from the ties arising out of +the Treaty of the Triple Alliance in so far as Austria-Hungary was +concerned. This communication was delivered in Vienna on May 4. + +Subsequently to this declaration, and after we had been obliged to take +steps for the protection of our interests, the Austro-Hungarian +Government submitted new concessions, which, however, were deemed +insufficient and by no means met our minimum demands. These offers could +not be considered under the circumstances. + +The Italian Government, taking into consideration what has been stated +above, and supported by the vote of Parliament and the solemn +manifestation of the country, came to the decision that any further +delay would be inadvisable. Therefore, on this day (May 23) it was +declared in the name of the King to the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador at +Rome that, beginning tomorrow, May 24, it will consider itself in a +state of war with Austria-Hungary. Orders to this effect were also +telegraphed yesterday to the Italian Ambassador at Vienna. + + + + +German Hatred of Italy + +[By The Associated Press.] + + +AMSTERDAM, May 23.--The Frankfurter Zeitung today prints a telegram +received from Vienna saying: + +"The exasperation and contempt which Italy's treacherous surprise attack +and her hypocritical justification arouse here (Vienna) are quite +indescribable. + +"Neither Serbia nor Russia, despite a long and costly war, is hated. +Italy, however, or rather those Italian would-be politicians and +business men who offer violence to the majority of peaceful Italian +people, are so unutterably hated with the most profound honesty that +this war can be terrible." + +[Illustration: Detail map of the frontier between Italy and Austria. +The shaded portion shows territory demanded by Italy.] + + + + +ITALY'S NEUTRALITY--THE LAST PHASE + + + The attitude of the Italian press since the character of its + papers were defined in the May number of THE CURRENT HISTORY + is here recorded. Since May 17, when the King, on account of + the heated pro-intervention demonstrations held all over + Italy, declined to accept the resignation of the Salandra + Ministry, the Giolittian organ, the Stampa, of Turin, has + dropped something of its feverish neutralistic propaganda, the + Giolittian color has gradually faded from the Giornale + d'Italia and the Tribuna, while ex-Premier Giolitti himself + has left Rome, declaring that he had been misunderstood in + having his declaration that Italy could obtain what she + desired without fighting construed into meaning that he + desired peace at all costs. + + It is understood that in the middle of April Austria-Hungary + became convinced that neutralistic sentiments might prevail in + the peninsula, and consequently became less active in her + negotiations with the Salandra Government. Thereupon Italy + resumed negotiations with the Entente powers, and on April 14 + acknowledged that Serbia should have an opening on the + Adriatic Sea. This caused the Austro-Italian negotiations to + be heatedly resumed, and on May 18 the German Imperial + Chancellor read to the Reichstag the eleven Austro-Hungarian + proposals. The text of these proposals, together with the + Italian counter-proposals and the Italian exchange of claims + in the Adriatic with the Entente powers, will be found + outlined in the Italian official statement cabled by Minister + Sonnino to the Italian Ambassador at Washington, presented on + Page 494. + + It must be borne in mind that the press comments are based + upon an imperfect knowledge of the ultimate proposals and + claims, and that the Italian attitude for rejecting the + Austro-Hungarian proposals obviously rests on these grounds: + + 1. They are inadequate and might be rendered nought in case of + the victory of the Entente powers. + + 2. They do not give Italy a defensive frontier in the north + and east. + + 3. They do not materially improve Italy's commercial and + military condition in the Adriatic. + + 4. They make no mention of Dalmatia and the Dalmatian + Archipelago, with their deep harbors and natural + fortifications--a curious contrast to the lowland harbors of + the Italian coast opposite. + + The Italian demands take into account the possible victory of + the Entente powers. + + In the circumstances, it is best to begin with an extract from + a German paper, as there seems to be an impression abroad that + Germany has not appreciated Italy's reasons for not joining + with her allies at the beginning of the war and has conducted + a propaganda discrediting her willingness to remain neutral + provided the Austro-Hungarian concessions proved sufficient + and were sufficiently guaranteed. + + +THE GERMAN VIEW. + +_From the Frankfurter Zeitung of March 3._ + +Article VII. of the Austro-German-Italian Treaty, the terms of which +have never before been made public, not only provides for the right of +compensation in case one party to the contract enriches itself +territorially in the Balkans, but also forbids either Austria or Italy +to undertake anything in the Balkans without the consent of the +other.... + +In the Tripoli war, when the energetic Duca degli Abruzzi made his +advance in the Adriatic against Prevesa and wished to force the Porte to +yield through a serious action in the Dardanelles, and when Italy +wished to extend her occupation of the Aegean Islands, which lie as +advance posts before the Dardanelles, she was obliged to forego her +aims, and did loyally forego them, because Austria at that time did not +yet desire a movement on the then still quiescent Balkan Peninsula. +According to the Italian view, Austria, in determining to liquidate her +matured account with Serbia without coming to an agreement in the matter +with Italy, canceled the treaty in an important and essential part, +irrespective of the assurance that she contemplated merely punishment of +Serbia and not the acquisition of territory in the Balkans. The Italian +policy considered itself from that moment free from every obligation, +even if the speech of Premier Salandra in December could not be +interpreted as a formal denunciation of the Dreibund.... + +We have today good grounds for assuming that much as we must reckon with +the fact that the country is determined to go to war if nothing is +granted to it, just so little would it support a Government bent on +making war because it does not receive anything. + +It will be as impossible to solve the Trentino question from the point +of view of abstract right as to solve any other iridescent question in +that way. The Trentino question, which was long a question of national, +historical, and ethnological idealism, has now become a real question of +power. The European war and its developments have placed Italy in a +position to use her power in order to expand. This is not unusual in +history.... + +But it should be carefully noted that only to an Italy remaining within +the Triple Alliance can compensation be given, and, of course, only on +the basis of complete reciprocity--(zug um zugleistung gegen leistung). +To demand anything whatsoever Italy has no right. On the other hand, the +ignoble exploitation of the needs of an ally fighting for her existence +would correspond neither with the generosity of the Italian nature nor +with her real interests. + +The honest path for Italy, who finds herself unable to enter the war on +the side of her allies in accordance with the spirit of the Alliance, is +to preserve unconditional neutrality. A simple discussion between the +leading statesmen of all the three powers will banish every shade of +misunderstanding and clear the situation. Italy will spare her strength +for the great task on the other side of the Mediterranean and for her +correct and sensible attitude will receive, under the guarantee of her +friend, (Germany,) the promise of the fulfillment of her comprehensible +desire. Any other policy would be foolish and criminal. + + +ITALY AND ENGLAND. + +_From the Giornale d'Italia, March 26._ + +It is known in London, we believe, that Italy is firmly resolved to +assure her own future in whatever manner seems best. A seafaring, +agricultural, industrial, mercantile, emigrant people like the Italian +must for its very existence conquer its own place in the sun, cannot +endure hegemonies of any kind, cannot suggest exclusions, oppressions, +or prohibitions of any kind, but must defend at any cost its own +liberty, not only political, but economic and maritime. Italy is +resolved to defend a outrance that sum total of her rights in which the +whole future is inclosed. A people does not spend for nothing in a few +months $300,000,000 to complete its military preparations and does not +intrust for nothing, with a great example of concord, the most ample +powers to the Government. + +_From the Messaggero, April 1._ + +As Prince von Buelow's negotiations have apparently failed, Italy +naturally addresses herself to England. There is, however, this +difficulty: England has already made arrangements with France and Russia +for the solution of the questions of the Dardanelles and Asia Minor, +whereas Italy wishes to have her say in these questions before giving +her assistance to the Triple Entente. Moreover, there are Greek +aspirations in the Levant and Serbian in the Adriatic to be reconciled +with those of Italy. Consequently the situation is not easy. + +_From the Stampa, April 11._ + +Not only must Italy have her natural frontiers on the east restored, not +only must she have her legitimate supremacy in the Adriatic assured, not +only must she safeguard her interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and +in the eventual partition of the Turkish Empire, but she must also see +assured in the Western Mediterranean a greater guarantee for the safety +of herself and her possessions and wider liberty of action than that of +which she has recently had painful experience. These things must be +guaranteed by an alliance with either Russia or with England.... + +Before having solved this difficulty any decision in favor of war would +be a leap in the dark, an act of inconceivable political blindness. It +would be, to adopt a rough, but inevitable, term, a veritable betrayal. + +_From the Giornale d'Italia of April 12, in criticising the foregoing._ + +We absolutely fail to understand the motive which induced the +Piedmontese journal to print matter so calculated to confuse public +opinion. Indeed, the care with which our contemporary seeks to embarrass +Italian diplomatic action seems somewhat strange and cannot escape the +blame of all those who think it necessary not to hamper the liberty of +action conceded to the Government almost unanimously by Parliament and +by the people.... + +It seems almost as though the Piedmontese journal had no thought but to +put insoluble problems to the Government, in the face of public opinion, +so as to try to prejudice its action in advance. The Stampa's program +practically means that to the diplomatic rupture with the Central +Empires would be added another diplomatic rupture with the Triple +Entente, thus insuring the isolation which the Stampa professes to fear +so much. + +_From the Corriere della Sera, April 12._ + +The article in the Stampa, which appears ultra-nationalist, is in +reality purely neutralist. Italian aspirations must be kept within +reasonable bounds. What would happen to Italy if demands were put +forward which the Entente could not entertain? Quite apart from +questions of direct interest and gain, other factors must be taken into +account. There is the danger to Italy in case of the success of her late +allies, which would mean the prostration of France, the annexation of +Belgium to Germany, the arrival of Austria at Saloniki, British naval +hegemony replaced by German, the revival of Turkey, and the consequent +ambition to resume possession of lost territories. + + +ADRIATIC PROBLEM. + +_From the Politika of Belgrade, March 30._ + +Italy is claiming not only Italian territories which are under +Austro-Hungarian domination, but also a very considerable part of the +most purely southern Slav regions. Italy will have to realize one simple +fact. Until this war Serbia was closed in on all sides by +Austria-Hungary. She therefore asked that Europe should secure for her +from Austria-Hungary at least a free outlet to the Adriatic, the price +of which she had already paid in blood. + +The two Balkan wars were waged primarily for the same thing, since they +were wars of liberation. Today it is no longer a question of the +economic independence of Serbia, since Austria-Hungary is passing from +the scene, but it is a matter of the liberation and of the union into a +single State of our race as a whole. This is the idea which at this +moment governs the masses of our people, and the numberless graves of +our fallen heroes testify to the sacrifice which we have made for the +sake of this idea. Whoever, therefore, opposes our national union is an +enemy of our race. + +Deeply as it would pain Serbia to uproot out of her heart the sympathy +which she feels for Italy, she will none the less do so without fail if +ever it should become manifest that Italy's present policy signifies +that she desires not only to consolidate her legitimate interests, but +also to encroach upon the Balkans by attacking Serbia. + +_From the Giornale d'Italia, April 4._ + +No one in Italy has ever said or thought that in the event of a +bouleversement in the Adriatic and the Balkans there should be denied to +Serbia or any Slav State which might arise from the ruins of +Austria-Hungary a wide outlet to the Adriatic. But, on the other hand, +no one in Italy could ever permit that the reversion of Austria's +strategic maritime position should fall into any hands but ours. + +There are political and military considerations which are above any +question of nationality whatever. It should be enough to cite the +example of an England which holds a Spanish Gibraltar and an Italian +Malta, besides a Greek Cyprus and the Egyptian Suez Canal. It should be +enough to recall the claim made by all the press of Petrograd to +establish Russia at Constantinople and on the banks of the Bosporus and +the Dardanelles, in spite of all the principles of nationality, Balkan +or Turk. + +Let the Serbians, in case of an Adriatic and Balkan upset, have an ample +outlet to the Adriatic, but do not let them aspire to conquer a +predominance in that sea. The Italian people is not, and can not be at +this moment, either phil or phobe regarding any other people. The +existence, or at least the future, of all the nations is at stake today, +and whoever desires the friendship of Italy must begin by loyally +recognizing her rights and interests. + +_From the Giornale d'Italia of April 19._ + +We reject altogether the idea that Italy would be satisfied with the +western portion of Istria, leaving the rest of the Eastern Adriatic +shore to the Croatians and Serbians. While Italy would certainly gain by +the possession of Trieste and Pola, the strategic position in the +Adriatic would still be exceedingly disadvantageous, especially as the +Slav claim advanced by certain Russian newspapers, (that Croatia become +an autonomous State and divide Dalmatia with Serbia,) includes the right +to maintain fortified naval bases on the eastern shore. + +This would merely mean exchanging Austrian strategical predominance for +Slavonic, and, consequently, Russian predominance nearly as threatening +to Italian interests. + +The principal objective of Italy in the Adriatic is the solution once +for all of the politico-strategic question of a sea which is commanded +in the military sense from the eastern shore, and such a problem can be +solved only by one method--by eliminating from the Adriatic every other +war fleet. Otherwise the existing most difficult situation in the +Adriatic will be perpetuated and in time inevitably aggravated. + +_From the Messaggero of April 21._ + +We understand that an Italian-Russian accord has been practically +concluded. This accord refers both to the war, on which Italy will +shortly embark, as well as to the peace which will be finally signed. +The French and British Governments have taken an active part in +facilitating this accord, as it deals with other questions besides that +of the Adriatic. + +_From Idea Nazionale, May 10._ + +Italy desires war: + +1. In order to obtain Trent, Trieste, and Dalmatia. The country desires +it. A nation which has the opportunity to free its land should do so as +a matter of imperative necessity. If the Government and the institutions +will not make war, they render themselves guilty of high treason toward +the country. + +2. We desire war in order to conquer for ourselves a good strategic +frontier in the north and east in place of the treacherous one which we +now have. When a nation can assure the protection of its domain it ought +to do so, otherwise its future will have less. It is a necessary duty. +There is no other alternative but this--either complete the work or +betray what has already been done. + +3. We desire war because today in the Adriatic, the Balkan Peninsula, +the Mediterranean, and Asia Italy should have all the advantages it is +possible for her to have and without which her political, economic, and +moral power would diminish in proportion as that of others augmented. To +this has the Hon. Salandra borne witness. If we should avoid war we +desire less than his words most sacredly proclaimed to the nation in +Parliament. If we would be a great power we must accept certain +obligations; one of them is war in order to keep us a great power. If we +do not want to be a great power any longer, we deliberately and vilely +betray ourselves. + +The foregoing are the three reasons for entering the war--reasons which +are tangible, material, and comprehensive. + +_From the Giornale d'Italia, May 12._ + +Italy is determined to realize her national aspirations, cost what it +may. For this reason the Government has hastened its preparations for +war which, when completed, caused Austria to offer compensations, thus +tacitly acknowledging the claims of Italy. + +When the Austro-Italian negotiations were begun Signor Giolitti most +unfortunately obstructed their successful issue by his inopportune +letter declaring that war was unnecessary. Nevertheless, owing to the +firmness of the Government and the determination to resort to war, the +conversations were resumed. However, Austria, aside from offering +insufficient concessions, assumed a waiting policy and sought secretly +to conclude a secret peace with Russia. Thereupon the Italian +Government opened negotiations with the Allies, which had the effect of +increasing the offers of Austria. + +During the ultimate, delicate phase of the conversations, when those who +advocate neutrality are causing great injury to the interests of the +country and also helping its enemies, the Government, reposing in the +support of the people, is determined to expose the intrigues and +conspiracies intended to favor the Austrians and Germans. + +Hence the Government will, if necessary, make an appeal to Parliament. +Meanwhile, it will conserve its power and righteously defend the +interests of the country. + + + + +ANNUNCIATION + +By Ernst Lissauer. + + +_Ernst Lissauer, the author of the famous "Song of Hate Against England" +has written a second poem entitled "Bread," and directed against the +British policy of cutting off Germany's food supply. The poem was +published in the Bonner Zeitung and reprinted in the Frankfurter Zeitung +of March 26, 1915. Following is a translation:_ + + With arms they cannot overpower us, + With hunger they would fain devour us; + Foe beside foe in an iron ring. + Has want crossed our borders, or hunger, or dearth? + Listen: I chant the tidings of Spring: + Our soil is our ally in this great thing; + Already new bread is growing in the earth. + + ADMONITION: + + Save the food and guard and hoard! + Bread is a sword. + + PRAYER: + + The peasants have sown the seed again. + Now gather and pray the prayer of the grain: + Earth of our land, + With arms they cannot overpower us, + With hunger they would fain devour us, + Arise thou in thy harvest wrath! + Thick grow thy grass, rich the reaper's path! + Dearest soil of earth + Our prayer hear: + Show them of little worth, + Shame them with blade and ear. + +[Illustration: [map of the Dardanelles]] + + + + +THE DARDANELLES + +ALLIES' SECOND CAMPAIGN WITH FLEETS AND LAND FORCES. + + + The first campaign to force the passage of the Dardanelles by + fleet operations alone was suddenly halted on March 19, 1915, + when floating mines carried by the swift currents destroyed + and sank three battleships. An appraisal of the real + difficulties attendant upon reducing the forts and batteries + lining the European and Asiatic shores, which determined the + Allies upon their present joint operations by land and sea, is + found in the subjoined dispatch, presented in part from E. + Ashmead-Bartlett, appearing in The London Daily Telegraph of + April 26. It is followed by full press reports from the + Dardanelles describing the difficult landing and establishment + of the Allied troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula. + +Eastern Mediterranean, April 12. + +The days of the Turk in Europe are numbered, but no one will deny that +he is dying hard and game. It came as a disagreeable shock to many to +read on the morning of March 19 that two British battleships and one +French had been sunk in the Dardanelles, while several others had been +hit and damaged. + +We were told that the outer forts had been completely destroyed and that +the work of mine sweeping had made excellent progress. This news was +given in perfect good faith and was also quite true, but we built up on +it too great a structure of hope, but few realizing the immense +difficulties the fleet has had to face--obstacles which do not really +commence until the Narrows are approached. The combined advance of the +allied fleet up the Dardanelles on March 18 was not an attempt to pass +the Narrows. It was merely intended as a great demonstration against the +forts, in order that the destroyers and sweepers might clear the +minefield under cover of the guns of the ships. + +This work was carried out in the most gallant manner and was perfectly +successful, but unfortunately the further advance had to be abandoned, +owing to the sudden and unexpected disasters to three vessels inflicted +by drifting mines. But the price paid cannot be considered too high when +one remembers the issues at stake and the vast bearing they may have on +the future of the war. The Turks have always believed the Dardanelles to +be impregnable, and this belief has been accepted as the truth by most +lay minds until the navy started to put the issue to the test. Then, for +some unknown reason, here came a quite unjustifiable wave of optimism, +which swept over the country until the eyes of the public were opened by +the events of March 18. + +In the old days of sailing ships the Dardanelles were a most formidable +obstacle which no Admiral would have faced with confidence. + +It was almost impossible to overcome the obstacles in the early days of +the nineteenth century. The difficulties and dangers of the passage have +been increased tenfold now by long-range weapons, torpedoes, and mines. +Nevertheless, the navy is of opinion that the Narrows can be forced, in +spite of these obstacles, and this opinion has been strengthened and +confirmed by the great trial of March 18. It might mean the loss of +ships, but if the occasion justified the sacrifice the fleet would not +hesitate to make the attempt. + +But, unless there is a powerful army ready to occupy the Gallipoli +Peninsula the moment the fleet passed into the Sea of Marmora or made +its way to Constantinople, the strait would immediately be closed behind +it, and, supposing the Turks, backed up by German officers and German +intrigues, decided to continue the war, it would have to fight its way +out and again clear the minefield. It has long been an accepted axiom of +naval warfare that ships are of no use against forts, or that they fight +at such a disadvantage that it is not worth while employing them for +such a purpose. + +This axiom must now be modified, after the experience which the fleet +has gained in the present operations against the Dardanelles. Any fort +built of stone or concrete, however strong, can be put out of action by +direct fire from guns, if only a clear view of it can be obtained, or +provided aeroplanes are available to "spot" for the gunners, to signal +back results, and correct the fire. + + + + +The Landing at Gallipoli + + +_The following series of dispatches sent by a special correspondent of +The London Times at the Dardanelles describes the first phase of the +operations resulting in the landing of the allied troops on the +Gallipoli Peninsula:_ + +Dardanelles, April 24. + +The great venture has at last been launched, and the entire fleet of +warships and transports is now steaming toward the shores of Gallipoli. + +Yesterday the weather showed signs of moderating, and about 5 o'clock in +the afternoon the first of the transports slowly made its way through +the maze of shipping toward the entrance of Mudros Bay. Immediately the +patent apathy which has gradually overwhelmed every one changed to the +utmost enthusiasm, and as the huge liners steamed through the fleet, +their decks yellow with khaki, the crews of the warships cheered them on +to victory, while the bands played them out with an unending variety of +popular airs. The soldiers in the transports answered this last +salutation from the navy with deafening cheers, and no more inspiring +spectacle has ever been seen than this great expedition setting forth +for better or for worse. + +It required splendid organization and skilled leadership to get this +huge fleet clear of the bay without confusion or accidents, but not one +has occurred, and the majority are now safely on the high seas steaming +toward their respective destinations. + +The whole of the fleet and the transports have been divided up into five +divisions and there will be three main landings. The Twenty-ninth +Division will disembark off the point of the Gallipoli Peninsula near +Sedd-el-Bahr, where its operations can be covered both from the Gulf of +Saros and from the Dardanelles by the fire of the covering warships. The +Australian and New Zealand contingent will disembark north of Gaba Tepe. +Further north the Naval Division will make a demonstration. + +The difficulties and dangers of the enterprise are enormous and are +recognized by all. + +Never before has the attempt been made to land so large a force in the +face of an enemy who has innumerable guns, many thousands of trained +infantry, and who has had months of warning in which to prepare his +positions. Nevertheless, there is a great feeling of confidence +throughout all ranks, and the men are delighted that at length the +delays are over and the real work is about to begin. + +Last night the transports were merely taking up their positions, and the +real exit of the armada from Mudros commenced this afternoon at about 2 +o'clock. The weather, which was threatening at an early hour, has now +become perfectly calm, and if it only lasts the conditions will be ideal +for a rapid disembarkation. + +Throughout the morning transports steamed out to take up their +respective positions in the open sea. The same enthusiastic scenes were +witnessed as yesterday. The covering forces will be put ashore from +certain battleships, while others will sweep the enemy's positions with +their guns and endeavor to prevent them from shelling the troops while +disembarking. It is generally considered that the critical period of +the operations will be the first twenty-four hours, and the success or +failure of the whole enterprise will depend on whether these covering +parties are able to obtain a firm foothold and seize the positions which +have been assigned to them. Every detail has been worked out and +rehearsed, and every officer and man should now know the peculiar role +which has been assigned to him. + +The navy will have entire charge of the landing of these thousands of +men. Beach parties will go ashore with the first of the troops, and +officers from the ships will direct the movements of all the boats as +they bring the troops ashore. + +This battleship belongs to a division which will consist of the +Australians, who are to land near Gaba Tepe. We are one of the landing +ships, and this afternoon received on board 500 officers and men of the +Australian contingent who are to form part of the covering force. They +are a magnificent body of men, and full of enthusiasm for the honorable +and dangerous role given to them. + +At 2 o'clock the flagship of this division took up her position at the +head of the line. We passed down through the long line of slowly moving +transports amid tremendous cheering, and were played out of the bay by +the French warships. No sight could have been finer than this spectacle +of long lines of warships and transports, each making for its special +rendezvous without any delay or confusion. + +At 4 o'clock this afternoon the ship's company and the troops were +assembled on the quarterdeck to hear the Captain read out Admiral de +Robeck's proclamation to the combined forces. This was followed by a +last service before battle, in which the chaplain uttered a prayer for +victory and called for the Divine blessing on the expedition, while the +whole of the ship's company and troops on board stood with uncovered and +bowed heads. We are steaming slowly through this momentous night toward +the coast and are due at our rendezvous at 3 A.M. tomorrow, (Sunday,) a +day which has so often brought victory to the British flag. + + +THE SECOND DISPATCH. + +Dardanelles, April 25. + +Slowly through the night of April 24 our squadron, which was to land the +covering force of the Australian contingent just north of Gaba Tepe, +steamed toward its destination. The troops on board were the guests of +the crews, and our generous sailors entertained them royally. At dusk +all lights were extinguished, and very shortly afterward the troops +retired for a last rest before their ordeal at dawn. + +At 1 A.M. the ships arrived off their appointed rendezvous, five miles +from the landing place, and stopped. The soldiers were aroused from +their slumbers and were served with a last hot meal. A visit to the mess +decks showed these Australians, the majority of whom were about to go +into action for the first time under the most trying circumstances, +possessed at 1 o'clock in the morning courage to be cheerful, quiet, and +confident. There was no sign of nerves or undue excitement such as one +might very reasonably have expected. + +At 1:20 A.M. the signal was given from the flagship to lower the boats, +which had been left swinging from the davits throughout the night. Our +steam pinnaces were also lowered to take them in tow. The troops fell in +in their assigned places on the quarterdeck, and the last rays of the +waning moon lit up a scene which will ever be memorable in our history. + +On the quarterdeck, backed by the great 12-inch guns, this splendid body +of colonial troops were drawn up in serried ranks, fully equipped, and +receiving their last instructions from their officers who, six months +ago, like their men, were leading a peaceful civilian life in Australia +and New Zealand 5,000 miles away. Now at the call of the empire they +were about to disembark on a strange unknown shore, in a strange land, +and attack an enemy of a different race. By the side of the soldiers the +beach parties of our splendid bluejackets and marines were marshaled, +arrayed in old white uniforms dyed khaki color and carrying the old +rifle and old equipment. + +These men were to take charge of the boats, steer them ashore, and row +them to the beach when they were finally cast off by the towing +pinnaces. Each boat was in charge of a young midshipman, many of whom +have come straight from Dartmouth after a couple of terms and now found +themselves called upon to play a most difficult and dangerous role like +men. Commanders, Lieutenants, and special beach officers had charge of +the whole of the towing parties and went ashore with the troops. + +At 2:05 A.M. the signal was given for the troops to embark in the boats +which were lying alongside, and this was carried out with great +rapidity, in absolute silence, and without a hitch or an accident of any +kind. Each one of the three ships which had embarked troops transferred +them to four small boats apiece towed by a steam pinnace, and in this +manner the men of the covering force were conveyed to the shore. More of +the Australian Brigade were carried in destroyers, which were to go +close in shore and land them from boats as soon as those towed by the +pinnaces had reached the beach. + +At 3 A.M. it was quite dark and all was ready for the start. The tows +were cast off by the battleships and the ladders taken in and the decks +cleared for action, the crews going to general quarters. Then we steamed +slowly toward the shore, each of the battleships being closely followed +by her tows, which looked exactly like huge snakes gliding relentlessly +after their prey. I do not suppose the suppressed excitement of this +last half hour will ever be forgotten by those who were present. No one +could tell at the last minute what would happen. Would the enemy be +surprised or would he be ready on the alert to pour a terrible fire on +the boats as they approached the beach? + +The whole operation had been timed to allow the pinnaces and boats to +reach the beach just before daybreak so that the Turks, if they had been +forewarned, would not be able to see to fire before the Australians had +obtained a firm footing and, it was hoped, good cover on the foreshore. + +Exactly at 4:10 A.M. the three battleships in line abreast four cables +apart arrived about 2,500 yards from the shore, which was just +discernible in the gloom. The engines were stopped, guns were manned, +and the powerful searchlights made ready for use if required. The tows, +which up to this time had followed astern, were ordered to advance to +the shore. The battleships took up positions somewhat further out on +either flank, for to them was assigned the duty of supporting the attack +with their guns as soon as light allowed. + +Very slowly the snakes of boats steamed past the battleships, the +gunwales almost flush with the water, so crowded were they with khaki +figures. Then each lot edged in toward one another so as to reach the +beach four cables apart. So anxious were we on board the battleships +that it seemed as if the loads were too heavy for the pinnaces, or that +some mysterious power was holding them back, and that they would never +reach the shore before daybreak and thus lose the chance of a surprise. + +The distance between the battleships and the boats did not seem to +diminish, but only for the reason that we steamed very slowly in after +them until the water gradually shallowed. Every eye and every glass was +fixed on that grim-looking line of hills in our front, so shapeless, yet +so menacing, in the gloom. + +At 4:50 A.M. the enemy suddenly showed an alarm light, which flashed for +ten minutes and then disappeared. The next three minutes after its first +appearance passed in breathless anxiety. We could just discern the dull +outline of the boats which appeared to be almost on the beach. Just +previously to this seven destroyers conveying the other men of the +brigade glided noiselessly through the intervals between the battleships +and followed the boats in shore. + +At 4:53 A.M. there suddenly came a very sharp burst of rifle fire from +the beach, and we knew our men were at last at grips with the enemy. +This fire lasted only for a few minutes and then was drowned by a faint +British cheer wafted to us over the waters. How comforting and inspiring +was the sound at such a moment! It seemed like a message sent to tell us +that the first position had been won and a firm hold obtained on the +beach. + +At 5:03 A.M. the fire intensified, and we could tell from the sound that +our men were firing. It lasted until 5:28 and then died down somewhat. +No one on board knew what was happening, although dawn was gradually +breaking, because we were looking due east into the sun slowly rising +behind the hills, which are almost flush with the foreshore, and there +was also a haze. Astern at 5:26 we saw the outline of some of the +transports, gradually growing bigger and bigger as they approached the +coast. They were bringing up the remainder of the Austrians and New +Zealanders. + +The first authentic news we received came with the return of our boats. +A steam pinnace came alongside with two recumbent forms on her deck and +a small figure, pale but cheerful, and waving his hand astern. They were +one of our midshipmen, just 16 years of age, shot through the stomach, +but regarding his injury more as a fitting consummation to a glorious +holiday ashore than a wound, and a chief stoker and petty officer, all +three wounded by that first burst of musketry which caused many +casualties in the boats just as they reached the beach. + +From them we learned what had happened in those first wild moments. All +the tows had almost reached the beach, when a party of Turks intrenched +almost on the shore opened up a terrible fusillade from rifles and also +from a Maxim. Fortunately most of the bullets went high, but, +nevertheless, many men were hit as they sat huddled together 40 or 50 in +a boat. + +It was a trying moment, but the Australian volunteers rose as a man to +the occasion. They waited neither for orders nor for the boats to reach +the beach, but, springing out into the sea, they waded ashore and, +forming some sort of a rough line, rushed straight on the flashes of +the enemy's rifles. Their magazines were not even charged. So they just +went in with cold steel, and I believe I am right in saying that the +first Ottoman Turk since the last Crusade received an Anglo-Saxon +bayonet in him at five minutes after 5 A.M. on April 25. It was over in +a minute. The Turks in this first trench were bayoneted or ran away, and +a Maxim gun was captured. + +Then the Australians found themselves facing an almost perpendicular +cliff of loose sandstone, covered with thick shrubbery, and somewhere +half way up the enemy had a second trench strongly held, from which they +poured a terrible fire on the troops below and the boats pulling back to +the destroyers for the second landing party. + +Here was a tough proposition to tackle in the darkness, but these +colonials are practical above all else, and they went about it in a +practical way. They stopped a few moments to pull themselves together +and to get rid of their packs, which no troops should carry in an +attack, and then charged their magazines. Then this race of athletes +proceeded to scale the cliffs without responding to the enemy's fire. +They lost some men, but did not worry, and in less than a quarter of an +hour the Turks were out of their second position, either bayoneted or in +full flight. + + +THE THIRD DISPATCH. + +Dardanelles, April 26. + +After the events I have previously described, the light gradually became +better and we could see from the London what was happening on the beach. +It was then discovered that the boats had landed rather further north of +Gaba Tepe than was originally intended, at a point where the sandstone +cliffs rise very sharply from the water's edge. As a matter of fact, +this error probably turned out a blessing in disguise, because there was +no glacis down which the enemy's infantry could fire, and the numerous +bluffs, ridges, and broken ground afford good cover to troops once they +have passed the forty or fifty yards of flat, sandy beach. + +This ridge, under which the landing was made, stretches due north from +Gaba Tepe and culminates in the height of Coja Chemen, which rises 950 +feet above the sea level. The whole forms part of a confused triangle of +hills, valleys, ridges, and bluffs which stretches right across the +Gallipoli Peninsula to the Bay of Bassi Liman above the Narrows. The +triangle is cut in two by the valley through which flows the stream +known as Bokali Deresi. + +It is indeed a formidable and forbidding land. To the sea it presents a +steep front, broken up into innumerable ridges, bluffs, valleys, and +sand pits, which rise to a height of several hundred feet. The surface +is either a kind of bare and very soft yellow sandstone, which crumbles +when you tread on it, or else it is covered with very thick shrubbery +about six feet in height. + +It is, in fact, an ideal country for irregular warfare, such as the +Australians and New Zealanders were soon to find to their cost. You +cannot see a yard in front of you, and so broken is the ground that the +enemy's snipers were able to lie concealed within a few yards of the +lines of infantry without it being possible to locate them. On the other +hand, the Australians and New Zealanders have proved themselves adepts +at this form of warfare, which requires the display of great endurance +in climbing over the cliffs and offers scope for a display of that +individuality which you find highly developed in these colonial +volunteers. To organize anything like a regular attack on such ground is +almost impossible, as the officers cannot see their men, who, the moment +they move forward in open order, are lost among the thick scrub. + +In the early part of the day very heavy casualties were suffered in the +boats which conveyed the troops from the destroyers, tugs, and +transports to the beach. As soon as it became light, the enemy's +sharpshooters, hidden everywhere, simply concentrated their fire on the +boats. Then they got close in. At least three boats, having broken away +from their tows, drifted down the coast, under no control, and were +sniped at the whole way, steadily losing men. + +All praise is due to the splendid conduct of the officers, midshipmen, +and men who formed the beach parties and whose duty it was to pass +backward and forward under a terrible fusillade which it was impossible +to check in the early part of the day. + +The work of disembarking went on mechanically under this fire at almost +point-blank range. You saw the crowded boats cast off from the pinnaces, +tugs, and destroyers, and laboriously pulled ashore by six or eight +seamen. The moment it reached the beach the troops jumped out and +doubled for cover to the foot of the bluffs, over some forty yards of +beach. But the gallant crews of the boats had then to pull them out +under a dropping fire from a hundred points where the enemy's marksmen +lay hidden amid the sand and shrubs. + +Throughout the whole of April 25 the landing of troops, stores, and +munitions had to be carried out under these conditions, but the gallant +sailors never failed their equally gallant comrades ashore. Every one, +from the youngest midshipman, straight from Dartmouth and under fire for +the first time, to the senior officers in charge, did their duty nobly. + +When it became light the covering warships endeavored to support the +troops on shore by a heavy fire from their secondary armament, but at +this time, the positions of the enemy being unknown, the support was +necessarily more moral than real. When the sun was fully risen and the +haze had disappeared we could see that the Australians had actually +established themselves on the top of the ridge and were evidently trying +to work their way northward along it. At 8:45 the fire from the hills +became intense and lasted for about half an hour, when it gradually died +down, but only for a short time. Then it reopened and lasted without +cessation throughout the remainder of the day. The fighting was so +confused and took place among such broken ground that it is extremely +difficult to follow exactly what did happen throughout the morning and +afternoon of April 25. The role assigned to the covering force was +splendidly carried out up to a certain point, and a firm footing was +obtained on the crest of the ridge which allowed the disembarkation of +the remainder of the force to go on uninterruptedly, except for the +never-ceasing sniping. + +But then the Australians, whose blood was up, instead of intrenching +themselves and waiting developments, pushed northward and eastward +inland in search of fresh enemies to tackle with the bayonet. The ground +is so broken and ill-defined that it was very difficult to select a +position to intrench, especially as, after the troops imagined they had +cleared a section, they were continually being sniped from all sides. +Therefore, they preferred to continue the advance. + +It is impossible for any army to defend a long beach in any force, +especially when you do not know exactly where an attack will be made, +and when your troops will come under the fire of the guns of warships. +The Turks, therefore, only had a comparatively weak force actually +holding the beach, and they seemed to have relied on the difficult +nature of the ground and their scattered snipers to delay the advance +until they would bring up reinforcements from the interior. Some of the +Australians who had pushed inland were counter-attacked and almost +outflanked by these on-coming reserves and had to fall back after +suffering very heavy casualties. + +It was then the turn of the Turks to counter-attack, and this they +continued to do throughout the afternoon, but the Australians never +yielded a foot of ground on the main ridge, and reinforcements were +continually poured up from the beach as fresh troops were disembarked +from the transports. The enemy's artillery fire, however, presented a +very difficult problem. As soon as the light became good the Turks +enfiladed the beach with two field guns from Gaba Tepe and with two +others from the north. This shrapnel fire was incessant and deadly. In +vain did the warships endeavor to put them out of action with their +secondary armament. For some hours they could not be accurately +located, or else were so well protected that our shells failed to do +them any harm. The majority of the heavy casualties suffered during the +day were from shrapnel, which swept the beach and the ridge on which the +Australians and New Zealanders had established themselves. + +Later in the day the two guns to the north were silenced or forced to +withdraw to a fresh position, from which they could no longer enfilade +the beach, and a cruiser, moving in close to the shore, so plastered +Gaba Tepe with a hail of shell that the guns there were also silenced +and have not attempted to reply since. + +As the enemy brought up reinforcements toward dusk his attacks became +more and more vigorous, and he was supported by a powerful artillery +inland which the ships' guns were powerless to deal with. The pressure +on the Australians and New Zealanders became heavier, and the line they +were occupying had to be contracted for the night. General Birwood and +his staff went ashore in the afternoon and devoted all their energies to +securing the position, so as to hold firmly to it until the following +morning, when it was hoped to get some field guns in position to deal +with the enemy's artillery. + +Some idea of the difficulty to be faced may be gathered when it is +remembered that every round of ammunition, all water, and all supplies +had to be landed on a narrow beach and then carried up pathless hills, +valleys, and bluffs, several hundred feet high, to the firing line. The +whole of this mass of troops, concentrated on a very small area, and +unable to reply, were exposed to a relentless and incessant shrapnel +fire, which swept every yard of the ground, although fortunately a great +deal of it was badly aimed or burst too high. The reserves were engaged +in road making and carrying supplies to the crests and in answering the +calls for more ammunition. + +A serious problem was getting away the wounded from the shore, where it +was impossible to keep them. All those who were unable to hobble to the +beach had to be carried down from the hills on stretchers, then hastily +dressed, and carried to the boats. The boat and beach parties never +stopped working throughout the entire day and night. + +The courage displayed by these wounded Australians will never be +forgotten. Hastily dressed and placed in trawlers, lighters, and ships' +boats, they were towed to the ships. I saw some lighters full of bad +cases. As they passed the battleship, some of those on board recognized +her as the ship they had left that morning, whereupon, in spite of their +sufferings and discomforts, they set up a cheer, which was answered by a +deafening shout of encouragement from our crew. + +I have, in fact, never seen the like of these wounded Australians in war +before, for as they were towed among the ships, while accommodation was +being found for them, although many were shot to bits and without hope +of recovery, their cheers resounded through the night, and you could +just see, amid a mass of suffering humanity, arms being waved in +greeting to the crews of the warships. They were happy, because they +knew they had been tried for the first time in the war and had not been +found wanting. They had been told to occupy the heights and hold on, and +this they had done for fifteen mortal hours under an incessant shell +fire, without the moral and material support of a single gun ashore, and +subjected the whole time to the violent counter-attacks of a brave +enemy, led by skilled leaders, while his snipers, hidden in caves and +thickets and among the dense scrub, made a deliberate practice of +picking off every officer who endeavored to give a word of command or to +lead his men forward. + +No finer feat of arms has been performed during the war than this sudden +landing in the dark, this storming of the heights, and, above all, the +holding on to the position thus won while reinforcements were being +poured from the transports. These raw colonial troops, in those +desperate hours, proved themselves worthy to fight side by side with +the heroes of Mons and the Aisne, Ypres, and Neuve Chapelle. + + +THE FOURTH DISPATCH. + +Dardanelles, April 27. + +Throughout the night of the 25th and the early morning of the 26th there +was continual fighting, as the Turks made repeated attacks to endeavor +to drive the Australians and New Zealanders from their positions. On +several occasions parties of the colonials made local counter-attacks +and drove the enemy off with the bayonet, which the Turks will never +face. + +On the morning of the 26th it became known that the enemy had been very +largely reinforced during the night and was preparing for a big assault +from the northeast. This movement began about 9:30 A.M. From the ships +we could see large numbers of the enemy creeping along the top of the +hills endeavoring to approach our positions under cover and then to +annoy our troops with their incessant sniping. He had also brought up +more guns during the night, and plastered the whole position once again +with shrapnel. + +The rifle and machine-gun fire became heavy and unceasing. But the enemy +were not going to be allowed to have matters all their own way with +their artillery. Seven warships had moved in close to the shore, while +the Queen Elizabeth, further out, acted as a kind of chaperone to the +lot. Each covered a section of the line, and when the signal was given +opened up a bombardment of the heights and valleys beyond which can only +be described as terrific. + +Turkish infantry moved forward to the attack. They were met by every +kind of shell which our warships carry, from 15-inch shrapnel from the +Queen Elizabeth, each one of which contains 20,000 bullets, to 12-inch, +6-inch, and 12-pounders. + +The noise, smoke, and concussion produced was unlike anything you can +even imagine until you have seen it. The hills in front looked as if +they had suddenly been transformed into smoking volcanoes, the common +shell throwing up great chunks of ground and masses of black smoke, +while the shrapnel formed a white canopy above. Sections of ground were +covered by each ship all around our front trenches, and, the ranges +being known, the shooting was excellent. Nevertheless, a great deal of +the fire was, of necessity, indirect, and the ground affords such +splendid cover that the Turks continued their advance in a most gallant +manner, while their artillery not only plastered our positions on shore +with shrapnel, but actually tried to drive the ships off the coast by +firing at them, and their desperate snipers, in place of a better +target, tried to pick off officers and men on the decks and bridges. We +picked up many bullets on the deck afterward. + +Some Turkish warship started to fire over the peninsula. The Triumph +dropped two 10-inch shells within a few yards of her, whereupon she +retired up the strait to a safer position, from which she occasionally +dropped a few shells into space, but so far has done no damage. + +The scene at the height of this engagement was sombre, magnificent, and +unique. The day was perfectly clear, and you could see right down the +coast as far as Sedd-ul-Bahr. There the warships of the first division +were blazing away at Aki Baba and the hills around it, covering their +summits with a great white cloud of bursting shells. Further out the +giant forms of the transports which accompanied that division loomed up +through the slight mist. Almost opposite Gaba Tepe a cruiser close in +shore was covering the low ground with her guns and occasionally +dropping shells right over into the straight on the far side. Opposite +the hills in possession of the Australian and New Zealand troops an +incessant fire was kept up from the ships. Beyond lay our transports +which had moved further out to avoid the Turkish warships' shells and +those of some battery which fires persistently. + +Beyond all, the Queen Elizabeth, with her eight huge, monstrous 15-inch +guns, all pointed shoreward, seemed to threaten immediate annihilation +to any enemy who dared even to aim at the squadron under her charge. + +On shore the rifle and machine-gun fire was incessant, and at times rose +into a perfect storm as the Turks pressed forward their attack. The +hills were ablaze with shells from the ships and the enemy's shrapnel, +while on the beach masses of troops were waiting to take their places in +the trenches, and the beach parties worked incessantly at landing +stores, material, and ammunition. + +This great attack lasted some two hours, and during this time we +received encouraging messages from the beach. "Thanks for your +assistance. Your guns are inflicting awful losses on the enemy." The +Turks must, in fact, have suffered terribly from this concentrated fire +from so many guns and from the infantry in the trenches. + +The end came amid a flash of bayonets and a sudden charge of the +colonials, before which the Turks broke and fled amid a perfect tornado +of shells from the ships. They fell back sullen and checked, but not yet +defeated, but for the remainder of the day no big attack was pressed +home, and the colonials gained some ground by local counter-attacks, +which enlarged and consolidated the position they were holding. + +The Turks kept up their incessant shrapnel fire throughout the day, but +the colonials were now dug in and could not be shaken by it in their +trenches, while the reserves had also prepared shelter trenches and +dug-outs on the slopes. + +Some prisoners were captured, including an officer, who said that the +Turks were becoming demoralized by the fire of the guns, and that the +Germans now had difficulty in getting them forward to the attack. We are +well intrenched and they will probably do likewise, and we shall see a +repetition of the siege warfare out here. + + +THE FIFTH DISPATCH. + +Dardanelles, April 30. + +While Australians and New Zealanders were fighting so gallantly against +heavy odds north of Gaba Tepe, British troops crowned themselves with +equal laurels at the southern end of the Gallipoli Peninsula. A firm +footing now has been obtained. The line stretches across the southern +end of the entire peninsula, with both flanks secured by the fire of +warships. The army holds many convenient landing places immune from the +enemy's guns. + +The problems British landing parties faced differed from those the +Australians solved further north. Here the cliffs are not high and +irregular, but rise about fifty feet from the water's edge, with +stretches of beach at intervals. Five of these beaches were selected for +disembarkation under the cover of warships. It was hoped the Turkish +trenches would be rendered untenable and the barbed wire entanglements +cut by the fire of the ships, but these expectations were not realized. + +For example, the landing place between Gaba Tepe and Cape Helles was the +scene of a desperate struggle which raged all day. The Turks held barbed +wire protected trenches in force and their snipers covered the +foreshore. After hours of bombardment the troops were taken ashore at +daybreak. Part of the force scaled the cliffs and obtained a precarious +footing on the edge of the cliffs, but boats which landed along the +beach were confronted with a solid hedge of barbed wire and exposed to a +terrible cross-fire. Every effort was made to cut the wire, but almost +all those who landed here were shot down. Later the troops on the cliffs +succeeded in driving back the Turks and clearing the beach. + +The most terrible of all landings, however, was on the beach between +Cape Helles and the Seddul Bahr. Here the broken valley runs inland +enfiladed by hills on either flank, on which were built strong forts, +which defended the entrance to the strait until they were knocked out by +our guns. Although the guns and emplacements were shattered the +bombproofs and ammunition chambers remained intact, and, running back, +formed a perfect network of trenches and entanglements right around the +semicircular valley. The Turks had mounted pompoms on the Cape Helles +side and had the usual snipers concealed everywhere. The foreshore and +valley also were protected by trenches and wire, rendering the position +most formidable. + +One novel expedient was running a liner full of troops deliberately +ashore, thus allowing them to approach close in under cover without +being exposed in open boats. Great doors had been cut in her sides to +permit rapid disembarkation, and she was well provided with Maxims to +sweep the shore while the troops were landing. Owing to her going ashore +further east than was intended, however, it became necessary to bring up +a lighter to facilitate the landing. The Turks directed a perfect +tornado of rifle, Maxim, and pompom fire on 200 men who made a dash down +the gangway. Only a few survived to gain shelter. All the others were +killed on the gangway. Disembarkation, therefore, which meant almost +certain death, was postponed until later in the morning, when another +attempt also failed. + +Then, while the liner, carrying 2,000 men, packed in like sardines, with +the officers huddled on the protected bridge, lay all day on shore, with +a hail of bullets rattling against her protected sides, the battleships +Albion, Cornwallis, and Queen Elizabeth furiously bombarded Seddul Bahr +and the encircling hills. Meanwhile the Turks on the Asiatic side tried +to destroy the liner by howitzer fire, which was kept under only by the +bombardment from covering ships in the strait. In spite of this covering +fire, the vessel was pierced by four big shells, and it was decided to +postpone any further movement until night, when the troops got ashore +almost without the Turks firing a shot, as a result, perhaps, of troops +landed on other beaches having pushed along and destroyed some Turkish +positions. + + +END OF THE THIRD WEEK. + +[Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +IMBROS, (via Dedeaghatch, Turkey,) May 15, (Dispatch to The London Daily +Chronicle.)--Operations in the Dardanelles have now been in full swing +for just three weeks, and a glance from the mountaintop here at the +far-spread region over which the war has been and is being waged shows +instantly the material progress which has been made in that time. + +When I first looked down on the fascinating and unique vision presented +to my eyes from this point of vantage it was a sight truly marvelous. A +fleet of transports stood at the entrance to the strait, and to the +north of Gaba Tepe the warships were hammering away at the mouth of the +Dardanelles, and at several points along the western coast of the +peninsula one could see at different points on the land that severe +battles were being fought. The heavy clouds of war hung over all, lit up +grimly by the vivid flashes of the guns. At times the din was tremendous +and went on night and day without cessation. Column after column of +dense smoke betokened the falling of forts, and gradually the white +puffs from our guns like long rollers on a broken coast advanced up the +peninsula from the south and inland from the Gaba Tepe region. + +Aeroplanes and dirigibles were always busy. Destroyers and huge +transports churned up foam, and submarines left their faint trace on the +wide extent of bluest ocean. The scene was one of war in all its +picturesqueness and horror, for one could easily imagine awful scenes +taking place under the far cloud of smoke and dust. It was war in all +its force seen so for the first time. + +Today the scene is strangely altered. Nearly all the transports have +gone up the western coast of the peninsula, but a few battleships stand +on sentry-go, as it were. All resistance in the region directly opposite +has been fought down. The smoke coming from over the ridge in front +shows that our warships have advanced far up to Kilid Bahr, while +comparatively few ships stand at the entrance of the strait. From the +inside the Asiatic coast is being bombarded, but the picturesque +features of the scene have gone. It is a change which marks triumphant +progress. The Turk is being slowly but surely pushed back, dying gamely. + +Two days of thick mist were followed by a forty-eight hours' armistice +granted to the Turks on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was impossible to see +anything of the operations. Behind the veil of mist the fighting went +sternly on and the big guns boomed incessantly. Wednesday night they +were particularly active. Seldom in the past three weeks has the night +sky been so brilliantly illuminated by the flashes of cannon. Serious +work is evidently being done or completed. It was not until Thursday +afternoon that the weather conditions made it possible to see the result +of the warfare behind the screen of mist, and, as I have said, the whole +aspect of the now familiar scene appears greatly changed when the coast +of the peninsula is deserted by vessels, save for the few transports +standing further out to sea than usual and half a dozen ships of war. + +The peninsula beyond Gaba Tepe had apparently been cleared of the enemy. +The tide of the struggle had passed away. On Thursday, too, I could see +our guns flashing from a hill, firing probably at points northward or +across the strait. Further north our artillery also appeared to be +placed on a high ridge this side of Maidos. What a magic sight the +southern part of the peninsula must present, where even at this distance +the evidence of the havoc of three weeks' daily shell and lead is not +hidden! + +The point of the peninsula has become brown under the trampling of men +and guns. Krithia lies a complete and pathetic ruin, and Tree Hill is +scarred with trench and shell holes as far as I can see. + +On Thursday the point of greatest activity was in the strait opposite +the conquered portion of the peninsula. It stood out somewhat dim in the +haze of battle, but the smoke and flash of the Allies' guns and the +Turks' answering could be picked out without great difficulty. Added to +this the air was still; the dull thud of the field guns at work there +was different from the resounding boom of the naval guns, and the whirr +of the machine guns could be plainly heard. + +Hard work by land and water is going on along the front stretching away +to the left from Erenkeui on the Asiatic side, and the difficulties of +obtaining a substantial footing in that mountainous region had evidently +been overcome. It was apparent that the enemy was putting up a stiff +fight, and at times he must have run his batteries close to the water's +edge. + +Early in the afternoon the Turkish gunners managed to explode several +shells on the land near Morto Bay on the European side. A little later +they made the earth and stones of Tree Hill fly up in the air by a few +well-placed shells, but such advances on the part of the enemy were +brief. The warships in the strait instantly turned their guns on the +daring batteries, and such diversions by the enemy were only of brief +duration. Toward sunset a battleship was seen to send two shells against +the cliff edge south of Suvla Bay. + +Yesterday the thick smoke of battle still hung over all activities on +the Asiatic side of the waterway. Nearly all the transports had gone, +and most of the warships were engaged in the entrance and further up to +near Kilid Bahr. Only one battleship that I could see was firing from +off the western coast of the peninsula, standing well out off shore near +Krithia. It was evidently firing long-range shells against the foe on +the further side of the Dardanelles. + +The land actions had another point of interest yesterday. In the +afternoon very heavy fighting could be noticed far along the Sari Bair, +(about sixteen miles north of the tip of the peninsula,) where the +Australians are. Every now and again waves of smoke blotted out that +part of the landscape. It would clear occasionally to show the hillsides +dotted over with puffs of white. Often against the gray background +spurts of flame would herald the thunder of heavily engaged artillery. +Rifle fire at times, too, could be heard. + +The supposition is that our forces in that region, who are forcing their +way across the peninsula, must be near the completion of their task. + +From what I have said it will be gathered, I think, that very +substantial progress has been made since operations began three weeks +ago. As one looks at the mountainous and rugged nature of the country +beyond the strait it is evident that the enemy has there favorable +ground for defensive fighting. That region now appears to be the main +point of his struggle. + +I learn that the Turkish losses amount to over 80,000 and that 50,000 +wounded have been sent to Constantinople. + + + + +"War Babies" + +[From The Suffragette of London, edited by Christabel Pankhurst, in its +issue of May 7, 1915.] + + + "The children who are coming into the world must be welcomed + and must be provided with greater, not smaller, advantages, + because they are legally fatherless. + + "Why should not these children be brought up under model + conditions, so that they may be the equal in knowledge and + general cultivation of any in the land? + + "Every one of them must become a valuable asset to the nation. + But that can only be if they are reared in a generous way. + They are everybody's children, and have a claim on the + community as a whole. The problem of the illegitimate child + has been shirked since the beginning of time. Now it has to be + faced!" + + _--From The Suffragette of April 23._ + +The Women's Social and Political Union, in order to help in solving this +problem, has in view the adoption of a number of "war babies," who will +be reared under model conditions, and provided with a good general +education followed by a training adapted to the natural ability and +special gifts of each individual child. + +The children will be brought up together in a home in which they will +receive that loving care which is necessary for their happiness and full +development. + +Fuller details of the scheme will be given at a meeting to be addressed +by Mrs. Pankhurst on Thursday afternoon, June 3, at the London +Palladium. In the meantime those wishing to give their financial or +other support are asked to write to Mrs. Pankhurst at Lincoln's Inn +House, Kingsway, London, W.C. + + + + +THE EUROPEAN WAR AS SEEN BY CARTOONISTS + + +[American Cartoon] + +[Illustration: Another Scrap of Paper + +_--From The Post, Boston._] + + +[American Cartoon] + +[Illustration: The Challenge + +_--From The Evening Sun, New York._ + +UNCLE SAM: "You'll have to start it, William!"] + + +[American Cartoon] + +The Flight of the Eagle + +[_--From The World, New York._ + +Personally Conducted.] + + +[American Cartoon] + +[Illustration: All Flags Look Alike to Him + +_--From The Evening Sun, New York._ + +Strictly Neutral--In Destruction.] + + +[American Cartoon] + +[Illustration: Nearing the Brink + +_--From The Republic, St. Louis._ + +Hold Fast!] + + +[American Cartoon] + +[Illustration: The Announcer + +_--From The Herald, New York._ + +(The Notice on the Bulletin Board is the German Embassy's advertisement +giving warning that travellers who sailed on ships of Great Britain or +her Allies entering the War Zone did so at their own risk.)] + + +[American Cartoon] + +[Illustration: The Sacrifice of Cain + +_--From The Sun, New York._ + +What have you done with your brother Abel?] + + +[American Cartoon] + +[Illustration: Removing the Hyphen + +_--From The Times, New York._ + +Now it must be either one or the other.] + + +[American Cartoon] + +[Illustration: A Misunderstanding + +_--From The Evening Sun, New York._ + +THE ALLIES: "Ouch! Don't you know we've taken the offensive?"] + + +[English Cartoon] + +[Illustration: The Elixir of Hate + +_--From Punch, London._ + + KAISER: "'Fair is foul, and foul is fair; + Hover through the fog and filthy air.'"] + + +[German Cartoon] + +[Illustration: It's a Long Way to Constantinople + +_--From Simplicissimus, Munich._ + +The English soldiers have a war song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary." +This has been changed; they now sing "It's a Long Way to +Constantinople."] + + +[English Cartoon] + +[Illustration: Canada! + +_--From Punch, London._ + +Ypres: April 22-24, 1915.] + + +[French Cartoon] + +[Illustration: Our Colors Advance! + +_--From La Vie Parisienne, Paris._ + +War is teaching geography to the women of France. Alas! it is _by heart_ +they are learning their lessons.] + + +[German Cartoon] + +[Illustration: The English Chameleon + +_--From Lustige Blaetter, Berlin._ + +When the Beast sees the enemy coming it changes its British colors and +appears in neutral hues. + +The Merchant Flag of Norway + +The Merchant Flag of Great Britain + +(Although this cartoon depends on color for its full value, the effect +of the blending of the two flags is preserved in the black and white +reproduction.)] + + +[English Cartoon] + +[Illustration: A Great Naval Triumph + +_--From Punch, London._ + +GERMAN SUBMARINE OFFICER: "This ought to make them jealous in the sister +service. Belgium saw nothing better than this." + +(Although Punch did not disclose the artist's allusion to Revelations, +xiii., 18, contained in the number of the submarine "U-666," it may not +be amiss to quote the passage: "Let him that hath understanding count +the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number +is six hundred three score and six.")] + + +[German Cartoon] + +[Illustration: Opening of the Bathing Season--Feb. 18 + +_--From Kladderadatsch, Berlin._ + +The German stickle-backs worry the "Ruler of the Seas."] + + + + +What Is Our Duty? + +By Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst + + + The position of the British suffragettes, who suspended their + militant program and are zealously supporting the cause of the + Allies, is stated in this speech by Mrs. Pankhurst, delivered + in the Sun Hall, Liverpool, and reported in The Suffragette of + April 23, 1915. + +I think that throughout our agitation for the franchise for political +emancipation, on platforms and on other places--even in prisons--we have +talked about rights, and fought for rights; at the same time we have +always coupled with the claim for rights clear statements as to duty. We +have never lost sight of the fact that to possess rights puts upon human +beings grave responsibilities and serious duties. We have fought for +rights because, in order to perform your duty and fulfill your +responsibilities properly, in time of peace, you must have certain +citizen rights. When the State is in danger, when the very liberties in +your possession are imperiled, is, above all, the time to think of duty. +And so, when the war broke out, some of us who, convalescing after our +fights, decided that one of the duties of the Women's Social and +Political Union in war time was to talk to men about their duty to the +nation--the duty of fighting to preserve the independence of our +country, to preserve what our forefathers had won for us, and to protect +the nation from foreign invasion. + +There are people who say, "What right have women to talk to men about +fighting for their country, since women are not, according to the custom +of civilization, called upon to fight?" That used to be said to us in +times of peace. Certainly women have the right to say to men, "Are you +going to fight to defend your country and redeem your promise to women?" + +Men have said to women, not only that they fight to defend their +country, but that they protect women from all the dangers and +difficulties of life, and they are proud to be in the position to do it. +Why, then, we say to those men, "You are indeed now put to the test. +The men of Belgium, the men of France, the men of Serbia, however +willing they were to protect women from the things that are most +horrible--and more horrible to women than death itself--have not been +able to do it." + +It is only by an accident, or a series of accidents, for which no man +here has the right to take credit, that British women on British soil +are not now enduring the horrors endured by the women of France, the +women of Belgium, and the women of Serbia. The least that men can do is +that every man of fighting age should prepare himself to redeem his word +to women, and to make ready to do his best, to save the mothers, the +wives, and the daughters of Great Britain from outrage too horrible even +to think of. + +We have the right to say to the men, "Fight for your country, defend the +shores of this land of ours. Fight for your homes, for the women, and +for the children." We have the right if that was the only reason, but in +these days, when women are taking larger views of their duty to the +State, we go further than that; we claim the right to hold recruiting +meetings and ask men to fight for bigger reasons than are advanced +ordinarily. We say to men, "In this war there are issues at stake bigger +even than the safety of your homes and your own country. Your honor as a +nation is at stake." + +We have our duties in this war. First of all, this duty begins at +home--this duty to our home, because I always feel that if we are not +ready to do our duty to those nearest to us we are not fit to do our +duty far away. And so the first duty is to ourselves and to our homes. +Then there is the duty to protect those who, having made a gallant +fight for self-defense--and by that I mean the country of Belgium--what +we owe to Belgium we can never repay, because now the whole German plan +of campaign is perfectly plain to all those who are not prejudiced, and +who are not affected by pan-Germanism; and, unfortunately, in their +methods of warfare--and their methods of warfare are many--they not only +fight physically, but they fight mentally and morally as well, and in +this country and in France, and in every country in Europe, long before +the war broke out, in fact, ever since the year 1870, they have been +preparing by subtle means to take possession of Europe, and I believe +their ambitions are not limited by that, they want to rule the whole +world. The whole thing is clear to any unprejudiced observer. + +It is very difficult for your attacking bully to imagine that a small +State--I mean small numerically, and weak physically--will ever have +the courage to stand up and resist the bully when he prepares to attack. +The Germans did not expect Belgium to keep them at bay while the other +countries involved prepared, but there is absolutely no doubt that the +plan was to press through Belgium, to take possession of Paris, and +then, having humiliated and crippled France, to cross the Channel and +defeat us. There is no doubt that was the plan; it is perfectly clear. +And that being so, we owe--civilization owes--to Belgium a debt which it +can never repay. + +Then we have our duty to our ally, France. How much democracy owes to +France! France is the mother of European democracy. There is no doubt +about her claim to that. If there had been nothing else worth fighting +for in this war, in my opinion that alone would have been worth fighting +for, to preserve that spirit and that democracy--which France has given +to the world, and which would perish if France were destroyed. The +people of France are a people who never have been, and I believe never +will be, corrupted in the sense of thinking that material things are of +more value than spiritual things. The people of France have always been +ready to sacrifice themselves for ideals. They have been ready to +sacrifice life, they have been ready to sacrifice money, they have been +ready to sacrifice everything for an ideal. + +You know the old saying, that men should work and women should weep? +That is not true, for it is for all of us to work and for all of us to +weep when there is occasion to do so. Therefore, it is because in the +French Nation you have splendid qualities combined in both sexes, +because the history of the French Nation is so magnificent, because the +French Nation has contributed so much to civilization, and so much in +art, beauty, and in great qualities, it is our duty to stand by France, +and to prevent her being crushed by the oversexed, that is to say, +overmasculine, country of Germany. + +It is our duty as women to do what we can to help our country in this +war, because if the unthinkable thing happened, and Germany were to win, +the women's movement, as we know it in Europe, would be put back fifty +years at least; there is no doubt about it. Whether it ever could rise +again is to my mind extremely doubtful. The ideal of women in Germany is +the lowest in Europe. Infantile mortality is very high, immorality is +widespread, and, in consequence, venereal disease is rampant. Notice, +too, the miserable and niggardly pittance that is being paid to the +wives and families of German soldiers, while nothing whatever is being +paid to unmarried wives and their children. True security for women and +children is for women to have control over their own destiny. And so it +is a duty, a supreme duty, of women, first of all as human beings and as +lovers of their country, to co-operate with men in this terrible crisis +in which we find ourselves. + +If all were trained to contribute something to the community, both in +time of peace and in time of war, how much better it would be. + +What bitterness there was in the hearts of many women when they saw work +and business going on as usual, carried on by men who ought to be in the +fighting line. There were thousands upon thousands of women willing, +even if they were not trained, to do that work and release men, and we +have urged the authorities to take into account the great reserve force +of the nation, the women who are or might be quite capable to step into +the shoes of the men when they were called up to fight. + +The Board of Trade issued its appeal to women just before Easter to +register their names as willing to do national service in any capacity +during the course of the war. I want to tell you tonight that I am very +proud of the women of the country. When the first recruiting appeals +were made to men, the hoardings were covered with placards and appeals +and they were making efforts by recruiting bands, in places of +pleasure--everywhere in the columns of the newspapers there were +recruiting appeals to men. Then the time came when the Board of Trade +wished to know to what extent it could depend upon the services of the +women of the country, and what was done in the case of women? There were +no posters for us; there were no recruiting meetings for us; there were +no appeals from great names to us; no attractive pictures, "Your King +and Country Want You"--nothing of that kind. And yet, in spite of that, +in one week 34,000 women sent in their names as volunteers for a +national service. [Loud applause.] + +And now, something about this talk of peace, and the terms of peace. +Well, I consider it very sinister and very dangerous. Very dangerous, +indeed, because nothing heartens the Kaiser and his advisers so much as +weakness in any of the allied nations. It is no use expecting Germany to +understand that the people who are talking about peace are animated by a +genuine love for peace. I go further as regards peace movements. I think +that in this country, and in America, and in all the neutral countries, +there are a great many very well-meaning people who are genuine lovers +of peace. What woman does not dread the effects of war? Germans are +encouraging the call for peace. The Kaiser knows he is going to be +beaten, and he wants to get out of it on as easy terms as possible, and +so it is worth while for German-Americans to run a peace movement in +America. They want America, which is a great neutral country, to +intervene to try to force peace and to let the Germans down easily +without having to pay for all that they have done in Belgium and in +France. Similar tactics are being pursued in this country. + +Only those who have been in close touch with people who know what goes +on, and what has gone on, since the year 1870, after the Franco-German +war, can realize how insidious this German influence is, and so I say to +you who love peace (and who does not love peace?) if you take part in +any of these peace movements you are playing the German game and helping +Germany. [Loud applause.] They talk of peace, but consider the position +of our allies. The Germans in possession of the North of France, +devastating the country, even today driving thousands of innocent, +helpless people at the point of the bayonet, outraging women, and +burning homes! And people in this country--an allied nation--allowing +themselves to talk about terms of peace. + +It is for Germany to talk of peace, not for us. [Loud applause.] It is +for us to show a strong and determined front, because if we do anything +else we are misunderstood, and advantage is taken of the situation. +Since some women have responded to an invitation to take part in a peace +conference at The Hague, I feel bound to say that they do not represent +the mass of Englishwomen. [Loud applause.] The mass of Englishwomen are +whole-hearted in our support of our own Government in this matter and in +the support of our allies--[loud applause]--and we are prepared to face +all the necessary sacrifices to bring this war to a successful issue +from our point of view, because we know, because we feel, that this +terrible business, forced upon us, has to be properly finished to save +us from the danger of another war perhaps in ten years' time. +[Applause.] + +We have clear consciences on this matter. We did not want this war. +France did not want this war. Belgium did not want this war. I do not +believe that Russia wanted this war. It has been forced upon us, and +since Germany took up the sword, the sword must be held in the hands of +the Allies until Germany has had enough of war and does not want any +more of it. [Loud applause.] For us to talk about peace now, for us to +weaken our side now, is to make the condition of those men who are +laying down their lives for us in France more terrible than it already +is. We have to support them, and to stand loyally by them, and to make +our sacrifices and show our patriotism to them. + +And, speaking of sacrifices, let us consider this drink question. What +is our duty in that matter? Well, I think our duty is this, that, if the +Government of this country seriously think it is necessary for our +success in this war to stop drink altogether until the war is ended, it +is our duty loyally to support and accept that decision. [Loud +applause.] + +At any rate, in time of war we should be ready to say, "Let us +sacrifice a personal pleasure in order to get a great national good." +Would not that be a something to lift up a nation and make it a +wonderful and a great nation? + +I believe that in this war we are fighting for things undying and great; +we are fighting for liberty; we are fighting for honor; we are fighting +to preserve the great inheritance won for us by our forefathers, and it +is worth while to fight for those things, and it is worth while to die +for them--to die a glorious death in defense of all that makes life +worth having is better than to live unending years of inglorious life. +And so, out of this great trial that has come upon us, I believe a +wonderful transformation will come to the people of this country and we +shall emerge from it stronger and better and nobler and more worthy of +our great traditions than ever we should perhaps have been without it. +[Loud and continued applause.] + + + + +The Soldiers Pass + +By MAURICE HEWLETT. + +[From "Sing Songs of the War."] + + + The soldiers pass at nightfall, + A girl within each arm, + And kisses quick and light fall + On lips that take no harm. + Lip language serves them better + Who have no parts of speech: + No syntax there to fetter + The lore they love to teach. + + What waist would shun th' indenture + Of such a gallant squeeze? + What girl's heart not dare venture + The hot-and-cold disease? + Nay, let them do their service + Before the lads depart! + That hand goes where the curve is + That billows o'er the heart. + + Who deems not how 'tis given, + What knows he of its worth? + 'Tis either fire of heaven + Or earthiness of earth. + And if the lips are fickle + That kiss, they'll never know + If tears begin to trickle + Where they saw roses blow. + + "The girl I left behind me," + He'll sing, nor hear her moan, + "The tears they come to blind me + As I sit here alone." + What else had you to offer, + Poor spendthrift of the town? + Lay out your unlockt coffer-- + The Lord will know His own. + + + + +The Great End + +By Arnold Bennett. + + + Fear that the British Government in its discussion of peace + terms with Germany might defer to the policy of France and + Russia of keeping important negotiations secret inspired the + writing of this article, which appeared in The London Daily + News of April 1, 1915, and is here published by the author's + permission. Mr. Bennett points out that despite her alliance + Great Britain is essentially a democracy subject to the + mandates of her people. + +The well-meant but ingenuous efforts of the Government to produce +pessimism among the citizens have failed. The object of these efforts +was clear; it has, I think, been attained by more direct and wiser +means. Munitions of war are now being more satisfactorily manufactured, +though the country still refuses to be gloomy. "Eyewitness" pretended to +quake, but Przemysl fell. He tried again, but Sir John French announced +that he did not believe in a protracted war. Since Sir John French said +also that he believed in victory, it follows that he believes in a +victory not long delayed. The incomparable and candid reports of the +French War Office about the first stages of the war increased our +confidence, and at the same time showed to us the inferiority of our own +reports. Only victors could publish such revelations, and Britain, with +her passion for forgetting mistakes and her hatred of the confessional, +could never bring herself to publish them. These reports were confirmed +and capped by the remarkable communications of General Joffre to a +journalistic friend. The New York Stock Exchange began to gamble about +the date of victory. The London Stock Exchange took on a new firmness. +Not even the sinister losses at Neuve Chapelle, nor the rumors +concerning the same, could disturb our confidence. Peace, therefore, in +the general view, and certainty in the view of those who knew most, is +decidedly nearer than when I wrote last about peace. + +A short while ago Mr. Asquith referred with sarcasm and reproof to those +who talk of peace. But, for once, his meaning was not clear. If he meant +that to suggest peace to the enemy at this stage is both dangerous and +ridiculous, he will be approved by the nation. But if he meant that +terms of peace must not even be mentioned among ourselves, he will find +people ready to disagree with him, and to support the weight of his +sarcasm and his reproof. I am one of those people. Bellicose by +disposition, I nevertheless like to know what I am fighting for. This is +perhaps an idiosyncrasy, but many persons share it, and they are not to +be ignored. It may be argued that Mr. Asquith has defined what we are +fighting for. He has not. He has only defined part of what we are +fighting for. His reference to the overthrow of Prussian militarism is +futile, because it gives no indication of the method to be employed. The +method of liberating and compensating Belgium and other small +communities is clear; but how are you to overthrow an ideal? Prussian +militarism will not be destroyed by a defeat in the field. Militarism +cannot overthrow militarism; it can only breed militarism. The point is +of the highest importance. + +I do not assume that Mr. Asquith's notions about the right way to +overthrow militarism are not sound notions. I assume that they are +sound. I think that his common sense is massive. Though it is evident +that he lets his Ministerial colleagues do practically what they choose +in their own spheres, and though there are militarists in the Cabinet, I +do not, like The Morning Post, consider that the Prime Minister exists +in a stupor of negligence. On the contrary, I assume that at the end of +the war, as at the beginning, Mr. Asquith will control the foolish, and +that common sense will prevail in the Cabinet when a treaty is the +subject of converse. Still further, I will assume that, contrary to +nearly all precedent, the collective sagacity of the Ministry has not +been impaired, and its self-conceit perilously tickled, by the long +exercise of absolute power in face of a Parliament of poltroons. And, +lastly, I will abandon my old argument that the discussion of peace +terms might shorten the war, without any risk of prolonging it. And +still I very strongly hold that peace terms ought to be discussed. + +It appears to me that there is a desire--I will not say a conspiracy--on +the part of the Government to bring this war to an end in the same +manner as it will be brought to an end in Germany--that is to say, +autocratically, without either the knowledge or the consent of the +nation. The projected scheme, I imagine, is to sit tight and quiet, and +in due course inform the nation of a fact accomplished. It can be done, +and I think it will be done, unless the House of Commons administers to +itself a tonic and acquires courage. Already colonial statesmen have +been politely but firmly informed that they are not wanted in England +this year! The specious excuse for keeping the nation in the dark is +that we are allied to Russia, where the people are never under any +circumstances consulted, and to France, where for the duration of the +war the Government is as absolute in spirit and in conduct, as that of +Russia; and that we must not pain those allied Governments by any +exhibition of democracy in being. Secrecy and a complete autocratic +control of the people are the watchwords of the allied Governments, and +therefore they must be the watchwords of our Government. + +This is very convenient for British autocrats, but the argument is not +convincing. The surrender of ideals ought not to be so one-sided. We do +not dream of suggesting to the Russian and the French Governments how +they ought to conduct themselves toward their peoples; and similarly we +should not allow them to influence the relations between our Government +and ourselves. + +The basis of peace negotiations must necessarily be settled in advance +by representatives of all the allied Governments in conclave. The +mandate of each Government in regard to the conclave is the affair of +that Government, and it is the affair of no other Government. The +mandate of our Government is, therefore, the affair of our Government, +and the allied Governments are just as much entitled to criticise or +object to it as we, for example, are entitled to suggest to the Czar how +he ought to behave in Finland. Our Government, being a democratic +Government, has no right to go into conclave without a mandate from the +people who elected it. It possesses no mandate of the kind. It has a +mandate, and a mighty one, to prosecute the war, and it is prosecuting +the war to the satisfaction of the majority of the electorate. But a +peace treaty is a different and an incomparably more important thing. Up +to the present the mind of the nation has found no expression, and it +probably will not find any expression unless the Government recognizes +fairly that it is a representative Government and behaves with the +deference which is due from a representative Government. As matters +stand, the mandate of the British Government will come, not from +Britain, but from Russia and France. + +The great argument drawn from the Government's alleged duty to the +allied Governments is, no doubt, reinforced, in the minds of Ministers +and at Cabinet meetings, by two subsidiary arguments. The first of these +rests in the traditional assumption that all international politics must +be committed, perpetrated, and accomplished in secret. This strange +traditional notion will die hard, but some time it will have to die, and +at the moment of its death excellent and sincere persons will be +convinced that the knell of the British Empire has sounded. The knell of +the British Empire has frequently sounded. It sounded when capital +punishment was abolished for sheep-stealing, when the great reform bill +was passed, when purchase was abolished in the army, when the deceased +wife's sister bill was passed, when the Parliament act became law; and +it will positively sound again when the mediaeval Chinese traditions of +the Diplomatic Service are cast aside. There are many important people +alive today who are so obsessed by those traditions as to believe +religiously that if the British people, and by consequence the German +Government, were made aware of the peace terms, the German Army would in +some mysterious way be strengthened and encouraged, and our own ultimate +success imperiled. Such is the power of the dead hand, and against this +power the new conviction that in a democratic and candid foreign policy +lies the future safety of the world will have to fight hard. + +The other subsidiary argument for ignoring the nation is that Ministers +are wiser than the nation, and therefore that Ministers must save the +nation from itself by making it impotent and acting over its head. This +has always been the argument of autocrats, and even of tyrants. It is a +ridiculous argument, and it was never more ridiculous than when applied +to the British Government and the British Nation today. Throughout the +war the Government has underestimated the qualities of the +nation--courage, discipline, fortitude, and wisdom. It is still +underestimating them. For myself, I have no doubt that in the making of +peace the sagacity of the nation as a whole would be greater than the +sagacity of the Government. But even if it were not, the right of the +nation to govern itself in the gravest hour of its career remains +unchallengeable. All arguments in favor of depriving the nation of that +right amount to the argument of Germany in favor of taking Belgium--"We +do it in your true interests, and in our own." + +If the Government does not on its own initiative declare that it will +consult--and effectively consult--Parliament concerning the peace terms, +then it is the duty of Parliament, and especially of the House of +Commons, to make itself unpleasant and to produce that appearance of +internal discord which (we are told by all individuals who dislike being +disturbed) is so enheartening to Germany. There have always been, and +there still are, ample opportunities for raising questions of foreign +policy in the House of Commons. If foreign policy has seldom or never +been adequately handled by the House of Commons, the reason simply is +that the House has not been interested in it. Not to the tyranny of +Ministries, but to the supineness and the ignorance of the people's +representatives, is the present state of affairs due. Hence the rank and +file of Radicals should organize themselves. They would unquestionably +receive adequate support in the press and at public meetings. And none +but they can do anything worth doing. And among the rank and file of +Radicals the plain common-sense men should make themselves heard. +Foreign policy debates in the House are usually the playground of cranks +of all varieties, and the plain common-sense man seems to shrink from +being vocal in such company. It is a pity. The plain common-sense man +should believe in himself a little more. The result would perhaps +startle his modesty. And he should begin instantly on the resumption of +Parliament. He will of course be told that he is premature. But no +matter. When he gets up and makes a row he will be told that he is +premature, until Sir Edward Grey is in a position to announce in the icy +cold and impressive tones of omniscience and omnipotence and perfect +wisdom that the deed is irrevocably done and only the formal +ratification of the people is required. We have been through all that +before, and we shall go through it again unless we start out immediately +to be unpleasant. + +I hope nobody will get the impression that I think we are a nation of +angels under a Government of earthy and primeval creatures. I do not. We +are not in a Christian mood, and we don't want to be in a Christian +mood. When last week a foolish schoolmaster took advantage of his august +position to advocate Christianity at the end of the war, we frightened +the life out of him, and he had to say that he had been "woefully +misunderstood." In spite of this, the nation, being cut off from direct +communication with foreign autocracy and reaction, is in my view very +likely to be less unwise than the Government at the supreme crisis. And +even if it isn't, even at the worst, it is and should be the master and +not the slave of the Government. + + + + +German Women Not Yet For Peace + +By Gertrude Baumer, President of the Bund Deutscher Frauen. + + +_An emphatic refusal of German women to take part in the recent Women's +Peace Conference at The Hague was issued by the Bund Deutscher Frauen +(League of German Women) signed by Gertrude Baumer as President, and +published by the Frankfurter Zeitung in its issue of April 29, 1915. The +manifesto reads:_ + +On April 28 begins the Peace Congress to which women of Holland have +invited the women of neutral and belligerent nations. The German woman's +movement has declined to attend the congress, by unanimous resolution of +its Executive Committee. If individual German women visit the congress +it can be only such as have no responsible position in the organization +of the German woman's movement and for whom the organization is, +therefore, not responsible. + +This decimation must not be understood to mean that the German women do +not feel as keenly as the women of other countries the enormous +sacrifices and sorrows which this war has caused, or that they refuse to +recognize the good intentions that figure in the institution of this +congress. None can yearn more eagerly than we for an end of these +sacrifices and sorrows. But we realize that in our consciousness of the +weight of these sacrifices we are one with our whole people and +Government; we know that the blood of those who fall out there on the +field cannot be dearer to us women than to the men who are responsible +for the decisions of Germany. Because we know that, we must decline to +represent special desires in an international congress. We have no other +desires than those of our entire people: a peace consonant with the +honor of our State and guaranteeing its safety in the future. + +The resolutions that are to be laid before the women's congress at The +Hague are of two kinds. One kind denounces war as such, and recommends +peaceful settlement of international quarrels. The other offers +suggestions for hastening the concluding of peace. + +As concerns the first group of suggestions, there are in the German +woman's movement women who are in principle very much in sympathy with +the aims of the peace movement. But they, too, are convinced that +negotiations about the means of avoiding future wars and conquering the +mutual distrust of nations can be considered only after peace has again +been concluded. But we must most vigorously reject the proposition of +voting approval to a resolution in which the war is declared to be an +"insanity" that was made possible only through a "mass psychosis." Shall +the German women deny the moral force that is impelling their husbands +and sons into death, that has led home countless German men, amid a +thousand dangers, from foreign lands, to battle for their threatened +Fatherland, by declaring in common with the women of hostile States that +the national spirit of self-sacrifice of our men is insanity and a +psychosis? Shall we psychologically attack in the rear the men who are +defending our safety by scoffing at and deprecating the internal forces +that are keeping them up? Whoever asks us to do that cannot have +experienced what thousands of wives and mothers have experienced, who +have seen their husbands and sons march away. + +Just as in these fundamental questions the women of the belligerent +States must feel differently from those of neutral States, so, too, +there is naturally a difference of opinion among the women of the +different belligerent States concerning the time of the conclusion of +peace. Inasmuch as the prospects of the belligerent States depend upon +the time of the conclusion of peace and therewith the future fate of the +nations involved in the war, there can likewise be no international +conformity of opinion on this question either. + +Dear to us German women as well, are the relations that bind us to the +women of foreign lands, and we sincerely desire that they may survive +this time of hatred and enmity. But precisely for that reason +international negotiations seem fraught with fate to us at a time when +we belong exclusively to our people and when strict limits are set to +the value of international exchange of views in the fact that we are +citizens of our own country, to strengthen whose national power of +resistance is our highest task. + + + + +Diagnosis of the Englishman + +By John Galsworthy + + + This article originally appeared in the Amsterdaemer Revue, + having been written during the lull of the war while England + fitted her volunteer armies for the Spring campaign, and is + here published by special permission of the author. + +After six months of war search for the cause thereof borders on the +academic. Comment on the physical facts of the situation does not come +within the scope of one who, by disposition and training, is concerned +with states of mind. Speculation on what the future may bring forth may +be left to those with an aptitude for prophecy. + +But there is one thought which rises supreme at this particular moment +of these tremendous times: The period of surprise is over; the forces +known; the issue fully joined. It is now a case of "Pull devil, pull +baker," and a question of the fibre of the combatants. For this reason +it may not be amiss to try to present to any whom it may concern as +detached a picture as one can of the real nature of that combatant who +is called the Englishman, especially since ignorance in Central Europe +of his character was the chief cause of this war, and speculation as to +the future is useless without right comprehension of this curious +creature. + +The Englishman is taken advisedly because he represents four-fifths of +the population of the British Isles and eight-ninths of the character +and sentiment therein. + +And, first, let it be said that there is no more deceptive, +unconsciously deceptive person on the face of the globe. The Englishman +certainly does not know himself, and outside England he is but guessed +at. Only a pure Englishman--and he must be an odd one--really knows the +Englishman, just as, for inspired judgment of art, one must go to the +inspired artist. + +Racially, the Englishman is so complex and so old a blend that no one +can say what he is. In character he is just as complex. Physically, +there are two main types--one inclining to length of limb, narrowness of +face and head, (you will see nowhere such long and narrow heads as in +our islands,) and bony jaws; the other approximating more to the +ordinary "John Bull." The first type is gaining on the second. There is +little or no difference in the main character behind. + +In attempting to understand the real nature of the Englishman certain +salient facts must be borne in mind: + +THE SEA.--To be surrounded generation after generation by the sea has +developed in him a suppressed idealism, a peculiar impermeability, a +turn for adventure, a faculty for wandering, and for being sufficient +unto himself in far surroundings. + +THE CLIMATE.--Whoso weathers for centuries a climate that, though +healthy and never extreme, is perhaps the least reliable and one of the +wettest in the world, must needs grow in himself a counterbalance of dry +philosophy, a defiant humor, an enforced medium temperature of soul. The +Englishman is no more given to extremes than is his climate; against its +damp and perpetual changes he has become coated with a sort of +bluntness. + +THE POLITICAL AGE OF HIS COUNTRY.--This is by far the oldest settled +Western power, politically speaking. For eight hundred and fifty years +England has known no serious military disturbance from without; for over +one hundred and fifty she has known no military disturbance, and no +serious political turmoil within. This is partly the outcome of her +isolation, partly the happy accident of her political constitution, +partly the result of the Englishman's habit of looking before he leaps, +which comes, no doubt, from the mixture in his blood and the mixture in +his climate. + +THE GREAT PREPONDERANCE FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF TOWN OVER COUNTRY +LIFE.--Taken in conjunction with centuries of political stability this +is the main cause of a certain deeply ingrained humaneness of which, +speaking generally, the Englishman appears to be rather ashamed than +otherwise. + +THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.--This potent element in the formation of the modern +Englishman, not only of the upper but of all classes, is something that +one rather despairs of making understood--in countries that have no +similar institution. But, imagine one hundred thousand youths of the +wealthiest, healthiest, and most influential classes passed during each +generation at the most impressionable age, into a sort of ethical mold, +emerging therefrom stamped to the core with the impress of a uniform +morality, uniform manners, uniform way of looking at life; remembering +always that these youths fill seven-eighths of the important positions +in the professional administration of their country and the conduct of +its commercial enterprise; remembering, too, that through perpetual +contact with every other class their standard of morality and way of +looking at life filters down into the very toes of the land. This great +character-forming machine is remarkable for an unself-consciousness +which gives it enormous strength and elasticity. Not inspired by the +State, it inspires the State. The characteristics of the philosophy it +enjoins are mainly negative and, for that, the stronger. "Never show +your feelings--to do so is not manly and bores your fellows. Don't cry +out when you're hurt, making yourself a nuisance to other people. Tell +no tales about your companions, and no lies about yourself. Avoid all +'swank,' 'side,' 'swagger,' braggadocio of speech or manner, on pain of +being laughed at." (This maxim is carried to such a pitch that the +Englishman, except in his press, habitually understates everything.) +"Think little of money, and speak less of it. Play games hard, and keep +the rules of them even when your blood is hot and you are tempted to +disregard them. In three words, 'play the game,'" a little phrase which +may be taken as the characteristic understatement of the modern +Englishman's creed of honor in all classes. This great, unconscious +machine has considerable defects. It tends to the formation of "caste"; +it is a poor teacher of sheer learning, and, aesthetically, with its +universal suppression of all interesting and queer individual traits of +personality, it is almost horrid. But it imparts a remarkable +incorruptibility to English life; it conserves vitality by suppressing +all extremes, and it implants everywhere a kind of unassuming stoicism +and respect for the rules of the great game--Life. Through its +unconscious example and through its cult of games it has vastly +influenced even the classes not directly under its control. + +Three more main facts must be borne in mind: + +THE ESSENTIAL DEMOCRACY OF THE GOVERNMENT. + +FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE PRESS. + +ABSENCE OF COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE. + +These, the outcome of the quiet and stable home life of an island +people, have done more than anything to make the Englishman a deceptive +personality to the outside eye. He has for centuries been permitted to +grumble. There is no such confirmed grumbler--until he really has +something to grumble at, and then no one who grumbles less. There is no +such confirmed carper at the condition of his country, yet no one really +so profoundly convinced of its perfection. A stranger might well think +from his utterances that he was spoiled by the freedom of his life, +unprepared to sacrifice anything for a land in such a condition. +Threaten that country, and with it his liberty, and you will find that +his grumbles have meant less than nothing. You will find, too, that +behind the apparent slackness of every arrangement and every individual +are powers of adaptability to facts, elasticity, practical genius, a +latent spirit of competition and a determination that are staggering. +Before this war began it was the fashion among a number of English to +lament the decadence of the race. These very grumblers are now foremost +in praising, and quite rightly, the spirit shown in every part of their +country. Their lamentations, which plentifully deceived the outside ear, +were just English grumbles, for if in truth England had been decadent +there could have been no such universal display for them to be praising +now. But all this democratic grumbling and habit of "going as you +please" serve a deep purpose. Autocracy, censorship, compulsion destroy +humor in a nation's blood and elasticity in its fibre; they cut at the +very mainsprings of national vitality. Only free from these baneful +controls can each man arrive in his own way at realization of what is or +is not national necessity; only free from them will each man truly +identify himself with a national ideal--not through deliberate +instruction or by command of others, but by simple, natural conviction +from within. + +Two cautions are here given to the stranger trying to form an estimate +of the Englishman: The creature must not be judged from his press, +which, manned (with certain exceptions) by those who are not typically +English, is too highly colored altogether to illustrate the true English +spirit; nor can he be judged by such of his literature as is best known +on the Continent. The Englishman proper is inexpressive, unexpressed. +Further, he must be judged by the evidences of his wealth. England may +be the richest country in the world per head of population, but not 5 +per cent. of that population have any wealth to speak of, certainly not +enough to have affected their hardihood, and, with inconsiderable +exceptions, those who have enough are brought up to worship hardihood. +For the vast proportion of young Englishmen active military service is +merely a change from work as hard, and more monotonous. + +From these main premises, then, we come to what the Englishman really +is. + +When, after months of travel, one returns to England one can taste, +smell, feel the difference in the atmosphere, physical and moral--the +curious, damp, blunt, good-humored, happy-go-lucky, old-established, +slow-seeming formlessness of everything. You hail a porter, you tell him +you have plenty of time; he muddles your things amiably, with an air of +"It'll be all right," till you have only just time. But suppose you tell +him you have no time; he will set himself to catch that train for you, +and he will catch it faster than a porter of any other country. Let no +stranger, however, experiment to prove the truth of this, for that +porter--and a porter is very like any other Englishman--is incapable of +taking the foreigner seriously and, quite friendly but a little pitying, +will lose him the train, assuring the unfortunate gentleman that he +really doesn't know what train he wants to catch--how should he? + +The Englishman must have a thing brought under his nose before he will +act; bring it there and he will go on acting after everybody else has +stopped. He lives very much in the moment, because he is essentially a +man of facts and not a man of imagination. Want of imagination makes +him, philosophically speaking, rather ludicrous; in practical affairs it +handicaps him at the start, but once he has "got going," as we say, it +is of incalculable assistance to his stamina. The Englishman, partly +through this lack of imagination and nervous sensibility, partly through +his inbred dislike of extremes and habit of minimizing the expression of +everything, is a perfect example of the conservation of energy. It is +very difficult to come to the end of him. Add to this unimaginative, +practical, tenacious moderation an inherent spirit of competition--not +to say pugnacity--so strong that it will often show through the coating +of his "Live and let live," half-surly, half-good-humored manner; add a +peculiar, ironic, "don't care" sort of humor; an underground but +inveterate humaneness, and an ashamed idealism--and you get some notion +of the pudding of English character. Its main feature is a kind of +terrible coolness, a rather awful level-headedness. The Englishman makes +constant small blunders; but few, almost no, deep mistakes. He is a slow +starter, but there is no stronger finisher because he has by temperament +and training the faculty of getting through any job that he gives his +mind to with a minimum expenditure of vital energy; nothing is wasted in +expression, style, spread-eagleism; everything is instinctively kept as +near to the practical heart of the matter as possible. He is--to the eye +of an artist--distressingly matter-of-fact, a tempting mark for satire. +And yet he is in truth an idealist, though it is his nature to snub, +disguise, and mock his own inherent optimism. To admit enthusiasms is +"bad form" if he is a "gentleman"; "swank" or mere waste of good heat if +he is not a "gentleman." England produces more than its proper +percentage of cranks and poets; it may be taken that this is Nature's +way of redressing the balance in a country where feelings are not shown, +sentiments not expressed, and extremes laughed at. Not that the +Englishman lacks heart; he is not cold, as is generally supposed--on the +contrary he is warm-hearted and feels very strongly; but just as +peasants, for lack of words to express their feelings, become stolid, so +it is with the Englishman from sheer lack of the habit of +self-expression. Nor is the Englishman deliberately hypocritical; but +his tenacity, combined with his powerlessness to express his feelings, +often gives him the appearance of a hypocrite. He is inarticulate, has +not the clear and fluent cynicism of expansive natures wherewith to +confess exactly how he stands. It is the habit of men of all nations to +want to have things both ways; the Englishman is unfortunately so unable +to express himself, _even to himself_, that he has never realized this +truth, much less confessed it--hence his appearance of hypocrisy. + +He is quite wrongly credited with being attached to money. His island +position, his early discoveries of coal, iron, and processes of +manufacture have made him, of course, into a confirmed industrialist +and trader; but he is more of an adventurer in wealth than a heaper-up +of it. He is far from sitting on his money-bags--has absolutely no vein +of proper avarice, and for national ends will spill out his money like +water, when he is convinced of the necessity. + +In everything it comes to that with the Englishman--he must be +convinced, and he takes a lot of convincing. He absorbs ideas slowly, +reluctantly; he would rather not imagine anything unless he is obliged, +but in proportion to the slowness with which he can be moved is the +slowness with which he can be removed! Hence the symbol of the bulldog. +When he does see and seize a thing he seizes it with the whole of his +weight, and wastes no breath in telling you that he has got hold. That +is why his press is so untypical; it gives the impression that he does +waste breath. And, while he has hold, he gets in more mischief in a +shorter time than any other dog because of his capacity for +concentrating on the present, without speculating on the past or future. + +For the particular situation which the Englishman has now to face he is +terribly well adapted. Because he has so little imagination, so little +power of expression, he is saving nerve all the time. Because he never +goes to extremes, he is saving energy of body and spirit. That the men +of all nations are about equally endowed with courage and self-sacrifice +has been proved in these last six months; it is to other qualities that +one must look for final victory in a war of exhaustion. The Englishman +does not look into himself; he does not brood; he sees no further +forward than is necessary, and he must have his joke. These are fearful +and wonderful advantages. Examine the letters and diaries of the various +combatants and you will see how far less imaginative and reflecting, +(though shrewd, practical, and humorous,) the English are than any +others; you will gain, too, a profound, a deadly conviction that behind +them is a fibre like rubber, that may be frayed, and bent a little this +way and that, but can neither be permeated nor broken. + +When this war began the Englishman rubbed his eyes steeped in peace; he +is still rubbing them just a little, but less and less every day. A +profound lover of peace by habit and tradition, he has actually realized +by now that he is in for it up to the neck. To any one who really knows +him--_c'est quelque chose_! + +It shall be freely confessed that, from an aesthetic point of view, the +Englishman, devoid of high lights and shadows, coated with drab, and +super-humanly steady on his feet, is not too attractive. But for the +wearing, tearing, slow, and dreadful business of this war, the +Englishman--fighting of his own free will, unimaginative, humorous, +competitive, practical, never in extremes, a dumb, inveterate optimist, +and terribly tenacious--is undoubtedly equipped with Victory. + + + + +Bernard Shaw's Terms of Peace + + +_A letter written by G. Bernard Shaw to a friend in Vienna is published +in the Muenchener Neueste Nachrichten and in the Frankfurter Zeitung of +April 21, 1915. Mr. Shaw says:_ + +We are already on the way out of the first and worst phase. When reason +began to bestir itself, I appeared each week in great open meetings in +London; and when the newspapers discovered that I was not only not being +torn to pieces, but that I was growing better and better liked, then the +feeling that patriotism consists of insane lies began to give place to +the discovery that the presentation of the truth is not so dangerous as +every one had believed. + +At that time scarcely one of the leading newspapers took heed of my +insistence that this war was an imperialistic war and popular only in so +far as all wars are for a time popular. But I need hardly assure you +that if Grey had announced: "We have concluded a treaty of alliance with +Germany and Austria and must wage war upon France and Russia," he would +have evoked precisely the same patriotic fervor and exactly the same +democratic anti-Prussianism, (with the omission of the P.) Then the +German Kaiser would have been cheered as the cousin of our King and our +old and faithful friend. + +As concerns myself, I am not unqualifiedly what is called a pan-German; +the Germans, besides, would not have a spark of respect left for me if +now, when all questions of civilization are buried, I did not hold to my +people. But neither am I an anti-German. + +Militarism has just compelled me to pay about L1,000 as war tax, in +order to help some "brave little Serbian" or other to cut your throat, +or some Russian mujik to blow out your brains, although I would rather +pay twice as much to save your life or to buy in Vienna some good +picture for our National Gallery, and although I should mourn far less +about the death of a hundred Serbs or mujiks than for your death. + +I am, even aside from myself, sorry for your sake that my plays +are no longer produced. Why does not the Burgtheater play the +"Schlachtenlenker"? Napoleon's speech about English "Realpolitik" would +prove an unprecedented success. If the English win, I shall call upon +Sir Edward Grey to add to the treaty of peace a clause in which Berlin +and Vienna shall be obliged each year to produce at least 100 +performances of my plays for the next twenty-five years. + +In London during August the usual cheap evening orchestra concerts, +so-called promenade concerts, were announced in a patriotic manner, with +the comment that no German musician would be represented on the program. +Everybody applauded this announcement, but nobody attended the concerts. +A week later a program of Beethoven, Wagner, and Richard Strauss was +announced. Everybody was indignant, and everybody went to hear it. It +was a complete and decisive German victory, without a single man being +killed. + + + + +A Policy of Murder + +By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle + + + This article is taken from Conan Doyle's book "The German + War," and is reproduced by permission of the author. + +When one writes with a hot heart upon events which are still recent one +is apt to lose one's sense of proportion. At every step one should check +one's self by the reflection as to how this may appear ten years hence, +and how far events which seem shocking and abnormal may prove themselves +to be a necessary accompaniment of every condition of war. But a time +has now come when in cold blood, with every possible restraint, one is +justified in saying that since the most barbarous campaigns of Alva in +the Lowlands, or the excesses of the Thirty Years' War, there has been +no such deliberate policy of murder as has been adopted in this struggle +by the German forces. This is the more terrible since these forces are +not, like those of Alva, Parma, or Tilly, bands of turbulent and +mercenary soldiers, but they are the nation itself, and their deeds are +condoned or even applauded by the entire national press. It is not on +the chiefs of the army that the whole guilt of this terrible crime must +rest, but it is upon the whole German Nation, which for generations to +come must stand condemned before the civilized world for this reversion +to those barbarous practices from which Christianity, civilization, and +chivalry had gradually rescued the human race. They may, and do, plead +the excuse that they are "earnest" in war, but all nations are earnest +in war, which is the most desperately earnest thing of which we have any +knowledge. How earnest we are will be shown when the question of +endurance begins to tell. But no earnestness can condone the crime of +the nation which deliberately breaks those laws which have been indorsed +by the common consent of humanity. + +War may have a beautiful as well as a terrible side, and be full of +touches of human sympathy and restraint which mitigate its unavoidable +horror. Such have been the characteristics always of the secular wars +between the British and the French. From the old glittering days of +knighthood, with their high and gallant courtesy, through the eighteenth +century campaigns where the debonair guards of France and England +exchanged salutations before their volleys, down to the last great +Napoleonic struggle, the tradition of chivalry has always survived. We +read how in the Peninsula the pickets of the two armies, each of them as +earnest as any Germans, would exchange courtesies, how they would shout +warnings to each other to fall back when an advance in force was taking +place, and how to prevent the destruction of an ancient bridge, the +British promised not to use it on condition that the French would forgo +its destruction--an agreement faithfully kept upon either side. Could +one imagine Germans making war in such a spirit as this? Think of that +old French bridge, and then think of the University of Louvain and the +Cathedral of Rheims. What a gap between them--the gap that separates +civilization from the savage! + +Let us take a few of the points which, when focused together, show how +the Germans have degraded warfare--a degradation which affects not only +the Allies at present, but the whole future of the world, since if such +examples were followed the entire human race would, each in turn, become +the sufferers. Take the very first incident of the war, the mine laying +by the Koenigin Luise. Here was a vessel, which was obviously made ready +with freshly charged mines some time before there was any question of a +general European war, which was sent forth in time of peace, and which, +on receipt of a wireless message, began to spawn its hellish cargo +across the North Sea at points fifty miles from land in the track of all +neutral merchant shipping. There was the keynote of German tactics +struck at the first possible instant. So promiscuous was the effect that +it was a mere chance which prevented the vessel which bore the German +Ambassador from being destroyed by a German mine. From first to last +some hundreds of people have lost their lives on this tract of sea, some +of them harmless British trawlers, but the greater number sailors of +Danish and Dutch vessels pursuing their commerce as they had every right +to do. It was the first move in a consistent policy of murder. + +Leaving the sea, let us turn to the air. Can any possible term save a +policy of murder be applied to the use of aircraft by the Germans? It +has always been a principle of warfare that unfortified towns should not +be bombarded. So closely has it been followed by the British that one of +our aviators, flying over Cologne in search of a Zeppelin shed, +refrained from dropping a bomb in an uncertain light, even though +Cologne is a fortress, lest the innocent should suffer. What is to be +said, then, for the continual use of bombs by the Germans which have +usually been wasted in the destruction of cats or dogs, but which have +occasionally torn to pieces some woman or child? If bombs were dropped +on the forts of Paris as part of a scheme for reducing the place, then +nothing could be said in objection, but how are we to describe the +action of men who fly over a crowded city dropping bombs promiscuously +which can have no military effect whatever, and are entirely aimed at +the destruction of innocent civilians? These men have been obliging +enough to drop their cards as well as their bombs on several occasions. +I see no reason why these should not be used in evidence against them, +or why they should not be hanged as murderers when they fall into the +hands of the Allies. The policy is idiotic from a military point of +view; one could conceive nothing which would stimulate and harden +national resistance more surely than such petty irritations. But it is +a murderous innovation in the laws of war, and unless it is sternly +repressed it will establish a most sinister precedent for the future. + +As to the treatment of Belgium, what has it been but murder, murder all +the way? From the first days of Vise, when it was officially stated that +an example of "frightfulness" was desired, until the present moment, +when the terrified population has rushed from the country and thrown +itself upon the charity and protection of its neighbors, there has been +no break in the record. Compare the story with that of the occupation of +the South of France by Wellington in 1813, when no one was injured, +nothing was taken without full payment, and the villagers fraternized +with the troops. What a relapse of civilization is here! From Vise to +Louvain, Louvain to Aerschot, Aerschot to Malines and Termonde, the +policy of murder never fails. + +It is said that more civilians than soldiers have fallen in Belgium. +Peruse the horrible accounts taken by the Belgian Commission, who took +evidence in the most careful and conscientious fashion. Study the +accounts of that dreadful night in Louvain which can only be equaled by +the Spanish Fury of Antwerp. Read the account of the wife of the +Burgomaster of Aerschot, with its heartrending description of how her +lame son, aged sixteen, was kicked along to his death by an aide de +camp. It is all so vile, so brutally murderous that one can hardly +realize that one is reading the incidents of a modern campaign conducted +by one of the leading nations in Europe. + +Do you imagine that the thing has been exaggerated? Far from it--the +volume of crime has not yet been appreciated. Have not many Germans +unwittingly testified to what they have seen and done? Only last week we +had the journal of one of them, an officer whose service had been almost +entirely in France and removed from the crime centres of Belgium. Yet +were ever such entries in the diary of a civilized soldier? "Our men +behaved like regular Vandals." "We shot the whole lot," (these were +villagers.) "They were drawn up in three ranks. The same shot did for +three at a time." "In the evening we set fire to the village. The priest +and some of the inhabitants were shot." "The villages all around were +burning." "The villages were burned and the inhabitants shot." "At Leppe +apparently two hundred men were shot. There must have been some innocent +men among them." "In future we shall have to hold an inquiry into their +guilt instead of merely shooting them." "The Vandals themselves could +not have done more damage. The place is a disgrace to our army." So the +journal runs on with its tale of infamy. It is an infamy so shameless +that even in the German record the story is perpetuated of how a French +lad was murdered because he refused to answer certain questions. To such +a depth of degradation has Prussia brought the standard of warfare. + +And now, as the appetite for blood grows ever stronger--and nothing +waxes more fast--we have stories of the treatment of prisoners. Here is +a point where our attention should be most concentrated and our action +most prompt. It is the just duty which we owe to our own brave soldiers. +At present the instances are isolated, and we will hope that they do not +represent any general condition. But the stories come from sure sources. +There is the account of the brutality which culminated in the death of +the gallant motor cyclist Pearson, the son of Lord Cowdray. There is the +horrible story in a responsible Dutch paper, told by an eyewitness, of +the torture of three British wounded prisoners in Landen Station on Oct. +9. + +The story carries conviction by its detail. Finally, there are the +disquieting remarks of German soldiers, repeated by this same witness, +as to the British prisoners whom they had shot. The whole lesson of +history is that when troops are allowed to start murder one can never +say how or when it will stop. It may no longer be part of a deliberate, +calculated policy of murder by the German Government. But it has +undoubtedly been so in the past, and we cannot say when it will end. +Such incidents will, I fear, make peace an impossibility in our +generation, for whatever statesmen may write upon paper can never affect +the deep and bitter resentment which a war so conducted must leave +behind it. + +Other German characteristics we can ignore. The consistent, systematic +lying of the German press, or the grotesque blasphemies of the Kaiser, +can be met by us with contemptuous tolerance. After all, what is is, and +neither falsehood nor bombast will alter it. But this policy of murder +deeply affects not only ourselves but the whole framework of +civilization, so slowly and painfully built upward by the human race. + + + + +The Soldier's Epitaph + +"HE DIED FOR ENGLAND." + +[Inscription on the tombstone of a private soldier, recently killed in +action.] + + + These four short words his epitaph, + Sublimely simple, nobly plain; + Who adds to them but addeth chaff, + Obscures with husks the golden grain. + Not all the bards of other days, + Not Homer in his loftiest vein, + Not Milton's most majestic strain, + Not the whole wealth of Pindar's lays, + Could bring to that one simple phrase + What were not rather loss than gain; + That elegy so briefly fine, + That epic writ in half a line, + That little which so much conveys, + Whose silence is a hymn of praise + And throbs with harmonies divine. + + + + +The Will to Power + +By Eden Phillpotts + + + A distinction between power as physical force and as expressed + in terms of spiritual value is drawn by Mr. Phillpotts in his + article, appearing in The Westminster Gazette of March 27, + 1915, which is here reproduced. + +It has not often happened in the world's history that any generation +can speak with such assured confidence of future events as at present. +When the living tongue is concerned with destiny it seldom does more +than indicate the trend of things to come, examine tendencies and +movements and predict, without any sure foreknowledge or conviction, +what generations unborn may expect to find and the conditions they will +create. Destiny for us, who speak of it, is an unknown sea whose waves, +indeed, drive steadily onward before strong winds, but whose shore is +still far distant. We know that we men of the hour can never see these +billows break upon the sands of future time. + +But today we may look forward to stupendous events; today there are +mighty epiphanies quickening earth, not to be assigned to periods of +future time, but at hand, so near that our living selves shall see their +birth, and participate in their consequences. Nor can we stand as +spectators of this worldwide hope; we must not only hear the evangel +whose first mighty murmur is drifting to our ears from the future, we +must take it up with heart and voice and help to sound and resound it. +There is tremendous work lying ahead, not only for our children, but for +us. Weighty deeds will presently have to be performed by all adult +manhood and womanhood--deeds, perhaps, greater than any living man has +been called to do--deeds that exalt the doer and make sacred for all +history the hour in which they shall be done. + +On Time's high canopy the years are as stars great and small, some of +lesser magnitude, some forever bright with the splendor of supreme +human achievements; and now there flashes out a year concerning which, +indeed, no man can say as yet how great it will be; but all men know +that it must be great. It is destined to drown all lesser years, even as +sunrise dims the morning stars with day; it is a year bright with +promise and bodeful with ill-tidings also; for in the world at this +moment there exist stupendous differences that this year will go far to +set at rest. This year must solve profound problems, determine the trend +of human affairs for centuries, and influence the whole future history +of civilization. This year may actually see the issue; at least it will +serve to light the near future when that issue shall be accomplished. + +There has risen, then, a year that is great with no less a thing than +the future welfare of the whole earth. It must embrace the victory of +one ideal over another, and include a decision which shall determine +whether the sublime human hope of freedom and security for all mankind +is to guide human progress henceforth, or the spirit of domination and +slavery to win a new lease of life. On the one hand, this year of the +first magnitude will shine with the glory of such a victory for +democratic ideas as we have not seen, or expected to see, in our +generation; on the other, its bale-fire will blaze upon the overthrow of +all great ideals, the destruction of a weak nation by a powerful one, +and the triumph of that policy of "blood and iron" from which every +enlightened man of this age shrinks with horror. The situation cannot be +stated in simpler terms; no words can make it less than tremendous; and +it is demanded from us to make it personal--as personal to ourselves as +it is to the King of England, the Emperor of Germany, or the Czar of +all the Russias. + +They live who, when this far-flung agony of war is ended, when the last +hero has fallen and lies in his grave, when the final cannon has sounded +its knell, must be called upon to make the great peace. They live who +will weave a shroud of death for the exhausted world, or plant the tree +of life upon her bosom; and since we, inspired by the splendor of our +cause, are assured that the day-spring will be ours, we already feel and +know that we shall see that tree of life planted. But do we also feel +and know that we must help to plant it, that the labor and toil of each +of us is vital, that none is so weak but that there is a part of that +planting for which he was born, a part consecrated to his individual +effort, a part that will go undone if he does not do it? + +Look to yourself, man, woman, child, that with heart and soul and +strength you perform your part in the great world work lying ahead; +remember that not princes and rulers, not regiments of your kinsmen, not +the armed might of nations can do your appointed task for you. Fail of +it, and by so much will the life tree lack in her planting; succeed, and +by so much will she be the more splendid and secure. Her name is Freedom +and her fruits are for the weak and humble as well as the strong and +great, for the foolish as well as the wise, for all subjects as well as +for all States. Put out your power, then, for that most sacred tree; +deny yourself no pang that she may flourish; labor according to your +strength that her blossom shall win the worship of humanity and her +fruit be worthy of the blood of heroes that has poured for her planting. + +Much we hear of the Will to Power, and because that great impulse has +lifted our enemies on the full flood tide of their might and manhood in +one overwhelming torrent, Germany has been condemned. But not for her +united effort and whole-hearted sacrifice should we condemn her--not for +her patriotism and response to the call. Her reply is wholly +magnificent, and it only stands condemned for the evil ends and ignoble +ambitions toward which it is directed. The spectacle of a great nation +at one, inspired by a single ideal and pouring its life, its wealth, its +energy, with a single impulse in the name of the Fatherland can only be +called sublime. The tragedy lies in the fact that this stupendous effort +is not worthy of the cause; that for false hopes, false ambitions and +mistaken sense of right and justice Germany has wasted her life and +given her soul. + +Who blames the Will to Power? Power is the mightiest weapon fate can +forge for a nation--a treasure beyond the strength of commerce, or +armies, or navies, or intellect of man to produce. But it is necessary +that we define power in terms of spiritual value; and then, surely, it +appears that Power and Force can never be the same. A Frederick I., or a +Napoleon, may pretend to confound power with force, and believe that +their might must be right. They possessed a giant's strength and used it +like giants. But true Power is ever the attribute of Right and they who +strive for it must cleanse their souls, see that their ambition is +worthy of such a possession, and, before all else, strive to realize the +awful responsibility that goes with Power. + +Never was a moment more golden than the present for this nation to Will +to Power. For once our hearts are single, our resolutions pure, our +patriotism, as well as the objects that we seek to attain, sure set upon +the line of human progress. In the sane and sacred name of Freedom, +therefore, and at her ancient inspiration it becomes us now to strive by +all that is highest and best in us to fulfill our noblest possibilities +and give soul and strength that the united Will to Power of our nation +may surmount that of her enemies, even as our goal and purpose surmount +theirs. + +It is for the victory that must crown this victory we should labor, and +cease not while hand can toil, mind achieve, and heart sacrifice to make +the vital issue assured. + + + + +Alleged German Atrocities + +Report of the Committee Appointed by the British Government + +and Presided Over by + +The Right Hon. Viscount Bryce + +_Formerly British Ambassador at Washington_ + + + Proofs of alleged atrocities committed by the German armies in + Belgium--proofs collected by men trained in the law and + presented with unemotional directness after a careful + inquiry--are presented in the report of the "Committee on + Alleged German Atrocities" headed by Viscount Bryce, the + English historian and formerly British Ambassador at + Washington. The document was made public simultaneously in + London and the United States on May 12, 1915, four days after + the sinking of the Lusitania. It was pointed out at the time + that this was a coincidence, as the report had been prepared + several weeks before and forwarded by mail from England for + publication on May 12. + + +WARRANT OF APPOINTMENT. + +I hereby appoint-- + +The Right Hon. Viscount Bryce, O.M.; + +The Right Hon. Sir Frederick Pollock, Bt., K.C.; + +The Right Hon. Sir Edward Clarke, K.C.; + +Sir Alfred Hopkinson, K.C.; + +Mr. H.A.L. Fisher, Vice Chancellor of the University of Sheffield; and + +Mr. Harold Cox; + +to be a committee to consider and advise on the evidence collected on +behalf of his Majesty's Government as to outrages alleged to have been +committed by German troops during the present war, cases of alleged +maltreatment of civilians in the invaded territories, and breaches of +the laws and established usages of war; and to prepare a report for his +Majesty's Government showing the conclusion at which they arrive on the +evidence now available. + +And I appoint Viscount Bryce to be Chairman, and Mr. E. Grimwood Mears +and Mr. W.J.H. Brodrick, barristers at law, to be Joint Secretaries to +the committee. + +(Signed) H.H. ASQUITH. +15th December, 1914. + +Sir Kenelm E. Digby, K.C., G.C.B., was appointed an additional member +of the committee on 22d January, 1915. + +To the Right Hon. H.H. Asquith, &c., &c., First Lord of H.M. Treasury. + +The committee have the honor to present and transmit to you a report +upon the evidence which has been submitted to them regarding outrages +alleged to have been committed by the German troops in the present war. + +By the terms of their appointment the committee were directed + + "to consider and advise on the evidence collected on behalf of + his Majesty's Government as to outrages alleged to have been + committed by German troops during the present war, cases of + alleged maltreatment of civilians in the invaded territories, + and breaches of the laws and established usages of war; and to + prepare a report for his Majesty's Government showing the + conclusion at which they arrive on the evidence now + available." + +It may be convenient that before proceeding to state how we have dealt +with the materials, and what are the conclusions we have reached, we +should set out the manner in which the evidence came into being, and its +nature. + +In the month of September, 1914, a minute was, at the instance of the +Prime Minister, drawn up and signed by the Home Secretary and the +Attorney General. It stated the need that had arisen for investigating +the accusations of inhumanity and outrage that had been brought against +the German soldiers, and indicated the precautions to be taken in +collecting evidence that would be needed to insure its accuracy. +Pursuant to this minute steps were taken under the direction of the Home +Office to collect evidence, and a great many persons who could give it +were seen and examined. + +For some three or four months before the appointment of the committee, +the Home Office had been collecting a large body of evidence.[A] More +than 1,200 depositions made by these witnesses have been submitted to +and considered by the committee. Nearly all of these were obtained under +the supervision of Sir Charles Mathews, the Director of Public +Prosecutions, and of Mr. E. Grimwood Mears, barrister of the Inner +Temple, while in addition Professor J.H. Morgan has collected a number +of statements mainly from British soldiers, which have also been +submitted to the committee. + +[Footnote A: Taken from Belgian witnesses, some soldiers, but most of +them civilians from those towns and villages through which the German +Army passed, and from British officers and soldiers.] + +The labor involved in securing, in a comparatively short time, so large +a number of statements from witnesses scattered all over the United +Kingdom, made it necessary to employ a good many examiners. The +depositions were in all cases taken down in this country by gentlemen of +legal knowledge and experience, though, of course, they had no authority +to administer an oath. They were instructed not to "lead" the witnesses +or make any suggestions to them, and also to impress upon them the +necessity for care and precision in giving their evidence. + +They were also directed to treat the evidence critically, and as far as +possible satisfy themselves, by putting questions which arose out of the +evidence, that the witnesses were speaking the truth. They were, in +fact, to cross-examine them, so far as the testimony given provided +materials for cross-examination. + +We have seen and conversed with many of these gentlemen, and have been +greatly impressed by their ability and by what we have gathered as to +the fairness of spirit which they brought to their task. We feel certain +that the instructions given have been scrupulously observed. + +In many cases those who took the evidence have added their comments upon +the intelligence and demeanor of the witnesses stating the impression +which each witness made, and indicating any cases in which the story +told appeared to them open to doubt or suspicion. In coming to a +conclusion upon the evidence the committee have been greatly assisted by +these expressions of opinion, and have uniformly rejected every +deposition on which an opinion adverse to the witness has been recorded. + +This seems to be a fitting place at which to put on record the +invaluable help which we have received from our secretaries, Mr. E. +Grimwood Mears and Mr. W.J.H. Brodrick, whose careful diligence and +minute knowledge of the evidence have been of the utmost service. +Without their skill, judgment, and untiring industry the labor of +examining and appraising each part of so large a mass of testimony would +have occupied us for six months instead of three. + +The marginal references in this report indicate the particular +deposition or depositions on which the statements made in the text are +based.[A] + +[Footnote A: Marginal references are omitted in this +reproduction.--EDITOR.] + +The depositions printed in the appendix themselves show that the stories +were tested in detail, and in none of these have we been able to detect +the trace of any desire to "make a case" against the German Army. Care +was taken to impress upon the witness that the giving of evidence was a +grave and serious matter, and every deposition submitted to us was +signed by the witness in the presence of the examiner. + +A noteworthy feature of many of the depositions is that, though taken +at different places and on different dates, and by different lawyers +from different witnesses, they often corroborate each other in a +striking manner. + +The evidence is all couched in the very words which the witnesses used, +and where they spoke, as the Belgian witnesses did, in Flemish or +French, pains were taken to have competent translators, and to make +certain that the translation was exact. + +Seldom did these Belgian witnesses show a desire to describe what they +had seen or suffered. The lawyers who took the depositions were +surprised to find how little vindictiveness, or indeed passion they +showed, and how generally free from emotional excitement their +narratives were. Many hesitated to speak lest what they said, if it +should ever be published, might involve their friends or relatives at +home in danger, and it was found necessary to give an absolute promise +that names should not be disclosed. + +For this reason names have been omitted. + +A large number of depositions, and extracts from depositions, will be +found in Appendix A, and to these your attention is directed. + +In all cases these are given as nearly as possible (for abbreviation was +sometimes inevitable) in the exact words of the witness, and wherever a +statement has been made by a witness tending to exculpate the German +troops, it has been given in full. Excisions have been made only where +it has been felt necessary to conceal the identity of the deponent or to +omit what are merely hearsay statements, or are palpably irrelevant. In +every case the name and description of the witnesses are given in the +original depositions and in copies which have been furnished to us by +H.M. Government. The originals remain in the custody of the Home +Department, where they will be available, in case of need, for reference +after the conclusion of the war. + +The committee have also had before them a number of diaries taken from +the German dead. + +It appears to be the custom in the German Army for soldiers to be +encouraged to keep diaries and to record in them the chief events of +each day. A good many of these diaries were collected on the field when +British troops were advancing over ground which had been held by the +enemy, were sent to headquarters in France, and dispatched thence to the +War Office in England. They passed into the possession of the Prisoners +of War Information Bureau, and were handed by it to our secretaries. +They have been translated with great care. We have inspected them and +are absolutely satisfied of their authenticity. They have thrown +important light upon the methods followed in the conduct of the war. In +one respect, indeed, they are the most weighty part of the evidence, +because they proceed from a hostile source and are not open to any such +criticism on the ground of bias as might be applied to Belgian +testimony. From time to time references to these diaries will be found +in the text of the report. In Appendix B they are set out at greater +length both in the German original and in an English translation, +together with a few photographs of the more important entries. + +In Appendix C are set out a number of German proclamations. Most of +these are included in the Belgian Report No. VI., which has been +furnished to us. Actual specimens of original proclamations issued by or +at the bidding of the German military authorities, and posted in the +Belgian and French towns mentioned, have been produced to us, and copies +thereof are to be found in this appendix. + +Appendix D contains the rules of The Hague Convention dealing with the +conduct of war on land as adopted in 1907, Germany being one of the +signatory powers. + +In Appendix E will be found a selection of statements collected in +France by Professor Morgan. + +These five appendices are contained in a separate volume. + +In dealing with the evidence we have recognized the importance of +testing it severely, and so far as the conditions permit we have +followed the principles which are recognized in the courts of England, +the British overseas dominions, and the United States. We have also (as +already noted) set aside the testimony of any witnesses who did not +favorably impress the lawyers who took their depositions, and have +rejected hearsay evidence except in cases where hearsay furnished an +undersigned confirmation of facts with regard to which we already +possessed direct testimony from some other source, or explained in a +natural way facts imperfectly narrated or otherwise perplexing.[A] + +[Footnote A: For instance, the dead body of a man is found lying on the +doorstep, or a woman is seen who has the appearance of having been +outraged. So far the facts are proved by the direct evidence of the +person by whom they have been seen. Information is sought for by him as +to the circumstances under which the death or outrages took place. The +bystanders who saw the circumstances but who are not now accessible, +relate what they saw, and this is reported by the witness to the +examiner and is placed on record in the depositions. We have had no +hesitation in taking such evidence into consideration.] + +It is natural to ask whether much of the evidence given, especially by +the Belgian witnesses, may not be due to excitement and overstrained +emotions, and whether, apart from deliberate falsehood, persons who mean +to speak the truth may not in a more or less hysterical condition have +been imagining themselves to have seen the things which they say that +they saw. Both the lawyers who took the depositions, and we when we came +to examine them, fully recognized this possibility. The lawyers, as +already observed, took pains to test each witness and either rejected, +or appended a note of distrust to, the testimony of those who failed to +impress them favorably. We have carried the sifting still further by +also omitting from the depositions those in which we found something +that seemed too exceptional to be accepted on the faith of one witness +only, or too little supported by other evidence pointing to like facts. +Many depositions have thus been omitted on which, though they are +probably true, we think it safer not to place reliance. + +Notwithstanding these precautions, we began the inquiry with doubts +whether a positive result would be attained. But the further we went and +the more evidence we examined so much the more was our skepticism +reduced. There might be some exaggeration in one witness, possible +delusion in another, inaccuracies in a third. When, however, we found +that things which had at first seemed improbable were testified to by +many witnesses coming from different places, having had no communication +with one another, and knowing nothing of one another's statements, the +points in which they all agreed became more and more evidently true. And +when this concurrence of testimony, this convergence upon what were +substantially the same broad facts, showed itself in hundreds of +depositions, the truth of those broad facts stood out beyond question. +The force of the evidence is cumulative. Its worth can be estimated only +by perusing the testimony as a whole. If any further confirmation had +been needed, we found it in the diaries in which German officers and +private soldiers have recorded incidents just such as those to which the +Belgian witnesses depose. + +The experienced lawyers who took the depositions tell us that they +passed from the same stage of doubt into the same stage of conviction. +They also began their work in a skeptical spirit, expecting to find much +of the evidence colored by passion, or prompted by an excited fancy. But +they were impressed by the general moderation and matter-of-fact +level-headedness of the witnesses. We have interrogated them, +particularly regarding some of the most startling and shocking incidents +which appear in the evidence laid before us, and where they expressed a +doubt we have excluded the evidence, admitting it as regards the cases +in which they stated that the witnesses seemed to them to be speaking +the truth, and that they themselves believed the incidents referred to +have happened. It is for this reason that we have inserted among the +depositions printed in the appendix several cases which we might +otherwise have deemed scarcely credible. + +The committee has conducted its investigations and come to its +conclusions independently of the reports issued by the French and +Belgian commissions, but it has no reason to doubt that those +conclusions are in substantial accord with the conclusions that have +been reached by these two commissions. + + +ARRANGEMENT OF THE REPORT. + +As respects the framework and arrangement of the report, it has been +deemed desirable to present first of all what may be called a general +historical account of the events which happened, and the conditions +which prevailed in the parts of Belgium which lay along the line of the +German march, and thereafter to set forth the evidence which bears upon +particular classes of offenses against the usages of civilized warfare, +evidence which shows to what extent the provisions of The Hague +Convention have been disregarded. + +This method, no doubt, involves a certain amount of overlapping, for +some of the offenses belonging to the latter part of the report will +have been already referred to in the earlier part which deals with the +invasion of Belgium. But the importance of presenting a connected +narrative of events seems to outweigh the disadvantage of occasional +repetition. The report will therefore be found to consist of two parts, +viz.: + + (1) An analysis and summary of the evidence regarding the + conduct of the German troops in Belgium toward the civilian + population of that country during the first few weeks of the + invasion. + + (2) An examination of the evidence relating to breaches of the + rules and usages of war and acts of inhumanity, committed by + German soldiers or groups of soldiers, during the first four + months of the war, whether in Belgium or in France. + +This second part has again been subdivided into two sections: + + a. Offenses committed against noncombatant civilians during + the conduct of the war generally. + + b. Offenses committed against combatants, whether in Belgium + or in France. + + +PART I. + +THE CONDUCT OF THE GERMAN TROOPS IN BELGIUM. + +Although the neutrality of Belgium had been guaranteed by a treaty +signed in 1839 to which France, Prussia, and Great Britain were parties, +and although, apart altogether from any duties imposed by treaty, no +belligerent nation has any right to claim a passage for its army across +the territory of a neutral State, the position which Belgium held +between the German Empire and France had obliged her to consider the +possibility that in the event of a war between these two powers her +neutrality might not be respected. In 1911 the Belgian Minister at +Berlin had requested an assurance from Germany that she would observe +the Treaty of 1839; and the Chancellor of the empire had declared that +Germany had no intention of violating Belgian neutrality. Again in 1913 +the German Secretary of State at a meeting of a Budget Committee of the +Reichstag had declared that "Belgian neutrality is provided for by +international conventions and Germany is determined to respect those +conventions." Finally, on July 31, 1914, when the danger of war between +Germany and France seemed imminent, Herr von Below, the German Minister +in Brussels, being interrogated by the Belgian Foreign Department, +replied that he knew of the assurances given by the German Chancellor in +1911, and that he "was certain that the sentiments expressed at that +time had not changed." Nevertheless on Aug. 2 the same Minister +presented a note to the Belgian Government demanding a passage through +Belgium for the German Army on pain of an instant declaration of war. +Startled as they were by the suddenness with which this terrific war +cloud had risen on the eastern horizon, the leaders of the nation +rallied around the King in his resolution to refuse the demand and to +prepare for resistance. They were aware of the danger which would +confront the civilian population of the country if it were tempted to +take part in the work of national defense. Orders were accordingly +issued by the Civil Governors of provinces, and by the Burgomasters of +towns, that the civilian inhabitants were to take no part in hostilities +and to offer no provocation to the invaders. That no excuse might be +furnished for severities, the populations of many important towns were +instructed to surrender all firearms into the hands of the local +officials.[1] + +[Footnote 1: Copies of typical proclamations have been printed in +_L'Allemagne et la Belgique_, Documents Annexes, xxxvi.] + +[Illustration: [map of Belgium]] + +This happened on Aug. 2. On the evening of Aug. 3 the German troops +crossed the frontier. The storm burst so suddenly that neither party had +time to adjust its mind to the situation. The Germans seem to have +expected an easy passage. The Belgian population, never dreaming of an +attack, were startled and stupefied. + + +LIEGE AND DISTRICT. + +On Aug. 4 the roads converging upon Liege from northeast, east, and +south were covered with German Death's Head Hussars and Uhlans pressing +forward to seize the passage over the Meuse. From the very beginning of +the operations the civilian population of the villages lying upon the +line of the German advance were made to experience the extreme horrors +of war. "On the 4th of August," says one witness, "at Herve," (a village +not far from the frontier,) "I saw at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, +near the station, five Uhlans; these were the first German troops I had +seen. They were followed by a German officer and some soldiers in a +motor car. The men in the car called out to a couple of young fellows +who were standing about thirty yards away. The young men, being afraid, +ran off and then the Germans fired and killed one of them named D." The +murder of this innocent fugitive civilian was a prelude to the burning +and pillage of Herve and of other villages in the neighborhood, to the +indiscriminate shooting of civilians of both sexes, and to the organized +military execution of batches of selected males. Thus at Herve some +fifty men escaping from the burning houses were seized, taken outside +the town and shot. At Melen, a hamlet west of Herve, forty men were +shot. In one household alone the father and mother (names given) were +shot, the daughter died after being repeatedly outraged, and the son was +wounded. Nor were children exempt. "About Aug. 4," says one witness, +"near Vottem, we were pursuing some Uhlans. I saw a man, woman, and a +girl about nine, who had been killed. They were on the threshold of a +house, one on the top of the other, as if they had been shot down, one +after the other, as they tried to escape." + +The burning of the villages in this neighborhood and the wholesale +slaughter of civilians, such as occurred at Herve, Micheroux, and +Soumagne, appear to be connected with the exasperation caused by the +resistance of Fort Fleron, whose guns barred the main road from Aix la +Chapelle to Liege. Enraged by the losses which they had sustained, +suspicious of the temper of the civilian population, and probably +thinking that by exceptional severities at the outset they could cow the +spirit of the Belgian Nation, the German officers and men speedily +accustomed themselves to the slaughter of civilians. How rapidly the +process was effected is illustrated by an entry in the diary of Kurt +Hoffman, a one-year's man in the First Jaegers, who on Aug. 5 was in +front of Fort Fleron. He illustrates his story by a sketch map. "The +position," he says, "was dangerous. As suspicious civilians were hanging +about--houses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, were cleared, the owners arrested, (and +shot the following day.) Suddenly village A was fired at. Out of it +bursts our baggage train, and the Fourth Company of the Twenty-seventh +Regiment who had lost their way and been shelled by our own artillery. +From the point D.P., (shown in diary,) I shoot a civilian with rifle at +400 meters slap through the head, as we afterward ascertained." Within a +few hours, Hoffman, while in house 3, was himself under fire from his +own comrades and narrowly escaped being killed. A German, ignorant that +house 8 had been occupied, reported, as was the fact, that he had been +fired upon from that house. He had been challenged by the field patrol, +and failed to give the countersign. Hoffman continues: + + "Ten minutes later, people approach who are talking + excitedly--apparently Germans. I call out 'Halt, who's there?' + Suddenly rapid fire is opened upon us, which I can only escape + by quickly jumping on one side--with bullets and fragments of + wall and pieces of glass flying around me. I call out 'Halt, + here Field Patrol.' Then it stops, and there appears + Lieutenant Roemer with three platoons. A man has reported that + he had been shot at out of our house; no wonder, if he does + not give the countersign." + +The entry, though dated Aug. 5, was evidently written on the 6th or +later, because the writer refers to the suspicious civilians as having +been shot on that day. Hoffman does not indicate of what offense these +civilians were guilty, and there is no positive evidence to connect +their slaughter with the report made by the German who had been fired on +by his comrades. They were "suspicious" and that was enough. + +The systematic execution of civilians, which in some cases, as the diary +just cited shows, was founded on a genuine mistake, was given a wide +extension through the Province of Liege. In Soumagne and Micheroux very +many civilians were summarily shot. In a field belonging to a man named +E. fifty-six or fifty-seven were put to death. A German officer said: +"You have shot at us." One of the villagers asked to be allowed to +speak, and said: "If you think these people fired kill me, but let them +go." The answer was three volleys. The survivors were bayoneted. Their +corpses were seen in the field that night by another witness. One at +least had been mutilated. These were not the only victims in Soumagne. +The eyewitness of the massacre saw, on his way home, twenty bodies, one +that of a young girl of thirteen. Another witness saw nineteen corpses +in a meadow. + +At Blegny Trembleur, on the 6th, some civilians were captured by German +soldiers, who took steps to put them to death forthwith, but were +restrained by the arrival of an officer. The prisoners subsequently were +taken off to Battice and five were shot in a field. No reason was +assigned for their murder. + +In the meantime house burners were at work. On the 6th, Battice was +destroyed in part. From the 8th to the 10th over 300 houses were burned +at Herve, while mounted men shot into doors and windows to prevent the +escape of the inhabitants. + +At Heure le Romain on or about the 15th of August all the male +inhabitants, including some bedridden old men, were imprisoned in the +church. The Burgomaster's brother and the priest were bayoneted. + +On or about the 14th and 15th the village of Vise was completely +destroyed. Officers directed the incendiaries, who worked methodically +with benzine. Antiques and china were removed from the houses, before +their destruction, by officers who guarded the plunder, revolver in +hand. The house of a witness, which contained valuables of this kind, +was protected for a time by a notice posted on the door by officers. +This notice has been produced to the committee. After the removal of the +valuables this house also was burned. + +German soldiers had arrived on the 15th at Blegny Trembleur and seized a +quantity of wine. On the 16th prisoners were taken; four, including the +priest and the Burgomaster, were shot. On the same day 200 (so-called) +hostages were seized at Flemalle and marched off. There they were told +that unless Fort Flemalle surrendered by noon they would be shot. It did +surrender and they were released. + +Entries in a German diary show that on the 19th the German soldiers gave +themselves up to debauchery in the streets of Liege, and on the night +of the 20th (Thursday) a massacre took place in the streets, beginning +near the Cafe Carpentier, at which there is said to have been a dinner +attended by Russian and other students. A proclamation issued by General +Kolewe on the following day gave the German version of the affair, which +was that his troops had been fired on by Russian students. The diary +states that in the night the inhabitants of Liege became mutinous and +that fifty persons were shot. The Belgian witnesses vehemently deny that +there had been any provocation given, some stating that many German +soldiers were drunk, others giving evidence which indicates that the +affair was planned beforehand. It is stated that at 5 o'clock in the +evening, long before the shooting, a citizen was warned by a friendly +German soldier not to go out that night. + +Though the cause of the massacre is in dispute, the results are known +with certainty. The Rue des Pitteurs and houses in the Place de +l'Universite and the Quai des Pecheurs were systematically fired with +benzine, and many inhabitants were burned alive in their houses, their +efforts to escape being prevented by rifle fire. Twenty people were +shot, while trying to escape, before the eyes of one of the witnesses. +The Liege Fire Brigade turned out but was not allowed to extinguish the +fire. Its carts, however, were usefully employed in removing heaps of +civilian corpses to the Town Hall. The fire burned on through the night +and the murders continued on the following day, the 21st. Thirty-two +civilians were killed on that day in the Place de l'Universite alone, +and a witness states that this was followed by the rape in open day of +fifteen or twenty women on tables in the square itself. + +No depositions are before us which deal with events in the City of Liege +after this date. Outrages, however, continued in various places in the +province. + +For example, on or about the 21st of August, at Pepinster two witnesses +were seized as hostages and were threatened, together with five others, +that, unless they could discover a civilian who was alleged to have +shot a soldier in the leg, they would be shot themselves. They escaped +their fate because one of the hostages convinced the officer that the +alleged shooting, if it took place at all, took place in the Commune of +Cornesse and not that of Pepinster, whereupon the Burgomaster of +Cornesse, who was old and very deaf, was shot forthwith. + +The outrages on the civilian population were not confined to the +villages mentioned above, but appear to have been general throughout +this district from the very outbreak of the war. + +An entry in one of the diaries says: + + "We crossed the Belgian frontier on 15th August, 1914, at + 11:50 in the forenoon, and then we went steadily along the + main road till we got into Belgium. Hardly were we there when + we had a horrible sight. Houses were burned down, the + inhabitants chased away and some of them shot. Not one of the + hundreds of houses were spared. Everything was plundered and + burned. Hardly had we passed through this large village before + the next village was burned, and so it went on continuously. + On the 16th August, 1914, the large village of Barchon was + burned down. On the same day we crossed the bridge over the + Meuse at 11:50 in the morning. We then arrived at the town of + Wandre. Here the houses were spared, but everything was + examined. At last we were out of the town and everything went + in ruins. In one house a whole collection of weapons was + found. The inhabitants without exception were shot. This + shooting was heart-breaking, as they all knelt down and + prayed, but that was no ground for mercy. A few shots rang out + and they fell back into the green grass and slept for ever." + ["Die Einwohner wurden samt und sonders herausgeholt und + erschossen: aber dieses Erschiessen war direkt herzzerreisend + wie sie alle knieben und beteten, aber dies half kein + Erbarmen. Ein paar Schuesse krackten und die fielen ruecklings + in das gruene Gras und erschliefen fuer immer."] + + +VALLEYS OF MEUSE AND SAMBRE. + +While the First Army, under the command of General Alexander von Kluck, +was mastering the passages of the Meuse between Vise and Namur, and +carrying out the scheme of devastation which has already been described, +detachments of the Second German Army, under General von Buelow, were +proceeding up the Meuse valley toward Namur. On Wednesday, Aug. 12, the +town of Huy, which stands half way between Namur and Liege, was seized. +On Aug. 20 German guns opened fire on Namur itself. Three days later the +city was evacuated by its defenders, and the Germans proceeded along the +valley of the Sambre through Tamines and Charleroi to Mons. Meanwhile a +force under General von Hausen had advanced upon Dinant, by Laroche, +Marche, and Achene, and on Aug. 15 made an unsuccessful assault upon +that town. A few days later the attack was renewed and with success, +and, Dinant captured, von Hausen's army streamed into France by Bouvines +and Rethel, firing and looting the villages and shooting the inhabitants +as they passed through. + +The evidence with regard to the Province of Namur is less voluminous +than that relating to the north of Belgium. This is largely due to the +fact that the testimony of soldiers is seldom available, as the towns +and villages once occupied by the Germans were seldom reoccupied by the +opposing troops, and the number of refugees who have reached England +from the Namur district is comparatively small. + + +ANDENNE. + +Andenne is a small town on the Meuse between Liege and Namur, lying +opposite the village of Seilles, (with which it is connected by a bridge +over the river,) and was one of the earlier places reached on the German +advance up the Meuse. In order to understand the story of the massacre +which occurred there on Thursday Aug. 20, the following facts should be +borne in mind: The German advance was hotly contested by Belgian and +French troops. From daybreak onward on the 19th of August the Eighth +Belgian Regiment of the Line were fighting with the German troops on the +left bank of the Meuse on the heights of Seilles. At 8 A.M. on the 19th +the Belgians found further resistance impossible in the district, and +retired under shelter of the forts of Namur. As they retired they blew +up Andenne Bridge. The first Germans arrived at Andenne at about 10 +A.M., when ten or twelve Uhlans rode into the town. They went to the +bridge and found it was destroyed. They then retired, but returned about +half an hour afterward. Soon after that several thousand Germans entered +the town and made arrangements to spend the night there. Thus, on the +evening of the 19th of August, a large body of German troops were in +possession of the town, which they had entered without any resistance on +the part of the allied armies or of the civilian population. + +About 4:30 on the next afternoon shots were fired from the left bank of +the Meuse and replied to by the Germans in Andenne. The village of +Andenne had been isolated from the district on the left bank of the +Meuse by the destruction of the bridge, and there is nothing to suggest +that the firing on the left came from the inhabitants of Andenne. Almost +immediately, however, the slaughter of these inhabitants began, and +continued for over two hours and intermittently during the night. +Machine guns were brought into play. The German troops were said to be +for the most part drunk, and they certainly murdered and ravaged +unchecked. A reference to the German diaries in the appendix will give +some idea of the extent to which the army gave itself up to drink +through the month of August. + +When the fire slackened about 7 o'clock, many of the townspeople fled in +the direction of the quarries; others remained in their houses. At this +moment the whole of the district around the station was on fire and +houses were flaming over a distance of two kilometers in the direction +of the hamlet of Tramaka. The little farms which rise one above the +other on the high ground of the right bank were also burning. + +At 6 o'clock on the following morning, the 21st, the Germans began to +drag the inhabitants from their houses. Men, women, and children were +driven into the square, where the sexes were separated. Three men were +then shot, and a fourth was bayoneted. A German Colonel was present +whose intention in the first place appeared to be to shoot all the men. +A young German girl who had been staying in the neighborhood interceded +with him, and after some parleying, some of the prisoners were picked +out, taken to the banks of the Meuse and there shot. The Colonel accused +the population of firing on the soldiers, but there is no reason to +think that any of them had done so, and no inquiry appears to have been +made. + +About 400 people lost their lives in this massacre, some on the banks of +the Meuse, where they were shot according to orders given, and some in +the cellars of the houses where they had taken refuge. Eight men +belonging to one family were murdered. Another man was placed close to a +machine gun which was fired through him. His wife brought his body home +on a wheelbarrow. The Germans broke into her house and ransacked it, and +piled up all the eatables in a heap on the floor and relieved themselves +upon it. + +A hairdresser was murdered in his kitchen where he was sitting with a +child on each knee. A paralytic was murdered in his garden. After this +came the general sack of the town. Many of the inhabitants who escaped +the massacre were kept as prisoners and compelled to clear the houses of +corpses and bury them in trenches. These prisoners were subsequently +used as a shelter and protection for a pontoon bridge which the Germans +had built across the river, and were so used to prevent the Belgian +forts from firing upon it. + +A few days later the Germans celebrated a _Fete Nocturne_ in the square. +Hot wine, looted in the town, was drunk, and the women were compelled to +give three cheers for the Kaiser and to sing "Deutschland ueber Alles." + + +NAMUR DISTRICT. + +The fight around Namur was accompanied by sporadic outrages. Near +Marchovelette wounded men were murdered in a farm by German soldiers. +The farm was set on fire. A German cavalryman rode away holding in front +of him one of the farmer's daughters crying and disheveled. + +At Temploux, on the 23d of August, a professor of modern languages at +the College of Namur was shot at his front door by a German officer. +Before he died he asked the officer the reason for this brutality, and +the officer replied that he had lost his temper because some civilians +had fired upon the Germans as they entered the village. This allegation +was not proved. The Belgian Army was still operating in the district, +and it may well be that it was from them that the shots in question +proceeded. After the murder the house was burned. + +On the 24th and 25th of August massacres were carried out at Surice, in +which many persons belonging to the professional classes, as well as +others, were killed. + +Namur was entered on the 24th of August. The troops signalized their +entry by firing on a crowd of 150 unarmed unresisting civilians, ten +alone of whom escaped. + +A witness of good standing who was in Namur describes how the town was +set on fire systematically in six different places. As the inhabitants +fled from the burning houses they were shot by the German troops. Not +less than 140 houses were burned. + +On the 25th the hospital at Namur was set on fire with inflammable +pastilles, the pretext being that soldiers in the hospital had fired +upon the Germans. + +At Denee, on the 28th of August, a Belgian soldier who had been taken +prisoner saw three civilian fellow-prisoners shot. One was a cripple and +another an old man of eighty who was paralyzed. It was alleged by two +German soldiers that these men had shot at them with rifles. Neither of +them had a rifle, nor had they anything in their pockets. The witness +actually saw the Germans search them and nothing was found. + + +CHARLEROI DISTRICT. + +In Tamines, a large village on the Meuse between Namur and Charleroi, +the advance guard of the German Army appeared in the first fortnight in +August, and in this as well as in other villages in the district, it is +proved that a large number of civilians, among them aged people, women, +and children, were deliberately killed by the soldiers. One witness +describes how she saw a Belgian boy of fifteen shot on the village +green at Tamines, and a day or two later on the same green a little girl +and her two brothers, (name given,) who were looking at the German +soldiers, were killed before her eyes for no apparent reason. + +The principal massacre at Tamines took place about Aug. 28. A witness +describes how he saw the public square littered with corpses, and after +a search found those of his wife and child, a little girl of seven. + +Another witness, who lived near Tamines, went there on Aug. 27, and +says: "It is absolutely destroyed and a mass of ruins." + +At Morlanwelz, about this time, the British Army, together with some +French cavalry, were compelled to retire before the German troops. The +latter took the Burgomaster and his man servant prisoner and shot them +both in front of the Hotel de Ville at Peronne, (Belgium,) where the +bodies were left in the street for forty-eight hours. They burned the +Hotel de Ville and sixty-two houses. The usual accusation of firing by +civilians was made. It is strenuously denied by the witness, who +declares that three or four days before the arrival of the Germans, +circulars had been distributed to every house and placards had been +posted in the town ordering the deposit of all firearms at the Hotel de +Ville and that this order had been complied with. + +At Monceau-sur-Sambre, on the 21st of August, a young man of eighteen +was shot in his garden. His father and brother were seized in their +house and shot in the courtyard of a neighboring country house. The son +was shot first. The father was compelled to stand close to the feet of +his son's corpse and to fix his eyes upon him while he himself was shot. +The corpse of the young man shot in the garden was carried into the +house and put on a bed. The next morning the Germans asked where the +corpse was. When they found it was in the house, they fetched straw, +packed it around the bed on which the corpse was lying, and set fire to +it and burned the house down. A great many houses were burned in +Monceau. + +A vivid picture of the events at Montigny-sur-Sambre has been given by +a witness of high standing who had exceptional opportunities of +observation. In the early morning of Saturday, Aug. 22, Uhlans reached +Montigny. The French Army was about four kilometers away, but on a hill +near the village were a detachment of French, about 150 to 200 strong, +lying in ambush. At about 1:30 o'clock the main body of the German Army +began to arrive. Marching with them were two groups of so-called +hostages, about 400 in all. Of these, 300 were surrounded with a rope +held by the front, rear, and outside men. The French troops in ambush +opened fire, and immediately the Germans commenced to destroy the town. +Incendiaries with a distinctive badge on their arm went down the main +street throwing handfuls of inflammatory and explosive pastilles into +the houses. These pastilles were carried by them in bags, and in this +way about 130 houses were destroyed in the main street. By 10:30 P.M. +some 200 more hostages had been collected. These were drawn from +Montigny itself, and on that night about fifty men, women, and children +were placed on the bridge over the Sambre and kept there all night. The +bridge was similarly guarded for a day or two, apparently either from a +fear that it was mined or in the belief that these men, women, and +children would afford some protection to the Germans in the event of the +French attempting to storm the bridge. At one period of the German +occupation of Montigny, eight nuns of the Order of Ste. Marie were +captives on the bridge. House burning was accompanied by murder, and on +the Monday morning twenty-seven civilians from one parish alone were +seen lying dead in the hospital. + +Other outrages committed at Jumet, Bouffioulx, Charleroi, +Marchiennes-au-Pont, Couillet, and Maubeuge are described in the +depositions given in the appendix. + + +DINANT. + +A clear statement of the outrages at Dinant, which many travelers will +recall as a singularly picturesque town on the Meuse, is given by one +witness, who says that the Germans began burning houses in the Rue St. +Jacques on the 21st of August, and that every house in the street was +burned. On the following day an engagement took place between the French +and the Germans, and the witness spent the whole day in the cellar of a +bank with his wife and children. On the morning of the 23d, about 5 +o'clock, firing ceased, and almost immediately afterward a party of +Germans came to the house. They rang the bell and began to batter at the +door and windows. The witness's wife went to the door and two or three +Germans came in. The family were ordered out into the street. There they +found another family, and the two families were driven with their hands +above their heads along the Rue Grande. All the houses in the street +were burning. The party was eventually put into a forge where there were +a number of other prisoners, about a hundred in all, and were kept there +from 11 A.M. till 2 P.M. They were then taken to the prison. There they +were assembled in a courtyard and searched. No arms were found. They +were then passed through into the prison itself and put into cells. The +witness and his wife were separated from each other. During the next +hour the witness heard rifle shots continually, and noticed in the +corner of a courtyard leading off the row of cells the body of a young +man with a mantle thrown over it. He recognized the mantle as having +belonged to his wife. The witness's daughter was allowed to go out to +see what had happened to her mother, and the witness himself was allowed +to go across the courtyard half an hour afterward for the same purpose. +He found his wife lying on the floor in a room. She had bullet wounds in +four places, but was alive and told her husband to return to the +children, and he did so. About 5 o'clock in the evening he saw the +Germans bringing out all the young and middle-aged men from the cells, +and ranging their prisoners, to the number of forty, in three rows in +the middle of the courtyard. About twenty Germans were drawn up +opposite, but before any thing was done there was a tremendous +fusillade from some point near the prison and the civilians were hurried +back to their cells. Half an hour later the same forty men were brought +back into the courtyard. Almost immediately there was a second fusillade +like the first and and they were driven back to the cells again. About 7 +o'clock the witness and other prisoners were brought out of their cells +and marched out of the prison. They went between two lines of troops to +Roche Bayard, about a kilometer away. An hour later the women and +children were separated and the prisoners were brought back to Dinant, +passing the prison on their way. Just outside the prison the witness saw +three lines of bodies which he recognized as being those of neighbors. +They were nearly all dead, but he noticed movement in some of them. +There were about 120 bodies. The prisoners were then taken up to the top +of the hill outside Dinant and compelled to stay there till 8 o'clock in +the morning. On the following day they were put into cattle trucks and +taken thence to Coblenz. For three months they remained prisoners in +Germany. + +Unarmed civilians were killed in masses at other places near the prison. +About ninety bodies were seen lying on the top of one another in a grass +square opposite the convent. They included many relatives of a witness +whose deposition will be found in the appendix. This witness asked a +German officer why her husband had been shot, and he told her that it +was because two of her sons had been in the civil guard and had shot at +the Germans. As a matter of fact one of her sons was at that time in +Liege and the other in Brussels. It is stated that, besides the ninety +corpses referred to above, sixty corpses of civilians were recovered +from a hole in the brewery yard and that forty-eight bodies of women and +children were found in a garden. The town was systematically set on fire +by hand grenades. + +Another witness saw a little girl of seven, one of whose legs was broken +and the other injured by a bayonet. + +We have no reason to believe that the civilian population of Dinant gave +any provocation, or that any other defense can be put forward to +justify the treatment inflicted upon its citizens. + +As regards this town and the advance of the German Army from Dinant to +Rethel on the Aisne, a graphic account is given in the diary of a Saxon +officer.[1] This diary confirms what is clear from the evidence as a +whole, both as regards these and other districts, that civilians were +constantly taken as prisoners, often dragged from their homes, and shot +under the direction of the authorities without any charge being made +against them. An event of the kind is thus referred to in a diary entry: + + "Apparently 200 men were shot. There must have been some + innocent men among them. In future we shall have to hold an + inquiry as to their guilt instead of shooting them." + +[Footnote 1: A copy of this diary was given by the French military +authorities to the British Headquarters Staff in France, and the latter +have communicated it to the committee. It will be found in Appendix B +after the German diaries shown to us by the British War Office.] + +The shooting of inhabitants, women and children as well as men, went on +after the Germans had passed Dinant on their way into France. The houses +and villages were pillaged and property wantonly destroyed. + + +AERSCHOT, MALINES, VILVORDE, AND LOUVAIN QUADRANGLE. + +About Aug. 9 a powerful screen of cavalry masking the general advance of +the First and Second German Armies was thrown forward into the provinces +of Brabant and Limburg. The progress of the invaders was contested at +several points, probably near Tirlemont on the Louvain road, and at +Diest, Haelen, and Schaffen, on the Aerschot road, by detachments of the +main Belgian Army, which was drawn up upon the line of the Dyle. In +their preliminary skirmishes the Belgians more than once gained +advantages, but after the fall on Aug. 15 of the last of the Liege forts +the great line of railway which runs through Liege toward Brussels and +Antwerp in one direction and toward Namur and the French frontier in +another fell into the hands of the Germans. From this moment the advance +of the main army was swift and irresistible. On Aug. 19 Louvain and +Aerschot were occupied by the Germans, the former without resistance, +the latter after a struggle which resulted early in the day in the +retirement of the Belgian Army upon Antwerp. On Aug. 20 the invaders +made their entry into Brussels. + +The quadrangle of territory bounded by the towns of Aerschot, Malines, +Vilvorde, and Louvain is a rich agricultural tract, studded with small +villages and comprising two considerable cities, Louvain and Malines. +This district on Aug. 19 passed into the hands of the Germans, and owing +perhaps to its proximity to Antwerp, then the seat of the Belgian +Government and headquarters of the Belgian Army, it became from that +date a scene of chronic outrage, with respect to which the committee has +received a great mass of evidence. + +The witnesses to these occurrences are for the most part imperfectly +educated persons who cannot give accurate dates, so it is impossible in +some cases to fix the dates of particular crimes; and the total number +of outrages is so great that we cannot refer to all of them in the body +of the report or give all the depositions relating to them in the +appendix. The main events, however, are abundantly clear, and group +themselves naturally around three dates--Aug. 19, Aug. 25, and Sept. 11. + +The arrival of the Germans in the district on Aug. 19 was marked by +systematic massacres and other outrages at Aerschot itself, Gelrode, and +some other villages. + +On Aug. 25 the Belgians, sallying out of the defenses of Antwerp, +attacked the German positions at Malines, drove the enemy from the town, +and reoccupied many of the villages, such as Sempst, Hofstade, and +Eppeghem, in the neighborhood. And, just as numerous outrages against +the civilian population had been the immediate consequence of the +temporary repulse of the German vanguard from Fort Fleron, so a large +body of depositions testify to the fact that a sudden outburst of +cruelty was the response of the German Army to the Belgian victory at +Malines. The advance of the German Army to the Dyle had been accompanied +by reprehensible, and, indeed, (in certain cases,) terrible outrages, +but these had been, it would appear, isolated acts, some of which are +attributed by witnesses to indignation at the check at Haelen, while +others may have been the consequence of drunkenness. But the battle of +Malines had results of a different order. In the first place, it was the +occasion of numerous murders committed by the German Army in retreating +through the villages of Sempst, Hofstade, Eppeghem, Elewyt, and +elsewhere. In the second place, it led, as it will be shown later, to +the massacres, plunderings, and burnings at Louvain, the signal for +which was provided by shots exchanged between the German Army retreating +after its repulse at Malines and some members of the German garrison of +Louvain who mistook their fellow-countrymen for Belgians. Lastly, the +encounter at Malines seems to have stung the Germans into establishing a +reign of terror in so much of the district comprised in the quadrangle +as remained in their power. Many houses were destroyed and their +contents stolen. Hundreds of prisoners were locked up in various +churches and were in some instances marched about from one village to +another. Some of these were finally conducted to Louvain and linked up +with the bands of prisoners taken in Louvain itself, and sent to Germany +and elsewhere. + +On Sept. 11, when the Germans were driven out of Aerschot across the +River Demer by a successful sortie from Antwerp, murders of civilians +were taking place in the villages which the Belgian Army then recaptured +from the Germans. These crimes bear a strong resemblance to those +committed in Hofstade and other villages after the battle of Malines. + + +AERSCHOT AND DISTRICT. + +Period I., (Aug. 19 and following days.) + +AERSCHOT. + +The German Army entered Aerschot quite early in the morning. Workmen +going to their work were seized and taken as hostages. + +The Germans, apparently already irritated, proceeded to make a search +for the priests and threatened to burn the convent if the priests should +happen to be found there. One priest was accused of inciting the +inhabitants to fire on the troops, and when he denied it the Burgomaster +was blamed by the officer. The priest then showed the officer the +notices on the walls, signed by the Burgomaster, warning the inhabitants +not to intervene in hostilities. + +It appears that they accused the priest of having fired at the Germans +from the tower of the church. This is important because it is one of the +not infrequent cases in which the Germans ascribed firing from a church +to priests, whereas in fact this firing came from Belgian soldiers, and +also because it seems to show that the Germans from the moment of their +arrival in Aerschot were seeking to pick a quarrel with the inhabitants, +and this goes far to explain their subsequent conduct. Hostages were +collected until 200 men, some of whom were invalids, were gathered +together. + +M. Tielmans, the Burgomaster, was then ordered by some German officers +to address the crowd and to tell them to hand in any weapons which they +might have in their possession at the Town Hall, and to warn them that +any one who was found with weapons would be killed. As a matter of fact, +the arms in the possession of civilians had already been collected at +the beginning of the war. The Burgomaster's speech resulted in the +delivery of one gun, which had been used for pigeon shooting. The +hostages were then released. Throughout the day the town was looted by +the soldiers. Many shop windows were broken, and the contents of the +shop fronts ransacked. + +A shot was fired about 7 o'clock in the evening, by which time many of +the soldiers were drunk. The Germans were not of one mind as to the +direction from which the shot proceeded. Some said it came from a +jeweler's shop, and some said it came from other houses. No one was hit +by this shot, but thereafter German soldiers began to fire in various +directions at people in the streets. + +It is said that a German General or Colonel was killed at the +Burgomaster's house. As far as the committee have been able to +ascertain, the identity of the officer has never been revealed. The +German version of the story is that he was killed by the 15-year-old son +of the Burgomaster. The committee, however, is satisfied by the evidence +of several independent witnesses that some German officers were standing +at the window of the Burgomaster's house, that a large body of German +troops was in the square, that some of these soldiers were drunk and let +off their rifles, that in the volley one of the officers standing at the +window of the Burgomaster's house fell, that at the time of the accident +the wife and son of the Burgomaster had gone to take refuge in the +cellar, and that neither the Burgomaster nor his son were in the least +degree responsible for the occurrence which served as the pretext for +their subsequent execution, and for the firing and sack of the town.[A] + +[Footnote A: This account agrees substantially with that given in a +letter written by Mme. Tielmans, the Burgomaster's wife, which is +printed in the fifth report of the Belgian Commission. The letter is as +follows: + + This is how it happened. About 4 in the afternoon my husband + was giving cigars to the sentinels stationed at the door. I + saw that the General and his aides de camp were looking at us + from the balcony and told him to come indoors. Just then I + looked toward the Grand Place, where more than 2,000 Germans + were encamped, and distinctly saw two columns of smoke + followed by a fusillade. The Germans were firing on the houses + and forcing their way into them. My husband, children, + servant, and myself had just time to dash into the staircase + leading to the cellar. The Germans were even firing into the + passages of the houses. After a few minutes of indescribable + horror, one of the General's aides de camp came down and said: + "The General is dead. Where is the Burgomaster?" My husband + said to me, "This will be serious for me." As he went forward + I said to the aide de camp: "You can see for yourself, Sir, + that my husband did not fire." "That makes no difference," he + said. "He is responsible." My husband was taken off. My son, + who was at my side, took us into another cellar. The same aide + de camp came and dragged him out and made him walk in front of + him, kicking him as he went. The poor boy could hardly walk. + That morning when they came to the town the Germans had fired + through the windows of the houses, and a bullet had come into + the room where my son was, and he had been wounded in the calf + by the ricochet. After my husband and son had gone I was + dragged all through the house by Germans, with their revolvers + leveled at my head. I was compelled to see their dead General. + Then my daughter and I were thrown into the street without + cloaks or anything. We were massed in the Grand Place, + surrounded by a cordon of soldiers, and compelled to witness + the destruction of our beloved town. And then, by the hideous + light of the fire, I saw them for the last time, about 1 in + the morning, my husband and my boy tied together. My + brother-in-law was behind them. They were being led out to + execution.] + +The houses were set on fire with special apparatus, while people were +dragged from their houses, already burning, and some were shot in the +streets. + +Many civilians were marched to a field on the road to Louvain and kept +there all night. Meanwhile many of the inhabitants were collected in the +square. By this time very many of the troops were drunk. + +On the following day a number of the civilians were shot under the +orders of an officer, together with the Burgomaster, his brother, and +his son. Of this incident, which is spoken to by many witnesses, a clear +account is given: + + "German soldiers came and took hold of me and every other man + they could see, and eventually there were about sixty of us, + including some of 80, (i.e., years of age,) and they made us + accompany them ... all the prisoners had to walk with their + hands above their heads. We were then stopped and made to + stand in a line, and an officer, a big fat man who had a + bluish uniform ... came along the line and picked out the + Burgomaster, his brother, and his son, and some men who had + been employed under the Red Cross. In all, ten men were picked + out ... the remainder were made to turn their backs upon the + ten. I then heard some shots fired, and I and the other men + turned around and we saw all the ten men, including the + Burgomaster, were lying on the ground." + +This incident is spoken to by other witnesses also. Some of their +depositions appear in the appendix. + + +GELRODE. + +On the same day at Gelrode, a small village close to Aerschot, +twenty-five civilians were imprisoned in the church. Seven were taken +out by fifteen German soldiers in charge of an officer just outside. One +of the seven tried to run away, whereupon all the six who remained +behind alive were shot. This was on the night of Aug. 19. No provocation +whatever had been given. The men in question had been searched, and no +arms had been found upon them. Here, as at Aerschot, precautions had +been taken previously to secure the delivery up of all arms in the hands +of civilians. + +Some of the survivors were compelled to dig graves for the seven. At a +later date the corpses were disinterred and reburied in consecrated +ground. The marks of the bullets in the brick wall against which the six +were shot were then still plainly visible. On the same day a woman was +shot by some German soldiers as she was walking home. This was done at a +distance of 100 yards and for no apparent reason. + +An account of a murder by an officer at Campenhout is given in a later +part of this report, and depositions relating to Rotselaer, Tremeloo, +and Wespelaer will be found in the appendix. + +The committee is specially impressed by the character of the outrages +committed in the smaller villages. Many of these are exceptionally +shocking and cannot be regarded as contemplated or prescribed by the +responsible commanders of the troops by whom they were committed. The +inference, however, which we draw from these occurrences is that when +once troops have been encouraged in a career of terrorism the more +savage and brutal natures, of whom there are some in every large army, +are liable to run to wild excess, more particularly in those regions +where they are least subject to observation and control. + + +AERSCHOT AND DISTRICT. + +Period II., (Aug. 25.) + +Immediately after the battle of Malines, which resulted in the +evacuation by the Germans of the district of Malines, Sempst, Hofstade, +and Eppeghem, a long series of murders were committed either just before +or during the retreat of the army. Many of the inhabitants who were +unarmed, including women and young children, were killed--some of them +under revolting circumstances. + +Evidence given goes to show that the death of these villagers was due +not to accident, but to deliberate purpose. The wounds were generally +stabs or cuts, and for the most part appear to have been inflicted with +the bayonet. + + +MALINES. + +In Malines itself many bodies were seen. One witness saw a German +soldier cut a woman's breasts after he had murdered her, and saw many +other dead bodies of women in the streets. + + +HOFSTADE. + +In Hofstade a number of houses had been set on fire and many corpses +were seen, some in houses, some in back yards, and some in the streets. + +Several examples are given below. + +Two witnesses speak to having seen the body of a young man pierced by +bayonet thrusts with the wrists cut also. + +On a side road the corpse of a civilian was seen on his doorstep with a +bayonet wound in his stomach, and by his side the dead body of a boy of +5 or 6 with his hands nearly severed. + +The corpses of a woman and boy were seen at the blacksmith's. They had +been killed with the bayonet. + +In a cafe a young man, also killed with the bayonet, was holding his +hands together as if in the attitude of supplication. + +Two young women were lying in the back yard of the house. One had her +breasts cut off, the other had been stabbed. + +A young man had been hacked with the bayonet until his entrails +protruded. He also had his hands joined in the attitude of prayer. + +In the garden of a house in the main street bodies of two women were +observed, and in another house the body of a boy of 16 with two bayonet +wounds in the chest. + + +SEMPST. + +In Sempst a similar condition of affairs existed. Houses were burning +and in some of them were the charred remains of civilians. + +In a bicycle shop a witness saw the burned corpse of a man. Other +witnesses speak to this incident. + +Another civilian, unarmed, was shot as he was running away. As will be +remembered, all the arms had been given up some time before by order of +the Burgomaster. + +The corpse of a man with his legs cut off, who was partly bound, was +seen by another witness, who also saw a girl of 17 dressed only in a +chemise, and in great distress. She alleged that she herself and other +girls had been dragged into a field, stripped naked, and violated, and +that some of them had been killed with the bayonet. + +WEERDE.--At Weerde four corpses of civilians were lying in the road. It +was said that these men had fired upon the German soldiers; but this is +denied. The arms had been given up long before. + +Two children were killed in a village, apparently Weerde, quite wantonly +as they were standing in the road with their mother. They were 3 or 4 +years old and were killed with the bayonet. + +A small farm burning close by formed a convenient means of getting rid +of the bodies. They were thrown into the flames from the bayonets. It is +right to add that no commissioned officer was present at the time. + +EPPEGHEM.--At Eppeghem on Aug. 25 a pregnant woman who had been wounded +with a bayonet was discovered in the convent. She was dying. On the road +six dead bodies of laborers were seen. + +ELEWYT.--At Elewyt a man's naked body was tied up to a ring in the wall +in the back yard of a house. He was dead, and his corpse was mutilated +in a manner too horrible to record. A woman's naked body was also found +in a stable abutting on the same back yard. + +VILVORDE.--At Vilvorde corpses of civilians were also found. These +villages are all on the line from Malines to Brussels. + +BOORT MEERBEEK.--At Boort Meerbeek a German soldier was seen to fire +three times at a little girl 5 years old. Having failed to hit her, he +subsequently bayoneted her. He was killed with the butt end of a rifle +by a Belgian soldier who had seen him commit this murder from a +distance. + +HERENT.--At Herent the charred body of a civilian was found in a +butcher's shop, and in a handcart twenty yards away was the dead body of +a laborer. + +Two eyewitnesses relate that a German soldier shot a civilian and +stabbed him with a bayonet as he lay. He then made one of these +witnesses, a civilian prisoner, smell the blood on the bayonet. + +HAECHT.--At Haecht the bodies of ten civilians were seen lying in a row +by a brewery wall. + +In a laborer's house, which had been broken up, the mutilated corpse of +a woman of 30 to 35 was discovered. + +A child of 3 with its stomach cut open by a bayonet was lying near a +house. + +WERCHTER.--At Werchter the corpses of a man and woman and four younger +persons were found in one house. It is stated that they had been +murdered because one of the latter, a girl, would not allow the Germans +to outrage her. + +This catalogue of crimes does not by any means represent the sum total +of the depositions relating to this district laid before the committee. +The above are given merely as examples of acts which the evidence shows +to have taken place in numbers that might have seemed scarcely credible. + +In the rest of the district, that is to say, Aerschot and the other +villages from which the Germans had not been driven, the effect of the +battle was to cause a recrudescence of murder, arson, pillage, and +cruelty, which had to some extent died down after Aug. 20 or 21. + +In Aerschot itself fresh prisoners seem to have been taken and added to +those who were already in the church, since it would appear that +prisoners were kept to some extent in the church during the whole of +the German occupation of Aerschot. The second occasion on which large +numbers of prisoners were put there was shortly after the battle of +Malines, and it was then that the priest of Gelrode was brought to +Aerschot Church, treated abominably, and finally murdered. + +[Illustration: GENERAL SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON, K.C.B. + +Chief of the British General Staff, Who Made a Remarkable Record as +Quartermaster General in France + +_(Photo from Bain News Service.)_] + +[Illustration: GENERAL FOCH + +The Brilliant Strategist Who Commands the French Armies of the North + +_(Photo from P.S. Rogers.)_] + +One witness describes the scene graphically: + + "The whole of the prisoners--men, women and children--were + placed in the church. Nobody was allowed to go outside the + church to obey the calls of nature; the church had to be used + for that purpose. We were afterward allowed to go outside the + church for this purpose, and then I saw the clergyman of + Gelrode standing by the wall of the church with his hands + above his head, being guarded by soldiers." + +The actual details of the murder of the priest are as follows: The +priest was struck several times by the soldiers on the head. He was +pushed up against the wall of the church. He asked in Flemish to be +allowed to stand with his face to the wall, and tried to turn around. +The Germans stopped him and then turned him with his face to the wall, +with his hands above his head. An hour later the same witness saw the +priest still standing there. He was then led away by the Germans a +distance of about fifty yards. There, with his face against the wall of +a house, he was shot by five soldiers. + +Other murders of which we have evidence appear in the appendix. + +Some of the prisoners in the church at Aerschot were actually kept there +until the arrival of the Belgian Army on Sept. 11, when they were +released. Others were marched to Louvain and eventually merged with +other prisoners, both from Louvain itself and the surrounding districts, +and taken to Germany and elsewhere. + +It is said by one witness that about 1,500 were marched to Louvain and +that the journey took six hours. + +The journey to Louvain is thus described by a witness: We were all +marched off to Louvain, walking. There were some very old people, among +others a man 90 years of age. The very old people were drawn in carts +and barrows by the younger men. There was an officer with a bicycle, +who shouted, as people fell out by the side of the road, "Shoot them!" + + +AERSCHOT AND DISTRICT. + +Period III., (September.) + +It is unnecessary to describe with much particularity the events of the +period beginning about Sept. 10. The Belgian soldiers, who had +recaptured the place, found corpses of civilians who must have been +murdered in Aerschot itself just as they found them in Sempst and the +other villages on Aug. 25. Some of these bodies were found in wells and +some had been burned alive in their houses. + +The prisoners released by the Belgian Army from the church were almost +starved. + +HAECHT.--At Haecht several children had been murdered, one of 2 or 3 +years of age was found nailed to the door of a farmhouse by its hands +and feet--a crime which seems almost incredible, but the evidence for +which we feel bound to accept. In the garden of this house was the body +of a girl who had been shot in the forehead. + +CAPELLE-AU-BOIS.--At Capelle-au-Bois two children were murdered in a +cart and their corpses were seen by many witnesses at different stages +of the cart's journey. + +EPPEGHEM.--At Eppeghem the dead body of a child of 2 was seen pinned to +the ground with a German lance. Same witness saw a mutilated woman alive +near Weerde on the same day. + +TREMELOO.--Belgian soldiers on patrol duty found a young girl naked on +the ground, covered with scratches. She complained of having been +violated. On the same day an old woman was seen kneeling by the body of +her husband, and she told them that the Germans had shot him as he was +trying to escape from the house. + + +LOUVAIN AND DISTRICT. + +The events spoken to as having occurred in and around Louvain between +the 19th and the 25th of August deserve close attention. + +For six days the Germans were in peaceful occupation of the city. No +houses were set on fire--no citizens killed. There was a certain amount +of looting of empty houses, but otherwise discipline was effectively +maintained. The condition of Louvain during these days was one of +relative peace and quietude, presenting a striking contrast to the +previous and contemporaneous conduct of the German Army elsewhere. + +On the evening of Aug. 25 a sudden change takes place. The Germans, on +that day repulsed by the Belgians, had retreated to and reoccupied +Louvain. Immediately the devastation of that city and the holocaust of +its population commences. The inference is irresistible that the army as +a whole wreaked its vengeance on the civil population and the buildings +of the city in revenge for the setback which the Belgian arms had +inflicted on them. A subsidiary cause alleged was the assertion, often +made before that civilians had fired upon the German Army. + +The depositions which relate to Louvain are numerous, and are believed +by the committee to present a true and fairly complete picture of the +events of the 25th and 26th of August and subsequent days. We find no +grounds for thinking that the inhabitants fired upon the German Army on +the evening of the 25th of August. Eyewitnesses worthy of credence +detail exactly when, where, and how the firing commenced. Such firing +was by Germans on Germans. No impartial tribunal could, in our opinion, +come to any other conclusion. + +On the evening of the 25th firing could be heard in the direction of +Herent, some three kilometers from Louvain. An alarm was sounded in the +city. There was disorder and confusion, and at 8 o'clock horses attached +to baggage wagons stampeded in the street and rifle fire commenced. This +was in the Rue de la Station and came from the German police guard, (21 +in number,) who, seeing the troops arrive in disorder, thought it was +the enemy. Then the corps of incendiaries got to work. They had broad +belts with the words "Gott mit uns," and their equipment consisted of a +hatchet, a syringe, a small shovel, and a revolver. Fires blazed up in +the direction of the Law Courts, St. Martin's Barracks, and later in the +Place de la Station. Meanwhile an incessant fusillade was kept up on the +windows of the houses. In their efforts to escape the flames the +inhabitants climbed the walls. + + "My mother and servants," says a witness, "had to do the same + and took refuge at Monsieur A.'s, whose cellars are vaulted + and afforded a better protection than mine. A little later we + withdrew to Monsieur A.'s stables, where about thirty people + who had got there by climbing the walls were to be found. Some + of these poor wretches had to climb twenty walls. A ring came + at the bell. We opened the door. Several civilians flung + themselves under the porch. The Germans were firing upon them + from the street. Every moment new fires were lighting up, + accompanied by explosions. In the middle of the night I heard + a knock at the outer door of the stable which led into a + little street, and heard a woman's voice crying for help. I + opened the door, and just as I was going to let her in a rifle + shot fired from the street by a German soldier rang out and + the woman fell dead at my feet. About 9 in the morning things + got quieter, and we took the opportunity of venturing into the + street. A German who was carrying a silver pyx and a number of + boxes of cigars told us we were to go to the station, where + trains would be waiting for us. When we got to the Place de la + Station we saw in the square seven or eight dead bodies of + murdered civilians. Not a single house in the place was + standing. A whole row of houses behind the station at Blauwput + was burned. After being driven hither and thither interminably + by officers, who treated us roughly and insulted us + throughout, we were divided." + +The prisoners were then distributed between different bodies of troops +and marched in the direction of Herent. Seventy-seven inhabitants of +Louvain, including a number of people of good position, (the names of +several are given,) were thus taken to Herent. + + "We found the village of Herent in flames, so much so that we + had to quicken up to prevent ourselves from being suffocated + and burned up by the flames in the middle of the road. + Half-burned corpses of civilians were lying in front of the + houses. During a halt soldiers stole cattle and slaughtered + them where they stood. Firing started on our left. We were + told it was the civilians firing, and that we were going to be + shot. The truth is that it was the Germans themselves who were + firing to frighten us. There was not a single civilian in the + neighborhood. Shortly afterward we proceeded on our march to + Malines. We were insulted and threatened.... The officers were + worse than the men. We got to Campenhout about 7 P.M., and + were locked into the church with all the male population of + the village. Some priests had joined our numbers. We had had + nothing to eat or drink since the evening of the day before. A + few compassionate soldiers gave us water to drink, but no + official took the trouble to see that we were fed." + +Next day, Thursday, the 27th, a safe conduct to return to Louvain was +given, but the prisoners had hardly started, when they were stopped and +taken before a Brigade General and handed to another escort. Some were +grossly ill-treated. They were accused of being soldiers out of uniform, +and were told they could not go to Louvain, "as the town was going to be +razed to the ground." Other prisoners were added, even women and +children, until there were more than 200. They were then taken toward +Malines, released, and told to go to that town together, and that those +who separated would be fired on. Other witnesses corroborate the events +described by the witness. + +A woman employed by an old gentleman living in the Rue de la Station +tells the story of her master's death: + + "We had supper as usual about 8, but two German officers, (who + were staying in the house,) did not come in to supper that + evening. My master went to bed at 8:15, and so did his son. + The servants went to bed at 9:30. Soon after I got to my + bedroom I saw out of my room flames from some burning house + near by. I roused my master and his son. As they came down the + stairs they were seized by German soldiers and both were tied + up and led out, my master being tied with a rope and his son + with a chain. They were dragged outside. I did not actually + see what happened outside, but heard subsequently that my + master was bayoneted and shot, and that his son was shot. I + heard shots from the kitchen, where I was, and was present at + the burial of my master and his son thirteen days later. + German soldiers came back into the house and poured some + inflammable liquid over the floors and set fire to it. I + escaped by another staircase to that which my master and his + son had descended." + +On the 26th, (Wednesday,) in the City of Louvain, massacre, fire, and +destruction went on. The university, with its library, the Church of St. +Peter, and many houses were set on fire and burned to the ground. +Citizens were shot and others taken prisoners and compelled to go with +the troops. Soldiers went through the streets saying "Man hat +geschossen."[A] One soldier was seen going along shooting in the air. + +[Footnote A: "They have been shooting."] + +Many of the people hid in cellars, but the soldiers shot down through +the gratings. Some citizens were shot on opening the doors, others in +endeavoring to escape. Among other persons whose houses were burned was +an old man of 90 lying dangerously ill, who was taken out on his +mattress and left lying in his garden all night. He died shortly after +in the hospital to which a friend took him the following morning. + +On Thursday, the 27th, orders were given that every one should leave the +city, which was to be razed to the ground. Some citizens, including a +canon of the cathedral, with his aged mother, were ordered to go to the +station and afterward to take the road to Tirlemont. Among the number +were about twenty priests from Louvain. They were insulted and +threatened, but ultimately allowed to go free and make their way as best +they could, women and sick persons among them, to Tirlemont. Other +groups of prisoners from Louvain were on the same day taken by other +routes, some early in the morning, through various villages in the +direction of Malines, with hands tightly bound by a long cord. More +prisoners were afterward added, and all made to stay the night in the +church at Campenhout. Next day, the 28th, this group, then consisting of +about 1,000 men, women and children, was taken back to Louvain. The +houses along the road were burning and many dead bodies of civilians, +men and women, were seen on the way. Some of the principal streets in +Louvain had by that time been burned out. The prisoners were placed in a +large building on the cavalry exercise ground--"One woman went mad, some +children died, others were born." On the 29th the prisoners were marched +along the Malines road, and at Herent the women and children and men +over 40 were allowed to go; the others were taken to Boort Meerbeek, 15 +kilometers from Malines, and told to march straight to Malines or be +shot. At 11 P.M. they reached the fort of Waelhem and were at first +fired on by the sentries, but on calling out they were Belgians were +allowed to pass. These prisoners were practically without food from +early morning on the 26th until midnight on the 29th. Of the corpses +seen on the road, some had their hands tied behind their backs, others +were burned, some had been killed by blows, and some corpses were those +of children who had been shot. + +Another witness, a man of independent means, was arrested at noon by the +soldiers of the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Regiment and taken to the +Place de la Station. He was grossly ill-treated on the way and robbed by +an officer of his purse and keys. His hands were tied behind his back. +His wife was kept a prisoner at the other side of the station. He was +then made to march with about 500 other prisoners until midnight, slept +in the rain that night, and next day, having had no food since leaving +Louvain, was taken to the church in Rotselaer, where there were then +about 1,500 prisoners confined, including some infants. No food was +given, only some water. Next day they were taken through Wespelaer and +back to Louvain. On the way from Rotselaer to Wespelaer fifty bodies +were seen, some naked and carbonized and unrecognizable. When they +arrived at Louvain the Fish Market, the Place Marguerite, the cathedral, +and many other buildings were on fire. In the evening about 100 men, +women, and children were put in horse trucks from which the dung had not +been removed, and at 6 the next morning left for Cologne. + +The wife of this witness was also taken prisoner with her husband and +her maid, but was separated from him, and she saw other ladies made to +walk before the soldiers with their hands above their heads. One, an old +lady of 85, (name given,) was dragged from her cellar and taken with +them to the station. They were kept there all night, but set free in the +morning, Thursday, but shortly afterward sent to Tirlemont on foot. A +number of corpses were seen on the way. The prisoners, of whom there are +said to have been thousands, were not allowed even to have water to +drink, although there were streams on the way from which the soldiers +drank. Witness was given some milk at a farm, but as she raised it to +her lips it was taken away from her. + +A priest was taken on Friday morning Aug. 28, and placed at the head of +a number of refugees from Wygmael. He was led through Louvain, abused +and ill-treated, and placed with some thousands of other people in the +riding school in the Rue du Manege. The glass roof broke in the night +from the heat of burning buildings around. Next day the prisoners were +marched through the country with an armed guard. Burned farms and burned +corpses were seen on the way. The prisoners were finally separated into +three groups, and the younger men marched through Herent and Bueken to +Campenhout, and ultimately reached the Belgian lines about midnight on +Saturday, Aug. 29. All the houses in Herent, a village of about 5,000 +inhabitants, had been burned. + +The massacre of civilians at Louvain was not confined to its citizens. +Large crowds of people were brought into Louvain from the surrounding +districts, not only from Aerschot and Gelrode as above mentioned, but +also from other places. For example, a witness describes how many women +and children were taken in carts to Louvain, and there placed in a +stable. Of the hundreds of people thus taken from the various villages +and brought to Louvain as prisoners, some were massacred there, others +were forced to march along with citizens of Louvain through various +places, some being ultimately sent on the 29th to the Belgian lines at +Malines, others were taken in trucks to Cologne as described below, +others were released. An account of the massacre of some of these +unfortunate civilian prisoners given by two witnesses may be quoted: + + "We were all placed in Station Street, Louvain, and the German + soldiers fired upon us. I saw the corpses of some women in the + street. I fell down, and a woman who had been shot fell on top + of me. I did not dare to look at the dead bodies in the + street, there were so many of them. All of them had been shot + by the German soldiers. One woman whom I saw lying dead in the + street was a Miss J., about 35. I also saw the body of A.M., + (a woman.) She had been shot. I saw an officer pull her corpse + underneath a wagon." + +Another witness, who was taken from Aerschot, also describes the +occurrence: + + "I was afterward taken with a large number of other civilians + and placed in the church at Louvain. Then we were taken to + Station Street, Louvain. There were about 1,500 civilians of + both sexes, and we had been marched from Aerschot to Louvain. + When we were in Station Street I felt that something was about + to happen, and I tried to shelter in a doorway. The German + soldiers then fired a mitrailleuse and their rifles upon the + people, and the people fell on all sides. Two men next to me + were killed. I afterward saw some one give a signal, and the + firing ceased. I then ran away with a married woman named B., + (whose maiden name was A.M.,) aged 29, who belonged to + Aerschot, but we were again captured. She was shot by the side + of me, and I saw her fall. Several other people were shot at + the same time. I again ran away, and in my flight saw children + falling out of their mothers' arms. I cannot say whether they + were shot, or whether they fell from their mothers' arms in + the great panic which ensued. I, however, saw children + bleeding." + + +JOURNEY TO COLOGNE. + +The greatest number of prisoners from Louvain, however, were assembled +at the station and taken by trains to Cologne. Several witnesses +describe their sufferings and the ill-treatment they received on the +journey. One of the first trains started in the afternoon. It consisted +of cattle trucks, about 100 being in each truck. It took three days to +get to Cologne. The prisoners had nothing to eat but a few biscuits +each, and they were not allowed to get out for water and none was given. +On a wagon the words "Civilians who shot at the soldiers at Louvain" +were written. Some were marched through Cologne afterward for the people +to see. Ropes were put about the necks of some and they were told they +would be hanged. An order then came that they were to be shot instead of +hanged. A firing squad was prepared and five or six prisoners were put +up, but were not shot. After being kept a week at Cologne some of these +prisoners were taken back--this time only thirty or forty in a +truck--and allowed to go free on arriving at Limburg. Several witnesses +who were taken in other trains to Cologne describe their experiences in +detail. Some of the trucks were abominably filthy. Prisoners were not +allowed to leave to obey the calls of nature; one man who quitted the +truck for the purpose was killed by a bayonet. Describing what happened +to another body of prisoners, a witness says that they were made to +cross Station Street, where the houses were burning, and taken to the +station, placed in horse trucks, crowded together, men, women, and +children, in each wagon. They were kept at the station during the night, +and the following day left for Cologne. For two days and a half they +were without food, and then they received a loaf of bread among ten +persons, and some water. The prisoners were afterward taken back to +Belgium. They were, in all, eight days in the train, crowded and almost +without food. Two of the men went mad. The women and children were +separated from the men at Brussels. The men were taken to a suburb and +then to the villages of Herent, Vilvorde, and Sempst, and afterward set +at liberty. + +This taking of the inhabitants, including some of the influential +citizens, in groups and marching them to various places, and in +particular the sending of them to Malines and the dispatch of great +numbers to Cologne, must evidently have been done under the direction of +the higher military authorities. The ill-treatment of the prisoners was +under the eyes and often by the direction or with the sanction of +officers, and officers themselves took part in it. + +The object of taking many hundreds of prisoners to Cologne and back into +Belgium is at first sight difficult to understand. Possibly it is to be +regarded as part of the policy of punishment for Belgian resistance and +general terrorization of the inhabitants--possibly as a desire to show +these people to the population of a German city and thus to confirm the +belief that the Belgians had shot at their troops. + +Whatever may have been the case when the burning began on the evening of +the 25th, it appears clear that the subsequent destruction and outrages +were done with a set purpose. It was not until the 26th that the +library, and other university buildings, the Church of St. Peter and +many houses were set on fire. It is to be noticed that cases occur in +the depositions in which humane acts by individual officers and soldiers +are mentioned, or in which officers are said to have expressed regret at +being obliged to carry out orders for cruel action against the +civilians. Similarly, we find entries in diaries which reveal a genuine +pity for the population and disgust at the conduct of the army. It +appears that a German non-commissioned officer stated definitely that he +"was acting under orders and executing them with great unwillingness." A +commissioned officer on being asked at Louvain by a witness--a highly +educated man--about the horrible acts committed by the soldiers, said he +"was merely executing orders," and that he himself would be shot if he +did not execute them. Others gave less credible excuses, one stating +that the inhabitants of Louvain had burned the city themselves because +they did not wish to supply food and quarters for the German Army. It +was to the discipline rather than the want of discipline in the army +that these outrages, which we are obliged to describe as systematic, +were due, and the special official notices posted on certain houses that +they were not to be destroyed show the fate which had been decreed for +the others which were not so marked. + +We are driven to the conclusion that the harrying of the villages in the +district, the burning of a large part of Louvain, the massacres there, +the marching out of the prisoners, and the transport to Cologne, (all +done without inquiry as to whether the particular persons seized or +killed had committed any wrongful act,) were due to a calculated policy +carried out scientifically and deliberately, not merely with the +sanction but under the direction of higher military authorities, and +were not due to any provocation or resistance by the civilian +population. + + +TERMONDE. + +To understand the depositions describing what happened at Termonde it is +necessary to remember that the German Army occupied the town on two +occasions, the first, from Friday, Sept. 4, to Sunday, Sept. 6, and +again later in the month, about the 16th. The civilians had delivered up +their arms a fortnight before the arrival of the Germans. + +Early in the month, probably about the 4th, a witness saw two civilians +murdered by Uhlans. Another witness saw their dead bodies, which +remained in the street for ten days. Two hundred civilians were utilized +as a screen by the German troops about this date. + +On the 5th the town was partially burned. One witness was taken prisoner +in the street by some German soldiers, together with several other +civilians. At about 12 o'clock some of the tallest and strongest men +among the prisoners were picked out to go around the streets with +paraffin. Three or four carts containing paraffin tanks were brought up, +and a syringe was used to put paraffin on to the houses, which were then +fired. The process of destruction began with the houses of rich people, +and afterward the houses of the poorer classes were treated in the same +manner. German soldiers had previously told this witness that if the +Burgomaster of Termonde, who was out of town, did not return by 12 +o'clock that day the town would be set on fire. The firing of the town +was in consequence of his failure to return. The prisoners were +afterward taken to a factory and searched for weapons. They were +subsequently provided with passports enabling them to go anywhere in the +town, but not outside. The witness in question managed to effect his +escape by swimming across the river. + +Another witness describes how the tower of the Church of Termonde St. +Gilles was utilized by the Belgian troops for offensive purposes. They +had in fact mounted a machine gun there. This witness was subsequently +taken prisoner in a cellar in Termonde in which he had taken refuge with +other people. All the men were taken from the cellar and the women were +left behind. About seventy prisoners in all were taken; one, a brewer +who could not walk fast enough, was wounded with a bayonet. He fell down +and was compelled to get up and follow the soldiers. The prisoners had +to hold up their hands, and if they dropped their hands they were struck +on the back with the butt end of rifles. They were taken to Lebbeke, +where there were in all 300 prisoners, and there they were locked up in +the church for three days and with scarcely any food. + +A witness living at Baesrode was taken prisoner with 250 others and kept +all night in a field. The prisoners were released on the following +morning. This witness saw three corpses of civilians, and says that the +Germans on Sunday, the 6th, plundered and destroyed the houses of those +who had fled. The Germans left on the following day, taking about thirty +men with them, one a man of 72 years of age. + +Later in the month civilians were again used as a screen, and there is +evidence of other acts of outrage. + + +ALOST. + +Alost was the scene of fighting between the Belgian and German Armies +during the whole of the latter part of the month of September. In +connection with the fighting numerous cruelties appear to have been +perpetrated by the German troops. + +On Saturday, Sept. 11, a weaver was bayoneted in the street. Another +civilian was shot dead at his door on the same night. On the following +day the witness was taken prisoner together with thirty others. The +money of the prisoners was confiscated, and they were subsequently used +as a screen for the German troops who were at that moment engaged in a +conflict with the Belgian Army in the town itself. The Germans burned a +number of houses at this time. Corpses of 14 civilians were seen in the +streets on this occasion. + +A well-educated witness, who visited the Wetteren Hospital shortly after +this date, saw the dead bodies of a number of civilians belonging to +Alost, and other civilians wounded. One of these stated that he took +refuge in the house of his sister-in-law; that the Germans dragged the +people out of the house, which was on fire, seized him, threw him on the +ground, and hit him on the head with the butt end of a rifle, and ran +him through the thigh with a bayonet. They then placed him with +seventeen or eighteen others in front of the German troops, threatening +them with revolvers. They said that they were going to make the people +of Alost pay for the losses sustained by the Germans. At this hospital +was an old woman of 80 completely transfixed by a bayonet. + +Other crimes on noncombatants at Alost belong to the end of the month of +September. Many witnesses speak to the murder of harmless civilians. + +In Binnenstraat the Germans broke open the windows of the houses and +threw fluid inside, and the houses burst into flames. Some of the +inhabitants were burned to death. + +The civilians were utilized on Saturday, Sept. 26, as a screen. During +their retreat the Germans fired twelve houses in Rue des Trois Clefs, +and three civilians, whose names are given, were shot dead in that +street after the firing of the houses. On the following day a heap of +nine dead civilians were lying in the Rue de l'Argent. + +Similar outrages occurred at Erpe, a village a few miles from Alost, +about the same date. The village was deliberately burned. The houses +were plundered and some civilians were murdered. + +Civilians were apparently used as a screen at Erpe, but they were +prisoners taken from Alost and not dwellers in that village. + + +DIARIES OF GERMAN SOLDIERS. + +This disregard for the lives of civilians is strikingly shown in +extracts from German soldiers' diaries, of which the following are +representative examples. + +Barthel, who was a Sergeant and standard bearer of the Second Company of +the First Guards Regiment of Foot, and who during the campaign received +the Iron Cross, says, under date Aug. 10, 1914: + + "A transport of 300 Belgians came through Duisburg in the + morning. Of these, eighty, including the Oberburgomaster, were + shot according to martial law." + +Matbern of the Fourth Company of Jaegers, No. 11, from Marburg, states +that at a village between Birnal and Dinant on Sunday, Aug. 23, the +Pioneers and Infantry Regiment One Hundred and Seventy-eight were fired +upon by the inhabitants. He gives no particulars beyond this. He +continues: + + "About 220 inhabitants were shot, and the village was burned. + Artillery is continuously shooting--the village lies in a + large ravine. Just now, 6 o'clock in the afternoon, the + crossing of the Meuse begins near Dinant. All villages, + chateaux and houses are burned down during the night. It is a + beautiful sight to see the fires all around us in the + distance." + +Bombardier Wetzel of the Second Mounted Battery, First Kurhessian Field +Artillery Regiment, No. 11, records an incident which happened in French +territory near Lille on Oct. 11: "We had no fight, but we caught about +twenty men and shot them." By this time killing not in a fight would +seem to have passed into a habit. + +Diary No. 32 gives an accurate picture of what took place in Louvain: + + "What a sad scene--all the houses surrounding the railway + station completely destroyed--only some foundation walls still + standing. On the station square captured guns. At the end of a + main street there is the Council Hall which has been + completely preserved with all its beautiful turrets; a sharp + contrast: 180 inhabitants are stated to have been shot after + they had dug their own graves." + +The last and most important entry is that contained in Diary No. 19. +This is a blue book interleaved with blotting paper, and contains no +name and address; there is, however, one circumstance which makes it +possible to speak with certainty as to the regiment of the writer. He +gives the names of First Lieutenant von Oppen, Count Eulenburg, Captain +von Roeder, First Lieutenant von Bock und Polach, Second Lieutenant +Count Hardenberg, and Lieutenant Engelbrecht. A perusal of the Prussian +Army list of June, 1914, shows that all these officers, with the +exception of Lieutenant Engelbrecht, belonged to the First Regiment of +Foot Guards. On Aug. 24, 1914, the writer was in Ermeton. The exact +translation of the extract, grim in its brevity, is as follows: + + "24.8.14. We took about 1,000 prisoners: at least 500 were + shot. The village was burned because inhabitants had also + shot. Two civilians were shot at once." + +We may now sum up and endeavor to explain the character and significance +of the wrongful acts done by the German Army in Belgium. + +If a line is drawn on a map from the Belgian frontier to Liege and +continued to Charleroi, and a second line drawn from Liege to Malines, a +sort of figure resembling an irregular Y will be formed. It is along +this Y that most of the systematic (as opposed to isolated) outrages +were committed. If the period from Aug. 4 to Aug. 30 is taken it will be +found to cover most of these organized outrages. Termonde and Alost +extend, it is true, beyond the Y lines, and they belong to the month of +September. Murder, rape, arson, and pillage began from the moment when +the German Army crossed the frontier. For the first fortnight of the war +the towns and villages near Liege were the chief sufferers. From Aug. 19 +to the end of the month, outrages spread in the directions of Charleroi +and Malines and reach their period of greatest intensity. There is a +certain significance in the fact that the outrages around Liege +coincide with the unexpected resistance of the Belgian Army in that +district, and that the slaughter which reigned from Aug. 19 to the end +of the month is contemporaneous with the period when the German Army's +need for a quick passage through Belgium at all costs was deemed +imperative. + +Here let a distinction be drawn between two classes of outrages. + +Individual acts of brutality--ill-treatment of civilians, rape, plunder, +and the like--were very widely committed. These are more numerous and +more shocking than would be expected in warfare between civilized +powers, but they differ rather in extent than in kind from what has +happened in previous though not recent wars. + +In all wars many shocking and outrageous acts must be expected, for in +every large army there must be a proportion of men of criminal instincts +whose worst passions are unloosed by the immunity which the conditions +of warfare afford. Drunkenness, moreover, may turn even a soldier who +has no criminal habits into a brute, who may commit outrages at which he +would himself be shocked in his sober moments, and there is evidence +that intoxication was extremely prevalent among the German Army, both in +Belgium and in France, for plenty of wine was to be found in the +villages and country houses which were pillaged. Many of the worst +outrages appear to have been perpetrated by men under the influence of +drink. Unfortunately, little seems to have been done to repress this +source of danger. + +In the present war, however--and this is the gravest charge against the +German Army--the evidence shows that the killing of noncombatants was +carried out to an extent for which no previous war between nations +claiming to be civilized, (for such cases as the atrocities perpetrated +by the Turks on the Bulgarian Christians in 1876, and on the Armenian +Christians in 1895 and 1896, do not belong to that category,) furnishes +any precedent. That this killing was done as part of a deliberate plan +is clear from the facts hereinbefore set forth regarding Louvain, +Aerschot, Dinant, and other towns. The killing was done under orders in +each place. It began at a certain fixed date, and stopped, (with some +few exceptions,) at another fixed date. Some of the officers who carried +out the work did it reluctantly, and said they were obeying directions +from their chiefs. The same remarks apply to the destruction of +property. House burning was part of the program; and villages, even +large parts of a city, were given to the flames as part of the +terrorizing policy. + +Citizens of neutral States who visited Belgium in December and January +report that the German authorities do not deny that noncombatants were +systematically killed in large numbers during the first weeks of the +invasion, and this, so far as we know, has never been officially denied. +If it were denied, the flight and continued voluntary exile of thousands +of Belgian refugees would go far to contradict a denial, for there is no +historical parallel in modern times for the flight of a large part of a +nation before an invader. + +The German Government have, however, sought to justify their severities +on the grounds of military necessity, and have excused them as +retaliation for cases in which civilians fired on German troops. There +may have been cases in which such firing occurred, but no proof has ever +been given, or, to our knowledge, attempted to be given, of such cases, +nor of the stories of shocking outrages perpetrated by Belgian men and +women on German soldiers. + +The inherent improbability of the German contention is shown by the fact +that after the first few days of the invasion every possible precaution +had been taken by the Belgian authorities, by way of placards and +handbills, to warn the civilian population not to intervene in +hostilities. Throughout Belgium steps had been taken to secure the +handing over of all firearms in the possession of civilians before the +German Army arrived. These steps were sometimes taken by the police and +sometimes by the military authorities. + +The invaders appear to have proceeded upon the theory that any chance +shot coming from an unexpected place was fired by civilians. One +favorite form of this allegation was that priests had fired from the +church tower. In many instances the soldiers of the allied armies used +church towers and private houses as cover for their operations. At +Aerschot, where the Belgian soldiers were stationed in the church tower +and fired upon the Germans as they advanced, it was at once alleged by +the Germans when they entered the town, and with difficulty disproved, +that the firing had come from civilians. Thus one elementary error +creeps at once into the German argument, for they were likely to +confound, and did in some instances certainly confound, legitimate +military operations with the hostile intervention of civilians. + +Troops belonging to the same army often fire by mistake upon each other. +That the German Army was no exception to this rule is proved not only by +many Belgian witnesses, but by the most irrefragable kind of +evidence--the admission of German soldiers themselves, recorded in their +war diaries. Thus Otto Clepp, Second Company of the Reserve, says, under +date of Aug. 22: "Three A.M. Two infantry regiments shot at each +other--9 dead and 50 wounded--fault not yet ascertained." In this +connection the diaries of Kurt Hoffman and a soldier of the 112th +Regiment, (Diary No. 14,) will repay study. In such cases the obvious +interest of the soldier is to conceal his mistake, and a convenient +method of doing so is to raise the cry of "francs-tireurs!" + +Doubtless the German soldiers often believed that the civilian +population, naturally hostile, had, in fact, attacked them. This +attitude of mind may have been fostered by the German authorities +themselves before the troops passed the frontier, and thereafter stories +of alleged atrocities committed by Belgians upon Germans, such as the +myth referred to in one of the diaries relating to Liege, were +circulated among the troops and roused their anger. + +The diary of Barthel, when still in Germany on Aug. 10, shows that he +believed that the Oberburgomaster of Liege had murdered a Surgeon +General. The fact is that no violence was inflicted on the inhabitants +at Liege until the 19th, and no one who studies these pages can have any +doubt that Liege would immediately have been given over to murder and +destruction if any such incident had occurred. + +Letters written to their homes which have been found on the bodies of +dead Germans bear witness, in a way that now sounds pathetic, to the +kindness with which they were received by the civil population. Their +evident surprise at this reception was due to the stories which had been +dinned into their ears of soldiers with their eyes gouged out, +treacherous murders, and poisoned food--stories which may have been +encouraged by the higher military authorities in order to impress the +mind of the troops, as well as for the sake of justifying the measures +which they took to terrify the civil population. If there is any truth +in such stories, no attempt has been made to establish it. For instance, +the Chancellor of the German Empire, in a communication made to the +press on Sept. 2 and printed in the Nord Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung of +Sept. 21, said as follows: + + "Belgian girls gouged out the eyes of the German wounded. + Officials of Belgian cities have invited our officers to + dinner and shot and killed them across the table. Contrary to + all international law, the whole civilian population of + Belgium was called out and, after having at first shown + friendliness, carried on in the rear of our troops terrible + warfare with concealed weapons. Belgian women cut the throats + of soldiers whom they had quartered in their homes while they + were sleeping." + +No evidence whatever seems to have been adduced to prove these tales, +and though there may be cases in which individual Belgians fired on the +Germans, the statement that "the whole civilian population of Belgium +was called out" is utterly opposed to the fact. + +An invading army may be entitled to shoot at sight a civilian caught +redhanded, or any one who, though not caught redhanded, is proved guilty +on inquiry. But this was not the practice followed by the German troops. +They do not seem to have made any inquiry. They seized the civilians of +the villages indiscriminately and killed them, or such as they selected +from among them, without the least regard to guilt or innocence. The +mere cry, "Civilisten haben geschossen!" was enough to hand over a whole +village or district, and even outlying places, to ruthless slaughter. + +We gladly record the instances where the evidence shows that humanity +had not wholly disappeared from some members of the German Army, and +that they realized that the responsible heads of that organization were +employing them not in war, but in butchery: "I am merely executing +orders, and I should be shot if I did not execute them," said an officer +to a witness at Louvain. At Brussels another officer says: "I have not +done one-hundredth part of what we have been ordered to do by the high +German military authorities." + +As we have already observed, it would be unjust to charge upon the +German Army generally acts of cruelty which, whether due to drunkenness +or not, were done by men of brutal instincts and unbridled passions. +Such crimes were sometimes punished by the officers. They were in some +cases offset by acts of humanity and kindliness. But when an army is +directed or permitted to kill noncombatants on a large scale the +ferocity of the worst natures springs into fuller life, and both lust +and the thirst of blood become more widespread and more formidable. Had +less license been allowed to the soldiers and had they not been set to +work to slaughter civilians there would have been fewer of those painful +cases in which a depraved and morbid cruelty appears. + +Two classes of murders in particular require special mention because one +of them is almost new and the other altogether unprecedented. The former +is the seizure of peaceful citizens as so-called hostages, to be kept as +a pledge for the conduct of the civil population or as a means to +secure some military advantage or to compel the payment of a +contribution, the hostages being shot if the condition imposed by the +arbitrary will of the invader is not fulfilled. Such hostage-taking, +with the penalty of death attached, has now and then happened, the most +notable case being the shooting of the Archbishop of Paris and some of +his clergy by the Communards of Paris in 1871, but it is opposed both to +the rules of war and to every principle of justice and humanity. The +latter kind of murder is the killing of the innocent inhabitants of a +village because shots have been fired, or are alleged to have been +fired, on the troops by some one in the village. For this practice no +previous example and no justification have been or can be pleaded. +Soldiers suppressing an insurrection may have sometimes slain civilians +mingled with insurgents, and Napoleon's forces in Spain are said to have +now and then killed promiscuously when trying to clear guerrillas out of +a village. But in Belgium large bodies of men, sometimes including the +Burgomaster and the priest, were seized, marched by officers to a spot +chosen for the purpose, and there shot in cold blood, without any +attempt at trial or even inquiry, under the pretense of inflicting +punishment upon the village, though these unhappy victims were not even +charged with having themselves committed any wrongful act, and though, +in some cases at least, the village authorities had done all in their +power to prevent any molestation of the invading force. Such acts are no +part of war, for innocence is entitled to respect even in war. They are +mere murders, just as the drowning of the innocent passengers and crews +on a merchant ship is murder and not an act of war. + +That these acts should have been perpetrated on the peaceful population +of an unoffending country which was not at war with its invaders, but +merely defending its own neutrality, guaranteed by the invading power, +may excite amazement and even incredulity. It was with amazement and +almost with incredulity that the committee first read the depositions +relating to such acts. But when the evidence regarding Liege was +followed by that regarding Aerschot, Louvain, Andenne, Dinant, and the +other towns and villages, the cumulative effect of such a mass of +concurrent testimony became irresistible, and we were driven to the +conclusion that the things described had really happened. The question +then arose, how they could have happened. Not from mere military +license, for the discipline of the German Army is proverbially +stringent, and its obedience implicit. Not from any special ferocity of +the troops, for whoever has traveled among the German peasantry knows +that they are as kindly and good-natured as any people in Europe, and +those who can recall the war of 1870 will remember that no charges +resembling those proved by these depositions were then established. The +excesses recently committed in Belgium were, moreover too widespread and +too uniform in their character to be mere sporadic outbursts of passion +or rapacity. + +The explanation seems to be that these excesses were committed--in some +cases ordered, in others allowed--on a system and in pursuance of a set +purpose. That purpose was to strike terror into the civil population and +dishearten the Belgian troops, so as to crush down resistance and +extinguish the very spirit of self-defense. The pretext that civilians +had fired upon the invading troops was used to justify not merely the +shooting of individual francs-tireurs, but the murder of large numbers +of innocent civilians, an act absolutely forbidden by the rules of +civilized warfare.[A] + +[Footnote A: As to this, see, in appendix, the Rules of The Hague +Convention of 1907, to which Germany was a signatory.] + +In the minds of Prussian officers war seems to have become a sort of +sacred mission, one of the highest functions of the omnipotent State, +which is itself as much an army as a State. Ordinary morality and the +ordinary sentiment of pity vanish in its presence, superseded by a new +standard, which justifies to the soldier every means that can conduce to +success, however shocking to a natural sense of justice and humanity, +however revolting to his own feelings. The spirit of war is deified. +Obedience to the State and its war lord leaves no room for any other +duty or feeling. Cruelty becomes legitimate when it promises victory. +Proclaimed by the heads of the army, this doctrine would seem to have +permeated the officers and affected even the private soldiers, leading +them to justify the killing of noncombatants as an act of war, and so +accustoming them to slaughter that even women and children become at +last the victims. It cannot be supposed to be a national doctrine, for +it neither springs from nor reflects the mind and feelings of the German +people as they have heretofore been known to other nations. It is a +specifically military doctrine, the outcome of a theory held by a ruling +caste who have brooded and thought, written and talked, and dreamed +about war until they have fallen under its obsession and been hypnotized +by its spirit. + +The doctrine is plainly set forth in the German Official Monograph on +the usages of war on land, issued under the direction of the German +Staff. This book is pervaded throughout by the view that whatever +military needs suggest becomes thereby lawful, and upon this principle, +as the diaries show, the German officers acted.[A] + +[Footnote A: "Kriegsbrauch im Landkriege," Berlin, 1902, in Vol. VI., in +the series entitled "Kriegsgeschichtliche Einzelschriften," published in +1905. A translation of this monograph, by Professor J.H. Morgan, has +recently been published.] + +If this explanation be the true one, the mystery is solved, and that +which seemed scarcely credible becomes more intelligible, though not +less pernicious. This is not the only case that history records in which +a false theory, disguising itself as loyalty to a State or to a Church, +has perverted the conception of duty and become a source of danger to +the world. + + +PART II. + +Having thus narrated the offenses committed in Belgium, which it has +been proper to consider as a whole, we now turn to another branch of the +subject, the breaches of the usages of war which appear in the conduct +of the German Army generally. + +This branch has been considered under the following heads: + + First.--The treatment of noncombatants, whether in Belgium or + in France, including-- + + (a) The killing of noncombatants in France; + + (b) The treatment of women and children; + + (c) The using of innocent noncombatants as a screen or shield + in the conduct of military operations; + + (d) Looting, burning, and the wanton destruction of property. + + Second.--Offenses committed in the course of ordinary military + operations which violate the usages of war and the provisions + of The Hague Convention. + + This division includes: + + _(a) Killing of wounded or prisoners;_ + + _(b) Firing on hospitals or on the Red Cross ambulances and + stretcher bearers;_ + + _(c) Abuse of the Red Cross or of the white flag._ + + +TREATMENT OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. + +(a) Killing of Noncombatants. + +The killing of civilians in Belgium has been already described +sufficiently. Outrages on the civilian population of the invaded +districts, the burning of villages, the shooting of innocent +inhabitants, and the taking of hostages, pillage, and destruction +continued as the German armies passed into France. The diary of the +Saxon officer above referred to describes acts of this kind committed by +the German soldiers in advancing to the Aisne at the end of August and +after they had passed the French frontier, as well as when they were in +Belgian territory. + +A proclamation, (a specimen of which was produced to the committee,) +issued at Rheims and placarded over the town, affords a clear +illustration of the methods adopted by the German Higher Command. The +population of Rheims is warned that on the slightest disturbance part or +the whole of the city will be burned to the ground and all the hostages +taken from the city (a long list of whom is given in the proclamation) +immediately shot. + +The evidence, however, submitted to the committee with regard to the +conduct of the German Army in France is not nearly so full as that with +regard to Belgium. There is no body of civilian refugees in England, and +the French witnesses have generally laid their evidence before their own +Government. The evidence forwarded to us consists principally of the +statements of British officers and soldiers who took part in the retreat +after the battle of Mons and in the subsequent advance, following the +Germans from the Marne. The area covered is relatively small, and it is +from French reports that any complete account of what occurred in the +invaded districts in France as a whole must be obtained. + +Naturally, soldiers in a foreign country, with which they were +unacquainted, cannot be expected always to give accurately the names of +villages through which they passed on their marches, but this does not +prevent their evidence from being definite as to what they actually saw +in the farms and houses where the German troops had recently been. Many +shocking outrages are recorded. Three examples may here suffice; others +are given in the appendix. A Sergeant who had been through the retreat +from Mons and then taken part in the advance from the Marne, and who had +been engaged in driving out some German troops from a village, states +that his troop halted outside a bakery just inside the village. It was a +private house where baking was done, "not like our bakeries here." Two +or three women were standing at the door. The women motioned them to +come into the house, as did also three civilian Frenchmen who were +there. They took them into a garden at the back of the house. At the end +of the garden was the bakery. They saw two old men between 60 and 70 +years of age and one old woman lying close to each other in the garden. +All three had the scalps cut right through and the brains were hanging +out. They were still bleeding. Apparently they had only just been +killed. The three French civilians belonged to this same house. One of +them spoke a few words of English. He gave them to understand that these +three had been killed by the Germans because they had refused to bake +bread for them. + +Another witness states that two German soldiers took hold of a young +civilian named D. and bound his hands behind his back, and struck him in +the face with their fists. They then tied his hands in front and +fastened the cord to the tail of the horse. The horse dragged him for +about fifty yards, and then the Germans loosened his hands and left him. +The whole of his face was cut and torn, and his arms and legs were +bruised. On the following day one of his sisters, whose husband was a +soldier, came to their house with her four children. His brother, who +was also married and who lived in a village near Valenciennes, went to +fetch the bread for his sister. On the way back to their house he met a +patrol of Uhlans, who took him to the market place at Valenciennes, and +then shot him. About twelve other civilians were also shot in the market +place. The Uhlans then burned nineteen houses in the village, and +afterward burned the corpses of the civilians, including that of his +brother. His father and his uncle afterward went to see the dead body of +his brother, but the German soldiers refused to allow them to pass. + +A lance corporal in the Rifles, who was on patrol duty with five +privates during the retirement of the Germans after the Marne, states +that they entered a house in a small village and took ten Uhlans +prisoners, and then searched the house and found two women and two +children. One was dead, but the body not yet cold. The left arm had been +cut off just below the elbow. The floor was covered with blood. The +woman's clothing was disarranged. The other woman was alive but +unconscious. Her right leg had been cut off above the knee. There were +two little children, a boy about 4 or 5 and a girl of about 6 or 7. The +boy's left hand was cut off at the wrist and the girl's right hand at +the same place. They were both quite dead. The same witness states that +he saw several women and children lying dead in various other places, +but says he could not say whether this might not have been accidentally +caused in legitimate fighting. + +The evidence before us proves that in the parts of France referred to +murder of unoffending civilians and other acts of cruelty, including +aggravated cases of rape, carried out under threat of death, and +sometimes actually followed by murder of the victim, were committed by +some of the German troops. + +(b) The Treatment of Women and Children. + +The evidence shows that the German authorities, when carrying out a +policy of systematic arson and plunder in selected districts, usually +drew some distinction between the adult male population on the one hand +and the women and children on the other. It was a frequent practice to +set apart the adult males of the condemned district with a view to the +execution of a suitable number--preferably of the younger and more +vigorous--and to reserve the women and children for milder treatment. +The depositions, however, present many instances of calculated cruelty, +often going the length of murder, toward the women and children of the +condemned area. We have already referred to the case of Aerschot, where +the women and children were herded in a church which had recently been +used as a stable, detained for forty-eight hours with no food other than +coarse bread, and denied the common decencies of life. At Dinant sixty +women and children were confined in the cellar of a convent from Sunday +morning till the following Friday, (Aug. 28,) sleeping on the ground, +for there were no beds, with nothing to drink during the whole period, +and given no food until the Wednesday, "when somebody threw into the +cellar two sticks of macaroni and a carrot for each prisoner." In other +cases the women and children were marched for long distances along +roads, (e.g., march of women from Louvain to Tirlemont, Aug. 28,) the +laggards pricked on by the attendant Uhlans. A lady complains of having +been brutally kicked by privates. Others were struck with the butt end +of rifles. At Louvain, at Liege, at Aerschot, at Malines, at Montigny, +at Andenne, and elsewhere, there is evidence that the troops were not +restrained from drunkenness, and drunken soldiers cannot to be trusted +to observe the rules or decencies of war, least of all when they are +called upon to execute a preordained plan of arson and pillage. From the +very first women were not safe. At Liege women and children were chased +about the streets by soldiers. A witness gives a story, very +circumstantial in its details, of how women were publicly raped in the +market place of the city, five young German officers assisting. At +Aerschot men and women were deliberately shot when coming out of burning +houses. At Liege, Louvain, Sempst, and Malines women were burned to +death, either because they were surprised and stupefied by the fumes of +the conflagration or because they were prevented from escaping by German +soldiers. Witnesses recount how a great crowd of men, women, and +children from Aerschot were marched to Louvain, and then suddenly +exposed to a fire from a mitrailleuse and rifles. "We were all placed," +recounts a sufferer, "in Station Street, Louvain, and the German +soldiers fired on us. I saw the corpses of some women in the street. I +fell down, and a woman who had been shot fell on top of me." Women and +children suddenly turned out into the streets, and, compelled to witness +the destruction by fire of their homes, provided a sad spectacle to such +as were sober enough to see. A humane German officer, witnessing the +ruin of Aerschot, exclaims in disgust: "I am a father myself, and I +cannot bear this. It is not war, but butchery." Officers as well as men +succumbed to the temptation of drink, with results which may be +illustrated by an incident which occurred at Campenhout. In this village +there was a certain well-to-do merchant (name given) who had a good +cellar of champagne. On the afternoon of the 14th or 15th of August +three German cavalry officers entered the house and demanded champagne. +Having drunk ten bottles and invited five or six officers and three or +four private soldiers to join them, they continued their carouse, and +then called for the master and mistress of the house. + + "Immediately my mistress came in," says the valet de chambre, + "one of the officers who was sitting on the floor got up, and, + putting a revolver to my mistress temple, shot her dead. The + officer was obviously drunk. The other officers continued to + drink and sing, and they did not pay great attention to the + killing of my mistress. The officer who shot my mistress then + told my master to dig a grave and bury my mistress. My master + and the officer went into the garden, the officer threatening + my master with a pistol. My master was then forced to dig the + grave and to bury the body of my mistress in it. I cannot say + for what reason they killed my mistress. The officer who did + it was singing all the time." + +In the evidence before us there are cases tending to show that +aggravated crimes against women were sometimes severely punished. One +witness reports that a young girl who was being pursued by a drunken +soldier at Louvain appealed to a German officer, and that the offender +was then and there shot. Another describes how an officer of the +Thirty-second Regiment of the Line was led out to execution for the +violation of two young girls, but reprieved at the request or with the +consent of the girls' mother. These instances are sufficient to show +that the maltreatment of women was no part of the military scheme of the +invaders, however much it may appear to have been the inevitable result +of the system of terror deliberately adopted in certain regions. Indeed, +so much is avowed. "I asked the commander why we had been spared," says +a lady in Louvain, who deposes to having suffered much brutal treatment +during the sack. He said: "We will not hurt you any more. Stay in +Louvain. All is finished." It was Saturday, Aug. 29, and the reign of +terror was over. + +Apart from the crimes committed in special areas and belonging to a +scheme of systematic reprisals for the alleged shooting by civilians, +there is evidence of offenses committed against women and children by +individual soldiers, or by small groups of soldiers, both in the advance +through Belgium and France as in the retreat from the Marne. Indeed, the +discipline appears to have been loose during the retreat, and there is +evidence as to the burning of villages and the murder and violation of +their female inhabitants during this episode of the war. + +In this tale of horrors hideous forms of mutilation occur with some +frequency in the depositions, two of which may be connected in some +instances with a perverted form of sexual instinct. + +A third form of mutilation, the cutting of one or both hands, is +frequently said to have taken place. In some cases where this form of +mutilation is alleged to have occurred it may be the consequence of a +cavalry charge up a village street, hacking and slashing at everything +in the way; in others the victim may possibly have held a weapon; in +others the motive may have been the theft of rings. + +We find many well-established cases of the slaughter (often accompanied +by mutilation) of whole families, including not infrequently that of +quite small children. In two cases it seems to be clear that +preparations were made to burn a family alive. These crimes were +committed over a period of many weeks and simultaneously in many places, +and the authorities must have known, or ought to have known, that +cruelties of this character were being perpetrated; nor can any one +doubt that they could have been stopped by swift and decisive action on +the part of the heads of the German Army. + +The use of women and even children as a screen for the protection of the +German troops is referred to in a later part of this report. From the +number of troops concerned, it must have been commanded or acquiesced in +by officers, and in some cases the presence and connivance of officers +is proved. + +The cases of violation, sometimes under threat of death, are numerous +and clearly proved. We referred here to comparatively few out of the +many that have been placed in the appendix, because the circumstances +are in most instances much the same. They were often accompanied with +cruelty, and the slaughter of women after violation is more than once +credibly attested. + +It is quite possible that in some cases where the body of a Belgian or a +French woman is reported as lying on the roadside pierced with bayonet +wounds or hanging naked from a tree, or else as lying gashed and +mutilated in a cottage kitchen or bedroom, the woman in question gave +some provocation. She may by act or word have irritated her assailant +and in certain instances evidence has been supplied both as to the +provocation offered and as to the retribution inflicted. + + (1) "Just before we got to Melen," says a witness who had + fallen into the hands of the Germans on Aug. 5, "I saw a woman + with a child in her arms standing on the side of the road on + our left-hand side watching the soldiers go by. Her name was + G., aged about 63, and a neighbor of mine. The officer asked + the woman for some water in good French. She went inside her + son's cottage to get some and brought it immediately he had + stopped. The officer went into the cottage garden and drank + the water. The woman then said, when she saw the prisoners, + 'Instead of giving you water you deserve to be shot.' The + officer shouted to us, 'March.' We went on, and immediately I + saw the officer draw his revolver and shoot the woman and + child. One shot killed both." + + Two old men and one old woman refused to bake bread for the + Germans. They were butchered. + + Aug. 23--I went with two friends (names given) to see what we + could see. About three hours out of Malines we were taken + prisoners by a German patrol--an officer and six men--and + marched off into a little wood of saplings, where there was a + house. The officer spoke Flemish. He knocked at the door; the + peasant did not come. The officer ordered the soldiers to + break down the door, which two of them did. The peasant came + and asked what they were doing. The officer said he did not + come quickly enough and that they had "trained up" plenty of + others. His hands were tied behind his back, and he was + shot at once without a moment's delay. The wife came out + with a little sucking child. She put the child down and sprang + at the Germans like a lioness. She clawed their faces. One of + the Germans took a rifle and struck her a tremendous blow with + the butt on the head. Another took his bayonet and fixed it + and thrust it through the child. He then put his rifle on his + shoulder with the child upon it; its little arms stretched out + once or twice. The officers ordered the houses to be set on + fire, and straw was obtained and it was done. The man and his + wife and the child were thrown on the top of the straw. There + were about forty other peasant prisoners there also, and the + officer said: "I am doing this as a lesson and example to you. + When a German tells you to do something next time you must + move more quickly." The regiment of Germans was a regiment of + Hussars, with crossbones and a death's head on the cap. + +[Illustration: BARON STEPHAN BURIAN VON RAJECZ + +The Hungarian Who Succeeded Count Berchtold as Austro-Hungarian Foreign +Minister and President of the Common Ministerial Council] + +[Illustration: H.M. FERDINAND I. + +The New King of Rumania, in succession to his uncle the late King +Charles I. + +_(Photo from P.S. Rogers.)_] + +Can any one think that such acts as these, committed by women in the +circumstances created by the invasion of Belgium, were deserving of the +extreme form of vengeance attested by these and other depositions? + +In considering the question of provocation it is pertinent to take into +account the numerous cases in which old women and very small children +have been shot, bayoneted, and even mutilated. Whatever excuse may be +offered by the Germans for the killing of grown-up women, there can be +no possible defense for the murder of children, and if it can be shown +that infants and small children were not infrequently bayoneted and shot +it is a fair inference that many of the offenses against women require +no explanation more recondite than the unbridled violence of brutal or +drunken criminals. + +It is clearly shown that many offenses were committed against infants +and quite young children. On one occasion children were even roped +together and used as a military screen against the enemy; on another +three soldiers went into action carrying small children to protect +themselves from flank fire. A shocking case of the murder of a baby by a +drunken soldier at Malines is thus recorded by one eyewitness and +confirmed by another: + + "One day when the Germans were not actually bombarding the + town I left my house to go to my mother's house in High + Street. My husband was with me. I saw eight German soldiers, + and they were drunk. They were singing and making a lot of + noise and dancing about. As the German soldiers came along the + street I saw a small child, whether boy or girl I could not + see, come out of a house. The child was about two years of + age. The child came into the middle of the street so as to be + in the way of the soldiers. The soldiers were walking in twos. + The first line of two passed the child. One of the second + line, the man on the left, stepped aside and drove his bayonet + with both hands into the child's stomach, lifting the child + into the air on his bayonet and carrying it away on his + bayonet, he and his comrades still singing. The child screamed + when the soldier struck it with his bayonet but not + afterward." + +These, no doubt, were for the most part the acts of drunken soldiers, +but an incident has been recorded which discloses the fact that even +sober and highly placed officers were not always disposed to place a +high value on child life. Thus the General, wishing to be conducted to +the Town Hall at Lebbeke, remarked in French to his guide, who was +accompanied by a small boy: "If you do not show me the right way I will +shoot you and your boy." There was no need to carry the threat into +execution, but that the threat should have been made is significant. + +We cannot tell whether these acts of cruelty to children were part of +the scheme for inducing submission by inspiring terror. In Louvain, +where the system of terrorizing was carried to the furthest limit, +outrages on children were uncommon. The same, however, cannot be said of +some of the smaller villages which were subjected to the system. In +Hofstade and Sempst, in Haecht, Rotselaer, and Wespelaer, many children +were murdered. Nor can it be said of the village of Tamines, where three +small children (whose names are given by an eye witness of the crime) +were slaughtered on the green for no apparent motive. It is difficult +to imagine the motives which may have prompted such acts. Whether or no +Belgian civilians fired on German soldiers, young children at any rate +did not fire. The number and character of these murders constitute the +most distressing feature connected with the conduct of the war so far as +it is revealed in the depositions submitted to the committee. + +(c) The Use of Civilians as Screens. + +We have before us a considerable body of evidence with reference to the +practice of the Germans of using civilians and sometimes military +prisoners as screens from behind which they could fire upon the Belgian +troops, in the hope that the Belgians would not return the fire for fear +of killing or wounding their own fellow-countrymen. + +In some cases this evidence refers to places where fighting was actually +going on in the streets of a town or village, and to these cases we +attach little importance. It might well happen when terrified civilians +were rushing about to seek safety that groups of them might be used as a +screen by either side of the combatants without any intention of +inhumanity or of any breach of the rules of civilized warfare. But, +setting aside these doubtful cases, there remains evidence which +satisfies us that on so many occasions as to justify its being described +as a practice the German soldiers, under the eyes and by the direction +of their officers, were guilty of this act. + +Thus, for instance, outside Fort Fleron, near Liege, men and children +were marched in front of the Germans to prevent the Belgian soldiers +from firing. + +The progress of the Germans through Mons was marked by many incidents of +this character. Thus, on Aug. 22 half a dozen Belgian colliers returning +from work were marching in front of some German troops who were pursuing +the English, and in the opinion of the witnesses they must have been +placed there intentionally. An English officer describes how he caused a +barricade to be erected in a main thoroughfare leading out of Mons when +the Germans, in order to reach a crossroad in the rear, fetched +civilians out of the houses on each side of the main road and compelled +them to hold up white flags and act as cover. + +Another British officer who saw this incident is convinced that the +Germans were acting deliberately for the purpose of protecting +themselves from the fire of the British troops. Apart from this +protection the Germans could not have advanced, as the street was +straight and commanded by the British rifle fire at a range of 700 or +800 yards. Several British soldiers also speak to this incident, and +their story is confirmed by a Flemish witness in a side street. + +On Aug. 24 men, women, and children were actually pushed into the front +of the German position outside Mons. The witness speaks of 16 to 20 +women, about a dozen children, and half a dozen men being there. + +Seven or eight women and five or six very young children were utilized +in this way by some Uhlans between Landrecies and Guise. + +A Belgian soldier saw an incident of this character during the retreat +from Namur. + +At the battle of Malines 60 or 80 Belgian civilians, among whom were +some women, were driven before the German troops. Another witness saw a +similar incident near Malines, but a much larger number of civilians was +involved, and a priest was in front with a white flag. + +In another instance, related by a Belgian soldier, the civilians were +tied by the wrists in groups. + +At Eppeghem, where the Germans were driven back by the Belgian sortie +from Antwerp, civilians were used as a cover for the German retreat. + +Near Malines, early in September, about 10 children, roped together, +were driven in front of a German force. + +At Londerzeel 30 or 40 civilians, men, women, and children, were placed +at the head of a German column. + +One witness from Termonde was made to stand in front of the Germans, +together with others, all with their hands above their heads. Those who +allowed their hands to drop were at once prodded with the bayonet. +Again, at Termonde, about Sept. 10, a number of civilians were shot by +the Belgian soldiers, who were compelled to fire at the Germans, taking +the risk of killing their own countrymen. + +At Tournai 400 Belgian civilians, men, women, and children, were placed +in front of the Germans, who then engaged the French. + +The operations outside Antwerp were not free from incidents of this +character. Near Willebroeck some civilians, including a number of +children, a woman, and one old man, were driven in front of the German +troops. German officers were present, and one woman who refused to +advance was stabbed twice with the bayonet, and a little child who ran +up to her as she fell had half its head blown away by a shot from a +rifle. + +Other incidents of the same kind are reported from Nazareth and Ypres. +The British troops were compelled to fire, in some cases at the risk of +killing civilians. + +At Ypres the Germans drove women in front of them by pricking them with +bayonets. The wounds were afterward seen by the witness. + +(d) Looting, Burning, and Destruction of Property. + +There is an overwhelming mass of evidence of the deliberate destruction +of private property by the German soldiers. The destruction in most +cases was effected by fire, and the German troops, as will be seen from +earlier passages in the report, had been provided beforehand with +appliances for rapidly setting fire to houses. Among the appliances +enumerated by witnesses are syringes for squirting petrol, guns for +throwing small inflammable bombs, and small pellets made of inflammable +material. Specimens of the last mentioned have been shown to members of +the committee. Besides burning houses, the Germans frequently smashed +furniture and pictures; they also broke in doors and windows. +Frequently, too, they defiled houses by relieving the wants of nature +upon the floor. They also appear to have perpetrated the same vileness +upon piled up heaps of provisions so as to destroy what they could not +themselves consume. They also on numerous occasions threw corpses into +wells, or left in them the bodies of persons murdered by drowning. + +In addition to these acts of destruction the German troops, both in +Belgium and France, are proved to have been guilty of persistent +looting. In the majority of cases the looting took place from houses, +but there is also evidence that German soldiers and even officers robbed +their prisoners, both civil and military, of sums of money and other +portable possessions. It was apparently well known throughout the German +Army that towns and villages would be burned whenever it appeared that +any civilians had fired upon the German troops, and there is reason to +suspect that this known intention of the German military authorities in +some cases explains the sequence of events which led up to the burning +and sacking of a town or village. The soldiers, knowing that they would +have an opportunity of plunder if the place was condemned, had a motive +for arranging some incident which would provide the necessary excuse for +condemnation. More than one witness alleges that shots coming from the +window of a house were fired by German soldiers who had forced their way +into the house for the purpose of thus creating an alarm. It is also +alleged that German soldiers on some occasions merely fired their rifles +in the air in a side street and then reported to their officers that +they had been fired at. On the report that firing had taken place orders +were given for wholesale destruction, and houses were destroyed in +streets and districts where there was no allegation that firing had +taken place, as well as in those where the charge arose. That the +destruction could have been limited is proved by the care taken to +preserve particular houses whose occupants had made themselves in one +way or another agreeable to the conquerors. These houses were marked in +chalk, ordering them to be spared, and spared they were. + +The above statements have reference to the burning of towns and +villages. In addition, the German troops in numerous instances have set +fire to farmhouses and farm buildings. Here, however, the plea of +military necessity can more safely be alleged. A farmhouse may afford +convenient shelter to an enemy, and where such use is probable it may be +urged that the destruction of the buildings is justifiable. It is +clearly, however, the duty of the soldiers who destroy the buildings to +give reasonable warning to the occupants so that they may escape. +Doubtless this was in many cases done by the German commanders, but +there is testimony that in some cases the burning of the farmhouse was +accompanied by the murder of the inhabitants. + +The same fact stands out clearly in the more extensive burning of houses +in towns and villages. In some cases, indeed, as a prelude to the +burning, inhabitants were cleared out of their houses and driven along +the streets, often with much accompanying brutality--some to a place of +execution, others to prolonged detention in a church or other public +buildings. In other cases witnesses assert that they saw German soldiers +forcing back into the flames men, women, and children who were trying to +escape from the burning houses. There is also evidence that soldiers +deliberately shot down civilians as they fled from the fire. + +The general conclusion is that the burning and destruction of property +which took place was only in a very small minority of cases justified by +military necessity, and that even then the destruction was seldom +accompanied by that care for the lives of noncombatants which has +hitherto been expected from a military commander belonging to a +civilized nation. On the contrary, it is plain that in many cases German +officers and soldiers deliberately added to the sufferings of the +unfortunate people whose property they were destroying. + + +OFFENSES AGAINST COMBATANTS. + +_(a) The Killing of the Wounded and of Prisoners._ + +In dealing with the treatment of the wounded and of prisoners and the +cases in which the former appear to have been killed when helpless, and +the latter at, or after, the moment of capture, we are met by some +peculiar difficulties, because such acts may not in all cases be +deliberate and cold-blooded violations of the usages of war. Soldiers +who are advancing over a spot where the wounded have fallen may +conceivably think that some of these lying prostrate are shamming dead, +or, at any rate, are so slightly wounded as to be able to attack or to +fire from behind when the advancing force has passed, and thus they may +be led into killing those whom they would otherwise have spared. There +will also be instances in which men intoxicated with the frenzy of +battle slay even those whom on reflection they might have seen to be +incapable of further harming them. The same kind of fury may vent itself +on persons who are already surrendering, and even a soldier who is +usually self-controlled or humane may, in the heat of the moment, go on +killing, especially in a general melee, those who were offering to +surrender. This is most likely to happen when such a soldier has been +incensed by an act of treachery or is stirred to revenge by the death of +a comrade to whom he is attached. Some cases of this kind appear in the +evidence. Such things happen in a1l wars as isolated instances, and the +circumstances may be pleaded in extenuation of acts otherwise shocking. +We have made due allowance for these considerations and have rejected +those cases in which there is a reasonable doubt as to whether those who +killed the wounded knew that the latter were completely disabled. +Nevertheless, after making all allowances, there remain certain +instances in which it is clear that quarter was refused to persons +desiring to surrender when it ought to have been given, or that persons +already so wounded as to be incapable of fighting further were wantonly +shot or bayoneted. + +The cases to which references are given all present features generally +similar, and in several of them men who had been left wounded in the +trenches when a trench was carried by the enemy were found, when their +comrades subsequently retook the trench, to have been slaughtered, +although evidently helpless, or else they would have escaped with the +rest of the retreating force. For instance, a witness says: + + "About Sept. 20 our regiment took part in an engagement with + the Germans. After we had retired into our trenches, a few + minutes after we got back into them, the Germans retired into + their trenches. The distance between the trenches of the + opposing forces was about 400 yards. I should say about fifty + or sixty of our men had been left lying on the field from our + trenches. After we got back to them I distinctly saw German + soldiers come out of their trenches, go over the spots where + our men were lying, and bayonet them. Some of our men were + lying nearly half way between the trenches." + +Another says: + + "The Germans advanced over the trenches of the headquarters + trench, where I had been on guard for three days. When the + Germans reached our wounded I saw their officer using his + sword to cut them down." + +Another witness says: + + "Outside Ypres we were in trenches and were attacked, and had + to retire until reinforced by other companies of the Royal + Fusiliers. Then we took the trenches and found the wounded, + between twenty and thirty, lying in the trenches with bayonet + wounds, and some shot. Most of them, say three-quarters, had + their throats cut." + +In one case, given very circumstantially, a witness tells how a party of +wounded British soldiers were left in a chalk pit, all very badly hurt, +and quite unable to make resistance. One of them, an officer, held up +his handkerchief as a white flag, and this + + "attracted the attention of a party of about eight Germans. + The Germans came to the edge of the pit. It was getting dusk, + but the light was still good, and everything clearly + discernible. One of them, who appeared to be carrying no arms + and who, at any rate, had no rifle, came a few feet down the + slope into the chalk pit, within eight or ten yards of some of + the wounded men." + +He looked at the men, laughed, and said something in German to the +Germans who were waiting on the edge of the pit. Immediately one of them +fired at the officer, then three or four of these ten soldiers were +shot, then another officer and the witness, and the rest of them. + + "After an interval of some time I sat up and found that I was + the only man of the ten who were living when the Germans came + into the pit remaining alive and that all the rest were dead." + +Another witness describes a painful case in which five soldiers, two +Belgians and three French, were tied to trees by German soldiers +apparently drunk, who stuck knives in their faces, pricked them with +their bayonets, and ultimately shot them. + +We have no evidence to show whether and in what cases orders proceeded +from the officer in command to give no quarter, but there are some +instances in which persons obviously desiring to surrender were, +nevertheless, killed. + +_(b) Firing on Hospitals or on the Red Cross Ambulances or Stretcher +Bearers._ + +This subject may conveniently be divided into three subdivisions, +namely, firing on-- + + (1) Hospital buildings and other Red Cross establishments. + + (2) Ambulances. + + (3) Stretcher bearers. + +Under the first and second categories there is obvious difficulty in +proving intention, especially under the conditions of modern long-range +artillery fire. A commanding officer's duty is to give strict orders to +respect hospitals, ambulances, &c., and also to place Red Cross units as +far away as possible from any legitimate line of fire. But with all care +some accidents must happen, and many reported cases will be ambiguous. +At the same time, when military observers have formed a distinct opinion +that buildings and persons under the recognizable protection of the Red +Cross were willfully fired upon, such opinions cannot be disregarded. + +Between thirty and forty of the depositions submitted related to this +offense. This number does not in itself seem so great as to be +inconsistent with the possibility of accident. + +In one case a Red Cross depot was shelled on most days throughout the +week. This is hardly reconcilable with the enemy's gunners having taken +any care to avoid it. + +There are other cases of conspicuous hospitals being shelled, in the +witnesses' opinion, purposely. + +In one of these the witness, a Sergeant Major, makes a suggestion which +appears plausible, namely, that the German gunners use any conspicuous +building as a mark to verify their ranges rather than for the purpose of +destruction. It would be quite according to the modern system of what +German writers call _Kriegsraeson_ to hold that the convenience of +range-finding is a sufficient military necessity to justify disregarding +any immunity conferred on a building by the Red Cross or otherwise. In +any case, artillery fire on a hospital at such a moderate range as about +1,000 yards can hardly be thought accidental. + +(2) As to firing on ambulances, the evidence is more explicit. + +In one case the witness is quite clear that the ambulances were aimed +at. + +In another case of firing at an ambulance train the range was quite +short. + +In another a Belgian Red Cross party is stated to have been ambushed. + +On the whole we do not find proof of a general or systematic firing on +hospitals or ambulances; but it is not possible to believe that much +care was taken to avoid this. + +(3) As to firing on stretcher bearers in the course of trench warfare, +the testimony is abundant, and the facts do not seem explicable by +accident. It may be that sometimes the bearers were suspected of seeing +too much; and it is plain from the general military policy of the German +armies that very slight suspicion would be acted on in case of doubt. + +_(c) Abuse of the Red Cross and of the White Flag._ + +THE RED CROSS. + +Cases of the Red Cross being abused are much more definite. + +There are several accounts of fire being opened, sometimes at very short +range, by machine guns which had been disguised in a German Red Cross +ambulance or car. This was aggravated in one case near Tirlemont by the +German soldiers wearing Belgian uniforms. + +Witness speaks also of a stretcher party with the Red Cross being used +to cover an attack and of a German Red Cross man working a machine gun. + +There is also a well-attested case of a Red Cross motor car being used +to carry ammunition under command of officers. + +Unless all these statements are willfully false, which the committee +sees no reason to believe, these acts must have been deliberate, and it +does not seem possible that a Red Cross car could be equipped with a +machine gun by soldiers acting without orders. There is also one case of +firing from a cottage where the Red Cross flag was flying, and this +could not be accidental. + +On the whole, there is distinct evidence of the Red Cross having been +deliberately misused for offensive purposes, and seemingly under orders, +on some, though not many, occasions. + +ABUSE OF THE WHITE FLAG. + +Cases of this kind are numerous. It is possible that a small group of +men may show a white flag without authority from any proper officer, in +which case their action is, of course, not binding on the rest of the +platoon or other unit. But this will not apply to the case of a whole +unit advancing as if to surrender, or letting the other side advance to +receive the pretended surrender and then opening fire. Under this head +we find many depositions by British soldiers and several by officers. In +some cases the firing was from a machine gun brought up under cover of +the white flag. + +The depositions taken by Professor Morgan in France strongly corroborate +the evidence collected in this country. + +The case numbered h 70 may be noted as very clearly stated. The Germans, +who had "put up a white flag on a lance and ceased fire," and thereby +induced a company to advance in order to take them prisoners, "dropped +the white flag and opened fire at a distance of 100 yards." This was +near Nesle, on Sept. 6, 1914. It seems clearly proved that in some +divisions at least of the German Army this practice is very common. The +incidents as reported cannot be explained by unauthorized surrenders of +small groups. + +There is, in our opinion, sufficient evidence that these offenses have +been frequent, deliberate, and in many cases committed by whole units +under orders. All the acts mentioned in this part of the report are in +contravention of The Hague Convention, signed by the great powers, +including France, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States, in +1907, as may be seen by a reference to Appendix D, in which the +provisions of that convention relating to the conduct of war on land are +set forth. + + +CONCLUSIONS. + +From the foregoing pages it will be seen that the committee have come to +a definite conclusion upon each of the heads under which the evidence +has been classified. + +It is proved-- + + (i.) That there were in many parts of Belgium deliberate and + systematically organized massacres of the civil population, + accompanied by many isolated murders and other outrages. + + (ii.) That in the conduct of the war generally innocent + civilians, both men and women, were murdered in large numbers, + women violated, and children murdered. + + (iii.) That looting, house burning, and the wanton destruction + of property were ordered and countenanced by the officers of + the German Army, that elaborate provision had been made for + systematic incendiarism at the very outbreak of the war, and + that the burnings and destruction were frequent where no + military necessity could be alleged, being indeed part of a + system of general terrorization. + + (iv.) That the rules and usages of war were frequently broken, + particularly by the using of civilians, including women and + children, as a shield for advancing forces exposed to fire, to + a less degree by killing the wounded and prisoners, and in the + frequent abuse of the Red Cross and the white flag. + +Sensible as they are of the gravity of these conclusions the committee +conceive that they would be doing less than their duty if they failed to +record them as fully established by the evidence. Murder, lust, and +pillage prevailed over many parts of Belgium on a scale unparalleled in +any war between civilized nations during the last three centuries. + +Our function is ended when we have stated what the evidence establishes, +but we may be permitted to express our belief that these disclosures +will not have been made in vain if they touch and rouse the conscience +of mankind, and we venture to hope that as soon as the present war is +over the nations of the world in council will consider what means can be +provided and sanctions devised to prevent the recurrence of such horrors +as our generation is now witnessing. + +We are, &c., + +BRYCE, +F. POLLOCK, +EDWARD CLARKE, +KENELM E. DIGBY, +ALFRED HOPKINSON, +H.A.L. FISHER, +HAROLD COX. + + + + +SCRIABIN'S LAST WORDS. + +[From The London Times, May 1, 1915.] + + +M. Briantchaninov, an intimate friend of Scriabin, telegraphed the news +of the composer's death to a friend in England. He stated that Scriabin +died of the disease of the lip from which he was suffering when in +England last year, and that he had just finished the "wonderful poetical +text" of the prologue to his "Mystery." When Scriabin was suffering +terrible pain just before his death he clenched his hands and his last +words were: "I must be self-possessed, like Englishmen." + +M. Briantchaninov is collecting a fund for Scriabin's children, and he +suggests that possibly "some English friends and admirers" may care to +contribute. + + + + +Chronology of the War + +Showing Progress of Campaigns on All Fronts and Collateral Events From +March 31, 1915, Up to and Including April 30, 1915 + +[Continued from the May number.] + + +CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN EUROPE + +April 1--Russians take up lively offensive in Central Poland, seeking +to prevent reinforcements being sent to the Carpathians; they halt a +raid from Bukowina; Austrians drive back Russians near Inowlodz, on the +Pilica River; Germans check night attempt of Russians to cross the Rawka +River; German bombardment of Ossowetz has been abandoned; cold weather +is favoring German operations in East Prussia; German Headquarters Staff +reports that in March the German Eastern army took 55,800 Russian +prisoners, 9 cannon, and 61 machine guns. + +April 2--Russians take the offensive along their whole front from the +Baltic Sea to Rumanian border; they are reported to be concentrating an +enormous force on the coast of Finland to prevent any attempt at a +German landing; Germans in Poland are being pushed back to the East +Prussian border; Russians capture another strongly fortified ridge in +the Carpathians, scaling ice-covered hills to do it; vast bodies of +Russian cavalry are held in readiness for a sweep across the plains of +Hungary; main Austrian Army in Bukowina is falling back; Russians now +stand upon last heights of the main chain of Beskid Mountains; Austrians +repulse Russian attacks east of Beskid Pass; Russians drive back Germans +to the east of Pilwiszka; Austrians repulse Russian attacks between the +Pruth and Dniester Rivers. + +April 3--Fighting in the Carpathians continues night and day along a +forty-mile front; Russians are making gains and pressing Austrians hard; +Germans are pouring reinforcements into Hungary to support Austrians; +Austrians gain in Bukowina; Austrians are trying to cut off Montenegro +from all communication with the outside world and starve her into +submission. + +April 4--Austrians retreat from the Beskid region after Russian success; +Austrians make progress in the Laborcza Valley; fighting has been going +on for twenty-four continuous hours on both sides of the Dukla Pass; +Germans repulse Russian attacks near Augustowo. + +April 5--Russians continue to make steady progress in the Carpathians; +they are now on the Hungarian side of both the Dukla and Lupkow Passes +and are making advances on the heights which dominate Uzsok Pass; +Russians gain in Bukowina and in North Poland. + +April 6--Russians continue their great offensive in the Carpathians; +Austrians are retreating at some points and burning their bridges behind +them; Russians make progress in direction of Rostok Pass; German +reinforcements are being rushed from Flanders to Austria via Munich; +Austrian and German troops take strong Russian positions east of +Laborcza Valley; Russians have been repulsed in an attempt to cross to +the left bank of the Dniester River southwest of Uscie-Diekupie; +Austrian artillery is bombarding Serbian towns on the Danube and the +Save. + +April 7--Russians continue offensive between the River Toplia and the +Uzsok Pass region; Austrians take guns and war material on the heights +east of the Laborcza Valley; Austrians bombard Belgrade; Austrians win +ground along the River Pruth; Austrians are reported to have passed the +Dniester and to be advancing on Kamenitz Podolsky, in Russian territory. + +April 8--Russian advance in the Carpathians cuts one Austrian army in +two; Russians capture Smolnik, east of Lupkow Pass; fierce fighting is +going on in the mountain passes. + +April 9--The whole southern slope of the Carpathians has been strongly +fortified by the Austrians; twenty-four Austrian and six German army +corps are stated to be now facing the Russians. + +April 10--Russians begin attack on German forces which hold the hills +from Uzsok Pass eastward to Beskid Pass; Russians make gains in the +direction of Rostok; the general Russian offensive continues on the +Niznia-Destuszica-Volestate-Bukowecz line; in places in the Carpathians +the Russians are progressing through seven feet of snow; Austro-German +forces repulse a strong Russian attack in the Opor Valley. + +April 11--All the main ridges of the Carpathians are now in +the hands of the Russians, who hold the eighty-mile front +Uzsok-Mezo-Laborcza-Bartfeld, with the head sections of five main +railways; at some points the Russians are descending the southern slopes +and are approaching the Uzsok Valley. + +April 12--Germans repulse Russian attack near Kaziouwka, Russians losing +heavily; artillery duels are in progress near Ossowetz and in the region +of Edvabno; German attack on village of Szafranki is repulsed; +Austro-Germans still hold the Uzsok Pass; they repulse Russian attacks +east of there. + +April 13--Large German reinforcements are being sent to the Austrians; +280,000 Germans, comprising seven army corps, are co-operating with the +Austrians in a formidable attack on the left wing of the Russian army +which is invading Hungary; Austrian Embassy at Washington gives out an +official bulletin from Vienna saying the Russian advance in the +Carpathians is halted; heavy fighting is in progress in the +Bartfeld-Stryi region; Russians advance on both banks of the Ondawa, and +gain success in direction of Uzsok, capturing certain heights; +Austro-German forces strongly attack the heights south of Koziouwa, but +are repulsed; Russians repel German attacks on the front west of the +Niemen; Ossowetz is again bombarded by the Germans; fierce fighting is +on in Bukowina. + +April 14--After a twelve-hour battle the Austrians retreat precipitately +from a strong position at Mezo Laborcz, on Hungarian side of the East +Beskid Mountains; the whole main front in this district is in Russian +hands; Austro-German forces are contesting stubbornly every foot of the +German advance along the front from Bartfeld to Stryi; Austrians are +trying to penetrate into Russian territory from Bukowina; Germans are +active in Poland; Germans attack the town of Chafranka, on the Skwa +River, near Ostrolenka; it is stated at Petrograd that 4,000,000 +combatants, including both sides, are now engaged along the Carpathians. + +April 15--Russians crush fierce counter-attack against their left wing +in the Carpathians made by picked Bavarian infantry; Russians repulse an +attack by Austrians on the extreme east; Austrians defeat Russians near +Oiezkowice, on the Biala. + +April 16--War correspondents at Austrian headquarters, in summing up the +result of the fighting in the Carpathians, say that the Russian loss has +been 500,000, and that the backbone of the invading army is broken; +Germans prepare to attack along an 800-mile Russian front. + +April 17--The melting of the snow in the Carpathians, resulting in +overflowing streams and rivers and in seas of mud, is stopping various +intended movements on both sides; artillery engagements are in progress +in Southeast Galicia and Bukowina; Russians repulse attacks in the +direction of Stryi; Russian Emperor leaves for the front. + +April 18--In a review of the Carpathian campaign issued by Russian +General Headquarters it is stated that since the beginning of March +Russian troops have carried by storm 75 miles of the principal chain of +the Carpathians, have taken 70,000 prisoners, 30 field guns, and 200 +machine guns; fighting in the Carpathians on main line of Russian +advance is now concentrated on the narrow section between the villages +of Telepoche and Zuella; Russians gain on the heights of Telepotch; +artillery duels continue in Southeast Galicia. + +April 20--Russians repulse vigorous German attack east of Telepotch and +Polen; severe fighting for the height near Oravozil is in progress, the +Russians reoccupying it by a desperate assault after losing it earlier +in the day; 600,000 Austro-German troops are now engaged over an +irregular line between the Lupkow and Uzsok Passes. + +April 21--Austrians repel, after several days' fighting, a strong +Russian attack on the extreme wings of the Austrian forces in the wooded +mountains near Laborcza and the Ung Valley; Austrians still hold Uzsok +Pass; Russians repulse Austrian attack in Western Galicia near Gorlitz; +Russians check an Austrian counter-attack against the heights of Polen; +the counter-attack of General Litzinger's Bavarian army against Russian +left wing in the Carpathian position has now been definitely halted; +nevertheless the Russian advance in the Carpathians has now apparently +come to a full stop; Russians reoccupy the hill village of Oravtchik. + +April 22--Russians defeat Austrians in bayonet fighting on the Bukowina +front; artillery duels are in progress in Russian Poland and Western +Galicia; Austrians repulse Russian attacks on both sides of the Uzsok +Pass, taking 1,200 prisoners; Russians check attempted Austrian +outflanking movements on the central Carpathian front; in Galicia an +Austro-German army, defeated by Russians, is falling back. + +April 23--Austrians have success in artillery duel in the sector of +Nagypolany; Russians gain in the direction of Lutovisk; a strong force +of Russian cavalry invades East Prussia near Memel, the seaport at the +northern extremity of the province, and is threatening the German left +flank; Russians make gains in the region of Telepotch and at Sianka; +Austrians repulse several day attacks at points near Uzsok Pass; heavy +artillery engagements are being fought in the region of this pass. + +April 25--Austro-German troops take by storm Ostry Mountain, in the +Orava Valley, in the Carpathians, to the south of Koziouwa; the mountain +is 3,500 feet high, with precipitous sides, and the Russians believed +their fortifications had made it impregnable; this victory gives the +Austrians command of the Orava Valley and allows them to advance their +lines east of Uzsok Pass eleven miles into Galician territory; Russian +artillery repulses a German attack between Kalwaya and Ludwinow in +Prussian Poland; heavy fighting continues in the Carpathians in the +Uzsok Pass region, the Austrians having brought up fresh units of heavy +artillery. + +April 26--Russian counter-attacks on the height of Ostry are beaten off; +Austrians capture twenty-six Russian trenches; Austrians gain ground +south of Koziouwa; artillery duel is being fought on the Dniester in +Bukowina. + +April 27--Russians have begun another strong offensive around the +heights of Uzsok Pass; Austro-German casualties there in two days are +estimated by Russians at 20,000; Russians repel Austrian attacks on the +heights to the northeast of Oroszepatak; Russians are concentrating at +Bojan, Northern Bukowina. + +April 28--Heavy fighting continues in the Uzsok Pass region; a battle +has been raging for five days in the vicinity of Stryi; Russians repulse +Germans at Jednorojetz; Germans take twelve miles of Russian trenches +east of Suwalki; Austrians occupy Novoselitsky, on border of Bessarabia, +and are advancing into Russian territory. + +April 29--Germans begin an offensive along nearly the whole of the East +Prussian front, extending from north of the Niemen River to the sector +north of the Vistula; Russians are beaten back in an attack in the +Carpathians northeast of Loubnia; Russians repulse an attack on the +heights of the Opor Valley. + +April 30--German cavalry is invading the Russian Baltic Provinces; +German attempt to advance on the left bank of the Vistula is checked: in +the region of Golovetzko the Russians take the offensive, capturing +trenches and prisoners; Russians check an attempted offensive north of +Nadvorna; Austrians repulse Russian night attacks in the Orawa and Opor +Valleys. + + +CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN EUROPE. + +April 1--Artillery duels are in progress in the Woevre district; French +occupy the village of Fey-en-Haye to the west of the Forest of Le +Pretre; outpost engagements take place near Luneville. + +April 2--Heavy artillery fighting is on between the Meuse and the +Moselle; night infantry fighting takes place in the Forest of Le Pretre. + +April 3--Germans repulse French in Forest of Le Pretre; Germans repulse +French attack on heights west of Muelhausen; French make progress with +mining operations southwest of Peronne; French check a German attempt to +debouch near Lassigny; French repulse attacks in Upper Alsace. + +April 4--Germans take from the Belgians the village of Drei Grachten on +the west side of the Yser, this being the first time the Germans have +gained a foothold on the west bank for weeks; French make progress in +the Woevre district; French take village of Regnieville, west of +Fey-en-Haye; Germans repulse French charges in Forest of Le Pretre. + +April 5--French capture three successive lines of trenches at the Forest +of Ailly, near St. Mihiel; Germans repulse Belgians near Drei Grachten; +Germans repulse French attempt to advance in the Argonne Forest and +Germans gain ground in the Forest of Le Pretre; French are advancing in +Champagne; French gain ground in the Hurlus district and beyond the Camp +de Chalons, capturing some of the Germans' prepared positions; +bombardment of Rheims is being continued night and day, and it is +reported that one-third of the houses have been destroyed and another +one-third damaged. + +April 6--French are conducting a sustained offensive between the Meuse +and Moselle in an effort to dislodge Germans from St. Mihiel; French +gain trenches in the Wood of Ailly; French make progress near Maizeray +and in the Forest of Le Pretre; strong French attacks at points east of +Verdun are repulsed, but French occupy village of Gussainville. + +April 7--French, continuing extensive operations, make gains in the +Woevre district and southward between St. Mihiel and Pont-a-Mousson; +east of Verdun the French take two lines of trenches, and repulse German +counter-attacks; Germans report that French offensive, as a whole, is +thus far a failure. + +April 8--French official report states that since April 4 the French +offensive between the Meuse and the Moselle has resulted in important +gains on the heights of the Orne, on the heights of the Meuse at Les +Eparges, in the Ailly Wood, and in the Southern Woevre between the +Forest of Mortmare and the Forest of Le Pretre, the Germans losing +heavily; the German report is at variance with French claims and states +that the French have failed; Belgians report that the western side of +the Yser Canal, in the direction of Drei Grachten, is completely free of +Germans. + +April 9--Desperate fighting continues on the heights of the Meuse and +along the St. Mihiel-Pont-a-Mousson front; French announce complete +occupation of Les Eparges, one of their chief objectives; French say +Germans were repulsed fifteen times in the Forest of Mortmare; Berlin +report is at sharp variance with the French, stating that all French +attacks in the Meuse region have been repulsed with heavy loss; Germans +make gains in Champagne; Germans retake Drei Grachten from Belgians. + +April 10--French extend their gains in the Woevre; French push forward +on St. Mihiel-Pont-a-Mousson front in attempt to cut German +communications; French hold Les Eparges firmly, where, according to the +official French report, the Germans have lost 30,000 men in two months; +Germans repulse French between the Orne and the heights of the Meuse, +and in the Forest of Le Pretre; French attacks on the village of Bezange +la Grande fail. + +April 11--French state that they maintain their gains of previous days +in the St. Mihiel region, though Germans recapture some of their own +lost trenches in Mortmare Wood; French repulse attacks in the Forest of +Le Pretre, though the Germans capture some machine guns; a strong French +attack on German positions north of Combres results in failure; German +main army headquarters denies that the recent French attacks in the St. +Mihiel region have been successful; Germans take three villages from the +Belgians; Germans are vigorously attacking positions recently taken from +them by the French on Hartmanns-Weilerkopf; furious German attacks are +made near Albert, being a continuation of an attack begun yesterday; +Germans blow up some French trenches by mines; heavy German losses, due +to the pounding of six miles of French artillery, occur in an infantry +advance. + +April 12--Lively fighting in the Woevre district; Germans attack Les +Eparges, but are repulsed; French make gains at Courie; Germans have +successes in close-quarter fighting in the Forests of Ailly and Le +Pretre; German sappers throw letters into British trenches saying they +are tired of fighting and expressing hopes for peace. + +April 13--French make slight gains east of Berry-au-Bac; Germans repulse +French attacks at several points; Germans gain ground in the Forest of +Le Pretre; Germans are moving up reinforcements in the region of +Thionville and Metz. + +April 14--French penetrate the German line at Marcheville, but are +driven out by counter-attacks; French extend their front in the Forest +of Ailly, and make progress in the Forest of Mortmare; French artillery +checks a German attack at Les Eparges; activity is renewed at +Berry-au-Bac; Germans are strengthening the forts at Istein, on the +Rhine. + +April 15--The whole spur northeast of Notre Dame de Lorette has been +carried by the French with the bayonet; French gain at Bagatelle in the +Argonne; French repulse German counter-attacks at Les Eparges; Germans +repulse French attacks at Marcheville, at the Forest of Le Pretre, and +elsewhere. + +April 16--French repulse German attacks north of Arras and in the St. +Mihiel region. + +April 17--French make progress in the Vosges on both sides of the Fecht +River; in Champagne, northeast of Perthes, the Germans explode mines +under French trenches; Germans repulse French near Flirey; French +repulse Germans at Notre Dame de Lorette; in the Valley of the Aisne +French heavy artillery bombards the caves of Pasly, used as German +shelters. + +April 18--Germans repulse British attack in the hills southeast of +Ypres; Germans capture an advanced French position in the Vosges +southwest of Stossweier; French have successes in the Valley of the +Aisne, at the Bois de St. Mord, and in Champagne, to the northwest of +Perthes; French make progress in region of Schnepfen-Riethkopf in +Alsace. + +April 19--British line south of Ypres has been pushed forward three +miles after much hard fighting; British take Hill 60, an important +strategic point, lying two miles south of Zillebeke; German +counter-attacks are repulsed; British attacks are repulsed between Ypres +and Comines; French make gains along the Fecht River, and capture a +division of mountain artillery; French gain the summit of Burgkorpfeld, +and are advancing on the north bank of the Fecht; French repulse +counter-attacks at Les Eparges; Germans repulse French attacks at +Combres. + +April 20--Heavy artillery fighting in Champagne and the Argonne; French +infantry attack fails north of Four-de-Paris; French make slight +progress in the Forest of Mortmare; Germans storm and reoccupy the +village of Embermenil, west of Avrecourt. + +April 21--Violent German counter-attacks are being made on Hill 60, but +all have been repulsed, "with great loss to the enemy," according to the +British; Germans capture a French battery near Rheims; French repulse +German attacks at several points between the Meuse and the Moselle; +French repulse attack in Alsace east of Hartmanns-Weilerkopf; Germans +repulse French attack north of Four-de-Paris; Germans repulse French +attack extending over a considerable front at Flirey; German gain in the +Forest of Le Pretre. + +April 22--A great new battle is being fought at Ypres, Germans taking a +strong offensive from the northeast; they drive the Allies back to the +Ypres Canal, taking 6,000 prisoners and 35 guns; at Steenstraete and +Het Sase the Germans force their way across the canal and establish +themselves on the west bank; Germans capture villages of Langemarck, +Steenstraete, Het Sase, and Pilken; Ypres is being heavily bombarded; +British and French official reports declare that at one point where the +French fell back they did so because of asphyxiating gas used by the +Germans; the Germans, on the contrary, have claimed several times +recently that the French have been using asphyxiating bombs at various +points; Germans continue tremendous attacks on Hill 60, with what is +declared to be one of the fiercest artillery bombardments in history, +but the British still hold it; German troops are pouring through Belgium +to the Ypres front; Germans gain ground south of La Bassee; Germans +repulse French attack in the western part of the Forest of Le Pretre; +French repulse attack at Bagatelle, in the Argonne; French gain ground +near St. Mihiel; French continue to advance on both banks of the Fecht +River; official French report states that all the Ailly woods are now in +the hands of the French after several days' fighting in the early part +of April; infantry attacks were preceded by a concentrated artillery +fire, at one point the French firing 20,000 shells in 90 minutes. + +April 23--French make progress at Forstat and near St. Mihiel; artillery +duels at Combres, St. Mihiel, Apremont, and northeast of Flirey; French +take advanced German trenches between Ailly and Apremont. + +April 24--One of the most furious battles of the war is now raging north +of Ypres, where the Allies have regained some of the ground recently +lost; Germans are pouring more troops into Flanders to push the attack; +the Canadians make a brilliant counter-attack, regaining part of the +ground this division lost, and retake four Canadian 4.7-inch guns which +they had lost; the Canadians are highly praised in the British War +Office report; Germans make further gains at another point on the line +and they seize Lizerne on the west bank of the Ypres Canal; the French +report says the French and Belgians recaptured Lizerne later in the day; +the British have consolidated their position on Hill 60; fierce fighting +is in progress in the Ailly wood; French repulse another attack on Les +Eparges and an attack south of the Forest of Parroy; Germans repel a +number of French attacks between the Meuse and the Moselle; Germans make +progress in the Forest of Le Pretre. + +April 25--Germans gain more ground at Ypres and begin a terrific drive +near La Bassee; Germans capture villages of St. Julien and Kersselaere +and advance toward Grafenstafel, taking British prisoners and machine +guns; Allies repulse Germans at several other points; Germans repulse +French attack in the Argonne and win in the Meuse hills, southwest of +Combres, taking seventeen cannon and 1,000 prisoners; London reports +that clouds of chlorine were released from bottles by the Germans during +the recent fighting at Ypres, the gas being borne by the wind to the +French trenches, killing many men. + +April 26--Allies rally and check the German drive near Ypres, fresh +German assaults north and northeast of the city being beaten off; Berlin +says that the Germans retain the west bank of the Yser, while London +reports that the Allies have retaken it; Germans still hold Lizerne, on +the west bank of the canal; Germans take from the French the summit of +Hartmanns-Weilerkopf, capturing 750 men and four machine guns; French +repulse German attack at Notre Dame de Lorette; fighting is in progress +on the heights of the Meuse; German attack on Les Eparges fails. + +April 27--Allies repulse German attack northeast of Ypres; British make +progress near St. Julien; French retake Het Sase; Belgians repel three +attacks south of Dixmude, and charge Germans with again using +asphyxiating gases; Allies retake Lizerne; Germans still hold the +bridgehead on the left bank of the canal just east of Lizerne; French +state they have retaken the summit of Hartmanns-Weilerkopf, but the +Germans declare all French attacks failed; German attacks near Les +Eparges fail. + +April 28--Allies are delivering counter-attacks in an attempt to regain +the ground lost north and northeast of Ypres; Germans are bringing up +reinforcements and hold firmly their present lines; scarcely a house is +left standing in Ypres; Germans take French trenches near Beausejour in +Champagne; French repulse Germans in the Argonne, near Marie Therese; +both the Germans and French claim to be in possession of +Hartmanns-Weilerkopf; French gain ground on heights of the Meuse; +Germans repulse strong French night attack in the Forest of Le Pretre. + +April 29--Germans repulse Allies north of Ypres; German official report +states Germans have taken sixty-three guns in Ypres fighting; Germans +repulse French night attacks at Le Mesnil in Champagne; Germans gain +ground on heights of the Meuse; French repulse Germans at Les Eparges. + +April 30--French gain ground north of Ypres, taking two lines of +trenches; Belgians have repulsed a German attack from Steenstraete; +Germans have fortified and hold bridgeheads on the west bank of Ypres +Canal near Steenstraete and Het Sase and on the east bank of the canal +north of Ypres; Germans repel a charge of Turcos and Zouaves; a huge +German gun shells Dunkirk from behind the German lines near Belgian +coast, about twenty-two miles away; twenty persons are killed and +forty-five wounded; British airmen locate the gun and bombard it, while +allied warships attack from the sea; French state that they hold the +summit of Hartmanns-Weilerkopf; 500 shells fall in Rheims; French fail +in an attempt in the Champagne district to win back their former +positions north of Le Mesnil; Germans repulse French charge north of +Flirey. + + +TURKISH AND EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGNS. + +April 1--It is learned that the Turks lost 12,000 men and many guns in a +fight against the Russians at Atkutur, Persia, on March 25; preceding +the reoccupation by the Russians of Solmac Plains, northwest of Urumiah, +720 Christians were massacred by the Turks. + +April 2--Turks are building new forts at San Stefano, near +Constantinople, and thousands of Turkish troops are employed as workmen +in the ammunition factories, which are being worked to their capacity. + +April 3--Turks have repulsed an attempt to land troops from a British +cruiser at Mowilah, at the head of the Red Sea. + +April 7--Russians enter Artvin, Russian Armenia; the entire province of +Batum has been cleared of Turks. + +April 8--French War Office announces that the expeditionary corps to the +Orient, under command of General d'Amade, has been ready for three weeks +to aid the allied fleets and the British expeditionary force in +operations against Turkey; the French troops are now in camp at Ramleh, +Egypt, resting and perfecting their organization. + +April 14--An official report is issued by the India Office of the +British Government which states that 23,000 Turks and Kurds attacked the +British positions at Kurna, Ahwaz, and Shaiba in Mesopotamia on March +12; they were driven off; Turks are daily massing troops on the +Gallipoli Peninsula, especially at Kiled Bahr; heavy guns formerly +around Constantinople, Principo, and Marmora seaports are being removed +to the Dardanelles; a large number of German aeroplanes are with the +Turkish troops. + +April 15--The greater part of the garrisons at Adrianople, Demotika, and +Kirk Kilisseh have been withdrawn for the defense of Constantinople. + +April 16--India Office of the British Government makes public an +official report stating that the British India troops have inflicted +another defeat on the Turks in the vicinity of Shaiba, Mesopotamia; +British casualties were 700; the Turkish forces numbered 15,000, their +loses being so heavy that they fled to Nakhailah. + +April 19--Reports sent to London state that the Turks have massed +350,000 men on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and have 200,000 more around +Constantinople; 35,000 French and British troops are at Lemnos Island, +off the entrance to the Dardanelles; Field Marshal Baron von der Goltz +has been appointed Commander in Chief of the First Turkish Army. + +April 21--Twenty thousand British and French troops have been landed +near Enos, European Turkey, on the Gulf of Saros; General Sir Ian +Hamilton, veteran of the Boer and other wars, is the Commander in Chief +of the Allies' expeditionary force for the Dardanelles. + +April 23--Troops of Allies are being landed at three points--at Enos, at +Suol, a promontory on the west of the Gallipoli Peninsula, and at the +Bulair Isthmus. + +April 24--Observations made by aviators of the Allies show 35,000 +Turkish troops are concentrated for the defense of Smyrna; they occupy +trenches extending from Vourlah to Smyrna, and are posted on heights +commanding the city. + +April 26--British War Office announces that in spite of serious +opposition troops have been landed at various points on the Gallipoli +Peninsula, and their advance continues; a general attack is now in +progress on the Dardanelles by both the allied army and fleet. + +April 27--On the Gallipoli Peninsula the allied troops under General Sir +Ian Hamilton are trying to batter their way through large Turkish forces +led by German officers in an effort to force the Dardanelles and reach +Constantinople; the French state that they have occupied Kum Kale, the +Turkish fortress on the Asiatic side of the entrance to the Dardanelles, +but the official Turkish report says the French were repulsed here; +Turks repulse Allies at Teke Burum. + +April 28--Allied troops have established a line across the southern tip +of the Gallipoli Peninsula, from Eske-Hissarlik to the mouth of a stream +on the opposite side; Allies beat off attacks at Sari-Bair and are +advancing; Turks are strongly intrenching, and have constructed many +wire entanglements; report from Berlin states that the left wing of the +allied army has been beaten back by the Turks and 12,000 men captured. + +April 29--The landing of allied troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula is +still going on; forces disembarked at Enos have advanced twenty miles; +11,000 Turks have been captured, and many German officers; British +aerial fleet is co-operating with the troops; Turks drive back Allies +who landed near Gaba Tepeh, and sink twelve sloops bearing allied +troops; the landing of one detachment of allied troops on the Gallipoli +Peninsula was accomplished by a ruse, 1,000 decrepit donkeys with dummy +baggage being landed at one point while the troops landed elsewhere; +Russians have dislodged Turks from Kotur, 110 miles northwest of Tabriz. + +April 30--After hard fighting the British have firmly established +themselves on the Gallipoli Peninsula and have advanced toward the +Narrows of the Dardanelles; the French have cleared Cape Kum Kalo of +Turks; activity is renewed on the Caucasus front; Russians are advancing +in direction of Olti, on border of Turkey, and have cleared the Kurds +out of the Alasehkert Valley. + + +CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA. + +April 1--British troops occupy Aus, an important trading station in +German West Africa. + +April 2--Madrid reports that Moorish rebels have occupied Fez and +Mekines, and that the French hold only Casablanca and Rabat. + +April 6--It is announced officially at Cape Town that troops of the +Union of South Africa have captured Warmbad, twenty miles north of the +Orange River. + +April 7--It is announced officially at Cape Town that troops of the +Union of South Africa have occupied without opposition the railway +stations at Kalkfontein and Kanus, German Southwest Africa. + +April 21--German troops in Kamerun have been forced by allied forces to +retreat from the plateau in the centre of the colony; seat of Government +has been transferred to Jaunde; allied troops have forced a passage +across the Kele River; British troops have taken possession of the Ngwas +Bridge; French native troops from Central Africa have attained in the +east the Lomis-Dume line; official news reaches Berlin of the defeat of +a British force in German East Africa on Jan. 18-19 near Jassini, the +total British loss being 700; Mafia Island, off the coast of German East +Africa, was occupied by the British on Jan. 10. + + +NAVAL RECORD. + +April 1--German submarines sink British steamer Seven Seas and French +steamer Emma, thirty men going down with the vessels; British squadron +shells Zeebrugge where Germans have established a submarine base, by +moonlight; Hamburg-American liner Macedonia, which had been interned at +Las Palmas, Canary Islands, but recently escaped, has now eluded British +cruisers and sailed for South American waters. + +April 2--It is learned that Chile has made representations to the +British Government regarding the sinking of the German cruiser Dresden; +Chile says she was blown up by her own crew in Chilean waters after +bombardment by British squadron, and when the Chilean Government was on +the point of interning her; three British trawlers are sunk by the +German submarine U-10, whose Captain, the fishermen state, told them he +has "orders to sink everything"; Norwegian sailing ship Nor is burned by +a German submarine, the submarine Captain giving the Nor's Captain a +document saying she was destroyed for carrying contraband; Dutch steamer +Schieland is blown up off the English coast, presumably by a mine; +British steamer Lockwood is sunk by a German submarine off Devonshire +coast, the crew escaping. + +April 3--Forts at entrance to the Gulf of Smyrna are bombarded by allied +fleet; French fishing vessel is sunk by a German submarine, her crew +escaping; Berlin estimates state that from Aug. 1 to March 1 a tonnage +of 437,879 in British merchant ships and auxiliary cruisers has been +destroyed. + +April 4--German submarine sinks British steamer City of Bremen in the +English Channel, four of the crew being drowned; German submarine sinks +a Russian bark in the English Channel; three German steamers are sunk by +mines in the Baltic, 25 men being drowned; Turkish armored cruiser +Medjidieh is sunk by a Russian mine; it is learned that an Austrian +steamer with 600 tons of ammunition aboard was blown up by a mine in the +Danube on March 30, 35 of the crew being drowned; it is learned that the +American steamer Greenbriar, lost in the North Sea a few days ago, was +sunk by a mine. + +April 5--A Turkish squadron sinks two Russian ships; Turkish batteries +off Kum Kale sink an allied mine sweeper; an Athens report says that the +British battleship Lord Nelson, recently stranded in the Dardanelles, +has been destroyed by the fire of the Turkish shore guns; British +trawler Agantha is sunk by a German submarine off Longstone, the crew +being subjected to rifle fire from the submarine while taking to the +boats; German submarine U-31 sinks British steamer Olivine and Russian +bark Hermes, the crews being saved; German Baltic fleet, returning from +bombardment of Libau, is cut off from its base by German mines, which +have gone adrift in large numbers because of a storm. + +April 6--A German submarine is entangled in at net off Dover specially +designed for the catching of submarines; Stockholm reports that the +Swedish steamer England has been seized by the Germans in the Baltic and +taken to a German port. + +April 7--United States Government, at request of Commander Thierichens, +takes over for internment the German converted cruiser Prinz Eitel +Friedrich, to hold her until the end of the war; German Admiralty admits +loss of submarine U-9, already reported by the British as being sunk. + +April 8--French sailing ship Chateaubriand is sunk by a German submarine +off the Isle of Wight, the crew being saved. + +April 9--British and French cruisers have taken from Italian mail +steamers 2,300 bags of outgoing German mail, and it is planned to seize +bags from abroad intended for Germany. + +April 10--British steamer Harpalyce, which made one voyage as a relief +ship with supplies for the Belgians donated by residents of New York +State, is sunk in the North Sea by a submarine; some of her crew are +missing. + +April 11--German auxiliary cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm anchors at Newport +News, needing coal and provisions; Captain Thierfelder reports that his +ship has sunk fourteen ships of the Allies and one Norwegian ship; +allied fleet is bombarding Dardanelles forts from the Gulf of Saros; +French steamer Frederic Franck, after being torpedoed by a German +submarine in the English Channel, is towed to Plymouth. + +April 12--United States State Department is notified by Ambassador Page +that the British Government will settle the case of the American +steamship Wilhelmina in accordance with the contentions of the owners of +the cargo; the British state that they will requisition and pay for the +cargo, and the owners of both ship and cargo will be reimbursed for the +delay caused in sending the case before a prize court; Captains of the +American steamers Navajo, Joseph W. Fordney, and Llama appeal to +American Embassy at London to procure their release from British marine +authorities at Kirkwall; British collier Newlyn is damaged by an +unexplained explosion off the Scilly Islands, but makes port; a French +battleship, assisted by French aeroplanes, bombards the Turkish +encampment near Gaza. + +April 13--British torpedo boat destroyer Renard dashes up the +Dardanelles over ten miles at high speed on a scouting expedition. + +April 14--Allied patrol ships bombard Dardanelles forts; a cruiser and a +destroyer are struck by shells from the forts; Dutch steamer Katwyk, +from Baltimore to Rotterdam with a cargo of corn consigned to the +Netherlands Government, is blown up and sunk while at anchor seven miles +west of the North Hinder Lightship in the North Sea; crew is saved; +indignation expressed in Holland; Swedish steamer Folke is sunk by a +mine or torpedo off Peterhead; thirty-one new cases of beri-beri have +developed among the crew of the Kronprinz Wilhelm since her arrival at +Newport News. + +April 15--"White Paper" made public in London shows that Great Britain +has made "a full and ample apology" to the Government of Chile for the +sinking in Chilean territorial waters last month of the German cruiser +Dresden, the internment of which had already been ordered by the +Maritime Governor of Cumberland Bay when the British squadron attacked +her; two allied battleships enter the bay at Enos and with shells +destroy the Turkish camp there; Russian squadron bombards Kara-Burum, +inside the Tchatalja lines; British steamer Ptarmigan is sunk by a +German submarine in the North Sea, eight of the crew being lost; +tabulation made in London of statistics of maritime losses shows that +England and her allies have sunk, captured, or detained 543 ships +belonging to Germany and her allies, while Germany and her allies have +sunk, captured, or detained 265 ships belonging to England, France, +Belgium, and Russia. + +April 16--French cruiser bombards fortifications of El-Arish, near the +boundary of Egypt and Palestine, as well as detachments of Turkish +troops concentrated near that place; one cruiser bombards the +Dardanelles forts; Russian squadron bombards Eregli and Sunguldaik, in +Asia Minor, on the Black Sea. + +April 17--Two British ships drive ashore and destroy a Turkish torpedo +boat which attacked a British transport in the Aegean Sea; it is +reported that 100 men on the transport were drowned; Greek steamer +Ellispontis, en route for Montevidio from Holland, is torpedoed in the +North Sea, the crew being saved. + +April 18--British submarine E-15 runs ashore in the Dardanelles, the +crew being captured by Turks; two British picket boats, under a heavy +fire, then torpedo and destroy the stranded vessel to prevent her being +used by the Turks. + +April 19--Russian Black Sea torpedo boat squadron bombards the coast of +Turkey in Asia, between Archav and Artaschin; provision stores and +barracks are destroyed; many Turkish coastwise vessels laden with +ammunition and supplies are sunk; six allied torpedo boats fail in an +attempt to penetrate the Dardanelles. + +April 20--Two Turkish torpedo boat destroyers are blown up while passing +through a mine belt laid by the Russians across the entrance to the +Bosporus. + +April 21--British freighter Ruth is sunk by a German submarine in the +North Sea, crew being rescued. + +April 22--M. Augagneur, French Minister of Marine, and Winston Spencer +Churchill, First Lord of the British Admiralty, hold a conference in the +north of France as to the best means of forcing the Dardanelles; an +Anglo-French fleet is sighted off the lower coast of Norway; German +Admiralty gives out a statement that British submarines have been +repeatedly sighted lately in Heligoland Bay and that one of these +submarines was sunk on April 17; all steamship communication between the +British Isles and Holland is suspended; allied fleet bombards +Dardanelles forts and points on the west coast of Gallipoli; British +trawler St. Lawrence is sunk in the North Sea by a German submarine, two +of the crew being lost; a German submarine has taken the British steam +trawler Glancarse into a German port from a point off Aberdeen; British +trawler Fuschia brings into Aberdeen the crew of the trawler Envoy, +which was shelled by a German submarine. + +April 23--German Admiralty announces that the German high seas fleet has +recently cruised repeated in the North Sea, advancing into English +waters without meeting British ships; the British Official Gazette +announces a blockade, beginning at midnight, of Kamerun, German West +Africa; Norwegian steamer Caprivi is sunk by a mine off the Irish coast. + +April 24--Finnish steamer Frack is sunk in the Baltic by a German +submarine; Norwegian barks Oscar and Eva are sunk by a German submarine, +the crews being saved. + +April 25--Russian Black Sea fleet bombards the Bosporus forts. + +April 26--French armored cruiser Leon Gambetta is torpedoed by the +Austrian submarine U-5 in the Strait of Otranto; 552 of her men, +including Admiral Senes and all her commissioned officers, perish; +Italian vessels rescue 162 men; the cruiser was attacked while on patrol +duty in the waterway leading to the Adriatic Sea, and sank in ten +minutes after the torpedo hit; England stops all English Channel and +North Sea shipping, experts believing that the Admiralty order is +connected with the desperate fighting now going on at Ypres; German +converted cruiser Kronprinz Wilhelm, lying at Newport News, interns +until the end of the war. + +April 27--Sixteen battleships and armored cruisers of the Allies attack +advance batteries at the Dardanelles, but do little damage; British +battleships Majestic and Triumph, damaged, have to withdraw from the +fighting line; the fleet is operating in conjunction with the land +forces. + +April 28--Bombardment of the Dardanelles is continued by the Allies; +French armored cruiser Jeanne d'Arc is damaged by fort fire; Captain of +a Swedish steamer reports the presence in the North Sea of a German +fleet of sixty-eight vessels of all classes. + +April 29--British steamer Mobile is sunk by a German submarine off the +north coast of Scotland, the crew being saved. + +April 30--Allied fleet is co-operating with the troops in their advance +on the Gallipoli Peninsula; British battleship Queen Elizabeth directs +the fire of her fifteen-inch guns upon the Peninsula under guidance of +aviators; a Turkish troopship is sunk; Zeebrugge is bombarded from the +sea; British trawler Lily Dale is sunk by a German submarine in the +North Sea; British Admiralty announces that the German steamship +Macedonia, which escaped from Las Palmas, Canary Islands, a few weeks +ago, has been captured by a British cruiser. + + +AERIAL RECORD. + +April 1--British airmen bombard German submarines which are being built +at Hoboken, near Antwerp. + +April 2--French aeroplane squadron drops thirty-three bombs on barracks +and aeroplane hangars at Vigneulles, in the Woevre region; French and +Belgian aviators drop thirty bombs on aviation camp at Handezaema; +allied aviators drop bombs on Muehlheim and Neuenberg, doing slight +damage; Adolphe Pegoud, French aviator, attacks and brings down a German +Taube near Saint Menehould by shooting at it; he captures the pilot and +observer, unhurt. + +April 3--French bring down a German aeroplane at Rheims, the aviators, +unhurt, being captured. + +April 4--German Taube drops bombs on Newkerk church, near Ypres; twelve +women and Abbe Reynaert are killed; many persons injured; bombs are +dropped from a British aeroplane on the forts at the entrance to the +Gulf of Smyrna; the tenth Zeppelin to be constructed at Friedrichshafen +has its trial trip; the latest type is longer and faster than preceding +models. + +April 5--French War Office announces that in the British raid on +Belgium, at the end of March, 40 German workmen were killed and 62 +wounded; at Hoboken two German submarines were destroyed, a third +damaged, and the Antwerp Naval Construction Yards were gutted; French +aviators bombard Muehlheim, killing three women. + +April 6--German seaplane is brought down by the Russians off Libau, +after dropping bombs on city, the aviators being captured. + +April 7--Austrian aviators drop bombs in the market place of Porgoritza, +Montenegro, killing twelve women and children, and injuring forty-eight +other persons; many buildings are destroyed. + +April 8--One Austrian aeroplane beats three Russian machines in mid-air, +all the Russian aeroplanes falling to earth. + +April 9--It is reported from Furnes, Belgium, that Garros, French +aviator, recently won a duel in mid-air against a German aeroplane, +shooting down Germans. + +April 11--Captain of British steamer Serula drives off two German +aeroplanes with a rifle; the aviators drop twenty-five bombs, all +missing; German aeroplane bombards an allied transport near the +Dardanelles. + +April 12--German dirigible drops seven bombs on Nancy, doing slight +damage. + +April 13--French aviators bombard military hangars at Vigneulles, and +disperse, near there, a German battalion on the march; according to a +report printed in a Swiss newspaper, Count Zeppelin's secretary told +this journal's correspondent that Germany is preparing for a great air +raid on London in August, with two squadrons of five dirigibles each. + +April 14--A Zeppelin makes a night raid over the Tyne district of +England; inhabitants of the whole region from Newcastle to the coast, +warned by authorities, plunge the territory into darkness, which has the +effect of baffling the airship pilot; bombs, chiefly of the incendiary +kind, are dropped from time to time haphazard; a Zeppelin, while flying +over the Ypres district, is shot at and badly damaged, coming down some +hours afterward a complete wreck near Maria Aeletre; a Zeppelin drops +bombs on Bailleul, the objective being the aviation ground, but this is +not hit; three civilians are killed; two German aeroplanes are forced to +come to the ground within the French lines, one near Braine and the +other near Luneville. + +April 15--Fifteen French aeroplanes drop bombs on German military +buildings at Ostend; German aviator drops bombs on Mourmelow; French +aviator drops five bombs on the buildings occupied by the German General +Staff at Mazieres; French aviators bombard Freiburg-in-Breisgau, killing +six children, two men, and one woman, and injuring fourteen other +persons, including several children; three allied aeroplanes make a +flight of 170 miles over the Sinai Peninsula, aiming bombs at the tents +of Turkish troops. + +April 16--Two Zeppelins attack the east coast of England in the early +morning, dropping bombs at Lowestoft, at Malden, thirty miles from +London, while one of the raiders is seen near Dagenham, eleven and +one-half miles from London Mansion House; one woman is injured and +considerable property damage is done; a German biplane flies over Kent, +dropping bombs, which do little damage; at Sheerness the anti-aircraft +guns open fire, but the machine escapes; a single bomb, dropped by a +German Taube on Amiens, kills or wounds thirty persons, mostly +civilians, while twenty-two houses are destroyed outright and many +others seriously damaged; French aviators drop bombs at Leopoldshoehe, +Rothwell, and Mazieres-les-Metz; two civilians are killed at Rothwell; a +combined attack is made by one British and five French aeroplanes on a +number of Rhine towns; two allied hydroplanes fall into the Dardanelles +as a result of Turkish fire; Garros kills two German aviators in their +aeroplane by shooting them from his aeroplane. + +April 17--French airship bombards Strassburg, wounding civilians; two +German aeroplanes drop bombs on Amiens, killing seven persons and +wounding eight. + +April 18--Garros brings down, between Ypres and Dixmude, another German +aeroplane, his third within a short period. + +April 19--Two French aerial squadrons attack railway positions along the +Rhine, and bombard the Muehlheim and Habsheim stations; at Mannheim huge +forage stores are set on fire; Garros is captured by the Germans at +Ingelmunster, Belgium, after being forced to alight there; German +aeroplanes drop bombs in Belfort; Germans repulse French aeroplanes at +Combres. + +April 20--German aeroplane squadron drops 100 bombs at Bialystok, +Russian Poland, killing and wounding civilians; a Zeppelin bombards the +town of Oicchanow, doing slight damage; the Rhine from Basle to +Muelhausen is the scene of a considerable engagement lasting two hours, +in which two French and two British aeroplanes attack a larger German +squadron and are driven off; returning with reinforcements and now +outnumbering the German squadron, they drive off the Germans; no report +as to losses; reports from Swiss towns around Lake Constance on which +the Zeppelin works are situated, state that Emperor William has ordered +much larger Zeppelins constructed; each of the new Zeppelins, it is +stated, will cost over $600,000, and will throw bombs double the size of +those now used. + +April 21--French aeroplanes bombard headquarters of General von Etrantz +in the Woevre; French aeroplanes bombard German convoys in the Grand +Duchy of Baden and an electric power plant at Loerrach, at the latter +place injuring civilians; British aviators drop bombs on the German +aviation harbor and shed at Ghent; Russian aeroplanes bombard the +railroad station at Soldau. + +April 23--Russian aeroplanes drop bombs on Mlawa and Plock, and bombard +the German aviation field near Sanniky; Germans bring down a Russian +aeroplane at Czernowitz, the pilot being killed. + +April 24--French aviator drops two bombs on Fort Kastro, at Smyrna, +killing several soldiers; official German statement says a British +battleship was badly damaged in the recent Zeppelin attack on the Tyne +region. + +April 25--Aviators of the Allies are making daily attacks on the Germans +between the Yser and Bruges; a Zeppelin throws bombs on the town of +Sialvstok. + +April 26--A Zeppelin drops on Calais large bombs of a new type, with +greatly increased power; thirty civilians are injured; a Russian +aeroplane drops three bombs on Czernowitz, injuring children. + +April 27--British airmen bombard eight towns in Belgium occupied by +Germans; Russians damage and capture two Austro-German aeroplanes; +Russian aviators drop bombs on German aeroplanes at the aviation field +near Sanniky; French aviators drop bombs at Bollweiler, Chambley, and +Arnaville; French airman throws six bombs on the Mauser rifle factory at +Oberdorf. + +April 28--A German aeroplane throws three bombs at the American tanker +Cushing, owned by the Standard Oil Company, the attack taking place in +daylight in the North Sea; the ship was flying the American flag; +splinters from one bomb strike the vessel and tear the American ensign, +according to the report of the Cushing's Captain; Russian giant +aeroplane drops 1,200 pounds of explosives on the East Prussian town of +Neidenburg; allied airmen drop bombs on Haltingen, Southern Baden; +German aeroplane drops bombs on Nancy, three persons being killed and +several injured; allied airmen bombard Oberdorf, killing six civilians +and wounding seven; six allied aeroplanes bombard the hangars of +dirigibles at Friedrichshafen; French aviators drop bombs on the station +and a factory at Leopoldshoehe; French capture or destroy four German +aeroplanes. + +April 29--Three German aeroplanes drop bombs on Belfort, four workmen +being wounded; German aeroplanes bombard Epernay. + +April 30--A Zeppelin drops bombs on Ipswich and other places in Suffolk; +no lives are reported lost, but a number of dwellings are set on fire; +four Zeppelins are sighted off Wells, Norfolk; they change their course +and head out to sea; French airship bombards the railway in the region +of Valenciennes; a destroyed French aeroplane falls within the German +lines; British bring down a German aeroplane east of Ypres. + + +AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. + +April 1--Report from Prague states that something akin to a reign of +terror prevails in certain parts of Austria, people being punished +severely for trivial offenses. + +April 2--Czech regiment refuses to entrain for the front; most of the +Czech territorials have been sent to Istria; Government issues appeal to +cooks and housewives to exercise economy in foodstuffs. + +April 3--It is officially denied at Vienna that Austria has opened +negotiations with Russia for a separate peace, as has been persistently +reported of late. + +April 4--Budapest continues gay despite the war, and night life goes on +much as usual. + +April 11--The Foreign Office publishes a second "Red Book," charging +atrocities and breaches of international law against Serbia, Russia, +France, and England; it is declared that there is not an article of +international law which has not been violated repeatedly by the troops +of the Allies. + +April 12--A law court at Vienna, in the case of Dubois, a Belgian, holds +that despite the German occupation Dubois has not lost his Belgian +citizenship. + +April 14--Wealthy Hungarians are preparing to flee before the Russian +invasion. + +April 15--Some of the Hungarian newspapers are discussing peace. + +April 17--War Office announces that men between 18 and 50 of the +untrained Landsturm will hereafter be liable for military service. + +April 18--Bread riots occur in Vienna and at points in Bohemia; Vienna +is now protected by long lines of trenches on the left bank of the +Danube; $14,000,000 is said to have been spent in fortifications at +Budapest and Vienna. + +April 19--The food situation in Trieste is critical. + +April 21--All Austrian subjects in Switzerland are recalled by their +Government. + +April 22--Riots in Trieste are assuming a revolutionary character; "Long +Live Italy!" is being shouted by the mobs; it is reported from Paris +that the Hungarian Chamber at its opening session refused to vote the +new military credits demanded by the General Staff. + +April 25--Anti-war riots continue at Trieste; there are also serious +riots at Vienna, Goerz, Prague, and elsewhere; the Austrians have +fortified the entire Italian frontier, at places having built +intrenchments of concrete and cement. + +April 28--Railway service on the Austrian side of the Austro-Italian +frontier has been virtually suspended for ordinary purposes; all lines +are being used to carry troops to the frontier. + + +BELGIUM. + +April 1--The German Governor General has revived an old law which holds +each community responsible for damage done during public disturbances; a +Berlin newspaper charges that American passports have been used to +smuggle Belgian soldiers from the Yser to Holland and thence to the +Belgian Army; the Pope expresses his sympathy for Belgium's woes to the +new Belgian Minister to the Vatican. + +April 3--Officials of the Belgian Public Works Department resign when +ordered by the German administration to direct construction of roads +designed for strategic purposes. + +April 5--Gifford Pinchot, who has been superintending relief work for +Northern France, has been expelled from Belgium by order of the German +Governor General; the reason is that Mr. Pinchot's sister is the wife of +Sir Alan Johnstone, British Minister at The Hague, with whom Mr. Pinchot +stayed on his way to Belgium; Prince Leopold, elder son of King Albert, +13-1/2 years old, joins the line regiment famous for its defense of +Dixmude. + +April 6--Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, sends a letter to +Cardinal Mercier inclosing $5,000 as a personal gift from Pope Benedict +to the Belgian sufferers from the war; the letter expresses the Pope's +love and pity. + +April 8--President Wilson cables greetings to King Albert on his +birthday. + +April 13--The German Governor General orders establishment of a credit +bank which will advance money on the requisition bills given in payment +for goods seized by the authorities. + +April 15--It is reported from Rome that the German Embassy there has +asked the Belgian Government, through the Belgian Legation to the +Quirinal, whether, in event of the German armies evacuating Belgian +territory, Belgium would remain neutral during the remainder of the war. + +April 17--The German Governor General has ordered the dissolution of the +Belgian Red Cross Society, because, it is stated, the managing committee +refused to participate in carrying out a systematic plan for overcoming +the present distress in Belgium. + +April 24--A memorial addressed to President Wilson, signed by 40,000 +Belgian refugees now in Holland, expressing gratitude for the aid which +the United States has extended to the Belgian war sufferers, is mailed +to Washington. + + +BULGARIA. + +April 7--Travelers from Serbia and Saloniki are barred from Bulgaria +because typhus is epidemic in Serbia. + + +CANADA. + +April 1--Canadians approve the anti-liquor stand taken by King George, +and prominent men declare themselves in favor of restricting the use of +alcohol in the Dominion. + +April 10--Premier Borden tells Parliament that Lord Kitchener has called +on Canada for a second expeditionary force; the first contingent of the +first expeditionary force numbered 35,420, and the second contingent of +that force 22,272. + +April 15--Parliament is prorogued, the Duke of Connaught, Governor +General, praising Canada's troops for "conspicuous bravery and +efficiency on the field of battle." + +April 25--King George cables to the Duke of Connaught an expression of +his admiration of the gallant work done by the Canadian division near +Ypres; General Hughes, Canadian Minister of Militia, cables the +appreciation of the Dominion to General Alderson, commanding the +Canadian division. + +April 28--About 200 Canadian officers were put out of action in the +fighting near Ypres, out of a total of 600. + +April 29--Four prominent German residents of Vancouver are arrested on a +charge of celebrating German successes over the Canadians near Ypres, +indignation being aroused among Vancouver citizens. + + +EGYPT. + +April 8--An attempt is made at Cairo to assassinate the Sultan of Egypt, +Hussien Kamel, a native firing at him, but missing. + + +FRANCE. + +April 1--A delegation of foreign newspaper men who have visited the +prison camps say they found the German prisoners well treated and +contented. + +April 3--General Joffre is quoted as predicting a speedy end of the war +in favor of the Allies. + +April 4--The second report of the French commission appointed to +investigate the treatment of French citizens by the Germans charges many +acts of cruelty; 300 former captives of the Germans tell, under oath, +stories contained in the report of brutality, starvation, and death in +the German concentration camps. + +April 5--There are insistent reports that the French have a new shell +which kills by concussion; it is officially stated in an army bulletin +that a new explosive recently put into use doubles the explosive force +of shells of three-inch guns. + +April 9--The General commanding the Vosges army has forbidden, with +General Joffre's approval, the use of alcoholic drinks in the district +under his command; the general movement to restrict the sale of +intoxicants is growing; the municipal authorities of Paris are preparing +a decree prohibiting the tango. + +April 10--A court-martial acquits Captain Herail of the Eleventh +Hussars, who shot and killed his wife in November because she persisted +in following the army to be near him, in direct violation of orders +issued by the military authorities; the President of the Touring Club of +France states that the French people want American tourists as usual +this Summer; the Almanach de Gotha is being boycotted by the allied +royalty and nobility and a new volume, to be called the Almanach de +Bruxelles, is being prepared for speedy publication in Paris. + +April 11--Computation made by the Paris Matin shows that the total +length of the battle front of the Allies is 1,656 miles, the French +occupying 540 miles of trenches, the British 31, and the Belgians 17, +while in the east the Russians are facing a front of 851 miles, and the +Serbians and Montenegrins are fighting on a front of 217 miles. + +April 12--General Pau, who has been on a mission in Russia, Italy, and +the Balkan States, gets a notable reception on arriving in Paris. + +April 13--President Poincare leaves Dunkirk for Paris after three days +with the French and Belgian troops; M. Poincare had a long conference +with King Albert; the War Office is organizing an expedition of +cinematograph operators throughout the whole French line; it is planned +to multiply and circulate the films. + +April 15--An official denial of reports from Berlin that public +buildings in Paris are being used as military observation posts is +cabled to the French Embassy at Washington by Foreign Minister Delcasse; +vital statistics for the first half of 1914, just published, show that +the net diminution in the population of France was 17,000, while the +population of Germany increased in the same period, nearly 500,000; the +Temps says that the problem of depopulation must receive serious +consideration after the war. + +April 19--A regiment of women is being formed in Paris; it is planned +that they wear khaki uniforms, learn how to handle rifles, and undertake +various military duties in areas back of the firing line. + +April 22--General Joffre retires twenty-nine more Generals to make way +for younger and more active men; the Cabinet decides that children made +orphans by the death in the war of their fathers should be cared for by +the State; it is decided to appoint a commission to study the question +and decide what steps should be taken; "Tout Paris," the social register +of the capital, contains the names of 1,500 Parisians killed in action +up to Feb. 25, including 20 Generals and 193 men of title. + +April 24--The famous Chambord estate is sequestrated on the ground that +it is the property of Austrian subjects; the Bank of France releases +$1,000,000 gold to the Bank of England for transmission to New York to +assist in steadying exchange; French official circles and French +newspapers are pleased with the American note to Germany in reply to the +von Bernstorff memorandum on the sale of arms to the Allies, and with +the expressions of German annoyance resulting from the note. + +April 30--President Poincare receives a delegation of Irish Members of +the British Parliament, headed by T.P. O'Connor and Joseph Devlin, +bringing addresses to the President and Cardinal Amette, and assurance +of devotion to the Allies' cause. + + +GERMANY. + +April 1--Circular of the Minister of Agriculture says that through +economical use of available grain the bread supply is assured until the +next harvest; it is decided to hold horse races this season, including +the German Derby; 812,808 prisoners of war are now held in Germany, +10,175 being officers. + +April 3--It is reported from Koenigsberg, East Prussia, that along a line +of 150 miles, and for a distance varying from five to fifty miles from +the Russian border, there is nothing but ruins as the result of the +Russian invasion; thousands of women and children are stated to have +been carried off to Russia; it is learned that spotted fever has been +introduced into concentration camps by Russian prisoners, but spread to +the German civil population has thus far been prevented; skilled +artisans, urgently needed in various lines of industrial work, are being +granted furloughs from the front. + +April 6--Postal officials suspend parcel post service to Argentina and +several other South American countries and to Spain, Portugal, Greece, +Italian colonies, and Dutch West Indies; Press Bureau of the French War +Office gives out figures, compiled from official German sources, showing +that the Germans have lost 31,726 officers in killed, wounded, and +missing since the beginning of the war, out of a total of 52,805 who +started in the war; General von Kluck is recovering from his wound and +has been decorated by Emperor William. + +April 8--Germans are mourning Captain Otto Weddigen of submarines U-9 +and U-29, it being now accepted as a fact that the U-29, his last +command, has been lost. + +April 9--Official list shows that on March 1 there were in Germany 5,510 +pieces of captured artillery. + +April 12--The Government is making reprisals for the treatment of +captured German submarine crews in England, having imprisoned +thirty-nine British officers in the military detention barracks. + +April 13--Germany is detaining freight cars belonging to Italian lines; +semi-official statement says the passengers and crew of the steamer +Falaba were given twenty-three minutes to leave the ship and were shown +as much consideration as was compatible with safety to the submarine; +according to a dispatch from Switzerland, there is an alarming increase +of madness in the German Army. + +April 14--It is reported from Switzerland that Emperor William last +month paid a visit to Emperor Francis Joseph. + +April 15--Several thousand parcel post packages mailed from Germany for +the United States have been returned to the senders by Swiss postal +authorities, because the French and British Governments have given +notice that parcels addressed to German citizens in the United States +will be seized whenever found on shipboard; the Reichsbank's statement +up to April 15 shows an increase in gold of $2,000,000. + +April 17--Ten British officers have been placed in solitary confinement +in Magdeburg as a measure of reprisal for the treatment accorded +captured German submarine crews by Great Britain; a letter from Dr. +Bernhard Dernburg, former Colonial Secretary of Germany, who has for +some time been in the United States, is read at a pro-German mass +meeting in Portland, Me.; it suggests the neutralization of the high +seas in time of war and makes various other proposals, which are +regarded in some quarters as a possible indication that Germany is +willing to discuss terms of peace; because of a shortage of rubber, the +Government is arranging a special campaign to collect rubber in all +shapes throughout the empire. + +April 19--The second officer and some of the crew of the German +converted cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich, now interned at Newport News, +reach Copenhagen on their way to Germany; it is stated in the Copenhagen +report that they are provided with false passports describing them as +Swedish subjects. + +April 20--A conference of German and Austrian Socialists in Vienna has +agreed that after the war international treaties for limitation of +armaments must be agreed upon, with a view to disarmament. + +April 21--All German subjects in Switzerland are recalled by their +Government; reports from The Hague declare that German Socialists are +trying to get a basis on which the war can be stopped; the soldiers at +the front are asking for flower seeds to plant on the graves of the +slain. + +April 22--During the last few days Emperor William has been visiting the +German front in Alsace; he promoted Colonel Reuter of Zabern fame to the +rank of Major General; the Government has sent 2,203 more maimed French +officers and men to Constance, where they will be exchanged for German +wounded; university courses are being conducted by Belgian professors in +the prison camp at Soldau. + +April 23--The Federal Council has extended until July 31 the operation +of the order which provides that claims held by foreign persons or +corporations which accrue before July 31, 1914, cannot be sued upon in +the German courts; many newspapers comment bitterly upon the American +note replying to the Bernstorff memorandum on the sale of arms to the +Allies by the United States; there is rejoicing in Berlin over German +gains near Ypres. + +April 24--Dr. Dernburg, in address at Brooklyn, says that evacuation of +Belgium depends on England's agreeing to the neutralization of the sea, +free cable communications, revision of international law, and consent to +German colonial expansion; interview printed in Paris quotes M. +Zographos, Foreign Minister of Greece, as declaring that Greece is ready +to unite with the Allies in the operations at the Dardanelles if invited +to do so. + +April 27--Copenhagen reports that systematic efforts are being made, +under instructions from Imperial Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg, to buy +sufficient foodstuffs in neutral countries to last Germany for four +years. + +April 28--The Supreme Military Court has confirmed the sentence of death +imposed on Dec. 29 on William Lonsdale of Leeds, England, a private in +the British Army, for striking a German non-commissioned officer at a +military prison camp at Doeberitz. + +April 30--The subscriptions for three-quarters of the latest war loan +have already been paid; the payments reach the total of $1,687,750,000, +more than twice the amount required at this time under the stipulated +conditions of the issue; German Embassy at Washington states that the +Emperor of Russia has ordered prisoners of war of Czech or other Slav +origin treated kindly, but prisoners of German or Magyar race treated +severely. + + +GREAT BRITAIN. + +April 1--Lord Kitchener follows the lead of King George in announcing +his intention to abstain from liquor during the war; the nation is +stirred by the drink question, and prominent observers believe that +anti-alcohol legislation will not be necessary; 25,000 women volunteer +to aid in making munitions of war. + +April 2--Text is made public of a protest by Germany, transmitted +through the American Ambassador in London, against treatment of captured +German submarine crews; Germany threatens reprisals in the form of harsh +treatment of captured British officers; Sir Edward Grey in reply says +the submarine crews have violated the laws of humanity and they are +segregated in naval barracks. + +April 3--Government takes control of all motor manufacturing plants to +accelerate the supplying of war material. + +April 4--The Archbishop of Canterbury in his Easter sermon dwells upon +the national necessity for prohibition during the war; a band of the +Irish Guards, arriving in Dublin on a recruiting tour, is +enthusiastically cheered; John E. Redmond reviews at Dublin 25,000 of +the Irish National Volunteers; Limerick welcomes recruiting officers; +every man in the British Navy has received a pencil case, the gift of +Queen Mary, formed of a cartridge which had been used "somewhere in +France," with silver mountings. + +April 6--Official announcement states that "by the King's command no +wines or spirits will be consumed in any of his Majesty's houses after +today"; George M. Booth heads committee appointed by Kitchener to +provide such additional labor as is needed for making sufficient war +supplies. + +April 8--Official report of the bombardment of Hartlepool, Scarborough, +and Whitby by a German naval squadron on Dec. 16 states that 86 +civilians were killed and 424 wounded, of whom 26 have died; 7 soldiers +were killed and 14 wounded; nearly all industries are working at top +speed; unemployment has largely disappeared; King Albert's birthday is +celebrated in London by Belgian refugees, many thousands of English +joining in the observance. + +April 9--A "White Paper" is published giving correspondence which passed +between the British and German Foreign Offices through the United States +Ambassador regarding treatment of British prisoners of war in Germany; +testimony which is included is to the effect that Germans treat British +prisoners brutally; John B. Jackson of the American Embassy at Berlin, +who, on behalf of the German Government, recently inspected German +prison camps in England, reports that prisoners are well cared for; +Captain and crew of the steamer Vosges, sunk in March by a German +submarine, are rewarded for persistent attempt to escape the submarine; +in party circles it is accepted as a fact that there will be no general +election this year, and that the terms of the present Members of +Parliament will be extended. + +April 11--A great campaign to obtain recruits for Kitchener's new army +is begun in London, it being planned to hold 1,500 meetings. + +April 12--Government is now transferring men from the working forces of +municipalities to factories, making munitions of war. + +April 13--Official announcement states that 33,000 women had registered +themselves up to the end of March for war service, as being ready to +undertake various forms of labor in England usually done by men; the +Foreign Office cables the United States State Department, asking that an +investigation be started at once of Berlin reports that thirty-nine +British officers have been put in a military prison as a measure of +reprisal for England's declining to accord full privileges to German +submarine prisoners; a serious explosion occurs at Lerwick, Shetland, in +which many persons are killed; Lerwick is one of the chief stations in +Scotland for the Royal Naval Reserve. + +April 14--Report from Field Marshal French on the Neuve Chapelle fight +is made public; the British losses were 12,811 in killed, wounded, and +missing; German losses are declared to have been several thousand more; +French says his orders were badly executed in some instances, resulting +in disorganization of infantry after victory was won; it is intimated +that British artillery fired on British troops; Government decides +against placing cotton on the contraband list; Government is making huge +purchases of wheat. + +April 15--The total British casualties from the beginning of the war up +to April 11 were 139,347, according to an announcement in the House of +Commons by the Under Secretary for War; part of Kitchener's new army, +after six months of training, is going into camp at Salisbury Plain, +where it is stated that 100,000 men will soon be encamped. + +April 16--The Foreign Office is advised by Ambassador Page that press +reports are correct which state that the Germans have put thirty-nine +British officers in military detention barracks as a measure of reprisal +for British action in refusing honors of war to crews of German +submarines; the London Times states that $9,500,000 in life insurance +claims has been paid to heirs of British officers thus far killed in +action. + +April 17--Wages are rising and unemployment is decreasing. + +April 18--Ten thousand Protestant churches observe "King's Pledge +Sunday," thousands of persons signing a pledge to abstain from +intoxicants for the rest of the war. + +April 19--English Football Association announces that with closing of +present season on May 5 no more professional football games will be +played during the war. + +April 20--Premier Asquith, in an appeal made at Newcastle to the workmen +of the northeast coast to hasten the output of munitions of war, +refrains from all mention of the drink question and declares that there +has been no slackness on the part of either employes or employers, this +statement being at variance with recent statements made by other Cabinet +members, who have blamed tippling on the part of workmen for slow +output; the Government has made an arrangement by which skilled workmen +now at the front can be recalled to England to work in munition +factories as needed; David Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, +says in the House of Commons that the Government does not believe that +the war would be more successfully prosecuted by conscription, adding +that Kitchener is gratified with the response to his appeal for +volunteers; since the war began, 1,961 officers have been killed, 3,528 +wounded, and 738 are missing. + +April 21--Chancellor Lloyd George states in the House of Commons that +the expeditionary force in France now consists of more than thirty-six +divisions, or about 750,000 men; the Chancellor also states that as much +ammunition was expended at Neuve Chapelle as was used during the entire +Boer war, which lasted for two years and nine months. + +April 22--F.T. Jane, a well-known British naval expert, in an address at +Liverpool declares that the Germans tried to land an expeditionary force +in England, but the vigilance of the British Navy caused the expedition +to turn back. + +April 24--An official list received in London of the thirty-nine British +officers placed in detention barracks by the Germans in retaliation for +English treatment of German submarine crews shows the names of seven +Captains and thirty-two Lieutenants, included being the names of +Lieutenant Goschen, son of a former Ambassador to Berlin; Robin Grey, a +nephew of Sir Edward Grey, and many sons of peers. + +April 25--Jamaica begins raising money to send a contingent to join +Kitchener's army. + +April 26--The "war babies" question is to be investigated by a committee +headed by the Archbishop of York, and a report is to be made. + +April 27--Lord Kitchener, speaking in the House of Commons, scores the +Germans for what he declares to be their barbarous methods of conducting +war; the importation of raw cotton from the United Kingdom is +specifically prohibited; Lord Derby, in an address at Manchester, +intimates that conscription is to come soon; British War Office states +that medical examination shows that Canadian soldiers died in the Ypres +fight from poisoning by gases employed by the Germans. + +April 28--Clergy oppose prohibition, the lower house of the Convocation +at York going on record as believing it would be unwise and would lead +in the end to an excess of intemperance; opposition newspapers and +politicians are criticising the conduct of affairs by Winston Churchill, +First Lord of the Admiralty. + +April 30--Large numbers of protests from all parts of the country are +being made against the proposal of Chancellor Lloyd George to increase +the duty on alcoholic drinks. + + +GREECE. + +April 4--After being repulsed in their raid on Serbia, a detachment of +Bulgarian irregulars makes a raid on Dorian, Greece; the Greeks repulse +them with machine guns. + + +HOLLAND. + +April 1--More reservists are called; traffic between Holland and Germany +has practically ceased. + +April 10--Government has handed to Germany a note of protest on the +sinking in March of the Dutch steamship Medea by a German submarine. + +April 16--Intense indignation and resentment are expressed by the +newspapers over the sinking of the Dutch steamer Katwyk by a German +submarine; some of them talk of war. + +April 21--It is reported from Amsterdam that Emperor William has sent a +long personal message to Queen Wilhelmina about the sinking of the +Katwyk, declaring that full compensation would be made if it is proved +that the Katwyk was sunk by a German ship; arrangements have been made +between the Dutch and British Governments whereby not only conditional +contraband, but also goods on the contraband list of the British +Government, may be given safe passage to Holland through the blockade +lines. + +April 27--The forty-two delegates from the United States to the +International Women's Peace Congress arrive at The Hague; the congress +is formally opened for a four days' session with delegates present from +many neutral nations and from most of the warring nations, including +England and Germany. + +April 28--Miss Jane Addams presides over the Women's Peace Congress, the +first business session being held. + + +INDIA. + +April 12--Lieutenant Seybold of the Philippine Constabulary, on arriving +in New York, says that the Fifth Native Light Infantry, composed of +Hindus, revolted in Singapore on Feb. 15, while en route to Hongkong, +and nearly 1,000 of them were killed before the mutiny was quelled; the +rebellion is stated to have been fomented by agents of the German +Government in Singapore; seven Germans are stated to have been executed +for connection with the uprising. + +April 27--Reports from the Straits Settlements state that serious +disorders are taking place in various parts of India, the effect +beginning to be felt of the Turko-German alliance and of the German +propaganda; riots have occurred at Cawnpore and in the Central +Provinces; a mutiny by native troops has taken place at Rangoon; it is +reported from India that the Ameer of Afghanistan has been assassinated. + + +ITALY. + +April 1--There is economic distress in Italy due to eight months of war; +budget of the Government, which for years has show a surplus, shows a +deficit of $13,800,000 since Aug. 1. + +April 5--Many Italian troops are being assembled on the Austrian +frontier; great excitement prevails in Genoa in consequence of a report +that a German submarine has sunk the Italian steamer Luigi Parodi, and +strong measures are taken by the authorities to protect the German +colony. + +April 6--Owner of the Luigi Parodi declares the steamer has not been +lost. + +April 7--The fleet concentrates at Augusta, Sicily, and at Taranto, +within a few hours of the Adriatic. + +April 11--Demonstrations at Rome in favor of Italian intervention in the +war cause riots and collisions with the police. + +April 12--An order is printed in the Military Journal directing all army +officers to dull the metal on their uniforms and sword scabbards; it is +reported that the Pope is ready to espouse the Italian cause if the +nation enters the war. + +April 14--Indignation is expressed at the Papal Court over an alleged +interview with Pope Benedict recently printed in the United States, +Germany, and other countries, some of the statements attributed to the +Pope being characterized as false; particular exception is taken to a +statement, credited to the Pope, urging President Wilson to stop +exportation of munitions of war to the Allies; many telegraphic protests +on the interview have reached the Vatican from Roman Catholic clergy and +laity in the United States, Britain, and France. + +April 16--Italy now has 1,200,000 first-line soldiers under arms. + +April 20--Reports from Rome state that Austria is rapidly gathering +troops on the Italian border; Austrians have fortified the whole line of +the Isonzo River with intrenchments; it is stated that the German and +Austrian Ambassadors are secretly preparing for departure; Papal Guards +are enlisting in the regular army. + +April 21--Sailings of liners from Italy to the United States have been +canceled; Council of Ministers is held, a report on the international +situation being made by the Foreign Minister. + +April 24--It is stated in high official circles that it is becoming +increasingly improbable that Italy will participate in the war, at least +for some time to come; the Austrian Ambassador and the Italian Foreign +Minister have a long conference; it is reported from Rome that Austria +has made further concessions in an attempt to preserve Italian +neutrality; nevertheless further military preparations are being made by +Italy; the exodus of German families from Italy continues; French +military experts estimate the full military strength of Italy at +2,000,000 men, of whom 800,000 form the active field army. + +April 25--It is reported from Rome that Austria has offered to give +autonomy to Trieste; Italian opinion, as expressed in the newspapers, is +that Austria must yield all the territory occupied by Italians and must +yield not only the Province of Trent, but Pola, Fiume, and the greater +part of Dalmatia. + +April 27--The Italian Ambassadors at Paris, London, Vienna, and Berlin +have been summoned to Rome to confer with the Foreign Minister. + +April 29--It is reported from Rome that Italy and the Allies have +reached a definite agreement concerning terms on which Italy will enter +the war, if she ultimately decides to do so, and that she will become a +member of a quadruple entente after the war; Prince von Buelow, German +Ambassador to Italy, is stated to have failed in attempts to get Italy +and Austria to come to an understanding. + +April 30--Belgian and French Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops have +united in an appeal to Pope Benedict for the Vatican to abandon the +attitude of neutrality it has maintained since the beginning of the war. + + +LUXEMBURG. + +April 23--Grand Duchess Marie has sent an official protest to Berlin +against the methods of distributing food supplies, which is said to have +brought nearly half her subjects to the verge of starvation; she says +that gifts of food, money, and clothes have been sent to Luxemburg from +all parts of the world, but that only a small part of these reach the +civilian population. + + +PERSIA. + +April 24--Confirmation has been received at Dilman, Persia, of the +flight of from 20,000 to 30,000 Armenian and Nestorian Christians from +Azerbaijan Province; of the massacre of over 1,500 who were unable to +escape; of the death of 2,000 in the compounds of the American Mission +at Urumiah. + + +POLAND. + +April 22--It is stated in London that 7,000,000 Poles are in dire need +of food. + + +RUMANIA. + +April 9--Artillery and supplies of ammunition are reaching Turkey +through Rumania. + +April 14--The army, reported as splendidly equipped, is ready for +instant action. + + +RUSSIA. + +April 1--Persistent rumors are current in Petrograd that Austria has +opened negotiations for a separate peace; General Ruzsky, who won praise +for his conduct of the Galician campaign, taking Lemberg, and also for +his success at Przasnysz, retires because of ill-health. + +April 3--General Alexiev is appointed Commander in Chief of the army on +the northern front in place of General Ruzsky; it is officially +announced that Colonel Miassoydoff, attached as interpreter to the staff +of the Tenth Army, which was badly defeated in the Mazurian Lake +region, has been shot as a German spy. + +April 4--Petrograd reports that the Russians have taken 260,000 +prisoners on the Carpathian front since Jan. 21. + +April 7--All towns in Russian Poland are given local municipal +self-government; Petrograd reports that during the celebration of +Easter, the greatest of Russian festivals, there has been an entire +absence of drunkenness. + +April 14--Imperial order calls up for training throughout the empire all +men from twenty to thirty-five not summoned before; it is stated that +the call will ultimately almost double the Russian strength; the men +summoned are all untrained. + +April 17--The General Anzeiger of Duisburg, Rhenish Prussia, says it +learns "from an absolutely unimpeachable source" that the reported +sickness of Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander in Chief of the Russian +forces, was due to a shot in the abdomen fired by the late General Baron +Sievers of the defeated Tenth Army, who is stated to have then committed +suicide. + +April 20--Orders have been issued that Austrian officers who are +prisoners of war shall no longer be allowed to retain their swords, as a +penalty for the cutting out of the tongue of a captured Russian scout +who refused to betray the Russian position. + +April 21--As a substitute for vodka shops there have been erected in +open places in communities throughout Russia "people's palaces," where +the public may gather for entertainment and instruction; in the +Government of Poltava alone 300 of these recreative centres have been +opened or are projected. + +April 22--Details of an $83,000,000 order for shrapnel and howitzer +shell, placed early in April by the Russian Government with the Canadian +Car and Foundry Company, show that contracts for $21,724,400 of that +amount have been sublet by the Canadian company to American +manufacturers; it is also learned that the Russian Government recently +placed a $15,000,000 contract with American mills for miscellaneous +artillery; a letter from an American Red Cross nurse states that she and +other American Red Cross nurses were recently received by the Czar at +Kief, where he shook hands and chatted with each. + +April 23--The Czar arrives at Lemberg and holds a council of war with +the Grand Duke Nicholas. + +April 24--Copenhagen reports that the Czar has decided to re-establish +the Finnish army with the same constitution as previous to 1898; Grand +Duke Nicholas has been much impressed with the brilliant strategic work +done by Finnish officers serving with the Russian Army. + +April 25--Army orders contain the promotion of a young woman, Alexandra +Lagerev, to a Lieutenancy; she has been fighting alongside male +relatives since the beginning of the war. + + +SERBIA. + +April 2--American sanitary experts, who will work under the direction of +Dr. Richard P. Strong of Harvard, now in Europe, sail from New York on +their way to Serbia, where they will fight typhus and other diseases +devastating the nation. + +April 3--Several thousand Bulgarian irregulars cross the Serbian +frontier near Vallandovo, surprising and killing the Serbian guards; +Serbian reinforcements, after an all-day fight, repulse and scatter the +invaders; Bulgarians lose heavily. + +April 4--Serbia protests to Bulgaria because of the raid, which is said +to be the fifth of the kind since the beginning of the war; the +Bulgarian Minister to Rome says that the raid is the work of Macedonian +revolutionists in Serbia. + +April 6--Bulgarian Government disclaims responsibility for the raid on +Serbia; it is stated that the invasion was initiated by Turks among the +inhabitants of that part of Macedonia included in Serbia; Serbians are +not satisfied and say that more attacks are being planned on Bulgarian +soil, with the object of cutting off supplies from the Serbian Army. + +April 10--Disease conditions are growing worse and the percentage of +deaths from typhus is very high; 107 Serbian doctors out of 452 have +died of typhus; the municipality of Uskub decides to name its finest +street after Lady Ralph Paget, who has been working in Serbia with the +Red Cross and is now convalescing from a resultant illness. + +April 16--Rockefeller Foundation War Relief Commission's first +installment of a report on Serbia states that disease is spreading all +over the country; there are more than 25,000 cases of typhus, while +other fevers are also epidemic; cholera is expected with the warm +weather; the nation is declared unable to aid itself. + +April 17--The Government submits to Parliament a new army credit of +$40,000,000. + +April 21--Two invasions into Serbian territory are made by Bulgarian +irregulars. + +April 28--Serbia holds 60,000 Austrian prisoners. + + +SWEDEN. + +April 7--Sweden makes a strong protest to Germany against seizure of the +Swedish steamer England. + + +SWITZERLAND. + +April 13--German shells fall upon Swiss territory for the third time +since the war began, according to a Delemont newspaper; the shots were +intended for the French, but the aim was bad and they dropped near the +town of Beurnevesain. + + +TURKEY. + +April 1--Troops are being concentrated at Adrianople as a precaution in +case war starts with Bulgaria. + +April 2--Both the Turkish and Russian Ambassadors to Italy deny a report +that Turkey is seeking a separate peace. + +April 7--Field Marshal von der Goltz, in an interview in Vienna, says +that Turkey is well prepared for war; she has 1,250,000 well-trained men +and several hundred thousand reserves; the Sultan gives an interview at +Constantinople to American newspaper men; he deplores "unjust" attack of +Allies on the Dardanelles, adding that he does not believe the strait +can be forced. + +April 15--Pillage and murder are reported to be rife in villages and +smaller towns of the littoral near Smyrna; lives of Christians are in +danger. + +April 18--Enver Pasha, War Minister and Generalissimo of the Turkish +Army, in a newspaper interview lays the blame for Turkey's participation +in the war on Russia and England; he says Turkey has a well-prepared +army of 2,000,000. + +April 24--Refugees who have reached the Russian line near Tiflis, +Transcaucasia, report that widespread massacres of Armenians are being +carried out by Mohammedans; they state that all the inhabitants of ten +villages near Van, in Armenia, Asiatic Turkey, have been killed. + +April 27--An appeal for relief of Armenian Christians in Turkey is made +to the Turkish Government by the United States; a plot is discovered to +blow up the council chamber in the Ministry of War at Constantinople +during a session of the War Council. + +April 29--The War Minister has called all available men to arms; Kurds +are massacring Christians in Armenia. + + +UNITED STATES. + +April 1--Secretary Bryan orders an inquiry into the circumstances of the +arrest by the authorities in Paris of Raymond Rolfe Swoboda, stated to +be an American citizen, held in connection with the recent fire on the +French liner La Touraine in mid-ocean; the State Department is +investigating the death of Leon Chester Thrasher of Hardwick, Mass., who +was lost when the British steamer Falaba was sunk by a German submarine; +information is being sought as to whether Thrasher was an American +citizen at the time of his death. + +April 2--The Government is informed by the British Government, through +Ambassador Page, that no trade messages can be sent over British cables +if they refer to transactions in which the enemies of Britain are +interested. + +April 5--Text is made public of the United States note to Germany, +recently presented by Ambassador Gerard, demanding payment by the +German Government of $228,059.54, with interest from Jan. 28, for the +destruction of the American sailing ship William P. Frye by the German +converted cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich; Secretary Bryan makes public +the text of the identic notes recently sent by the United States to the +British and French Governments protesting against invasion of neutral +rights involved in the recent British Order in Council, establishing a +long-range blockade of European waters; the note insists on the right of +innocent shipments "to be freely transported to and from the United +States through neutral countries to belligerent territory, without being +subjected to the penalties of contraband traffic or breach of blockade, +much less to detention, requisition, or confiscation"; it is reported +from Washington that the reason for the order, issued a few days ago, +for the recall of the five American Army officers who have been acting +as military observers in Germany, is due to the growing feeling of +hostility to Americans in Germany, and the belief that it is wise to +withdraw the officers before they become involved in any incident that +might cause embarrassment in American-German relations; Dudley Field +Malone, Collector of the Port of New York, announces that he has +evidence of a widespread conspiracy to violate President Wilson's +neutrality proclamation through the establishment here of an agency to +supply the British warships lying outside the three-mile zone with food +and fuel; he asks the Government for additional warships to protect the +harbor's neutrality. + +April 6--An official message from Berlin is issued by the German Embassy +at Washington giving an intimation that Germany would not regard with +favor the idea of paying damages for the death of Leon Chester Thrasher; +the statement says that neutrals were warned not to cross the war zone; +the German Embassy gives out a statement on the stopping of the German +merchant ship Odenwald, halted by a shot across her bows when she was +attempting to leave San Juan, Porto Rico, without clearance papers, on +March 22; statement refers to the episode as an "attack," and says "a +sharp fire" was opened, but the American official report shows that only +warning shots were fired. + +April 7--British Government denies Collector Malone's charge that +British warships have been receiving supplies from ports of the United +States in violation of neutrality; acting upon a request of the German +Ambassador, the Government is making a new investigation of the Odenwald +case. + +April 8--Secretary Bryan makes public the reply of the German Government +to the American claim for compensation for the loss of the William P. +Frye; Germany is willing to pay both for ship and cargo, basing this +readiness wholly on treaties of 1799 and 1828 between the United States +and Prussia, but under international law justifying the destruction of +both ship and cargo; Collector Malone says investigation shows that +charges that supplies have been sent to British warships from New York +in violation of neutrality were part of a plot to involve this country +in trouble with England. + +April 11--Count von Bernstorff, the German Ambassador, makes public a +memorandum addressed to the United States Government and delivered +several days ago, charging in effect that the United States is violating +the true spirit of neutrality by permitting vast quantities of arms to +be shipped to England, France, and Russia, and characterizing as a +failure the diplomatic efforts of the United States to effect shipment +of food supplies to Germany; the memorandum intimates that the United +States maintained a true spirit of neutrality to Mexico in placing an +embargo on arms exports to Huerta and Carranza, and quotes a statement +attributed to President Wilson on the Mexican situation. + +April 13--The Government War Risk Insurance Bureau settles its first +claim for losses by paying $401,000 to the owners of the American +steamer Evelyn, sunk off the coast of Holland, supposedly by a mine, on +Feb. 21; London reports that negotiations are under way for a short-term +loan of $100,000,000 to England by American interests. + +April 14--Secretary Bryan announces that arrangements have been +completed with the British Government by which two shiploads of +dyestuffs may be shipped from Germany to the United States without +interference from British warships. + +April 15--The text is made public of a letter written by Theodore +Roosevelt to Mrs. George Rublee of Washington, in opposition to the +principles advanced by the Woman's Party for Constructive Peace, in +which he says the platform is "both silly and base"; at a meeting in New +York of the Central Federated Union a resolution is passed in favor of a +general strike in those industries employed in producing munitions of +war. + +April 16--The American Locomotive Company has practically completed +arrangements with the Russian Government for the manufacture of +$65,000,000 worth of shrapnel shells. + +April 17--The Hamburg-American steamship Georgia is transferred to +American registry and renamed the Housatonic. + +April 20--French military authorities decide to abandon the charge of +setting fire to La Touraine preferred against Raymond Swoboda, because +of lack of evidence. + +April 21--The Government replies to the recent memorandum from +Ambassador von Bernstorff on American neutrality; the American answer +regrets use of language that seems to impugn our good faith, and it +restates our position; it declares that we have at no time yielded any +of our rights as a neutral, and that we cannot prohibit exportation of +arms to belligerents, because to do so would be an unjustifiable breach +of our neutrality; the State Department has cabled the American Consul +at Warsaw to report fully on the present situation of Jews in Poland. + +April 23--The Telefunken wireless plant at Sayville, L.I., through which +the German Government and its embassy at Washington chiefly communicate, +has been trebled in power for the purpose of overcoming climatic +conditions likely in Summer to be unfavorable for the handling of +messages; Secretary Bryan is refusing to issue passports to Americans +who wish to visit belligerent countries in Europe for sightseeing +purposes. + +April 28--Secretary Bryan replies to the German note on the sinking of +the American ship William P. Frye; the answer declares that the +destruction of the vessel was "unquestionably" a violation of existing +treaties between the United States and Prussia; the answer states that +the American Government does not believe the matter should go before a +prize court, as suggested by the German note. + +April 29--Samuel Pearson, who was a Boer General in the Boer war and is +an American citizen, begins an action in Wisconsin aimed at preventing +shipment of munitions of war from the United States to the enemies of +Germany; a complaint is filed on Pearson's behalf under the so-called +"Discovery" statute of Wisconsin, to obtain information whether the +Allis-Chalmers Company and others have entered into a conspiracy with +the Bethlehem Steel Company and others to manufacture and ship shrapnel +shells to European belligerents contrary to Wisconsin law. + +April 30--Directions are given by President Wilson for an investigation +to be made of the Pearson bill of complaint; German Embassy at +Washington publishes an advertisement in the newspapers declaring that +"travelers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her +allies do so at their own risk." + + +RELIEF. + +April 1--American Red Cross sends 200,000 pounds of disinfectants to +Serbia for use in the fight against typhus. + +April 2--Mme. Lalla Vandervelde, wife of the Belgian Minister of State, +sails from New York after collecting nearly $300,000 for relief in +Belgium. + +April 3--Henryk Sienkiewicz, the Polish writer, appeals to the United +States for help for Poland; it is stated that an area seven times as +great as Belgium has been laid waste, 5,000 villages have been +destroyed, 1,000,000 horses and 2,000,000 cattle are dead or seized by +the enemy, and damage to the extent of $600,000,000 has been done; +Serbian Agricultural Relief Commission of America announces that Walter +Camp will take charge of Serbian relief in the colleges and universities +of the United States. + +April 6--Australians have contributed $700,000 in four days for Belgian +relief, and measures are being taken to insure $500,000 a month from the +Australian States. + +April 8--German Red Cross sends through Ambassador Gerard its thanks for +gifts from the United States. + +April 9--Commission for Relief in Belgium announces the organization of +a New York State Belgian Committee which will work in co-operation with +the commission, Dr. John H. Finley being Chairman. + +April 10--Major Gen. Gorgas, U.S.A., has been invited to go to Serbia +for the Rockefeller Commission to take charge of an attempt to stamp out +typhus. + +April 12--The State of Oklahoma makes Belgian relief an official matter, +and the Governor has issued a proclamation calling upon the people to do +all in their power to aid. + +April 15--Three hospital trains, each consisting of an automobile with +two trailers, have been presented to the Military Commander at +Frankfort-on-Main as a gift "from friends of Germany in the United +States"; Mme. Marcella Sembrich, President of the American Polish +Relief Committee, issues an appeal to "all America" for aid for Poland; +Paderewski arrives in New York to seek American help for Poland. + +April 17--Donations to the American Red Cross total to date $1,415,000; +during the last week eight steamers have sailed from the United States +for Rotterdam carrying relief for Belgium; the cargoes totaled 55,000 +tons, valued at $3,000,000. + +April 21--Rockefeller Foundation gives out a report of its Relief +Commission concerning Belgian refugees in Holland; up to Feb. 22 cases +containing 1,386,572 articles of clothing, contributed by the neutral +world, principally the United States, have been delivered in Rotterdam +for the Belgians. + +April 24--Report of the American Red Cross, covering the period from +Sept. 12 to April 17, shows that supplies valued at over $1,000,000 have +been sent to France, which got the largest individual share of the +shipments, and to Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, +Serbia, Turkey, and the Belgians; the supplies have included 600,000 +pounds of absorbent cotton; surgical gauze that if stretched in a single +line would reach from the Battery, New York, to Niagara Falls; 32,600 +pounds of chloroform and ether; 65,000 yards of bandages, and 1,123 +cases of surgical instruments. + +April 26--A new British committee, with many well-known Englishmen on +it, has been organized for Belgian relief, King George heading the +subscription list. + +April 27--American Red Cross ships a large consignment of supplies to +the Russian Red Cross at Petrograd. + + + + +The Drink Question + +[From Truth, April 7, 1915.] + + + Sir Topas Port, in angry sort, + A scowl upon his forehead, + Relieved his chest, of wrath possessed, + In words distinctly torrid; + His brows were raised, his eyes they blazed, + His nose inclined to florid. + + "Disgraceful state! That we must wait + For guns and ammunition, + Because--Great Scott!--men play the sot + And ruin their condition. + Low, drunken swine! If power were mine, + I'd teach 'em their position! + + "I'd close the pubs and workmen's clubs-- + What says that Welshman feller? + All drink tabooed? Alike preclude + Mile-Ender and Pall-Maller? + Good-bye! Can't stay. I must away + Post haste to stock my cellar." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT HISTORY; THE +EUROPEAN WAR, VOL 2, NO. 3, JUNE, 1915*** + + +******* This file should be named 15480.txt or 15480.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/4/8/15480 + + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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