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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36634-0.txt b/36634-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..36fe431 --- /dev/null +++ b/36634-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9612 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Lest We Forget, by John Gilbert Thompson and Inez Bigwood + +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: Lest We Forget + World War Stories + +Author: John Gilbert Thompson + Inez Bigwood + +Release Date: July 5, 2011 [EBook #36634] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEST WE FORGET *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has | + | been preserved. | + | | + | Bold text has been marked +like this+. | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + +RECESSIONAL + + + God of our fathers, known of old, + Lord of our far-flung battle-line, + Beneath whose awful Hand we hold + Dominion over palm and pine-- + Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, + Lest we forget--lest we forget! + + * * * * * + + Far-called, our navies melt away; + On dune and headland sinks the fire: + Lo, all our pomp of yesterday + Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! + Judge of the Nations, spare us yet, + Lest we forget--lest we forget! + + RUDYARD KIPLING + + [Illustration: THE KAISER: "YOU SEE YOU HAVE LOST EVERYTHING." + THE KING OF THE BELGIANS: "NOT MY SOUL." + (Reproduced by permission of the proprietors of _Punch_.)] + + + + + LEST WE FORGET + + WORLD WAR STORIES + + BY + + JOHN GILBERT THOMPSON + PRINCIPAL OF THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL + FITCHBURG, MASS. + + AND + + INEZ BIGWOOD + + INSTRUCTOR IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE + STATE NORMAL SCHOOL + FITCHBURG, MASS. + + [Illustration] + + SILVER, BURDETT AND COMPANY + BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY + SILVER, BURDETT AND COMPANY + + + + +PREFACE + + +Books and articles in astounding numbers have been published in the +past four years to explain the World War and to inform the public as to +its progress. Societies and agencies of the government have urged that +every available means be employed to inform the American people of the +reasons for the war and the issues at stake; and much has been done for +adults. + +Little or no thought seems to have been given to youthful readers who +are beginning to think for themselves, and whose first thinking should +be properly guided, for they are at an age when tales of heroism and +daring make a strong appeal. In many homes the children are the only +readers, and in nearly all, their thinking and reading exercise a +powerful influence. + +This volume of stories of the World War is prepared to meet this +important need, and to set before the pupils the war's unparalleled +deeds of heroism, with the aims and ideals which have inspired them, +and which have led American youth to look upon the sacrifice of life as +none too high a price to pay for the liberation of mankind. + +It may be used as a reading book or as an historical reader for the +upper grammar grades. While great care has been employed to secure +accuracy of fact and to select material of permanent value, the stories +are written in a manner that will appeal to children. + +The thanks of the authors and publishers are hereby expressed to those +who have kindly granted permission to use copyrighted material. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + 1. THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD 1 + + 2. A KING OF HEROES 20 + + 3. THE DEFENSE OF LIÉGE 31 + + 4. THE DESTRUCTION OF LOUVAIN 38 + + 5. CARDINAL MERCIER 43 + + 6. AND THE COCK CREW _Amelia Josephine Burr_ 57 + + 7. A BELGIAN LAWYER'S APPEAL 59 + + 8. EDITH CAVELL 61 + + 9. SON _Robert W. Service_ 66 + + 10. THE CASE OF SERBIA _David Lloyd George_ 68 + + 11. THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN FRYATT 71 + + 12. RUPERT BROOKE 76 + + 13. "LET US SAVE THE KIDDIES" 81 + + 14. THE CHARGE OF THE BLACK WATCH AND THE SCOTS GREYS 91 + + 15. THE BATTLES OF THE MARNE 94 + + 16. THE QUEEN'S FLOWER 105 + + 17. AT SCHOOL NEAR THE LINES 108 + + 18. A PLACE IN THE SUN 112 + + 19. MARSHAL JOFFRE 119 + + 20. THE HUN TARGET--THE RED CROSS 129 + + 21. "THEY SHALL NOT PASS" 140 + + 22. VERDUN _Harold Begbie_ 146 + + 23. THE BEAST IN MAN 147 + + 24. WHEN GERMANY LOST THE WAR _New York Sun_ 155 + + 25. CARRY ON! _Robert W. Service_ 162 + + 26. WAR DOGS 165 + + 27. THE BELGIAN PRINCE 175 + + 28. DARING THE UNDARABLE 182 + + 29. KILLING THE SOUL 189 + + 30. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION 195 + + 31. A BALLAD OF FRENCH RIVERS _Christopher Morley_ 207 + + 32. BACILLI AND BULLETS 209 + + 33. THE TORCH OF VALOR _Sir Gilbert Parker_ 216 + + 34. MARSHAL FOCH 223 + + 35. THE MEXICAN PLOT 228 + + 36. WHY WE FIGHT GERMANY _Franklin K. Lane_ 242 + + 37. GENERAL PERSHING 245 + + 38. THE MELTING POT 252 + + 39. BIRDMEN 256 + + 40. ALAN SEEGER 271 + + 41. CAN WAR EVER BE RIGHT? 275 + + 42. WHAT ONE AMERICAN DID 293 + + 43. RAEMAEKERS 301 + + 44. THE GOD IN MAN 309 + + 45. IN FLANDERS FIELDS _Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae_ 321 + + 46. THE WORLD WAR 322 + + 47. NATIONS AND THE MORAL LAW _John Bright_ 343 + + [Illustration: PRESIDENT WILSON ANNOUNCING TO JOINT SESSION OF + CONGRESS THE SEVERANCE OF OUR RELATIONS WITH GERMANY + _Copyright by G.V. Buck. From Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + + + + +LEST WE FORGET + + + + +THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD + + +On April 19, 1775, was fired "the shot heard round the world." It was +the shot fired for freedom and democracy by the Americans at Lexington +and Concord. In 1836, upon the completion of the battle monument at +Concord, the gallant deeds of those early patriots were commemorated by +Emerson in verse. + + By the rude bridge that arched the flood, + Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, + Here once the embattled farmers stood, + And fired the shot heard round the world. + +This is not the only shot for freedom fired by America and Americans. +As President Wilson has said, "The might of America is the might of a +sincere love for the freedom of mankind." The shots of the Civil War +were fired for united democracy and universal freedom. + +The soldiers and sailors of the United States fired upon the Spaniards +in the Spanish-American War, that an oppressed people might be +released and given an opportunity to live and work and grow in liberty. + +That the Filipinos, like the Cubans, might learn to understand freedom, +to safeguard it, and to use it wisely, has been the whole purpose of +the United States in aiding them. + +On April 6, 1917, the shot was heard again. The whole world had been +listening anxiously for it, and was not disappointed. + +Those against whom the first American shot for freedom was fired in +1775 have now become the strongest defenders of liberty and democracy. +Their country is one of the three greatest democracies of the world. +Shoulder to shoulder, the Americans and British fight for the freedom +of mankind everywhere. They fight to defend the truth and to make this +truth serve down-trodden peoples as well as the mighty. + +Indeed, President Wilson has wisely said, "The only thing that ever set +any man free, the only thing that ever set any nation free, is the +truth. A man that is afraid of the truth is afraid of life. A man who +does not love the truth is in the way of failure." + +Germany has no love for the truth. The history of the empire is strewn +with broken promises and acts of deceitfulness. America stands for +something different. It stands for those ideals which President Wilson +saw when he looked at the flag. + +"And as I look at that flag," he said, "I seem to see many characters +upon it which are not visible to the physical eye. There seem to move +ghostly visions of devoted men who, looking at that flag, thought only +of liberty, of the rights of mankind, of the mission of America to show +the way to the world for the realization of the rights of mankind; and +every grave of every brave man of the country would seem to have upon +it the colors of the flag; if he was a true American, would seem to +have on it that stain of red which means the true pulse of blood, and +that beauty of pure white which means the peace of the soul. And then +there seems to rise over the graves of those men and to hallow their +memory, that blue space of the sky in which stars swim, these stars +which exemplify for us that glorious galaxy of the States of the Union, +bodies of free men banded together to vindicate the rights of mankind." + +At Mount Vernon, he said, in speaking of the work of George Washington, +"A great promise that was meant for all mankind was here given plan and +reality." So for the sake of many peoples of Europe who were wronged, +America has carried out that promise. When honorable Americans promise, +they would rather give up life than fail to keep their word. But when +the Germans promise it means only "a slip of the tongue," for this is +also the meaning of the German word which is translated "promise." + +That the United States has to fulfill this special mission of +defending the truth is very clear. The great American leader said again +in behalf of his people: + +"I suppose that from the first America has had one particular mission +in the world. Other nations have grown rich, other nations have been as +powerful as we are in material resources; other nations have built up +empires and exercised dominion. We are not alone in any of these +things, but we are peculiar in this, that from the first we have +dedicated our force to the service of justice and righteousness and +peace. + +"The princes among us are those who forget themselves and serve +mankind. America was born into the world to do mankind's service, and +no man is an American in whom the desire to do mankind's service is not +greater than the desire to serve himself. + +"Our life is but a little plan. One generation follows another very +quickly. If a man with red blood in him had his choice, knowing that he +must die, he would rather die to vindicate some right, unselfish to +himself, than die in his bed. We are all touched with the love of the +glory which is real glory, and the only glory comes from utter +self-forgetfulness and self-sacrifice. We never erect a statue to a man +who has merely succeeded. We erect statues to men who have forgotten +themselves and been glorified by the memory of others. This is the +standard that America holds up to mankind in all sincerity and in all +earnestness. + +"We have gone down to Mexico to serve mankind, if we can find out the +way. We do not want to fight the Mexicans; we want to serve the +Mexicans if we can, because we know how we would like to be free and +how we would like to be served, if there were friends standing by ready +to serve us. A war of aggression is not a war in which it is a proud +thing to die, but a war of service is a thing in which it is a proud +thing to die." + +The liberty-loving nations now fighting in the World War desire that +truth and freedom shall be secured even to the Germans along with all +other peoples. If the Germans had possessed these priceless virtues, +probably no World War would have been necessary. But the spirit of +militarism has bound down and deceived the German people. + +President Wilson, at West Point, said: "Militarism does not consist in +the existence of any army, not even in the existence of a very great +army. Militarism is a spirit. It is a point of view. It is a system. It +is a purpose. The purpose of militarism is to use armies for +aggression. The spirit of militarism is the opposite of the civilian +spirit, the citizen spirit. In a country where militarism prevails, the +military man looks down upon the civilian, regards him as inferior, +thinks of him as intended for his, the military man's support and use, +and just as long as America is America that spirit and point of view is +impossible with us. There is as yet in this country, so far as I can +discover, no taint of the spirit of militarism." + +The people of Germany have given up their sons, paid enormous taxes +which kept them poor but made landowners rich, all for the sake of the +military whims of their superiors. + +Any American would say, like President Wilson, "I would rather belong +to a poor nation that was free than to a rich nation that had ceased to +be in love with liberty. But we shall not be poor if we love liberty, +because the nation that loves liberty truly sets every man free to do +his best and be his best, and that means the release of all the +splendid energies of a great people who think for themselves." + +Thus, it is clear that America fights _to serve_. The Germans fight _to +get_, even as their word "kriegen," used by them to mean "make war," +really means "to get." For them, making war is never with the idea of +service, but with the idea of getting. They desire many things for +Germany, and to get them, they have used the most brutal force. Not for +a moment would they stop to listen to the opinions of mankind +throughout the world. + +President Wilson spoke with authority, when he said: "I have not read +history without observing that the greatest forces in the world and the +only permanent forces are the moral forces. We have the evidence of a +very competent witness, namely, the first Napoleon, who said that as he +looked back in the last days of his life upon so much as he knew of +human history, he had to record the judgment that force had never +accomplished anything that was permanent. Force will not accomplish +anything that is permanent, I venture to say, in the great struggle +which is now going on on the other side of the sea. The permanent +things will be accomplished afterward, when the opinion of mankind is +brought to bear upon the issues, and the only thing that will hold the +world steady is this same silent, insistent, all-powerful opinion of +mankind. Force can sometimes hold things steady until opinion has time +to form, but no force that was ever exerted except in response to that +opinion was ever a conquering and predominant force." + +By the opinions of mankind, he meant ideals, of which he had already +said: "The pushing things in this world are ideals, not ideas. One +ideal is worth twenty ideas." + +Thus, in behalf of the great American nation, he calls upon the young +Americans of to-day to follow the true spirit of their country. To them +all he says, "You are just as big as the things you do, just as small +as the things you leave undone. The size of your life is the scale of +your thinking." + +When this great American president who believed that moral force was +always greater than physical force and who taught that America's +mission in the world was to serve all mankind and finally to make them +free; when he perceived after every other means had failed, that only +physical force could affect Germany and that "the sore spot" in the +world must be healed, as a cancer is, with the surgeon's knife; then he +appeared in person, on April 2, 1917, before the Congress of the United +States and read his great war message. Following his advice, Congress +declared on April 6 that a state of war existed with Germany. + +The message was in substance as follows: + + Gentlemen of the Congress: + + I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because + there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, + and made immediately. + + On the third of February last I laid before you the + extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government + that on and after the first day of February it was its purpose + to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its + submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either + the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of + Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany + within the Mediterranean. + + The new policy has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of + every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, + their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to + the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy + for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with + those of belligerents. + + Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the stricken + people of Belgium, though the latter were provided with + safe-conduct by the German Government itself and were + distinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk + with the same reckless lack of compassion or of principle.... + + I am not now thinking of the loss of property, immense and + serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale + destruction of the lives of non-combatants, men, women, and + children, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in the + darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and + lawful. Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and + innocent people cannot be. + + The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a + warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations. + American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways + which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships + and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk + in the waters in the same way. The challenge is to all mankind. + Each nation must decide for itself how it will meet it. + + The choice we make for ourselves must be made after very careful + thought. We must put excited feeling away. Our motives will not + be revenge or the victorious show of the physical might of the + nation, but only the vindication of right, of human rights, of + which we are only a single champion.... + + The German Government denies the right of neutrals to use arms + at all within the areas of the sea which it has proscribed, even + in the defense of their rights. The armed guards which we have + placed on our merchant ships will be treated as beyond the pale + of law and subject to be dealt with as pirates would be. + + There is one choice we cannot make, we are incapable of making; + we will not choose the path of submission and suffer the most + sacred rights of our nation and our people to be ignored or + violated. The wrongs against which we now array ourselves are + not common wrongs; they cut to the very roots of human life. + + With a profound sense of the solemn step I am taking and of the + grave responsibilities which it involves, but in unhesitating + obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, I advise that + the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German + Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the + Government and people of the United States; that it formally + accept the status of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon + it and that it take immediate steps not only to put the country + in a more thorough state of defense, but also to exert all its + power and employ all its resources to bring the Government of + the German Empire to terms and end the war. + + While we do these things--these deeply momentous things--let us + be very clear, and make very clear to all the world what our + motives and our objects are. Our object is to vindicate the + principles of peace and justice in the life of the world against + selfish and autocratic power and to set up among the really free + and self-governed peoples of the world such a concert of purpose + and action as will henceforth insure the observance of those + principles. + + Neutrality is no longer desirable where the peace of the world + is involved and the freedom of its peoples; and the menace to + that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic + governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly + by their will, not by the will of their people. + + We have no quarrel with the German people. We have no feeling + toward them but one of sympathy and friendship. It was not upon + their impulse that their Government acted in entering this war. + It was not with their knowledge or approval. + + A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except by + a partnership of democratic nations. No autocratic Government + could be trusted to keep faith within it, or to observe its + agreements. It must be a league of honor, a partnership of + opinion. Intrigue would eat its vitals away; the plotting of + inner circles, who could plan what they would and render an + account to no one, would be a corruption seated at its very + heart. Only free peoples can hold their purpose and their honor + steady to a common end, and prefer the interests of mankind to + any narrow interests of their own. + + Indeed, it is now evident that German spies were here even + before the war began. They have played their part in serving to + convince us at last that that Government entertains no real + friendship for us, and means to act against our peace and + security at its convenience. That it means to stir up enemies + against us at our very doors, the note to the German Minister at + Mexico City is eloquent evidence. + + We are accepting this challenge because we know that in such a + Government, following such methods, we can never have a friend; + and that in the presence of its organized power, always lying in + wait to accomplish we know not what purpose, there can be no + assured security of the democratic governments of the world. + + We are now about to accept gage of battle with this natural foe + of liberty, and shall, if necessary, spend the whole force of + the nation to check and nullify its pretensions and its power. + We are glad, now that we see the facts with no veil of false + pretense about them, to fight thus for the peace of the world + and for the liberation of its peoples, the German people + included; for the rights of nations great and small and the + privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of + obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace + must be planted upon the tested foundations of political + liberty. + + We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no + dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material + compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but + one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be + satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the + faith and the freedom of the nations can make them. + + Just because we fight without rancor and without selfish object, + seeking nothing for ourselves but what we shall wish to share + with all free people, we shall, I feel confident, conduct our + operations as belligerents without passion and ourselves observe + the principles of right and of fair play we profess to be + fighting for. + + It will be all the easier for us to conduct ourselves as + belligerents in a high spirit of right and fairness because we + act without animus, not in enmity toward a people or with the + desire to bring any injury or disadvantage upon them, but only + in armed opposition to an irresponsible Government which has + thrown aside all considerations of humanity and of right, and is + running amuck. + + We are, let me say again, the sincere friends of the German + people, and shall desire nothing so much as the early + reëstablishment of intimate relations of mutual advantage + between us, however hard it may be for them, for the time being, + to believe that this is spoken from our hearts. + + We have borne with their present Government through all these + bitter months because of that friendship, exercising a patience + and forbearance which would otherwise have been impossible. We + shall, happily, still have an opportunity to prove that + friendship in our daily attitude and actions toward the millions + of men and women of German birth and native sympathy who live + among us and share our life, and we shall be proud to prove it + toward all who are in fact loyal to their neighbors and to the + Government in the hour of test. + + They are, most of them, as true and loyal Americans as if they + had never known any other fealty or allegiance. They will be + prompt to stand with us in rebuking and restraining the few who + may be of a different mind and purpose. + + If there should be disloyalty, it will be dealt with with a firm + hand of stern repression; but if it lifts its head at all, it + will lift it only here and there and without countenance except + from a lawless and malignant few. + + It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the + Congress, which I have performed in thus addressing you. There + are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead + of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great, peaceful people + into war--into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, + civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. + + But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight + for the things which we have always carried nearest our + hearts--for democracy, for the right of those who submit to + authority to have a voice in their own government, for the + rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion + of right by such a concert of free people as shall bring peace + and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last + free. + + To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, + everything that we are and everything that we have, with the + pride of those who know that the day has come when America is + privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles + that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has + treasured. God helping her, she can do no other. + +On July 4, 1918, the United States had been at war for more than a +year, and it seemed to the millions of people who were anxiously +waiting for the peaceful giant to awake that very little had been +accomplished. They were fearful that the Germans in their next great +offensive, for which they had been preparing for over two months, might +capture Paris, or at least get near enough to it to destroy the city +with their long range artillery. The offensives, already launched by +the Germans, had been frightfully effective, and the Allies felt that +American soldiers in large numbers were necessary to save them from +possible disaster. They were looking for a great "push" by the enemy +and one that German leaders had promised the people at home would bring +victory and settle the war in their favor. This offensive, as we know, +was launched on July 15 and instead of succeeding was changed by +Marshal Foch's counter-stroke into a serious defeat for the Germans. + +But this outcome could not of course be predicted in America on July 4, +and hearts were heavy with fear that the United States might after all +be too slow and too late. It was not then generally known that during +the months of May and June, over a half million American soldiers had +been landed in France. + +On July 4, 1776, the American colonies by a Declaration of Independence +determined to fight for liberty and democracy; on April 6, 1917, the +American Congress declared that the United States would help defeat the +selfish aims of Germany. In the early fight of the American colonies +for independence, the first battles were fought in April and the +Declaration of Independence was signed in July of the next year; in +the fight for the liberty of all peoples, the German included, the +Americans entered the war in April, and the President on July 4 of the +following year, standing at the tomb of Washington at Mount Vernon, +read a Declaration of Independence, not for America alone, but for the +entire world. + +In 1776, the declaration was supported by a small army of a few small +colonies, in 1918 the declaration was supported by the full strength of +the greatest and wealthiest nation on the globe. + +It was a beautiful day with a cloudless sky and a cooling breeze. +President Wilson and his party, including members of the cabinet; the +British ambassador, the Earl of Reading; the French ambassador, Jules +J. Jusserand; and other members of the diplomatic corps, had come down +the Potomac from Washington on the President's steam yacht, the +_Mayflower_. + +When they had gathered around the tomb of Washington near his old home, +Mount Vernon, on the banks of the beautiful Potomac River, +representatives of thirty-three nations placed wreaths of palms on the +tomb to show their fealty to the principles for which the "Father of +His Country" fought; then all stood with bared heads while John +McCormack sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." As the beautiful notes rose +and swelled and echoed over the hallowed ground, into the hearts of all +present came the conviction that the starry flag would soon bring to +all the peoples of the world the peace and security that surrounded +that historic group at Mount Vernon. + +Then the President with the marines about him, and beyond them +thousands of American citizens, began to read the Declaration of the +Independence of the World. It is so simple in language that even +children of twelve years of age may understand nearly all of it, and it +is so deep and noble in thought that even the greatest scholars and +statesmen will find it worthy of close study. It will stand forever +with Washington's Farewell Address and Lincoln's Gettysburg Speech as a +great American document. It is as follows, except that the four ends +for which the world is fighting are restated in briefer form: + + Gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps and my Fellow-Citizens: + + I am happy to draw apart with you to this quiet place of old + counsel in order to speak a little of the meaning of this day of + our nation's independence. The place seems very still and + remote. It is as serene and untouched by hurry of the world as + it was in those great days long ago, when General Washington was + here and held leisurely conference with the men who were to be + associated with him in the creation of a nation. + + From these gentle slopes, they looked out upon the world and saw + it whole, saw it with the light of the future upon it, saw it + with modern eyes that turned away from a past which men of + liberated spirits could no longer endure. It is for that reason + that we cannot feel, even here, in the immediate presence of + this sacred tomb, that this is a place of death. It was a place + of achievement. + + A great promise that was meant for all mankind was here given + plan and reality. The associations by which we are here + surrounded are the inspiriting associations of that noble death + which is only a glorious consummation. From this green hillside + we also ought to be able to see with comprehending eyes the + world that lies around us and conceive anew the purpose that + must set men free. + + It is significant--significant of their own character and + purpose and of the influences they were setting afoot--that + Washington and his associates, like the barons at Runnymede, + spoke and acted, not for a class but for a people. It has been + left for us to see to it that it shall be understood that they + spoke and acted, not for a single people only, but for all + mankind. They were thinking not of themselves and of the + material interests which centered in the little groups of + landholders and merchants and men of affairs with whom they were + accustomed to act, in Virginia and the colonies to the north and + south of here, but of a people which wished to be done with + classes and special interests and the authority of men whom they + had not themselves chosen to rule over them. + + They entertained no private purpose, desired no peculiar + privilege. They were consciously planning that men of every + class should be free and America a place to which men out of + every nation might resort who wished to share with them the + rights and privileges of freemen. And we take our cue from + them--do we not? We intend what they intended. + + We here in America believe our participation in this present war + to be only the fruitage of what they planted. Our case differs + from theirs only in this, that it is our inestimable privilege + to concert with men out of every nation what shall make not only + the liberties of America secure, but the liberties of every + other people as well. We are happy in the thought that we are + permitted to do what they would have done had they been in our + place. There must now be settled once for all what was settled + for America in the great age upon whose inspiration we draw + to-day. + + This is surely a fitting place from which calmly to look out + upon our task that we may fortify our spirits for its + accomplishment. And this is the appropriate place from which to + avow, alike to the friends who look on and to the friends with + whom we have the happiness to be associated in action, the faith + and purpose with which we act. + + This, then, is our conception of the great struggle in which we + are engaged. The plot is written plain upon every scene and + every act of the supreme tragedy. On the one hand stand the + peoples of the world--not only the peoples actually engaged, but + many others also who suffer under mastery but cannot act; + peoples of many races and every part of the world--the peoples + of stricken Russia still, among the rest, though they are for + the moment unorganized and helpless. Opposed to them, masters of + many armies, stand an isolated, friendless group of governments + who speak no common purpose, but only selfish ambitions of their + own by which none can profit but themselves, and whose peoples + are fuel in their hands; governments which fear their people and + yet are for the time their sovereign lords, making every choice + for them and disposing of their lives and fortunes as they will, + as well as of the lives and fortunes of every people who fall + under their power--governments clothed with the strange + trappings and the primitive authority of an age that is + altogether alien and hostile to our own. The past and the + present are in deadly grapple and the peoples of the world are + being done to death between them. + + There can be but one issue. The settlement must be final. There + can be no compromise. No half-way decision would be tolerable. + No half-way decision is conceivable. These are the ends for + which the associated peoples of the world are fighting and which + must be conceded them before there can be peace: + + 1. Every power anywhere that can secretly and of its own single + choice bring war upon the world must be bound or destroyed. + + 2. All questions must be settled in accordance with the wishes + of the people concerned. + + 3. The same respect for honor and for law that leads honorable + men to hold their promises as sacred and to keep them at any + cost must direct the nations in dealing with one another. + + 4. A league of nations must be formed strong enough to insure + the peace of the world. + + These great objects can be put into a single sentence. What we + seek is the reign of law, based upon the consent of the governed + and sustained by the organized opinion of mankind. + + These great ends cannot be achieved by debating and seeking to + reconcile and accommodate what statesmen may wish, with their + projects for balances of power and national opportunity. They + can be realized only by the determination of what the thinking + peoples of the world desire, with their longing hope for justice + and for social freedom and opportunity. + + I cannot but fancy that the air of this place carries the + accents of such principles with a peculiar kindness. Here were + started forces which the great nation against which they were + primarily directed at first regarded as a revolt against its + rightful authority, but which it has long since seen to have + been a step in the liberation of its own peoples as well as of + the people of the United States; and I stand here now to + speak--speak proudly and with confident hope--of the spread of + this revolt, this liberation, to the great stage of the world + itself! The blinded rulers of Prussia have aroused forces they + know little of--forces which, once aroused, can never be crushed + to earth again; for they have at their heart an inspiration and + a purpose which are deathless and of the very stuff of triumph! + + + + +A KING OF HEROES + + +"King" is not a word that will go out of use when the world has been +won for democracy. We shall still use it much as we do now, when we +say, "He is a prince" or "He is a king among men"; for there are still +good kings, as well as bad ones. Some countries that are really +democratic prefer to keep kings as reminders of their past and as +ornaments of their present. + +England is really more democratic than the United States and yet +England has a king; and as some one has said, he is a king and a +democrat and a king of democrats. This was well shown by his letter to +the first American soldiers who marched through London in April, 1918, +on their way to the battle line in France. Each soldier was handed an +envelope bearing the inscription, "A message to you from his majesty, +King George V." In the envelope was the letter shown on the opposite +page, from a democratic king to the American soldiers in the army of +democracy. + + [Illustration: (hand written letter from the King of England) + + WINDSOR CASTLE + + Soldiers of the United States, the + people of the British Isles welcome + you, on your way to take your + stand beside the Armies of + many Nations now fighting in + the Old World the great battle + for human freedom. + + The Allies will gain new heart + & spirit in your company + I wish that I could shake + the hand of each one of you + & big you God speed on your + mission. + + George R.I. + + April 1918.] + + +No autocratic king or kaiser desires to shake the hand of each of his +soldiers or to become in any way one of them. To an autocrat, to the +German Kaiser, to the German officers, the German privates are only +Things to be used as are swords and guns. A wounded German officer felt +insulted because he was made well again in an English hospital in the +same ward with German privates. + +An interesting story is told of a Red Cross nurse, to whom a badly +wounded man was brought at a field hospital during one of the battles +in which the brave little Belgian army was trying to hold back the +invading Germans. All the surgeons were busy, and the man needed +assistance at once. The nurse knew what was needed to save his life +until he could receive surgical treatment, and she knew how to do it; +but she could not do it alone. She must have help at once, and of the +right kind. + +She was about to give up in despair, when she saw a man walking through +the field hospital, cheering the sufferers and asking if he could be of +any assistance. She called to him, and when he came she said, "You can +save this man's life if you will help me and do just what I tell you, +just when I tell you to do it. Do you think you can take orders and +obey them promptly?" + +"I think so," replied the man. "Let us save this poor soldier's life, +if we can." + +The nurse set to work, telling the stranger just what she wanted him to +do. She wasted no words, but gave orders as if she expected them to be +obeyed quickly and intelligently. The stranger proved himself equal to +the occasion, and the delicate work which saved the man's life was soon +done. + +"Thank you," said the nurse, as she finished. "I see you are used to +taking orders and know how to obey. I shall remain with this soldier, +until he regains consciousness. He will want to know to whose +assistance he owes his life. Kindly give me your name." + +The stranger hesitated. Then he said, "The soldier really owes his life +to you, but I am glad if I was able to help. If he asks, you may tell +him the people call me Albert." + +And all at once the commanding little Red Cross nurse understood that +the tall, quiet man, who, she said, showed that he was used to taking +orders, was Albert, King of the Belgians. + +Italy has a king and Belgium has a king; but like King George of +England they are democratic kings, exercising what authority is granted +to them by the people in accordance with a constitution. The German +Kaiser claims to hold all authority of life and death over his people, +including the right of declaring defensive war, by "divine right," by +God's choice of him and his family to rule. + +When Germany, at the outbreak of the war in 1914, resolved to break the +treaty in which with other nations she had pledged herself never to +violate, but always to defend, the neutrality of Belgium; when she was +ready to declare to the world that a sacred treaty was only "a scrap of +paper" to be torn up whenever her needs seemed to require it, she sent +on Sunday night, August 2, 1914, at seven o'clock, an ultimatum to the +Belgian government--to be answered within twelve hours--in substance as +follows: + + The German Government has received information, of the accuracy + of which there can be no doubt, that it _may_ be the intention + of France to send her forces across Belgium to attack Germany. + + The German Government fears that Belgium, no matter how good her + intentions, may not be able unaided to prevent such a French + advance; and therefore it is necessary for the protection of + Germany that she should act at once. + + The German Government would be very sorry to have Belgium + consider her action in this matter as a hostile act, for it is + forced upon Germany by her enemies. In order to prevent any + misunderstanding, the German Government declares: + + 1. Germany intends no hostile act against Belgium, and if + Belgium makes no resistance, the German Government pledges the + security of the Belgian Kingdom and all its possessions. + + 2. Germany pledges herself to evacuate all Belgian territory at + the end of the war. + + 3. Germany will pay cash for all supplies needed by her troops + which Belgians are willing to sell her and will make good any + damage caused by her forces. + + 4. If Belgium resists the advance of the German forces, the + German Government will be compelled to consider Belgium as an + enemy and will act accordingly. If not, the friendly relations + which have long united the two nations will become stronger and + more lasting. + +In twelve hours Belgium must make a decision that would change her +entire future history and, as later events proved, the history of +Europe and of the world. She made it; and by that decision she +sacrificed herself and brought death and destruction upon her people +and her possessions, but she saved her honor and her soul. Germany had +promised her everything, if she would only let the German armies march +unhindered through Belgium into France. No Belgian should be harmed or +disturbed, and anything needed by the German army would be paid for. +After the Germans had won the war, as they doubtless would have done if +Belgium had not blocked their way, Belgium would have become a +thriving, wealthy kingdom, under German protection. Antwerp would have +been perhaps the greatest port in the world, and Brussels, next to +Berlin, the world's most magnificent capital. But the Belgians did not +hesitate nor did their heroic king. + +The Belgian Government replied on Monday morning, at four o'clock, in +substance as follows: + + The Note from the German Government has caused the most painful + surprise to the Belgian Government. The French on August 1 + assured us most emphatically that they would respect our + neutrality. If this should prove to be false, the Belgian army + will offer the greatest possible resistance to invasion by them. + The neutrality of Belgium is guaranteed by the powers, among + them Germany, and the attack which the German Government + threatens to make on Belgium would be a violation of the Law of + Nations. No military necessity can justify such a violation of + right. + + The Belgian Government, if it accepted the proposals of Germany, + would sacrifice the honor of the nation and betray its duty to + Europe; and it therefore refuses to believe that this will be + demanded in order to maintain its independence. If this + expectation proves unfounded, the Belgian Government is fully + decided to resist by all means in its power any attack against + its rights. + +On Tuesday the King brought in person a message to the Belgian +Legislature, as President Wilson has often brought such messages to the +American Congress. King Albert's message was in substance as follows: + + Not since 1830 has Belgium passed through such an anxious hour. + Our independence is threatened. We still have hope that what we + dread may not happen; but if we have to resist invasion and + defend our homes, that duty will find us armed, courageous, and + ready for any sacrifice. Already our young men have risen to + defend their country in danger. I send to them, in the name of + the nation, a brotherly greeting. Everywhere in the provinces of + Flanders and of Walloon alike, in city and country, one feeling + fills all minds--that our duty is to resist the enemies of our + independence with firm courage and as a united nation. + + The perfect mobilization of our army, the great number of + volunteers, the devotion of the citizens, the self-denial of + families have shown beyond doubt the bravery of the Belgian + people. The moment to act has come. + + No one in this nation will betray his duty. The army is ready, + and the Government has absolute trust in its leaders and its + soldiers. + + If the foreigner violates our territory, he will find all + Belgians grouped round their King and their Government, in which + they have absolute confidence. + + I have faith in our destinies. A nation which defends its rights + commands the respect of all. Such a nation cannot die. God will + be with us in a just cause. Long live independent Belgium! + +Hardly had the King finished his noble message, when the Prime Minister +announced to the Legislature that Germany had declared war upon +Belgium, and that her troops were moving against Liége. + +Never as long as men remember the history of these fateful days will +the decisive action of the heroic Belgian people and of their heroic +king be forgotten. The slightest hesitation between right and wrong +would have set civilization and human liberty back perhaps a thousand +years. And the decision had to be made not only by a people, but by a +young king with German blood in his veins and married to a German +princess--and between sunset and sunrise. + +Did he see the horrors before him and his people? Did he see the +destruction of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the pride of +his people? Did he see the tearing down and burning of the entire city +of Louvain, with its university and its valuable library containing +some of the oldest and most nearly priceless books and manuscripts? Did +he see the children and the aged dying by the roadside of hunger and +fatigue? Did he see the Belgian men carried off as slaves to work in +Germany? + +Do you think he or his Queen would have hesitated if he had? No one who +really knows them thinks so. Nothing can justify choosing the wrong. +King Albert, the King of Heroes, and Queen Elizabeth of the Belgians +are honored and respected by all who love liberty and justice, for it +has been well said, "Treaties and engagements are certainly scraps of +paper, just as promises are no more than breaths. But upon such scraps +of paper and breaths the fabric of civilization has been built, and +without them its everyday activity would come to an end." They +represent truly the heroic Belgian people who by their decision on +Sunday night, August 2, 1914, saved the world. Queen Elizabeth, +although a Bavarian princess, has said of the Germans, "Between them +and me has fallen a curtain of iron which will never again be lifted." + +The Belgian Minister to the United States said of King Albert after the +war had begun: + +"It is when one talks with our soldiers that one perceives how he is +loved; they say, all of them, that they will die for him. He is +constantly at their side, encouraging them by his presence and his +courage. At certain moments, he adventures too far; always he is in the +very midst of combat." + + [Illustration: KING ALBERT OF BELGIUM] + +The King and Queen are both of them unusually brave and daring. Not +many royal pairs would trust their lives to cross the English Channel +and return in an airplane, as they did in the summer of 1918 to attend +a celebration held by the King and Queen of England. + +A Belgian soldier writing of King Albert said: "The King came and +placed himself at my side in the trench. He took the rifle of a soldier +so tired he could not stand, to give him a chance to rest, and fired, +just like the other soldiers, for an hour and a half. He himself often +carries their letters to the soldiers and distributes among them the +little bundles which their friends and parents send them from the homes +now destroyed. He shares their mess with the soldiers and he calls them +always 'my friends.' He does not want that they shall do him honor; he +wishes simply to be a soldier in all that the word _soldier_ means. One +night he was seen, exhausted by fatigue, sleeping on the grass at the +side of the road." + +Do you wonder that the Belgians love their King and that the world +honors him as the Hero King of a Nation of Heroes? + + + + +DEFENSE OF LIÉGE + + +To Germany's unfair and treacherous proposal that Belgium be false to +her promises to the world, there was but one answer for Belgium. It was +"No." Immediately after this reply had been received by the German +minister, and just as King Albert had finished his noble speech and +left the House, the Belgian Prime Minister had to announce to +Parliament that Germany had already declared war and that even at that +moment the German soldiers were advancing toward Liége, and within a +few hours would be besieging the city. + +Liége was the industrial center of Belgium, just as Antwerp was the +commercial, and Brussels the political center, or capital. The city of +Liége was famous for its coal mines, glass factories, and iron works. +Of the latter the Cockerill Works of Seraing have been named as second +only to Krupp's. The city is important historically and also +politically--being the truest democracy in Europe. Its people were +happy and free. Its governor was trusted and respected, but no less +bound by common law than the people themselves. + +Liége also has great strategic advantages. Situated on the left bank +of the Meuse, in a valley at the junction of three rivers, it is a +natural stronghold. It was besides supposed to be fortified more +perfectly than any other city in the world. A ring of twelve forts +surrounded it, six of them large and powerful, six not so powerful and +smaller. + +One weakness, however, as General Emmich, commander of the German +forces, knew, was the great distance between the forts. The small forts +were not placed between the large ones; but two of the smaller works +were together on the southwest, two in a ten-mile gap across the +northeast, a fifth was between two of the larger forts on the +southeast. The three points where the small forts were situated were +the places that the enemy planned to attack. + +Another weakness was the smallness of the garrison,--74,000 men were +needed for the defense of Liége and Namur, and only about a hundred men +were stationed in some of the forts. + +But the Belgians were equally aware of the weak points. General Leman +gave orders to throw up entrenchments between forts and to fill the +garrison. Even then, the number of men in the forts was but 25,000, +when it should have been at least 50,000. + +Yet the Belgian soldiers, following the example of their brave leader, +General Leman, did all they could to prepare a strong resistance. + +Without any delay, the German commander, on August 5, sent forward his +men in the 7th army corps with the purpose of taking Fort Evegnée, the +little fort on the southeast. No time was taken to bring up the heavy +guns--the Germans thought they would not need them. In this they were +mistaken. + +Three times they rushed forward, but were repulsed. The third time they +reached the Belgian trenches; but, obeying an order to counter-attack, +the Belgians rushed out and drove the Germans back, inflicting heavy +losses and taking 800 prisoners. + +At the same time, an attack was made from the northeast by the German +9th corps. The fighting was even fiercer here, but the enemy managed to +break through the defenses. During the fighting, the enemy schemed to +capture the Belgian general. Could they take General Leman, they +thought, the Belgian soldiers would not long hold out. Therefore, when +the fight was fiercest, eight Uhlans, two officers, and six privates, +mistaken for Englishmen because they were in English uniform, rode to +the headquarters of General Leman and attempted to take him prisoner. +But they were discovered and either killed or captured, after a +hand-to-hand struggle in the headquarter's building with members of the +Belgian staff aided by gendarmes. Heavy street fighting forced the +Germans back of the defenses once more. Then, by a decisive +counter-attack, the second attack of the enemy was repulsed. + +That same night came a third attack from the southeast again, against +Fort Evegnée, and also from the southwest against the two small forts, +Chaudfontaine and Embourg. + +It was a bright moonlight night. The Belgians on the southwest took +advantage of it to work at strengthening their defenses. They needed no +lights and used none, for they were in less danger of being seen by the +enemy. + +If the Germans should take this part of the city, it would be +particularly valuable to them, for here were the great iron works, the +railway depots, the electric lighting works, and the small-arms and gun +factory. Besides, they could then without doubt easily march on through +Belgium and, as the German commander planned, overrun France. France +surely needed all the time which the brave Belgian soldiers could save +for her, for it had never been thought that Germany would break through +on that side. France, since her previous war with Germany, when she had +lost the beautiful provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, had massed her +garrisons on the eastern line. In fact, very few forts had been built +on the Belgian side, since the two countries had always maintained +friendly relationships with each other, and the neutrality of Belgium +was guaranteed by the Powers. Now, if Germany could not be held back +until the French soldiers could be brought up to the Belgian border, +then Germany's plan of greed and tyranny would be successful, and all +of Europe would be lost. To check the Germans here meant to save the +rest of Europe. + +The city of Liége lay in darkness, save for the light of the kindly +moon. From among the crowd of buildings, the old citadel arose like a +great shadow. The searchlights flashed fitfully from the forts, +traveling across the enemy's position, while the men watched, half +expecting that the enemy would advance in the darkness, as so many of +Germany's black deeds were committed under cover of night. Over the +country, to the east, lay the ruined buildings, the broken walls, and +the dead from the fearful conflict of that day. + +Half an hour before midnight, a storm of shot and shell broke upon the +trenches. High explosive shells burst with brilliant flashes and loud +uproar. The guns from the forts replied, and the city shook in the +thundering shock. + +Heavy forces of Germans advanced, made a rush for the ditches, but were +pushed back. Just before daybreak, however, the 10th corps crept up +silently and rushed forward in a mass. The searchlights were thrown +upon them, and the guns of the Belgian regiments fired upon them. Only +after a hard fight, lasting five long hours, did the Germans break and +run. + +But with all the heroism of the Belgian garrison, after four days and +four nights of ceaseless fighting, the men were exhausted. They could +not be relieved, while the Germans had many fresh troops in reserve. +The Belgian gunners might be able to hold the forts, but they could not +long hold the stretches of ground between. But by this time the Belgian +staff realized this and ordered two of the generals to withdraw +secretly with their forces while yet there was time. General Leman was +left in charge of the remaining forces to continue the brave defense of +the works. The Germans had brought up their heavy artillery. Sooner or +later they would break through. + +On August 6, the Germans cut their way through between the forts and +entered the city. The forts held out for a time, still holding the +enemy from crossing the rivers. Once they had nearly crossed the large +bridge over the Meuse, but the Belgians blew it up, and time after +time, as the pontoon-bridges of the Germans were thrown across, above +and below Liége, the fire from the forts destroyed them. + +Then, surrounded by enemies inside the city and outside, the garrison +was forced to retire. In the latter part of August, all the forts of +Liége were in the hands of the Germans. But Belgium had made a brave +resistance; she had stood like Horatius at the bridge. She had kept the +Germans back, and by so delaying them had saved Europe. + +The defense of Liége was one of the most brilliant military +achievements and one of the decisive events in world history. + +Its brave leader, General Leman, did not see the close of the siege. He +was wounded and captured when Fort Loncin, the large fort where he had +taken his stand with his men, exploded under the terrific fire of the +enemy. But from his prison, he sent the following letter to King +Albert: + + After a severe engagement fought on August 4, 5, and 6, I + considered that the forts of Liége could not play any other part + but that of stopping the advance of the enemy. I maintained the + military government in order to coördinate the defense as much + as possible and in order to exert a moral influence on the + garrison. + + Your Majesty is aware that I was at the Fort of Loncin on August + 6 at noon. + + Your Majesty will learn with sorrow that the fort exploded + yesterday at 5:20 P.M., and that the greater part of the + garrison is buried under the ruins. If I have not died in this + catastrophe, it is owing to the fact that my work had removed me + from the stronghold. Whilst I was being suffocated by the gases + after the explosion of the powder, a German captain gave me a + drink. I was then made a prisoner and brought to Liége. I am + aware that this letter is lacking in sequence, but I am + physically shaken by the explosion of the Fort of Loncin. For + the honor of our armies I have refused to surrender the fortress + and the forts. May your Majesty deign to forgive me. In Germany, + where I am taken, my thoughts will be, as they have always been, + with Belgium and her King. I would willingly have given my life + better to serve them, but death has not been granted me. + + GENERAL LEMAN. + + + + +THE DESTRUCTION OF LOUVAIN + + +More than one hundred years ago, Napoleon, the famous French general, +started out to conquer the world, just as the Germans have been +dreaming of doing. Napoleon had almost unbelievable success--carrying +the banner of France into practically the whole of Europe. But into +whatever provinces Napoleon went, though bent upon the subjugation of a +world, he never allowed his army to wantonly lay waste and destroy. +There was great attraction for him in the wonderful works of art which +he found in many of the large cities. He ordered his men to seize these +works secretly and to carry them back to Paris. There they were +preserved. France indeed is now named the preserver of the arts. + +Had the German officers done even this, their crime would not be so +great to-day. The French not only saved art and property, but also +tried to save the lives of non-combatants as often as possible. + +One of the leading daily papers of Cologne, Germany, explained in its +issue of February 10, 1915, why the German soldiers have committed +deeds that will forever shame the German people in the minds of the +rest of humanity. Like the invasion of Belgium, these deeds are not +defended as _right_ or _just_ but as _necessary_ to help on the German +advance to victory. The article read as follows: + + We have adopted it as a principle that the wrong-doing of an + individual must be expiated by the entire community to which he + belongs. The village in which our troops are fired upon will be + burned. If the guilty one is not found, substitutes will be + chosen from the population at large, and will be executed under + martial law.... The innocent must suffer with the guilty, and, + if the latter are not caught, must receive punishment in their + place, not because a crime has been committed, but to prevent + the commission of a future crime. Every case in which a village + is burned down, or hostages are executed, or the inhabitants of + a village which has taken arms against our invading forces are + killed, is a warning to the inhabitants of the territory not yet + occupied. There can be no doubt that the destruction of Battice, + Herve, Louvain, and Dinant has served as warning. The + devastation and bloodshed of the opening days of the war have + prevented the larger Belgian cities from attempting any attacks + upon the weak forces with which it was necessary for us to hold + them. + +The destruction of works of art and of the beautiful cathedrals built +in the Middle Ages cannot be explained and defended in this way, but +some other pitiable and often childish excuse is offered. The Germans +always assume that others do as they would do in the same +circumstances. They assumed England would not interfere, if the +neutrality of Belgium was violated, for Germany would not have +interfered, had she been in England's place. They assumed the French +and English would use the towers of the cathedrals for observation +posts, for Germany would have done so; and although they were promised +by the Allied officers that the towers would not be so used and were +informed by the bishops and priests that they were not so used, yet +they proceeded to destroy the beautiful structures. Their own promises +and statements in a similar case would have been of no value, and so +they assumed the promises of others were valueless and that the priests +had been compelled to lie about the matter, as the Germans would have +forced them to do, if possible. + +They also fired upon the cathedrals of Ypres, Soissons, Arras, and +Rheims in retaliation, whenever the enemy bombarded the German lines +near by. Destroying a cathedral was like killing pure and beautiful +women and children. The Huns felt the Allies would let them advance +rather than have it happen. + +As the Germans were on their way to seize Antwerp, after they had taken +the Belgian capital, they were driven out of Malines and turned upon +Louvain. They were greatly irritated at the strong resistance which the +Belgian army was making. They even feared that suddenly Belgium's +allies would join her at Antwerp and invade Germany, upsetting the +German plans entirely. + +Therefore they sought to terrorize and subdue the country by a complete +destruction of Louvain, one of the most ancient and historic towns in +that section of Europe. Its buildings and monuments were of world-wide +interest. + +Repulsed and chased back to the outskirts of Louvain, the troops were +ordered to destroy the town. The soldiers marched down the streets, +singing and jeering, while the officers rode about in their military +automobiles with an air of bravado, as they contemplated the deed they +were about to do. They first attempted to anger the people, so as to +have some pretext for the criminal deed they had determined upon. But +the people, knowing the character of the Germans, showed remarkable +restraint. They gave up all firearms, even old rifles and bows and +arrows that were valuable historic relics. They housed and fed their +enemies, paid them immense sums of money; and when the commander sent +for two hundred and fifty mattresses, they even brought their own beds +and cast them, with everything they could lay hands on, down into the +market-place. They knew the penalty for refusal was the death of their +respected burgomaster. + +The people of Boston, at the time of the Revolution, refused to feed +and house the British soldiers. But these people of Louvain submitted +to much worse than that, hoping that the enemy would pass on and spare +their lives and their homes. + +But on Tuesday evening, August 25, as the people were sitting down to +their evening meal, the soldiers suddenly rushed wildly through the +streets, and furnished with bombs, set fire to all parts of the town. +That night witnessed some of the most terrible deeds in all history. +The town of 45,000 inhabitants was wiped out; many of the citizens were +killed, and others were sent by train to an unknown destination. +Besides the loss of life, there was lost to the world forever a great +store of historic and artistic wealth. + +But one principal building in all the town was left standing--the Hotel +de Ville. This was purposely saved as a monument to German authority, +when the whole country should be taken over and rebuilt as a +German-Belgium! + +This cowardly act of cruelty will always stand out as typical of German +atrocity. Louvain was undefended and was already in the hands of the +Germans. By this one deed perhaps more than any other, Germany showed +to what depths of degradation she would stoop. By the destruction of +Louvain, she put back civilization and culture for five hundred years, +and her own good name was burned away from among the nations of the +world. The Germans from that day were branded as the enemies of the +human race. The world sprang with united sympathy to the side of little +Belgium--so that for her the destruction of Louvain meant more than a +glorious victory. + + + + +CARDINAL MERCIER + + +He is an old man, nearly seventy, with thin, grayish-white hair. He is +very tall, as was Abraham Lincoln, nearly six feet and six inches. He +is thin, with deep-set, jet-black eyes, and thin, almost bloodless +lips. + +He is a symbol of oppressed Belgium,--frail in body, lacking great +physical strength, but standing tall and erect with flashing eyes; +unconquerable because of his unconquerable soul. + +The spirit of such men as he, and of such nations as his beloved +Belgium, is well expressed in Henley's now famous "Invictus." + + Out of the night that covers me, + Black as the pit from pole to pole, + I thank whatever gods may be + For my unconquerable soul. + + In the fell clutch of circumstance + I have not winced nor cried aloud, + Under the bludgeonings of chance + My head is bloody, but unbowed. + + * * * * * + + It matters not how strait the gate, + How charged with punishments the scroll. + I am the master of my fate; + I am the captain of my soul. + +Amidst all the horrible deeds committed by the Germans in Belgium, +Cardinal Mercier has spoken the truth publicly and fearlessly. His +unconquerable soul seems to have protected his frail body. He is one of +the great heroes of brave, suffering Belgium--a hero who carries +neither sword nor gun; but his courage might be envied by every soldier +on the field of battle, and his judgment by every commander directing +them. + +The Germans seemed to fear him from the first. General von Bissing, who +was the German Governor of invaded Belgium, wrote to Cardinal Mercier, +after the Cardinal's Easter letter to the oppressed Belgians appeared, +and called him to account, suggesting what might happen to him if he +did not cease his attacks upon the Germans and German methods. + +The Cardinal replied that he would never surrender his liberty of +judgment and that, whenever the orders and laws of the Germans were in +conflict with the laws of God, he would follow the latter and advise +his people to do the same. + +"We render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's," he wrote, "for we +pay you the silent dread of your strength, but we keep, sacred in our +hearts and free from your orders, our ideas of right and wrong. + +"It was not without careful thought that we denounced to the world the +evils you have done to our brothers and sisters--frightful evils and +horrible crimes, the tragic horror of which cold reason refuses to +admit. + +"But had we not done so, we should have felt ourselves unworthy of our +high office. + +"As a Belgian, we have heard the cries of sorrow of our people; as a +patriot, we have sought to heal the wounds of our country; and as a +bishop, we have denounced the crimes against innocent priests." + +They deprived him of his automobile, with which he used to hasten to +all parts of Belgium to assist and comfort sufferers from German +tyranny and torture. They ordered him to remain in his residence. + +As a part of his church duty, he wished to go to Brussels to celebrate +high mass. He applied for a pass which would allow him to go by train +or trolley. An excuse was invented for refusing it. Then the Cardinal +sent word to the Commandant that he must go and that he would walk. Two +hours afterward he left his residence on foot, accompanied by two or +three priests, and started on his walk of fifteen or more miles to +Brussels. + +Men, women, and children, and priests from every part of the city +crowded about him and followed him, till he reached the German +sentries, who stopped the crowd and demanded where they were going. + +The Cardinal showed his _Ausweiss_, an identification card which every +Belgian must carry, and he was allowed to proceed with two priests for +companions. The other priests demanded the right to go on, and a heated +dispute arose between them and the sentries. One of the priests lost +his temper and forgot himself so far that he began to beat one of the +sentries with his umbrella. The other sentry called for help, and the +crowd was soon dispersed. The angry priest was put under arrest and led +off to the guardhouse. + +The Cardinal had gone on but a short way when the uproar behind him +caused him to stop and look back at what was happening. When he saw the +priest led off by the soldiers, he and his companions turned back and +followed the soldiers to the little guardhouse. He walked directly in, +looking neither to the right nor the left, standing a head above the +rest of the crowd. He fixed his piercing black eyes upon the eyes of +the priest; then he beckoned him to come and turned and walked out, +followed by the priest. + +The soldiers made no attempt to stop them. They seemed to recognize an +authority that they could not help obeying, even though they did not +want to. The Cardinal accompanied by the three priests went on down the +road and out of Malines towards Brussels. They walked about half way +to the city and then took the trolleys. + +In speaking of the Germans, the Cardinal is reported to have said, +"They are so stupid, these Germans! Sometimes I feel that they are like +silly, cruel children, and that I should do something to help them." + +He loves America and the Americans and is grateful for all that the +United States have done for his suffering people. He told one of his +fellow-workers who had become discouraged, "If you follow a great +Captain, as I do, you will never be discouraged." + +In him martyred Belgium has found a voice heard round the world. He has +never ceased to denounce the atrocious crimes of the German masters of +his country and he has continually sought to comfort and cheer his +unhappy people. He sees far, and so he sees clearly the power outside +ourselves that finally brings to Right the victory over Might. His +Pastoral Letter, Christmas, 1914, will never be forgotten nor will the +words of cheer to his suffering people when he reminds them of the +greatest truth of life, that only through sacrifice and suffering come +the things best worth while. His statement in letters to the German +Commandant of the facts concerning the deportation of Belgians into +Germany, to work as virtual slaves, will forever form part of the +records of history's blackest deeds. + +This Pastoral Letter of Christmas, 1914, is in part as follows: + + It was in Rome itself that I received the tidings--stroke after + stroke--of the destruction of the church of Louvain, of the + burning of the Library and of the scientific laboratories of our + great University and of the devastation of the city, and next of + the wholesale shooting of citizens, and tortures inflicted upon + women and children, and upon unarmed and undefended men. And + while I was still under the shock of these calamities, the + telegraph brought us news of the bombardment of our beautiful + metropolitan church, of the church of Notre Dame, of the + episcopal palace, and of a great part of our dear city of + Malines. + + Afar, without means of communication with you, I was compelled + to lock my grief within my own afflicted heart, and to carry it, + with the thought of you, which never left me, to my God. + + I needed courage and light, and sought them in such thoughts as + these. A disaster has come upon the world, and our beloved + little Belgium, a nation so faithful in the great mass of her + population to God, so upright in her patriotism, so noble in her + King and Government, is the first sufferer. She bleeds; her sons + are stricken down, within her fortresses, and upon her fields, + in defense of her rights and of her territory. Soon there will + not be one Belgian family not in mourning. Why all this sorrow, + my God? Lord, Lord, hast Thou forsaken us? + + The truth is that no disaster on earth is as terrible as that + which our sins provoke. + + I summon you to face what has befallen us, and to speak to you + simply and directly of what is your duty, and of what may be + your hope. That duty I shall express in two words: Patriotism + and Endurance. + + + PATRIOTISM + + When, on my return from Rome, I went to Havre to greet our + Belgian, French, and English wounded; when, later at Malines, at + Louvain, at Antwerp, it was given to me to take the hands of + those brave men who carried a bullet in their flesh, a wound on + their forehead, because they had marched to the attack of the + enemy, or borne the shock of his onslaught, it was a word of + gratitude to them that rose to my lips. "O brave friends," I + said, "it was for us, it was for each one of us, it was for me, + that you risked your lives and are now in pain. I am moved to + tell you of my respect, of my thankfulness, to assure you that + the whole nation knows how much she is in debt to you." + + For in truth our soldiers are our saviors. + + A first time, at Liége, they saved France; a second time, in + Flanders, they halted the advance of the enemy upon Calais. + France and England know it; and Belgium stands before them both, + and before the entire world, as a nation of heroes. Never before + in my whole life did I feel so proud to be a Belgian as when, on + the platforms of French stations, and halting a while in Paris, + and visiting London, I was witness of the enthusiastic + admiration our allies feel for the heroism of our army. Our King + is, in the esteem of all, at the very summit of the moral scale; + he is doubtless the only man who does not recognize that fact, + as, simple as the simplest of his soldiers, he stands in the + trenches and puts new courage, by the calmness of his face, into + the hearts of those of whom he requires that they shall not + doubt of their country. The foremost duty of every Belgian + citizen at this hour is gratitude to the army. + + If any man had rescued you from shipwreck or from a fire, you + would hold yourselves bound to him by a debt of everlasting + thankfulness. But it is not one man, it is two hundred and fifty + thousand men who fought, who suffered, who fell for you so that + you might be free, so that Belgium might keep her independence, + so that after battle, she might rise nobler, purer, more erect, + and more glorious than before. + + Pray daily, my Brethren, for these two hundred and fifty + thousand, and for their leaders to victory; pray for our + brothers in arms; pray for the fallen; pray for those who are + still engaged; pray for the recruits who are making ready for + the fight to come. + + Better than any other man, perhaps, do I know what our unhappy + country has undergone. Nor will any Belgian, I trust, doubt of + what I suffer in my soul, as a citizen and as a Bishop, in + sympathy with all this sorrow. These last four months have + seemed to me age-long. By thousands have our brave ones been + mown down; wives, mothers are weeping for those they shall not + see again; hearths are desolate; dire poverty spreads, anguish + increases. At Malines, at Antwerp, the people of two great + cities have been given over, the one for six hours, the other + for thirty-four hours of a continuous bombardment, to the throes + of death. I have passed through the greater part of the most + terribly devastated districts and the ruins I beheld, and the + ashes, were more dreadful than I, prepared by the saddest of + forebodings, could have imagined. Other parts which I have not + yet had time to visit have in like manner been laid waste. + Churches, schools, asylums, hospitals, convents in great + numbers, are in ruins. Entire villages have all but disappeared. + At Werchter-Wackerzeel, for instance, out of three hundred and + eighty homes, a hundred and thirty remain; at Tremeloo two + thirds of the village are overthrown; at Bueken out of a hundred + houses, twenty are standing; at Schaffen one hundred and + eighty-nine houses out of two hundred are destroyed--eleven + still stand. At Louvain the third part of the buildings are + down; one thousand and seventy-four dwellings have disappeared; + on the town land and in the suburbs, one thousand eight hundred + and twenty-three houses have been burnt. + + In this dear city of Louvain, perpetually in my thoughts, the + magnificent church of St. Peter will never recover its former + splendor. The ancient college of St. Ives, the art-schools, the + consular and commercial schools of the University, the old + markets, our rich library with its collections, its unique and + unpublished manuscripts, its archives, its gallery of great + portraits of illustrious rectors, chancellors, professors, + dating from the time of its foundation, which preserved for + masters and students alike a noble tradition and were an + incitement in their studies--all this accumulation of + intellectual, of historic, and of artistic riches, the fruit of + the labors of five centuries--all is reduced to dust. + + Thousands of Belgian citizens have in like manner been deported + to the prisons of Germany, to Münsterlagen, to Celle, to + Magdeburg. At Münsterlagen alone three thousand one hundred + civil prisoners were numbered. History will tell of the physical + and moral torments of their long martyrdom. Hundreds of innocent + men were shot. I possess no complete list, but I know that there + were ninety-one shot at Aerschot, and that there, under pain of + death, their fellow citizens were compelled to dig their graves. + In the Louvain group of communes one hundred and seventy-six + persons, men and women, old men and babies, rich and poor, in + health and sickness, were shot or burnt. + + In my diocese alone I know that thirteen priests were put to + death. One of these, the parish priest of Gelrode, suffered, I + believe, a veritable martyrdom. + + We can neither number our dead nor compute the measure of our + ruins. And what would it be if we turned our sad steps towards + Liége, Namur, Andenne, Dinant, Tamines, Charleroi, and + elsewhere? + + And where lives were not taken, and where buildings were not + thrown down, what anguish unrevealed! Families, hitherto living + at ease, now in bitter want; all commerce at an end, all careers + ruined; industry at a standstill; thousands upon thousands of + workingmen without employment; working-women, shop-girls, humble + servant-girls without the means of earning their bread; and poor + souls forlorn on the bed of sickness and fever, crying, "O Lord, + how long, how long?" + + How long, O Lord, they wondered, how long wilt Thou suffer the + pride of this iniquity? Or wilt Thou finally justify the impious + opinion that Thou carest no more for the work of Thy hands? A + shock from a thunderbolt, and behold all human foresight is set + at naught. Europe trembles upon the brink of destruction. + + The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. + + Many are the thoughts that throng the breast of man to-day, and + the chief of them all is this: God reveals Himself as the + Master. The nations that made the attack, and the nations that + are warring in self-defense, alike confess themselves to be in + the hand of Him without whom nothing is made, nothing is done. + Men long unaccustomed to prayer are turning again to God. Within + the army, within the civil world, in public, and within the + individual conscience, there is prayer. Nor is that prayer + to-day a word learnt by rote, uttered lightly by the lip; it + surges from the troubled heart, it takes the form, at the feet + of God, of the very sacrifice of life. + + God will save Belgium, my Brethren, you cannot doubt it. + + Nay, rather, He is saving her. + + Across the smoke of conflagration, across the stream of blood, + have you not glimpses, do you not perceive signs, of His love + for us? Is there a patriot among us who does not know that + Belgium has grown great? Nay, which of us would have the heart + to cancel this last page of our national history? Which of us + does not exult in the brightness of the glory of this shattered + nation? Let us acknowledge that we needed a lesson in + patriotism. There were Belgians, and many such, who wasted their + time and their talents in futile quarrels of class with class, + of race with race, of passion with personal passion. + + Yet when, on the second of August, a mighty foreign power, + confident in its own strength and defiant of the faith of + treaties, dared to threaten us in our independence, then did all + Belgians, without difference of party, or of condition, or of + origin, rise up as one man, [close-ranged] about their own king + and their own government, and cry to the invader: "Thou shalt + not pass!" + + At once, instantly, we were conscious of our own patriotism. For + down within us all is something deeper than personal interests, + than personal kinships, than party feeling, and this is the need + and the will to devote ourselves to that more general interest + which Rome called the public thing, _Res publica_. And this + profound will within us is Patriotism. + + Our country is not a mere gathering of persons or of families + dwelling on the same soil, having amongst themselves relations, + more or less intimate, of business, of neighborhood, of a + community of memories, happy or unhappy. Not so; it is an + association of living souls to be defended and safeguarded at + all costs, even the cost of blood, under the leadership of those + presiding over its fortunes. And it is because of this general + spirit that the people of a country live a common life in the + present, through the past, through the aspirations, the hopes, + the confidence in a life to come, which they share together. + Patriotism, an internal principle of order and of unity, an + organic bond of the members of a nation, was placed by the + finest thinkers of Greece and Rome at the head of the natural + virtues. + + + ENDURANCE + + We may now say, my Brethren, without unworthy pride, that our + little Belgium has taken a foremost place in the esteem of + nations. I am aware that certain onlookers, notably in Italy and + in Holland, have asked how it could be necessary to expose this + country to so immense a loss of wealth and of life, and whether + a verbal manifesto against hostile aggression, or a single + cannon-shot on the frontier, would not have served the purpose + of protest. But assuredly all men of good feeling will be with + us in our rejection of these paltry counsels. + + On the 19th of April, 1839, a treaty was signed in London, by + King Leopold, in the name of Belgium on the one part, and by the + Emperor of Austria, the King of France, the Queen of England, + the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia on the other; and + its seventh article decreed that Belgium should form a separate + and perpetually neutral State, and should be held to the + observance of this neutrality in regard to all other States. The + signers promised, for themselves and their successors, upon + their oaths, to fulfill and to observe that treaty in every + point and every article. Belgium was thus bound in honor to + defend her own independence. She kept her oath. The other Powers + were bound to respect and to protect her neutrality. Germany + violated her oath; England kept hers. + + These are the facts. + + The laws of conscience are sovereign laws. We should have acted + unworthily had we evaded our obligation by a mere feint of + resistance. And now we would not change our first resolution; we + exult in it. Being called upon to write a most solemn page in + the history of our country, we resolved that it should be also a + sincere, also a glorious page. And as long as we are required to + give proof of endurance, so long we shall endure. + + All classes of our citizens have devoted their sons to the + cause of their country; but the poorer part of the population + have set the noblest example, for they have suffered also + privation, cold, and famine. If I may judge of the general + feeling from what I have witnessed in the humbler quarters of + Malines, and in the most cruelly afflicted districts of my + diocese, the people are energetic in their endurance. They look + to be righted; they will not hear of surrender. + + The sole lawful authority in Belgium is that of our King, of the + elected representatives of the nation. This authority alone has + a right to our affection, our submission. + + Occupied provinces are not conquered provinces. Belgium is no + more a German province than Galicia is a Russian province. + Nevertheless the occupied portion of our country is in a + position it is compelled to endure. The greater part of our + towns, having surrendered to the enemy on conditions, are bound + to observe those conditions. From the outset of military + operations, the civil authorities of the country urged upon all + private persons the necessity of avoiding hostile acts against + the enemy's army. That instruction remains in force. It is our + army, and our army solely, in league with the brave troops of + our Allies, that has the honor and the duty of national defense. + Let us intrust the army with our final deliverance. + + Towards the persons of those who are holding dominion among us + by military force, and who cannot but know of the energy with + which we have defended, and are still defending, our + independence, let us conduct ourselves with all needful + forbearance. Let us observe the rules they have laid upon us so + long as those rules do not violate our personal liberty, nor our + consciences, nor our duty to our country. Let us not take + bravado for courage, nor tumult for bravery. + + Our distress has moved the other nations. England, Ireland, and + Scotland; France, Holland, the United States, Canada, have vied + with each other in generosity for our relief. It is a spectacle + at once most mournful and most noble. Here again is a revelation + of the Providential Wisdom which draws good from evil. In your + name, my Brethren, and in my own, I offer to the governments and + the nations that have succored us the assurance of our + admiration and our gratitude. + + +OZYMANDIAS + + I met a traveler from an antique land + Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone + Stand in the desert.... Near them, on the sand, + Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, + And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, + Tell that its sculptor well those passions read + Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, + The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed: + And on the pedestal these words appear: + "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: + Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" + Nothing beside remains. Round the decay + Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare + The lone and level sands stretch far away. + PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY. + + + + +AND THE COCK CREW[1] + + + "I hate them all!" said old Gaspard, + And in his weather-beaten face + The lines of bitterness grew hard, + For he had seen his dwelling-place + Laid waste in very wantonness, + And all his little treasures flung + Into that never-sated press + From which no wine, but gall, had sprung-- + And not his heart alone was sore, + For in his frail old limbs he bore + Wounds of the heavy, ruthless hand + That weighed so cruelly of late + Upon the people and the land. + It was not hard to understand + Why old Gaspard should hate + Even the German lad who lay + His neighbor in the hospital, + The boy who pleaded night and day: + "Don't let me die! don't let me die! + When I see the dawn, I know + I shall live out that day, and then + I'm not afraid--till dark--but oh, + How soon the night comes round again! + Don't let me die! don't let me die!" + + The old man muttered at each low, + Pitiful, half delirious cry, + "They should die, had I the say, + In hell's own torment, one and all!" + And then would drag himself away, + Despite each motion's agony, + To where the wounded poilus lay, + And cheer them with his mimicry + Of barnyard noises, and his gay + Old songs of what life used to be. + One night the lad suddenly cried, + "Mother!" And though the sister knew-- + He was so young, so terrified, + "You're safe--the east is light," she lied. + But "No!" he sobbed, "the cock must crow + Before the dawn!" They did not hear + A cripple crawl across the floor, + But all at once, outside the door, + In the courtyard, shrill and clear, + Once, twice and thrice, chanticleer crew. + The blue eyes closed and the boy sighed, + "I'm not afraid, now day's begun. + I'll live--till--" With a smile, he died. + + And in that hour when he denied + The god of hate, I think that One + Passed through the hospital's dim yard + And turning, looked on old Gaspard. + + AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] COPYRIGHT BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY + + + + +A BELGIAN LAWYER'S APPEAL + + +One of the great lawyers of Belgium in behalf of the members of the bar +of Brussels, Liége, Ghent, Charleroi, Mons, Louvain, and Antwerp, +appeared twice before the German Court of Justice at Brussels and +appealed for more just treatment of the Belgian people. In his first +appeal, he protested against the illegal manner in which the Belgians +were accused of crime, tried, and convicted at the pleasure of German +officials. He concluded with the following eloquent words: + + I can understand martial law for armies in the field. It is the + immediate reply to an aggression against the troops, the quick + justice of the commander of the army responsible for his + soldiers. But our armies are far away; we are no longer in the + zone of military operations. Nothing here threatens your troops, + the inhabitants are calm. + + The people have taken up work again. You have bidden them do it. + Each one attends to his business--magistrates, judges, officials + of the provinces and cities, the clergy, all are at their posts, + united in one outburst of national interest and brotherhood. + + However, this does not mean that they have forgotten. The + Belgian people lived happily in their corner of the earth, + confident in their dream of independence. They saw this dream + dispelled; they saw their country ruined and devastated; its + ancient hospitable soil has been sown with thousands of tombs + where our own sleep; the war has made tears flow which no hand + can dry. No, the murdered soul of Belgium will never forget. + +His second appeal will be spoken by school children in Belgium, and +perhaps in America, when the names of the German judges to whom he +spoke are forgotten even in Germany. + + We are not annexed. We are not conquered. We are not even + vanquished. Our army is fighting. Our colors float alongside + those of France, England, and Russia. The country subsists. She + is simply unfortunate. More than ever, then, we now owe + ourselves to her, body and soul. To defend her rights is also to + fight for her. + + We are living hours now as tragic as any country has ever known. + All is destruction and ruin around us. Everywhere we see + mourning. Our army has lost half of its effective forces. Its + percentage in dead and wounded will never be reached by any of + the belligerents. There remains to us only a corner of ground + over there by the sea. The waters of the Yser flow through an + immense plain peopled by the dead. It is called the Belgian + Cemetery. There sleep our children by the thousands. There they + are sleeping their last sleep. The struggle goes on bitterly and + without mercy. + + Your sons, Mr. President, are at the front; mine as well. For + months we have been living in anxiety regarding the morrow. + + Why these sacrifices, why this sorrow? Belgium could have + avoided these disasters, saved her existence, her treasures, and + the lives of her children, but she preferred her honor. + + + + +EDITH CAVELL + + +Americans are particularly interested in the story of Edith Cavell, +because the American minister in Brussels on behalf of the American +people asked German officials to spare her life, or at least to +postpone her execution, until he might have an opportunity to see that +she was properly defended. Germany's disregard of America and the +wishes of the American people was clearly shown by the scornful manner +in which Germany set aside as of no importance American protests and +requests. Her action in this case was similar to her action earlier in +regard to the _Lusitania_, involving in both cases direct falsehoods by +representatives of the German government. + +Germans wondered that the shooting of an English woman for treason +should cause a sensation, just as they wondered why even their enemies +did not applaud them for murdering more than a thousand non-combatants +on the _Lusitania_. They did not realize that both of these crimes +would add thousands of volunteers to the armies fighting against them, +and that they would always be recorded in history as among the most +despicable deeds of a civilized nation. Some one has said, "Attila and +his Huns were ignorant barbarians, but the modern Huns know better and +therefore they are more to be condemned." + +Edith Cavell was so brave, so frank, so honest that it would seem that +even to the Germans her virtues would + + plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against + The deep damnation of her taking-off. + +But not so, for German education and training have evidently made the +German people look upon almost everything in a way different from that +of Americans, Englishmen, and Frenchmen. And yet the common German +people do at times show that they have a feeling of admiration, if not +of affection, for peoples of other nations; for we are told of a German +city erecting a statue to the French and English soldiers who died as +captives in the German prison located there, with the inscription, _To +our Comrades, who here died for their Fatherland_. + +But we must remember that there are many kingdoms in Germany and cruel +Prussia rules them all. It was Prussian savagery and barbarity that +approved the massacre by the Turks of almost an entire people, the +Armenians, and it was done under the eyes of German officers. The same +is true of the wholesale slaughter of non-combatant Serbian men, women, +and children by the Bulgarians. A word from Germany would have stopped +it all. + +When the war broke out, Edith Cavell was living in England with her +aged mother. She felt her duty was in Belgium and she went to Brussels +and established a private hospital. An American woman, Mary Boyle +O'Reilly of Boston, a daughter of the poet, John Boyle O'Reilly, worked +with her for a time. When Miss O'Reilly was expelled from Belgium, she +begged Miss Cavell to leave that land of horror, but Miss Cavell only +said, "My duty is here." + +She and her nurses cared for many a wounded German soldier and this +alone should have insured her fair treatment, if not gratitude, from +Germany. + +She was arrested, kept in solitary confinement for ten weeks without +any charge being made against her; then was tried secretly for having +sheltered French and Belgian soldiers who were seeking to escape to +Holland. + +It is probably true that Miss Cavell did this, but the history of war +in modern times records no case where any one has been put to death for +giving shelter for a short time to a fugitive soldier. Such an act does +not, according to the custom of civilized countries, make one a spy, +nor is it treason. + +Those who have investigated the case carefully have come to the +conclusion that the Germans decided to make a terrible example of some +of the women in Brussels who were sympathizing with and perhaps helping +French and Belgian soldiers to escape to Holland, for about the same +time twenty-two other women were arrested on the same charge as that +finally made against Edith Cavell. + +When Brand Whitlock, the American minister, learned from an outsider +(he could get no information from the German officials) that Edith +Cavell had been condemned, he sent the following letters, one a +personal one, the other an official one, to the German commandant: + + Personal: + + MY DEAR BARON: + + I am too ill to put my request before you in person, but once + more I appeal to the generosity of your heart. Stand by and save + from death this unfortunate woman. Have pity on her. + + Your devoted friend, + BRAND WHITLOCK. + + + Official: + + I have just heard that Miss Cavell, a British subject, and + consequently under the protection of my Legation, was this + morning condemned to death by court-martial. + + If my information is correct, the sentence in the present case + is more severe than all the others that have been passed in + similar cases which have been tried by the same Court, and, + without going into the reasons for such a drastic sentence, I + feel that I have the right to appeal to your Excellency's + feelings of humanity and generosity in Miss Cavell's favor, and + to ask that the death penalty passed on Miss Cavell may be + commuted and that this unfortunate woman shall not be executed. + + Miss Cavell is the head of the Brussels Surgical Institute. She + has spent her life in alleviating the sufferings of others, and + her school has turned out many nurses who have watched at the + bedside of the sick all the world over, in Germany as in + Belgium. At the beginning of the war Miss Cavell bestowed her + care as freely on the German soldiers as on others. Even in + default of all other reasons, her career as a servant of + humanity is such as to inspire the greatest sympathy and to call + for pardon. If the information in my possession is correct, Miss + Cavell, far from shielding herself, has, with commendable + straightforwardness, admitted the truth of all the charges + against her, and it is the very information which she herself + has furnished, which has aggravated the severity of the sentence + passed on her. + + It is then with confidence, and in the hope of its favorable + reception, that I have the honor to present to your Excellency + my request for pardon on Miss Cavell's behalf. + + BRAND WHITLOCK. + +But no real attention was paid to the American notes. Edith Cavell was +sentenced at five o'clock on the afternoon of October 11, and was put +to death that same night. + +Permission was refused to take her body for burial outside the prison. +It is doubtless still buried in the prison yard unless the Germans have +removed it for fear a monument may be erected above it. The English are +to erect a monument in her honor in London. Dr. James M. Beck, in +writing about her case, says of her burial in the prison yard, "One can +say of that burial place, as Byron said of the prison cell of Chillon: +'Let none these marks efface, for they appeal from tyranny to God.'" + + + + +SON[2] + + + He hurried away, young heart of joy, under our Devon sky! + And I watched him go, my beautiful boy, and a weary woman was I. + For my hair is gray, and his was gold; he'd the best of his life + to live; + And I'd loved him so, and I'm old, I'm old; and he's all I had to + give. + + Ah, yes, he was proud and swift and gay, but oh, how my eyes were + dim! + With the sun in his heart he went away, but he took the sun with + him. + For look! How the leaves are falling now, and the winter won't be + long.... + Oh, boy, my boy with the sunny brow, and the lips of love and of + song! + + How we used to sit at the day's sweet end, we two by the + fire-light's gleam, + And we'd drift to the Valley of Let's Pretend, on the beautiful + River of Dream. + Oh, dear little heart! All wealth untold would I gladly, gladly pay + Could I just for a moment closely hold that golden head to my gray. + + For I gaze in the fire, and I'm seeing there a child, and he waves + to me; + And I run and I hold him up in the air, and he laughs and shouts + with glee; + A little bundle of love and mirth, crying: "Come, Mumsie dear!" + Ah, me! If he called from the ends of the earth I know that my + heart would hear. + + * * * * * + + Yet the thought comes thrilling through all my pain: how worthier + could he die? + Yea, a loss like that is a glorious gain, and pitiful proud am I. + For Peace must be bought with blood and tears, and the boys of our + hearts must pay; + And so in our joy of the after-years, let us bless them every day. + + And though I know there's a hasty grave with a poor little cross + at its head, + And the gold of his youth he so gladly gave, yet to me he'll never + be dead. + And the sun in my Devon lane will be gay, and my boy will be with + me still, + So I'm finding the heart to smile and say: "Oh God, if it be + Thy Will!" + + ROBERT W. SERVICE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] COPYRIGHT BY BARSE AND HOPKINS. + + + + +THE CASE OF SERBIA + + +But Belgium is not the only little nation that has been attacked in +this war, and I make no excuse for referring to the case of the other +little nation--the case of Serbia. The history of Serbia is not +unblotted. What history in the list of nations is unblotted? The first +nation that is without sin, let her cast a stone at Serbia--a nation +trained in a horrible school. But she won her freedom with her +tenacious valor, and she has maintained it by the same courage. If any +Serbians were mixed up in the assassination of the Grand Duke, they +ought to be punished. Serbia admits that. The Serbian Government had +nothing to do with it. Not even Austria claimed that. The Serbian Prime +Minister is one of the most capable and honored men in Europe. Serbia +was willing to punish any one of her subjects who had been proved to +have any complicity in that assassination. What more could you expect? + +What were the Austrian demands? Serbia sympathized with her +fellow-countrymen in Bosnia. That was one of her crimes. She must do so +no more. Her newspapers were saying nasty things about Austria. They +must do so no longer. That is the Austrian spirit. How dare you +criticize a Prussian official? And if you laugh, it is a capital +offense. Serbian newspapers must not criticize Austria. I wonder what +would have happened had we taken up the same line about German +newspapers. Serbia said: "Very well, we will give orders to the +newspapers that they must not criticize Austria in future, neither +Austria, nor Hungary, nor anything that is theirs." She promised not to +sympathize with Bosnia; promised to write no critical articles about +Austria. She would hold no public meetings at which anything unkind was +said about Austria. That was not enough. She must dismiss from her army +officers whom Austria should subsequently name. But these officers had +just emerged from a war where they were adding luster to the Serbian +arms--gallant, brave, efficient. I wonder whether it was their guilt or +their efficiency that prompted Austria's action. Serbia was to +undertake in advance to dismiss them from the army--the names to be +sent in subsequently. Can you name a country in the world that would +have stood that? Supposing Austria or Germany had issued an ultimatum +of that kind to this country. "You must dismiss from your army and from +your navy all those officers whom we shall subsequently name." Well, I +think I could name them now. Lord Kitchener would go. Sir John French +would be sent about his business. General Smith-Dorrien would be no +more, and I am sure that Sir John Jellicoe would go. And there is +another gallant old warrior who would go--Lord Roberts. + +It was a difficult situation for a small country. Here was a demand +made upon her by a great military power who could put five or six men +in the field for every one she could; and that power supported by the +greatest military power in the world. How did Serbia behave? It is not +what happens to you in life that matters; it is the way in which you +face it. And Serbia faced the situation with dignity. She said to +Austria: "If any officers of mine have been guilty and are proved to be +guilty, I will dismiss them." Austria said, "That is not good enough +for me." It was not guilt she was after, but capacity. + +Then came Russia's turn. Russia has a special regard for Serbia. She +has a special interest in Serbia. Russians have shed their blood for +Serbian independence many a time. Serbia is a member of her family, and +she cannot see Serbia maltreated. Austria knew that. Germany knew that, +and Germany turned around to Russia and said: "I insist that you shall +stand by with your arms folded whilst Austria is strangling your little +brother to death." What answer did the Russian Slav give? He gave the +only answer that becomes a man. He turned to Austria and said: "You lay +hands on that little fellow and I will tear your ramshackle empire limb +from limb." + + DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, 1914. + + + + +THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN FRYATT + + +Captain Charles Fryatt was in command of a British steamship named +_Brussels_, running from Tilbury, England, to the Hook of Holland. His +ship was hailed in 1915 by a German submarine and ordered to stop. + +A torpedo costs several thousand dollars, therefore a submarine saves +one whenever she can sink a ship by some other means. Also a submarine +can carry but few torpedoes, so by saving them she can remain longer at +sea and at her work of destruction. + +Captain Fryatt was well aware that if he came to a stop, the Germans +would board his ship and sink her by bombs, or would order the +passengers off and sink her by shells from the guns. This is the way +they sank the _Carolina_ off the coast of New Jersey, leaving the +passengers in open boats--many of whom died from exposure and by the +capsizing of one boat in the tempest which struck them at midnight. + +Captain Fryatt knew that by the laws of nations he had the right to +defend his ship, so instead of stopping as the Germans ordered him to +do, he put on full speed and turned the head of his ship towards the +submarine, hoping to ram her and sink her. He was obeying instructions +from his government, and was doing nothing but what he had a perfect +right to do according to international law. + +He did not succeed, but he gained time and forced the submarine to +submerge, for British destroyers were coming up in answer to his +wireless call. + +For his bravery, the British Government rewarded him by giving him a +gold watch and naming him with praise in the House of Commons. + +More than a year later, on June 23, 1916, German warships out on a raid +captured the _Brussels_, which Captain Fryatt still commanded. He was +taken to Bruges, Belgium, and put on trial for his life. The Germans +claimed his case was like that of a non-combatant on land who fired +upon the soldiers. They found him guilty on June 27 and sentenced him +to be shot, for having attempted to sink the submarine, U-33, by +ramming it. They laid much emphasis on the fact that the British +Government had rewarded him, although this really had nothing to do +with whether or not he had a right to defend his ship. + +The United States was not then at war with Germany, and the diplomatic +affairs of England were in charge of the United States Ambassador in +Berlin. When Ambassador Gerard learned that Captain Fryatt had been +captured and taken to Bruges for trial, he sent two notes to the proper +German officials, demanding the right to visit Captain Fryatt and to +secure counsel for him. + +The German officials acknowledged his notes and assured him that they +would take the necessary steps to meet his request. + +But the morning of the day after Ambassador Gerard sent his notes, +Captain Fryatt was tried and sentenced, and was shot in the afternoon +of the same day. As in the case of Edith Cavell, Germany's answer to +America was a lie, and a scornful carrying out of her illegal purpose +before the American Ambassador could do anything more. She acted in +exactly the same way in connection with the _Lusitania_, and with all +her submarine warfare, or piracy, as it really is according to +international law. + +One of the leading German writers on international law says, "The +merchant ship has the right of self-defense against an enemy attack, +and this right it can exercise against visit, for this is indeed the +first act of capture." + +Germany knew she had no right to shoot Captain Fryatt, and she did not +want her right challenged at his trial; so she did not allow the +American Ambassador to see him and to secure counsel for him. + +She desired to make him an example of German "frightfulness" as she had +in the case of Edith Cavell and of the _Lusitania_. She thought this +would prevent other British vessels trying to ram her submarines. + +The whole world is wondering if Germany would cower under +"frightfulness," and therefore believes other peoples will. Her policy +certainly has never had the effect that she hoped it would. It has +simply made her enemies fight all the harder and dare all the more, +because they remember her inhuman acts and unlawful deeds. + +The Germans published the following notice of the trial and execution: + + On Thursday at Bruges before the Court Martial of the Marine + Corps, the trial took place of Captain Fryatt, of the British + steamer _Brussels_, which was brought in as a prize. The accused + was condemned to death because, although he was not a member of + a combatant force, he made an attempt, on the afternoon of March + 28, 1915, to ram the German submarine, U-33, near the Maas + Lightship. + + The accused received at the time from the British Admiralty a + gold watch as a reward for his brave conduct on that occasion, + and his action was mentioned with praise in the House of + Commons. + + On the occasion in question, disregarding the U-boat's signal to + stop and show his national flag, he turned at a critical moment + at high speed against the submarine, which escaped the steamer + by a few metres only because of swiftly diving. He confessed + that in so doing he had acted in accordance with the + instructions of the Admiralty. The sentence was confirmed + yesterday afternoon and carried out by shooting. + + This is one of the many nefarious _franc-tireur_ proceedings of + the British merchant marine against our war vessels, and it has + found a belated but merited expiation. + +The civilized nations of the world, in which we do not include Germany +and her allies, have agreed that the execution of Captain Fryatt was a +murder. Possibly the Germans also know it, but defend it as they did +the invasion of Belgium, as "necessary" to German victory. + +History will forever record it as an example of the black deeds done by +desperate men who care only to accomplish their selfish ends, and will +explain how these evil deeds of horror and of terror have injured those +who committed them more than those who suffered from them. + +On the very day of the execution of Captain Fryatt, the British +passenger liner _Falaba_ was torpedoed and sunk without warning. She +sank in eight minutes carrying with her one hundred and four men, +women, and children, who were "not members of a combatant force." + + + + +RUPERT BROOKE[3] + + +Among the losses that the World War has caused--many of them losses +that can never be made good--is that of the promising young English +poet, Rupert Brooke. + +He was a fine type in mind and body. His father was a teacher in the +great English school at Rugby, and here the boy learned to write, and +to play cricket, tennis, and football. He was interested in every form +of athletics and was strong and skillful at all. He was a great walker +and a fine diver and swimmer. He was said to have been one of the +handsomest Englishmen of his day, tall, broad, easy, and graceful in +his movements, with steady blue eyes, and a wavy mass of fair hair. + +He had traveled much in France, Germany, Italy, the United States, +Canada, and the South Seas, where he visited Stevenson's home in Samoa. +Of all lands, however, he loved England best. + +When the war broke out, Brooke said, "Well, if Armageddon's on, I +suppose I should be there." He enlisted, was commissioned as +lieutenant, and was sent almost immediately with the English forces to +relieve Antwerp, at that time besieged by the Germans. This experience, +lying day after day in trenches under German fire, followed by the +terrible retreat by night with the thousands of Belgians who had lost +everything except their lives, changed the careless, happy youth into a +man. He was but twenty-seven years old when he enlisted. He wrote but +little poetry after his enlistment, but it is all of a finer, more +spiritual quality than any of his previous work. + +He spent the following winter training in England, and then joined the +British Expeditionary Forces for the Dardanelles. He never reached +there, however, for he died at Scyros on April 23, 1915, and was buried +by torchlight at night, in an olive grove on the island. + +One of his friends, Wilfred Gibson, has paid a beautiful tribute to him +in a short poem entitled "The Going." It is a tribute that might well +be offered to any of the thousands of young heroes from many lands who +have gone with a sudden glory in their young eyes to give all, that +human liberty should not be lost. + + He's gone. + I do not understand. + I only know + That, as he turned to go, + And waved his hand, + In his young eyes a sudden glory shone, + And I was dazzled by a sunset glow-- + And he was gone + +Death appeared to be in his mind constantly after his terrible +experience at Antwerp, but he seems never to have feared it. It is +really the subject of all of his five sonnets written in 1914, and +these are the best of his work. He thought constantly of England and of +all that she had done for him and meant to him. He thought also of the +little meaningful things of life, and put them into these +sonnets--dawn, sunset, the beautiful colors of the earth, music, +flowers, the feel of furs, and the touch of a cheek. Strange that he +should have thought of the touching of fur. It probably gave him a +strange sensation as it does to many. And then he thought of water and +its movement in the wind, and its warmth under the sun, which seemed to +him like life, just as its freezing under the frost seemed to him like +death. All of this and more he put into a beautiful sonnet entitled +"The Dead." + + These hearts were woven of human joys and cares, + Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth. + The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs, + And sunset, and the colors of the earth. + These had seen movement, and heard music; known + Slumber and waking; loved; gone proudly friended; + Felt the quick stir of wonder; sat alone; + Touched flowers and furs and cheeks. All this is ended. + + There are waters blown by changing winds to laughter + And lit by the rich skies, all day. And after, + Frost, with a gesture, stays the waves that dance + And wandering loveliness. He leaves a white + Unbroken glory, a gathered radiance, + A width, a shining peace, under the night. + +Note how significant is every human experience which he mentions from +"the quick stir of wonder" which the youth feels, to the kindness which +comes with years. "They had seen movement" is strange, and yet many +like Rupert Brooke are fascinated with movement and see life chiefly in +motion,--in smiles and steps. + +His finest poem, however, is the last of the five sonnets and is +entitled "The Soldier." Here he pours out his heart in love of England +and in the pride that he feels in being an Englishman. Read France or +America or some other worthy homeland in place of England and it will +appeal to other hearts beside Englishmen. It is a beautiful poem, one +that will live forever. + + If I should die, think only this of me: + That there's some corner of a foreign field + That is forever England. There shall be + In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; + A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, + Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, + A body of England's, breathing English air, + Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. + + And think, this heart, all evil shed away, + A pulse in the eternal mind, no less + Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; + Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; + And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, + In hearts at peace, under an English heaven. + +One of our American poets, George Edward Woodberry, has beautifully +said: + + There is a grave in Scyros, amid the white and pinkish marble of + the isle, the wild thyme and the poppies, near the green and + blue waters. There Rupert Brooke was buried. Thither have gone + the thoughts of his countrymen, and the hearts of the young + especially. It will long be so. For a new star shines in the + English heavens. + + Ever the faith endures, + England, my England-- + "Take us and break us: we are yours, + England, my own! + Life is good, and joy runs high + Between English earth and sky: + Death is death; but we shall die + To the song on your bugles blown, + England-- + To the stars on your bugles blown." + + W.E. HENLEY. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] BASED ON "THE COLLECTED POEMS OF RUPERT BROOKE," COPYRIGHT BY JOHN +LANE COMPANY. + + + + +"LET US SAVE THE KIDDIES" + + +At 12:20 noon, on Saturday, May 1, 1915, there steamed out of New York +harbor one of the largest and fastest passenger ships in the world. It +was the _Lusitania_, flying the British flag, and bound for Europe, via +Liverpool. On board were nearly two thousand men, women, and children. +They were not overcrowded, however, for the _Lusitania_ was the finest, +the most comfortable of ocean boats. It was more than an eighth of a +mile in length, 88 feet in width, and 60 feet in depth, and had a speed +of nearly 30 miles an hour. + +Her passengers, once out from shore, settled down to seven days of life +in this immense, floating hotel. Tiny babies toddled across the smooth, +shining floors of the new home, or watched with gurgles of delight the +older children rollicking and romping over the decks. The women chatted +and sang, and played all sorts of games. The men, too, engaged in many +contests, athletic stunts, and games. At night, when the little ones +were quietly sleeping in their bunks, their elders gathered in the +grand saloon and there listened to some fine singer, a famous +violinist, or a great lecturer. + + [Illustration: THE _LUSITANIA_ IN NEW YORK HARBOR + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +So the days passed, the people living as one great family. New +friendships grew, and many delightful acquaintances were formed. The +complete harmony and restfulness of such a life, the clear skies and +sunshine, and the vast expanse of blue-green ocean, all made them +forget that they were riding into a region of horror and war. + +For nearly ten months Belgium, England, France, and Russia had been +waging war against Germany. Around England's coasts lurked the horrors +of the German submarine. The travelers on the morning of sailing had +read the warning against crossing. It has since been called the "Death +Notice." It read: + + NOTICE + + Travelers 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 any of + her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters; and that + travelers 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. + +It had been printed in the newspapers beside the advertisement of the +sailing of the _Lusitania_, and was posted that very morning by order +of Count von Bernstorff, German ambassador to the United States. But +most of the travelers paid no attention to the notice after reading it, +for they were sure that no implement of war would be turned against a +passenger ship. With stout hearts, many of the travelers said, "We are +Americans. No country will refuse respect and protection for an +American citizen in any part of the world." Or they said, "We are +British citizens,--not soldiers. We are on a merchant vessel--not a +battleship. Surely our rights will be respected. We cross under +necessity." + +So they dared to exercise their freedom and their rights when they +boarded the steamer for this return trip. + +After sailing for five days in safety, they came at last within sight +of land. Early on Friday morning a heavy fog had lowered, but the ship +continued to plow steadily through the tranquil waters. Toward noon the +fog lifted and the sunshine and blue sky came to view, contributing to +the full enjoyment of the travelers. + +They had just finished luncheon. Some were quietly writing +letters--others playing games. Many had strolled to the upper decks. +They greeted their new acquaintances, regretting that they were so soon +to part, for they were now but ten or fifteen miles out from shore off +"Old Head of Kinsale," and within a few hours all would land, going on +their separate ways for the rest of the journey. Though they were +nearing a world at war, all seemed peaceful. + +The ship's clock pointed at two, when a few men standing on deck saw +what looked like a whale rising from the water about three quarters of +a mile away. They saw it speeding toward them, and suddenly they knew +what it was; but no one named it, until with a train of bubbles it +disappeared under the ship, and they cried, "It's a torpedo!" + +With a fearful explosion, the center of the ship was blown up through +the decks, making a great heap of wreckage. The passengers fled from +the lower to the upper decks, many of them not stopping for life +preservers. Some of those who did strap on the life preservers did not +put them on correctly. Many leaped into the water, trusting to be +picked up by a passing boat. Although every one was terribly +frightened, yet there seemed to be no panic. The men lowered the +lifeboats, which were crowded to the full. As many as seventy or eighty +people, it is said, were packed into one small boat. + +Leslie N. Morton, a mere lad, has been officially named as bravest of +the crew. He was stationed on the starboard side, keeping look-out, +when the torpedo struck. He, with the assistance of his mate, rowed a +lifeboat for some miles, put the people on a fishing smack, and +returned again for other survivors, rescuing in all nearly a hundred. + +There were many acts of heroism among the passengers, but in all of the +distress one young man stood out among the hundreds upon the ship. +Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a young American millionaire, quickly realizing +that the steamer was sinking, turned to his valet and cried, "Let us +save the kiddies!" The two sprang to the rescue of the babies and small +children, carrying two of the little ones in their arms at a time and +placing them carefully in the lifeboats with their mothers. Mr. +Vanderbilt and his valet continued their efforts to the very last. When +they could find no more children, they turned to the assistance of the +women that were left. When last seen, Mr. Vanderbilt was smilingly, +almost happily, lending his aid to the passengers who still remained on +deck. + +The whole civilized world honors the memory of this brave youth, who +gave his life in serving helpless women and children. Gratifying indeed +it is to know that the little ones were cared for, though sad to learn +that even then only twenty-five of the hundred and twenty-nine babies +on board were saved. About one hundred children were innocent victims +of that dastardly deed which the Germans, through savage desire to +terrorize, became brutes enough to do. + +Elbert Hubbard, a noted American writer, and his wife went down with +the ship. Charles Frohman, a leading producer of plays, was another +prominent American lost. He has been cited as the finest example of +faith and calm strength, for, realizing that there was little hope for +him, he smilingly remarked, "Why fear death? It is the most beautiful +adventure that life gives us." + +In less than twenty minutes after the torpedo struck, nothing except +floating pieces of wreckage strewn on the disturbed surface of the +water marked the place of the great calamity. + +The wireless operator had sent the S.O.S. signal of distress several +times, and also had time to send the message, "Come at once, big list, +10 miles south of 'Old Head of Kinsale.'" He had received answers +before his apparatus was put out of use, and soon trawlers and pilot +boats came to the rescue and brought to shore those who had survived. +The cold ocean water, however, had made many so numb that they were +unable to help themselves enough to be lifted into the lifeboats, even +when the life preservers had kept them afloat. Of the 159 Americans on +board, 124 perished. In all, only 761 people were saved; 1198 perished. + +That day the terrible news came over the cable to America,--the great +passenger steamer _Lusitania_ had been torpedoed by a German submarine; +probably a thousand lives had been lost, among them many Americans! + +At the White House, the President realized the awful import of such a +message. + +In a day or so, nearly two thousand telegrams poured in from all parts +of the country; and it is said that the President read them all, for he +wanted to know how the individual American felt. + +The Germans offered all sorts of excuses for their cruel deed. A German +paper printed the following: + + Must we not, we who may be defeated by starvation and by lack of + war materials, must we not defend ourselves from this great + danger (with which the enemy's blockade threatens us), with all + our might and with all the means that the German spirit can + invent, and which the honor of the German people recognizes as + lawful weapons? Have those, who now raise such outcries, any + right to accuse us, those who allowed their friends and + relatives to trust themselves on a ship whose destruction was + announced with perfect clearness in advance? When our enemy's + blockade method forces us to measures in self-defense, _the + death of non-combatants is a matter of no consequence_. + +A blockade of an enemy's ports is, and always has been, a perfectly +fair kind of warfare. In our Civil War, the southern ports were, from +the beginning, blockaded by the northern warships. Germany was in no +danger of starving, as the events since have proved. Her excuses were, +as they have been in every case where she has played the part of the +brute, worse than no excuses and always based on falsehoods. + +"The steamer carried ammunition for England," they said. But it was +bought and carried in accordance with international law. Germany had +the same right to buy and carry from a neutral country. "It was a +British ship," they said. But it was a passenger ship and carried +nearly two thousand people, many of them Americans, who, according to +all international agreements, were guaranteed safe passage even in time +of war. + +All nations recognize the obligation of an enemy to visit and search +the vessel they think should be sunk, to make sure it carries +contraband of war, and if so, to give the people an opportunity to get +safely into the lifeboats. Not only did the Germans not do this, but +they did not even signal the ship that it was about to be sunk. The +newspaper warning put out by Bernstorff was no excuse for committing an +unlawful, inhuman act. + +From all points of view, the Germans, in sinking the _Lusitania_, +committed a horrible crime, not only against international law, but +against humanity and civilization. In all war, armed forces meet armed +forces; never do armed forces strangle and butcher the innocent and +unprotected. There is such a thing as _legitimate_ warfare, except +among barbarians. + +Here again was shown the German attitude in the "scrap of paper." +Evidently trusting to the great distance of the United States and her +well-known unpreparedness, Germany thought that a friendly relation +with this country was a matter of entire indifference to her; or, if +she hoped to draw America into the war, she little dreamed to what end +those hopes would come! + +Around the world one verdict was pronounced against Germany. This +verdict was well worded in a Russian paper, the _Courier_: + + The right to punish these criminals who violate the laws of + humanity belongs first and foremost to the great American + Republic. America knows well how to use this right. The sympathy + of the civilized world is guaranteed her beforehand. The world + is being suffocated by poisonous gases of inhuman cruelty spread + abroad by Germany, who, in the madness of her rage, is + committing needless, purposeless, and senseless murder, solely + from lust of blood and horrors! + +The American government, upon the occurrence of the calamity, showed +great forbearance, believing that "a man of proved temper and tried +courage is not always bound to return a madman's blow." A strong +protest was sent to the Imperial German Government, which caused +Germany to abandon for a time her submarine attacks upon neutral +vessels. It was the renewal of these attacks that finally led to the +declaration of war by the United States of America upon Germany and her +allies, and it was the _Lusitania_ outrage more than any other one +event that roused the fighting spirit of America. + + + + +THE CHARGE OF THE BLACK WATCH AND THE SCOTS GREYS + + +Sometimes a retreat is in reality a great victory. It has been said +that it requires a greater general to direct successfully a great +retreat than it does to direct a great attack. + +Some marvelous retreats have occurred in the World War, the greatest +coming at its very beginning, when the English and French fell back to +save Paris and to defeat the Germans at the Marne. This retreat was +really a series of battles, day after day, with terrible losses on both +sides. + +An English private in the Black Watch, named Walter Morton, only +nineteen years of age, described for the _Scotsmen_ one of these +battles in which his regiment and the Scots Greys made a magnificent +charge. His story was as follows: + + We went straight from Boulogne to Mons, being one of the first + British regiments to reach that place. Neither army seemed to + have a very good position there, but the numbers of the Germans + were far too great to give us any chance of success. We were + hard at it all day on Monday; and on Tuesday, as the French + reinforcements which we had been expecting did not arrive, the + order was given to retire. + + In our retreat we marched close upon eighty miles. We passed + through Cambrai, and a halt was called at St. Quentin. The + Germans, in their mad rush to get to Paris, had seldom been far + behind us, and when we came to St. Quentin the word went through + the ranks that we were going into action. The men were quite + jubilant at the prospect. They had not been at all pleased at + their continued retirement before the enemy, and they at once + started to get things ready. The engagement opened briskly, both + our artillery and the Germans going at it for all they were + worth. We were in good skirmishing order, and under the cover of + our guns we were all the time getting nearer and nearer the + enemy. When we had come to within 100 yards of the German lines, + the commands were issued for a charge, and the Black Watch made + the charge along with the Scots Greys. Not far from us the 9th + Lancers and the Cameronians joined in the attack. + + It was the finest thing I ever saw. The Scots Greys galloped + forward with us hanging on to their stirrups, and it was a sight + never to be forgotten. We were simply being dragged by the + horses as they flew forward through a perfect cloud of bullets + from the enemy's maxims. All other sounds were drowned by the + thunder of the horses' hoofs as they careered wildly on, some of + them nearly driven mad by the bullets which struck them. It was + no time for much thinking. Saddles were being emptied quickly, + as we closed on the German lines and tore past their maxims, + which were in the front ranks. + + We were on the German gunners before they knew where they were, + and many of them went down, scarcely realizing that we were + amongst them. Then the fray commenced in deadly earnest. The + Black Watch and the Scots Greys went into it like men + possessed. They fought like demons. It was our bayonets against + the Germans' swords. You could see nothing but the glint of + steel, and soon even that was wanting as our boys got well into + the midst of the enemy. The swords of the Germans were no use + against our bayonets. They went down in hundreds. + + Then the enemy began to waver, and soon broke and fled before + the bayonets, like rabbits before the shot of a gun. + + There were about 1900 of us in that charge against 20,000 + Germans, and the charge itself lasted about four hours. We took + close upon 4000 prisoners, and captured a lot of their guns. In + the course of the fighting I got a cut from a German sword--they + are very much like saws--and fell into a pool of water, where I + lay unconscious for twenty-three hours. I was picked up by one + of the 9th Lancers. + + + + +THE BATTLES OF THE MARNE + + +At Marathon (490 B.C.) and at Salamis (480 B.C.) the Greeks defeated +the Persians and saved Europe for western civilization. Had the +Persians won, the history of Europe and of the world would be the story +of the civilization of the East instead of that of the West. + +At Tours (732 A.D.) Charles Martel defeated the forces of the +Mohammedans, who had already conquered Spain, and saved Europe for +Christianity. + +At the Marne (1914 and 1918) the French, the English, and (in the +second battle) the Americans, defeated the modern Huns and saved Europe +for democracy and from the rule of merciless brute force. The First +Battle of the Marne has been called the sixteenth decisive battle of +the world. + +Before the First Battle of the Marne, September 5 to 10, 1914, the +German military machine had been winning, as never an army had won +before in the entire recorded history of the world. Its path had been +one of treachery, of atrocities, of savagery, but one of tremendous and +unparalleled victory. The Germans at home called it "the great times." + +Brave little Belgium had been able to hold back the German hordes but +for a short time at Liége and Namur, but, as future events proved, long +enough to make possible the decisive battles at the Marne. The Germans +had taken Brussels and Antwerp, had destroyed Louvain, had filled +themselves with outrage and murder, had drunk of blood and wine and +success until they were thoroughly intoxicated with the belief so +common to drunken brutes that no men in the world can stand against +them. The little Belgian army, "the contemptible little English army" +(as the Kaiser called it), and the magnificent French army had been +retreating day by day almost as fast as the Germans could advance. Soon +Paris and then all of France would be in German hands--and what a +glorious time they would have in the gayest and most beautiful capital +of the world. Although bodies of German cavalry raided the coast, the +German leaders, elated and intoxicated with thoughts of rich plunder +and dissipation, did not turn aside in force to follow the Belgian army +and to take the Channel ports of Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogne, but +pushed on toward Paris. The French government, expecting a siege of the +city, moved to Bordeaux. + +The main forces of the Germans had turned south from the coast towards +Paris with General von Kluck's army of about 200,000 men at the right +or west of the German line of advance. General von Kluck was +attempting to outflank the English army, that is, to throw part of his +forces around the extreme western end of the English army, which had to +keep retiring rapidly to avoid being encircled. The French army was +obliged to fall back to keep in touch with the British. + +The English retired nearly one hundred miles without losing their +cheerfulness or their confidence. It was this turning movement on the +left that forced all the allies to retire. An English writer who was +with the army said that though the Germans constantly attacked with +reckless courage, yet the British and French retired slowly with their +faces to the foe, and showing the greatest heroism. The numbers of the +Germans were greater than those of the Allies, and the Germans gave +them no rest. Night and day they hammered away, coming on like great +waves. The gaps the English made were filled instantly. The German guns +played upon the Allies constantly. Their cavalry swept down upon them +recklessly. If the English had great losses, the Germans had greater. +The English fought with cool bravery. They never wavered an instant. +But the pressure upon them could not be resisted. Column after column, +squadron after squadron, mass after mass, the enemy came on like a +battering ram, crushing everything in its way. They swarmed on all +sides, even though shattered by shot and shell. Nothing but the +steadfast courage, the sheer pluck, the spirit, the soul of the +English soldiers saved the army from complete destruction. + +"The enemy hung on to us like grim death," said a wounded soldier. +"They wanted us to retreat in a direction that would best suit their +plans. But we were not taking marching orders from them. We went our +own way at our own pace. We were retiring, not retreating." + +Then on the fifth of September came General Joffre's appeal to the +defenders of civilization, and particularly to the French soldiers: +"The hour has come to hold our positions at any cost and to fight +rather than to retreat.... No longer must we look at the enemy over our +shoulders, for the time has come to put forth all our efforts in +attacking and defeating him." + +A French writer has said of the retreat, which by order of General +Joffre had now come to an end, "Their bodies retreated, but never their +souls;" and he might have added of the German advance, "It was an +advance of bodies, not of souls." It was material might in men and guns +forcing back an army weaker in everything except soul and spirit. The +World War has shown over and over again, not only at the Marne but at a +hundred other places and in a hundred other ways, that soul and spirit +are the real conquerors and that God is not always, as Napoleon said, +on the side of the larger battalions. + +The Germans had come on flushed with success and egotism, destroying +French property, looting, and dissipating. Their spirit was the spirit +they found in the French wine cellars, and as for soul, as civilized +people understand the word, they had none. They were an army of tired, +conquering brutes. Their morale was low because of their great success +and all that had accompanied it of feasts and slaughter. The morale of +the French was never higher. Every day and every hour they had been +compelled to retreat, giving up, giving up all that they loved even +better than life itself to these brutes, until the brain of the French +army said on the evening of September 5, 1914, "You have gone so far in +order that you may now stand successfully." And in the morning at dawn, +it was not only the bodies of the French soldiers that hurled +themselves against the invaders, but the souls of French men, the soul +of France; and all along the line from Verdun to Meaux, under the +gallant leadership of Manoury, Foch, Sarrail, Castelnau, and others, +the French armies held. If they had not held--not only held but +attacked--all of future history would be different. + +General Foch, commander in chief at the Second Battle of the Marne, +inspired his troops in this first battle to supernatural bravery. He +knew they must not yield, so with his right broken, his left shattered, +he attacked with his center. It was that or retreat. His message to +the commander-in-chief, General Joffre, will never be forgotten. + +"My left has been forced back, my right is routed. I shall attack with +the center." + +The Germans could not put their souls into the battles as the French +soldiers did, and besides, the Germans were weakened by feasting and +dissipation. With the Huns it was the right of might; with the Allies +it was the might of right, and in the end the second always defeats the +first. + +Some one has well said: + +"It is the law of good to protect and to build up. It is the law of +evil to destroy. It is in the very nature of good to lead men aright. +It is in the very nature of evil to lead men astray. Goodness makes for +wisdom. Badness is continually exercising poor judgment. + +"Germany and Austria have made colossal mistakes in this war because of +their colossal violation of truth and justice. In brutally wronging +Serbia, they lost the friendship and support of Italy. In perpetrating +the monstrous crime against Belgium, they brought against them the +whole might of the British Empire. In breaking international law with +their reckless submarine warfare, they caused the United States to +enter the war on the side of the Allies." + +It is said that the army of the German Crown Prince retreated before +the impetuous attack of the French and, because of this retreat, all +the other German armies were obliged to do likewise. It is more +probable, however, that the general retreat was due to General Joffre's +strategy. The Germans under General von Kluck were within about twenty +miles of Paris, near Meaux on the Marne, when suddenly they were struck +in the flank and rear by about twenty thousand fresh troops brought out +unexpectedly from Paris in motor trucks, taxis, limousines, and all +kinds of pleasure cars. Now the Germans, who had caused the retreat of +the French and British armies upon Paris by continually outflanking the +British, were in their turn outflanked and compelled to retreat, and +Paris was saved. + +An English writer has said that although the Germans were outflanked +only in the west, yet the blow passed from one end of the German line +to the other, from Meaux to Verdun, just as the blow from the buffer of +the engine, when it is coupled to the train, passes from one truck to +another to the very end of the train. + +The Germans in the next few days retreated from the Marne to the Aisne, +where they entrenched. Paris and France and Europe and the only world +worth living in were saved. The French government moved back to Paris. + +Hall Caine in "Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days" says: "The soul of +France did not fail her. It heard the second approach of that monstrous +Prussian horde, which, like a broad, irresistible tide, sweeping across +one half of Europe, came down, down, down from Mons until the thunder +of its guns could again be heard on the boulevards. And then came the +great miracle! Just as the sea itself can rise no higher when it has +reached the top of the flood, so the mighty army of Germany had to stop +its advance thirty kilometres north of Paris; and when it stirred +again, it had to go back. And back and back it went before the armies +of France, Britain, and Belgium, until it reached a point at which it +could dig itself into the earth and hide in a long, serpentine trench +stretching from the Alps to the sea. + +"Only then did the spirit of France draw breath for a moment, and the +next flash as of lightning showed her offering thanks and making +supplications before the white statue of Jeanne d'Arc in the apse of +the great cathedral of Notre Dame, sacred to innumerable memories. On +the Feast of St. Michael, ten thousand of the women of Paris were +kneeling under the dark vault, and on the broad space in the front of +the majestic façade, praying for victory. It was a great and grandiose +scene, recalling the days when faith was strong and purer. Old and +young, rich and poor, every woman with some soul that was dear to her +in that inferno at the front--the Motherhood of France was there to +ask God for the triumph of the right. + +"And in the spirit of that prayer the soul of France still lives." + +Nearly four years later the Germans, with greatly increased forces in +France, due to the collapse of Russia, were again upon the Marne and +only about forty miles from Paris. French and English and Americans +were opposing them upon a line shaped like a great letter U, extending +south with Rheims at the top on the east, and Soissons at the top on +the west. The Marne River was at the curve at the bottom, and there +most of the Americans were stationed. + +On July 15, 1918, the Germans began the offensive which was to result, +as they hoped, in the capture of Paris. They attacked on the Marne and +between the Marne and Rheims. At the end of the fourth day, they had +advanced about six miles, crossing the Marne and pushing back the +American troops. The Americans fought bravely and soon regained the +ground they had lost, although the French generals suggested that they +should not attempt to retake it. The American commander, however, sent +word to the French general, who was his superior officer, saying that +he did not feel able to follow the suggestion, for the American flag +had been compelled to retire. None of his soldiers, he said, would +understand this being allowed as long as they were able to attack. "We +are going to counter-attack," he added. They did so, and regained all +the ground lost. + +It is clear now that the French generals knew the counter-attack was +unnecessary, and knew why. West of the line from Soissons to the Marne +is a great forest, and back of this General Foch, commander in chief of +all the allied armies, had been for several days gathering guns, +ammunition, tanks, and troops ready to strike the flank of the Germans, +when they should attack between Rheims and the Marne and attempt to +cross the Marne, as he knew they would in their desire to take Paris. A +terrible tempest passed over the region just before the Allied attack, +preventing the Germans from observing the advancing tanks and troops. +An English writer has said, "The storm which had covered the noise of +the final preparation of a number of tanks which led the assault, was +over. Not a sound was heard in the forest, though it was teeming with +men and horses. Then suddenly the appointed moment came when day broke. +There was a roar from all the guns, the whole front broke into activity +as men and tanks dashed forward. I suppose there has been nothing more +dramatic in the whole war than this scene on which the general looked +down from the top of a high perch in the forest on that quiet July +morning!" + +The Allies struck so unexpectedly that they captured hundreds of guns +and thousands of prisoners, and obliged the Germans to fall back +across the Marne, losing all the territory they had gained and much +more. The danger to Paris was again turned aside by the military genius +of General Foch and the bravery of the troops under his command. + +It was the first great battle in which the Americans took part. They +showed themselves equal to the best of the Allies, and better than the +Germans. A London paper called the American counter-attack one of the +historical incidents of the whole war. All Europe, except Hunland, rang +with praises of the American troops. + + * * * * * + +In the history of the World War, most of the great land battles will be +named from rivers, the Marne, the Yser, the Somme, the Aisne, the +Ailette, the Ancre, the Bug, the Dneister, the Dunajec and the Piave. A +battle of the Rhine will probably be fought before German territory can +be invaded to any great extent. + + + + +THE QUEEN'S FLOWER + + +On July 25, 1918, nearly every person in Washington, the capital of the +United States, was asked to buy a bunch of forget-me-nots; and nearly +every one responded, so that almost $7000 worth was sold in about an +hour. In many other cities sales were held, and for many years to come +such sales will be held all over the civilized world, for the +forget-me-not is the Queen's flower, chosen by Elizabeth, Queen of +Belgium, to be sold on her birthday, July 25, to raise money for the +children of Belgium. She is a lover of flowers as are all the people of +her country. Many parts of Belgium were before the war, like Holland, +devoted to raising flowers for bulbs and seeds. It is said that the +garden at the Belgian Royal Palace was the most beautiful garden in the +world. + +For many years it has been the Queen's custom to name a flower to be +sold on her birthday for the benefit of some good cause. In 1910 she +named the La France rose to be sold for the benefit of sufferers from +tuberculosis in Belgium. Nearly $100,000 was raised on this one day. + +The war has not done away with the beautiful custom, and on the +Queen's birthday in 1918, she named a flower to be sold to raise money +to help care for the children of Belgium. She chose the forget-me-not, +for the Queen can never forget the terrible sacrifice her country was +called upon to make, nor the brutal manner in which the Huns used their +power. + +Those who have carefully studied the facts have concluded that the Huns +coolly and deliberately planned to destroy Belgium as a country and a +people, not only during the war but forever. It was to carry out this +plan that the villages and cities were burned or bombarded until they +were nothing but heaps of stone and ashes; that much of the machinery +was either destroyed or carried into Germany; that the Belgian boys and +men were herded together and deported into Germany to work as slaves; +and that the Belgian babies were neglected, starved, and murdered. If +only the old and feeble were left at the end of the war, there could be +no Belgium to compete with Germany, and Germany desired this whether +she should win or lose. + +America has done much to relieve the suffering of the Belgian people. +Germany saw to it, however, that the babies and very young children +were neglected as far as possible, with the exception of healthy +Belgian boy babies, and many of these she snatched from their parents +and carried into Germany to be raised as Huns. It has been said that +no horror of the war equaled the horror of what Germany did to Belgian +childhood. + +Queen Elizabeth realized the danger and did everything in her power to +protect and help the babies of Belgium. Although she is by birth a +German princess, she wishes never to forget and that the world may +never forget the great wrong done her country. In naming the +forget-me-not she meant that Belgium's wrong should never be forgotten, +and that the children of Belgium should not be forgotten. + +The flower is to be sold for the benefit of Belgian children at all +times and in all countries, for the Queen has said she will never name +another. + +The little blue forget-me-not will be sold all over the civilized +world, that means except in Hunland, and wherever it is sold Belgium's +story will be remembered. All that is sweet and beautiful and pure is +connecting itself in the minds and hearts of men with Belgium in her +sacrifice and suffering; and as long as history is recorded and +remembered, the word "Belgium" will awaken these feelings in those who +read. This is a part of her reward, just as the opposite is a part of +the punishment of the Hun. + + + + +AT SCHOOL NEAR THE LINES + + +The boys and girls in America have listened with great interest and +sympathy to the many stories of children in devastated France, left +fatherless, homeless, perhaps motherless, with no games or sport, +indeed with no desire to play games or sports of any kind. For them, +there seemed to be only the awful roar and thunder of the cannon, which +might at any moment send down a bursting shell upon their heads. The +clothes they wore and the food they ate were theirs only as they were +given to them, and so often given by strangers. + +In America the school children worked, earned, saved, and sent their +gifts to those thousands of destitute children, and with their gifts +sent letters of love and interest to their little French cousins across +the seas. + +Many of the letters were written in quiet, sunny schoolrooms, thousands +of miles from the noise of battle. But many a letter thus written +reached the hands of a child who sat huddled beside his teacher in a +damp, dark cellar that took the place of the pleasant little +schoolhouse he had known. + +But in those cellars and hidden places, the children studied and +learned as best they might, in order some day to be strong, bright men +and women for their beloved France, when the days of battle should be +over and victory should have been won for them to keep. + +The gladness of the children when they received the letters will +probably never be fully known. Perhaps it seemed to some of them like +that morning on which they marched away from the school building for +the last time. The shells had begun to burst near them, as they sat in +the morning session. Quickly they put aside their work, and listened +quietly while the master timed the interval between the bursting of the +shells. At his order, they had formed in line for marching, and at the +moment the third or fourth shell fell, they marched out of the school +away into a cellar seventy paces off. There, sheltered by the strong, +stout walls, they listened to the next shell bursting as it fell +straight down into the schoolhouse, where by a few moments' delay, they +would all have perished or been severely injured. + +So, while they heard the cannon roaring, they were happy to know that +their friends in America thought of them and were helping them. No one +will ever realize just how much it meant to the French people to know +that America was their friend, or the great joy they felt when the +American soldiers marched in to take their places in the fight for +France and the freedom of the world. + +Odette Gastinel, a thirteen-year-old girl of the Lycée Victor Duruy, +one of the schoolrooms near the front, has written of the coming of the +Americans. Throughout the United States her little essay has been read, +and great men and women have marveled at its beauty of thought and +wording, and have called it a little masterpiece. + +In the first paragraph, she tells of the great distance between the +millions of men (the Germans and the Allies) although separated only by +a narrow stream; and in the second, she speaks of the closeness of +sympathy between France and America,--though America lies three +thousand miles over the sea. + + It was only a little river, almost a brook; it was called the + Yser. One could talk from one side to the other without raising + one's voice, and the birds could fly over it with one sweep of + their wings. And on the two banks there were millions of men, + the one turned toward the other, eye to eye. But the distance + which separated them was greater than the spaces between the + stars in the sky; it was the distance which separates right from + injustice. + + The ocean is so vast that the sea gulls do not dare to cross it. + During seven days and seven nights the great steamships of + America, going at full speed, drive through the deep waters + before the lighthouses of France come into view; but from one + side to the other, hearts are touching. + +It is no wonder that the great American, General Pershing, stopped, in +all the tumult and business of war, to write to people in America: + + [Illustration: (hand written letter from General Pershing) + + Headquarters, Am. Ex. Forces. + France. + + In the veins of the fatherless + children of France courses + the blood of heroes. Theirs + is a heritage worth cherishing--a + heritage which appeals + to the deepest sentiments of + the soul. What France through + their fathers has done for + humanity, France through + them will do again. + + Save the fatherless + children of France! + + John J. Pershing. + + April 12, 1918 +] + + + + +A PLACE IN THE SUN + + +The history of Rome about 1500 years ago tells us of "the wild and +terrifying hordes" of Huns, with ideas little above those of plunder +and wanton destruction, led by Attila whose "purpose was to pillage and +increase his power." They came near setting civilization back for +hundreds of years, but were finally subdued. When we remember these +facts, we do not wonder that the Germans are called, and probably +always will be called, Huns; but another explanation is the true one. + +When in 1900, a German army was embarking at Bremerhaven for China to +help other nations to put down the Boxer rebellion, the German Kaiser, +William II, in addressing his troops said: "When you come upon the +enemy, no quarter will be given, no prisoners will be taken. As the +Huns under their King Attila, a thousand years ago, made a name for +themselves which is still mighty in tradition and story, so may the +name of German in China be kept alive through you in such a wise that +no Chinese will ever again attempt to look askance at a German." + +The United States helped put down the Boxer rebellion, and with other +nations was paid an indemnity by China. By vote of Congress, the +United States returned the money to China. Germany acted very +differently, for but three years before, she had seized from China the +land about Kiaochau Bay and the port of Tsingchau, as reparation for +the murder of two German missionaries. Although Germany had strongly +fortified this territory, Japan besieged it and regained it in +November, 1914. + +In speaking in 1901 of Germany's then new possession in China, the +Kaiser said: "In spite of the fact that we have no such fleet as we +should have, we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It +will now be my duty to see to it that this place in the sun shall +remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall +fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts." The German +Crown Prince, in an introduction to a book published in 1913, said: "It +is only by relying on our good German sword that we can hope to conquer +the place in the sun which rightly belongs to us and which no one will +yield to us voluntarily. Till the world comes to an end, the ultimate +decision must rest with the sword." + +These statements make clear to us how the modern Huns would win the +place in the sun which they have been taught to believe rightly belongs +to them. + +It is possible that the Kaiser took his idea of "a place in the sun" +from a wonderful old copper engraving by the greatest of all German +artists, Albrecht Dürer. The engraving was made in 1513 and represents +a German knight in full armor mounted upon a fine war horse, riding +into a dark and narrow defile between cliffs, to reach a beautiful +castle standing in the sun on a hill beyond. A narrow path runs down +from the castle, which the knight can reach only by passing through the +gloomy and dangerous defile between the rocks. If he would reach his +desired place in the sun, he must be afraid of nothing, even though +human skulls and lizards are under his horse's feet and death and the +devil travel by his side. His horse and his dog are evidently afraid, +but the knight himself shows no fear as he rides forward with his "good +German sword" at his side and his long spear over his shoulder. A +recent German writer has said about this picture, "Every German heart +will comprehend the knight who persists in spite of death and the devil +in the course on which he has entered. Such a man of resolute action is +not tormented by subtle doubts." + +So has Germany in the World War tried to ride through the valley of +death and destruction, with death and the devil always by her side, to +reach a coveted place in the sun. That such a place can be attained +only by force is the terribly wrong ideal that has been taught to the +German people, to the children in the schools, to the adults in public +meetings and in the public press, until at last they have come to +believe it, and are willing to ride through the world accompanied by +death and the devil if they may thus gain "a place in the sun." + + [Illustration: SEEKING A PLACE IN THE SUN + _By Albrecht Dürer_] + +They are, as a German poet, Felix Dahn, wrote, the kith and kin of +Thor, the god of might, who conquered all lands with his thundering +hammer; and it is their destiny to conquer the world by "the good +German sword." + +This is the ideal that the Allies are fighting against. What is the +ideal they are fighting for? It may also be illustrated by a picture, +but this time by a word picture written by a man long familiar with +Dürer's wonderful engraving. For years he had a copy of the engraving +hung above his desk. As he studied it, he finally saw himself a knight +riding on through the world; and he saw riding with him, not death and +the devil, but two other knights. One of the knights was hideous to +look upon, and rode just behind him; and one was wonderfully beautiful +and strong, and rode just ahead of him. And all three rode at full +speed forever and ever, the knight, who was the man himself, in the +middle, always striving to outrun the knight who was behind him, and to +overtake the one before him. Finally he put the thought in verse, for +it seemed to him to represent the life of every human being who was +free to live out his life as he would wish. + + +THE QUEST + + A knight fared on through a beautiful world + On a mission to him unknown; + At his left and a little behind there rode + The self of his deeds alone. + + At his right and a length before sped on-- + Him none but the knight might see-- + A braver heart and a purer soul, + The self that he longed to be. + + And ever the three rode on through the world + With him at the left behind; + Till never the knight would look at him, + Feeble and foul and blind. + + Desperately on they drave, these three, + With him at the right before, + While the knight rode furiously after him + And thought of the world no more. + + Forever on he must ride on his quest + And peace can be his no more, + Till the one at his left he has dropped from sight + And o'ertaken the one before. + + Thus ages ago the three fared on, + And on they fare to-day, + With him at the left a little behind, + The right still leading the way. + +This knight seeks not a place in the sun but a change in himself, to +become a better, a braver, a truer knight. Then, wherever he may be, +he will find his place in the sun; and that nation whose people seek to +grow wiser and better and nobler will always find "the sun's rays +falling fruitfully" upon them. + +To win prosperity and happiness through becoming abler and better +people, under a government which will do all it can to aid them, +because it is "a government of the people, for the people, and by the +people," is the ideal for which the Allies fight. + +"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own +soul?" + + * * * * * + +It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the +unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly +advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task +remaining before us--that from these honored dead, we take increased +devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of +devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have +died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of +freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the +people, shall not perish from the earth. + + ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + + + + +MARSHAL JOFFRE + + +The greatest leaders in history are often men who for the larger part +of their lives have been almost unknown. Poor, simple in their habits, +but loyal and true of heart, they have risen from obscurity to +positions they alone could fill, and then through their devotion and +achievement have become the heroes of the people. + +Lincoln, the greatest example and inspiration to American hearts, was +in his youth such a simple and obscure person. The Pilgrim fathers, the +early pioneers in the West, the great inventors of the hundreds of +improvements in the world of business, travel, and communication, were +nearly all of them unknown for the greater part of their lives, but +were men of true hearts and of strong purposes. + +Unattractive, ungainly in appearance, unpopular save among those who +knew him well, but with the strength of will and soul born of the +simple, true life he had lived, Lincoln rose step by step to seats of +power until he sat at length in the highest of all. By that calmness +and vision which belong to such great men, Lincoln saved the nation +from failure and corruption. He must have foreseen the great nation +into which the United States might grow, if only he could rescue it +from the terrible ravages of war and reunite the people with one +strong, common soul. + + [Illustration: MARSHAL JOSEPH JACQUES JOFFRE + Marshal Joffre is holding the golden miniature Liberty Statue + presented to him when he visited New York City in 1917 + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +We Americans, by thinking of such a leader as Lincoln, may more clearly +appreciate what it meant to France in this World War to follow on to +victory with such a leader as Joseph Jacques Joffre. + +Marshal Joffre was born in 1852 and lived for years in Rivesaltes, a +little town near the boundary between France and Spain. His ancestors +for generations had been farmers, and his father was a cooper by trade. +The boy was a sweet-tempered, modest, intelligent, blue-eyed, and +blonde-haired youth. He suffered somewhat from his school-fellows, as +any boy does who is popular with his teachers. But he was industrious, +wide-awake, and interested in a great many things, mathematics probably +being the subject in which he excelled. Trained by thrifty peasant +parents, he acquired regular habits which were valuable to him all his +life long. Even in this World War, when great responsibility pressed +upon him, he rarely failed to retire by nine or ten at night and to +rise at five in the morning. Before six each morning, he was out for a +short, brisk walk or for a ride on his horse. + +When he was only fifteen years old, he astonished his parents by +announcing his intention to try for entrance to the École Polytechnique +in Paris, a great training school for military officers. Such a plan +seemed, not only to his parents, but to his many friends, much too +ambitious for a barrel-maker's son. But he insisted on trying the +examination and passed fourteenth in a class of one hundred and +thirty-two. His sister, for whom Joffre always had a great affection, +declared that he would have secured a higher rank if he had not passed +such a poor examination in German, a language for which he evidently +had a strong dislike. Those who have seen his examination papers say +that they are models of neatness, clear thinking, and accuracy. + +Because of his high standing, Joffre was made sergeant of his class at +the École Polytechnique. This honor, which made him responsible for the +order and behavior of his own classmates, was rather an embarrassing +one, for he was not of a domineering nature, and was besides the +youngest boy in the hall. He found great difficulty in exercising his +authority over these dozen or so lively youths, though he was destined +one day to be given command over more than three million men. + +By hard work he made good progress in his studies. But he did not +finish his course, for in 1870 the Franco-Prussian War broke out. +Joffre, but eighteen years of age, was made a sub-lieutenant in a Paris +fort. That terrible year left its impression upon him for life. He felt +the greatest agony at the loss of beautiful Alsace-Lorraine--a part of +his own beloved country, taken by the enemy. From that time he lived +with one hope--that he might some day be of service in setting right +that wrong, in getting back for France that which had been stolen from +her. He once said, "I have seen 1870. I have given my life utterly to +see that it did not happen again." Thus, it has been said: "The formula +for Joffre is easy to find. It is a number; it is a date; it is 1870." +What he saw at that time shaped his purposes for the future. + +Joffre is not only a thinker, but a man of action. He thinks hard for a +time, and then feels compelled to put his thoughts into action. The +story is told of how Confucius, upon leaving a funeral service, +presented his horse to the chief mourner. When asked why he did so, he +replied, "I wept with that man and so I felt I ought to _do_ something +for him." Joffre thought long and hard and then wanted to _do_ +something. + +After the war of 1870, he went into the engineering corps of the army +and for fifteen years served well in building barracks and +fortifications. Then he asked to go to Indo-China where France was +waging a colonial war. He was commissioned a lieutenant, and at the end +of three years returned a captain, with the Legion of Honor. + +He was made a member of the staff of administration of the engineering +corps, and while in this service it was said of him: "Joffre is good +at all jobs. He will be good for the big job some day." + +In 1892 he went to Africa to build a railroad. While working at that, +news came that Colonel Bonnier and his party of Frenchmen had been +attacked and many of them massacred by the natives near Timbuctoo. +Joffre organized a rescuing expedition (which has ever since been held +up as a model), took possession of Timbuctoo, and subdued the tribes; +then went back and finished his railroad. When he returned to France +this time he was a colonel, having risen one degree in the Legion of +Honor. + +After three years he was sent to Madagascar, where he built such +excellent defenses that upon his return he was made head of the French +military engineering corps. He then had the task of preparing the forts +of France. He built the forts of Belfort, Épinal, Toul, and Verdun, all +of which victoriously withstood the German attacks in the World War. + +By this time, Joffre was a general. He practiced at handling troops in +the field until he knew all the tactics in moving great bodies of men. +He became chief of such matters as transportation, armament, and +mobilization. + +Yet all this time Joffre was almost entirely unknown among the French +people. Quiet, almost shy, a man of few words, he was not one to call +attention to himself. Only those who were close to him knew him and +his great ability. Late in life he had married a widow with two +beautiful daughters. He lived with them very quietly in Auteuil in the +suburbs of Paris. Here the great chief loved to gather his family about +the piano and enjoy their companionship and an evening of music. He +could often be seen mornings, walking with his two beloved daughters. +Always he was a kind, thoughtful, gentle, often silent man, and, being +silent, he had also the virtue of being a good listener. For he hated +empty words, though he talked long enough when he had something to say. +He spoke with the greatest simplicity, however, and was always very +gentle and courteous in his manners. + +The officers of the staff of eleven men who directed the military +affairs of the country, of which staff Joffre was a member, valued and +esteemed him highly. It was from among the men of this staff that a +commander in chief would be chosen in case of war. + +But when the time came in 1911 to reorganize the army and appoint a +commander in chief, the minds and hearts of the French people turned +toward General Pau, the one-armed hero of the Franco-Prussian War. +While they were eagerly waiting to applaud his promotion, they were +informed that General Joseph Joffre had accepted the appointment. +General Pau had refused the position, saying, "No patriotic Frenchman +has any right to accept this when such a man as Joffre is available." + +Joffre had a great deal of opposition to face. Unpleasant comments were +made, and worse than all, France herself was filled with all sorts of +political and social evils. + +Germany, as all France knew, was planning to dash across the border, +and that before very long. But Joffre determined that, should his +country be attacked from beyond the Rhine, it would be defended. + +Joffre was now fifty-nine years old with his blonde hair and eyebrows +grown white. His large head, square face and jaw, his great and +powerful frame, suggested strength, vigor, and a marvelous ability for +leadership. His first act was to place General Pau, whom he recognized +as a very able man, in the next highest command. + +Assisted by President Poincaré and Millerand, Minister of War, he set +out to reform the army. There prevailed a system of spying, by which +officers were privately watched and reported for disloyalty upon the +least suspicion. Joffre destroyed this system entirely and announced +that all officers would be appointed purely on the basis of merit. He +dismissed several generals, some of them his own personal friends, +because they were incompetent. They were generals who were either too +old, or who could not act quickly and efficiently in the field, even +though they were good thinkers. This caused him some unhappy hours, but +he did it for France. He promoted men who successfully performed their +duties. He made excellent preparation in the new departments created by +modern science and inventions,--telephones, automobiles, and +aëroplanes. Altogether he put system and order into everything, aroused +a soul in his army, and created a new spirit in France. + +A year before the war came, Germany had 720,000 men ready to march into +France. Joffre, with remarkable skill, raised his army in numbers to +about 600,000. Even so they were greatly outnumbered, but Joffre knew +that all depended on their ability, for the first few weeks, to +withstand the expected onrush of German troops. So he organized them +carefully, and best of all, put into their hearts the belief that +"there is something which triumphs over all hesitations, which governs +and decides the impulses of a great and noble democracy like +France,--the will to live strong and free, and to remain mistress of +our destinies." This spirit in Joffre and in the other French leaders +made France powerful in those first fateful days. It was the same +spirit which Joffre later imparted to his men on the eve of the Battle +of the Marne, the spirit which made that battle result in victory for +France. As the men on that September evening gathered about their +officers and listened to the reading of Joffre's message, Joffre's +spirit itself took possession of every one of them. + +"Advance," the order read, "and when you can no longer advance, hold +at all costs what you have gained. If you can no longer hold, die on +the spot." + +Joffre was careful not to make any decisions until he had thought the +question over deeply, but once made, his decisions were immediately +carried out. When he ordered a retreat, he knew the reason, and his men +trusted him and followed his orders implicitly. The people of France, +too, came to love and trust this great general of theirs. + +When the German army, fairly on its way to Paris, suddenly met the +greatest defeat Germany had known since the days of Napoleon, the +villagers near Auteuil, where Joffre had his home, came and covered the +steps of his house with flowers. This was the first tribute of the +people to the man who had saved the nation, and it showed their +confidence in the future of the country as long as it should rest in +the hands of Joseph Jacques Joffre. + +Thus, from the unknown man who in 1911 had been exalted to a great and +responsible position, Joffre quickly became known and loved by all the +people of France as "Our Joffre." He was later retired from active +service with the highest military rank, Marshal of France. + + + + +THE HUN TARGET--THE RED CROSS + + +All the civilized nations of the world have agreed to respect the Red +Cross, believing that when men are carried from the battlefield wounded +or dying, it is inhuman to war upon them further. But the agreement to +this by Germany, like all other German agreements, became only "a scrap +of paper" when the Hun leaders thought they saw an advantage in tearing +it up. + +Germany is also the only nation claiming to be civilized that kills its +prisoners when it thinks best. When the Kaiser told the German soldiers +going to China to take no prisoners, he meant that they should kill +them. + +Frightfulness was not a sudden afterthought on the part of the Germans, +arising in the excitement of war. It was deliberately planned and +taught to the German officers and soldiers. The manual prepared for +their use in land warfare contains the rules which are to guide them. +Among the directions are these: Endeavor to destroy all the enemies' +intellectual and material resources. The methods which kill the +greatest number at once are permitted. Force the inhabitants to +furnish information against their own armies and their own people. +Prisoners may be killed in case of necessity. Any wrong, no matter how +great, that will help to victory is allowed. + +How the Germans carried out the "Rules for Land Warfare" is well shown +by the proclamation posted by General von Bülow in the streets of Namur +on August 25, 1914. It read as follows: + + Before four o'clock all Belgian and French soldiers must be + turned over to us as prisoners of war. Citizens who fail to do + this will be sentenced to hard labor for life in Germany. At + four o'clock all the houses in the city will be searched. Every + soldier found will be shot. Ten hostages will be taken for each + street and held by German guards. If there is any trouble in any + street, the hostages for that street will be shot. Any crime + against the German army may bring about the destruction of the + entire city and every one in it. + +Frightfulness was taught not only to officers and soldiers but to all +the German people, and especially to the children in the schools. One +of the selections read and recited, even in the primary schools of +Germany before the war, was "The Hymn of Hate" by a German poet, which +in English prose is in substance as follows: + + Hate! Germany! hate! Cut the throats of your hordes of enemies. + Put on your armor and with your bayonets pierce the heart of + every one of them. Take no prisoners. Strike them dead. Change + their fertile lands into deserts. Hate! Germany! hate! Victory + will come from your rage and hate. Break the skulls of your + enemies with blows from your axes and the butts of your guns. + They are timid, cowardly beasts. They are not men. Let your + mailed fist execute the judgment of God. + +A German general told Edith Cavell, when she was pleading in behalf of +some homeless Belgian women and children, "Pity is a waste of +feeling--a moral parasite injurious to the health." + +The whole idea of the German War Book is given in the statement made by +a great German: + +"True strategy means to hit your enemy and to hit him hard, to inflict +on the inhabitants of invaded towns the greatest possible amount of +suffering, so that they shall become tired of the struggle and cry for +peace. You must leave the people of the country through which you march +only their eyes to weep with." + +And these rules and teachings came at a time when nations were seeking +to do away with war forever and were agreeing upon rules that, if war +should come, would make it less horrible and that would in particular +spare non-combatants. + +A German soldier wrote to the American minister, Mr. Gerard, early in +the war while Mr. Gerard was still in Berlin: + + To the American Government, Washington, U.S.A.: + + Englishmen who have surrendered are shot down in small groups. + With the French one is more considerate. I ask whether men let + themselves be taken prisoner in order to be disarmed and shot + down afterwards? Is that chivalry in battle? + + It is no longer a secret among the people; one hears everywhere + that few prisoners are taken; they are shot down in small + groups. They say naïvely: "We don't want any unnecessary mouths + to feed. Where there is no one to enter complaint, there is no + judge." Is there, then, no power in the world which can put an + end to these murders and rescue the victims? Where is + Christianity? Where is right? Might is right. + + A Soldier and a Man Who Is No Barbarian. + +On October 25, 1914, a small party of German soldiers succeeded in +entering Dixmude and capturing the commander of the French marines +defending the town, and some of his men. It was a dark night and +raining hard, and although the Germans had been able to get through the +lines into the city and to capture Commander Jeanniot and a few of his +men, they were unable to find a way back through the lines and out of +the city. They wandered about in the rain and mud for nearly four +hours, driving the captured French marines before them with the butts +of their rifles. Day was dawning and there was no chance for them to +escape in a body in the daytime. So the officers halted them behind a +hedge and directed them to scatter. + +Then the question arose as to what they should do with their prisoners. +The majority voted that they should be put to death, and at a sign from +their leader, the Boches knelt and opened fire upon the prisoners, who +knew nothing of what was being planned. They were all killed, including +the commander, except one, who was hit only in the shoulder. Before the +Germans could put him to death, a party of French marines discovered +them. The whole band was taken prisoner and brought before the Admiral, +who sentenced three of the leaders to be executed. To have killed them +all when they were taken would have seemed only too good for them, but +the French are not a barbarian but a law-abiding people. + +Germany believes she can win in war by making it so "frightful" that +none but Germans can be strong enough to endure it. So among other +atrocities, Germany has used the red cross on hospitals and hospital +ships as a mark to guide them in dropping bombs and in aiming +torpedoes. The Roumanian Minister of the Interior stated to the United +States government the following: + + Because of the action of Germany and her allies, it has been + found advisable to remove the Red Cross conspicuously painted on + the top of the hospital buildings, because it served as a + special mark for the bombs, etc., from aeroplanes. + +Germany also believes, without doubt, that killing wounded who may +otherwise recover and go back into service will reduce the man power of +her enemies, who, she thinks, are too Christianlike, too merciful, too +faithful to their agreements to do likewise. Bombing hospitals and +killing nurses and doctors will also make it likely that more wounded +will die through lack of care and treatment. She knows that every +hospital ship sunk means another must be taken to replace it from those +carrying food or troops. + +There is no mistake about her intentions, although she did at first +offer lying excuses. She has dropped "flares," great burning torches, +at night to be sure that the red cross was there and then dropped her +bombs upon the hospital. She has killed many non-combatants in this +way. + +Germany has torpedoed, during the first four years of the war, hospital +ships with the big red crosses painted on their sides and all lights +burning at night (to show they were hospital ships), amounting to a +total tonnage of over 200,000 tons. The torpedo that sank the _Rewa_ +without warning hit the German target, the red cross, exactly. Germany +torpedoed the hospital ship _Britannic_, 50,000 tons, the largest +British ship afloat, partly, without doubt, so that she could not +compete with German ships after the war. + +The first hospital ship destroyed by the Huns was the _Portugal_, sunk +by a German submarine while she was lying at anchor in the Black Sea. +One of the survivors described the sinking as follows: + + The _Portugal_ was sinking at the place where she was broken in + two, her stern and stem going up higher all the time as she + settled amidships. All around me unfortunate Sisters of Mercy + were screaming for help. The deck became more down-sloping every + minute and I rolled off into the water between the two halves of + the sinking steamer. It so happened that the disturbance of the + water somewhat abated and I succeeded in swimming up again. I + glanced around. The _Portugal_ was no more. Nothing but broken + pieces of wreck, boxes which had contained medicaments, + materials for dressings, and provisions, were floating about. + Everywhere I could see the heads and arms of people battling + with the waves, and their shrieks for help were frightful. The + hospital ship _Portugal_ was painted white, with a red border + all around. The funnels were white with red crosses and a Red + Cross flag was on the mast. These distinguishing signs were + plainly visible and there can be no doubt whatever that they + could be perfectly well seen by the men in the submarine. The + conduct of the submarine proves that the men in it knew that + they had to do with a hospital ship. The fact of the submarine's + having moved so slowly shows the enemy was conscious of being + quite out of danger. + +Eighty-five lives were lost, including twenty-one nuns who were serving +as nurses. + +Notwithstanding the fact that, according to the Germans, God is on +their side, some power for good saved most of those on the hospital +ship _Asturias_. She did not sink when struck by the torpedo, but she +was rendered helpless by the loss of her rudder. There was no sandy +beach in sight, so the captain tried to guide her near the rocky shore +where, if she sank, perhaps some might reach land, but he found he +could not guide the ship. It was dark night, but guided by some unseen +power she dodged a reef upon which she would have gone to pieces, +rounded a headland, and beached herself upon the only piece of sandy +shore in that vicinity. + +The English hospital ship _Lanfranc_ was carrying many wounded Germans +to England when she was torpedoed. An English officer gave the +following vivid description to a London daily paper: + + The _Lanfranc_ was attacked by a submarine about 7:30 Tuesday + evening just as we had finished dinner. A few of us were + strolling to and fro on the deck when there was a crash which + shook the liner violently. This was followed by an explosion, + and glass and splinters of wood flew in all directions. I had a + narrow escape from being pitched overboard and only regained my + feet with difficulty. In a few minutes the engine had stopped + and the _Lanfranc_ appeared to be sinking rapidly, but to our + surprise she steadied herself and after a while remained + perfectly motionless. We had on board nearly 200 wounded + prisoners belonging to the Prussian Guard, and about twice as + many British wounded, many being very bad cases. The moment the + torpedo struck the _Lanfranc_, many of the slightly wounded + Prussians made a mad rush for the lifeboats. One of their + officers came up to a boat close to which I was standing. I + shouted to him to go back, whereupon he stood and scowled. "You + must save us," he begged. I told him to wait his turn. + + Meanwhile the crew and the staff had gone to their posts. The + stretcher cases were brought on deck as quickly as possible and + the first boats were lowered without delay. Help had been + summoned, and many vessels were hurrying to our assistance. In + these moments, while wounded Tommies--many of them as helpless + as little children--lay in their cots unaided, the Prussian + morale dropped to zero. They made another crazy effort to get + into a lifeboat. They managed to crowd into one, but no sooner + had it been lowered than it toppled over. The Prussians were + thrown into the water, and they fought each other in order to + reach another boat containing a number of gravely wounded + soldiers. + + The behavior of our own lads I shall never forget. Crippled as + many of them were, they tried to stand at attention while the + more serious cases were being looked after. And those who could + lend a hand hurried below to help in saving friend or enemy. I + have never seen so many individual illustrations of genuine + chivalry and comradeship. One man I saw had had a leg severed + and his head was heavily bandaged. He was lifting himself up a + staircase by the hands and was just as keen on summoning help + for Fritz as on saving himself. He whistled to a mate to come + and aid a Prussian who was unable to move owing to internal + injuries. Another Tommy limped painfully along with a Prussian + officer on his arm, and helped the latter to a boat. It is + impossible to give adequate praise to the crew and staff. They + were all heroes. They remained at their posts until the last man + had been taken off, and some of them took off articles of their + clothing and threw them into the lifeboats for the benefit of + those who were in need of warm clothing. The same spirit + manifested itself as we moved away from the scene of outrage. I + saw a sergeant take his tunic off and make a pillow of it for a + wounded German. There was a private who had his arms around an + enemy, trying hard to make the best of an uncomfortable resting + place. + + In the midst of all this tragedy the element of comedy was not + wanting. A cockney lad struck up a ditty, and the boat's company + joined in the chorus of Raymond Hitchcock's "All Dressed Up and + Nowheres to Go." Then we had "Take Me Back to Blighty," and as + a French vessel came along to our rescue, the boys sang "Pack Up + Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile." The + French displayed unforgettable hospitality. As soon as they took + our wounded on board, they improvised beds and stripped + themselves almost bare that English and German alike might be + comfortable. + +The destruction of the _Llandovery Castle_ was as bad or worse than +those already described. For a time the Huns ceased to sink hospital +ships running from France to England, but when they learned, through +spies, that the _Warilda_ carried no Germans, she was sunk early in +August, 1918, with a loss of one hundred and twenty-three doctors, +nurses, and wounded. After the _Llandovery Castle_, after the Warilda, +there could be no further German pretense that Germany was waging any +other than a barbarian war. + +Such inhumanity seems like the work of madmen. Is the Kaiser insane? +Are the German war leaders insane? Or are the German people, all, +entirely different from the people we consider sane? + +Let us remember that a Roman writer said many centuries ago, "Whom the +gods would destroy, they first make mad." + +When the Huns are losing, they show themselves at their very worst. +When they were winning in the first stages of the war, they committed +deeds blacker than those of the barbarians who sacked Rome, but after +the tide turned against them, then they became even worse and began to +use the red cross as a target in bombing hospitals and torpedoing +hospital ships. + +Moreover, at the Second Battle of the Marne, orders were issued to the +German soldiers, who were being driven back with great loss, that +seemed too inhuman even for the modern Huns. They were as follows: +"Henceforth the enemy is not to be allowed to recover his dead and +wounded except behind his own position, even under the Red Cross flag. +If stretcher bearers go out, a warning shot is to be fired. If no +attention is paid to the shot, the enemy must be thoroughly engaged at +once." + +As the _Philadelphia Public Ledger_ says, "This is typical of Prussian +militarism. It is precisely the sort of thing that our young men have +sailed away across the Atlantic to uproot and finally destroy." + + * * * * * + + We do pray for mercy; + And that same prayer doth teach us all to render + The deeds of mercy. + + SHAKESPEARE. + + + + +"THEY SHALL NOT PASS" + + +The caves described in the Arabian Nights are not more wonderful than +the rock citadel of Verdun; in many ways they are not so marvelous. The +old citadel is now like a deserted cave, but a cave lighted by +electricity and with a passenger elevator to carry one from the lowest +floor to the top of the rock, a hundred feet above. In former wars it +was a hive of soldiers. + +Blasted out of the solid rock-hill are rooms, great halls, passages, +hospitals, storerooms, and barracks. The heaviest shells of the enemy +fall harmless from the natural rock. Here, one would think, a few +soldiers could hold the town and the Meuse valley against greatly +superior numbers. And this would be true if it were not for the fact +that modern long-range guns can be placed by an enemy on the +surrounding hills, once they have won them, and prevent food, +ammunition, or supplies being brought to the citadel. Leaving these +guns with enough men to work them, the great body of the enemy could +then advance towards Paris, for the Meuse valley at Verdun is the +highway from Metz to Paris. + +The French generals realized long ago that the city and the valley +could not, because of the increased power of big guns, be defended from +the citadel. So they built great forts several miles from the city upon +the hills which surrounded it, to halt the Germans when they should +advance, as France knew they would when they were ready. + +For an army to get from Germany into France and to the plains east of +Paris, it was necessary to pass down the valley of the Meuse and +through Verdun, and for this reason France spent vast sums of money to +make these forts impregnable. + +After the opening weeks of the World War had shown how easy it was for +the German big guns to destroy the finest modern forts, like those at +Liége, Namur, and Antwerp, the French command removed the garrisons +from the forts protecting Verdun and placed them in trenches farther +away from the city and the citadel, upon the second range of hills. + +There was another way for the Germans to reach the plains of Champagne +and of Châlons, which by treaty they had agreed not to use. That way +was through Belgium. When the Huns declared this treaty only "a scrap +of paper" to be torn up whenever their plans required it, and, to the +surprise of all honorable nations, went through Belgium, they were soon +able to reach the plains east and north of Paris, and Verdun ceased to +be a key position. Verdun was about one hundred and fifty miles from +Paris, and the Germans were already less than half that distance from +the city. So when it was learned that the enemy had determined to +capture Verdun, the forts surrounding it, and the highway through the +river valley, the French command decided it was not worth holding at +the cost in lives that would be necessary. To capture it would help the +Germans very little, and to retire from it would greatly improve the +French lines. + +The Germans doubtless realized that this would be the decision of the +French and that they would have an easy, an almost bloodless, victory. +They also knew that all Germans and all Frenchmen had for centuries +looked upon Verdun as a second Gibraltar and as one of the chief +defenses of Paris and northern France, one which had been made--as the +French thought--impregnable by the expenditure of vast sums of money. +For this reason the Germans believed its loss would be taken as a +terrible blow by the French people, and would be considered by the +German populace as the greatest victory of the war. They hoped it might +be the last straw, or one of the last, that would break the backbone of +the French resistance. In order to give credit for this great victory +to their future Kaiser, the armies of the Crown Prince were selected +for the easy task. + +The French command, it is said, had already issued the first orders +for the retreat to stronger positions, when the French civic leaders +realized Germany's game by which she hoped to win a great moral victory +and to add to the hopes and courage of the German people; and although +General Joffre believed it was a mistake, the French decided to remain +just where they were. + +The Germans were so sure of everything going as they had planned that +they had advertised their coming victory in every corner of Germany and +even in the Allied countries. When they found they were to be opposed, +they brought up larger forces and when these were not strong enough to +win, they increased them, until the Battle of Verdun, in which the +Germans lost nearly half a million men in killed, wounded, and +prisoners, became probably the greatest battle in the history of the +world. It continued for six months. + +Is it not strange that this, the greatest of all battles, was not a +conflict waged to secure some territory, some river crossing, some +fort, or some city absolutely necessary to win further progress, but a +battle to add strength to the German mind and soul and to weaken the +spirit of the French? Think of these modern Huns, who believe in the +force of might and of material things, fighting for a victory over the +spirit, which is never really broken by such things and is never +_conquered_ by them, but is to be won only by justice, mercy, +friendship, love, and other spiritual forces. + +And the French spirit did not flinch or weaken. The French people and +the French soldiers said, "They shall not pass," and they did not pass. +The Germans brought their big guns near enough to destroy the city, but +the citadel laughed at them. They captured Fort Douaumont and Fort +Vaux, but later had to give them up to the French. + +All of Hunland rejoiced when the Brandenburgers captured Fort +Douaumont, and the disappointment of the French people made every one +realize that to have given up the city and the citadel without a fight, +even though it was wise from a military point of view, would have been +a grave mistake. But before the long battle was over, the French +soldiers made one of their most remarkable charges back of waves of +shell fire and swept the Germans from the hill upon which the fort was +built. They recaptured the fort, taking six thousand prisoners, and +sent thrills and cheers through France and the civilized world. + +No, they did not pass. The soul of France with her flaming sword stood +in the way. The Huns were trained to fight things that they could see, +that they could touch, that they could measure, and especially things +that they could frighten and kill. The soul of France they could not +see, just as they could not, at the opening of the war, see or +understand the soul of Belgium, and just as they did not believe in or +comprehend the soul of America, later. But the soul of France barred +their way and they did not pass, for they could neither frighten her +nor kill her. + + For though the giant ages heave the hill + And break the shore, and evermore + Make and break and work their will; + Though world on world in myriad myriads roll + Round us, each with different powers + And other forms of life than ours, + What know we greater than the soul? + + * * * * * + +The right is more precious than peace. We shall fight for the things +which we have always carried nearest our hearts. To such a task we +dedicate our lives. + + WOODROW WILSON, 1917. + + + + +VERDUN + + + She is a wall of brass; + You shall not pass! You shall not pass! + Spring up like summer grass, + Surge at her, mass on mass, + Still shall you break like glass, + Splinter and break like shivered glass, + But pass? + You shall not pass! + Germans, you shall not, shall not pass! + God's hand has written on the wall of brass-- + You shall not pass! You shall not pass! + + The valleys are quaking, + The torn hills are shaking, + The earth and the sky seem breaking. + But unbroken, undoubting, a wonder and sign, + She stands, France stands, and still holds to the line. + She counts her wounded and her dead; + You shall not pass! + She sets her teeth, she bows her head; + You shall not pass! + Till the last soul in the fierce line has fled, + You shall not pass! + + Help France? Help France? + Who would not, thanking God for this great chance, + Stretch out his hands and run to succor France? + + HAROLD BEGBIE. + + + + +THE BEAST IN MAN + + +A German leader once said, "The oldest right in the world is the right +of the strongest." This is true and will always continue to be true as +long as the world is made up only of inanimate matter and lifeless +forces and of living, thinking beings who consider "the strongest" as +meaning the powers or things that can cause the greatest destruction +and the most terrible evil. The beasts recognize these as the +strongest, and without question admit that the oldest right in the +world is the chief right in the world. + +But as men have become civilized, they have come to fear destruction, +and even the loss of life, less and less, and have learned to feel the +strength of beauty, truth, justice, mercy, purity, and innocence. So it +comes to pass that Robert Burns mourns when his plow turns under a +mountain daisy or destroys the home of a field mouse. Because he feels +the influence of the innocent and the helpless, the "wee, modest, +crimson-tipped flower" and the "wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous +beastie," he gives us two of the most beautiful poems in the English +language, poems that, by the power of their tenderness, truth, and +beauty, have brought tears to the eyes of many a strong, brave man who +feared no enemy. + +Such was the power of Joan of Arc when she led the French soldiers to +battle and to victory,--simply the power of her belief and her faith, +for she was a simple, untrained peasant girl, knowing nothing of how +battles are to be won. + +Such is the power of the English nurse, Edith Cavell, executed by the +Germans as a spy, because she helped English and Belgians to escape +from the German horrors in Belgium by crossing the line into Holland. + +Such is the power of the murdered mothers and children on the +_Lusitania_, the memory of whose wrongs cause English and American +soldiers to go "over the top," crying "Lusitania! Lusitania!" + +Such is the power of undaunted Cardinal Mercier, who in the very midst +of German officers and troops, denounces German atrocities in Belgium, +and yet is himself untouched. + +The exercise of the right of the strongest, the _right_ which comes +through _might_, brings about war. General Sherman, who knew the +terrors of war from what he saw in our Civil War, said, "War is hell." +He could not describe its horrors and so he used the one word that +means to most people the most horrible state and place in which human +beings can suffer. For many years most men have realized that war is +the most dreadful scourge of the human race, and that it should be +abolished. But as is always the case, men cannot agree,--which is, of +course, the chief reason why there are wars. In the face of terrible +calamities, disasters, and great crises, men will agree. Perhaps the +World War will prove the great disaster that will lead men to do away +forever with war. + +For twenty-five years before the world's peace was rudely broken by the +ambitions of Germany, the people of other countries had been urgently +seeking some means of doing away with war. Peace societies had been +organized and wealthy men had donated money to be used in efforts to +secure the permanent peace of the world. A Peace Palace had been +erected at The Hague from funds donated by the American +multi-millionaire, Andrew Carnegie, who had also set aside a fund of +$10,000,000 for the purpose of keeping the world at peace. The Nobel +prize of $40,000 was awarded annually to the person anywhere in the +world who had done the most for peace. Theodore Roosevelt, while +President, won this by settling the Russian-Japanese War. The Tsar of +Russia had proposed at one of the conferences of nations held at the +Peace Palace that the nations should gradually do away with military +preparations. We can see now why all these efforts failed. Germany had +her mind and heart set on war and on conquering the world. + +Most men agree that war is unnecessary, and before the German attack +upon Belgium and upon the liberty of the world, many leaders of thought +in other countries were sure a great war could never occur in modern +times. One group argued that its cost in money would be so great that +no nation could meet it for more than a few months. But the United +States is, in 1918, spending nearly $50,000,000 a day for war, and she +can continue to do so for some years, if necessary. The cost in dollars +will never prevent war nor make a great war a very brief one. + +But think of what the cost of the war for one year would accomplish if +spent for the purposes of peace, for construction instead of +destruction. Ten billion dollars, the approximate cost of the war for +the United States for the year 1918, if put at interest at four per +cent, would earn $400,000,000, or about the cost of the Panama Canal. +This interest would send 500,000 young men and women to college each +year, and pay all their necessary expenses. It would do away with all +the slums and poverty of our great cities. If the cost to one nation +for one year would, as a permanent fund, accomplish this, it is easy to +realize that the world could almost be made an ideal one in which to +live, if the money that all the nations spend upon the World War could +have been saved and made a permanent fund for the betterment of world +conditions. + +Another group said, "Modern science has made war so terrible and so +destructive that men will not take part in it, or if this is not true +now, it soon will be." When we think of what has occurred and is +occurring every day in the present war, this seems also unlikely. + +When we read of guns that will carry a shell weighing a ton for over +twenty-five miles which will, when it explodes, destroy everything +within an eighth of a mile, and of guns less destructive that will +carry over seventy-five miles, almost wholly destroying a church and +killing sixty-five men, women, and children; when we read of bombs +dropped from the sky, killing innocent women and children, hundreds of +miles from the field of battle; of the terrible work of poison gases +and of liquid fire; of battles above the clouds from which men fall to +death in blazing air-planes, and of battles beneath the waves in which +men sink in submarines to be suffocated to death; of an entire ridge +being undermined and blown up by tons of dynamite, with an explosion +heard nearly one hundred miles away and killing thousands: how can we +believe that war is likely soon to become so terrible that men will not +engage in it, if they are willing to do so now? Sir Gilbert Parker well +says: "Guns have been invented before which the stoutest fortresses +shrivel into fiery dust; shells destroy men in platoons, blow them to +pieces, bury them alive; death pours from the clouds and spouts upward +through the sea; motor-power hurls armies of men on points of attack in +masses never hitherto employed; concealment is made well nigh +impossible. These things, however, have but made war more difficult and +dreadful; they have not made it impossible. They have only succeeded in +plumbing profounder depths of human courage, and evoking higher +qualities of endurance than have ever been seen before." + +No, most people who are thinking about the subject to-day are agreed +that wars will not end because of the destructive power of men, but +through the constructive power of human feeling and intellect. When the +great majority of men recognize, as so many do now, that as the world +exists to-day, no nation can ever gain by a war of aggression, but that +the nation at war loses her best, her young and strong, and has left +only the old and defective who cannot fight, that she loses her +industrial and commercial prosperity as well, and through these losses +loses more than she can ever gain by conquest; when all nations realize +that the destruction of great cathedrals like Rheims, of the beautiful +town hall at Lille, of the unique Cloth Market at Ypres, and of a +University like that of Louvain makes the whole world poorer beyond +measure, then will men agree that no small group of men, and no single +nation shall, in the future, be allowed to cause war; and then they +will organize some power strong enough to prevent war. + +Then will come the League of Nations to Enforce Peace, or the +Parliament of Man of which Tennyson wrote in "Locksley Hall" +seventy-five years ago. The poet seemed as in a vision to see the +present World War with its terrors and its battles in the air. Perhaps +his vision of the abolition of war and the federation of the world is +equally true. + + For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, + Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; + + Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails, + Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales; + + Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew + From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue; + + Far along the world-wide whisper of the south wind rushing warm, + With the standards of the peoples plunging through the thunder storm; + + Till the war drum throbb'd no longer, and the battle flags were furled + In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world. + + [Illustration: SIR DOUGLAS HAIG--IN COMMAND OF THE BRITISH ARMIES + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + + + + +WHEN GERMANY LOST THE WAR[4] + + +No man knows exactly when and where the three and twenty allies will +win the war, but all men know when and where Germany lost it. It was +four years ago this morning, at a point near Gemmenich, a village +southwest of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was then and there that the first gray +uniform crossed the frontier from Germany into Belgium. + +An hour before and it was not too late for Germany to win the war, or +at least to lose it with honor. An hour afterward, and Germany was +doomed. What has befallen her since that 4th of August, what will +befall her in the future, were predetermined from the fatal instant of +that summer morning when the first German soldier trod where Prussia +had promised he should never go. There is not a German killed to-day in +the flight to the Vesle whose fate was not written at Gemmenich. + +It was not merely that the invasion of a land guaranteed perpetual +neutrality brought Great Britain into the fight and turned into a world +war what Germany had hoped would be a small, swift, and easy campaign. +It was the exposure of Germany herself. Know of her what we may to-day, +we thought of her otherwise four years ago yesterday. She had thrown +about herself a mantle which hid the sword and the thick, studded +boots. She worked at science and played at art. She sang and thumped +the piano. She cleaned her streets and washed her children's faces. +Many persons in America and England believed that she was efficient and +that her very _verboten_ signs were guides to the ideal life. Even as +the Kaiser reviewed his armies he babbled of peace; peace, to believe +him, was the first object of his life. + +We do not know of any writer who has condensed the proof of Germany's +falsehood and cowardice into so few words as Von Bethmann-Hollweg, who, +as Chancellor of the Empire, spoke as follows to the Reichstag four +years ago this afternoon: + + Gentlemen, we are now acting in self-defence. Necessity knows no + law. Our troops have occupied Luxemburg and have possibly + already entered on Belgian soil. [The speaker knew that the + invasion had begun.] + + Gentlemen, that is a breach of international law. + + The French Government has notified Brussels that it would + respect Belgian neutrality as long as the adversary respected + it. But we know that France stood ready for an invasion. France + could wait, we could not. A French invasion on our flank and the + lower Rhine might have been disastrous. Thus we were forced to + ignore the rightful protests of the Governments of Luxemburg + and Belgium. The injustice--I speak openly--the injustice we + thereby commit we will try to make good as soon as our military + aims have been attained. He who is menaced as we are and is + fighting for his all, can only consider the one and best way to + strike. + +There stood the German Empire, intensively trained in the arts of war +for forty years, pleading cowardice in extenuation of her broken word. +"France could wait, we could not!" A brave man, Bethmann-Hollweg, +unless he knew before he spoke that the whole nation had sunk to the +immoral level of the cowards who invaded Belgium because they feared +that on a fair field France would have beaten them! It is curious that +in the whole record of German state-craft in the war, the Chancellor's +confession of his empire's degradations stands out almost like a clean +thing. + +The Chancellor did not deceive the people except in his implication +that France would have struck through Belgium if Germany had not. He +did not deceive himself, either. He knew the cowardice of Germany. It +is probable that he believed, as the Junkers believed, that England, +too, was a coward. Prince Lichnowsky had told them the truth about +England, but they had not believed. In the years of Kultur, they had +forgotten what honor was like. They chose to credit the stories that +England was torn with dissensions, threatened with rebellion in +Ireland and India, nervous from labor troubles, and not only physically +unprepared for war but mentally and morally unfit for war. Even the +telegram of Sir Edward Grey, communicated on the day of Belgium's +invasion, to the German Government by the British Ambassador at Berlin, +did not dispel the illusion about Great Britain: + + In view of the fact that Germany declined to give the same + assurance respecting Belgium as France gave last week in reply + to our request made simultaneously at Berlin and Paris, we must + repeat that request and ask that a satisfactory reply to it and + to my telegram of this morning be received here by 12 o'clock + to-night. If not, you are instructed to ask for your passports + and to say that His Majesty's Government feels bound to take all + steps in their power to uphold the neutrality of Belgium and the + observance of a treaty to which Germany is as much a party as + ourselves. + +Even that memorable document, we say, did not convince Germany that +common honor still lived across the Channel. The Foreign Secretary, Von +Jagow, a mere tool of the Kaiser, took it mechanically; but Von +Bethmann-Hollweg added to the sum of German cowardice. Brave as he had +been in the Reichstag, he whimpered to Sir Edward Goschen when he saw +that "12 o'clock to-night" on paper. This account of the conversation +is Goschen's, but the German Chancellor later confirmed the +Englishman's version: + + I found the Chancellor very agitated. His Excellency at once + began a harangue which lasted for about twenty minutes. He said + that the step taken by His Majesty's Government was terrible to + a degree; just for a word--"neutrality," a word which in war + time had so often been disregarded--just for a scrap of paper, + Great Britain was going to make war on a kindred nation who + desired nothing better than to be friends with her. + +When he added that it was a matter of "life and death" to Germany to +advance through Belgium, the British Ambassador replied that it was "a +matter of life and death for the honor of Great Britain that she should +keep her solid engagement to do her utmost to defend Belgium's +neutrality if attacked." Her utmost! Aye, she has done it! + +A last gasp from the German Chancellor: "But at what price will that +compact have been kept? Has the British Government thought of that?" +Sir Edward Goschen replied that "fear of consequences could hardly be +regarded as an excuse for breaking solemn engagements," but these words +were lost. The German Chancellor had abandoned himself to the +contemplation of the truth: that morning Germany had been beaten when a +soldier stepped across a line. How long the decision might be in +dispute Bethmann-Hollweg could not know, but he must have known that, +cheating, Germany had loaded the dice at the wrong side. If she had +struck fairly at France, England would have had to stand by, neutral. +The seas would be open to Germany. If France had violated Belgium's +neutrality--as Germany professed to believe she intended to do--England +would have attacked France, keeping the pledge made in the Treaty of +London. But now, because England weighed a promise and not the price of +keeping it, there could be no swift stroke at lone France, no dash +eastward to subdue Russia. To-day, when Germany sees how ripe Russia +was then for revolution, the remembrance of that 4th of August must be +the bitterest drop in the deep cup of her regret. + +The items at which we have glanced were not all or even the most +important acts of Germany's dawning tragedy. It was not merely that she +revealed herself to the world, but that she revealed herself to +herself. The moving picture of Kultur, of fake idealism, of humaneness, +which she had unreeled before our charitable eyes was stopped, and +stopped forever. The film, exposed momentarily to the flame of truth, +exploded and left on the screen the hideous picture of Germany as she +was. No more sham for a naked nation. In went the unmasked Prussian to +outrage and murder, to bind and burn. When a Government violated its +word to the world, why should the individual check his passions? All +the world, at first unbelieving, watched the procession of horror, and +then, against its wishes, against all the ingrained faith that the long +years had stored within the human breast, the world saw that it was +dealing with nothing less than a monster. + +England's day, this? Yes, and a glorious anniversary for her. She has +indeed kept her "solid engagement to do her utmost." In a million +graves are men of the British Empire who did not consider the price at +which the compact would be kept. Their lives for a scrap of paper--and +welcome! When we think that we are winning the war--and nobody denies +that it is American men and food and ships and guns that are winning it +now--let us look back to the 4th of August, 1914, and remember what +nation it was that stood between the beast and his prey, scorning all +his false offers of kindness to Belgium, his promises not to rob +France, and his hypocritical cry of "kindred nation" to the England he +really hated. + +But it is not alone England's day. It is the day of the opening of the +world's eyes to the criminality of Prussia. It is the anniversary of +Germany's loss of the war. We--America, France, England, Italy, and the +rest of us--will win it, but Germany lost it herself with the one +stroke at Gemmenich. She believed it a masterpiece of cunning. It was +the foul thrust of a coward and the deliberate mistake of a fool. + + _The New York Sun_, August 4, 1918. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] COURTESY OF _THE NEW YORK SUN_ + + + + +CARRY ON![5] + + + It's easy to fight when everything's right, + And you're mad with the thrill and the glory; + It's easy to cheer when victory's near, + And wallow in fields that are gory. + It's a different song when everything's wrong, + When you're feeling infernally mortal; + When it's ten against one, and hope there is none, + Buck up, little soldier, and chortle: + + Carry on! Carry on! + There isn't much punch in your blow. + You're glaring and staring and hitting out blind; + You're muddy and bloody, but never you mind. + Carry on! Carry on! + You haven't the ghost of a show. + It's looking like death, but while you've a breath, + Carry on, my son! Carry on! + + And so in the strife of the battle of life + It's easy to fight when you're winning; + It's easy to slave, and starve and be brave, + When the dawn of success is beginning. + But the man who can meet despair and defeat + With a cheer, there's the man of God's choosing; + The man who can fight to Heaven's own height + Is the man who can fight when he's losing. + + Carry on! Carry on! + Things never were looming so black. + But show that you haven't a cowardly streak, + And though you're unlucky you never are weak. + Carry on! Carry on! + Brace up for another attack. + + * * * * * + + Carry on, old man! Carry on! + + There are some who drift out in the deserts of doubt, + And some who in brutishness wallow; + There are others, I know, who in piety go + Because of a Heaven to follow. + But to labor with zest, and to give of your best, + For the sweetness and joy of the giving; + To help folks along with a hand and a song; + Why, there's the real sunshine of living. + + Carry on! Carry on! + Fight the good fight and true; + Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer; + There's big work to do, and that's why you are here. + Carry on! Carry on! + Let the world be the better for you; + And at last when you die, let this be your cry: + Carry on, my soul! Carry on! + + ROBERT SERVICE. + + [Illustration: A DOG DELIVERING A DISPATCH AT HEADQUARTERS + _Copyright by Western Newspaper Union Photo. Service_] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] COPYRIGHT, BY BARSE AND HOPKINS + + + + +WAR DOGS + + +The story of "The Animals Going to War" tells how, one by one, the wild +creatures, then the enemies of man, were made his friends and learned +to be his helpers. In the World War, the horse has borne man into the +thick of the conflict, the mule has drawn his big guns into place, and +the dog has wonderfully come to his aid, so that now, whenever the +"dogs of war" are let loose, the war dogs go with them. + +The Battle of Verdun had been raging for months; Fort Douaumont had +been taken, lost, and finally retaken by the French. The Germans still +poured against it a terrific rain of shot and shell, and within the +battered fortress the guns were disabled and the ammunition nearly +exhausted. Help was needed and needed at once. Long ago the wireless +had been shot to pieces, and the telephones had been destroyed. It was +sure death for a man to venture outside, let alone trying to reach the +lines behind, where he might secure help. + +Still the defenders stood firm, and in their hearts, if not with their +lips, over and over they repeated those magic words, "They shall not +pass!" But the shells continued to fall in their very midst, and unless +that battery could be silenced, the fort and all the men in it would be +lost. What could be done when no messenger could reach the lines +behind? + +Suddenly, as the men were straining their eyes almost hopelessly in the +direction of those lines, they saw a small, dark speck moving across +the fields, stopping only here and there behind a rock to take shelter +from the bursting shells. Now and then it dashed wildly over the open +fields. But ever straight on toward the fort it came. Swiftly the +entrance of the fort was flung open, and in dashed one of the faithful +dogs, unhurt. In the wallet, fastened to his collar, was found a +message telling that relief was coming. Strapped to his back was a tiny +pannier, inside of which were two frightened carrier pigeons. On a slip +of paper the commander quickly wrote his message: "Stop the German +battery on our left." Then adding any necessary facts as to pointing +the guns, he fastened the message to the trembling bird and let it +loose. Straight to its home, above shot and shell, flew the pigeon. In +a few moments the German battery was silenced, and Douaumont and the +brave defenders were saved. + +All along the lines, the dogs were busy bearing important messages back +and forth from one commander to another, and from one fort to another. +Zip, an English bulldog, ran two miles in heavy shell fire and +afterward had to go about with his jaw in splints; but he delivered his +message and seemed anxious to get well enough to carry another. One of +the other messenger dogs, it is said, carried orders almost +continuously for seventy-two hours, hardly stopping to eat or drink; +for no war dog would eat or drink anything given him by strangers. The +faithful animals were in danger of being taken prisoners, as well as of +being struck. Indeed, in one instance a heavy cannon rolled over upon a +big mastiff, pinning him there until help came. + +When the battle ceased, the dogs sprang from the trenches and searched +the fields and woods for wounded men. They could find them much more +quickly and with less danger of being seen than any Red Cross man. + +In former wars among civilized peoples, the firing has always been upon +armed forces, and the guns were silent after each battle to allow both +sides to find and care for the wounded soldiers in the field. The +Germans, however, have used the Red Cross doctors and stretcher-bearers +for targets, so that to send them out only means to add them to the +number wounded. But the dogs, creeping among the men, can seldom be +seen by the enemy, and besides are able to find the wounded quicker and +more easily. As soon as a dog finds an injured soldier, he seizes his +cap, a button, or a bit of his clothing, and runs back with it to the +doctor or a Red Cross nurse, for he will give it to no one else. The +stretcher-bearers then follow the dog and bring back the wounded man. +Often the man may lie in a dense thicket where no one would think to +look for him, but the dog, by his keen sense of smell or by hearing the +deep breaths or some slight sound made by the injured man, creeps in +and finds him. + +Sometimes, to attract the attention of an ambulance driver, the dogs +give several short, quick barks; but usually they do their work +silently, for if they bark, the enemy will fire. + +Many times a dog finds a man unable to get back to the lines, but not +so seriously wounded but that he can help himself somewhat. In such a +case, before running for help, the dog stands quiet, close to the +soldier, and allows him to take the flasks and first-aid bandages from +the wallet which is hung about the dog's neck or pinned to the blanket +on his back. + +Thus, by the help of these faithful friends, the lives of many hundreds +of men have been saved. Over one hundred were rescued in one night +after a battle. A big Newfoundland, named Napoleon, had the credit of +saving as many as twenty. One of the men, in speaking of him, said, +"Part of his tail has been blown away, and once he was left for dead in +No Man's Land, but he is still on the job, working for civilization." + +When not fighting or on watch, the men in the trenches enjoy the +company of the dogs and teach them to perform all sorts of tricks, the +fox terriers proving especially intelligent. They also do good work in +keeping the trenches free from rats. + +At night, a French sentinel sometimes crawls through the entanglements +on his way to a "listening post" out in No Man's Land. With him goes a +sentinel dog. The sentinel's purpose is to discover if the enemy are +getting ready for a surprise attack. Lying flat on the earth, or +crouching in a shell hole, he listens with bated breath for any +telltale noises. The dog, listening too, creeps along beside him, or +slinks silently out into the darkness. He can tell, when his master +cannot, if an enemy is abroad. Making no sound, giving no betraying +bark, as soon as he discovers the enemy the dog draws near to his +master, stands at attention, his ears pricked up, his hair bristling, +his tail wagging as he silently paws the ground or growls so low that +only his master can hear him. If the German soldier attempts to fight, +the dog springs at him and throws him to the ground. + +A group of soldiers were on watch one night in one of the front +trenches, when all of the dogs suddenly became uneasy, growling low, +and growing more and more excited. The soldiers knew their dogs and +trusted their warnings, so they telephoned back to the main trenches +for help. In less than half an hour, an attack was made from the +German trenches opposite. Meanwhile, however, reënforcements had +arrived for the Allies, which sent the enemy back to his own lines +again. How the dogs knew so long before that the attack was coming, +whether they could have heard the first faint signs of preparation in +the enemy trenches, the soldiers could not tell. + +When a front line trench of the enemy is captured, it is the faithful +dogs who draw up the many cartloads of ammunition and supplies, and +some of the smaller guns. For this, the Belgian dogs are especially +well fitted. + +Happy as long as they can help in the fighting, restless and uneasy +whenever sent back to the hospitals for treatment or rest, these dogs +have shown the worth of all the training they have received, as well as +a great amount of natural intelligence. + +While Zip, Napoleon, Spot, Stop, Mignon, and Bouée have been doing +their bit on the firing line, still others have been taking their +training in readiness to go to the front. And very hard training it is. +Sheep dogs, fox terriers, bulldogs, collies, St. Bernards, +Newfoundlands, Alaskan wolf dogs, mongrels,--all must be carefully +trained by expert dog trainers. + +First they must learn to distinguish between the uniform of their +country and that of the enemy. They must not bark, because then the +enemy will be sure to shoot. In carrying letters from post to post, +they must learn to recognize the posts by name. + + [Illustration: A FRENCH OFFICER AND HIS DOG BOTH WEARING + ANTI-GAS MASKS WHILE CROSSING A DANGEROUS ZONE IN FRANCE + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +About three months of training are necessary to teach the dogs to +travel as far as three kilometres in this work. Two of the dogs are put +into the care of two trainers, and taught to recognize both as their +masters, and to carry dispatches from one to the other. + +The dogs must be trained to obey implicitly. If the master stops +abruptly in his walk, the dog must do the same; if the trainer runs, +the dog must keep in perfect step, ready at a given signal to lie down, +or follow a scent, or find a wounded soldier. For many hours he must be +trained in jumping, because of the great heights over which he must +spring, carrying heavy weights in his mouth or upon his back or around +his neck. He must learn to make no sound except when ordered to do so, +to find objects which have been most skillfully hidden, to distinguish +between a dead man and one wounded and breathing, to deliver the token +of a wounded man only to the doctor or Red Cross nurse, to allow +nothing to hinder him from carrying out any task, to refuse food and +water from strangers, and to aid soldiers on the watch. These watch +dogs must learn to give a signal when they scent poison gas or hear the +enemy creeping up. And they must guard prisoners very carefully. + +Some dogs cannot learn all of these duties, and so specialists examine +every dog that is enlisted. There are tests for health, intelligence, +speed, quick tempers, and even tempers. When a dog has been in training +for several weeks, he is sometimes found in the end to be unfit for +service, and the trainer has to admit a new recruit in his place and +start all over again. Often a dog can do certain tasks much better than +others, and so each one is assigned to the kind of service which he can +do best. + +It is marvelous what great services these dogs have rendered in the +World War. The governments have recognized their worth, and societies +have been formed to train and protect them. The French people, in 1912, +organized the "Blue Cross." It is a Blue Cross officer who examines the +dogs and a Blue Cross doctor who gives first aid and orders an injured +dog to the hospital for further treatment. The Blue Cross also has been +at work in Italy. + +The American Red Cross Society has taken over the task of securing and +protecting dogs on the American front, but instead of the red cross, +the animals wear a red star, so that the field is blest with three red +symbols of mercy--the red cross, the red triangle, and the red star. +The number of dogs added to the war service during the first four years +of the war was about ten thousand on all fronts. + +Not only have dogs been provided by various societies, but many have +been given by private families. One elderly French father wrote to the +French War Department, "I already have three sons and a son-in-law with +the Colors; now I give up my dog, and 'Vive la France!'" + +The French government officials, as well as the various societies, have +shown their gratitude by awarding honors to the canine heroes. Many +have been mentioned in the orders for bravery and heroic conduct. +Several have been presented with gold collars. The French government +has even published a "Golden Book of Dogs," in which are recorded some +of the heroic deeds of these brave and faithful friends of man. One of +the dogs wearing a French medal of honor is a plucky fox terrier, who +is said to have saved one hundred fifty lives after the Battle of the +Marne. Bouée, a fuzzy-haired, dirty, yellow-and-black, tailless little +fellow, is another hero, who has been cited three times for his +bravery. During a heavy action, when all the telephone wires had been +destroyed, Bouée carried communications between a commandant and his +force, fulfilling his duty perfectly without allowing anything to +distract him. + +Shall we not change the old proverb from "As brave as a lion," to "As +brave as a dog"? + + + + +THE _BELGIAN PRINCE_ + + +The _Belgian Prince_ was a British cargo steamer. On a voyage from +Liverpool to Philadelphia, with Captain Hassan in command, she was, on +July 31, 1917, attacked and sunk by a German U-boat. For brutal +savagery and barbarism, the drowning of the crew of the _Belgian +Prince_ is one of the most astounding in the history of human warfare. +Captain Hassan was taken aboard the U-boat, and no further knowledge of +his fate has been received. The _Belgian Prince_ was a merchant ship, +not a warship in any sense of the word. + +The Germans evidently intended to sink her without a trace left behind +to tell the story, as their Minister to Argentina advised his +government to do with Argentine ships; but three members of her crew, +the chief engineer and two seamen, escaped as by a miracle. Their +stories are now among the records of the British Admiralty; they have +also been published in many books which have a place in thousands of +libraries, public and private, all over the world. How will the Hun, +when peace comes again, face his fellow-men? + +The story of the chief engineer, Thomas Bowman, is as follows: + + At 7:50 P.M. on the night of July 31, the _Belgian Prince_ was + traveling along at ten knots, when she was struck. The weather + was fine and the sea smooth. It was a clear day and just + beginning to darken. I was on the after deck of the ship, off + watch, taking a stroll and having a smoke. The donkeyman shouted + out, "Here's a torpedo coming." I turned and saw the wake on the + port about a hundred yards away. I yelled a warning, but the + words were no more than out of my mouth when we were hit. + + I was thrown on deck by a piece of spar, and when I recovered I + found the ship had a very heavy list to port and almost all the + crew had taken to the boats. I got into the starboard lifeboat, + which was my station. Until then I had seen no submarine, but + now heard it firing a machine gun at the other side of the ship. + With a larger gun it shot away the radio wires aloft so that we + could send out no S.O.S. messages. As soon as we had pulled away + from the ship I saw the U-boat, which promptly made toward our + own boats and hailed us in English, commanding us to come + alongside her. We were covered by their machine gun and + revolvers. We were in two lifeboats and the captain's dinghy. + + The submarine commander then asked for our captain and told him + to come on board, which he did. He was taken down inside the + submarine and we saw him no more. The rest of us, forty-three in + number, were then ordered to board the submarine and to line up + on deck. A German officer and several sailors were very foul and + abusive in their language. They ordered us, in English, to strip + off our life belts and overcoats and throw them down on the + deck. + + When this was done they proceeded to search us, making us hold + up our hands and threatening us with revolvers. These sailors, + while they passed along the deck and were searching us, + deliberately kicked most of the life belts overboard from where + we had dropped them. Beyond making us take off our life belts + and coats there was no interference with our clothing. They + robbed me of my seaman's discharge book and certificate, which + they threw overboard, but kept four one-pound notes. + + After searching us, the German sailors climbed into our + lifeboats and threw out the oars, gratings, thole-pins, and + baling tins. The provisions and compass they lugged aboard the + submarine. They then smashed our boats with axes so as to make + them useless, and cast them adrift. I saw all this done myself. + Several of the German sailors then got into our dinghy and rowed + to the _Belgian Prince_. These men must have been taken off + later, after they had ransacked the ship. + + The submarine then moved ahead for a distance of several miles. + I could not reckon it accurately because it was hard to judge + her speed. She then stopped, and after a moment or two I heard a + rushing sound like water pouring into the ballast tanks of the + submarine. + + "Look out for yourselves, boys," I shouted. "She is going down." + + The submarine then submerged, leaving all our crew in the water, + barring the captain, who had been taken below. We had no means + of escape but for those who had managed to retain their life + belts. I tried to jump clear, but was carried down with the + submarine, and when I came to the surface I could see only about + a dozen of our men left afloat, including a young lad named + Barnes, who was shouting for help. + + I swam toward him and found that he had a life belt on, but was + about paralyzed with cold and fear. I held him up during the + night. He became unconscious and died while I was holding him. + All this time I could hear no other men in the water. When dawn + broke I could see the _Belgian Prince_ about a mile and a half + away and still floating. I began to swim in her direction, but + had not gone far when I saw her blow up. + + I then drifted about in the life belt for an hour or two longer + and saw smoke on the horizon. This steamer was laying a course + straight for me, having seen the explosion of the _Belgian + Prince_. She proved to be a British naval vessel, which also + found the two other survivors in the water. We were taken to + port and got back our strength after a while. None of us had + given the submarine commander and crew any reason for their + behavior toward us. And I make this solemn declaration + conscientiously, believing it to be true. + +The two common sailors who survived were William Snell, a negro, of +Norfolk, Virginia, and George Silenski, a Russian. William Snell's +story is as follows: + + Two men of the submarine's crew stayed on top of the conning + tower with rifles in their hands which they kept trained on us. + Seven other Germans stood abreast of our line on the starboard + side of the boat, armed with automatic pistols. The captain of + the submarine, a blond man with blue eyes, was also on deck and + stood near the forward gun, giving orders to his crew in German, + and telling them what to do. Pretty soon he walked along in + front of the men of the _Belgian Prince_, asking them if they + had arms on them. He ordered us to take off our life belts and + throw them on deck, which we did. As they dropped at our feet, + he helped his sailors pick them up and sling them overboard. + + When I threw my belt down, I shoved it along on the deck with my + foot, and finally stood on it. As the commander walked along the + line, he huddled us together in a crowd and then went and pulled + the plugs out of our lifeboats, which were lying on the + starboard side of the submarine. When he went back to the + conning tower, I quickly picked up my belt and hid it under a + big, loose oilskin which I was wearing when I left the _Belgian + Prince_. The Germans did not make me take it off when they + searched me. I hugged the life belt close to my breast with one + arm. + + When the commander returned to the conning tower, four German + sailors came on deck from below and got into our captain's small + boat, which was on the port side. The submarine then backed a + little, steamed ahead, and rammed and smashed one of our + lifeboats, which had been cast adrift. + + The four men who had jumped into our captain's boat now pulled + alongside the _Belgian Prince_. The submarine then got under way + and moved ahead at about nine knots, as near as I could guess, + leaving her four men aboard the _Belgian Prince_, and all of us, + except our skipper, huddled together on the forward deck, which + was almost awash. + + She steamed like this for some time, and then I noticed that the + water was rising slowly on the deck until it came up to my + ankles. I had also noticed, a little while before this, that the + conning tower was closed. The water kept on rising around my + legs, and when it got almost up to my knees I pulled out my life + belt, threw it over my shoulders, and jumped overboard. The + other men didn't seem to know what was going to happen. Some of + them were saying, "I wonder if they mean to drown us." + + About ten seconds after I had jumped, I heard a suction as of a + vessel sinking and the submarine had submerged entirely, leaving + the crew of the _Belgian Prince_ to struggle in the water. + + I began to swim toward our own ship which I could see faintly in + the distance, it being not very dark in that latitude until late + in the evening. The water was not cold, like the winter time, + and I was not badly chilled, but swam and floated all night, on + my back and in other positions. One of our crew, who had no + life belt, kept about five yards from me for half an hour after + the submarine submerged. Then he became exhausted and sank. I + could hear many other cries for help, but I could not see the + men. + + When day came, there were lots of bodies of old shipmates + floating around me. Then about five o'clock, as near as I can + judge, I made out the _Belgian Prince_ and four men coming over + the side. They had been lowering some stuff into a boat. I cried + out, "Help, help!" but they paid no attention to me. + + Then the submarine came to the surface and the four sailors + hoisted their stuff out of the rowboat and were taken aboard. + Ten minutes later the submarine submerged. Then there was a + great explosion as the _Belgian Prince_ broke in two and sank. + Soon I saw a vessel approaching and she passed me, but turned + and came back just in time. I was all in. It was a British + patrol steamer, and as soon as I came to, I made a full report + to the captain of the loss of the _Belgian Prince_ and the + drowning of her crew. + +The Russian, in his story, tells of the taking away of the life belts +and the smashing of the lifeboats; of the crew of the _Belgian Prince_ +being left to sink or swim after the U-boat submerged--in all of these +details agreeing with the stories of the other two. And he adds: + + Then I swam toward the ship all night, although I had no life + belt or anything to support me. About five o'clock in the + morning I reached the _Belgian Prince_ and climbed on board. I + stayed there about an hour and got some dry clothes and put them + on. + + I saw the submarine come near the ship and three or four of her + men climbed on board. I hid and they did not notice me. They + had come to put bombs in the ship, so I jumped overboard from + the poop with a life belt on. The submarine fired two shells + into the ship to make her hurry up and sink. Then the Germans + steamed away. I climbed into our little boat which had been left + adrift and stayed there until a British patrol ship came along + and picked me up. + +Do you wonder that the members of the British Seamen's Union have taken +a pledge, "No peace until the sea is free from Hun outrages"; and that +they have declared a boycott on all German ships, cargoes, and sailors +for seven years after the war? Sailors of other nations are joining +with the British in this boycott. + + * * * * * + + The quality of mercy is not strain'd, + It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven + Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; + It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: + 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes + The thronèd monarch better than his crown: + + * * * * * + + It is an attribute to God himself; + And earthly power doth then show likest God's + When mercy seasons justice. + + SHAKESPEARE. + + + + +DARING THE UNDARABLE + + We are thirty in the hands of Fate + And thirty-one with Death, our mate. + + +So sang the men who, with D'Annunzio, the Italian poet and hero, set +out "to dare the undarable." + +Little has yet been told of the deeds of the Italians in the World War, +but as they become known, the people of other nations realize that +Italy has really worked wonders in her almost superhuman attempts to +conquer, not only men, but nature as well. When the complete story is +written of her struggles with avalanches, snow, frost, and enemy +soldiers in the mountain passes, it will be one continuous record of +heroic deeds. + +D'Annunzio, although well over fifty years of age, and in most +countries judged too old for actual warfare, has been one of Italy's +most daring fighters. He was known throughout his native land by his +writings, and his fiery, passionate pleas published in all Italian +cities before Italy entered the war, helped his countrymen see the +right and decide to fight for it. + +As soon as Italy decided to join the Allies, D'Annunzio sought and was +granted a post of great danger. He became an aviator, in the same corps +with his son. + +Austria, whenever possible, sent aviators over Venice and other Italian +cities to drop bombs, although this warfare upon non-combatant women +and children was contrary to international law. The Austrians, like the +Germans, seemed to believe that it was wise for them to use any means +to win. + +In August, 1918, D'Annunzio commanded a flight of eight bombing +airplanes over Vienna. It was a long-distance record for a squadron of +planes. Leaving the Italian lines at half past five in the morning, +they flew to Vienna and back, over six hundred miles, reaching home in +about sixteen hours. It was necessary for them to fly very high, at +about fifteen thousand feet, to cross the Alps and to escape the +Austrian barrage. All the machines returned but one, which was obliged +to land on account of engine trouble. + +More than a million printed declarations, or statements, were dropped +on Vienna to inform the Austrians of the real state of affairs. In +Germany and Austria, the people were allowed to know only what their +rulers thought would be good for them to know. D'Annunzio wanted to +show them that Italians could drop bombs on Vienna if they desired to +do so, or thought it right to do so. + +The manifestoes, as they are called, were in German, and read as +follows: + + We Italians do not war upon women, children, and old men--but + only upon your blind, obstinate, and cruel rulers, who cannot + give you either peace or food, but try to keep you quiet with + hatred and falsehood. + + You are said to be intelligent. Why do you wear the uniform of + Prussia? It is suicide for you to continue the war. The victory + that would end the war promised to you by the Prussians is like + the wheat they promised you from Ukraine. You will all die while + waiting for it. People of Vienna, think for yourselves! Awake! + +In February, 1918, D'Annunzio with twenty-nine companions set out on +three small torpedo boats to destroy some Austrian warships discovered +by an Italian aviator to be lying hidden in the Bay of Buccari. To get +at them, it was necessary to steam past the Austrian fortifications. +Discovery meant death. + +It is not strange that D'Annunzio was the mastermind of this +expedition, for he loves the sea, as he says, with all the strength of +his soul. He was born on a yacht at sea and has written much about +ships and the ocean. He has taken as his motto three Latin words, +"Memento audere semper," which mean, "Remember always to dare." + +As they steam away from the Italian shores, D'Annunzio talks to his +brave companions. He says, "Sailors, companions, what we are about to +do is a task for silent men. Silence is our trusty helmsman. For that +reason I need not urge you with many words to be brave, for I know you +are already eager to match your courage against the unknown danger. If +I were to tell you where we are bound, you would hardly be able to keep +from dancing for joy. We are only a handful of men on three small +ships, but our hearts are stronger than the motors, and our wills can +go further than the torpedoes. + +"We carry with us, to leave for a souvenir for the enemy, three bottles +sealed and crowned with the flaming tricolor of Italy. We will leave +them to-night floating on the smooth surface of the bay amid the +wreckage of the vessels we have struck." + +Then D'Annunzio reads to them the letter which he has written and +inclosed in each bottle, ridiculing the Austrians because they have +hidden their ships safely behind the guns of the forts, and do not have +courage to come out in the open sea. He says the Italians are always +ready "to dare the undarable," and that they have come to make the +enemy whom they hate most of all, the laughingstock of the world. + +He goes on speaking to the sailors: "Because this thing that we attempt +is so dangerous, we have already conquered Fate. To-morrow your names +will be honored in all Italy, and will shine as golden as the torpedo. +Therefore, every one to-day must give all of himself and more than all +of himself, all of his strength and courage, and even more. Do you +swear it? Answer me." + +The sailors cry, "We swear it! Viva l'Italia!" + +And D'Annunzio answers, "Memento audere semper." + +They have been steaming for twenty-four hours and are now very near the +enemy's guns guarding the entrance to the bay. The very audacity of the +Italians seems to save them, for they steam on unchallenged, and when +near enough, discharge a torpedo at the giant Austrian dreadnought. The +ship is struck and all is excitement and confusion. Rockets are sent up +to alarm and inform the forts. The Italian torpedo boats turn for home. +D'Annunzio says, "The sky is starry, the sea is starry, and our hearts +are starry, too." + +One of their three ships is soon disabled and falls behind. The other +two turn back to help her, and this is what probably saves them all; +for the Austrian forts, seeing them sailing into the harbor, think they +are Austrian vessels and do not fire upon them. When they steam out of +the harbor, the forts think they are Austrian torpedo boats in pursuit +of the Italians who must have escaped in the darkness. As D'Annunzio +says, "Our very audacity has conquered Fate." + +They sank one of the largest of the Austrian dreadnoughts, and then +returned in safety to Italy. + +It remained, however, for another Italian naval officer to outdo those +who "dared the undarable" at Buccari. Lieutenant Luigi Rizzo, with two +small motor patrol boats, succeeded in sinking two huge dreadnoughts +protected by an escort of fast destroyers. His story of the encounter +is as follows: + + We were returning to our base just before dawn on July 10, 1918, + after a night of dull, monotonous work along the enemy's coast, + when I saw smoke coming from ships nearly two miles away. I + thought we had been discovered and were being pursued. The only + way I could know what we had to contend with was to get nearer + the enemy, so I turned the two boats in my command toward the + distant smoke. + + Soon I discovered that it was two of Austria's largest + dreadnoughts protected by a great convoy of destroyers. + Evidently because we were so small, we had not been seen in the + darkness; and although we were poorly armed, with only two large + torpedoes for each of our two boats and eight smaller ones to + throw by hand, we crept ahead until we were inside the line of + the destroyers, and slowly and quietly approaching the + dreadnoughts. I headed for one of them which proved to be the + _St. Stephen_, and Lieutenant Aonzo, in charge of the other + boat, made for the other, the _Prince Eugene_. + + Then the watch on the dreadnoughts discovered us and began to + fire at us with their small guns. How we escaped destruction is + a miracle. Lieutenant Aonzo sent his first torpedo, and missed; + but the second struck the giant fairly. Both of my torpedoes + struck the _St. Stephen_. + + After that all was confusion and excitement. We were fired upon + and encircled by a muddled crowd of destroyers. I turned my boat + to escape. A destroyer stood directly in my way and I veered off + and almost touched the bow of the sinking _St. Stephen_ in + passing. The destroyers gave their attention to me and this + allowed Lieutenant Aonzo to escape. + + I saw that I would soon be overtaken, so I sent two torpedoes at + the nearest destroyer. The first missed, but the second hit the + mark. There was a tremendous explosion. The destroyer wobbled + and began to turn over. I put on all power and escaped in the + darkness. + + The whole thing did not take over fifteen minutes. When we were + sure of our escape, the five boys of my crew went nearly mad + with joy, hugging, cheering, kissing, and crying in their + excitement at what we had done. They hoisted our largest flag + and trimmed our boat with bunting. A short way from us we could + see that Lieutenant Aonzo was doing the same. + + We knew the reception we would have when those at home learned + the story, but we did not expect so much. The King decorated and + honored us, the Admiralty gave us prize money, and the people + added their contributions to it, for they declared we doubtless + saved the city of Ancona from bombardment. + +Lieutenant Rizzo was promoted to the rank of Commandant although not +yet thirty years of age. + +The _St. Stephen_ sank where she was torpedoed. The _Prince Eugene_ was +able to make for home, but sank before she reached there, a short way +from the Austrian coast. At the beginning of 1918, Austria had four of +these giant dreadnoughts; on July 11, she had but one still floating. + + + + +KILLING THE SOUL + + +As the centuries pass, the greatest glory of any nation, its highest +satisfaction and pride, is in the works of art which it possesses. In +each country there are works of art which have been preserved through +many generations. They are the great inheritance of all the past ages. +Every nation prizes this inheritance and wishes to hold it in +safekeeping for still another generation; for into these creations of +genius, men have put their souls. + +If a famous inventor of machinery dies and the particular machine which +he made is destroyed, there are yet other machines left, which have +been made after his pattern, usually much better than the first one +which he constructed. + +While steamboats, railways, telegraphs, and automobiles are very +useful, they are not so mysterious and individual but that they may be +exactly copied and many, many duplicates be made and used by every +country under the sun. + +If all the music of the great composer Beethoven should be destroyed so +that no copy remained in the world, there perhaps would be some master +musicians of to-day who could remember and write down the notes, and so +reproduce the wonderful compositions once more. + +But there have been artists who have seen visions and dreamed dreams of +God and heaven and the best and happiest things they had found in life. +Such a one, with the power of his great genius, has made the dream into +a picture, a painting, a statue, or a wonderful building, which no +other person in the world is able to copy exactly. Indeed, there are +many half-finished works which no artist, however great, has been able +to complete. The creator has put into the work his soul, the best of +all he thought and knew. So when many artists with their many dreams +brought their finest works together into one place, it was certain that +forever that place would be cherished and the wonder of it would belong +to all people everywhere. While the artists have died long ago, their +spirits, their very souls, seem alive to-day in the beautiful art works +which they have left. It is for this reason that we speak of great +artists who lived eight or nine hundred years ago, as if they were +still living to-day, for their souls are alive in what they so +wonderfully made. Those who look upon these works are mysteriously +inspired to live better and happier lives themselves. + + [Illustration: RHEIMS CATHEDRAL] + +The loveliest art works in France are its Gothic cathedrals, and of +them all, the Cathedral at Rheims was probably the most wonderful. No +monument of ancient or modern times is more widely known to the world. +It was built in the Middle Ages and expressed all the aspiration and +faith of the people of that time. For seven hundred years it has been +cherished for its great beauty, for the memory of the men who made it +so beautiful, and for the sacred services which have been held in it. +All the kings of France, except six, were crowned in it. One of the +most striking services was the coronation of Charles VII, while Joan of +Arc stood beside him with the sacred banner in her hands. + +The cathedral held the works of many ancient artists. It was especially +famous for its rose window, in which the figures of prophets and +martyrs were glorified by the afternoon sun. Beneath the window was a +magnificent gallery. Statues of angels, a beautiful statue of Christ, +and one of the Madonna were to be found in this wonderful building. The +stained glass windows were all very beautiful. Even the bells in the +tower were famous. + +With the excuse that the French were using the great towers of the old +cathedral as observation posts, the Germans bombarded and destroyed the +church. The roof was battered in and burned, the stained glass windows +broken, the famous bells pounded into a shapeless mass of metal, and +the wonderful statues and decorations hopelessly destroyed. Only the +statue of Joan of Arc, in front of the cathedral, remained uninjured, +as though to say, "I am the soul of France. You cannot injure or kill +me." Afterwards the Germans bombarded the church a second time, +attempting to tear down even the walls that were still standing. + +Even savages in war respect sacred places, but the Germans deliberately +aimed their guns at them. No excuse can ever be accepted by the +civilized world for this deliberate destruction, and certainly the +excuse cannot be accepted by military men that the act was due to bad +marksmanship. + +Other ancient churches were horribly damaged. The Germans stabled their +horses in them, broke down the candelabra and statues, and carried away +many valuable relics. + +The burning of the University buildings at Louvain completely destroyed +the treasures that had been preserved for centuries. Priceless +manuscripts, paintings that can never be replaced, and valuable books +in rare bindings were lost to the world. + +The Germans scornfully but ignorantly declared, "Why should we care if +every monument in the world is destroyed? We can build better ones." +But the German idea of beauty is great strength and huge size. Their +own public buildings and statues are often horrible in color, immense +and awkward in appearance. They give people the impression of a +fearsome brute spreading himself out before them. With few exceptions, +there are no dainty figures and designs, nor any beautiful thoughts and +feelings, as shown in the work of real artists. + +The old cathedral at Rheims can never be restored. No one can ever +bring back the old beauty and color; no one can revive those statues +and paintings so that ever again they will seem to breathe forth the +soul of the artists who fashioned them seven hundred years ago. The +walls may be rebuilt, and artists of tomorrow may beautify them, but +the spirit of the great men of the Middle Ages is gone--it has fled +from the place forever. Thus the Germans, not content with killing the +bodies of men, have in this way killed the souls of some of the +greatest of the geniuses of the past. How can she pay the damage, or +meet a fitting punishment? + + * * * * * + +What a peerless jewel was this cathedral, more beautiful even than +Notre Dame in Paris, more open to the light, more ethereal, more +soaringly uplifted with its columns like long reeds surprisingly +fragile considering the weight they bear, a miracle of the religious +art of France, a masterpiece which the faith of our ancestors had +called into being in all its mystic purity. + + PIERRE LOTI. + + + + +THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION + + +The controller, as he is called on the Siberian railroad, was passing +through the cars to see that every passenger had a ticket. He did not +notice the _mooshik_, which is what the Russian peasant is called in +his own language, hiding under one of the car seats with a large bundle +in front of him; or if he saw him, he passed on without seeming to have +done so. + +The _mooshik_ had given the brakeman a small sum of money, about fifty +cents in our currency, to let him hide there whenever the controller +came around, and in this way ride from Petrograd, or Petersburg as the +Bolsheviki renamed it after the revolution, to Vladivostok, a distance +of about four thousand miles. + +Now this _mooshik_ did not need to go to Vladivostok; but his Russian +nature made him _go_, go somewhere, it made little difference where. He +had been the year before to Jerusalem, but this was for religious +reasons, and now he must go again for no reason except that from within +came the impulse to travel, an impulse too strong to be denied. The +Russian government did not attempt to discourage the people from +traveling, but actually made it easier by fixing fares for long +distances at very small amounts. This traveler did not have even that +small amount, but he found it easy with a smaller one to bribe his way +in Russia. + +There is a society in Russia, whose members pledge themselves never to +remain more than three days in any one place; and it is said that +wealthy Russians, after their children have grown up, will often divide +their property and with staff in hand spend the remainder of their +lives in traveling from one holy place to another. + +A dream, a vision, leads the wealthy man to do this, and perhaps this +is true also of the _mooshik_; but it is as likely that he goes because +of the reality, the real people, the real village, the real home that +he leaves behind. He is uneducated, for only seven out of every hundred +can read and write in Russia. He lives in a shed as filthy and bad +smelling as a pig-pen, or rather he starves there, starves both for +food and for comfort. Black bread, potatoes, and sometimes cabbage, +make up his "balanced diet." He cannot afford money for meat, eggs, +milk, butter, sugar, or any of the many other ordinary foods of the +American home, nor for the light of lamp or candle. + +It is not strange that such _mooshiki_ constantly move on and have no +love for their native place, and have never established an "Old Home +Day." It is not so strange that their former Tsar, Peter the Great, +said, "One can treat other European people as human beings, but I have +to do with cattle." Are they not treated like cattle? + +But it is strange that a Russian writer can say of these people, and +say it with truth, "A Russian may steal and drink and cheat until it is +almost impossible to live with him; and yet, in spite of it all, you +feel a charm in him that draws you to him, and that there is something +more in him, some good or promise of good, that raises him above the +level of all other races you have ever met." It is strange that he is +so religious, so pitying of others, and so critical of himself; that he +has so many noble visions and dreams for which he is ready and willing +to die. + +Uneducated, with little or no respect for truth or honesty in their own +dealings, with no experience in government, having always been robbed +by the aristocracy, and now eager and willing in turn to rob them, but +with dreams of a society of men where all crime and hardship and +unnecessary suffering are abolished, where there are no grafters, no +self-seekers, no wrong-doers, no conflict, no robbery, no war--these +Russian _mooshiki_, workmen, soldiers, and sailors, as a result of a +revolution, found themselves attempting to govern a nation nearly twice +as large in population as the United States. There are indeed two +problems before the world, to make the world safe for democracy, and to +make democracy safe for the world. + +History tells the story of many revolutions. The story of the American +Revolution, which was an uprising of the American colonies against the +mother country, and that of the French Revolution, in which the +laborers and peasants and some others rose against the extravagant and +autocratic rulers of France, are well known to Americans. + +When the real character and aims of the German autocracy were made +plain to the world, all free people hoped for and expected the World +War to end in a revolution of the German people. But the mass of the +German people are kept ignorant of what the rest of the world feels and +thinks about them, and have so long been trained to unquestioning +obedience that a German revolution can come, if ever, only after some +unexpected and appalling German defeat. + +It has been said that if, at the time the Russian revolution broke out, +a few regiments of trained veteran soldiers had been in Petrograd, the +revolution would have been put down by these soldiers, to whom +obedience to commands of superiors had become second nature. Those on +guard in the city were newly-formed regiments recently trained and +taken into the service. + +The Russian revolution of March 9-13, 1917, overthrew Tsar Nicholas and +the Romanoff dynasty. The Tsar has since been shot, and his son and +heir has died--from exposure, it was reported. When Tsar Nicholas +succeeded his father on the throne of Russia, the Russian people +rejoiced and felt certain better days were at hand, and that they +should love and loyally support the new Tsar. He had his opportunity +and he threw it aside. Instead of granting larger liberty and a greater +part in the government to the common people when they petitioned for +it, he replied, "Let it be known that I shall guard the autocracy as +firmly as did my father." His father was as autocratic as the German +Kaiser. + +Tsar Nicholas was weak and fickle. He made promises when in trouble and +refused to keep his promises when trouble seemed avoided. The Russian +people were much disappointed in him, and every year their +disappointment grew. Some dreadful massacres of workers at Jaroslav, of +peasants in Kharkov, and of miners on the Lena changed their +disappointment to hatred. + +As the Tsar grew older he drew away from touch with the people, and +lived in his palaces, leaving affairs of state to his ministers who +were chosen from a small and selfish clique. They brought on the war +with Japan, and its failure was due to them. When Russia was defeated, +the people were on the brink of a revolution; but the Tsar promised +them a constitution, and trouble was put off for a while. When the +people were quiet again, he broke his word and did not give them a +constitution. Instead, in every way possible, he lessened the power +and freedom of the people, and took revenge upon those who had caused +the trouble by having them arrested and exiled, or executed. + +He was very much under the influence of his wife. She was even weaker +in many ways than he was and seemed to be in the power of an ignorant +and wicked peasant who claimed to be a monk and was called Rasputin, +the Black Monk. His influence over the weak Tsar and the weaker Tsarina +so angered and disgusted some of the young Russian leaders that finally +they had him secretly put to death--but not until he had helped to set +every one against Tsar Nicholas and his wife. + +For a while after the World War broke out, matters seemed to be going +better. The people wanted the influence of Germany destroyed, and they +expected the Russian army would soon be in Berlin. But when defeat and +disaster overwhelmed the armies through the treachery of government +officials, the people began to turn and to condemn Rasputin, the +Tsarina, and the Tsar. It is said that Rasputin had one of his friends +serving as physician to the Tsar and that he kept Nicholas drugged. It +hardly seems possible that this can be true, but at any rate, the Tsar +seemed to show no sense in his dealing with the situation. Instead of +appointing better ministers, he appointed worse ones, suggested by +Rasputin. Every one became disgusted and felt that only a revolution +would save Russia. If it had not come from the people, it would have +come from the nobles. It was looked forward to by all, but not until +after the war. + +There was suffering everywhere in the capital, Petrograd. Living was +very high. It was difficult to get enough to eat or to get carried from +place to place. Steam trains and trolleys were few and irregular. +Though there was plenty of food in Russia, the railroads were in such +bad shape that it did not reach the capital. But the Russians were +fighting Germany, and no one expected or seemed to desire a revolution +until after the war. When it did come, it was not planned, but seemed +to come as if by accident. + +Trouble began in the factory districts, in connection with bread riots. +Stones were thrown, and some damage was done to property. Then crowds +gathered and marched up and down the streets crying for bread, singing +revolutionary songs, and carrying red flags. + +The police were not able to handle the situation alone, and the +soldiers were called upon. These were Cossacks and recently trained. +There was bad feeling between the police and the Cossacks, and so the +Cossacks were inclined to listen to the people and to become friendly +with them. + +On Sunday, March 11, the factory hands planned to make a great +demonstration. The Tsar, learning of it, ordered notices to be posted +warning the people that if they gathered, the soldiers were ordered to +fire upon them. A few people did gather, and they were fired upon by +machine guns and several were killed. The next morning, the officers +who had ordered the soldiers to fire upon the people were killed by +their own men. Then notices were posted by the government saying that +unless the rioters went to work, they would immediately be sent to the +front. + +Other regiments revolted, and there was a battle between these and the +few who remained loyal to the government. It was not a serious battle; +but some were killed and the loyal regiments were defeated. Then +soldiers and people ran through the streets crying, "Down with the +Government." + +The Tsar was at the front. Had he been in Petrograd, he might have +saved the government by making some new promises; but, as it was, it +soon fell. + +As soon as the government was overthrown and the Tsar taken prisoner, +those who had long sought for a revolution and had been forced to flee +from Russia, came rushing back from Switzerland, Greece, France, and +the United States. They were the real leaders after they arrived. + +An American who was in Petrograd at the time gives the following +account of the revolution: + + Their first demand was that all prison doors should be opened + and that the oppressed the world over should be freed. + + The revolution was picturesque and full of color. Nearly every + morning one could see regiment after regiment, soldiers, + Cossacks, and sailors, with their regimental colors, and bands, + and revolutionary flags, marching to the Duma to take the new + oath of allegiance. They were cheered; they were blessed; + handkerchiefs were waved; hats were raised, as marks of + appreciation and gratitude to these men, without whose help + there would have been no revolution. The enthusiasm became so + contagious that men and women, young and old, high and low, fell + in alongside, or behind, joined in the singing of the + Marseillaise, and walked to the Duma to take the oath of + allegiance, and having taken it, they felt as purified as if + they had partaken of the communion. + + Another picturesque sight was the army trucks filled with armed + soldiers, red handkerchiefs tied to their bayonets, dashing up + and down the streets, ostensibly for the purpose of protecting + the citizens, but really for the mere joy of riding about and + being cheered. One of these trucks stands out vividly in my + mind: it contained about twenty soldiers, having in their midst + a beautiful young woman with a red banner, and a young hoodlum + astride the engine. + +No one knows, at the end of the fourth year of the World War, what the +result of the Russian revolution will be. It has so far left Russia a +prey to Germany, but Germany is showing such criminal greed and +unfairness that she may find her easily gained plunder will be her +destruction, like the drowning robber with his pockets filled with +gold. + +The Russian _mooshik_ has a motto, or rather a philosophy, which is +expressed by the word "_nitchevo_." This word has several meanings, one +of which is "nothing." Just what the _mooshik_ has in mind when he +says "_nitchevo_" is illustrated by the following story. + +When Bismarck was Prussian ambassador at the court of Tsar Alexander +II, he was invited by the Tsar to take part in a great hunt, a dozen or +more miles out of the capital. + +Bismarck started with his own horses and sledge but soon met with a +serious accident, and was obliged to call upon the Russian peasants, or +_mooshiki_, to help him by providing a horse, sledge, and driver. Soon +a peasant appeared with a very small and raw-boned horse attached to a +sledge that seemed about ready to fall to pieces. + +"That looks more like a rat than a horse," growled Bismarck, but he got +into the sledge. + +The peasant answered but one word, "_Nitchevo._" + +Soon the horse was flying over the snow at a great rate of speed. There +was no road to be seen and the peasant was heading for the woods. "Look +out!" yelled Bismarck. "You will throw me out!" But the peasant +replied, "_Nitchevo._" + +In a moment they were among the trees and were turning, now this way, +now that, to avoid hitting them. The raw-boned horse had not lessened +his speed in the least. Suddenly there was a crash. The sledge had +skidded and struck a tree. The peasant and his passenger were thrown +out headlong. + +Bismarck was a man of fiery temper. When he had picked himself up, he +rushed up to the peasant, who was trying to stop his bleeding nose, and +yelled, "I will kill you." The _mooshik_ did not seem at all frightened +or troubled, and answered simply, "_Nitchevo._" He drew a piece of rope +from the sledge and began to tie the broken parts together. + +"I shall be late at the hunt," yelled the angry Bismarck. + +"_Nitchevo_," replied the peasant. + +While the sledge was being repaired, Bismarck noticed a small piece of +iron broken from the runner and lying on the snow. He picked it up and +put it in his pocket. + +The _mooshik_ soon had the sledge ready for them, and this time he +reached the hunting lodge with his distinguished passenger without +further accident or delay. + +The Tsar and his companions laughed heartily at the story, as related +by Bismarck, and then explained to the Prussian that by _nitchevo_ the +_mooshik_ meant that nothing mattered, that they would get where they +had started for, if they did not let accidents or circumstances turn +them from it. + +When Bismarck returned to the capital he had a ring made from the piece +of iron, and on the inside of it he had inscribed the word _nitchevo_. + +The Russian _mooshik_ of to-day is the same in character and belief as +the _mooshik_ that replied "_Nitchevo_" to Bismarck. To Germany, to the +Kaiser, to the world, the Russians, amid all their sorrows and +troubles, are saying "_Nitchevo._" They will reach their goal at +length, for they look upon the dangers and delays as nothing. + + * * * * * + +The Russian word _Bolsheviki_, used to designate the revolutionary +party which was in power in Russia in 1918, is composed of two words: +_bolsh_, meaning many; and _vik_, meaning most. _Bolsheviki_ means the +greatest number, or the common people, as compared with the few, or the +aristocracy. _Bolshevik_, with the accent on the first syllable, is the +singular and means one of the greatest number. _Bolsheviki_, with +accents on the second and on the last syllables, is the plural. +Similarly _mooshik_ means a peasant, and _mooshiki_ means peasants. + + + + +A BALLAD OF FRENCH RIVERS[6] + + + Of streams that men take honor in + The Frenchman looks to three, + And each one has for origin + The hills of Burgundy; + And each has known the quivers + Of blood and tears and pain-- + O gallant bleeding rivers, + The Marne, the Meuse, the Aisne. + + Says Marne: "My poplar fringes + Have felt the Prussian tread, + The blood of brave men tinges + My banks with lasting red; + Let others ask due credit, + But France has me to thank; + Von Kluck himself has said it: + I turned the Boche's flank!" + + Says Meuse: "I claim no winning, + No glory on the stage; + Save that, in the beginning + I strove to save Liége. + Alas! that Frankish rivers + Should share such shame as mine-- + In spite of all endeavors + I flow to join the Rhine!" + + Says Aisne: "My silver shallows + Are salter than the sea, + The woe of Rheims still hallows + My endless tragedy. + Of rivers rich in story + That run through green Champagne, + In agony and glory, + The chief am I, the Aisne!" + + Now there are greater waters + That Frenchmen all hold dear-- + The Rhone, with many daughters, + That runs so icy clear; + There's Moselle, deep and winy, + There's Loire, Garonne and Seine. + But O the valiant tiny-- + The Marne, the Meuse, the Aisne! + + CHRISTOPHER MORLEY. + + * * * * * + +A river is the most human and companionable of all inanimate things. It +has a life, a character, a voice of its own; and is as full of +good-fellowship as a sugar-maple is of sap. It can talk in various +tones, loud or low; and of many subjects, grave or gay. + + HENRY VAN DYKE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] COPYRIGHT BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY + + + + +BACILLI AND BULLETS + + +Sir William Osler, one of the greatest medical men in the world, told +the soldiers in the English training camps that he wanted to help them +to get a true knowledge of their foes. The officers had impressed the +soldiers with the truth that it was always necessary to find out where +their enemies were and how many they were. But Sir William Osier told +them of other invisible enemies which they should most fear, and fight +against. "While the bullets from your foes are to be dreaded," he said, +"the bacilli are far more dangerous." Indeed in the wars of the world, +the two have been as Saul and David,--the one slaying thousands, the +other tens of thousands. + +He continued, "I can never see a group of recruits marching to the +depot without asking what percentage of these fine fellows will die +from wounds, and what percentage will perish miserably from neglect of +ordinary sanitary precautions. It is bitter enough to lose thousands of +the best of our young men in a hideous war, but it adds terribly to the +tragedy to think that more than one half of the losses may be due to +preventable disease. Typhus fever, malaria, cholera, enteric, and +dysentery have won more victories than powder and shot. Some of the +diseases need no longer be dreaded. Typhus and malaria, which one +hundred years ago routed a great English army in the expedition against +Antwerp, are no longer formidable foes. But enough such foes remain, as +we found by sad experience in South Africa. Of the 22,000 lives lost in +that war--can you believe it?--the bullets accounted for only 8000, the +bacilli for 14,000. In the long, hard campaign before us, more men will +go into the field than ever before in the history of the Empire. Before +it is too late, let us take every possible precaution to guard against +a repetition of such disasters. I am here to warn you soldiers against +enemies more subtle, more dangerous, and more fatal than the Germans, +enemies against which no successful battle can be fought without your +intelligent coöperation. So far the world has only seen one great war +waged with the weapons of science against these foes. Our allies, the +Japanese, went into the Russian campaign prepared as fully against +bacilli as against bullets, with the result that the percentage of +deaths from disease was the lowest that has ever been attained in a +great war. Which lesson shall we learn? Which example shall we follow, +Japan, or South Africa with its sad memories? + +"We are not likely to have to fight three scourges, typhus, malaria, +and cholera, though the possibility of the last has to be considered. +But there remain dysentery, pneumonia, and enteric. + +"Dysentery has been for centuries one of the most terrible of camp +diseases, killing thousands, and, in its prolonged damage to health, it +is one of the most fatal of foes to armies. So far as we know, it is +conveyed by water, and only by carrying out strictly, under all +circumstances, the directions about boiling water, can it be prevented. +It is a disease which, even under the best of circumstances, cannot +always be prevented; but with care there should never again be +widespread outbreaks in camps themselves. + +"Pneumonia is a much more difficult disease to prevent. Many of us, +unfortunately, carry the germ with us. In these bright days all goes +well in a holiday camp like this; but when the cold and the rain come, +and the long marches, the resisting forces of the body are lowered, the +enemy, always on the watch, overpowers the guards, rushes the defenses, +and attacks the lungs. Be careful not to neglect coughs and colds. A +man in good condition should be able to withstand the wettings and +exposures that lower the system, but in a winter campaign, pneumonia +causes a large amount of sickness and is one of the serious enemies of +the soldier. + +"Above all others one disease has proved most fatal in modern +warfare--enteric, or typhoid fever. Over and over again it has killed +thousands before they ever reached the fighting line. The United States +troops had a terrible experience in the Spanish-American War. In six +months, between June and November, among 107,973 officers and men in 92 +volunteer regiments, 20,738, practically one fifth of the entire +number, had typhoid fever, and 1580 died. The danger is chiefly from +persons who have already had the disease and who carry the germs in +their intestines, harmless to them, but capable of infecting barracks +or camps. It was probably by flies and by dust carrying the germs that +the bacilli were so fatal in South Africa. Take to heart these figures: +there were 57,684 cases of typhoid fever, of which 19,454 were +invalided, and 8022 died. More died from the bacilli of this disease +than from the bullets of the Boers. Do let this terrible record impress +upon you the importance of carrying out with religious care the +sanitary regulations. + +"One great advance in connection with typhoid fever has been made of +late years, and of this I am come specially to ask you to take +advantage. An attack of an infectious disease so alters the body that +it is no longer susceptible to another attack of the same disease; once +a person has had scarlet fever, smallpox, or chicken pox, he is not +likely to have a second attack. He is immune. When bacilli make a +successful entry into our bodies, they overcome the forces that +naturally protect the system, and grow; but the body puts up a strong +fight, all sorts of anti-bodies are formed in the blood, and if +recovery takes place, the patient is safe for a few years at least +against that disease. + +"It was an Englishman, Jenner, who, in 1798, found that it was possible +to produce this immunity by giving a person a mild attack of the +disease, or of one very much like it. Against smallpox all of you have +been vaccinated--a harmless, safe, and effective measure. Let me give +you a war illustration. General Wood of the United States Army told me +that, when he was at Santiago, reports came that in villages not far +distant smallpox was raging, and the people were without help of any +kind. He called for volunteers, all men who showed scars of +satisfactory vaccination. Groups of these soldiers went into the +villages, took care of the smallpox patients, cleaned up the houses, +stayed there until the epidemic was over, and not one of them took the +disease. Had not those men been vaccinated, at least 99 per cent of +them would have taken smallpox. + +"Now what I wish to ask you is to take advantage of the knowledge that +the human body can be protected by vaccination against typhoid. +Discovered through the researches of Sir Almroth Wright, this measure +has been introduced successfully into our own regular army, into the +armies of France, the United States, Japan, and Germany. I told you a +few minutes ago about the great number of cases of typhoid fever in the +volunteer troops in America during the Spanish-American War. That +resulted largely from the wide prevalence of the disease in country +districts, so that the camps became infected; and we did not then know +the importance of the fly as a carrier. But in the regular army in the +United States, where inoculation has been practiced now for several +years, the number of cases has fallen from 3.53 per thousand men to +practically nil. In a strength of 90,646 there were, in 1913, only +three cases of typhoid fever. In France the typhoid rate among the +unvaccinated was 168.44 per thousand, and among the vaccinated .18 per +thousand. In India, where the disease has been very prevalent, the +success of the measure has been remarkable. + +"In the United States, and in France, and in some other countries, this +vaccination against the disease is compulsory. It is not a serious +matter; you may feel badly for twenty-four hours, and the place of +inoculation will be tender, but I hope I have said enough to convince +you that, in the interests of the cause, you should gladly put up with +this temporary inconvenience. If the lessons of past experience count, +any expeditionary force on the Continent has much more to fear from the +bacillus of typhoid fever than from bullets and bayonets. Think again +of South Africa, with its 57,000 cases of typhoid fever! With a million +of men in the field, their efficiency will be increased one third if we +can prevent typhoid. It can be prevented, it must be prevented; but +meanwhile the decision is in your hands, and I know it will be in favor +of your King and Country." + + * * * * * + +The soldiers in the American army are also inoculated against measles, +scarlet fever, and the pneumonia germ. + +Tetanus, or lockjaw, is one of the grave dangers faced by the wounded +soldiers; for the germ of this disease has its home in the earth, and +during a battle, soldiers with open wounds often lie for hours in the +fields and trenches. Antitoxin treatment has reduced the death-rate. + +Two new diseases have been produced by the World War,--spotted typhus +and trench fever; both are carried by vermin. This was proved by +soldiers who volunteered to permit experiments to be made upon them. By +preventing and destroying the vermin, these diseases are being +conquered. + + + + +THE TORCH OF VALOR[7] + + +The torch of valor has been passed from one brave hand to another down +the centuries, to be held to-day by the most valiant in the long line +of heroes. Deeds have been done in Europe since August, 1914, which +rival the most stirring feats sung by Homer or Virgil, by the +minnesingers of Germany, by the troubadours of Provençe, or told in the +Norse sagas or Celtic ballads. No exploit of Ajax or Achilles excels +that of the Russian Cossack, wounded in eleven places and slaying as +many foes. The trio that held the bridge against Lars Porsena and his +cohorts have been equaled by the three men of Battery L, fighting with +their single gun in the gray and deathly dawn until the enemy's battery +was silenced. Private Wilson, who, single-handed, killed seven of the +enemy and captured a gun, sold newspapers in private life; but he need +not fear comparison with any of his ancient and radiant line. Who that +cares for courage can forget that Frenchman, forced to march in front +of a German battalion stealing to surprise his countrymen at the bridge +of Three Grietchen, near Ypres? To speak meant death for himself, to +be silent meant death for his comrades; and still the sentry gave no +alarm. So he gave it himself. "Fire! For the love of God, fire!" he +cried, his soul alive with sacrifice; and so died. The ancient hero of +romance, who gathered to his own heart the lance heads of the foe that +a gap might be made in their phalanx, did no more than that. Nelson +conveniently forgot his blind eye at Copenhagen, and even in this he +has his followers still. Bombardier Havelock was wounded in the thigh +by fragments of shell. He had his wound dressed at the ambulance and +was ordered to hospital. Instead of obeying, he returned to his +battery, to be wounded again in the back within five minutes. Once more +he was patched up by the doctor and sent to hospital, this time in +charge of an orderly. He escaped from his guardian, went back to fight, +and was wounded for the third time. Afraid to face the angry surgeon, +he lay all day beside the gun. That night he was reprimanded by his +officers--and received the V.C.! Also there are the airmen, day after +day facing appalling dangers in their frail, bullet-torn craft. Was +there ever a stouter heart than that of the aviator, wounded to death +and still planing downwards, to be found seated in his place and +grasping the controls, stone-dead? Few eyes were dry that read the +almost mystic story of that son of France who, struck blind in a storm +of fire, still navigated his machine, obedient to the instructions of +his military companion, himself mortally wounded by shrapnel and dying +even as earth was reached. + +There is no need to worship the past with a too-abject devotion, +whatever in the way of glory it has been to us and done for us. Chandos +and Du Guesclin, Leonidas and De Bussy have worthy compeers to-day. +Beside them may stand Lance-Corporal O'Leary, the Irish peasant's son. +Of his own deed he merely says that he led some men to an important +position, and took it from the Huns, "killing some of their gunners and +taking a few prisoners." History will tell the tale otherwise: how this +modest soldier, outstripping his eager comrades, coolly selected a +machine gun for attack, and killed the five men tending it before they +could slew round; how he then sped onwards alone to another barricade, +which he captured, after killing three of the enemy, and making +prisoners of two more. Even officialism burst its bonds for a moment as +it records the deed: + + Lance-Corporal O'Leary thus practically captured the enemy's + position by himself, and prevented the rest of the attacking + party from being fired on. + +The epic of Lieutenant Leach and Sergeant Hogan, who volunteered to +recapture a trench taken by the Germans, after two failures of their +comrades, is reading to give one at once a gulp in the throat and a +song in the heart. With consummate daring they undertook the venture; +with irresistible skill they succeeded, killing eight of the enemy, +wounding two, and taking sixteen prisoners. In the words of the veteran +of Waterloo, "It was as good fighting as Boney himself would have made +a man a gineral for." + +There are isolated incidents of this kind in every war; but in a +thousand different places in France and Belgium the dauntless, +nonchalant valor of Irishmen, Englishmen, Scotsmen, and Welshmen has +shown itself. Did ever the gay Gordons do a gayer or more gallant thing +than was done on the 29th of September, 1914, on the western front? +Thirty gunners of a British field battery had just been killed or +wounded. Thirty others were ordered to take their place. They knew that +they were going to certain death, and they went with a cheery "Good-by, +you fellows!" to their comrades of the reserve. Two minutes later every +man had fallen, and another thirty stepped to the front with the same +farewell, smoking their cigarettes as they went out to die--like that +"very gallant gentleman," Oates, who went forth from Scott's tent into +the blizzard and immortality. Englishmen can lift up their heads with +pride, human nature can take heart and salute the future with hope, +when the Charge of the Five Hundred at Gheluvelt is recalled. There, on +the Ypres road to Calais, 2400 British soldiers, Scots Guards, South +Wales Borderers, and the Welsh and Queen's Regiments held up 24,000 +Germans in a position terribly exposed. On that glorious and bloody day +the Worcesters, 500 strong, charged the hordes of Germans, twenty times +their number, through the streets of Gheluvelt and up and beyond to the +very trenches of the foe; and in the end the ravishers of Belgium, +under the stress and storm of their valor, turned and fled. On that day +300 out of 500 of the Worcesters failed to answer the roll call when +the fight was over, and out of 2400 only 800 lived of all the remnants +of regiments engaged; but the road to Calais was blocked against the +Huns; and it remains so even to this day. Who shall say that greatness +of soul is not the possession of the modern world? Did men die better +in the days before the Cæsars? + +Not any one branch of the service, not any one class of men alone has +done these deeds of valor; but in the splendid democracy of heroism, +the colonel and the private, the corporal and the lieutenant--one was +going to say, have thrown away, but no!--have offered up their lives on +the altars of sacrifice, heedless of all save that duty must be done. + +But greater than such deeds, of which there have been inspiring +hundreds, is the patient endurance shown by men whose world has +narrowed down to that little corner of a great war which they are +fighting for their country. To fight on night and day in the trenches, +under avalanches of murdering metal and storms of rending shrapnel, +calls for higher qualities than those short, sharp gusts of conflict +which in former days were called battles. Then men faced death in the +open, weapon in hand, cheered by color and music and the personal +contest, man upon man outright, greatly daring for a few sharp hours. +Now all the pageantry is gone; the fight rages without ceasing; men +must eat and sleep in the line of fire; death and mutilation ravage +over them even while they rest. Nerves have given way, men have gone +mad under this prolonged strain, and the marvel is that any have borne +it; yet they have not only borne it, they have triumphed over it. These +have known the exaltation of stripping life of its impedimenta to do a +thing set for them to do; giving up all for an idea. The great +obsession is on them; they are swayed and possessed by something +greater than themselves; they live in an atmosphere which, breathing, +inflames them to the utmost of their being. + +There was a corner in the British lines where men had fought for days, +until the place was a shambles; where food could only rarely reach +them; where they stood up to their knees in mud and water, where men +endured, but where Death was the companion of their fortitude. Yet +after a lull in the firing there came from some point in the battered +trench the new British battle-cry, "Are we downhearted?" And then, as +we are told, one blood-stained specter feebly raised himself above the +broken parapet, shouted "No!" and fell back dead. There spoke a spirit +of high endurance, of a shining defiance, of a courage which wants no +pity, which exalts as it wends its way hence. + + SIR GILBERT PARKER. + + * * * * * + + Mother Earth! Are thy heroes dead? + Do they thrill the soul of the years no more? + Are the gleaming snows and the poppies red + All that is left of the brave of yore? + Are there none to fight as Theseus fought, + Far in the young world's misty dawn? + Or to teach as the gray-haired Nestor taught? + Mother Earth! Are the heroes gone? + + Gone?--in a grander form they rise; + Dead?--we may clasp their hands in ours, + And catch the light of their clearer eyes, + And wreathe their brows with immortal flowers. + Wherever a noble deed is done, + 'Tis the pulse of a hero's heart is stirred; + Wherever right has a triumph won + There are the heroes' voices heard. + + EDNA DEAN PROCTOR. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] FROM "THE WORLD IN THE CRUCIBLE." COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY DODD, MEAD +AND COMPANY + + + + +MARSHAL FOCH + + +A Great German philosopher said many years ago that history was the +story of the struggle of the human race for freedom. Would the Huns +conquer Europe and put back human liberty for hundreds of years? This +was the question that was answered at the battle of the Marne in +September, 1914, and the answer depended upon what General Foch was +able to do with his army. It was necessary that he should attack, and +General Joffre ordered him to do so. + +General Foch did not reply that he was having all he could do to hold +his own and to prevent his army from being captured or destroyed, +although this was really the situation. He sent back to his commanding +general a message that will never be forgotten, one that was in keeping +with the maxim he had always taught his students in the military +school, that the best defense is an offense: "My left has been forced +back; my right has been routed; I shall attack with my center." + + [Illustration: MARSHAL FERDINAND FOCH + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +Foch is a man of medium height. His face is an especially striking one. +He has the forehead of a thinker, with two deep folds between the +eyebrows; he has deep-set eyes, a large nose, a strong mouth slightly +hidden under a gray mustache, and a chin which shows decision and +force. His whole face expresses great power of thought and will. + +Before the war, he was a professor of military history. He was +accustomed to outline to the young officers in his class a clear +statement of a military situation, and the orders which had been +followed. He would then call upon his pupils to decide what +difficulties would arise and what the results would be. In this way, +they learned to discover for themselves the solutions of many kinds of +military problems. + +Since Foch has been accustomed to this clear reasoning on all war +problems, no military situation can surprise him. As a commander, he +selects the goal to be reached, and the most skillful way of reaching +it, and his men have confidence that he is right. This is what gives a +commander the power to do things. + +Marshal Joffre realized General Foch's ability and quickly advanced +him. + +After the First Battle of the Marne, it was necessary to appoint a +commander for the French forces north of Paris, and it was very +important to select one who had the initiative and the ability to check +the German attempt to capture the Channel ports. The new commander must +also be a man of great tact, for he would have to work with the British +and the Belgians. General Foch was selected, and has proved to be the +right man in the right place. + +The race for the Channel ports was an exciting one. Although the +Germans lost, it seemed at times as if they would win, and be able to +establish submarine bases within a very short distance of England. In +fact, if they had captured Calais, they could have fired with their +long-range guns across the Channel and have bombarded English coast +towns, and perhaps London itself. + +Foch's decision and strength of purpose are well illustrated by an +incident which is told by the French officers working under his +command. He had sent some cavalry to protect the British army from +being outflanked and disastrously defeated. At the close of the day, +the cavalry commander reported to General Foch that he had been obliged +to withdraw, as the Germans had been reënforced. "Did you throw all the +forces possible into the fight?" asked General Foch. "No," answered the +cavalry commander. "You will at once take up your old position and hold +the enemy there until you have lost every gun," directed the general. +"Then you will report to headquarters for further orders." + +Foch is a leader who plans well, who knows how to command, and how to +make others obey. His orders always end with the words, "Without +delay!" Because the enemy has usually had larger numbers and more +ammunition, time has been everything to the Allies. Foch saved time and +so saved the Allies. + +After his great victory at the Second Battle of the Marne, Foch was +made a Marshal of France. + +The Allies, in 1918, through the influence of President Wilson, it is +said, decided to appoint a generalissimo, that is, one who should have +direction of all the Allied forces on the west front, including those +in Italy. Foch was appointed to this command, and from this time the +German plans and campaigns began to go wrong. To this one man, who +entered the French army in his teens, and who commanded at sixty-six +the largest forces ever under one general, the successes of the Allies +were due, more than to any other single individual, unless it be +President Wilson. + +Between July 15 and October, he had regained all the territory taken by +the Germans in their great drives of 1918 and had driven the enemy out +of the St. Mihiel salient which they had held since 1914. These +victories were won not by hammer blows of greatly superior numbers but +by generalship of the highest order and far superior to that of the +German leaders. + + + + +THE MEXICAN PLOT + + +It is true that Germany does not know the meaning of honesty and fair +play. Most Americans, in everything, want "a square deal." They demand +it for themselves, and a true American feels that the harshest thing +that can be said of him is that he is not fair and square in his +dealings. In any American school, a pupil who is deceitful is at once +shunned by all the other boys and girls as a "cheat" and a "sneak." He +has no place among them, least of all in their games and sports, for +not to play according to the rules of the game is to upset and spoil +the sport entirely. + +In playing some of our great national games, like baseball and +football, where the players are divided into teams, one player, by +cheating, does not suffer for it himself alone, but his whole team has +to pay the penalty. Indeed, if he persisted in being unfair, he would +soon lose his place in the team for all time. + +The Germans would not understand this, and they would not understand +that the last half of the ninth inning in a ball game is seldom played +because the winners do not wish to "rub in" the defeat of their +opponents. Some think that it is because German children have had few +sports and games that the German nation has so little sense of honesty +and fair play. + +In German schools, the pupils at one time were allowed to engage in +certain sports, but later these were officially forbidden. + +The rulers of Germany have for years forbidden anything taught in their +schools which did not praise Germany and make the children believe +their Emperor to be a god. The pupils are taught in history, geography, +and even in reading, only those facts about other countries which show +how much inferior they are to Germany. + +So the pupils have never learned the true and the interesting things +about other countries in the great wide world. German history tells +only about Germany's great war victories. The pupils never learn of +Germany's defeats in war. The teacher makes the history class the +liveliest of the day, often seeming to be more of a Fourth of July +orator than a school teacher. The children are taught that Germany is +the one civilized country in the world; that there was never anything +good that did not come from Germany; that even the victory of the +North, in the Civil War in America, was due to there being such a large +majority of German-born men on the Northern side. + +Their geography tells only about Germany's political divisions, its +civilization, and its commerce. Their readers contain stories of German +military "heroes." The two great school holidays are the Emperor's +Birthday and Sedan Day, the anniversary of the great defeat of the +French in the Franco-Prussian War. + +The walls of the schoolrooms are covered with pictures of the Emperor, +the Empress, and of battle scenes, especially those showing German +soldiers bringing in French prisoners. The singing of "Deutschland über +Alles" occurs several times a day. + +A German boy is trained into a soldier, hard-hearted and deceitful. The +pupils in school are made to spy on one another, and the teachers, too, +spy on one another. An American boy was expelled from a German +gymnasium in Berlin, because he refused to "tattle-tale" on the pupils +in his class. + +The Germans have not been taught to respect the rights of others,--no +one apparently has any personal rights except the Kaiser and certain +high officials; and so great has been their power that they have been +able to cheat the whole German nation, and they have attempted to cheat +the other nations of the world. + +Some years before the Spanish-American War, Germany began to show an +unfair spirit toward the United States. Much ill-feeling existed +between the two countries in their commercial relationships. There +grew up among the aristocracy of Germany, especially among the +landowners, an extremely hostile attitude toward the government in +Washington. This hostility was first publicly shown by a remark +reported to have been made by the Emperor at mess with a company of +officers, to the effect that "it would not be too bad if America should +very soon require Europe to teach her the proper place for her." This +remark was afterward officially denied, with the addition that the +Emperor's feeling for the United States was not hostile. + +When, however, Prince Henry of Prussia, brother of the German Emperor, +arrived on a government mission in Hongkong, it is said he gave a +banquet to representatives from all the fleets in port. Commodore Dewey +of the American fleet was present. After the dinner, Prince Henry +called for the usual national toasts. There is a custom in the navy of +calling upon the representatives of the different nations in a certain +regulated and well-understood order. But when the time came to call for +the toast to the United States, the Prince passed it by; he did this +several times. Commodore Dewey, realizing that this was intentional on +the part of Prince Henry, left the banquet. The next morning a +messenger from the German prince brought the explanation that the act +had been committed wholly by mistake, and was not meant as a +discourtesy to the United States or her commander. Dewey thanked the +messenger for his courteous manner in delivering his Admiral's word, +but sent back the statement that such an incident called for a personal +apology from the Prince. Very soon Prince Henry called in person and +apologized, saying that the name of the United States had not been +written in its proper order on the list which he followed in giving the +toasts. + +When war had been declared between the United States and Spain, and +Commodore Dewey had received orders to "seek the Spanish fleet and +destroy it," he set sail from Hongkong for Manila. Germany, according +to announcements from Spain, was determined to prevent the bombardment +of the city, because of German interests and German subjects there. +After capturing the Spanish fortress which guarded Manila, it was +necessary for Dewey to maintain a strict blockade against the city, +lest Spanish reënforcements should arrive. No American troops or ships +could reach him in less than six weeks. + +In Manila Bay were warships of Great Britain, Russia, France, Japan, +and Austria. These nations were content to send only one or two +vessels, while from Germany there were five and sometimes seven. One of +them, the _Deutschland_, was commanded by Prince Henry, and was heavily +armed. In fact, in numbers and guns, the Germans were stronger than the +Americans with their six small vessels. + +There was one regulation common to all blockade codes, one which was +always followed by the officers on every ship. It was that no foreign +boats should move about the bay after sunset, without the permission of +the blockade commander. + +But the Germans sent launches out at night and in many ways violated +the rules. When Dewey protested, they only sent them off later at +night. They even gave the Spaniards many supplies. Then Dewey had to +turn the searchlights on them and keep their vessels covered, to +prevent any boat leaving at night without his knowledge. + +This is particularly offensive to any naval commander, and the German +Admiral, Von Diederichs, objected. The American commander was courteous +but firm, and said that the United States, and not Germany, was holding +the blockade. + +Still the Germans persisted in moving their vessels so mysteriously +that an American ship was sent to meet every incoming vessel to demand +its nationality, its last port, and its destination. To the German flag +lieutenant, who brought a strong protest against this order, Dewey +said: "Tell Admiral von Diederichs that there are some acts that mean +war, and his fleet is dangerously near those acts. If he wants war, he +may have it here, now, or at the time that best suits him." + +Von Diederichs answered that his actions were not intended to violate +the rules, but he then went to the British commander, Captain +Chichester, and asked whether he intended to follow such strict orders. +The English captain suspected the German and answered, "Admiral Dewey +and I have a perfect understanding in the matter." Then he added, "He +has asked us to do just what he has asked of you, and we have been +directed to follow his orders to the letter." + +The English commander then sent a dispatch to Admiral Dewey, saying +that his orders were just, his regulations fair, and that if the +American commander felt unable to enforce them alone, he could depend +upon the British fleet to assist him. It is understood that the British +officer afterward informed Von Diederichs of what he had done, and the +Germans strictly obeyed the rules and gave no further trouble. + +Not many years ago, in 1911 in fact, while the United States was doing +her best by Germany, the German government tried to injure and deceive +her. + +At that time Germany was also plotting against France, to make war upon +her and to seize the whole country. Perhaps Germany knew that America +would not allow such horrible crimes to succeed, and so sooner or later +she would find herself at war with the United States. + +Therefore Germany must think ahead, and plan some means of making the +United States keep her ideas of justice to herself and let Germany do +as she chose. German officials consulted together and said, "Mexico is +a little country at the very southern tip of the United States, +conveniently near the new waterway at Panama. We could do some damage +there, with Mexico's help, and as a reward, Mexico might get back some +of the states just over the border--New Mexico, Texas, and +Arizona--which formerly belonged to her. + +"Then Japan is across the sea from Mexico and the gold coast of the +United States. Japan needs more land for her millions of people. She +might as well take California and some of the islands near Panama. All +this would keep America busy so that she could not hinder us from doing +our will in France." + +A press correspondent in Berlin, as early as February, 1911, sent the +following word by cablegram: + + The story was told here last night that Japan and Mexico have + come to an understanding with each other against America, and + that the United States, therefore, is secretly favoring the + Mexican revolutionists led by Madero. To-day the report is + published in several newspapers, even in the most trustworthy of + them. The report says: "Since America obtained the Panama Canal, + she has had an increasing interest in robbing Mexico and the + Central American states of their independence." + + According to the story, the present trouble has arisen because + of Mexico's refusal to allow the United States to use Magdalena + Bay as a coaling station. There must be some reason for + publishing the story so widely. It is made much of by the jingo + press, which warns the Central and the South American states to + beware of ambitious political plans of the United States. + +As this word was sent in time of peace, it was not censored, and while +it did not at that time appear to be of great importance, it really +meant that Germany was taking advantage of the civil war in Mexico to +stir up antagonism between that country and the United States. + +In American and German newspapers, stories were also printed hinting at +bad feelings between the United States and the Japanese government, +though no one seemed to know from whom the stories came. It was said +that, before long, an American fleet would be forcing its way into +Japanese waters, or the Japanese fleet would form in battle line +somewhere along the coast of California. + +In that same year, stories were publicly printed in American papers, +intended to spread the belief that Japan and Mexico were especially +friendly to Germany, and that they were interested in plotting together +against the United States. These stories were so mysterious and +mischievous that explanations from the different governments became +necessary. + +During the last week of February, 1917, there came into the hands of +the State Department in America, a note from Alfred Zimmermann, German +Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the German Minister in Mexico City. The +American government had already urged the German government to cease +submarine warfare, as it was not at all a fair method of fighting, but +was, instead, entirely barbarous and contrary to international law. +Germany, however, determined to wage unrestricted submarine warfare +against England and her allies. Twelve days before the plan was finally +announced, this note was sent to the German Minister in Mexico: + + BERLIN, Jan. 19, 1917. + + On the 1st of February we intend to begin submarine warfare + unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor + to keep neutral with the United States of America. + + If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the + following basis with Mexico: + + That we shall make war together and together make peace. We + shall give general financial support, and it is understood that + Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, + and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement. + + You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the + above in the greatest confidence, as soon as it is certain that + there will be an outbreak of war with the United States, and + suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, + should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to + this plan; at the same time offer to mediate between Germany and + Japan. + + Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the + employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel + England to make peace in a few months. + + ZIMMERMANN. + +When all this became known to the American people, at first it was +almost impossible for them to believe that Germany had been plotting +against the United States, and for so long. Only the word of the +President of the United States, saying that clear and sufficient +evidence to prove it beyond dispute was in the hands of the government, +could persuade them that Germany had been for years acting the "cheat" +and the "sneak." + +The first step taken by the American government was to ask Mexico and +Japan to explain the many stories that had been circulated, and to tell +whether they had agreed with Germany to war against the United States. + +The people in this country waited anxiously to hear from Japan, for it +would be denying the truth to say that the stories had not aroused +suspicion. Japan answered just as the United States would have answered +in her place, an answer that left no room for doubt. Not only did the +Japanese Foreign Minister deny that Japan had been asked by Mexico or +Germany to join against the United States, but he added more than is +absolutely necessary in diplomatic circles; he added that even if such +a proposal had come, it would have been rejected at once. + +This is exactly such an answer as the United States would have given to +any friendly country. The answer did more to bind the friendship +between the two countries than many years of official visits and formal +expressions of goodwill could possibly have done. The Japanese people +were glad that such an answer had been sent by their government. In +fact, the Japanese Ambassador in this country, in speaking of the +matter said, "We cannot condemn the plot too strongly. Our Foreign +Minister and Premier have expressed the feeling of the Japanese +Government and the Japanese people. And it is not alone the government; +but the people are back of the government in denouncing the intrigue. +In one way it is unfortunate, because we do not feel flattered at the +thought of being approached for such an object; but the incident, on +the other hand, is certain to have the good effect of putting us in a +true light before the world, and of binding our friendship with +America. We have a treaty alliance with Great Britain, and owe +allegiance to the Allied cause. In Japan we place above everything else +our national honor, which involves faithfulness to our treaties." + +Germany never supposed that she would be the means by which Japan and +the United States, instead of being thrust further apart, would be +drawn closer together. Germany dreamed a different sort of dream. +Judging other nations by herself, she did not expect England to come to +the aid of Belgium and France, and now she had made another mistake. +She had set both Japan and Mexico down as the natural foes of the +United States, waiting only for a favorable opportunity to strike. + +The answer from Mexico was not so satisfactory as that from Japan. +Villa, the famous Mexican bandit chief, when he conferred on the border +with Major-General Scott as to the firing at Naco, it is said, had +whispered to the American General a story of Japanese conspiracy in +Mexico City. He claimed that the captain of a Japanese vessel in a +Mexican port had spoken of the natural ties of friendship that should +exist between Mexico and Japan, and had also spoken of the United +States as the natural enemy to both countries. Villa had boasted loudly +that, if war came between Japan and the United States, Mexico would be +found fighting for her American neighbor. But later, when the United +States recognized Carranza as ruler of Mexico and turned against Villa, +the bandit chief hastened to seek aid against his "neighbor," from +Tokio. Needless to say, he failed. + +General Huerta's effort to start a new revolution in Mexico, after he +returned to the United States from Spain, has been traced directly to +the Germans. He, too, looked hopefully for aid from Japan, but was +disappointed. + +Before the United States had recognized the Carranza government, the +Carranza officials displayed great affection for the Japanese Minister +who had been sent to their country, and for Japan. But the government +at Tokio knew that the display was merely made for American eyes, and +carefully avoided any warm response. Thus has Zimmermann's scheme come +to be called his "back-stairs policy" and "the plot that failed." + +Thanks to the discovery of the Zimmermann plot, Japan and the United +States understand each other better, and are growing more and more +friendly. Mexico is keeping her troubles to herself and has all she can +do in straightening out her own affairs. The boys and girls in America +will hope, if baseball and football will teach the Mexicans to play +fair, that these games and others like them will become as popular +there as they are in the United States. + + * * * * * + +A man is a father, a brother, a German, a Roman, an American; but +beneath all these relations, he is a man. The end of his human destiny +is not to be the best German, or the best Roman, or the best father, +but the best man he can be.... + +Though darkness sometimes shadows our national sky, though confusion +comes from error, and success breeds corruption, yet will the storm +pass in God's good time; and in clearer sky and purer atmosphere, our +national life grow stronger and nobler, sanctified more and more, +consecrated to God and liberty by the martyrs who fall in the strife +for the just and true. + + GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS. + + + + +WHY WE FIGHT GERMANY + + +Because of Belgium, invaded, outraged, enslaved, impoverished Belgium. +We cannot forget Liége, Louvain, and Cardinal Mercier. Translated into +terms of American history, these names stand for Bunker Hill, +Lexington, and Patrick Henry. + +Because of France, invaded, desecrated France, a million of whose +heroic sons have died to save the land of Lafayette. Glorious, golden +France, the preserver of the arts, the land of noble spirit, the first +land to follow our lead into republican liberty. + +Because of England, from whom came the laws, traditions, standards of +life, and inherent love of liberty which we call Anglo-Saxon +civilization. We defeated her once upon the land and once upon the sea. +But Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Canada are free because of what +we did. And they are with us in the fight for the freedom of the seas. + +Because of Russia--new Russia. She must not be overwhelmed now. Not +now, surely, when she is just born into freedom. Her peasants must have +their chance; they must go to school to Washington, to Jefferson, and +to Lincoln, until they know their way about in this new, strange world +of government by the popular will. + +Because of other peoples, with their rising hope that the world may be +freed from government by the soldier. + +We are fighting Germany because she sought to terrorize us and then to +fool us. We could not believe that Germany would do what she said she +would do upon the seas. + +We still hear the piteous cries of children coming up out of the sea +where the _Lusitania_ went down. And Germany has never asked the +forgiveness of the world. + +We saw the _Sussex_ sunk, crowded with the sons and daughters of +neutral nations. + +We saw ship after ship sent to the bottom--ships of mercy bound out of +America for the Belgian starving, ships carrying the Red Cross and +laden with the wounded of all nations, ships carrying food and clothing +to friendly, harmless, terrorized peoples, ships flying the Stars and +Stripes--sent to the bottom hundreds of miles from shore, manned by +American seamen, murdered against all law, without warning. + +We believed Germany's promise that she would respect the neutral flag +and the rights of neutrals, and we held our anger and outrage in check. +But now we see that she was holding us off with fair promises until she +could build her huge fleet of submarines. For when spring came, she +blew her promise into the air, just as at the beginning she had torn up +that "scrap of paper." Then we saw clearly that there was but one law +for Germany, her will to rule. + +We are fighting Germany because in this war feudalism is making its +last stand against on-coming democracy. We see it now. This is a war +against an old spirit, an ancient, outworn spirit. It is a war against +feudalism--the right of the castle on the hill to rule the village +below. It is a war for democracy--the right of all to be their own +masters. Let Germany be feudal if she will. But she must not spread her +system over a world that has outgrown it. + +We fight with the world for an honest world in which nations keep their +word, for a world in which nations do not live by swagger or by threat, +for a world in which men think of the ways in which they can conquer +the common cruelties of nature instead of inventing more horrible +cruelties to inflict upon the spirit and body of man, for a world in +which the ambition of the philosophy of a few shall not make miserable +all mankind, for a world in which the man is held more precious than +the machine, the system, or the State. + + SECRETARY FRANKLIN K. LANE, June 4, 1917. + + + + +GENERAL PERSHING + + +In April, 1917, a small group of men in civilian dress climbed up the +side of the ocean liner, the _Baltic_, just outside of New York harbor. +Each one carried a suitcase or a hand-bag, which was his only baggage. +They had come down the harbor through the fog and mist on a tugboat. +These men were officers in the United States army, and among them were +General Pershing and his staff--"Black Jack Pershing," as his men +affectionately called him. + +They were given no farewell at the dock, in fact their going was kept a +profound secret; for should the Germans learn upon what liner the chief +officers of the American army that was soon to gather in France, took +passage, all their submarines would neglect everything else in +attempting to sink this one vessel. + +The officers reached England in safety, and made preparations for the +great American armies that were soon to follow them. General Pershing +was appointed commander of these armies. He had just come from service +in Mexico, where he had led American troops in search of the outlaw, +Villa. + + [Illustration: GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING + _Photograph from Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +General Pershing is a West Point graduate; but he narrowly escaped +following another career, for he gained his appointment to West Point +by only one point over his nearest competitor. He has made fighting his +life work. We are all beginning to see that in the world as it is made +up at present, some men must prepare for fighting and make fighting +their life work. Universal peace must come through war, and many are +hoping that it will come as a result of the World War. William Jennings +Bryan and Henry Ford are among the world's leading advocates of +universal peace. When the United States declared war, Bryan said, "The +quickest road to peace is through the war to victory"; and Henry Ford +turned over to the government his great automobile factories and gave +his own services on one of the war boards, to make the war more quickly +successful. + +An interesting story is told us in the _Dallas News_ of Pershing's +school days at normal school, before he went to West Point. It shows +that he never shunned a fight, if the rights of others needed to be +defended. + + An incident of the boyhood days of General John J. Pershing, + illustrating how the principle for which the American general is + leading this nation's armies against the hordes of + autocracy--the square deal for every one--has always + predominated in the American leader, was related yesterday by + Dr. James L. Holloway of Dallas, who went to school with + Pershing in Kirksville, Missouri, many years ago, and who + during that period was an intimate friend of the General. + + "When I arrived at Kirksville to attend the Normal School there, + I was a green country boy," Dr. Holloway said, "and carried my + belongings in a very frail trunk. The baggageman who was on the + station platform was handling my trunk roughly, and when I + remonstrated with him in my timid way, he merely pitched the + trunk off the baggage wagon and laughed at me. When the trunk + fell on the ground it broke open and scattered my things around + on the platform. I indignantly told him that I would report the + matter to the headquarters of the railroad in St. Louis, and + again he laughed at me. + + "I wrote the head of the baggage department, as I said I would, + and later learned that the offending baggageman had been + severely censured. Meanwhile I had struck up a strong + acquaintance with Jack Pershing, who was a big, husky boy from a + Missouri country town. I will always remember his broad + forehead, his determined-looking jaw, and his steel gray eyes. + He was a favorite among the boys at the Normal School, not so + much on account of his mental brilliancy but because of his + personal stamina. + + "Two weeks after my encounter with the baggageman, Pershing and + I walked down to the railroad station. It was on Sunday and the + baggage office was closed. Pershing left me for a moment, and as + I walked around a corner of the station I met the baggageman, + who approached threateningly. 'You're the fellow who reported me + to headquarters,' he said, bullying me. I admitted that I had. + 'Well,' said the baggageman, 'I'm going to lick you good for + it.' With these words he started toward me. At this juncture + Pershing's big frame rounded the corner of the station. + + "'What's the trouble, Holloway?' he asked. I told him the + baggageman was threatening me with violence. 'He is, is he?' + said Pershing. 'Well, we'll clean his plowshare for him right + now.' + + "I shall never forget this expression. The baggageman, seeing + that he was no match for Pershing--let alone the two of us--left + the scene of action. We didn't even have a chance to lay our + hands on him. + + "Six months after this occurred, Pershing was appointed to West + Point. I have never seen him since." + +For several years after his graduation from West Point, no promotion +came to Pershing; but he was not idle nor soured by disappointment. He +continued to study, especially military tactics. He became so well +versed in this branch that he was sent to West Point to teach it. + +When the Spanish-American War broke out, Pershing asked for a command, +and was appointed first lieutenant with a troop of colored cavalry, and +sent to Cuba. At the battle of El Caney he led his troops with such +bravery and success that he was at once promoted and made a captain +"for gallantry in action." + +Then he went to the Philippines with General Chaffee. He performed much +valuable service there. Perhaps the single deed by which his work there +is best known is the lesson he taught the Sultan of Mindanao. The +Sultan was a Mohammedan, and ruled over many thousand Malays. To kill a +Christian was thought to be a good deed by the Sultan, and he was +always glad of an opportunity to show his goodness. For three hundred +years, he and his predecessors had escaped punishment by the Spaniards, +who owned and ruled the islands. + +The Sultan's chief village and stronghold could be reached only by +passing through the dense and dangerous tropical jungles; and when it +was reached, it was found to be surrounded by a wall of earth and +bamboo, forty feet thick, and outside the wall by a moat fifty feet +wide. It does not seem so strange that the Spaniards had done nothing. + +But Pershing cut a path through the jungles and reached the Sultan's +village, and informed him that there must be no more murders of +Christians. The Sultan was very pleasant, in fact he laughed at the +young American captain. + +Soon word came to American headquarters that the Sultan had caused the +death of another Christian missionary. In forty-eight hours most of the +earth and bamboo wall was in the moat, and the Sultan's village was +destroyed. In less than two years, Pershing established law and order +in all of western Mindanao. + +He was also in command of the troops sent to the Border and into Mexico +after the outlaw, Villa. The soldiers with him there always recall his +constant advice, "Shoulders back, chin up, and do your best." + +General Pershing is a man who has never feared obstacles, and has +never hesitated to give the time and labor necessary to overcome them. +That there is no easy path to greatness and success, but that both will +come to him who prepares himself, who works, who sticks at it, who is +brave and sacrificing--this is the lesson of General Pershing's life +and work. + +Shortly after General Pershing reached France, the French people +celebrated the birthday of Lafayette; and General Pershing visited the +tomb of the great French patriot, to place there a wreath in token of +America's gratitude. A large number of French people were gathered +there, and every one supposed General Pershing would make a +speech--that is, every one except General Pershing. When he was called +upon, he was dumfounded, but at last he said, "Well, Lafayette, we are +here." That was all. + +Could he have said more if he had talked an hour? He said, "Lafayette, +your people now need us. We have not forgotten. Here we are, and behind +us are all the resources of the wealthiest and most enterprising nation +in the world, billions of dollars and millions of men. We are only the +first to arrive to pay the debt we have owed to you for one hundred and +forty years, but here we are at last." + +It is said that men and women wept aloud as the full significance of +the words and all they meant for France became clear to them. + + + + +THE MELTING POT + + +America has been called the "crucible" or the "melting pot" of nations, +because many peoples of many races and many countries come together +here, and in the heat of life and struggle are molded into Americans. +President Wilson said, in a speech at Cincinnati in 1916, "America is +not made out of a single stock. Here we have a great melting pot." + +As soon as we entered the war against Germany, the question arose in +the minds of most people as to how the large number of Germans in the +United States would act. Germany had taught them that even though they +became naturalized and took the oath of allegiance as American +citizens, such action was not binding, but was like "a scrap of paper" +to be destroyed and forgotten whenever necessity demanded, and that +"once a German" meant "always a German." It seems now that Germany +actually expected the Germans, who had left their native land to seek +opportunity, freedom, and citizenship under the Stars and Stripes, to +fight against their new and adopted home; but events have proved that +most German-Americans have higher ideals of right. A leading +German-American has written a book entitled "Right before Peace"; its +title carries the thought that has guided most of his fellow-countrymen +and their children in the United States during the World War. + +A few months after the United States had declared that a state of war +existed with Germany, many leading men of this country of foreign birth +and parentage, signed, with others, a declaration drawn up by Theodore +Roosevelt. This declaration, somewhat abbreviated but not altered in +thought, is as follows. It makes very clear what America should mean to +her adopted children. + + We Americans are the children of the crucible. We have boasted + that out of the crucible, the melting pot of life, in this free + land, all the men and all the women who have come here from all + the nations come forth as Americans, and as nothing else, like + all other Americans, equal to them, and holding no allegiance to + any other land or nation. We hold it then to be our duty, as it + is of every American, always to stand together for the honor and + interest of America, even if such a stand brings us into + conflict with our fatherland. If an American does not so act, he + is false to the teachings and the lives of Washington and + Lincoln; he has no right in our country, and he should be sent + out of it; for he has shown that the crucible has failed to do + its work. The crucible must melt all who are cast into it, and + it must turn them out in one American mold, the mold shaped one + hundred and forty years ago by the men who, under Washington, + founded this as a free nation, separate from all others. Even at + that time, these true Americans were of different races; Paul + Revere and Charles Carroll, Marion, Herkimer, Sullivan, + Schuyler, and Muhlenberg were equals in service and respect + with Lighthorse Harry Lee and Israel Putnam. Most of them, + however, were of English blood, but they did not hesitate to + fight Great Britain when she was in the wrong. They stood for + liberty and for the eternal rule of right and justice, and they + stood as Americans and as nothing else. + + So must all Americans of whatever race act to-day; otherwise + they are traitors to America. This applies, especially to-day, + to all Americans of German blood who, in any manner, support + Germany against the United States and her Allies. + + Many pacifists have during the last three years proved + themselves the evil enemies of their country. They now seek an + inconclusive peace. In so doing they show themselves to be the + spiritual heirs of the Tories, who, in the name of peace, + opposed Washington, and of the Copperheads, who, in the name of + peace, opposed Lincoln. We look upon them as traitors to the + Republic and to the great cause of justice and humanity. This + war is a war for the vital interests of America. When we fight + for America abroad, we save our children from fighting for + America at home beside their own ruined hearthstones. To accept + any peace, except one based on the complete overthrow of Germany + as she is under the ideals of Prussia and the Hohenzollerns, we + believe would be an act of baseness and cowardice, and a + betrayal of this country and of mankind. + + The test of an American to-day is service against Germany. We + should put forth as speedily as possible every particle of our + vast, lazy strength to win the triumph over Germany. The + government should at once deal with the greatest severity with + traitors at home. + + We must have but one flag. We must also have but one language. + This must be the language of the Declaration of Independence, of + Washington's Farewell Address, and of Lincoln's Gettysburg + Speech. + + Of us who sign, some are Protestants, some are Catholics, some + are Jews. Most of us were born in this country of parents born + in various countries of the Old World--in Germany, France, + England, Ireland, Italy, the Slavonic and the Scandinavian + lands; some of us were born abroad; some of us are of + Revolutionary stock. All of us are Americans, and nothing but + Americans. + + +THE AMERICAN'S CREED[8] + +I believe in the United States of America as a government of the +people, by the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived +from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a +sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and +inseparable, established upon those principles of freedom, equality, +justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their +lives and fortunes. + +I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support +its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend +it against all enemies. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY E.J. WYATT, BALTIMORE. + + + + +BIRDMEN + + +Although I am an American, I am still in the French aviation corps, in +which I enlisted when the war broke out. I am too old for service under +the Stars and Stripes, but not too old to risk my life under the French +flag for the freedom of the world. + +I was trained in a French aviation school. Flyers were needed +immediately; and so I did not go through "a ground school," or any +teaching like that given for eight weeks in the American ground +schools. I was sent directly to the flying field and given a machine at +once. I did not, as they do at American flying fields, go up first with +an instructor who might be tempted to "scare me to death" by "looping +the loop" or doing "tail spins." I took my own machine at the very +start and, after being given the simplest directions, away I went in +it; but I did not break any records for altitude. + +It was a small monoplane with a 20-horse-power motor, and its wings had +been clipped; so all it could do was to roll along the ground. It was, +however, some time before I could guide it in a straight line. I was +discouraged at first, but felt better when I learned that it was very +difficult even for an experienced flyer. + +Such machines are called "penguins" and have a trick of turning +suddenly in a short half circle and smashing the end of a wing against +the ground. The queer antics of beginners in them furnish fun for every +one on the flying fields. + +After I had mastered this machine, I was given one with a motor of +greater horse power, and in this I could fly along the ground at nearly +sixty miles an hour; but I could not rise into the air, for the wings +were clipped and did not have sufficient sustaining power to hold the +machine in the air. + +Then at last I was given a plane with full-sized wings; but, as its +motor generated only about 25-horse power, I could get only from three +to six feet above the ground, and went skimming along now on the ground +and now a few feet in the air. + +In these machines, we learned only how to manage the tail of the +machine. As we skimmed along the ground, we tipped the tail at an angle +slightly above a straight line. In a few moments we were off the +ground, and the roar of the motor sounded softer and smoother. It +seemed as if we were very far from the earth, and that something might +break and dash us to our death--in reality, we had not risen six feet. +To get back to earth, we must push the lever that lowers the tail--but +this must be done very slightly and very carefully. A little push too +much, and the machine will suddenly dive into the ground. + +After my experience with the first two machines, I found it easy to +handle this one, and was soon given one that would take me up about +fifty feet and give me a chance to learn the "feel of the air." All my +flying was still in straight lines, or as nearly straight as I could +make it. We were not yet allowed to try to turn. + +In the next machine I could rise two or three hundred feet and began to +learn to turn, although most of the flying was still in straight lines. + +I was beginning to make good landings, which is the hardest part of the +game. We have to let the ship down on two wheels and let the tail skid +at a speed of thirty-five miles an hour and not break the landing gear. + +The machines often bound three or four times when landing and that is +hard on the landing gear. My last landing was so soft that I was not +sure when I touched the ground. To take off is quite easy. The ship is +controlled by an upright stick which is between one's knees and just +right for the left hand. The rudder is controlled by the feet, and the +throttle is on the right side. To take off, we get up a speed of about +forty-six miles per hour and raise the tail up until the ship is level, +and then when she starts to rise, lift the nose just a little and climb +slowly. + +On turns, the ship has to be banked, tipped up with the inside wing +low, and turned with the rudder. It is quite a hard thing to do when it +is rough, as just about the time we bank, we get a puff of wind which +will hit one wing and she will roll and rock so that we have to get her +straightened out. It is a fight all the time until you get about 3000 +feet up, when the air gets steady. + +To land, we slow the engine down to idling speed and come down in a +steep glide until five or six feet from the ground, then level off and +glide along until she begins to settle, then jerk the tail down until +she stops. We always have to take off and come down against the wind. + +I was obliged to follow the directions of my instructor, much against +my own wishes. It seemed to me that I could now do anything in the air +and that there was not the slightest danger. This too early feeling of +mastery is the cause of many beginners' being injured or killed, by +trying "stunts" too difficult for them. + +I did not spend much time in flying at first, after I had learned how +to handle the airplane. It is not difficult to stay in the air and to +fly, but it is difficult to land safely without breaking the machine. +So I was kept practicing landing. + +To secure my license I was required to fly 50 miles in a straight line +to a named place, and then back; then to fly 200 miles in a triangle, +passing through two named places; and last of all to stay one hour in +the air at an altitude higher than 7000 feet. + +Now the French schools require only a 30-mile flight with three +successful landings, before sending the flyer to the finishing school, +where he learns to do all the "stunts" that a fighter must be able to +do in order to succeed. I learned the tail wing slip, the tail spin and +dive, the _vrille_, to loop the loop, and many other fancy flying +tricks. They have saved my life more than once. + +I was interested in reading the other day James Norman Hall's funny +description of how he learned at last to master the penguin. He felt +triumphant, but he says, "But no one had seen my splendid sortie. Now +that I had arrived, no one paid the least attention to me. All eyes +were turned upward, and following them with my own, I saw an airplane +outlined against a heaped-up pile of snow-white cloud. It was moving at +tremendous speed, when suddenly it darted straight upward, wavered for +a second or two, turned slowly on one wing, and fell, nose-down, +turning round and round as it fell, like a scrap of paper. It was the +_vrille_, the prettiest piece of aërial acrobatics that one could wish +to see. It was a wonderful, an incredible sight. + +"Some one was counting the turns of the _vrille_. Six, seven, eight; +then the airman came out of it on an even keel, and, nosing down to +gather speed, looped twice in quick succession. Afterward he did the +_retournement_, turning completely over in the air and going back in +the opposite direction; then spiraled down and passed over our heads at +about fifty meters, landing at the opposite side of the field so +beautifully that it was impossible to know when the machine touched the +ground." + +There is nothing in all the experiences of life like what one feels in +flying through the air, especially at a great height and with no other +machines in sight. There is a loneliness, unlike any other kind of +loneliness; there is a feeling of smallness and weakness; a sense of +the immensity of things and of the presence and nearness of God. It is +surprising that in doing that in which man has shown his greatest power +over the forces of Nature, he feels most his littleness and how easily +he could be destroyed by the very forces he has conquered. + +Lieutenant Roberts, an American flying in France, described not long +ago an experience that came just after his first flight. He was up in +the air, higher than anybody had ever been before, when the machine +suddenly broke into little pieces, which, as he was tumbling down +through the air, he vainly tried to catch. Just as he hit the ground +and broke every bone in his body, he woke up on the floor beside his +bunk. + +The Englishmen are the most daring of all the flyers, take the most +risks, and do the most dangerous "stunts." Not so much is heard of them +because their exploits and their scores are not announced by the +British army. Bishop, who has just been ordered from the flying field +to safer work, is said to have brought down nearly eighty German +planes, and on the day he learned of his recall, went up and brought +down two. + +The Americans are daredevils, too. I took one of them one night as a +"guest," when I went over Metz on a bombing expedition. One of the +bombs stuck. He thought it might cause us trouble when we landed, +possibly explode and kill us, so he crawled out over the fusilage and +released it. He certainly earned his passage. + +With several other Americans we formed what we called the American +Escadrille; but as the United States was neutral at that time, we were +obliged to change the name to the Lafayette Escadrille. + +Since joining the squadron, I have used all sorts of machines, and +there are many of them, from the heavy bombing machine to the swift +little swallow-like scouts. + +My first important work was reconnoissance, in which I carried an +observer. I managed the machine, and he did the reconnoitering. We went +out twice a day and flew over into German territory, sometimes as far +in as fifty miles, observing all that was going on, the movements of +troops and supplies, and the building of railroads and defensive works. +We also took photographs of the country over which we flew. + +Reconnoissance is dangerous work, and is constantly growing more so, as +anti-aircraft guns are improved. These guns are mounted on a revolving +table, upon which is a mirror in which the airplane shows as soon as it +comes within range of the gun. With an instrument designed for the +purpose, the crew get the flyer's altitude; and with another, the rate +at which he is traveling. They aim the gun for the proper altitude, +make the correct allowance for the time it will take the shell to reach +him, and as they have an effective range of over 30,000 feet, there is +reason to worry. Yet by zig-zagging and other devices, the aviators are +rarely brought down by anti-aircraft guns. The small scout machines +with a wing spread of not more than thirty feet are not visible to the +naked eye when at an altitude of over 10,000 feet, and are therefore +safe from these guns at this height. + +But reconnoissance, to be effective, must be done at a much lower +altitude, and sometimes the machine must remain under fire for a +considerable period of time. Poiret, the French aviator, fighting with +the Russians, with a captain of the General Staff for an observer, was +under rifle and shell fire for about twenty minutes. His machine was +up about 4000 feet. Ten bullets and two pieces of shell hit his +airplane, but he never lost control. The captain was shot through the +heel, the bullet coming out of his calf; but he continued taking notes. +They returned in safety to their lines. + +I also did some work in directing artillery fire. For this my machine +was equipped with a wireless apparatus for sending. No method has yet +been devised whereby an airplane in flight can receive wireless +messages. In directing the fire of the big guns, the aviator seeks to +get directly over the object that is under fire, and to signal or send +wireless messages in regard to where the shells land. After the aviator +is in position, the third shot usually reaches the target. + +I am not yet one of the great aces, and will not, therefore, tell you +about any of my air battles. I hope some day you may read of them and +that I may come to have the honor of being named with Lufbery, +Guynemer, Nungesser, Fonk, Bishop, Ball, Genét, Chapman, McConnell, +Prince, Putnam, and other heroes of the air. + +Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford, who won the Victoria Cross for destroying +a giant Zeppelin, is one of the greatest of these; at least, he +performed a feat never accomplished before and never since. + +At three o'clock one morning in June, 1915, he discovered a Zeppelin +returning from bombing towns along the east coast of England. The Huns +shot Captain Fryatt because, as they said, he was a non-combatant and +tried to defend himself. The rule that non-combatants should not attack +military forces was made with the understanding that military forces +would not war on non-combatants. But law, or justice, or agreements +never are allowed by the Huns to stand in their way. This Zeppelin was +returning from a raid in which twenty-four were killed and sixty +seriously injured, nearly all women and children, and all +non-combatants. + +Lieutenant Warneford well knew of the dastardly deeds of the Zeppelins, +and he immediately gave chase, firing as he approached. The Zeppelin +returned his shots. He mounted as rapidly as possible so as to get the +great gas-bag below him, until he reached over 6000 feet and the +Zeppelin was about 150 feet directly below him. Both were moving very +rapidly, and to hit was exceedingly difficult, but he dropped six +bombs, one after the other. One of them hit the Zeppelin squarely, +exploded the gas-bag, and set it afire its entire length. The explosion +turned Lieutenant Warneford's airplane upside down, and although he +soon righted it, he was obliged to land. He was over territory occupied +by the Germans and he landed behind the German lines, but he succeeded +in rising again before being captured, and returned to his hangar in +safety, to tell his marvelous story. The Zeppelin and its crew were +completely destroyed. A few days later Lieutenant Warneford was killed. + +One of the greatest air duels, between airplanes, was during the Battle +of Vimy Ridge. At that time Immelman was as great a German ace as were +Boelke and Richthofen later, and Ball was the greatest of the English. + +One morning Ball learned that Immelman was stationed with the Germans +on the opposite line, and carried him a challenge which read: + + CAPTAIN IMMELMAN: I challenge you to a man-to-man fight to take + place this afternoon at two o'clock. I will meet you over the + German lines. Have your anti-aircraft guns withhold their fire + while we decide which is the better man. The British guns will + be silent. + + BALL. + +Ball dropped this from his airplane behind the German lines, and soon +afterward Immelman dropped his answer behind the British lines: + + CAPTAIN BALL: + + Your challenge is accepted. The German guns will not interfere. + I will meet you promptly at two. + + IMMELMAN. + +A few minutes before two, the guns ceased firing, and all on both sides +fixed their eyes in the air to witness a contest between two knights +that would make the contests of the days of chivalry seem tame. + + [Illustration: A BATTLE IN THE AIR + The French plane at the top is maneuvering for position + preparatory to swooping down on its German adversary. + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +In an air battle, the machine that is higher up is thought to have the +advantage. Both Ball and Immelman went up very high, but Ball was below +and seemed uncertain what to do. The British were afraid that he had +lost his nerve and courage when he found himself below, for he made no +effort to get above his opponent, but was flying now this way and now +that, as if "rattled." + +Immelman did not delay, but went into a nose dive directly towards the +machine below, which he would be able to rake with his machine gun as +he approached; but just at the proper moment, Ball suddenly looped the +loop and was directly above the German, and in position to fire. As the +shower of bullets struck Immelman and his machine, it burst into flames +and dropped like a blazing comet. + +Ball returned to his hangar, got a wreath of flowers, and went into the +air again to drop them upon the spot where Immelman had fallen dead. + +Four days later Ball was killed in a fight with four German planes, but +not until he had brought down three of them. + +But the fighting planes do not get all the thrills in the air. A young +English aviator and his observer who were directing artillery fire in +September, 1918, showed as great devotion and courage as any ace and +lived through as exciting an adventure as ever befell a fighting +plane. + +They were flying over No Man's Land to get the proper range for a +battery which was to destroy a bridge of great value to the Huns. Their +engine had been running badly and back-firing. They would have returned +home had their work been of less importance. + +Suddenly the pilot smelled burning wood, and looking down, saw the +framework near his feet blackened and smoldering. It had caught fire +from the backfire of the engine and the exhaust, but was not yet in a +decided blaze. He turned off the gas and opened the throttle. Then he +made a steep, swift dive, and the powerful rush of the air put the fire +out. + +Then he hesitated, trying to decide whether to "play safe" and go home +or whether to continue their work until the battery had secured the +exact range. He knew that in a very short time and with a little more +observation, their work would be completely successful. So he turned to +the observer and asked him what he thought. The observer leaned over +and examined the damage near the pilot's feet. It did not look very +bad; so he shouted, "Let's carry on." + +Up they went again and in a short time had shells from the battery +falling all about the bridge, which was soon destroyed. Their work was +done, and well done. In the excitement they had forgotten the bad +engine until they heard it give one last sputter and stop. + +Then they perceived the woodwork was on fire again and really blazing +this time. To dive now would only fan the flames about the pilot's +feet, but they must get to the ground, and get there quickly, too. + +The pilot put the machine into a side slip toward the British line. +This fanned the flames away from his feet. The observer squirted the +fire extinguisher on the burning wood near the pilot's feet, and thus +enabled him to keep control of the rudder bar. + +They were now within fifteen hundred feet of the ground, but the heat +was almost unbearable. The right wing was beginning to burn. Down, +down, they went, and luckily towards a fairly good landing place. One +landing wheel struck the ground with such force that it was broken off, +and the airplane bumped along on the other for a short distance until +it finally crashed on its nose and left wing. + +Both pilot and observer were unhurt. They sprang to the ground and +hurried away from the burning wreck just in time, for a few seconds +later the gasoline tank exploded. They looked at each other without a +word, but neither of them regretted that he had stayed up until the job +had been finished. + +Such is the life and the danger of the flyers; but thousands of the +finest young men of all the nations at war eagerly seek the service, +for the aviators are the eyes of the armies and will determine always +more than any other branch which side shall be finally victorious. + + + + +ALAN SEEGER[9] + + +As England and the world lost Rupert Brooke, so America and the world +lost Alan Seeger. English poetry and lovers of beauty expressed in +verse are losers to a greater extent than we can ever know. + +It is not strange that these two young poets should have enlisted at +the very beginning of the war, for they recognized what high-minded men +mean by _noblesse oblige_. Much having been given you, much is expected +from you. Those of the highest education should show the way to those +less favored. So Rupert Brooke enlisted in the English navy, and Alan +Seeger enlisted in the French army as one of the Foreign Legion. + +He felt he owed a debt to France that could only be paid by helping her +in her struggle for life and liberty. He gave his life, at the age of +twenty-eight, to pay the debt. + +Alan Seeger lived a life like that of many other American boys. At +Staten Island where he passed his first years, he could see every day +the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, the skyscrapers of New York, +the ferry boats to the Jersey shore, the great ocean liners inward +bound and outward bound,--all the great and significant things that say +"America" to one landing for the first time at the greatest seaport of +the world. Later he lived in New York and attended the Horace Mann +School. His vacations were spent among the hills and mountains of New +Hampshire and in southern California. He fitted for college at a famous +preparatory school at Tarrytown on the Hudson, attended Harvard +College, and after graduation lived for two years in New York City. All +this is American, and thousands of other American boys have passed +through the same or a similar experience. + +Alan Seeger was romantic. So are most boys. But with most boys, romance +goes no further than books and dreams. "Robinson Crusoe," "Huckleberry +Finn," "Treasure Island," and other tales of adventure and of foreign +lands are all the romance that many know. But, like Rupert Brooke, Alan +Seeger had the opportunity to live romance, as he always declared he +would do. He found it in his life as a boy in Mexico, as a young man in +Paris, and in the Foreign Legion of the French army. The Foreign Legion +was made up of foreigners in France who volunteered to fight with the +French army. Its story is a stirring one of brave deeds and tremendous +losses. To have belonged to it is a great glory. + +Alan Seeger enjoyed life and found the world exceedingly beautiful. He +says, + + From a boy + I gloated on existence. Earth to me + Seemed all sufficient, and my sojourn there + One trembling opportunity for joy. + +Like Rupert Brooke, he thought often of Death, which he feared not at +all. In his beautiful poem entitled, "I Have a Rendezvous with Death," +he looked forward to his own death in the spring of 1916. He lost his +life on July 4 of that year while storming the village of +Belloy-en-Santerre. The first two stanzas are as follows: + + I have a rendezvous with Death + At some disputed barricade, + When Spring comes back with rustling shade + And apple blossoms fill the air-- + I have a rendezvous with Death + When Spring brings back blue days and fair + + It may be he shall take my hand + And lead me into his dark land + And close my eyes and quench my breath-- + It may be I shall pass him still. + I have a rendezvous with Death + On some scarred slope of battered hill, + When Spring comes round again this year + And the first meadow flowers appear. + +Alan Seeger has written two poems that all Americans should know. One +is entitled "Ode in Memory of the American Volunteers Fallen for +France." It was to have been read before the statue of Lafayette and +Washington in Paris, on Memorial Day, 1916; but permission to go to +Paris to read it did not reach Seeger in time, to the disappointment of +him and many others. It is perhaps the best long poem Seeger has +written, although "Champagne, 1914-15" is by many ranked ahead of it. + + * * * * * + +"A man is judged and ranked by that which he considers to be of the +greatest value. Some men believe it is knowledge, and spend their lives +in study and research; some think it is beauty, and vainly seek to +capture it and hold it in song, poem, statue, or painting; some say it +is goodness, and devote their lives to service, self-denial, and +sacrifice; some declare it is life itself, and therefore never kill any +creature and always carefully protect their own lives from disease and +danger; and some are sure it is being true to the best knowledge, the +greatest beauty, the highest good that one can know and feel and +realize; for this alone is life, and times come when the only way to +save one's life is to lose it." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[9] BASED ON POEMS OF ALAN SEEGER, COPYRIGHT HELD BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S +SONS. + + + + +CAN WAR EVER BE RIGHT? + + +After England had entered the war against the Central Powers, Gilbert +Murray, an English writer, asked this question and answered it by +saying "Yes," and giving his reasons. + +He had always favored peace. He hated war, not merely for its own +cruelty and folly, but because it was an enemy of good government, of +friendship and gentleness, and of art, learning, and literature. + +Yet he believed firmly that England was right in declaring war against +Germany on August 4, 1914, and that she would have failed in her duty +if she had remained neutral. France, Russia, Belgium, and Serbia had no +choice. They were obliged to fight, for the war was forced upon them. +Germany did not wish to fight England; but after carefully looking over +the whole matter, England, of her own free will, declared war. She took +upon her shoulders a great responsibility. But she was right. + +With a few changes in the wording and some omissions, the argument of +Gilbert Murray is as follows: + +"How can such a thing be? It is easy enough to see that our cause is +right, and that the German cause is wrong. It is hardly possible to +study the official papers issued by the British, the German, and the +Russian governments, without seeing that Germany--or some party in +Germany--had plotted this war beforehand; that she chose a moment when +she thought her neighbors were at a disadvantage; that she prevented +Austria from making a settlement even at the last moment; that in order +to get more quickly at France she violated her treaty with Belgium. +Evidence shows that she has carried out the violation with a cruelty +that has no equal in the wars of modern and civilized nations. Yet +there may be some people who still feel doubtful. Germany's wrong-doing +they think is no reason for us to do likewise. We did our best to keep +the general peace; there we were right. We failed; the German +government made war in spite of us. There we were unfortunate. It was a +war already on an enormous scale and we decided to make it larger +still. There we were wrong. Could we not have stood aside, as the +United States did, ready to help refugees and sufferers, anxious to +heal wounds and not make them, watchful for the first chance of putting +an end to this time of horror? + +"'Try for a moment,' they say, 'to realize the suffering in one small +corner of a battlefield. You have seen a man here and there badly hurt +in an accident; you have seen perhaps a horse with its back broken, and +you can remember how dreadful it seemed to you. In that one corner how +many men, how many horses, will be lying, hurt far worse, and just +waiting to die? Terrible wounds, extreme torment; and all, further than +any eye can see, multiplied and multiplied! And, for all your just +anger against Germany, what have these wounded done? The horses are not +to blame for anybody's foreign policy. They have only come where their +masters took them. And the masters themselves ... though certain German +rulers and leaders are wicked, these soldiers, peasants, working-men, +shop-keepers, and schoolmasters, have really done nothing in +particular; at least, perhaps they have now, but they had not up to the +time when you, seeing they were in war and misery already, decided to +make war on them also and increase their sufferings. You say that +justice must be done on such wrong-doers. But as far as the rights and +wrongs of the war go, you are simply condemning to death and torture +innocent men, by thousands and thousands; is that the best way to +satisfy your sense of justice? These innocent people, you say, are +fighting to protect the guilty parties whom you are determined to +reach. Well, perhaps, at the end of the war, after millions of innocent +people have suffered, you may at last, if all goes well with your arms, +get at the "guilty parties." You will hold an inquiry, you will decide +that certain Prussians with long titles are the guilty parties, and +even then you will not know what to do with them. You will probably +try, and almost certainly fail, to make them somehow feel ashamed. It +is likely enough that they will instead become great national heroes. + +"'And after all, this is supposed to be a war in which one party is +wrong and the other right, and the right wins. Suppose both are wrong; +or suppose the wrong party wins? It is as likely as not; for, if the +right party is helped by his good conscience, the wrong has probably +taken pains to have the odds on his side before he began quarreling. In +that case, all the wild waste of blood and treasure, all the suffering +of innocent people and dumb animals, all the tears of women and +children have not set up the right, but established the wrong. To do a +little evil that great or certain good may come is all very well; but +to do great evil for only a chance of getting something which half the +people may think good and the other half think bad ... that is neither +good morals nor good sense. Anybody not in a passion must see that it +is insanity,' So they say who think war always wrong. + +"Their argument is wrong. It is judging war as a profit-and-loss +account. It leaves out of sight the fact that in some causes it is +better to fight and be broken than to yield peacefully; that sometimes +the mere act of resisting to the death is in itself a victory. + +"Let us try to understand this. The Greeks who fought and died at +Thermopylæ had no doubt that they were doing right to fight and die, +and we all agree with them. They probably knew they would be defeated. +They probably expected that, after their defeat, the Persians would +easily conquer the rest of Greece, and would treat it much more harshly +because it had resisted. But such thoughts did not affect them. They +would not consent to their country's dishonor. + +"Take again a very clear modern case: the fine story of the French +tourist who was captured, together with a priest and some other white +people, by Moorish robbers. The Moors gave their prisoners the choice +either to trample on the Cross or to be killed. The Frenchman was not a +Christian. He disliked Christianity. But he was not going to trample on +the Cross at the orders of a robber. He stuck to his companions and +died with them. + +"Honor and dishonor are real things. I will not try to define them; but +will only notice that, like religion, they admit no bargaining. Indeed, +we can almost think of honor as being simply that which a free man +values more than life, and dishonor as that which he avoids more than +suffering or death. And the important point for us is that there are +such things as honor and dishonor. + +"There are some people, followers of Tolstoy, who accept this as far as +dying is concerned, but will have nothing to do with killing. Passive +resistance, they say, is right; martyrdom is right; but to resist +violence by violence is sin. + +"I was once walking with a friend of Tolstoy's in a country lane, and a +little girl was running in front of us. I put to him the well-known +question: 'Suppose you saw a man, wicked or drunk or mad, run out and +attack that child. You are a big man, and carry a big stick: would you +not stop him and, if necessary, knock him down?' 'No,' he said, 'why +should I commit a sin. I would try to persuade him, I would stand in +his way, I would let him kill me, but I would not strike him,' Some few +people will always be found, less than one in a thousand, to take this +view. They will say: 'Let the little girl be killed or carried off; let +the wicked man commit another wickedness; I, at any rate, will not add +to the mass of useless violence that I see all around me.' + +"With such persons one cannot reason, though one can often respect +them. Nearly every normal man will feel that the real sin, the real +dishonor, lies in allowing such an act to be committed under your eyes +while you have the strength to prevent it. And the stronger you are, +the greater your chance of success, by so much the more are you bound +to interfere. If the robbers are overpoweringly strong and there is no +chance of beating them, then and only then should you think of +martyrdom. Martyrdom is not the best possibility. It is almost the +worst. It is the last resort when there is no hope of successful +resistance. The best thing--suppose once the robbers are there and +intent on crime--the best thing is to overawe them at once; the next +best, to defeat them after a hard struggle; the third best, to resist +vainly and be martyred; the worst of all, the one evil that need never +be endured, is to let them have their own will without protest. + +"We have noticed that in all these cases of honor there seems to be no +counting of cost, no balancing of good and evil. Ordinarily we are +always balancing results, but when honor or religion come on the scene, +all such balancing ceases. The point of honor is the point at which a +man says to some wrong proposal, 'I will not do it. I will rather die.' + +"These things are far easier to see where one man is concerned than +where it is a whole nation. But they arise with nations, too. In the +case of a nation the material consequences are much larger, and the +point of honor is apt to be less clear. But, in general, whenever one +nation in dealing with another relies simply on force or fraud, and +denies to its neighbor the common consideration due to human beings, a +point of honor must arise. + +"Austria says suddenly to Serbia: 'You are a wicked little state. I +have annexed and governed against their will some millions of your +countrymen, yet you are still full of anti-Austrian feeling, which I +do not intend to allow. You will dismiss from your service all +officials, politicians, and soldiers who do not love Austria, and I +will further send you from time to time lists of persons whom you are +to dismiss or put to death. And if you do not agree to this within +forty-eight hours, I, being vastly stronger than you, will make you. As +a matter of fact, Serbia did her very best to comply with Austria's +demands; she accepted about two thirds of them, and asked for +arbitration on the remaining third. But it is clear that she could not +accept them all without being dishonored. That is, Serbia would have +given up her freedom at the threat of force; the Serbs would no longer +be a free people, and every individual Serb would have been humiliated. +He would have confessed himself to be the kind of man who will yield +when an Austrian bullies him. And if it is urged that under good +Austrian government Serbia would become richer and safer, and the +Serbian peasants get better markets, such pleas cannot be listened to. +They are a price offered for slavery; and a free man will not accept +slavery at any price. + +"Germany, again, says to Belgium: 'We have no quarrel with you, but we +intend for certain reasons to march across your territory and perhaps +fight a battle or two there. We know that you are pledged by treaty not +to allow any such thing, but we cannot help that. Consent, and we will +pay you afterwards; refuse, and we shall make you wish you had never +been born.' At that moment Belgium was a free, self-governing state. If +it had yielded to Germany's demand, it would have ceased to be either +free or self-governing. It is possible that, if Germany had been +completely victorious, Belgium would have suffered no great material +injury; but she would have taken orders from a stranger who had no +right to give them, simply because he was strong. Belgium refused. She +has had some of her towns destroyed, some thousands of her soldiers +killed, many more thousands of her women, children, and non-combatants +outraged and beggared; but she is still free. She still has her honor. + +"Let us think this matter out more closely. The follower of Tolstoy +will say: 'We speak of Belgium's honor and Serbia's honor; but who is +Serbia and who is Belgium? There is no such person as either. There are +only great numbers of people who happen to be Serbians and Belgians, +and who mostly have had nothing to do with questions at issue. Some of +them are honorable people, some dishonorable. The honor of each one of +them depends very much on whether he pays his debts and tells the +truth, but not in the least on whether a number of foreigners walk +through his country or interfere with his government. King Albert and +his ministers might feel humiliated if the German government compelled +them to give way against their will; but would the ordinary +population? Would the ordinary peasant or shop-keeper or artisan in the +districts of Vise and Liége and Louvain have felt particularly +disgraced or ashamed? He would probably have made a little money and +been greatly amused by the sight of the troops passing. He would not +have suffered any injury that can for a moment be compared with what he +has suffered now, in order that his government might feel proud of +itself.' + +"I will not raise the point that, as a matter of fact, to grant a right +of way to Germany would have been to declare war against France, so +that Belgium would not, by giving up her independence, have been spared +the danger of war. I will assume that it was simply a question of +honor. And I believe that our follower of Tolstoy is very wrong. + +"Is it true, in a healthy and well-governed state, that the average +citizen is indifferent to the honor of his country? We know that it is +not. True, the average citizen may often not understand what is going +on, but as soon as he knows, he cares. Suppose for a moment that the +King, or the Prime Minister, or the President of the United States, +were found to be in the pay of a foreign state, can any one pretend +that the ordinary citizens of Great Britain or America would take it +quietly? That any normal man would be found saying: 'Well, the King, or +the President, or the Prime Minister, is behaving dishonorably, but +that is a matter for him, not for me. I am an honest and honorable man, +and my government can do what it likes.' The notion is absurd. The +ordinary citizen would feel instantly and without question that his +country's honor involved his own. And woe to the society in which it +were otherwise! We know of such societies in history. They are the kind +which is called 'corrupt,' and which generally has not long to live. +Belgium has proved that she is not that kind of society. + +"But what about Great Britain herself? At the present moment a very +clear case has arisen, and we can test our own feelings. Great Britain +had, by a solemn treaty, pledged herself to help keep the neutrality of +Belgium. Belgium is a little state lying between two very strong +states, France and Germany, and in danger of being overrun or abused by +one of them unless the Great Powers guaranteed her safety. The treaty, +signed by Prussia, Russia, Austria, France, and Great Britain, bound +all these Powers not to attack Belgium, move troops into it, or annex +any part of it; and further, to resist by armed force any Power which +should try to do any of these things. Belgium, on her part, was bound +to maintain her own neutrality to the best of her power, and not to +side with any state which was at war with another. + +"At the end of July, 1914, the exact case arose in which we had +pledged ourselves to act. Germany, suddenly and without excuse, invaded +Belgium, and Belgium appealed to us and France to defend her. Meantime +she fought alone, desperately, against overwhelming odds. The issue was +clear. The German Chancellor, Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, in his speech +of August 6, admitted that Germany had no grievance against Belgium, +and no excuse except 'necessity.' She could not get to France quick +enough by the direct road. Germany put her case to us, roughly, on +these grounds. 'True, you did sign a treaty, but what is a treaty? We +ourselves signed the same treaty, and see what we are doing! Anyhow, +treaty or no treaty, we have Belgium in our power. If she had done what +we wanted, we would have treated her kindly; as it is we shall show her +no mercy. If you will now do what we want and stay quiet, later on we +will consider a friendly deal with you. If you interfere, you must take +the consequences. We trust you will not be so insane as to plunge your +whole empire into danger for the sake of "a scrap of paper."' Our +answer was: 'Evacuate Belgium within twelve hours or we fight you.' + +"I think that answer was right. Consider the situation carefully. No +question arises of overhaste or lack of patience on our part. From the +first moment of the crisis, we had labored night and day in every court +of Europe for any possible means of peace. We had carefully and +sincerely explained to Germany beforehand what attitude she might +expect from us. We did not send our ultimatum till Belgium was already +invaded. It is just the plain question put to the British government, +and, I think, to every one who feels himself a British citizen: 'The +exact case contemplated in your treaty has arisen: the people you swore +to protect is being massacred; will you keep your word at a gigantic +cost, or will you break it at the bidding of Germany?' For my own part, +weighing the whole question, I would rather die than submit; and I +believe that the government, in deciding to keep its word at the cost +of war, has expressed the feeling of the average British citizen. + +"War is not all evil. It is a true tragedy, which must have nobleness +and triumph in it as well as disaster, but we must not begin to praise +war without stopping to reflect on the hundreds of thousands of human +beings involved in such horrors of pain that, if here in our ordinary +hours we saw one man so treated, the memory would sicken us to the end +of our lives; we must remember the horses and dogs, remember the gentle +natures brutalized by hardship and filth, and the once decent persons +transformed by rage and fear into devils of cruelty. But, when we have +realized that, we may begin to see in this desert of evil some oases of +good. + +"Do the fighting men become degraded? Day after day come streams of +letters from the front, odd stories, fragments of diaries, and the +like; full of the small intimate facts which reveal character, and +almost with one accord they show that these men have not fallen, but +risen. No doubt there has been some selection in the letters; to some +extent the writers repeat what they wish to have remembered, and say +nothing of what they wish to forget. But, when all allowances are made, +one cannot read the letters and the dispatches without a feeling of +admiration for the men about whom they tell. They were not originally a +set of chosen men. They were just our ordinary fellow citizens, the men +you meet on a crowded pavement. There was nothing to suggest that their +conduct in common life was better than that of their neighbors. Yet +now, under the stress of war, having a duty before them that is clear +and unquestioned and terrible, they are daily doing nobler things than +we most of us have ever had the chance of doing, things which we hardly +dare hope that we might be able to do. I am not thinking of the rare +achievements that win a V.C. or a Cross of the Legion of Honor, but of +the common necessary heroism of the average man; the long endurance, +the devoted obedience, the close-banded life in which self-sacrifice is +the normal rule, and all men may be forgiven except the man who saves +himself at the expense of his comrade. I think of the men who share +their last biscuit with a starving peasant, who help wounded comrades +through days and nights of horrible retreat, who give their lives to +save mates or officers. + +"For example, to take these two stories: + +"Relating his experiences to a pressman, Lance-Corporal Edmondson, of +the Royal Irish Lancers, said: 'There is absolutely no doubt that our +men are still animated by the spirit of old. I came on a couple of men +of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had been cut off at Mons. +One was badly wounded, but his companion had stuck by him all the time +in a country swarming with Germans, and, though they had only a few +biscuit between them, they managed to pull through until we picked them +up. I pressed the unwounded man to tell me how they managed to get +through the four days on six biscuit, but he always got angry and told +me to shut up. I fancy he went without anything, and gave the biscuit +to the wounded man. They were offered shelter many times by French +peasants, but they were so afraid of bringing trouble on these kind +folk that they would never accept shelter. One night they lay out in +the open all through a heavy downpour, though there was a house at hand +where they could have had shelter. Uhlans were on the prowl, and they +would not think of compromising the French people, who would have been +glad to help them.' + +"The following story of an unidentified private of the Royal Irish +Regiment, who deliberately threw away his life in order to warn his +comrades of an ambush, is told by a wounded corporal of the West +Yorkshire Regiment now in hospital in Woolwich: + +"'The fight in which I got hit was in a little French village near to +Rheims. We were working in touch with the French corps on our left, and +early one morning we were sent ahead to this village, which we had +reason to believe was clear of the enemy. On the outskirts we +questioned a French lad, but he seemed scared and ran away. We went on +through the long narrow street, and just as we were in sight of the +end, the figure of a man dashed out from a farmhouse on the right. +Immediately the rifles began to crack in front, and the poor chap fell +dead before he reached us. + +"'He was one of our men, a private of the Royal Irish Regiment. We +learned that he had been captured the previous day by a party of German +cavalry, and had been held a prisoner at the farm, where the Germans +were in ambush for us. He tumbled to their game, and though he knew +that if he made the slightest sound they would kill him, he decided to +make a dash to warn us of what was in store. He had more than a dozen +bullets in him and there was not the slightest hope for him. We carried +him into a house until the fight was over, and then we buried him next +day with military honors. His identification disk and everything else +was missing, so that we could only put over his grave the tribute that +was paid to a greater: "He saved others; himself he could not save." +There wasn't a dry eye among us when we laid him to rest in that little +village.' + +"Or I think again of the expressions on faces that I have seen or read +about, something alert and glad and self-respecting in the eyes of +those who are going to the front, and even of the wounded who are +returning. 'Never once,' writes one correspondent, 'not once since I +came to France have I seen among the soldiers an angry face or heard an +angry word.... They are always quiet, orderly, and wonderfully +cheerful.' And no one who has followed the war need be told of their +heroism. I do not forget the thousands left on the battlefield to die, +or the groaning of the wounded sounding all day between the crashes of +the guns. But there is a strange, deep gladness as well. 'One feels an +extraordinary freedom,' says a young Russian officer, 'in the midst of +death, with the bullets whistling round. The same with all the +soldiers. The wounded all want to get well and return to the fight. +They fight with tears of joy in their eyes.' + +"Human nature is a mysterious thing, and man finds his weal and woe not +in the obvious places. To have something before you, clearly seen, +which you know you must do, and can do, and will spend your utmost +strength and perhaps your life in doing, that is one form at least of +very high happiness, and one that appeals--the facts prove it--not only +to saints and heroes but to average men. Doubtless the few who are wise +enough and have enough imagination, may find opportunity for that same +happiness in everyday life, but in war ordinary men find it. This is +the inward triumph which lies at the heart of the great tragedy." + + * * * * * + + O yet we trust that somehow good + Will be the final goal of ill, + To pangs of nature, sins of will, + Defects of doubt, and taints of blood; + + That nothing walks with aimless feet; + That not one life shall be destroyed, + Or cast as rubbish to the void, + When God hath made the pile complete; + + That not a worm is cloven in vain; + That not a moth with vain desire + Is shrivelled in a fruitless fire, + Or but subserves another's gain. + + Behold, we know not anything; + I can but trust that good shall fall + At last--far off--at last, to all, + And every winter change to spring. + + ALFRED TENNYSON. + + + + +WHAT ONE AMERICAN DID[10] + + +If a person had been standing one night beside the railroad tracks in +Germany in the fall of 1917, he would have seen a train speeding along +through the darkness at about thirty-five miles an hour. He would have +noticed through an open window a tall soldier in the uniform of an +English flyer, a lieutenant in the R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps), stand +up on the seat as if to get something out of the rack; and then he +would have been astounded to see the same tall English flyer come +flying out feet first through the window, to land on the side of his +head on the stone ballast of the opposite track. + +Few persons could do this and come through alive. This English flyer a +few weeks before had fallen eight thousand feet, with a bullet in his +neck, when his airplane had been shot down in a fight with four German +machines. When picked up within the German lines, he was enough alive +to be taken to a hospital. The bullet was removed, and he recovered. He +was a British flyer, simply because America did not enter the war soon +enough for him, and like many other young Americans, he was eager to +fight the German beast and "save the world for democracy." + +He was being taken with six other officers from a prison in Belgium to +a prison camp in Germany. He knew that, once there, his chances for +escape would be very small; and he felt he preferred death to life in a +German prison camp. He knew that, if he were not killed in his leap +from the train, the Germans would doubtless shoot him as a spy, should +they succeed in recapturing him. Some Germans wanted all Americans who +enlisted in the Allied armies to be shot, as they had shot Captain +Fryatt, on the ground that they were non-combatants attacking war +forces; for this was before America entered the war against Germany. +Besides, prisoners were not allowed to know what was going on in +Germany. An escaped prisoner who could find out was, therefore, likely +to be treated as a spy. + +Pat O'Brien's cheek was cut open, and his left eye badly injured and +swollen so that he could not open it. He had scratched his hands and +wrists, and sprained his ankle. But he was hard to kill. In the +excitement caused by his jump through the car window, the Germans did +not stop the train immediately, and so did not reach the spot where he +had fallen, until he had recovered consciousness and had got away from +the track. He was careful in walking away to hold the tail of his coat +so that the blood dropping from his cheek would not fall upon the +ground and show which way he went. Before daylight he had been able to +put more than five miles between him and the tracks. He then hid in a +deep woods, knowing that he must travel by night and keep out of sight +by day, for he was wearing the uniform of a British flyer. + +The story of his adventures is one of the most interesting of all the +strange and interesting stories of the World War. When he reached +England, King George sent for him to come to Buckingham Palace and +spent nearly an hour listening to it. Lieutenant O'Brien has published +it in a book which he calls "Outwitting the Hun." Boys and girls who +like an exciting story of adventure, a true story, will want to read +this book. + +He knew the North Star, and by this he set his course west, in order to +reach Belgium, and then go north from Belgium to Holland. It rained a +great share of the time, but this did not make much difference, for he +had to swim so many canals and rivers that his clothes were always wet. +At first he had taken off his clothes when he had to swim and had tied +them in a bundle to his head to keep them from getting wet; but after +he lost one of his shoes in the water in this way and had to spend +nearly two hours diving before he recovered it, he swam with his +clothes and shoes on. He never could have gone on without shoes. Had +he not been a good diver, he could not have found the shoe in the mud +under eight feet of water; had he not been a good swimmer, he could not +have crossed the Meuse River, nearly half a mile wide, after many days +and nights of traveling almost without food (as it was, he dropped in a +dead faint when he reached the farther side); and had he not known the +North Star, he would have had no idea at night whether he was going in +the right direction or going in, a circle. Rainy and cloudy nights +delayed him greatly. + +He did not dare ask for food at the houses in Germany, for he would +have been immediately turned over to the authorities. So he lived on +raw carrots, turnips, cabbages, sugar beets, and potatoes, which he +found in the fields. He knew he must not make a fire even if he could +do so in the Indian's way, by rubbing sticks together. He had no +matches. He found some celery one night and ate so much of it that it +made him sick. He had only the water in the canals and rivers to drink, +and most of this was really unfit for human beings. He lay for an hour +one night in a cabbage field lapping the dew from the cabbage leaves, +he was so thirsty for pure, fresh water. + +One day before he reached Belgium, he was awakened from his sleep in +the woods by voices near him. He kept very quiet, and soon heard the +sound of axes and saw a great tree, not far from him, tremble. He was +lying in a clump of thick bushes and could not move without making a +noise. He knew that if the great tree with its huge branches fell in +his direction, he would surely be killed or at least pinned to the +earth and badly injured--and his capture meant that he would be shot as +a spy. But there was nothing for him to do but wait, and hope. At last +the tree began to sway, and then fell away from him instead of towards +him. He had again escaped death. + +When he reached Belgium, which he did in eighteen days after his escape +through the car window, he followed the North Star, for he knew Holland +was to the north, and once in Holland he would be free. His feet were +sore and bleeding, his knees badly swollen, and he was sick from +exposure and starvation. For a while, he had a severe fever and raved +and talked all night long in his half sleeping state. He feared some +one would hear him and that he would be taken. He was weary and tired +of struggling and fighting, and ready to give up; but his will, his +soul, would not let him. He tells us how he raved when the fever was on +him, and called on the North Star to save him from the coward, Pat +O'Brien, who wanted him to quit. + +He says he cried aloud, "There you are, you old North Star! You want me +to get to Holland, don't you? But this Pat O'Brien--this Pat O'Brien +who calls himself a soldier--he's got a yellow streak--North Star--and +he says it can't be done! He wants me to quit--to lie down here for +the Huns to find me and take me back to Courtrai--after all you've +done, North Star, to lead me to liberty. Won't you make this coward +leave me, North Star? I don't want to follow him--I just want to follow +you--because you--you are taking me away from the Huns and this Pat +O'Brien--this fellow who keeps after me all the time and leans on my +neck and wants me to lie down--this yellow Pat O'Brien who wants me to +go back to the Huns!" + +In Belgium, he had a somewhat easier time, as far as food went, for he +found he could go to the Belgian houses and ask for it. As he could not +speak the language, and did not want them to know he was an English +soldier, he pretended he was deaf and dumb. He had finally succeeded in +getting some overalls and discarding his uniform. + +Belgium was full of German soldiers, many of them living in the houses +of the Belgians, so he was obliged to use extreme care in approaching a +house to ask for food or help. Every Belgian was supposed to carry a +card, called in German an _Ausweiss_. It identified the bearer when +stopped by a German sentinel or soldier. Lieutenant O'Brien knew that +without this card he would be arrested and that his looks made him a +suspicious character. His eye had hardly healed, his face was covered +with a three weeks' beard, and altogether he was a disreputable looking +creature. + +After very many interesting and exciting experiences, he succeeded in +reaching the boundary line. To prevent Belgians taking refuge in +Holland and to prevent escaped prisoners, and even German soldiers, +from crossing the line into this neutral country, where, if they were +in uniform, they would be interned for the rest of the war, the Germans +had built all along the line three barbed wire fences, six feet apart. +The center fence was charged with electricity of such a voltage that +any human being coming in contact with it would be instantly +electrocuted. This triple barrier of wire was guarded by German +sentinels day and night. + +Lieutenant O'Brien reached the barrier in the night, and hid himself +when he heard the tramp of the German sentinel. He waited until the +sentinel returned and noted carefully how long he was gone, in order to +learn how much time he had in which to work. + +He thought he could build a ladder out of two fallen trees by tying +branches across them, and in this way get over the ten-foot center +fence. He succeeded in getting his ladder together, by working all +night, and with it he hid in the woods all the next day. When night +came, he shoved the ladder under the first barbed wire fence and +crawled in after it. He placed it carefully up against one of the posts +to which the charged electric wires were fastened and began to climb up +it, when all of a sudden it slipped and came in contact with the live +wires. The trees out of which he had constructed it were so soaked with +water that they made good conductors of electricity, and he received +such a charge that he was thrown to the ground unconscious, where he +lay while the sentinel passed within seven feet of him. + +He gave up the ladder and decided to dig under the live wires. He had +only his hands to dig with, but the ground was fairly soft. After some +hours, he had a hole deep enough and wide enough to crawl through +without touching the live wire. He found a wire running along under the +ground. He knew this could not be alive, for the ground would discharge +any electricity there might be in it. So he took hold of it and, after +much struggling, was able to get it out of the way. Then he crawled +carefully under the live wires and was a free man in Holland, for he +wore no uniform and would not be interned. + +At the first village he came to, some of the Dutch people loaned him +enough money to ride third-class to Rotterdam. He said he was glad he +was not riding first-class, for he would have looked as much out of +place in a first-class compartment as a Hun would in heaven. + +The English consul at Rotterdam gave him money and a passport to +England, and from there he came to see his mother, in a little town in +Illinois, called Momence. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] BY COURTESY OF HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. + + + + +RAEMAEKERS + + +There are many ways of fighting, and the Germans, in their forty-four +years of planning to conquer the world, thought of them all. The only +forces they neglected were the mighty forces of fairness, justice, +innocence, pity, purity, friendship, love, and other similar spiritual +forces that Americans have been taught to look upon as the greatest of +all. + +There is a force called Rumor which sometimes speaks the truth, but +which usually lies, that is a great power for evil and rarely for good. +The Germans used this with the Italian troops in Italy, sending into +their lines, by dropping them from airplanes and in other ways, all +sorts of rumors about Austria and Italy, about the coming collapse of +the Allies, about what great friends the Russians and Germans had +become when the Russians realized that it was foolish and wrong to +fight,--until the Italian soldiers lost the spirit which had carried +them over the Alps and very near to the conquest of Austria, and were +then easily defeated in the next powerful Austrian attack. + +German agents spread stories through the papers of the United States to +help Germany in the eyes and minds of the American people. They bought +leading papers in Paris and one in New York to use in misleading people +as to Germany's actions and aims. They printed lies for their own +people to make them believe the war was forced on Germany, and that +they were fighting against the whole world, for their lives and for +liberty. They published cartoons in German papers in great numbers to +carry, even to those who could not read, the ideas about the war and +about her enemies that German rulers wished the people to believe. + +The German leaders, in all lines, realize the power of advertising, and +they tried to fill men's eyes and ears with false statements of the +German cause. Not long ago almost any kind of advertisement was allowed +in the papers published in the United States. Pictures of a man +perfectly bald were printed side by side with others of a man with +flowing locks, all the result of a few applications of Dr. Quack's +Wonderful Hair Restorer, or some other equally good. Letters were +published, bought and paid for, often from prominent people, declaring +that two bottles (or more) of some patent medicine had made them over +from hopeless invalids to vigorous, joyous manhood or womanhood. +Falsehoods, or at least misleading statements, were given about +foodstuffs, either on the packages or in advertisements about them. + +But the United States government soon put a stop to this +misrepresentation and compelled advertisers and food manufacturers not +only to stop lying, but even to print the truth; and the manufacture +and sale of things injurious to the public health were controlled. The +American people want honesty, frankness, and fair dealing in all +things. + +The Germans seem to be a different kind of people in every way. It is +to be hoped that sometime they will cease to act as manufacturers of +patent medicines and adulterated foods were accustomed to act; but as +long as Germany is after material gain, as these manufacturers were +after money, it is very likely that she will seek to get it by deceit +and lying, until the governments of the earth oblige her to be honest, +or quit business. + +It is said that it takes a long time to catch a lie. It depends, +however, upon how many get after it and how swift and powerful they +are. German lies have been counted upon as a considerable part of her +fighting forces. She has spent millions of dollars and used thousands +of men in this service. Is it not strange that one little, almost +insignificant looking Dutchman, hardly heard of before the war, has +been able almost alone to defeat the money and the men used by Germany +to hoodwink the world? But this Dutchman, Louis Raemaekers, working for +the _Amsterdam Telegraf_, had for years seen through German ideas and +aims. He says, "Germany has never made any secret of her ideas or her +intentions, She has always been frank, as selfish people often are. I +have seen through the German idea for more than twenty years. A +generation ago, I saw, as every one who cared to see did, what it was +leading us to; in fact, Germany told us." + +And he adds about the German people: "There is only one way to reach +the modern German. Beat him over the head. He understands nothing else. +The world must go on beating him over the head until he cries 'Enough'; +or the world can never live with him." + +Knowing Germany, and that German victory meant the loss of all that is +really worth while in this world, the loss of liberty, and the +destruction of any government that is what Lincoln said all governments +should be, "of the people, for the people, and by the people"--Louis +Raemaekers fought Germany with his pen and his brush, and fought her so +well that the German government offered a large reward for him dead or +alive, and a leading German writer said he had done more harm to the +Prussian cause than an armed division of Allied troops. + +The _Cologne Gazette_, in a furious article dealing with Raemaekers, +declared that after the war Germany would settle accounts with Holland +and would demand payment with interest for the damage done Germany by +his cartoons. + + [Illustration: CIVILIZATION UNDER THE LASH + Taken from "Raemaekers' Cartoon History of the War," by + permission of The Century Company.] + +Some of the Dutch people feared Germany so greatly that they succeeded +in bringing Raemaekers to trial for having violated the neutrality of +Holland. German influence was strong in Holland, and Raemaekers was +hated by many of his own people; but the better sense of the Dutch +triumphed, and he was acquitted. + +One of his first cartoons represented Germany in the form of the +Kaiser, wearing a German uniform and spiked helmet, with a foot upon +the body of Luxemburg and a knee upon the prostrate form of Belgium, +whom he was choking to death. He holds an uplifted sword in his hand +and is saying, "This is how I deal with the small fry." + +Another shows with almost sickening force the heart-breaking suffering +of Belgian mothers, as contrasted with the cruelty and hard-heartedness +of the Huns. A Belgian woman is kneeling beside a pile of dead from her +village, with an expression of almost insane suffering upon her face. A +German officer is passing, with one hand thrust into his coat front and +a cigar in his mouth. He stops to say, "Ah! was your boy among the +twelve this morning? Then you'll find him among this lot." + +A third shows a German looting a house and carrying away everything +that he thinks is of value to him. The furniture is smashed and a woman +and child lie dead on the floor. The Hun is saying, "It's all right. If +I had not done it some one else might." + +A fourth shows a line of hostages standing in front of a wall to be +shot for an offense that the German officer in command claims some one +in the village committed. Those taken as hostages are innocent of wrong +doing. The cartoon shows the ends of the barrels of the German muskets +pointed at the hearts of the hostages and a German officer with his +sword raised and his lips parted to give the order to fire. It shows +but four of the hostages: an old man, probably the mayor of the town; a +white-haired priest; a well-to-do man, and his son, about fourteen +years of age. The boy is asking, "Father, what have we done?"--the cry +that went up to their Heavenly Father from thousands of martyrs in +Belgium. + +It is no wonder that the German rulers fear this Dutch artist more than +they do a division of soldiers. His fighting against the Huns and their +atrocities and against the German nature and teaching that made these +atrocities possible will continue in every nation of the earth, as long +as printing presses furnish pictures and people look at them. + +His pen or pencil wrote a language that all could read, and they spoke +the truth so that it turned all who read it against the modern Hun. + +When he visited England, one of the leading papers declared that he was +a genius, probably the only genius produced by the war; and that long +after the most exciting and interesting articles in newspapers and +magazines were forgotten, and the great number of books on the war had +been lost or stowed away in dusty garrets, his cartoons would live and +stir the indignation of men yet unborn; and that Louis Raemaekers had +nailed the Kaiser to a cross of immortal infamy. + +France has honored him as one of the great heroes of the war, and has +given him the Legion of Honor. + +George Creel says, "He is a voice, a sword, a flame. His cartoons are +the tears of women, the battle shout of indomitable defenders, the +indignation of humanity, the sob of civilization. They will go down in +history." + +One of the wonderful painters of old Japan put so much of himself, of +his soul and heart, into every stroke of his brush that it was said, +"If a swift and keen sword should cut through his brush at work, it +would bleed." + +Through the pen and brush of Louis Raemaekers has pulsed the heart +blood of suffering Belgium and horrified humanity; and for this reason, +his cartoons are inspired and move the hearts and minds of all men to +despise and condemn those who could commit such inhuman deeds. + + + + +THE GOD IN MAN + + +A soldier on the firing step, aiming at the enemy, is suddenly struck; +and he drops down to the bottom of the trench. His nearest comrade must +keep on firing, but two stretcher-bearers are ready at their posts. +They rush forward, take the first-aid packet from the soldier's pocket, +cut his clothes away from the wound, and quickly dress it. They carry +him to the trench doctor, who treats the wound again. Then they take +the soldier from the trenches to the nearest field ambulance, where his +wound is again cared for. + +He is so badly hurt that he needs to recover far from the sound of the +thundering cannon. But he is not so seriously injured that he cannot +stand a short journey. So he is placed, as comfortably as possible, in +an ambulance train, with skilled Red Cross nurses to attend to him. The +train arrives just in time to meet the hospital ship at the port. The +soldier is carried on board, and soon finds himself in a quiet hospital +in London--all in little more than twenty-four hours, a day and a +night. + +So thousands of men have been cared for each week, by a never-ending +line of devoted Red Cross stretcher-bearers, doctors, and nurses, on +the battlefield, on the trains, on hospital ships, and in the home +hospitals, in London, and in every fighting country in the world. + +Somewhat back from the lines are the stationary hospitals, where many +soldiers are left who cannot be carried farther, but must be treated +there. "Mushroom hospitals" they are called; for, although they have +the appearance of having been there before, they really have sprung up +only since the war started. The wards are spotlessly clean, filled with +rows and rows of beds, also spotlessly clean. Beyond are the operating +rooms, baths, kitchens, and gardens filled with flowers, where the +wounded men may breathe fresh air and get back the strength which they +have so willingly lost in service. All the time, hundreds of new +patients are arriving, hundreds are leaving, either to go to more +distant hospitals, or to go back to the lines to fight. + +In comes one soldier who does not see or know where he is, nor who it +was that brought him. But when at last he opens his eyes, he finds +himself in a spotlessly clean white bed for the first time in months. +He looks about, and yes, there is Bobby, his own pet collie, sitting +beside him. He had lost him when he went over the top in the fight; but +somehow Bobby had followed him here, and somebody had been kind enough +to let him stay beside his master in this clean and pleasant room. + +By and by the wounded soldier grows well enough to be carried out into +the garden. There he and Bobby sit and watch the men caring for the +flowers. These men are not hired; they are wounded soldiers helping +about the hospital. The garden itself was made by a soldier who was a +gardener before the war. Every man helps with his knowledge of some +trade. The napkin rings and salt cellars used in the hospital were made +by a soldier tinsmith out of old biscuit boxes. + +One day our wounded soldier becomes so well that he may walk away with +Bobby, and a nurse brings him his suit, his rifle, and all his +equipment, nicely cleansed and put in order. + +So everybody does his bit in the hospitals. Dentists and +eye-specialists, surgeons and nurses, wearing the Red Cross, work +tirelessly from morning till night and sometimes both day and night, to +save the brave wounded men. They do their work as best they can, +sweetly and cheerfully, caring for the German soldiers as well as for +their own Allied soldiers. To know of them, to watch them in their work +of mercy, is to realize that there is something different from the +beast in man--there is the God in man, the spirit of love and tender, +skillful care, which they dare to give in the face of awful danger. + +One of the brave nurses wrote home to America something of all she was +doing. Among many things, she said: "The Huns were pouring down in +streams to attack our men. I immediately began to get the hospital +ready to receive the wounded. + +"Our surgeon was away on leave, but another equally good arrived. On +Tuesday, the wounded men began to come in. Wednesday and Thursday I +served from early morning until midnight. Bombs were bursting in the +distance, and news came that the Huns were within a few miles of us. + +"A Red Cross unit came, and one English nurse arrived to help us. She +had lost the others in her party, and had walked miles to get here. It +seemed as if God had sent them all from heaven! + +"All the surgical supplies that I could save from those you sent me +from the Red Cross, I had put away for emergency. I don't know what we +would have done without them! + +"I had to see that the surgeons had whatever they needed, and from all +sides every one was calling for help. Through it all, I was up every +morning at four and never went to bed till midnight. The cannon were +roaring, star shells exploding, bombs dropping around us,--but nothing +touching us! + +"For eight days our men fought gloriously. They were a wonder and such +a surprise to the Huns. Now perhaps they know what they have to face! + +"The little hospital was able to save many, many lives. We have sent +away most of our wounded to-day, and are now waiting in suspense for +what may come next--but we are ready to do our best, whatever comes. + +"We do not dare keep the seriously wounded now for any length of time, +for no one knows when the Huns may fight their way through. We know +what the 'front line' really means. No one goes in or out except by +military or Red Cross camion. No private telegrams can be sent, and to +our joy, we do not have to bother with food-ration cards, for a while +at least. _Boches_ are over our heads all day, and cannons booming. I +am so used to it now that I don't mind it. + +"I am so homesick to see you all, but I will not leave my work until +the end of this horrible war, if God will give me health and strength. +Don't worry. I intend to stick to my post to the end, and if the Huns +come down upon us, the Red Cross will get us out." + +Nor are these all of the ways in which the Red Cross shows the God in +man. From the beginning of the war until March, 1918, over $36,000,000 +of American money alone was spent in the following ways: + + FRANCE, $30,936,103. + + Established rest stations along all routes followed by the + American troops in France. + + Built canteens for use of French and American soldiers at the + front, also at railroad junctions and in Paris. + + Supplied American troops with comfort kits and sent them + Christmas gifts. + + Established a hospital-distributing service that supplies 3423 + French military hospitals, and a surgical dressing service that + supplies 2000. + + Provided an artificial-limb factory and special plants for the + manufacture of splints and nitrous oxide gas. + + Established a casualty service for gathering information in + regard to wounded and missing, this information to be sent to + relatives. + + Opened a children's refuge hospital in the war zone and + established a medical and traveling center to accommodate 1200 + children in the reconquered sections of France. Fifty thousand + children throughout France are being cared for in some measure + by the Red Cross. + + Planned extensive reclamation work in the invaded sections of + France from which the enemy has been driven; this work is now + being carried out with the coöperation of the Society of Friends + and alumnæ units from Smith College and other colleges. + + Established a large central warehouse in Paris and numerous + warehouses at important points from the sea to the Swiss border, + for storing of hospital supplies, food, soldiers' comforts, + tobacco, blankets, clothing, beds, and other articles of relief. + + Secured and operated 400 motor cars for the distribution of + supplies. + + Opened a hospital and convalescent home for children; also + established an ambulance service for the adult refugees, who are + now returning from points within the German lines at the rate of + 1000 a day. + + Improved health conditions in the American war zone before the + coming of American troops. + + + BELGIUM, .,086,131. + + Started reconstruction work in reconquered territory, supplying + returned refugees with temporary dwellings, tools, furniture, + farm animals, and supplies essential to giving them a fresh + start in life. + + Appropriated $600,000 for the relief of Belgian children, + covering their removal from territories under bombardment and + the establishment and maintenance of them in colonies. + + Provided funds for the operation of a hospital for wounded + Belgian soldiers and for part of the equipment of a typhoid + hospital. + + + ITALY, $3,588,826. + + Provided the Italian army with 60 ambulances, 40 trucks, and 100 + American drivers. + + Contracted for 10 field hospitals complete for use by the Sanita + Militaire and the Italian Red Cross. + + Supplied 1,000,000 surgical dressings. Opened relief + headquarters in 9 districts of Italy. + + Established a hospital for refugees at Rimini. + + Planned and made appropriations for extensive work among the + refugees in all parts of Italy. + + + ROUMANIA, .,676,368. + + Rushed more than $100,000 worth of medical supplies and + foodstuffs into Roumania immediately after the retreat to Jassy. + + Carried general relief work into every part of the stricken + country not invaded by the Teuton and Bulgarian forces. + + + UNITED STATES, $8,589,899. + + Organized and trained 45 ambulance companies, totaling 5580 men, + for service with American soldiers and sailors. + + Built and maintained four laboratory cars for emergency use in + stamping out epidemics at cantonments and training camps. + + Started work of bettering sanitary conditions in the zones + immediately surrounding the cantonments. + + Established camp service bureaus to look out for comfort and + welfare of soldiers in training. + + Supplied 2,000,000 sweaters to soldiers and sailors. + + Mobilized 14,000 trained nurses for care of our men. + + Established a department of Home Service and opened training + schools for workers. + + Planned convalescent houses at all cantonments and training + camps. Increased membership from scant half million to + approximately 22,000,000. + + For War Relief in other countries, including + Great Britain, Russia, and Serbia $7,581,075 + To supply food to American prisoners in + Germany $343,304 + For supplies purchased for shipment abroad $15,000,000 + +The Jewish Relief Societies of this country have also forwarded large +sums of money to relieve the terrible suffering among their people in +Russia, Poland, Turkey, Palestine, and others of the war-stricken +countries. Approximately $24,000,000 was sent abroad for this purpose +during the first four years of the war. + +One evening the train drew into the station of a little town in France. +It stopped long enough for half a hundred tired, dusty soldiers to gain +the platform, then puffed away out of sight. They were not the fighting +soldiers--they were engineers. The men looked about in a bewildered way +for the train with which they were supposed to connect. But it was +nowhere in sight; it had gone. They were sorry not to meet the rest of +their company, but there was nothing for them to do but remain in the +town overnight. They walked the streets, and found that every hotel, +boarding house, and private home was filled to the last cot. Thousands +of American troops were in the town, on their way to the front. The +engineers had ridden for many hours and were very hungry, but their +pockets were nearly empty. + +Suddenly they stopped before a large building painted a deep blue, and +bearing the sign, + + Knights of Columbus + Everybody Welcome. + +The half a hundred men walked in, passed group after group of soldiers +and sailors, and found the secretary. Soon they were dining on Knights +of Columbus ham and eggs, without money and without price! The +secretary himself served them. + +They entered the large lounging room, found tables covered with good +reading books, easy chairs and writing benches set about the room, and +a stage at the back with piano, victrola, and a moving picture screen. + +So when they least expected it, but most wanted it, they found a place +that seemed like home. Knights of Comfort, the Knights of Columbus have +been called, and comfort they have given to thousands of soldiers and +sailors. About $50,000,000 has been raised by the society for one year +of such good work. + +Almost on the very battleground is another source of comfort to the +fighting men,--the little huts with the sign of the Red Triangle,--the +Y.M.C.A. There is hardly one American home which has not received from +some soldier a letter on paper marked with the little red triangle. +Thousands have been written at the benches inside the huts, and +thousands of books and magazines found in the huts have been read in +spare time by the soldier lads. + +Usually only the paper for letter writing is furnished at the huts, and +the men buy their postage stamps. Often fifty to a hundred men are in +line to purchase stamps, so that at times the secretary heaves a sigh +of relief when at last he has to hang up the sign "Stamps All Out." In +one hut as many as three thousand letters have been handled in one day, +besides parcel-post packages, registered letters, and money-orders. + +The United States government has realized the valuable services of the +society and recognized it officially, permitting its men to wear the +uniform, and to accompany the soldiers right into the trenches. + +Often before and always after the men go into battle, the "Y" workers +bring up great kettles of hot chocolate and a store of biscuit. This is +a godsend to the men who have been fighting for hours with little, if +anything, to eat. + +Passing over the battlefield, the workers write down messages from +wounded and dying men, to be sent to their relatives. They learn all +they can about those who have been taken prisoners, and so bring +comfort to the people at home. + +The secretaries send to the United States free of charge money from +the soldiers to their home folks. In one month, a million dollars was +brought to the Y.M.C.A. with the simple instructions that it be +delivered to addresses given by the soldiers. The controller of the New +York Life Insurance Company in France has had charge of this. + +The association has nearly 400 motor trucks engaged in various kinds of +transport work. It aids greatly in caring for and entertaining the +soldiers, as many as 4000 of them at a time. It has opened many hotels +in France, four of them in Paris, and owns several factories for the +making of chocolate. It holds religious services for the men, providing +preachers of all the different faiths. So it, too, shares in the +godlike services of the Red Cross and Knights of Columbus. + +Near the trenches and at training camps, other work has been done +similar to that of the Y.M.C.A. and Knights of Columbus, by the +Salvation Army. The soldier boys have especially enjoyed the doughnuts +and pies furnished them by this society. + +It has, it is said, placed 153 comfort and refreshment huts at the +front in Europe, and is building many more. It maintains about 80 +military homes, caring for about 100,000 men each week. It operates +nearly 50 ambulances. Over 700 of its members are devoting their lives +to war work in the trenches and at the camps. It was the first, it is +said, of the societies of mercy at the front, and spent for the work +mentioned $1,000,000, all made up of nickels and dimes of small givers, +before the society made any "drive" for funds. + +Letters from officials, friends, and soldier boys tell what glorious +work these and other similar societies have done and are doing. They +bring a little touch of heaven into the very worst places and +conditions, and show the God in man. + + +IN FLANDERS FIELDS + + In Flanders fields the poppies blow + Between the crosses, row on row, + That mark our place; and in the sky + The larks still bravely singing, fly + Scarce heard amid the guns below. + + We are the Dead. Short days ago + We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, + Loved and were loved, and now we lie + In Flanders fields. + + Take up our quarrel with the foe: + To you from failing hands we throw + The torch; be yours to hold it high. + If ye break faith with us who die + We shall not sleep, though poppies grow + In Flanders fields. + + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN MCCRAE. + + + + +THE WORLD WAR + + +The story of the World War is the story of the control of the sea by +the Allies, of land fighting on two fronts, the western and the +eastern, and of separate scattered campaigns in Africa and Asia. + + +THE WESTERN FRONT + +Here the war really began and here it seems likely to be decided and +ended. The Germans who planned the war were ready and, using their +railroads built for that purpose, rushed their armies to the Belgian +border before France had hardly begun to mobilize. Luxemburg was +overrun at once and Belgium invaded. The brave Belgians under General +Leman held up the advance for several days at Liége and saved France +and western civilization. The Huns soon occupied nearly all of Belgium, +taking Brussels on August 20 and Antwerp on October 9. + +They pushed on directly toward Paris, driving the British who had been +landed, the Belgians, and the French, before them. They advanced to +within twenty miles of Paris, near Meaux on the Marne, and were there +defeated September 5-10, 1914, and forced to retreat to the Aisne, +where they entrenched themselves. + +The Germans had driven the British south by constantly threatening to +outflank them, and there had been a race to the gates of Paris. Now the +British turned the tables and, in attempting to outflank the Germans, +there was a race away from Paris to the North Sea, with the final +result that the enemies were lined up opposite each other, from +Switzerland near the German border to the coast between Dunkirk and +Ostend. + +Until 1918 trench warfare continued. The Germans sought to drive the +English out of Ypres, but did not succeed. In one of these attacks on +April 22, 1915, gas was used for the first time. + +The British and French won a great victory on the Somme, July, 1916, +taking nearly 75,000 prisoners. This battle is recognized as one of the +turning points of the war, for it caused the extensive retreat of the +Germans the following spring. The Huns devastated the territory from +which they retreated more completely and mercilessly than any army, +even barbarians, had ever done before in the history of the world. The +British attempted to capture Lille and the bases of the German +submarines on the Belgian coast at Ostend and Zeebrugge, but were +unsuccessful. + +In November, 1917, General Byng, in a surprise attack in which for the +first time a large number of tanks were used, broke the famous +Hindenburg line of trenches and captured 8000 Germans. He soon lost +all the territory he had gained and many men, through being surprised +himself by attacks on both sides of the pocket or salient which he had +pushed into the German lines. + +The Battle of the Somme referred to above was intended to relieve the +terrible pressure of the Germans on the French forts at Verdun. The +German Crown Prince had attacked these in July, 1916, determined to +break through at whatever cost. But the soul of France rose to the +occasion and declared, "They shall not pass!" The Battle of Verdun +lasted from July until December, 1916. The Germans lost half a million +men, _but they did not pass_. Before many months every vantage point +which the Germans had won was back in French hands. + +In 1917, the French pushed the Germans back between Rheims and Soissons +to the Ailette River, where they remained until the Second Battle of +the Marne, July, 1918. + +Little of importance happened during the winter of 1917 and 1918, and +Germany, with Russia out of the way, prepared to deliver a final blow +and win the war, before American troops should arrive in force. The +Germans, with large numbers of troops from the eastern front, were so +confident, that great fear was felt among the Allies that America would +be too late. + +The German plan as it unfolded itself was to attack, wave after wave, +with tremendous numbers of men; to use great quantities of a new and +more terrible gas; to pay no attention to losses, but to break through +where the French and English lines joined; then to push the French +south towards Paris and the English north towards the sea. They +expected to take Amiens, forty miles from the mouth of the Somme, and +to push down the river to the sea. With the broad river between them +and the French, a small force could keep the French from crossing, +while the great German army captured or destroyed the British, who +would be hemmed in by the sea. + +The attack was launched on March 21 over a front of fifty miles and it +nearly succeeded. It brought the Germans to within six miles of Amiens, +which would have been captured if the English on Vimy Ridge had not +prevented them by holding the German line from advancing. The Germans +waited a month, planning an attack which should capture Vimy Ridge and +prepare the way for the capture of Amiens. In this they were +unsuccessful. + +Not being able to divide the armies of the French and English or to +take the Channel ports, they turned in May toward Paris. They attacked +in tremendous force between Rheims and Soissons and pushed forward +thirty-two miles to the Marne. On July 15 they launched another great +offensive over a front of fifty miles from east of Rheims to west of +Château-Thierry. They crossed the Marne and were making some progress +when, on July 18, the French and Americans struck them on the flank +between Soissons and Château-Thierry. The Germans were forced to +retreat, having lost 220,000 men, hundreds of guns, and vast stores. + +At this time over 1,000,000 American soldiers were in France. They +arrived in time and showed themselves "the bravest of the brave." One +of the American units was granted, for its bravery in the Second Battle +of the Marne, the only regimental decoration ever awarded by France to +a foreign regiment; and the French commander bestowed upon one division +the most thrilling praise. "They showed," he said, "discipline that +filled the Germans with surprise. They marched with officers at the +sides and with closed ranks exactly like veteran French troops." + +Italy began operations against Austria in May, 1915. For more than two +years, she advanced over almost impassable mountain ranges to the +reconquest of the territory Austria had stolen from her. Then, in +October, 1917, Italy met with a terrible disaster; she lost 180,000 men +and was driven back to the river Piave and to within fifteen miles of +Venice. This costly defeat was due partly to lack of supplies which her +allies should have furnished her; partly to printed lies dropped from +Austrian airplanes among the Italian soldiers telling of the wonderful +peace and liberty that had come to Russia, where Germans and Russians +were like brothers; and partly to the mistake of Italy and her +commanders. It resulted in making all the Allies realize that they +could not succeed separately but must work together as one, if they +were going to win; and in the appointment of General Ferdinand Foch as +commander in chief of all the allied forces in the West, including +European Russia. + +In the spring of 1918, the Austrians, at Germany's command, renewed +their attack and succeeded in crossing the Piave, which in its upper +reaches towards the mountains was almost a dry river bed. They waited +until, as they supposed, the mountain snows had melted. After many of +them were across and after they had been checked on the western bank by +the Italians, they attempted to recross the river. In the meantime +floods had poured down from the mountains changing the dry bed into a +rushing river, deep and broad, in which thousands of the Austrians were +lost. Austria was able to make no further effort. + + +THE EASTERN FRONT + +Russia was the first of the Great Powers among the Allies to enter the +war, but Germany did not count upon her remaining in it long. German +influence, especially that of the German Socialists with the uneducated +Russians, was so strong that the Kaiser expected a revolution long +before it happened. The Russian leaders were self-seeking, and the Tsar +and his advisers were lacking in ability and force. The Germans +thought Russia would collapse very soon, and thus leave Germany free to +turn and conquer France; after which they could settle with England, +and then with the United States. + +Until the close of 1916, the Russian armies gave the Germans fierce +opposition except when, through treachery of the officers of the +government, supplies and ammunition were withheld and the soldiers had +to fight cannon, machine guns, and rifles with the butts of their +muskets. Of course the Russians were driven back, but not until they +had come within one hundred and eighty-five miles of Berlin, which was +the nearest approach of an enemy army during the first four years of +the war. + +In the fall of 1914, the Russian armies suffered through treachery a +terrible defeat near Tannenberg in the Masurian Lake region of East +Prussia, but the great leader of their armies farther south, Grand Duke +Nicholas, invaded Austria, capturing stronghold after stronghold until +treachery of Russian officials forced him to retreat. The retreat of +his armies was conducted in so masterly a manner that it has ranked him +as one of the great generals of the World War. + +As soon as German money and German lies had undermined the directing +forces at the Russian capital, it was an easy matter for German armies +to overrun Russian Poland, to capture Warsaw and the great Russian +fortresses, and to advance as far north as Riga. + +Then in the spring of 1917 came the revolution, when the Duma refused +to obey the order of the Tsar. The soldiers sided with the people; the +Tsar was thrown into prison, to be shot more than a year later. Germany +made a "peace drive," and soon had the entire Russian army ready to +quit. Leaders in the service of Germany, like Lenine, used dreamers +like Trotsky to help on the breaking up of Russia. Kerensky, who had +been chosen to lead the government after the first revolution, was +deposed and obliged to flee the country as the result of a second +revolution by soldiers, sailors, and workmen. Lenine became Prime +Minister and Trotsky, Foreign Minister. Then the way was clear for +Germany to work her will. Agreeing to all proposals, she led the +_Bolsheviki_, which means "the majority," into such a situation that +they were powerless. Then throwing aside all her agreements, she forced +them to sign the disgraceful treaty of peace at Brest-Litovsk. It broke +up a portion of the old Russia into several nations or independent +provinces, which separated the Russia that remained entirely from the +rest of Europe. The provinces, Ukraine, Poland, Finland, Esthonia, +Livonia, Courland, and Lithuania were really dependencies of Germany. +Turkey was also rewarded by receiving a part of Transcaucasia, which +Germany later attempted to take from her. + +The Germans promised not to use soldiers from the eastern front against +Russia's former allies in the West; but this promise was only another +"scrap of paper," and she transferred vast numbers to the front in +Italy and in France and, by their help, nearly won her great drives of +1918. + +When Russia collapsed and made peace with the Central Powers, Roumania, +who entered the war on the side of the Allies, August 27, 1916, was +left entirely surrounded by enemies and, to save herself from the fate +of Belgium and Serbia, was obliged to consent to peace terms offered by +Germany. She ceded a large part of her territory south of the Danube to +Bulgaria, who had joined the Central Powers "for what she could get out +of it," on October 4, 1915. Bulgaria's king is called "The Fox of the +Balkans" and looks upon agreements, treaties, and honesty in the German +manner. Like the Germans, all his acts show that he believes "might is +right" and that any act is justified if necessary to his success. + + +THE DARDANELLES AND FARTHER EAST + +In the spring of 1915, English and French fleets attempted to force the +Dardanelles, but failed. Had the straits been opened and Constantinople +taken, Russia would probably have been saved and the war shortened. +Many believe now that a mistake was made in not sacrificing the ships +necessary to force the straits and to capture Constantinople, but at +the time the French and British leaders were unwilling to make the +sacrifice. Troops had been landed at Gallipoli to assist the fleets, +but they were withdrawn in January, 1916. + +England sent an expedition from the Persian Gulf to capture Bagdad in +the fall of 1914. It was small in numbers and suffered some reverses, +but succeeded in capturing the city on March 11, 1917. + +When Turkey entered the war on the side of the Central Powers, the +Germans hoped to stir up a religious war, uniting all the Mohammedans +in the East under the lead of Turkey, against the Christian nations. +All Mohammedans, however, do not recognize the Sultan of Turkey as +their leader, and the King of Hedjaz revolted against Turkey in June, +1916. Hedjaz includes all the Arab tribes between the Tigris on the +east and Syria on the west. Arabia forms the largest part of the +territory of this kingdom. + +With the assistance of the King of Hedjaz, the English have been able, +by advancing across the Sinai Desert, to capture Jerusalem. Jerusalem, +the Holy City of the Christians, has been in Mohammedan hands, except +for two short periods, for seven hundred and thirty years. The Crusades +were fought to take it from them, and ever since, Christians have +mourned that it had to be left in the hands of the Moslems. It probably +will never again pass from the control of Christian nations. + +Japan entered the war early, August 23, 1914, as an ally of Great +Britain and, on November 7, had taken the only German colony in China, +Tsingtau. Germany had forced this from China, as punishment for the +murder of two German missionaries. Japan and Australia soon captured +all the German possessions in the Pacific, and Great Britain all the +German colonies in Africa, leaving Germany without a single colonial +possession. + + +THE SEA + +The Kaiser is reported to have said, "Germany's future lies on the +sea"; and it seems as if the control of the sea by the Allies has +really determined her future, for had the Central Powers controlled the +sea, they would have won the war. + +By the wise foresight of those directing the movements of the British +navy, the Grand Fleet, numbering about four hundred vessels, had been +assembled for inspection just before the war broke out, and they were +ready, when England entered the war, to move to ports from which they +could attack the Germans, if the latter should decide to send out their +fleet. The Grand Fleet has all through the war remained hidden, and, +like some invisible power, is protecting the freedom of the world. +Hundreds of swift scout ships keep watch ready to report every move of +the enemy. Only once has Germany come out in force, to be driven back +to shelter, defeated, in the Battle of Jutland, May 31, and June 1, +1916. + +Germany placed her hopes in the submarine, but she has had little +chance to use it against English war vessels. She also scattered mines +upon the high seas in violation of the laws of war and of nations. One +of these mines on June 5, 1916, sank the British cruiser _Hampshire_, +which was carrying Lord Kitchener to Russia. Lord Kitchener and his +staff were lost. + +Germany used every power in her hands to win, never hesitating to set +aside the laws of nations or the opinions of civilized men. So she +turned her submarines against merchant ships in violation of +international law. The sinking of the _Lusitania_ was the first great +shock to the United States. President Wilson protested on behalf of the +American people, and after other merchant vessels had been sunk and +more American lives lost, Germany was given her choice of a break with +America or of promising that she would give up her submarine attacks +without warning upon merchant ships. Germany promised to do so, but +made this promise, as the United States learned later, only to give her +time to build enough submarines to starve out England in a year or less +by using them against merchant ships in violation of her agreement with +the United States. It was only another "scrap of paper." + +So America entered the war April 6, 1917, and at once the danger from +submarines began to grow less, for American destroyers, combined with +those of the other Allies, soon were sinking submarines faster than +Germany could build them, and American shipyards began to turn out +merchant ships in such unheard-of numbers that the sinking of a few +ships each month became a minor matter. At the close of the fourth year +of the war, an English writer said of what America had done in one +year: + + It would be idle to recount here what America has done. But for + what she has done the heart of every Briton beats with + gratitude. There is physical evidence of it over here. American + soldiers throng the streets. American sailors gather in our + ports. American naval vessels are scouring our home waters in + fullest coöperation with the British and French and have reduced + the destruction by submarine pirates by more than half what it + was one year ago. On land they are fighting with the Allies the + battles of civilization and dying for its ideals, and the + fondest wish of every patriot both here and in France is that + the community of feeling thus cemented in blood will never pass + away. + +In October, 1918, there were about two million American soldiers in +France. They had made possible the great victories, beginning with the +Second Battle of the Marne, by which all the German gains of 1918 were +wiped out and the St. Mihiel salient recovered. The Huns had held this +salient since 1914. Its capture was a brilliant victory for the +American army under General Pershing. It was accomplished in +twenty-seven hours. + +King George of England wired President Wilson as follows: + + London, Sept. 14, 1918. + + On behalf of the British Empire, I heartily congratulate you on + the brilliant achievement of the American and Allied troops + under the leadership of General Pershing in the St. Mihiel + salient. + + The far-reaching results secured by these successful operations, + which have marked the active intervention of the American army + on a great scale under its own administration, are the happiest + augury for the complete, and, I hope, not far-distant triumph of + the Allied cause. + +President Wilson cabled to General Pershing: + + Please accept my warmest congratulations on the brilliant + achievements of the army under your command. The boys have done + what we expected of them and done it in the way we most admire. + + We are deeply proud of them and of their chief. Please convey to + all concerned my grateful and affectionate thanks. + +Frank H. Simonds, the famous military critic, says: + + In our own national history, therefore, as in world history, the + Battle of St. Mihiel will have an enduring place. To the world + it announced the arrival of America in her appointed place in + the battle line of civilization.... The road from Concord Bridge + to the heights above the Meuse is long, but it runs straight, + and along it men are still led by the same love of liberty and + service of democracy which was revealed in our first battle + morning nearly a century and a half ago. + +At the beginning of October, 1918, the Allies were everywhere +successful, in Palestine, in the Balkans, in northern Russia, in +Siberia, and on the western front. The world was proving again that +deceit and violence always lose in the long run. + + +THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE WAR + +In July, 1918, the western battle line, running from the North Sea to +Switzerland, was, in general, a huge curve bending into France. Germany +had been working on interior lines on this western front--that is, as +her forces were needed to defend or to attack, she moved them from +place to place on the inside of the circle. The Allies were obliged to +work on the outside of the circle and were therefore at a considerable +disadvantage. + +Then, too, the Germans had the initiative, that is, they could +determine when and where to attack, while the Allies in 1918, up to +July 18, were having all they could attend to in defending themselves +and preventing a serious break in their lines. + +With July 18, 1918, all this was changed. The Allied forces were now +under the direction of a single commander, Marshal Foch, one of the +great military geniuses of all time. His plan was to strike at a +weakened point; then, when the Germans had rushed reinforcements to +ward off the danger, to strike at some other point in the line and thus +use up the German reserves; and to give the German commanders no time +to prepare an offensive on a large scale. The German by nature seems to +think that size determines victory. The big things seem to him the +things that are effective and that win. So his offensives were planned +on a great scale and required months of preparation; and after one +offensive had been stopped, he required more months of comparative rest +to plan and prepare another. The French nature is different; it is +subtle, deft, and skillful, and by repeated strokes of less force, +often accomplishes what the German fails to do with one mighty blow. In +riveting the plates on a ship, or in joining the framework of a steel +skyscraper, a riveting machine is used which, by very rapidly repeated +blows, does the work quickly and well. Somewhat in this way did Marshal +Foch strike the German line, now in this spot, now in that, capturing +or putting out of action large numbers of German troops, outflanking +first one strategic point and then another. As a consequence, the +German line was obliged to draw back and back to prevent the Allies +from breaking through and attacking the German supply trains coming up +in the rear with food and munitions. + +West of Verdun the Germans had come into Belgium and France along the +line of the Meuse through Liége and Namur, and across Luxemburg by the +main railway through Sedan. Could either of these great lines of +communication be captured, the Germans would be unable to withdraw to +their own territory without terrible losses, if at all; for between +their armies and Germany lay the great forest region of Ardennes with +but few roads. Two millions of men could not retreat through this +region without leaving guns and munitions behind and their retreat +becoming a rout. + +From Verdun the Meuse River runs north and west to Sedan and to the +railroad which extended from the German lines through Luxemburg to +Germany. Marshal Foch honored General Pershing and the American troops +by assigning to them the difficult task of advancing from Verdun +through the valley of the Meuse to Sedan. The story of the fighting of +the Americans in this advance is a story glowing with deeds of heroism +and of reckless daring, a story of the overcoming of almost impossible +difficulties and of final victory. At Sedan in 1870, the Germans +humbled the French and decided the Franco-Prussian War. It is a strange +turn of history that, with the capture of Sedan from the Germans in +1918, the World War was practically decided and ended. + +The Allied army from Salonica, with the help of the Serbians, had +conquered Bulgaria late in September, and she had surrendered +unconditionally, thus cutting off Germany and Austria from +communication with their ally, Turkey. General Allenby's conquest of +Palestine and occupation of Aleppo brought Turkey to realize that she +was helpless. She surrendered the last of October. Then the +strengthened and refreshed Italian army attacked the Austrians on the +Piave in Italy and won perhaps the most complete victory of the war on +the western front, capturing over five hundred thousand prisoners and +completely breaking Austria's power for further resistance. Austria +surrendered on November 4. + +Thus Germany was left alone, open to attack on her southern and eastern +fronts, while being hopelessly beaten in the west. She asked President +Wilson to secure an armistice from the Allied nations. The President +had declared earlier in the war that we would never deal with the +Kaiser and the autocratic rulers of Germany who had repeatedly broken +their word to us and to other nations. The German people, aware of this +fact, were taking things into their own hands, and the German +Revolution had really begun. + +The German Chancellor informed President Wilson that Germany had +changed its form of government and was now being ruled by those +responsible to the German people, and that the German government was +willing to make peace on the basis of President Wilson's Fourteen +Points, as stated on January 8, 1918, and of his later declarations, +particularly that of September 27, 1918. + +After some correspondence, the President referred the German government +to Marshal Foch. Envoys were sent from Spa, the German headquarters, +under flag of truce to the headquarters of Marshal Foch in a railroad +car near Senlis. The terms of the armistice made it absolutely +impossible for Germany to renew the war after the cessation of +hostilities, for she was obliged to evacuate all invaded territory, to +remove all her troops twenty miles back from the Rhine, and to give the +control of the river and its crossings to the Allies. She was also +forced to surrender vast quantities of large and small guns, two +thousand air-planes, all her submarines, and the greater part of her +navy. She was practically to give over the control of her railways and +shipping to the Allies and to renounce the unfair treaties with Russia +and Roumania. Alsace-Lorraine was to be returned to France, and Belgium +and northern France restored. The armistice was signed by the Germans +on November 11, 1918. It has been called the most complete surrender +ever known, but Germany had no choice, for her armies were defeated and +her navy had no hope in a battle against the overwhelming odds of the +Allies. + +_Der Tag_ or "The Day" for which haughty Germans had hoped, had come, +but how different from the day they had imagined! When the white flag +of truce was raised on the German battle line, the red flag of +revolution was unfurled in Berlin and other German cities. The Kaiser +had abdicated, the Crown Prince had renounced his right to the throne, +and both had taken refuge in Holland. Other German kings were +abdicating and royal princes were fleeing for safety. + +Great celebrations were held in the Allied countries. It seemed as if +the people in the great cities of America had gone wild with joy. +President Wilson appeared in the hall of the national House of +Representatives at one o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, November 11, +and announced the signing of the armistice and its terms and the +conclusion of the war. He asked America to show a spirit of helpfulness +rather than one of revenge toward the conquered Germans, concluding his +message as follows: + + The present and all that it holds belongs to the nations and the + peoples who preserve their self-control and the orderly + processes of their governments; the future to those who prove + themselves the true friends of mankind. To conquer with arms is + to make only a temporary conquest. I am confident that the + nations that have learned the discipline of freedom and that + have settled with self-possession to its ordered practice are + now about to make conquest of the world by the sheer power of + example and of friendly helpfulness. + + The peoples who have but just come out from under the yoke of + arbitrary government and who are now coming at last into their + freedom, will never find the treasures of liberty they are in + search of if they look for them by the light of the torch. They + will find that every pathway that is stained with blood of their + own brothers leads to the wilderness, not to the seat of their + hope. They are now face to face with their initial test. We must + hold the light steady until they find themselves. And in the + meantime, if it be possible, we must establish a peace that will + justly define their place among the nations, remove all fear of + their neighbors and of their former masters, and enable them to + live in security and contentment when they have set their own + affairs in order. I, for one, do not doubt their purpose or + their capacity. There are some happy signs that they know and + will choose the way of self-control and peaceful accommodation. + If they do, we shall put our aid at their disposal in every way + that we can. If they do not, we must await with patience and + sympathy the awakening and recovery that will assuredly come at + last. + +To the people of the United States he sent the following message: + + My Fellow Countrymen: The armistice was signed this morning. + Everything for which America fought has been accomplished. It + will now be our fortunate duty to assist, by example, by sober, + friendly council, and by material aid, in the establishment of + just democracy throughout the world. + + WOODROW WILSON. + +No one can foretell all that this victory, won through the most +terrible suffering and sacrifice the world has ever been called upon to +bear, means to mankind; but we know it means a new day and a new +opportunity for millions of down-trodden men and women in all parts of +the world. It means giving a new world of democracy and equality of +opportunity to those who never dreamed this possible, except by leaving +their native lands and coming to America. It means bringing all that +America means to us to races that for centuries have lived without +hope. It means the downfall and the punishment of those who would +selfishly rise by the persecution and suffering of others. It means +that in the end right must always conquer might. + + + + +NATIONS AND THE MORAL LAW + + +I believe there is no permanent greatness to a nation except it be +based upon morality. I do not care for military greatness or military +renown. I care for the condition of the people among whom I live. +Crowns, coronets, mitres, military display, the pomp of war, wide +colonies, and a huge empire are in my view all trifles, light as air +and not worth considering, unless with them you can have a fair share +of comfort, contentment, and happiness among the great body of the +people. Palaces, baronial castles, great halls, stately mansions, do +not make a nation. The nation in every country dwells in the cottage. + +I ask you then to believe, as I do most devoutly believe, that the +moral law was not written for men alone in their individual character, +but that it was written as well for nations. + +If nations reject and deride that moral law, there is a penalty which +will inevitably follow. It may not come at once, it may not come in our +life-time; but rely upon it, the great Italian is not a poet only, but +a prophet, when he says: + + The sword of heaven is not in haste to smite, + Nor yet doth linger. + + JOHN BRIGHT. + + + + +PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY + +Foreign sounds which cannot be exactly reproduced in English are +represented by their nearest English equivalents. + + + +Aerschot+ (är´skŏt) + +Ailette+ (ail ĕt´) + +Aisne+ (ain) + +Aix-la-Chapelle+ (aiks´-lȧ-shȧ pel´) + +Alsace+ (ȧl säss´) + +Amiens+ (ȧ mee ăng´) + +Ancre+ (äng´kr) + +Andenne+ (äng dĕn´) + +Aonzo+ (ä ōn´zō) + +Arras+ (ȧ räss´) + +Ausweiss+ (ows´vīz) + +Auteuil+ (ō ter´yẽ) + + +Battice+ (bat tees´) + +Belfort+ (bĕl fōr´) + +Belloy-en-Santerre+ (bel wä´-äng-säng tair´) + +Bernstorff+ (berns´torf) + +Bethmann-Hollweg+ (bait´man-holl´vaik) + +Boche+ (bŏsh) + +Boelke+ (bāl´kẽ) + +Boers+ (bo͞ors) + +Bolsheviki+ (bol shay´vee kee´) + +Bonnier+ (bon ee ay´) + +Bordeaux+ (bor dō´) + +Bouée+ (bo͞o ay´) + +Boulogne+ (bo͞o lōn´) + +Brest-Litovsk+ (brĕst´-lyĕ tŏfsk´) + +Bruges+ (breezh) + +Brussels+ (brŭs´elz) + +Buccari+ (bo͝ok kä´ree) + +Bueken+ (bee´kĕn) + +Bülow+ (bee´lō) + + +Calais+ (kȧ lay´) + +Cambrai+ (kam bray´) + +Carnegie+ (kär nĕg´ĭ) + +Castelnau+ (kȧs tel nō´) + +Celle+ (tsel´ẽ) + +Châlons+ (shä long´) + +Champagne+ (sham pain´) + +Chandos+ (chan´dŏs) + +Charleroi+ (shär lẽ rwä´) + +Château-Thierry+ (shä tō´-tee ẽ ree´) + +Chaudfontaine+ (shōd fong tain´) + +Chillon+ (shee yŏng´) + +Cologne+ (kō lōn´) + +Courtrai+ (ko͞or tray´) + + +D'Annunzio+ (dȧ no͝on´tsiō) + +De Bussy+ (dẽ bee´see) + +Deutschland über Alles+ (doich´lant ee´ber äl´ẽs) + +Devon+ (dĕv´ŭn) + +Dinant+ (dee näng´) + +Dixmude+ (diks meed´) + +Dniester+ (nees´ter) + +Douaumont+ (do͞o ȧ mong´) + +Du Guesclin+ (dee gay klăng´) + +Dunajec+ (do͞on´ȧ yeck) + +Dürer+ (dee´rer) + +Duruy+ (dee ree ee´) + + +École+ (ay kol´) + +Embourg+ (em bo͝ork´) + +Épinal+ (ay pee näl´) + +Evegnée+ (ĕ vain yay´) + + +Foch+ (fŏsh) + +franc-tireur+ (fräng-tee rer´) + + +Gallipoli+ (gal lip´o lee) + +Gemmenich+ (ḡĕm men´ik) + +Genet+ (zhĕ nay´) + +Gheluvelt+ (hay lee´velt) + +Ghent+ (ḡĕnt) + +Grietchen+ (greet´shĕn) + +Guynemer+ (gwee nay may´) + + +Hague+ (haig) + +Havre+ (äv´r') + +Hedjaz+ (hej äz´) + +Herve+ (herv) + +Hotel de Ville+ (o tel´dẽ veel´) + +Huerta+ (wair´tä) + + +Jagow+ (yä´gow) + +Jaroslav+ (yä rō släv´) + +Jassy+ (yäs´sy) + +Jeanne d'Arc+ (zhän dark´) + +Jeanniot+ (zhän nee ō´) + +Joffre+ (zhōff) + +Junkers+ (yo͞ong´kers) + + +Kharkov+ (kär´kŏf) + +Kiaochau+ (kee ow´chow) + +Krupp+ (kro͝op) + +Kultur+ (ko͝ol to͞or´) + + +Leman+ (lee´man) + +Lens+ (läng) + +Lichnowsky+ (lish nov´skee) + +Liége+ (lee aizh´) + +Lille+ (leel) + +Loire+ (lwär) + +Loncin+ (long săng´) + +Lorraine+ (lō rain´) + +Loti, Pierre+ (lō tee´, pee air´) + +Louvain+ (lo͞o văng´) + +Lycée+ (lee say´) + + +Maas+ (mäs) + +Madero+ (mä day´rō) + +Magdeburg+ (mäg´dĕ bo͝ork) + +Malines+ (mȧ leen´) + +Manoury+ (mȧ no͞o´ry) + +Marne+ (märn) + +Marseillaise+ (mär sĕ lāz´) + +Meaux+ (mō) + +Mercier+ (mer seeay´) + +Meuse+ (merz) + +Mignon+ (meen yong´) + +Millerand+ (meel räng´) + +Mindanao+ (meen dä nä´ō) + +Mons+ (mongs) + +mooshiki+ (mo͞o shee kee´) + +Moselle+ (mō zĕl´) + +Munsterlagen+ (mun ster lä´gen) + + +Namur+ (nȧ meer´) + +noblesse oblige+ (no blĕs´ ō bleezh´) + +Notre Dame+ (nō tr' dȧm´) + + +Ostend+ (ŏs tend´) + +Ourcq+ (o͞ork) + + +Pau+ (pō) + +Piave+ (pee ä´vay) + +poilu+ (pwä lee´) + +Poincaré+ (pwäng´kȧ ray´) + +Poiret+ (pwȧ ray´) + +Provençe+ (prō vängs´) + + +Raemaekers+ (rä mä´kers) + +Rasputin+ (rȧs pū´tin) + +Reichstag+ (rīchs´täk) + +retournment+ (rĕ to͝orn mäng´) + +Rheims+ (reemz) + +Richthofen+ (rikt´hō fen) + +Rivesaltes+ (reev sȧlt´) + +Rizzo, Luigi+ (reet´so, lo͞o ee´jee) + + +St. Mihiel+ (săng´mee yĕl´) + +Saint Pierre+ (săng pee air´) + +Saint Quentin+ (săng käng tăng´) + +Sarrail+ (sȧr rȧ´yẽ) + +Scyros+ (sī´rŏs) + +Seine+ (sain) + +Seraing+ (ser răng´) + +Soissons+ (swä sŏng´) + +Somme+ (sŏm) + + +Tamines+ (tȧ meen´) + +Toul+ (to͞ol) + +Tours+ (to͞or) + +Tsingchau+ (tsing´chow) + + +Uhlan+ (o͞o´län) + + +Vaux+ (vō) + +Verdun+ (vĕr dŭng´) + +Vesle+ (vail) + +Villa+ (veel´yä) + +Vimy+ (vee´mee) + +Vise+ (vees) + +Viva l'Italia+ (vee´vȧ lee tȧ´lee ȧ) + +Vive la France+ (veev´lȧ fränts´) + +Vladivostok+ (vlä dee väs tŏk´) + +Von Diederichs+ (fōn dee´der iks) + +Von Kluck+ (fōn klo͞ok) + +vrille+ (vree´yẽ) + + +Wackerzeel+ (vȧk´er tsail´) + +Werchter+ (verk´ter) + + +Ypres+ (ee´pr') + +Yser+ (ee say´) + + +Zeebrugge+ (tsay bro͝og´ẽ) + + + + +THE RECKONING + + + What do they reck who sit aloof on thrones, + Or in the chambered chancelleries apart, + Playing the game of state with subtle art, + If so be they may win, what wretched groans + Rise from red fields, what unrecorded bones + Bleach within shallow graves, what bitter smart + Pierces the widowed or the orphaned heart-- + The unhooded horror for which naught atones! + + A word, a pen-stroke, and this might not be! + But vengeance, power-lust, festering jealousy + Triumph, and grim carnage stalks abroad. + Hark! Hear that ominous bugle on the wind! + And they who might have stayed it, shall they find + No reckoning within the courts of God? + + CLINTON SCOLLARD + + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lest We Forget, by +John Gilbert Thompson and Inez Bigwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEST WE FORGET *** + +***** This file should be named 36634-0.txt or 36634-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/6/3/36634/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/36634-0.zip b/36634-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..957c83a --- /dev/null +++ b/36634-0.zip diff --git a/36634-8.txt b/36634-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b8cb2f --- /dev/null +++ b/36634-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9626 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Lest We Forget, by John Gilbert Thompson and Inez Bigwood + +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: Lest We Forget + World War Stories + +Author: John Gilbert Thompson + Inez Bigwood + +Release Date: July 5, 2011 [EBook #36634] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEST WE FORGET *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has | + | been preserved. | + | | + | Bold text has been marked +like this+. | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + +RECESSIONAL + + + God of our fathers, known of old, + Lord of our far-flung battle-line, + Beneath whose awful Hand we hold + Dominion over palm and pine-- + Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, + Lest we forget--lest we forget! + + * * * * * + + Far-called, our navies melt away; + On dune and headland sinks the fire: + Lo, all our pomp of yesterday + Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! + Judge of the Nations, spare us yet, + Lest we forget--lest we forget! + + RUDYARD KIPLING + + [Illustration: THE KAISER: "YOU SEE YOU HAVE LOST EVERYTHING." + THE KING OF THE BELGIANS: "NOT MY SOUL." + (Reproduced by permission of the proprietors of _Punch_.)] + + + + + LEST WE FORGET + + WORLD WAR STORIES + + BY + + JOHN GILBERT THOMPSON + PRINCIPAL OF THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL + FITCHBURG, MASS. + + AND + + INEZ BIGWOOD + + INSTRUCTOR IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE + STATE NORMAL SCHOOL + FITCHBURG, MASS. + + [Illustration] + + SILVER, BURDETT AND COMPANY + BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY + SILVER, BURDETT AND COMPANY + + + + +PREFACE + + +Books and articles in astounding numbers have been published in the +past four years to explain the World War and to inform the public as to +its progress. Societies and agencies of the government have urged that +every available means be employed to inform the American people of the +reasons for the war and the issues at stake; and much has been done for +adults. + +Little or no thought seems to have been given to youthful readers who +are beginning to think for themselves, and whose first thinking should +be properly guided, for they are at an age when tales of heroism and +daring make a strong appeal. In many homes the children are the only +readers, and in nearly all, their thinking and reading exercise a +powerful influence. + +This volume of stories of the World War is prepared to meet this +important need, and to set before the pupils the war's unparalleled +deeds of heroism, with the aims and ideals which have inspired them, +and which have led American youth to look upon the sacrifice of life as +none too high a price to pay for the liberation of mankind. + +It may be used as a reading book or as an historical reader for the +upper grammar grades. While great care has been employed to secure +accuracy of fact and to select material of permanent value, the stories +are written in a manner that will appeal to children. + +The thanks of the authors and publishers are hereby expressed to those +who have kindly granted permission to use copyrighted material. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + 1. THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD 1 + + 2. A KING OF HEROES 20 + + 3. THE DEFENSE OF LIGE 31 + + 4. THE DESTRUCTION OF LOUVAIN 38 + + 5. CARDINAL MERCIER 43 + + 6. AND THE COCK CREW _Amelia Josephine Burr_ 57 + + 7. A BELGIAN LAWYER'S APPEAL 59 + + 8. EDITH CAVELL 61 + + 9. SON _Robert W. Service_ 66 + + 10. THE CASE OF SERBIA _David Lloyd George_ 68 + + 11. THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN FRYATT 71 + + 12. RUPERT BROOKE 76 + + 13. "LET US SAVE THE KIDDIES" 81 + + 14. THE CHARGE OF THE BLACK WATCH AND THE SCOTS GREYS 91 + + 15. THE BATTLES OF THE MARNE 94 + + 16. THE QUEEN'S FLOWER 105 + + 17. AT SCHOOL NEAR THE LINES 108 + + 18. A PLACE IN THE SUN 112 + + 19. MARSHAL JOFFRE 119 + + 20. THE HUN TARGET--THE RED CROSS 129 + + 21. "THEY SHALL NOT PASS" 140 + + 22. VERDUN _Harold Begbie_ 146 + + 23. THE BEAST IN MAN 147 + + 24. WHEN GERMANY LOST THE WAR _New York Sun_ 155 + + 25. CARRY ON! _Robert W. Service_ 162 + + 26. WAR DOGS 165 + + 27. THE BELGIAN PRINCE 175 + + 28. DARING THE UNDARABLE 182 + + 29. KILLING THE SOUL 189 + + 30. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION 195 + + 31. A BALLAD OF FRENCH RIVERS _Christopher Morley_ 207 + + 32. BACILLI AND BULLETS 209 + + 33. THE TORCH OF VALOR _Sir Gilbert Parker_ 216 + + 34. MARSHAL FOCH 223 + + 35. THE MEXICAN PLOT 228 + + 36. WHY WE FIGHT GERMANY _Franklin K. Lane_ 242 + + 37. GENERAL PERSHING 245 + + 38. THE MELTING POT 252 + + 39. BIRDMEN 256 + + 40. ALAN SEEGER 271 + + 41. CAN WAR EVER BE RIGHT? 275 + + 42. WHAT ONE AMERICAN DID 293 + + 43. RAEMAEKERS 301 + + 44. THE GOD IN MAN 309 + + 45. IN FLANDERS FIELDS _Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae_ 321 + + 46. THE WORLD WAR 322 + + 47. NATIONS AND THE MORAL LAW _John Bright_ 343 + + [Illustration: PRESIDENT WILSON ANNOUNCING TO JOINT SESSION OF + CONGRESS THE SEVERANCE OF OUR RELATIONS WITH GERMANY + _Copyright by G.V. Buck. From Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + + + + +LEST WE FORGET + + + + +THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD + + +On April 19, 1775, was fired "the shot heard round the world." It was +the shot fired for freedom and democracy by the Americans at Lexington +and Concord. In 1836, upon the completion of the battle monument at +Concord, the gallant deeds of those early patriots were commemorated by +Emerson in verse. + + By the rude bridge that arched the flood, + Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, + Here once the embattled farmers stood, + And fired the shot heard round the world. + +This is not the only shot for freedom fired by America and Americans. +As President Wilson has said, "The might of America is the might of a +sincere love for the freedom of mankind." The shots of the Civil War +were fired for united democracy and universal freedom. + +The soldiers and sailors of the United States fired upon the Spaniards +in the Spanish-American War, that an oppressed people might be +released and given an opportunity to live and work and grow in liberty. + +That the Filipinos, like the Cubans, might learn to understand freedom, +to safeguard it, and to use it wisely, has been the whole purpose of +the United States in aiding them. + +On April 6, 1917, the shot was heard again. The whole world had been +listening anxiously for it, and was not disappointed. + +Those against whom the first American shot for freedom was fired in +1775 have now become the strongest defenders of liberty and democracy. +Their country is one of the three greatest democracies of the world. +Shoulder to shoulder, the Americans and British fight for the freedom +of mankind everywhere. They fight to defend the truth and to make this +truth serve down-trodden peoples as well as the mighty. + +Indeed, President Wilson has wisely said, "The only thing that ever set +any man free, the only thing that ever set any nation free, is the +truth. A man that is afraid of the truth is afraid of life. A man who +does not love the truth is in the way of failure." + +Germany has no love for the truth. The history of the empire is strewn +with broken promises and acts of deceitfulness. America stands for +something different. It stands for those ideals which President Wilson +saw when he looked at the flag. + +"And as I look at that flag," he said, "I seem to see many characters +upon it which are not visible to the physical eye. There seem to move +ghostly visions of devoted men who, looking at that flag, thought only +of liberty, of the rights of mankind, of the mission of America to show +the way to the world for the realization of the rights of mankind; and +every grave of every brave man of the country would seem to have upon +it the colors of the flag; if he was a true American, would seem to +have on it that stain of red which means the true pulse of blood, and +that beauty of pure white which means the peace of the soul. And then +there seems to rise over the graves of those men and to hallow their +memory, that blue space of the sky in which stars swim, these stars +which exemplify for us that glorious galaxy of the States of the Union, +bodies of free men banded together to vindicate the rights of mankind." + +At Mount Vernon, he said, in speaking of the work of George Washington, +"A great promise that was meant for all mankind was here given plan and +reality." So for the sake of many peoples of Europe who were wronged, +America has carried out that promise. When honorable Americans promise, +they would rather give up life than fail to keep their word. But when +the Germans promise it means only "a slip of the tongue," for this is +also the meaning of the German word which is translated "promise." + +That the United States has to fulfill this special mission of +defending the truth is very clear. The great American leader said again +in behalf of his people: + +"I suppose that from the first America has had one particular mission +in the world. Other nations have grown rich, other nations have been as +powerful as we are in material resources; other nations have built up +empires and exercised dominion. We are not alone in any of these +things, but we are peculiar in this, that from the first we have +dedicated our force to the service of justice and righteousness and +peace. + +"The princes among us are those who forget themselves and serve +mankind. America was born into the world to do mankind's service, and +no man is an American in whom the desire to do mankind's service is not +greater than the desire to serve himself. + +"Our life is but a little plan. One generation follows another very +quickly. If a man with red blood in him had his choice, knowing that he +must die, he would rather die to vindicate some right, unselfish to +himself, than die in his bed. We are all touched with the love of the +glory which is real glory, and the only glory comes from utter +self-forgetfulness and self-sacrifice. We never erect a statue to a man +who has merely succeeded. We erect statues to men who have forgotten +themselves and been glorified by the memory of others. This is the +standard that America holds up to mankind in all sincerity and in all +earnestness. + +"We have gone down to Mexico to serve mankind, if we can find out the +way. We do not want to fight the Mexicans; we want to serve the +Mexicans if we can, because we know how we would like to be free and +how we would like to be served, if there were friends standing by ready +to serve us. A war of aggression is not a war in which it is a proud +thing to die, but a war of service is a thing in which it is a proud +thing to die." + +The liberty-loving nations now fighting in the World War desire that +truth and freedom shall be secured even to the Germans along with all +other peoples. If the Germans had possessed these priceless virtues, +probably no World War would have been necessary. But the spirit of +militarism has bound down and deceived the German people. + +President Wilson, at West Point, said: "Militarism does not consist in +the existence of any army, not even in the existence of a very great +army. Militarism is a spirit. It is a point of view. It is a system. It +is a purpose. The purpose of militarism is to use armies for +aggression. The spirit of militarism is the opposite of the civilian +spirit, the citizen spirit. In a country where militarism prevails, the +military man looks down upon the civilian, regards him as inferior, +thinks of him as intended for his, the military man's support and use, +and just as long as America is America that spirit and point of view is +impossible with us. There is as yet in this country, so far as I can +discover, no taint of the spirit of militarism." + +The people of Germany have given up their sons, paid enormous taxes +which kept them poor but made landowners rich, all for the sake of the +military whims of their superiors. + +Any American would say, like President Wilson, "I would rather belong +to a poor nation that was free than to a rich nation that had ceased to +be in love with liberty. But we shall not be poor if we love liberty, +because the nation that loves liberty truly sets every man free to do +his best and be his best, and that means the release of all the +splendid energies of a great people who think for themselves." + +Thus, it is clear that America fights _to serve_. The Germans fight _to +get_, even as their word "kriegen," used by them to mean "make war," +really means "to get." For them, making war is never with the idea of +service, but with the idea of getting. They desire many things for +Germany, and to get them, they have used the most brutal force. Not for +a moment would they stop to listen to the opinions of mankind +throughout the world. + +President Wilson spoke with authority, when he said: "I have not read +history without observing that the greatest forces in the world and the +only permanent forces are the moral forces. We have the evidence of a +very competent witness, namely, the first Napoleon, who said that as he +looked back in the last days of his life upon so much as he knew of +human history, he had to record the judgment that force had never +accomplished anything that was permanent. Force will not accomplish +anything that is permanent, I venture to say, in the great struggle +which is now going on on the other side of the sea. The permanent +things will be accomplished afterward, when the opinion of mankind is +brought to bear upon the issues, and the only thing that will hold the +world steady is this same silent, insistent, all-powerful opinion of +mankind. Force can sometimes hold things steady until opinion has time +to form, but no force that was ever exerted except in response to that +opinion was ever a conquering and predominant force." + +By the opinions of mankind, he meant ideals, of which he had already +said: "The pushing things in this world are ideals, not ideas. One +ideal is worth twenty ideas." + +Thus, in behalf of the great American nation, he calls upon the young +Americans of to-day to follow the true spirit of their country. To them +all he says, "You are just as big as the things you do, just as small +as the things you leave undone. The size of your life is the scale of +your thinking." + +When this great American president who believed that moral force was +always greater than physical force and who taught that America's +mission in the world was to serve all mankind and finally to make them +free; when he perceived after every other means had failed, that only +physical force could affect Germany and that "the sore spot" in the +world must be healed, as a cancer is, with the surgeon's knife; then he +appeared in person, on April 2, 1917, before the Congress of the United +States and read his great war message. Following his advice, Congress +declared on April 6 that a state of war existed with Germany. + +The message was in substance as follows: + + Gentlemen of the Congress: + + I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because + there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, + and made immediately. + + On the third of February last I laid before you the + extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government + that on and after the first day of February it was its purpose + to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its + submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either + the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of + Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany + within the Mediterranean. + + The new policy has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of + every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, + their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to + the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy + for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with + those of belligerents. + + Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the stricken + people of Belgium, though the latter were provided with + safe-conduct by the German Government itself and were + distinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk + with the same reckless lack of compassion or of principle.... + + I am not now thinking of the loss of property, immense and + serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale + destruction of the lives of non-combatants, men, women, and + children, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in the + darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and + lawful. Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and + innocent people cannot be. + + The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a + warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations. + American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways + which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships + and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk + in the waters in the same way. The challenge is to all mankind. + Each nation must decide for itself how it will meet it. + + The choice we make for ourselves must be made after very careful + thought. We must put excited feeling away. Our motives will not + be revenge or the victorious show of the physical might of the + nation, but only the vindication of right, of human rights, of + which we are only a single champion.... + + The German Government denies the right of neutrals to use arms + at all within the areas of the sea which it has proscribed, even + in the defense of their rights. The armed guards which we have + placed on our merchant ships will be treated as beyond the pale + of law and subject to be dealt with as pirates would be. + + There is one choice we cannot make, we are incapable of making; + we will not choose the path of submission and suffer the most + sacred rights of our nation and our people to be ignored or + violated. The wrongs against which we now array ourselves are + not common wrongs; they cut to the very roots of human life. + + With a profound sense of the solemn step I am taking and of the + grave responsibilities which it involves, but in unhesitating + obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, I advise that + the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German + Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the + Government and people of the United States; that it formally + accept the status of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon + it and that it take immediate steps not only to put the country + in a more thorough state of defense, but also to exert all its + power and employ all its resources to bring the Government of + the German Empire to terms and end the war. + + While we do these things--these deeply momentous things--let us + be very clear, and make very clear to all the world what our + motives and our objects are. Our object is to vindicate the + principles of peace and justice in the life of the world against + selfish and autocratic power and to set up among the really free + and self-governed peoples of the world such a concert of purpose + and action as will henceforth insure the observance of those + principles. + + Neutrality is no longer desirable where the peace of the world + is involved and the freedom of its peoples; and the menace to + that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic + governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly + by their will, not by the will of their people. + + We have no quarrel with the German people. We have no feeling + toward them but one of sympathy and friendship. It was not upon + their impulse that their Government acted in entering this war. + It was not with their knowledge or approval. + + A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except by + a partnership of democratic nations. No autocratic Government + could be trusted to keep faith within it, or to observe its + agreements. It must be a league of honor, a partnership of + opinion. Intrigue would eat its vitals away; the plotting of + inner circles, who could plan what they would and render an + account to no one, would be a corruption seated at its very + heart. Only free peoples can hold their purpose and their honor + steady to a common end, and prefer the interests of mankind to + any narrow interests of their own. + + Indeed, it is now evident that German spies were here even + before the war began. They have played their part in serving to + convince us at last that that Government entertains no real + friendship for us, and means to act against our peace and + security at its convenience. That it means to stir up enemies + against us at our very doors, the note to the German Minister at + Mexico City is eloquent evidence. + + We are accepting this challenge because we know that in such a + Government, following such methods, we can never have a friend; + and that in the presence of its organized power, always lying in + wait to accomplish we know not what purpose, there can be no + assured security of the democratic governments of the world. + + We are now about to accept gage of battle with this natural foe + of liberty, and shall, if necessary, spend the whole force of + the nation to check and nullify its pretensions and its power. + We are glad, now that we see the facts with no veil of false + pretense about them, to fight thus for the peace of the world + and for the liberation of its peoples, the German people + included; for the rights of nations great and small and the + privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of + obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace + must be planted upon the tested foundations of political + liberty. + + We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no + dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material + compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but + one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be + satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the + faith and the freedom of the nations can make them. + + Just because we fight without rancor and without selfish object, + seeking nothing for ourselves but what we shall wish to share + with all free people, we shall, I feel confident, conduct our + operations as belligerents without passion and ourselves observe + the principles of right and of fair play we profess to be + fighting for. + + It will be all the easier for us to conduct ourselves as + belligerents in a high spirit of right and fairness because we + act without animus, not in enmity toward a people or with the + desire to bring any injury or disadvantage upon them, but only + in armed opposition to an irresponsible Government which has + thrown aside all considerations of humanity and of right, and is + running amuck. + + We are, let me say again, the sincere friends of the German + people, and shall desire nothing so much as the early + restablishment of intimate relations of mutual advantage + between us, however hard it may be for them, for the time being, + to believe that this is spoken from our hearts. + + We have borne with their present Government through all these + bitter months because of that friendship, exercising a patience + and forbearance which would otherwise have been impossible. We + shall, happily, still have an opportunity to prove that + friendship in our daily attitude and actions toward the millions + of men and women of German birth and native sympathy who live + among us and share our life, and we shall be proud to prove it + toward all who are in fact loyal to their neighbors and to the + Government in the hour of test. + + They are, most of them, as true and loyal Americans as if they + had never known any other fealty or allegiance. They will be + prompt to stand with us in rebuking and restraining the few who + may be of a different mind and purpose. + + If there should be disloyalty, it will be dealt with with a firm + hand of stern repression; but if it lifts its head at all, it + will lift it only here and there and without countenance except + from a lawless and malignant few. + + It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the + Congress, which I have performed in thus addressing you. There + are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead + of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great, peaceful people + into war--into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, + civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. + + But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight + for the things which we have always carried nearest our + hearts--for democracy, for the right of those who submit to + authority to have a voice in their own government, for the + rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion + of right by such a concert of free people as shall bring peace + and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last + free. + + To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, + everything that we are and everything that we have, with the + pride of those who know that the day has come when America is + privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles + that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has + treasured. God helping her, she can do no other. + +On July 4, 1918, the United States had been at war for more than a +year, and it seemed to the millions of people who were anxiously +waiting for the peaceful giant to awake that very little had been +accomplished. They were fearful that the Germans in their next great +offensive, for which they had been preparing for over two months, might +capture Paris, or at least get near enough to it to destroy the city +with their long range artillery. The offensives, already launched by +the Germans, had been frightfully effective, and the Allies felt that +American soldiers in large numbers were necessary to save them from +possible disaster. They were looking for a great "push" by the enemy +and one that German leaders had promised the people at home would bring +victory and settle the war in their favor. This offensive, as we know, +was launched on July 15 and instead of succeeding was changed by +Marshal Foch's counter-stroke into a serious defeat for the Germans. + +But this outcome could not of course be predicted in America on July 4, +and hearts were heavy with fear that the United States might after all +be too slow and too late. It was not then generally known that during +the months of May and June, over a half million American soldiers had +been landed in France. + +On July 4, 1776, the American colonies by a Declaration of Independence +determined to fight for liberty and democracy; on April 6, 1917, the +American Congress declared that the United States would help defeat the +selfish aims of Germany. In the early fight of the American colonies +for independence, the first battles were fought in April and the +Declaration of Independence was signed in July of the next year; in +the fight for the liberty of all peoples, the German included, the +Americans entered the war in April, and the President on July 4 of the +following year, standing at the tomb of Washington at Mount Vernon, +read a Declaration of Independence, not for America alone, but for the +entire world. + +In 1776, the declaration was supported by a small army of a few small +colonies, in 1918 the declaration was supported by the full strength of +the greatest and wealthiest nation on the globe. + +It was a beautiful day with a cloudless sky and a cooling breeze. +President Wilson and his party, including members of the cabinet; the +British ambassador, the Earl of Reading; the French ambassador, Jules +J. Jusserand; and other members of the diplomatic corps, had come down +the Potomac from Washington on the President's steam yacht, the +_Mayflower_. + +When they had gathered around the tomb of Washington near his old home, +Mount Vernon, on the banks of the beautiful Potomac River, +representatives of thirty-three nations placed wreaths of palms on the +tomb to show their fealty to the principles for which the "Father of +His Country" fought; then all stood with bared heads while John +McCormack sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." As the beautiful notes rose +and swelled and echoed over the hallowed ground, into the hearts of all +present came the conviction that the starry flag would soon bring to +all the peoples of the world the peace and security that surrounded +that historic group at Mount Vernon. + +Then the President with the marines about him, and beyond them +thousands of American citizens, began to read the Declaration of the +Independence of the World. It is so simple in language that even +children of twelve years of age may understand nearly all of it, and it +is so deep and noble in thought that even the greatest scholars and +statesmen will find it worthy of close study. It will stand forever +with Washington's Farewell Address and Lincoln's Gettysburg Speech as a +great American document. It is as follows, except that the four ends +for which the world is fighting are restated in briefer form: + + Gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps and my Fellow-Citizens: + + I am happy to draw apart with you to this quiet place of old + counsel in order to speak a little of the meaning of this day of + our nation's independence. The place seems very still and + remote. It is as serene and untouched by hurry of the world as + it was in those great days long ago, when General Washington was + here and held leisurely conference with the men who were to be + associated with him in the creation of a nation. + + From these gentle slopes, they looked out upon the world and saw + it whole, saw it with the light of the future upon it, saw it + with modern eyes that turned away from a past which men of + liberated spirits could no longer endure. It is for that reason + that we cannot feel, even here, in the immediate presence of + this sacred tomb, that this is a place of death. It was a place + of achievement. + + A great promise that was meant for all mankind was here given + plan and reality. The associations by which we are here + surrounded are the inspiriting associations of that noble death + which is only a glorious consummation. From this green hillside + we also ought to be able to see with comprehending eyes the + world that lies around us and conceive anew the purpose that + must set men free. + + It is significant--significant of their own character and + purpose and of the influences they were setting afoot--that + Washington and his associates, like the barons at Runnymede, + spoke and acted, not for a class but for a people. It has been + left for us to see to it that it shall be understood that they + spoke and acted, not for a single people only, but for all + mankind. They were thinking not of themselves and of the + material interests which centered in the little groups of + landholders and merchants and men of affairs with whom they were + accustomed to act, in Virginia and the colonies to the north and + south of here, but of a people which wished to be done with + classes and special interests and the authority of men whom they + had not themselves chosen to rule over them. + + They entertained no private purpose, desired no peculiar + privilege. They were consciously planning that men of every + class should be free and America a place to which men out of + every nation might resort who wished to share with them the + rights and privileges of freemen. And we take our cue from + them--do we not? We intend what they intended. + + We here in America believe our participation in this present war + to be only the fruitage of what they planted. Our case differs + from theirs only in this, that it is our inestimable privilege + to concert with men out of every nation what shall make not only + the liberties of America secure, but the liberties of every + other people as well. We are happy in the thought that we are + permitted to do what they would have done had they been in our + place. There must now be settled once for all what was settled + for America in the great age upon whose inspiration we draw + to-day. + + This is surely a fitting place from which calmly to look out + upon our task that we may fortify our spirits for its + accomplishment. And this is the appropriate place from which to + avow, alike to the friends who look on and to the friends with + whom we have the happiness to be associated in action, the faith + and purpose with which we act. + + This, then, is our conception of the great struggle in which we + are engaged. The plot is written plain upon every scene and + every act of the supreme tragedy. On the one hand stand the + peoples of the world--not only the peoples actually engaged, but + many others also who suffer under mastery but cannot act; + peoples of many races and every part of the world--the peoples + of stricken Russia still, among the rest, though they are for + the moment unorganized and helpless. Opposed to them, masters of + many armies, stand an isolated, friendless group of governments + who speak no common purpose, but only selfish ambitions of their + own by which none can profit but themselves, and whose peoples + are fuel in their hands; governments which fear their people and + yet are for the time their sovereign lords, making every choice + for them and disposing of their lives and fortunes as they will, + as well as of the lives and fortunes of every people who fall + under their power--governments clothed with the strange + trappings and the primitive authority of an age that is + altogether alien and hostile to our own. The past and the + present are in deadly grapple and the peoples of the world are + being done to death between them. + + There can be but one issue. The settlement must be final. There + can be no compromise. No half-way decision would be tolerable. + No half-way decision is conceivable. These are the ends for + which the associated peoples of the world are fighting and which + must be conceded them before there can be peace: + + 1. Every power anywhere that can secretly and of its own single + choice bring war upon the world must be bound or destroyed. + + 2. All questions must be settled in accordance with the wishes + of the people concerned. + + 3. The same respect for honor and for law that leads honorable + men to hold their promises as sacred and to keep them at any + cost must direct the nations in dealing with one another. + + 4. A league of nations must be formed strong enough to insure + the peace of the world. + + These great objects can be put into a single sentence. What we + seek is the reign of law, based upon the consent of the governed + and sustained by the organized opinion of mankind. + + These great ends cannot be achieved by debating and seeking to + reconcile and accommodate what statesmen may wish, with their + projects for balances of power and national opportunity. They + can be realized only by the determination of what the thinking + peoples of the world desire, with their longing hope for justice + and for social freedom and opportunity. + + I cannot but fancy that the air of this place carries the + accents of such principles with a peculiar kindness. Here were + started forces which the great nation against which they were + primarily directed at first regarded as a revolt against its + rightful authority, but which it has long since seen to have + been a step in the liberation of its own peoples as well as of + the people of the United States; and I stand here now to + speak--speak proudly and with confident hope--of the spread of + this revolt, this liberation, to the great stage of the world + itself! The blinded rulers of Prussia have aroused forces they + know little of--forces which, once aroused, can never be crushed + to earth again; for they have at their heart an inspiration and + a purpose which are deathless and of the very stuff of triumph! + + + + +A KING OF HEROES + + +"King" is not a word that will go out of use when the world has been +won for democracy. We shall still use it much as we do now, when we +say, "He is a prince" or "He is a king among men"; for there are still +good kings, as well as bad ones. Some countries that are really +democratic prefer to keep kings as reminders of their past and as +ornaments of their present. + +England is really more democratic than the United States and yet +England has a king; and as some one has said, he is a king and a +democrat and a king of democrats. This was well shown by his letter to +the first American soldiers who marched through London in April, 1918, +on their way to the battle line in France. Each soldier was handed an +envelope bearing the inscription, "A message to you from his majesty, +King George V." In the envelope was the letter shown on the opposite +page, from a democratic king to the American soldiers in the army of +democracy. + + [Illustration: (hand written letter from the King of England) + + WINDSOR CASTLE + + Soldiers of the United States, the + people of the British Isles welcome + you, on your way to take your + stand beside the Armies of + many Nations now fighting in + the Old World the great battle + for human freedom. + + The Allies will gain new heart + & spirit in your company + I wish that I could shake + the hand of each one of you + & big you God speed on your + mission. + + George R.I. + + April 1918.] + + +No autocratic king or kaiser desires to shake the hand of each of his +soldiers or to become in any way one of them. To an autocrat, to the +German Kaiser, to the German officers, the German privates are only +Things to be used as are swords and guns. A wounded German officer felt +insulted because he was made well again in an English hospital in the +same ward with German privates. + +An interesting story is told of a Red Cross nurse, to whom a badly +wounded man was brought at a field hospital during one of the battles +in which the brave little Belgian army was trying to hold back the +invading Germans. All the surgeons were busy, and the man needed +assistance at once. The nurse knew what was needed to save his life +until he could receive surgical treatment, and she knew how to do it; +but she could not do it alone. She must have help at once, and of the +right kind. + +She was about to give up in despair, when she saw a man walking through +the field hospital, cheering the sufferers and asking if he could be of +any assistance. She called to him, and when he came she said, "You can +save this man's life if you will help me and do just what I tell you, +just when I tell you to do it. Do you think you can take orders and +obey them promptly?" + +"I think so," replied the man. "Let us save this poor soldier's life, +if we can." + +The nurse set to work, telling the stranger just what she wanted him to +do. She wasted no words, but gave orders as if she expected them to be +obeyed quickly and intelligently. The stranger proved himself equal to +the occasion, and the delicate work which saved the man's life was soon +done. + +"Thank you," said the nurse, as she finished. "I see you are used to +taking orders and know how to obey. I shall remain with this soldier, +until he regains consciousness. He will want to know to whose +assistance he owes his life. Kindly give me your name." + +The stranger hesitated. Then he said, "The soldier really owes his life +to you, but I am glad if I was able to help. If he asks, you may tell +him the people call me Albert." + +And all at once the commanding little Red Cross nurse understood that +the tall, quiet man, who, she said, showed that he was used to taking +orders, was Albert, King of the Belgians. + +Italy has a king and Belgium has a king; but like King George of +England they are democratic kings, exercising what authority is granted +to them by the people in accordance with a constitution. The German +Kaiser claims to hold all authority of life and death over his people, +including the right of declaring defensive war, by "divine right," by +God's choice of him and his family to rule. + +When Germany, at the outbreak of the war in 1914, resolved to break the +treaty in which with other nations she had pledged herself never to +violate, but always to defend, the neutrality of Belgium; when she was +ready to declare to the world that a sacred treaty was only "a scrap of +paper" to be torn up whenever her needs seemed to require it, she sent +on Sunday night, August 2, 1914, at seven o'clock, an ultimatum to the +Belgian government--to be answered within twelve hours--in substance as +follows: + + The German Government has received information, of the accuracy + of which there can be no doubt, that it _may_ be the intention + of France to send her forces across Belgium to attack Germany. + + The German Government fears that Belgium, no matter how good her + intentions, may not be able unaided to prevent such a French + advance; and therefore it is necessary for the protection of + Germany that she should act at once. + + The German Government would be very sorry to have Belgium + consider her action in this matter as a hostile act, for it is + forced upon Germany by her enemies. In order to prevent any + misunderstanding, the German Government declares: + + 1. Germany intends no hostile act against Belgium, and if + Belgium makes no resistance, the German Government pledges the + security of the Belgian Kingdom and all its possessions. + + 2. Germany pledges herself to evacuate all Belgian territory at + the end of the war. + + 3. Germany will pay cash for all supplies needed by her troops + which Belgians are willing to sell her and will make good any + damage caused by her forces. + + 4. If Belgium resists the advance of the German forces, the + German Government will be compelled to consider Belgium as an + enemy and will act accordingly. If not, the friendly relations + which have long united the two nations will become stronger and + more lasting. + +In twelve hours Belgium must make a decision that would change her +entire future history and, as later events proved, the history of +Europe and of the world. She made it; and by that decision she +sacrificed herself and brought death and destruction upon her people +and her possessions, but she saved her honor and her soul. Germany had +promised her everything, if she would only let the German armies march +unhindered through Belgium into France. No Belgian should be harmed or +disturbed, and anything needed by the German army would be paid for. +After the Germans had won the war, as they doubtless would have done if +Belgium had not blocked their way, Belgium would have become a +thriving, wealthy kingdom, under German protection. Antwerp would have +been perhaps the greatest port in the world, and Brussels, next to +Berlin, the world's most magnificent capital. But the Belgians did not +hesitate nor did their heroic king. + +The Belgian Government replied on Monday morning, at four o'clock, in +substance as follows: + + The Note from the German Government has caused the most painful + surprise to the Belgian Government. The French on August 1 + assured us most emphatically that they would respect our + neutrality. If this should prove to be false, the Belgian army + will offer the greatest possible resistance to invasion by them. + The neutrality of Belgium is guaranteed by the powers, among + them Germany, and the attack which the German Government + threatens to make on Belgium would be a violation of the Law of + Nations. No military necessity can justify such a violation of + right. + + The Belgian Government, if it accepted the proposals of Germany, + would sacrifice the honor of the nation and betray its duty to + Europe; and it therefore refuses to believe that this will be + demanded in order to maintain its independence. If this + expectation proves unfounded, the Belgian Government is fully + decided to resist by all means in its power any attack against + its rights. + +On Tuesday the King brought in person a message to the Belgian +Legislature, as President Wilson has often brought such messages to the +American Congress. King Albert's message was in substance as follows: + + Not since 1830 has Belgium passed through such an anxious hour. + Our independence is threatened. We still have hope that what we + dread may not happen; but if we have to resist invasion and + defend our homes, that duty will find us armed, courageous, and + ready for any sacrifice. Already our young men have risen to + defend their country in danger. I send to them, in the name of + the nation, a brotherly greeting. Everywhere in the provinces of + Flanders and of Walloon alike, in city and country, one feeling + fills all minds--that our duty is to resist the enemies of our + independence with firm courage and as a united nation. + + The perfect mobilization of our army, the great number of + volunteers, the devotion of the citizens, the self-denial of + families have shown beyond doubt the bravery of the Belgian + people. The moment to act has come. + + No one in this nation will betray his duty. The army is ready, + and the Government has absolute trust in its leaders and its + soldiers. + + If the foreigner violates our territory, he will find all + Belgians grouped round their King and their Government, in which + they have absolute confidence. + + I have faith in our destinies. A nation which defends its rights + commands the respect of all. Such a nation cannot die. God will + be with us in a just cause. Long live independent Belgium! + +Hardly had the King finished his noble message, when the Prime Minister +announced to the Legislature that Germany had declared war upon +Belgium, and that her troops were moving against Lige. + +Never as long as men remember the history of these fateful days will +the decisive action of the heroic Belgian people and of their heroic +king be forgotten. The slightest hesitation between right and wrong +would have set civilization and human liberty back perhaps a thousand +years. And the decision had to be made not only by a people, but by a +young king with German blood in his veins and married to a German +princess--and between sunset and sunrise. + +Did he see the horrors before him and his people? Did he see the +destruction of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the pride of +his people? Did he see the tearing down and burning of the entire city +of Louvain, with its university and its valuable library containing +some of the oldest and most nearly priceless books and manuscripts? Did +he see the children and the aged dying by the roadside of hunger and +fatigue? Did he see the Belgian men carried off as slaves to work in +Germany? + +Do you think he or his Queen would have hesitated if he had? No one who +really knows them thinks so. Nothing can justify choosing the wrong. +King Albert, the King of Heroes, and Queen Elizabeth of the Belgians +are honored and respected by all who love liberty and justice, for it +has been well said, "Treaties and engagements are certainly scraps of +paper, just as promises are no more than breaths. But upon such scraps +of paper and breaths the fabric of civilization has been built, and +without them its everyday activity would come to an end." They +represent truly the heroic Belgian people who by their decision on +Sunday night, August 2, 1914, saved the world. Queen Elizabeth, +although a Bavarian princess, has said of the Germans, "Between them +and me has fallen a curtain of iron which will never again be lifted." + +The Belgian Minister to the United States said of King Albert after the +war had begun: + +"It is when one talks with our soldiers that one perceives how he is +loved; they say, all of them, that they will die for him. He is +constantly at their side, encouraging them by his presence and his +courage. At certain moments, he adventures too far; always he is in the +very midst of combat." + + [Illustration: KING ALBERT OF BELGIUM] + +The King and Queen are both of them unusually brave and daring. Not +many royal pairs would trust their lives to cross the English Channel +and return in an airplane, as they did in the summer of 1918 to attend +a celebration held by the King and Queen of England. + +A Belgian soldier writing of King Albert said: "The King came and +placed himself at my side in the trench. He took the rifle of a soldier +so tired he could not stand, to give him a chance to rest, and fired, +just like the other soldiers, for an hour and a half. He himself often +carries their letters to the soldiers and distributes among them the +little bundles which their friends and parents send them from the homes +now destroyed. He shares their mess with the soldiers and he calls them +always 'my friends.' He does not want that they shall do him honor; he +wishes simply to be a soldier in all that the word _soldier_ means. One +night he was seen, exhausted by fatigue, sleeping on the grass at the +side of the road." + +Do you wonder that the Belgians love their King and that the world +honors him as the Hero King of a Nation of Heroes? + + + + +DEFENSE OF LIGE + + +To Germany's unfair and treacherous proposal that Belgium be false to +her promises to the world, there was but one answer for Belgium. It was +"No." Immediately after this reply had been received by the German +minister, and just as King Albert had finished his noble speech and +left the House, the Belgian Prime Minister had to announce to +Parliament that Germany had already declared war and that even at that +moment the German soldiers were advancing toward Lige, and within a +few hours would be besieging the city. + +Lige was the industrial center of Belgium, just as Antwerp was the +commercial, and Brussels the political center, or capital. The city of +Lige was famous for its coal mines, glass factories, and iron works. +Of the latter the Cockerill Works of Seraing have been named as second +only to Krupp's. The city is important historically and also +politically--being the truest democracy in Europe. Its people were +happy and free. Its governor was trusted and respected, but no less +bound by common law than the people themselves. + +Lige also has great strategic advantages. Situated on the left bank +of the Meuse, in a valley at the junction of three rivers, it is a +natural stronghold. It was besides supposed to be fortified more +perfectly than any other city in the world. A ring of twelve forts +surrounded it, six of them large and powerful, six not so powerful and +smaller. + +One weakness, however, as General Emmich, commander of the German +forces, knew, was the great distance between the forts. The small forts +were not placed between the large ones; but two of the smaller works +were together on the southwest, two in a ten-mile gap across the +northeast, a fifth was between two of the larger forts on the +southeast. The three points where the small forts were situated were +the places that the enemy planned to attack. + +Another weakness was the smallness of the garrison,--74,000 men were +needed for the defense of Lige and Namur, and only about a hundred men +were stationed in some of the forts. + +But the Belgians were equally aware of the weak points. General Leman +gave orders to throw up entrenchments between forts and to fill the +garrison. Even then, the number of men in the forts was but 25,000, +when it should have been at least 50,000. + +Yet the Belgian soldiers, following the example of their brave leader, +General Leman, did all they could to prepare a strong resistance. + +Without any delay, the German commander, on August 5, sent forward his +men in the 7th army corps with the purpose of taking Fort Evegne, the +little fort on the southeast. No time was taken to bring up the heavy +guns--the Germans thought they would not need them. In this they were +mistaken. + +Three times they rushed forward, but were repulsed. The third time they +reached the Belgian trenches; but, obeying an order to counter-attack, +the Belgians rushed out and drove the Germans back, inflicting heavy +losses and taking 800 prisoners. + +At the same time, an attack was made from the northeast by the German +9th corps. The fighting was even fiercer here, but the enemy managed to +break through the defenses. During the fighting, the enemy schemed to +capture the Belgian general. Could they take General Leman, they +thought, the Belgian soldiers would not long hold out. Therefore, when +the fight was fiercest, eight Uhlans, two officers, and six privates, +mistaken for Englishmen because they were in English uniform, rode to +the headquarters of General Leman and attempted to take him prisoner. +But they were discovered and either killed or captured, after a +hand-to-hand struggle in the headquarter's building with members of the +Belgian staff aided by gendarmes. Heavy street fighting forced the +Germans back of the defenses once more. Then, by a decisive +counter-attack, the second attack of the enemy was repulsed. + +That same night came a third attack from the southeast again, against +Fort Evegne, and also from the southwest against the two small forts, +Chaudfontaine and Embourg. + +It was a bright moonlight night. The Belgians on the southwest took +advantage of it to work at strengthening their defenses. They needed no +lights and used none, for they were in less danger of being seen by the +enemy. + +If the Germans should take this part of the city, it would be +particularly valuable to them, for here were the great iron works, the +railway depots, the electric lighting works, and the small-arms and gun +factory. Besides, they could then without doubt easily march on through +Belgium and, as the German commander planned, overrun France. France +surely needed all the time which the brave Belgian soldiers could save +for her, for it had never been thought that Germany would break through +on that side. France, since her previous war with Germany, when she had +lost the beautiful provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, had massed her +garrisons on the eastern line. In fact, very few forts had been built +on the Belgian side, since the two countries had always maintained +friendly relationships with each other, and the neutrality of Belgium +was guaranteed by the Powers. Now, if Germany could not be held back +until the French soldiers could be brought up to the Belgian border, +then Germany's plan of greed and tyranny would be successful, and all +of Europe would be lost. To check the Germans here meant to save the +rest of Europe. + +The city of Lige lay in darkness, save for the light of the kindly +moon. From among the crowd of buildings, the old citadel arose like a +great shadow. The searchlights flashed fitfully from the forts, +traveling across the enemy's position, while the men watched, half +expecting that the enemy would advance in the darkness, as so many of +Germany's black deeds were committed under cover of night. Over the +country, to the east, lay the ruined buildings, the broken walls, and +the dead from the fearful conflict of that day. + +Half an hour before midnight, a storm of shot and shell broke upon the +trenches. High explosive shells burst with brilliant flashes and loud +uproar. The guns from the forts replied, and the city shook in the +thundering shock. + +Heavy forces of Germans advanced, made a rush for the ditches, but were +pushed back. Just before daybreak, however, the 10th corps crept up +silently and rushed forward in a mass. The searchlights were thrown +upon them, and the guns of the Belgian regiments fired upon them. Only +after a hard fight, lasting five long hours, did the Germans break and +run. + +But with all the heroism of the Belgian garrison, after four days and +four nights of ceaseless fighting, the men were exhausted. They could +not be relieved, while the Germans had many fresh troops in reserve. +The Belgian gunners might be able to hold the forts, but they could not +long hold the stretches of ground between. But by this time the Belgian +staff realized this and ordered two of the generals to withdraw +secretly with their forces while yet there was time. General Leman was +left in charge of the remaining forces to continue the brave defense of +the works. The Germans had brought up their heavy artillery. Sooner or +later they would break through. + +On August 6, the Germans cut their way through between the forts and +entered the city. The forts held out for a time, still holding the +enemy from crossing the rivers. Once they had nearly crossed the large +bridge over the Meuse, but the Belgians blew it up, and time after +time, as the pontoon-bridges of the Germans were thrown across, above +and below Lige, the fire from the forts destroyed them. + +Then, surrounded by enemies inside the city and outside, the garrison +was forced to retire. In the latter part of August, all the forts of +Lige were in the hands of the Germans. But Belgium had made a brave +resistance; she had stood like Horatius at the bridge. She had kept the +Germans back, and by so delaying them had saved Europe. + +The defense of Lige was one of the most brilliant military +achievements and one of the decisive events in world history. + +Its brave leader, General Leman, did not see the close of the siege. He +was wounded and captured when Fort Loncin, the large fort where he had +taken his stand with his men, exploded under the terrific fire of the +enemy. But from his prison, he sent the following letter to King +Albert: + + After a severe engagement fought on August 4, 5, and 6, I + considered that the forts of Lige could not play any other part + but that of stopping the advance of the enemy. I maintained the + military government in order to cordinate the defense as much + as possible and in order to exert a moral influence on the + garrison. + + Your Majesty is aware that I was at the Fort of Loncin on August + 6 at noon. + + Your Majesty will learn with sorrow that the fort exploded + yesterday at 5:20 P.M., and that the greater part of the + garrison is buried under the ruins. If I have not died in this + catastrophe, it is owing to the fact that my work had removed me + from the stronghold. Whilst I was being suffocated by the gases + after the explosion of the powder, a German captain gave me a + drink. I was then made a prisoner and brought to Lige. I am + aware that this letter is lacking in sequence, but I am + physically shaken by the explosion of the Fort of Loncin. For + the honor of our armies I have refused to surrender the fortress + and the forts. May your Majesty deign to forgive me. In Germany, + where I am taken, my thoughts will be, as they have always been, + with Belgium and her King. I would willingly have given my life + better to serve them, but death has not been granted me. + + GENERAL LEMAN. + + + + +THE DESTRUCTION OF LOUVAIN + + +More than one hundred years ago, Napoleon, the famous French general, +started out to conquer the world, just as the Germans have been +dreaming of doing. Napoleon had almost unbelievable success--carrying +the banner of France into practically the whole of Europe. But into +whatever provinces Napoleon went, though bent upon the subjugation of a +world, he never allowed his army to wantonly lay waste and destroy. +There was great attraction for him in the wonderful works of art which +he found in many of the large cities. He ordered his men to seize these +works secretly and to carry them back to Paris. There they were +preserved. France indeed is now named the preserver of the arts. + +Had the German officers done even this, their crime would not be so +great to-day. The French not only saved art and property, but also +tried to save the lives of non-combatants as often as possible. + +One of the leading daily papers of Cologne, Germany, explained in its +issue of February 10, 1915, why the German soldiers have committed +deeds that will forever shame the German people in the minds of the +rest of humanity. Like the invasion of Belgium, these deeds are not +defended as _right_ or _just_ but as _necessary_ to help on the German +advance to victory. The article read as follows: + + We have adopted it as a principle that the wrong-doing of an + individual must be expiated by the entire community to which he + belongs. The village in which our troops are fired upon will be + burned. If the guilty one is not found, substitutes will be + chosen from the population at large, and will be executed under + martial law.... The innocent must suffer with the guilty, and, + if the latter are not caught, must receive punishment in their + place, not because a crime has been committed, but to prevent + the commission of a future crime. Every case in which a village + is burned down, or hostages are executed, or the inhabitants of + a village which has taken arms against our invading forces are + killed, is a warning to the inhabitants of the territory not yet + occupied. There can be no doubt that the destruction of Battice, + Herve, Louvain, and Dinant has served as warning. The + devastation and bloodshed of the opening days of the war have + prevented the larger Belgian cities from attempting any attacks + upon the weak forces with which it was necessary for us to hold + them. + +The destruction of works of art and of the beautiful cathedrals built +in the Middle Ages cannot be explained and defended in this way, but +some other pitiable and often childish excuse is offered. The Germans +always assume that others do as they would do in the same +circumstances. They assumed England would not interfere, if the +neutrality of Belgium was violated, for Germany would not have +interfered, had she been in England's place. They assumed the French +and English would use the towers of the cathedrals for observation +posts, for Germany would have done so; and although they were promised +by the Allied officers that the towers would not be so used and were +informed by the bishops and priests that they were not so used, yet +they proceeded to destroy the beautiful structures. Their own promises +and statements in a similar case would have been of no value, and so +they assumed the promises of others were valueless and that the priests +had been compelled to lie about the matter, as the Germans would have +forced them to do, if possible. + +They also fired upon the cathedrals of Ypres, Soissons, Arras, and +Rheims in retaliation, whenever the enemy bombarded the German lines +near by. Destroying a cathedral was like killing pure and beautiful +women and children. The Huns felt the Allies would let them advance +rather than have it happen. + +As the Germans were on their way to seize Antwerp, after they had taken +the Belgian capital, they were driven out of Malines and turned upon +Louvain. They were greatly irritated at the strong resistance which the +Belgian army was making. They even feared that suddenly Belgium's +allies would join her at Antwerp and invade Germany, upsetting the +German plans entirely. + +Therefore they sought to terrorize and subdue the country by a complete +destruction of Louvain, one of the most ancient and historic towns in +that section of Europe. Its buildings and monuments were of world-wide +interest. + +Repulsed and chased back to the outskirts of Louvain, the troops were +ordered to destroy the town. The soldiers marched down the streets, +singing and jeering, while the officers rode about in their military +automobiles with an air of bravado, as they contemplated the deed they +were about to do. They first attempted to anger the people, so as to +have some pretext for the criminal deed they had determined upon. But +the people, knowing the character of the Germans, showed remarkable +restraint. They gave up all firearms, even old rifles and bows and +arrows that were valuable historic relics. They housed and fed their +enemies, paid them immense sums of money; and when the commander sent +for two hundred and fifty mattresses, they even brought their own beds +and cast them, with everything they could lay hands on, down into the +market-place. They knew the penalty for refusal was the death of their +respected burgomaster. + +The people of Boston, at the time of the Revolution, refused to feed +and house the British soldiers. But these people of Louvain submitted +to much worse than that, hoping that the enemy would pass on and spare +their lives and their homes. + +But on Tuesday evening, August 25, as the people were sitting down to +their evening meal, the soldiers suddenly rushed wildly through the +streets, and furnished with bombs, set fire to all parts of the town. +That night witnessed some of the most terrible deeds in all history. +The town of 45,000 inhabitants was wiped out; many of the citizens were +killed, and others were sent by train to an unknown destination. +Besides the loss of life, there was lost to the world forever a great +store of historic and artistic wealth. + +But one principal building in all the town was left standing--the Hotel +de Ville. This was purposely saved as a monument to German authority, +when the whole country should be taken over and rebuilt as a +German-Belgium! + +This cowardly act of cruelty will always stand out as typical of German +atrocity. Louvain was undefended and was already in the hands of the +Germans. By this one deed perhaps more than any other, Germany showed +to what depths of degradation she would stoop. By the destruction of +Louvain, she put back civilization and culture for five hundred years, +and her own good name was burned away from among the nations of the +world. The Germans from that day were branded as the enemies of the +human race. The world sprang with united sympathy to the side of little +Belgium--so that for her the destruction of Louvain meant more than a +glorious victory. + + + + +CARDINAL MERCIER + + +He is an old man, nearly seventy, with thin, grayish-white hair. He is +very tall, as was Abraham Lincoln, nearly six feet and six inches. He +is thin, with deep-set, jet-black eyes, and thin, almost bloodless +lips. + +He is a symbol of oppressed Belgium,--frail in body, lacking great +physical strength, but standing tall and erect with flashing eyes; +unconquerable because of his unconquerable soul. + +The spirit of such men as he, and of such nations as his beloved +Belgium, is well expressed in Henley's now famous "Invictus." + + Out of the night that covers me, + Black as the pit from pole to pole, + I thank whatever gods may be + For my unconquerable soul. + + In the fell clutch of circumstance + I have not winced nor cried aloud, + Under the bludgeonings of chance + My head is bloody, but unbowed. + + * * * * * + + It matters not how strait the gate, + How charged with punishments the scroll. + I am the master of my fate; + I am the captain of my soul. + +Amidst all the horrible deeds committed by the Germans in Belgium, +Cardinal Mercier has spoken the truth publicly and fearlessly. His +unconquerable soul seems to have protected his frail body. He is one of +the great heroes of brave, suffering Belgium--a hero who carries +neither sword nor gun; but his courage might be envied by every soldier +on the field of battle, and his judgment by every commander directing +them. + +The Germans seemed to fear him from the first. General von Bissing, who +was the German Governor of invaded Belgium, wrote to Cardinal Mercier, +after the Cardinal's Easter letter to the oppressed Belgians appeared, +and called him to account, suggesting what might happen to him if he +did not cease his attacks upon the Germans and German methods. + +The Cardinal replied that he would never surrender his liberty of +judgment and that, whenever the orders and laws of the Germans were in +conflict with the laws of God, he would follow the latter and advise +his people to do the same. + +"We render unto Csar the things that are Csar's," he wrote, "for we +pay you the silent dread of your strength, but we keep, sacred in our +hearts and free from your orders, our ideas of right and wrong. + +"It was not without careful thought that we denounced to the world the +evils you have done to our brothers and sisters--frightful evils and +horrible crimes, the tragic horror of which cold reason refuses to +admit. + +"But had we not done so, we should have felt ourselves unworthy of our +high office. + +"As a Belgian, we have heard the cries of sorrow of our people; as a +patriot, we have sought to heal the wounds of our country; and as a +bishop, we have denounced the crimes against innocent priests." + +They deprived him of his automobile, with which he used to hasten to +all parts of Belgium to assist and comfort sufferers from German +tyranny and torture. They ordered him to remain in his residence. + +As a part of his church duty, he wished to go to Brussels to celebrate +high mass. He applied for a pass which would allow him to go by train +or trolley. An excuse was invented for refusing it. Then the Cardinal +sent word to the Commandant that he must go and that he would walk. Two +hours afterward he left his residence on foot, accompanied by two or +three priests, and started on his walk of fifteen or more miles to +Brussels. + +Men, women, and children, and priests from every part of the city +crowded about him and followed him, till he reached the German +sentries, who stopped the crowd and demanded where they were going. + +The Cardinal showed his _Ausweiss_, an identification card which every +Belgian must carry, and he was allowed to proceed with two priests for +companions. The other priests demanded the right to go on, and a heated +dispute arose between them and the sentries. One of the priests lost +his temper and forgot himself so far that he began to beat one of the +sentries with his umbrella. The other sentry called for help, and the +crowd was soon dispersed. The angry priest was put under arrest and led +off to the guardhouse. + +The Cardinal had gone on but a short way when the uproar behind him +caused him to stop and look back at what was happening. When he saw the +priest led off by the soldiers, he and his companions turned back and +followed the soldiers to the little guardhouse. He walked directly in, +looking neither to the right nor the left, standing a head above the +rest of the crowd. He fixed his piercing black eyes upon the eyes of +the priest; then he beckoned him to come and turned and walked out, +followed by the priest. + +The soldiers made no attempt to stop them. They seemed to recognize an +authority that they could not help obeying, even though they did not +want to. The Cardinal accompanied by the three priests went on down the +road and out of Malines towards Brussels. They walked about half way +to the city and then took the trolleys. + +In speaking of the Germans, the Cardinal is reported to have said, +"They are so stupid, these Germans! Sometimes I feel that they are like +silly, cruel children, and that I should do something to help them." + +He loves America and the Americans and is grateful for all that the +United States have done for his suffering people. He told one of his +fellow-workers who had become discouraged, "If you follow a great +Captain, as I do, you will never be discouraged." + +In him martyred Belgium has found a voice heard round the world. He has +never ceased to denounce the atrocious crimes of the German masters of +his country and he has continually sought to comfort and cheer his +unhappy people. He sees far, and so he sees clearly the power outside +ourselves that finally brings to Right the victory over Might. His +Pastoral Letter, Christmas, 1914, will never be forgotten nor will the +words of cheer to his suffering people when he reminds them of the +greatest truth of life, that only through sacrifice and suffering come +the things best worth while. His statement in letters to the German +Commandant of the facts concerning the deportation of Belgians into +Germany, to work as virtual slaves, will forever form part of the +records of history's blackest deeds. + +This Pastoral Letter of Christmas, 1914, is in part as follows: + + It was in Rome itself that I received the tidings--stroke after + stroke--of the destruction of the church of Louvain, of the + burning of the Library and of the scientific laboratories of our + great University and of the devastation of the city, and next of + the wholesale shooting of citizens, and tortures inflicted upon + women and children, and upon unarmed and undefended men. And + while I was still under the shock of these calamities, the + telegraph brought us news of the bombardment of our beautiful + metropolitan church, of the church of Notre Dame, of the + episcopal palace, and of a great part of our dear city of + Malines. + + Afar, without means of communication with you, I was compelled + to lock my grief within my own afflicted heart, and to carry it, + with the thought of you, which never left me, to my God. + + I needed courage and light, and sought them in such thoughts as + these. A disaster has come upon the world, and our beloved + little Belgium, a nation so faithful in the great mass of her + population to God, so upright in her patriotism, so noble in her + King and Government, is the first sufferer. She bleeds; her sons + are stricken down, within her fortresses, and upon her fields, + in defense of her rights and of her territory. Soon there will + not be one Belgian family not in mourning. Why all this sorrow, + my God? Lord, Lord, hast Thou forsaken us? + + The truth is that no disaster on earth is as terrible as that + which our sins provoke. + + I summon you to face what has befallen us, and to speak to you + simply and directly of what is your duty, and of what may be + your hope. That duty I shall express in two words: Patriotism + and Endurance. + + + PATRIOTISM + + When, on my return from Rome, I went to Havre to greet our + Belgian, French, and English wounded; when, later at Malines, at + Louvain, at Antwerp, it was given to me to take the hands of + those brave men who carried a bullet in their flesh, a wound on + their forehead, because they had marched to the attack of the + enemy, or borne the shock of his onslaught, it was a word of + gratitude to them that rose to my lips. "O brave friends," I + said, "it was for us, it was for each one of us, it was for me, + that you risked your lives and are now in pain. I am moved to + tell you of my respect, of my thankfulness, to assure you that + the whole nation knows how much she is in debt to you." + + For in truth our soldiers are our saviors. + + A first time, at Lige, they saved France; a second time, in + Flanders, they halted the advance of the enemy upon Calais. + France and England know it; and Belgium stands before them both, + and before the entire world, as a nation of heroes. Never before + in my whole life did I feel so proud to be a Belgian as when, on + the platforms of French stations, and halting a while in Paris, + and visiting London, I was witness of the enthusiastic + admiration our allies feel for the heroism of our army. Our King + is, in the esteem of all, at the very summit of the moral scale; + he is doubtless the only man who does not recognize that fact, + as, simple as the simplest of his soldiers, he stands in the + trenches and puts new courage, by the calmness of his face, into + the hearts of those of whom he requires that they shall not + doubt of their country. The foremost duty of every Belgian + citizen at this hour is gratitude to the army. + + If any man had rescued you from shipwreck or from a fire, you + would hold yourselves bound to him by a debt of everlasting + thankfulness. But it is not one man, it is two hundred and fifty + thousand men who fought, who suffered, who fell for you so that + you might be free, so that Belgium might keep her independence, + so that after battle, she might rise nobler, purer, more erect, + and more glorious than before. + + Pray daily, my Brethren, for these two hundred and fifty + thousand, and for their leaders to victory; pray for our + brothers in arms; pray for the fallen; pray for those who are + still engaged; pray for the recruits who are making ready for + the fight to come. + + Better than any other man, perhaps, do I know what our unhappy + country has undergone. Nor will any Belgian, I trust, doubt of + what I suffer in my soul, as a citizen and as a Bishop, in + sympathy with all this sorrow. These last four months have + seemed to me age-long. By thousands have our brave ones been + mown down; wives, mothers are weeping for those they shall not + see again; hearths are desolate; dire poverty spreads, anguish + increases. At Malines, at Antwerp, the people of two great + cities have been given over, the one for six hours, the other + for thirty-four hours of a continuous bombardment, to the throes + of death. I have passed through the greater part of the most + terribly devastated districts and the ruins I beheld, and the + ashes, were more dreadful than I, prepared by the saddest of + forebodings, could have imagined. Other parts which I have not + yet had time to visit have in like manner been laid waste. + Churches, schools, asylums, hospitals, convents in great + numbers, are in ruins. Entire villages have all but disappeared. + At Werchter-Wackerzeel, for instance, out of three hundred and + eighty homes, a hundred and thirty remain; at Tremeloo two + thirds of the village are overthrown; at Bueken out of a hundred + houses, twenty are standing; at Schaffen one hundred and + eighty-nine houses out of two hundred are destroyed--eleven + still stand. At Louvain the third part of the buildings are + down; one thousand and seventy-four dwellings have disappeared; + on the town land and in the suburbs, one thousand eight hundred + and twenty-three houses have been burnt. + + In this dear city of Louvain, perpetually in my thoughts, the + magnificent church of St. Peter will never recover its former + splendor. The ancient college of St. Ives, the art-schools, the + consular and commercial schools of the University, the old + markets, our rich library with its collections, its unique and + unpublished manuscripts, its archives, its gallery of great + portraits of illustrious rectors, chancellors, professors, + dating from the time of its foundation, which preserved for + masters and students alike a noble tradition and were an + incitement in their studies--all this accumulation of + intellectual, of historic, and of artistic riches, the fruit of + the labors of five centuries--all is reduced to dust. + + Thousands of Belgian citizens have in like manner been deported + to the prisons of Germany, to Mnsterlagen, to Celle, to + Magdeburg. At Mnsterlagen alone three thousand one hundred + civil prisoners were numbered. History will tell of the physical + and moral torments of their long martyrdom. Hundreds of innocent + men were shot. I possess no complete list, but I know that there + were ninety-one shot at Aerschot, and that there, under pain of + death, their fellow citizens were compelled to dig their graves. + In the Louvain group of communes one hundred and seventy-six + persons, men and women, old men and babies, rich and poor, in + health and sickness, were shot or burnt. + + In my diocese alone I know that thirteen priests were put to + death. One of these, the parish priest of Gelrode, suffered, I + believe, a veritable martyrdom. + + We can neither number our dead nor compute the measure of our + ruins. And what would it be if we turned our sad steps towards + Lige, Namur, Andenne, Dinant, Tamines, Charleroi, and + elsewhere? + + And where lives were not taken, and where buildings were not + thrown down, what anguish unrevealed! Families, hitherto living + at ease, now in bitter want; all commerce at an end, all careers + ruined; industry at a standstill; thousands upon thousands of + workingmen without employment; working-women, shop-girls, humble + servant-girls without the means of earning their bread; and poor + souls forlorn on the bed of sickness and fever, crying, "O Lord, + how long, how long?" + + How long, O Lord, they wondered, how long wilt Thou suffer the + pride of this iniquity? Or wilt Thou finally justify the impious + opinion that Thou carest no more for the work of Thy hands? A + shock from a thunderbolt, and behold all human foresight is set + at naught. Europe trembles upon the brink of destruction. + + The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. + + Many are the thoughts that throng the breast of man to-day, and + the chief of them all is this: God reveals Himself as the + Master. The nations that made the attack, and the nations that + are warring in self-defense, alike confess themselves to be in + the hand of Him without whom nothing is made, nothing is done. + Men long unaccustomed to prayer are turning again to God. Within + the army, within the civil world, in public, and within the + individual conscience, there is prayer. Nor is that prayer + to-day a word learnt by rote, uttered lightly by the lip; it + surges from the troubled heart, it takes the form, at the feet + of God, of the very sacrifice of life. + + God will save Belgium, my Brethren, you cannot doubt it. + + Nay, rather, He is saving her. + + Across the smoke of conflagration, across the stream of blood, + have you not glimpses, do you not perceive signs, of His love + for us? Is there a patriot among us who does not know that + Belgium has grown great? Nay, which of us would have the heart + to cancel this last page of our national history? Which of us + does not exult in the brightness of the glory of this shattered + nation? Let us acknowledge that we needed a lesson in + patriotism. There were Belgians, and many such, who wasted their + time and their talents in futile quarrels of class with class, + of race with race, of passion with personal passion. + + Yet when, on the second of August, a mighty foreign power, + confident in its own strength and defiant of the faith of + treaties, dared to threaten us in our independence, then did all + Belgians, without difference of party, or of condition, or of + origin, rise up as one man, [close-ranged] about their own king + and their own government, and cry to the invader: "Thou shalt + not pass!" + + At once, instantly, we were conscious of our own patriotism. For + down within us all is something deeper than personal interests, + than personal kinships, than party feeling, and this is the need + and the will to devote ourselves to that more general interest + which Rome called the public thing, _Res publica_. And this + profound will within us is Patriotism. + + Our country is not a mere gathering of persons or of families + dwelling on the same soil, having amongst themselves relations, + more or less intimate, of business, of neighborhood, of a + community of memories, happy or unhappy. Not so; it is an + association of living souls to be defended and safeguarded at + all costs, even the cost of blood, under the leadership of those + presiding over its fortunes. And it is because of this general + spirit that the people of a country live a common life in the + present, through the past, through the aspirations, the hopes, + the confidence in a life to come, which they share together. + Patriotism, an internal principle of order and of unity, an + organic bond of the members of a nation, was placed by the + finest thinkers of Greece and Rome at the head of the natural + virtues. + + + ENDURANCE + + We may now say, my Brethren, without unworthy pride, that our + little Belgium has taken a foremost place in the esteem of + nations. I am aware that certain onlookers, notably in Italy and + in Holland, have asked how it could be necessary to expose this + country to so immense a loss of wealth and of life, and whether + a verbal manifesto against hostile aggression, or a single + cannon-shot on the frontier, would not have served the purpose + of protest. But assuredly all men of good feeling will be with + us in our rejection of these paltry counsels. + + On the 19th of April, 1839, a treaty was signed in London, by + King Leopold, in the name of Belgium on the one part, and by the + Emperor of Austria, the King of France, the Queen of England, + the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia on the other; and + its seventh article decreed that Belgium should form a separate + and perpetually neutral State, and should be held to the + observance of this neutrality in regard to all other States. The + signers promised, for themselves and their successors, upon + their oaths, to fulfill and to observe that treaty in every + point and every article. Belgium was thus bound in honor to + defend her own independence. She kept her oath. The other Powers + were bound to respect and to protect her neutrality. Germany + violated her oath; England kept hers. + + These are the facts. + + The laws of conscience are sovereign laws. We should have acted + unworthily had we evaded our obligation by a mere feint of + resistance. And now we would not change our first resolution; we + exult in it. Being called upon to write a most solemn page in + the history of our country, we resolved that it should be also a + sincere, also a glorious page. And as long as we are required to + give proof of endurance, so long we shall endure. + + All classes of our citizens have devoted their sons to the + cause of their country; but the poorer part of the population + have set the noblest example, for they have suffered also + privation, cold, and famine. If I may judge of the general + feeling from what I have witnessed in the humbler quarters of + Malines, and in the most cruelly afflicted districts of my + diocese, the people are energetic in their endurance. They look + to be righted; they will not hear of surrender. + + The sole lawful authority in Belgium is that of our King, of the + elected representatives of the nation. This authority alone has + a right to our affection, our submission. + + Occupied provinces are not conquered provinces. Belgium is no + more a German province than Galicia is a Russian province. + Nevertheless the occupied portion of our country is in a + position it is compelled to endure. The greater part of our + towns, having surrendered to the enemy on conditions, are bound + to observe those conditions. From the outset of military + operations, the civil authorities of the country urged upon all + private persons the necessity of avoiding hostile acts against + the enemy's army. That instruction remains in force. It is our + army, and our army solely, in league with the brave troops of + our Allies, that has the honor and the duty of national defense. + Let us intrust the army with our final deliverance. + + Towards the persons of those who are holding dominion among us + by military force, and who cannot but know of the energy with + which we have defended, and are still defending, our + independence, let us conduct ourselves with all needful + forbearance. Let us observe the rules they have laid upon us so + long as those rules do not violate our personal liberty, nor our + consciences, nor our duty to our country. Let us not take + bravado for courage, nor tumult for bravery. + + Our distress has moved the other nations. England, Ireland, and + Scotland; France, Holland, the United States, Canada, have vied + with each other in generosity for our relief. It is a spectacle + at once most mournful and most noble. Here again is a revelation + of the Providential Wisdom which draws good from evil. In your + name, my Brethren, and in my own, I offer to the governments and + the nations that have succored us the assurance of our + admiration and our gratitude. + + +OZYMANDIAS + + I met a traveler from an antique land + Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone + Stand in the desert.... Near them, on the sand, + Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, + And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, + Tell that its sculptor well those passions read + Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, + The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed: + And on the pedestal these words appear: + "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: + Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" + Nothing beside remains. Round the decay + Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare + The lone and level sands stretch far away. + PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY. + + + + +AND THE COCK CREW[1] + + + "I hate them all!" said old Gaspard, + And in his weather-beaten face + The lines of bitterness grew hard, + For he had seen his dwelling-place + Laid waste in very wantonness, + And all his little treasures flung + Into that never-sated press + From which no wine, but gall, had sprung-- + And not his heart alone was sore, + For in his frail old limbs he bore + Wounds of the heavy, ruthless hand + That weighed so cruelly of late + Upon the people and the land. + It was not hard to understand + Why old Gaspard should hate + Even the German lad who lay + His neighbor in the hospital, + The boy who pleaded night and day: + "Don't let me die! don't let me die! + When I see the dawn, I know + I shall live out that day, and then + I'm not afraid--till dark--but oh, + How soon the night comes round again! + Don't let me die! don't let me die!" + + The old man muttered at each low, + Pitiful, half delirious cry, + "They should die, had I the say, + In hell's own torment, one and all!" + And then would drag himself away, + Despite each motion's agony, + To where the wounded poilus lay, + And cheer them with his mimicry + Of barnyard noises, and his gay + Old songs of what life used to be. + One night the lad suddenly cried, + "Mother!" And though the sister knew-- + He was so young, so terrified, + "You're safe--the east is light," she lied. + But "No!" he sobbed, "the cock must crow + Before the dawn!" They did not hear + A cripple crawl across the floor, + But all at once, outside the door, + In the courtyard, shrill and clear, + Once, twice and thrice, chanticleer crew. + The blue eyes closed and the boy sighed, + "I'm not afraid, now day's begun. + I'll live--till--" With a smile, he died. + + And in that hour when he denied + The god of hate, I think that One + Passed through the hospital's dim yard + And turning, looked on old Gaspard. + + AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] COPYRIGHT BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY + + + + +A BELGIAN LAWYER'S APPEAL + + +One of the great lawyers of Belgium in behalf of the members of the bar +of Brussels, Lige, Ghent, Charleroi, Mons, Louvain, and Antwerp, +appeared twice before the German Court of Justice at Brussels and +appealed for more just treatment of the Belgian people. In his first +appeal, he protested against the illegal manner in which the Belgians +were accused of crime, tried, and convicted at the pleasure of German +officials. He concluded with the following eloquent words: + + I can understand martial law for armies in the field. It is the + immediate reply to an aggression against the troops, the quick + justice of the commander of the army responsible for his + soldiers. But our armies are far away; we are no longer in the + zone of military operations. Nothing here threatens your troops, + the inhabitants are calm. + + The people have taken up work again. You have bidden them do it. + Each one attends to his business--magistrates, judges, officials + of the provinces and cities, the clergy, all are at their posts, + united in one outburst of national interest and brotherhood. + + However, this does not mean that they have forgotten. The + Belgian people lived happily in their corner of the earth, + confident in their dream of independence. They saw this dream + dispelled; they saw their country ruined and devastated; its + ancient hospitable soil has been sown with thousands of tombs + where our own sleep; the war has made tears flow which no hand + can dry. No, the murdered soul of Belgium will never forget. + +His second appeal will be spoken by school children in Belgium, and +perhaps in America, when the names of the German judges to whom he +spoke are forgotten even in Germany. + + We are not annexed. We are not conquered. We are not even + vanquished. Our army is fighting. Our colors float alongside + those of France, England, and Russia. The country subsists. She + is simply unfortunate. More than ever, then, we now owe + ourselves to her, body and soul. To defend her rights is also to + fight for her. + + We are living hours now as tragic as any country has ever known. + All is destruction and ruin around us. Everywhere we see + mourning. Our army has lost half of its effective forces. Its + percentage in dead and wounded will never be reached by any of + the belligerents. There remains to us only a corner of ground + over there by the sea. The waters of the Yser flow through an + immense plain peopled by the dead. It is called the Belgian + Cemetery. There sleep our children by the thousands. There they + are sleeping their last sleep. The struggle goes on bitterly and + without mercy. + + Your sons, Mr. President, are at the front; mine as well. For + months we have been living in anxiety regarding the morrow. + + Why these sacrifices, why this sorrow? Belgium could have + avoided these disasters, saved her existence, her treasures, and + the lives of her children, but she preferred her honor. + + + + +EDITH CAVELL + + +Americans are particularly interested in the story of Edith Cavell, +because the American minister in Brussels on behalf of the American +people asked German officials to spare her life, or at least to +postpone her execution, until he might have an opportunity to see that +she was properly defended. Germany's disregard of America and the +wishes of the American people was clearly shown by the scornful manner +in which Germany set aside as of no importance American protests and +requests. Her action in this case was similar to her action earlier in +regard to the _Lusitania_, involving in both cases direct falsehoods by +representatives of the German government. + +Germans wondered that the shooting of an English woman for treason +should cause a sensation, just as they wondered why even their enemies +did not applaud them for murdering more than a thousand non-combatants +on the _Lusitania_. They did not realize that both of these crimes +would add thousands of volunteers to the armies fighting against them, +and that they would always be recorded in history as among the most +despicable deeds of a civilized nation. Some one has said, "Attila and +his Huns were ignorant barbarians, but the modern Huns know better and +therefore they are more to be condemned." + +Edith Cavell was so brave, so frank, so honest that it would seem that +even to the Germans her virtues would + + plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against + The deep damnation of her taking-off. + +But not so, for German education and training have evidently made the +German people look upon almost everything in a way different from that +of Americans, Englishmen, and Frenchmen. And yet the common German +people do at times show that they have a feeling of admiration, if not +of affection, for peoples of other nations; for we are told of a German +city erecting a statue to the French and English soldiers who died as +captives in the German prison located there, with the inscription, _To +our Comrades, who here died for their Fatherland_. + +But we must remember that there are many kingdoms in Germany and cruel +Prussia rules them all. It was Prussian savagery and barbarity that +approved the massacre by the Turks of almost an entire people, the +Armenians, and it was done under the eyes of German officers. The same +is true of the wholesale slaughter of non-combatant Serbian men, women, +and children by the Bulgarians. A word from Germany would have stopped +it all. + +When the war broke out, Edith Cavell was living in England with her +aged mother. She felt her duty was in Belgium and she went to Brussels +and established a private hospital. An American woman, Mary Boyle +O'Reilly of Boston, a daughter of the poet, John Boyle O'Reilly, worked +with her for a time. When Miss O'Reilly was expelled from Belgium, she +begged Miss Cavell to leave that land of horror, but Miss Cavell only +said, "My duty is here." + +She and her nurses cared for many a wounded German soldier and this +alone should have insured her fair treatment, if not gratitude, from +Germany. + +She was arrested, kept in solitary confinement for ten weeks without +any charge being made against her; then was tried secretly for having +sheltered French and Belgian soldiers who were seeking to escape to +Holland. + +It is probably true that Miss Cavell did this, but the history of war +in modern times records no case where any one has been put to death for +giving shelter for a short time to a fugitive soldier. Such an act does +not, according to the custom of civilized countries, make one a spy, +nor is it treason. + +Those who have investigated the case carefully have come to the +conclusion that the Germans decided to make a terrible example of some +of the women in Brussels who were sympathizing with and perhaps helping +French and Belgian soldiers to escape to Holland, for about the same +time twenty-two other women were arrested on the same charge as that +finally made against Edith Cavell. + +When Brand Whitlock, the American minister, learned from an outsider +(he could get no information from the German officials) that Edith +Cavell had been condemned, he sent the following letters, one a +personal one, the other an official one, to the German commandant: + + Personal: + + MY DEAR BARON: + + I am too ill to put my request before you in person, but once + more I appeal to the generosity of your heart. Stand by and save + from death this unfortunate woman. Have pity on her. + + Your devoted friend, + BRAND WHITLOCK. + + + Official: + + I have just heard that Miss Cavell, a British subject, and + consequently under the protection of my Legation, was this + morning condemned to death by court-martial. + + If my information is correct, the sentence in the present case + is more severe than all the others that have been passed in + similar cases which have been tried by the same Court, and, + without going into the reasons for such a drastic sentence, I + feel that I have the right to appeal to your Excellency's + feelings of humanity and generosity in Miss Cavell's favor, and + to ask that the death penalty passed on Miss Cavell may be + commuted and that this unfortunate woman shall not be executed. + + Miss Cavell is the head of the Brussels Surgical Institute. She + has spent her life in alleviating the sufferings of others, and + her school has turned out many nurses who have watched at the + bedside of the sick all the world over, in Germany as in + Belgium. At the beginning of the war Miss Cavell bestowed her + care as freely on the German soldiers as on others. Even in + default of all other reasons, her career as a servant of + humanity is such as to inspire the greatest sympathy and to call + for pardon. If the information in my possession is correct, Miss + Cavell, far from shielding herself, has, with commendable + straightforwardness, admitted the truth of all the charges + against her, and it is the very information which she herself + has furnished, which has aggravated the severity of the sentence + passed on her. + + It is then with confidence, and in the hope of its favorable + reception, that I have the honor to present to your Excellency + my request for pardon on Miss Cavell's behalf. + + BRAND WHITLOCK. + +But no real attention was paid to the American notes. Edith Cavell was +sentenced at five o'clock on the afternoon of October 11, and was put +to death that same night. + +Permission was refused to take her body for burial outside the prison. +It is doubtless still buried in the prison yard unless the Germans have +removed it for fear a monument may be erected above it. The English are +to erect a monument in her honor in London. Dr. James M. Beck, in +writing about her case, says of her burial in the prison yard, "One can +say of that burial place, as Byron said of the prison cell of Chillon: +'Let none these marks efface, for they appeal from tyranny to God.'" + + + + +SON[2] + + + He hurried away, young heart of joy, under our Devon sky! + And I watched him go, my beautiful boy, and a weary woman was I. + For my hair is gray, and his was gold; he'd the best of his life + to live; + And I'd loved him so, and I'm old, I'm old; and he's all I had to + give. + + Ah, yes, he was proud and swift and gay, but oh, how my eyes were + dim! + With the sun in his heart he went away, but he took the sun with + him. + For look! How the leaves are falling now, and the winter won't be + long.... + Oh, boy, my boy with the sunny brow, and the lips of love and of + song! + + How we used to sit at the day's sweet end, we two by the + fire-light's gleam, + And we'd drift to the Valley of Let's Pretend, on the beautiful + River of Dream. + Oh, dear little heart! All wealth untold would I gladly, gladly pay + Could I just for a moment closely hold that golden head to my gray. + + For I gaze in the fire, and I'm seeing there a child, and he waves + to me; + And I run and I hold him up in the air, and he laughs and shouts + with glee; + A little bundle of love and mirth, crying: "Come, Mumsie dear!" + Ah, me! If he called from the ends of the earth I know that my + heart would hear. + + * * * * * + + Yet the thought comes thrilling through all my pain: how worthier + could he die? + Yea, a loss like that is a glorious gain, and pitiful proud am I. + For Peace must be bought with blood and tears, and the boys of our + hearts must pay; + And so in our joy of the after-years, let us bless them every day. + + And though I know there's a hasty grave with a poor little cross + at its head, + And the gold of his youth he so gladly gave, yet to me he'll never + be dead. + And the sun in my Devon lane will be gay, and my boy will be with + me still, + So I'm finding the heart to smile and say: "Oh God, if it be + Thy Will!" + + ROBERT W. SERVICE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] COPYRIGHT BY BARSE AND HOPKINS. + + + + +THE CASE OF SERBIA + + +But Belgium is not the only little nation that has been attacked in +this war, and I make no excuse for referring to the case of the other +little nation--the case of Serbia. The history of Serbia is not +unblotted. What history in the list of nations is unblotted? The first +nation that is without sin, let her cast a stone at Serbia--a nation +trained in a horrible school. But she won her freedom with her +tenacious valor, and she has maintained it by the same courage. If any +Serbians were mixed up in the assassination of the Grand Duke, they +ought to be punished. Serbia admits that. The Serbian Government had +nothing to do with it. Not even Austria claimed that. The Serbian Prime +Minister is one of the most capable and honored men in Europe. Serbia +was willing to punish any one of her subjects who had been proved to +have any complicity in that assassination. What more could you expect? + +What were the Austrian demands? Serbia sympathized with her +fellow-countrymen in Bosnia. That was one of her crimes. She must do so +no more. Her newspapers were saying nasty things about Austria. They +must do so no longer. That is the Austrian spirit. How dare you +criticize a Prussian official? And if you laugh, it is a capital +offense. Serbian newspapers must not criticize Austria. I wonder what +would have happened had we taken up the same line about German +newspapers. Serbia said: "Very well, we will give orders to the +newspapers that they must not criticize Austria in future, neither +Austria, nor Hungary, nor anything that is theirs." She promised not to +sympathize with Bosnia; promised to write no critical articles about +Austria. She would hold no public meetings at which anything unkind was +said about Austria. That was not enough. She must dismiss from her army +officers whom Austria should subsequently name. But these officers had +just emerged from a war where they were adding luster to the Serbian +arms--gallant, brave, efficient. I wonder whether it was their guilt or +their efficiency that prompted Austria's action. Serbia was to +undertake in advance to dismiss them from the army--the names to be +sent in subsequently. Can you name a country in the world that would +have stood that? Supposing Austria or Germany had issued an ultimatum +of that kind to this country. "You must dismiss from your army and from +your navy all those officers whom we shall subsequently name." Well, I +think I could name them now. Lord Kitchener would go. Sir John French +would be sent about his business. General Smith-Dorrien would be no +more, and I am sure that Sir John Jellicoe would go. And there is +another gallant old warrior who would go--Lord Roberts. + +It was a difficult situation for a small country. Here was a demand +made upon her by a great military power who could put five or six men +in the field for every one she could; and that power supported by the +greatest military power in the world. How did Serbia behave? It is not +what happens to you in life that matters; it is the way in which you +face it. And Serbia faced the situation with dignity. She said to +Austria: "If any officers of mine have been guilty and are proved to be +guilty, I will dismiss them." Austria said, "That is not good enough +for me." It was not guilt she was after, but capacity. + +Then came Russia's turn. Russia has a special regard for Serbia. She +has a special interest in Serbia. Russians have shed their blood for +Serbian independence many a time. Serbia is a member of her family, and +she cannot see Serbia maltreated. Austria knew that. Germany knew that, +and Germany turned around to Russia and said: "I insist that you shall +stand by with your arms folded whilst Austria is strangling your little +brother to death." What answer did the Russian Slav give? He gave the +only answer that becomes a man. He turned to Austria and said: "You lay +hands on that little fellow and I will tear your ramshackle empire limb +from limb." + + DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, 1914. + + + + +THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN FRYATT + + +Captain Charles Fryatt was in command of a British steamship named +_Brussels_, running from Tilbury, England, to the Hook of Holland. His +ship was hailed in 1915 by a German submarine and ordered to stop. + +A torpedo costs several thousand dollars, therefore a submarine saves +one whenever she can sink a ship by some other means. Also a submarine +can carry but few torpedoes, so by saving them she can remain longer at +sea and at her work of destruction. + +Captain Fryatt was well aware that if he came to a stop, the Germans +would board his ship and sink her by bombs, or would order the +passengers off and sink her by shells from the guns. This is the way +they sank the _Carolina_ off the coast of New Jersey, leaving the +passengers in open boats--many of whom died from exposure and by the +capsizing of one boat in the tempest which struck them at midnight. + +Captain Fryatt knew that by the laws of nations he had the right to +defend his ship, so instead of stopping as the Germans ordered him to +do, he put on full speed and turned the head of his ship towards the +submarine, hoping to ram her and sink her. He was obeying instructions +from his government, and was doing nothing but what he had a perfect +right to do according to international law. + +He did not succeed, but he gained time and forced the submarine to +submerge, for British destroyers were coming up in answer to his +wireless call. + +For his bravery, the British Government rewarded him by giving him a +gold watch and naming him with praise in the House of Commons. + +More than a year later, on June 23, 1916, German warships out on a raid +captured the _Brussels_, which Captain Fryatt still commanded. He was +taken to Bruges, Belgium, and put on trial for his life. The Germans +claimed his case was like that of a non-combatant on land who fired +upon the soldiers. They found him guilty on June 27 and sentenced him +to be shot, for having attempted to sink the submarine, U-33, by +ramming it. They laid much emphasis on the fact that the British +Government had rewarded him, although this really had nothing to do +with whether or not he had a right to defend his ship. + +The United States was not then at war with Germany, and the diplomatic +affairs of England were in charge of the United States Ambassador in +Berlin. When Ambassador Gerard learned that Captain Fryatt had been +captured and taken to Bruges for trial, he sent two notes to the proper +German officials, demanding the right to visit Captain Fryatt and to +secure counsel for him. + +The German officials acknowledged his notes and assured him that they +would take the necessary steps to meet his request. + +But the morning of the day after Ambassador Gerard sent his notes, +Captain Fryatt was tried and sentenced, and was shot in the afternoon +of the same day. As in the case of Edith Cavell, Germany's answer to +America was a lie, and a scornful carrying out of her illegal purpose +before the American Ambassador could do anything more. She acted in +exactly the same way in connection with the _Lusitania_, and with all +her submarine warfare, or piracy, as it really is according to +international law. + +One of the leading German writers on international law says, "The +merchant ship has the right of self-defense against an enemy attack, +and this right it can exercise against visit, for this is indeed the +first act of capture." + +Germany knew she had no right to shoot Captain Fryatt, and she did not +want her right challenged at his trial; so she did not allow the +American Ambassador to see him and to secure counsel for him. + +She desired to make him an example of German "frightfulness" as she had +in the case of Edith Cavell and of the _Lusitania_. She thought this +would prevent other British vessels trying to ram her submarines. + +The whole world is wondering if Germany would cower under +"frightfulness," and therefore believes other peoples will. Her policy +certainly has never had the effect that she hoped it would. It has +simply made her enemies fight all the harder and dare all the more, +because they remember her inhuman acts and unlawful deeds. + +The Germans published the following notice of the trial and execution: + + On Thursday at Bruges before the Court Martial of the Marine + Corps, the trial took place of Captain Fryatt, of the British + steamer _Brussels_, which was brought in as a prize. The accused + was condemned to death because, although he was not a member of + a combatant force, he made an attempt, on the afternoon of March + 28, 1915, to ram the German submarine, U-33, near the Maas + Lightship. + + The accused received at the time from the British Admiralty a + gold watch as a reward for his brave conduct on that occasion, + and his action was mentioned with praise in the House of + Commons. + + On the occasion in question, disregarding the U-boat's signal to + stop and show his national flag, he turned at a critical moment + at high speed against the submarine, which escaped the steamer + by a few metres only because of swiftly diving. He confessed + that in so doing he had acted in accordance with the + instructions of the Admiralty. The sentence was confirmed + yesterday afternoon and carried out by shooting. + + This is one of the many nefarious _franc-tireur_ proceedings of + the British merchant marine against our war vessels, and it has + found a belated but merited expiation. + +The civilized nations of the world, in which we do not include Germany +and her allies, have agreed that the execution of Captain Fryatt was a +murder. Possibly the Germans also know it, but defend it as they did +the invasion of Belgium, as "necessary" to German victory. + +History will forever record it as an example of the black deeds done by +desperate men who care only to accomplish their selfish ends, and will +explain how these evil deeds of horror and of terror have injured those +who committed them more than those who suffered from them. + +On the very day of the execution of Captain Fryatt, the British +passenger liner _Falaba_ was torpedoed and sunk without warning. She +sank in eight minutes carrying with her one hundred and four men, +women, and children, who were "not members of a combatant force." + + + + +RUPERT BROOKE[3] + + +Among the losses that the World War has caused--many of them losses +that can never be made good--is that of the promising young English +poet, Rupert Brooke. + +He was a fine type in mind and body. His father was a teacher in the +great English school at Rugby, and here the boy learned to write, and +to play cricket, tennis, and football. He was interested in every form +of athletics and was strong and skillful at all. He was a great walker +and a fine diver and swimmer. He was said to have been one of the +handsomest Englishmen of his day, tall, broad, easy, and graceful in +his movements, with steady blue eyes, and a wavy mass of fair hair. + +He had traveled much in France, Germany, Italy, the United States, +Canada, and the South Seas, where he visited Stevenson's home in Samoa. +Of all lands, however, he loved England best. + +When the war broke out, Brooke said, "Well, if Armageddon's on, I +suppose I should be there." He enlisted, was commissioned as +lieutenant, and was sent almost immediately with the English forces to +relieve Antwerp, at that time besieged by the Germans. This experience, +lying day after day in trenches under German fire, followed by the +terrible retreat by night with the thousands of Belgians who had lost +everything except their lives, changed the careless, happy youth into a +man. He was but twenty-seven years old when he enlisted. He wrote but +little poetry after his enlistment, but it is all of a finer, more +spiritual quality than any of his previous work. + +He spent the following winter training in England, and then joined the +British Expeditionary Forces for the Dardanelles. He never reached +there, however, for he died at Scyros on April 23, 1915, and was buried +by torchlight at night, in an olive grove on the island. + +One of his friends, Wilfred Gibson, has paid a beautiful tribute to him +in a short poem entitled "The Going." It is a tribute that might well +be offered to any of the thousands of young heroes from many lands who +have gone with a sudden glory in their young eyes to give all, that +human liberty should not be lost. + + He's gone. + I do not understand. + I only know + That, as he turned to go, + And waved his hand, + In his young eyes a sudden glory shone, + And I was dazzled by a sunset glow-- + And he was gone + +Death appeared to be in his mind constantly after his terrible +experience at Antwerp, but he seems never to have feared it. It is +really the subject of all of his five sonnets written in 1914, and +these are the best of his work. He thought constantly of England and of +all that she had done for him and meant to him. He thought also of the +little meaningful things of life, and put them into these +sonnets--dawn, sunset, the beautiful colors of the earth, music, +flowers, the feel of furs, and the touch of a cheek. Strange that he +should have thought of the touching of fur. It probably gave him a +strange sensation as it does to many. And then he thought of water and +its movement in the wind, and its warmth under the sun, which seemed to +him like life, just as its freezing under the frost seemed to him like +death. All of this and more he put into a beautiful sonnet entitled +"The Dead." + + These hearts were woven of human joys and cares, + Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth. + The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs, + And sunset, and the colors of the earth. + These had seen movement, and heard music; known + Slumber and waking; loved; gone proudly friended; + Felt the quick stir of wonder; sat alone; + Touched flowers and furs and cheeks. All this is ended. + + There are waters blown by changing winds to laughter + And lit by the rich skies, all day. And after, + Frost, with a gesture, stays the waves that dance + And wandering loveliness. He leaves a white + Unbroken glory, a gathered radiance, + A width, a shining peace, under the night. + +Note how significant is every human experience which he mentions from +"the quick stir of wonder" which the youth feels, to the kindness which +comes with years. "They had seen movement" is strange, and yet many +like Rupert Brooke are fascinated with movement and see life chiefly in +motion,--in smiles and steps. + +His finest poem, however, is the last of the five sonnets and is +entitled "The Soldier." Here he pours out his heart in love of England +and in the pride that he feels in being an Englishman. Read France or +America or some other worthy homeland in place of England and it will +appeal to other hearts beside Englishmen. It is a beautiful poem, one +that will live forever. + + If I should die, think only this of me: + That there's some corner of a foreign field + That is forever England. There shall be + In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; + A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, + Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, + A body of England's, breathing English air, + Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. + + And think, this heart, all evil shed away, + A pulse in the eternal mind, no less + Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; + Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; + And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, + In hearts at peace, under an English heaven. + +One of our American poets, George Edward Woodberry, has beautifully +said: + + There is a grave in Scyros, amid the white and pinkish marble of + the isle, the wild thyme and the poppies, near the green and + blue waters. There Rupert Brooke was buried. Thither have gone + the thoughts of his countrymen, and the hearts of the young + especially. It will long be so. For a new star shines in the + English heavens. + + Ever the faith endures, + England, my England-- + "Take us and break us: we are yours, + England, my own! + Life is good, and joy runs high + Between English earth and sky: + Death is death; but we shall die + To the song on your bugles blown, + England-- + To the stars on your bugles blown." + + W.E. HENLEY. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] BASED ON "THE COLLECTED POEMS OF RUPERT BROOKE," COPYRIGHT BY JOHN +LANE COMPANY. + + + + +"LET US SAVE THE KIDDIES" + + +At 12:20 noon, on Saturday, May 1, 1915, there steamed out of New York +harbor one of the largest and fastest passenger ships in the world. It +was the _Lusitania_, flying the British flag, and bound for Europe, via +Liverpool. On board were nearly two thousand men, women, and children. +They were not overcrowded, however, for the _Lusitania_ was the finest, +the most comfortable of ocean boats. It was more than an eighth of a +mile in length, 88 feet in width, and 60 feet in depth, and had a speed +of nearly 30 miles an hour. + +Her passengers, once out from shore, settled down to seven days of life +in this immense, floating hotel. Tiny babies toddled across the smooth, +shining floors of the new home, or watched with gurgles of delight the +older children rollicking and romping over the decks. The women chatted +and sang, and played all sorts of games. The men, too, engaged in many +contests, athletic stunts, and games. At night, when the little ones +were quietly sleeping in their bunks, their elders gathered in the +grand saloon and there listened to some fine singer, a famous +violinist, or a great lecturer. + + [Illustration: THE _LUSITANIA_ IN NEW YORK HARBOR + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +So the days passed, the people living as one great family. New +friendships grew, and many delightful acquaintances were formed. The +complete harmony and restfulness of such a life, the clear skies and +sunshine, and the vast expanse of blue-green ocean, all made them +forget that they were riding into a region of horror and war. + +For nearly ten months Belgium, England, France, and Russia had been +waging war against Germany. Around England's coasts lurked the horrors +of the German submarine. The travelers on the morning of sailing had +read the warning against crossing. It has since been called the "Death +Notice." It read: + + NOTICE + + Travelers 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 any of + her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters; and that + travelers 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. + +It had been printed in the newspapers beside the advertisement of the +sailing of the _Lusitania_, and was posted that very morning by order +of Count von Bernstorff, German ambassador to the United States. But +most of the travelers paid no attention to the notice after reading it, +for they were sure that no implement of war would be turned against a +passenger ship. With stout hearts, many of the travelers said, "We are +Americans. No country will refuse respect and protection for an +American citizen in any part of the world." Or they said, "We are +British citizens,--not soldiers. We are on a merchant vessel--not a +battleship. Surely our rights will be respected. We cross under +necessity." + +So they dared to exercise their freedom and their rights when they +boarded the steamer for this return trip. + +After sailing for five days in safety, they came at last within sight +of land. Early on Friday morning a heavy fog had lowered, but the ship +continued to plow steadily through the tranquil waters. Toward noon the +fog lifted and the sunshine and blue sky came to view, contributing to +the full enjoyment of the travelers. + +They had just finished luncheon. Some were quietly writing +letters--others playing games. Many had strolled to the upper decks. +They greeted their new acquaintances, regretting that they were so soon +to part, for they were now but ten or fifteen miles out from shore off +"Old Head of Kinsale," and within a few hours all would land, going on +their separate ways for the rest of the journey. Though they were +nearing a world at war, all seemed peaceful. + +The ship's clock pointed at two, when a few men standing on deck saw +what looked like a whale rising from the water about three quarters of +a mile away. They saw it speeding toward them, and suddenly they knew +what it was; but no one named it, until with a train of bubbles it +disappeared under the ship, and they cried, "It's a torpedo!" + +With a fearful explosion, the center of the ship was blown up through +the decks, making a great heap of wreckage. The passengers fled from +the lower to the upper decks, many of them not stopping for life +preservers. Some of those who did strap on the life preservers did not +put them on correctly. Many leaped into the water, trusting to be +picked up by a passing boat. Although every one was terribly +frightened, yet there seemed to be no panic. The men lowered the +lifeboats, which were crowded to the full. As many as seventy or eighty +people, it is said, were packed into one small boat. + +Leslie N. Morton, a mere lad, has been officially named as bravest of +the crew. He was stationed on the starboard side, keeping look-out, +when the torpedo struck. He, with the assistance of his mate, rowed a +lifeboat for some miles, put the people on a fishing smack, and +returned again for other survivors, rescuing in all nearly a hundred. + +There were many acts of heroism among the passengers, but in all of the +distress one young man stood out among the hundreds upon the ship. +Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a young American millionaire, quickly realizing +that the steamer was sinking, turned to his valet and cried, "Let us +save the kiddies!" The two sprang to the rescue of the babies and small +children, carrying two of the little ones in their arms at a time and +placing them carefully in the lifeboats with their mothers. Mr. +Vanderbilt and his valet continued their efforts to the very last. When +they could find no more children, they turned to the assistance of the +women that were left. When last seen, Mr. Vanderbilt was smilingly, +almost happily, lending his aid to the passengers who still remained on +deck. + +The whole civilized world honors the memory of this brave youth, who +gave his life in serving helpless women and children. Gratifying indeed +it is to know that the little ones were cared for, though sad to learn +that even then only twenty-five of the hundred and twenty-nine babies +on board were saved. About one hundred children were innocent victims +of that dastardly deed which the Germans, through savage desire to +terrorize, became brutes enough to do. + +Elbert Hubbard, a noted American writer, and his wife went down with +the ship. Charles Frohman, a leading producer of plays, was another +prominent American lost. He has been cited as the finest example of +faith and calm strength, for, realizing that there was little hope for +him, he smilingly remarked, "Why fear death? It is the most beautiful +adventure that life gives us." + +In less than twenty minutes after the torpedo struck, nothing except +floating pieces of wreckage strewn on the disturbed surface of the +water marked the place of the great calamity. + +The wireless operator had sent the S.O.S. signal of distress several +times, and also had time to send the message, "Come at once, big list, +10 miles south of 'Old Head of Kinsale.'" He had received answers +before his apparatus was put out of use, and soon trawlers and pilot +boats came to the rescue and brought to shore those who had survived. +The cold ocean water, however, had made many so numb that they were +unable to help themselves enough to be lifted into the lifeboats, even +when the life preservers had kept them afloat. Of the 159 Americans on +board, 124 perished. In all, only 761 people were saved; 1198 perished. + +That day the terrible news came over the cable to America,--the great +passenger steamer _Lusitania_ had been torpedoed by a German submarine; +probably a thousand lives had been lost, among them many Americans! + +At the White House, the President realized the awful import of such a +message. + +In a day or so, nearly two thousand telegrams poured in from all parts +of the country; and it is said that the President read them all, for he +wanted to know how the individual American felt. + +The Germans offered all sorts of excuses for their cruel deed. A German +paper printed the following: + + Must we not, we who may be defeated by starvation and by lack of + war materials, must we not defend ourselves from this great + danger (with which the enemy's blockade threatens us), with all + our might and with all the means that the German spirit can + invent, and which the honor of the German people recognizes as + lawful weapons? Have those, who now raise such outcries, any + right to accuse us, those who allowed their friends and + relatives to trust themselves on a ship whose destruction was + announced with perfect clearness in advance? When our enemy's + blockade method forces us to measures in self-defense, _the + death of non-combatants is a matter of no consequence_. + +A blockade of an enemy's ports is, and always has been, a perfectly +fair kind of warfare. In our Civil War, the southern ports were, from +the beginning, blockaded by the northern warships. Germany was in no +danger of starving, as the events since have proved. Her excuses were, +as they have been in every case where she has played the part of the +brute, worse than no excuses and always based on falsehoods. + +"The steamer carried ammunition for England," they said. But it was +bought and carried in accordance with international law. Germany had +the same right to buy and carry from a neutral country. "It was a +British ship," they said. But it was a passenger ship and carried +nearly two thousand people, many of them Americans, who, according to +all international agreements, were guaranteed safe passage even in time +of war. + +All nations recognize the obligation of an enemy to visit and search +the vessel they think should be sunk, to make sure it carries +contraband of war, and if so, to give the people an opportunity to get +safely into the lifeboats. Not only did the Germans not do this, but +they did not even signal the ship that it was about to be sunk. The +newspaper warning put out by Bernstorff was no excuse for committing an +unlawful, inhuman act. + +From all points of view, the Germans, in sinking the _Lusitania_, +committed a horrible crime, not only against international law, but +against humanity and civilization. In all war, armed forces meet armed +forces; never do armed forces strangle and butcher the innocent and +unprotected. There is such a thing as _legitimate_ warfare, except +among barbarians. + +Here again was shown the German attitude in the "scrap of paper." +Evidently trusting to the great distance of the United States and her +well-known unpreparedness, Germany thought that a friendly relation +with this country was a matter of entire indifference to her; or, if +she hoped to draw America into the war, she little dreamed to what end +those hopes would come! + +Around the world one verdict was pronounced against Germany. This +verdict was well worded in a Russian paper, the _Courier_: + + The right to punish these criminals who violate the laws of + humanity belongs first and foremost to the great American + Republic. America knows well how to use this right. The sympathy + of the civilized world is guaranteed her beforehand. The world + is being suffocated by poisonous gases of inhuman cruelty spread + abroad by Germany, who, in the madness of her rage, is + committing needless, purposeless, and senseless murder, solely + from lust of blood and horrors! + +The American government, upon the occurrence of the calamity, showed +great forbearance, believing that "a man of proved temper and tried +courage is not always bound to return a madman's blow." A strong +protest was sent to the Imperial German Government, which caused +Germany to abandon for a time her submarine attacks upon neutral +vessels. It was the renewal of these attacks that finally led to the +declaration of war by the United States of America upon Germany and her +allies, and it was the _Lusitania_ outrage more than any other one +event that roused the fighting spirit of America. + + + + +THE CHARGE OF THE BLACK WATCH AND THE SCOTS GREYS + + +Sometimes a retreat is in reality a great victory. It has been said +that it requires a greater general to direct successfully a great +retreat than it does to direct a great attack. + +Some marvelous retreats have occurred in the World War, the greatest +coming at its very beginning, when the English and French fell back to +save Paris and to defeat the Germans at the Marne. This retreat was +really a series of battles, day after day, with terrible losses on both +sides. + +An English private in the Black Watch, named Walter Morton, only +nineteen years of age, described for the _Scotsmen_ one of these +battles in which his regiment and the Scots Greys made a magnificent +charge. His story was as follows: + + We went straight from Boulogne to Mons, being one of the first + British regiments to reach that place. Neither army seemed to + have a very good position there, but the numbers of the Germans + were far too great to give us any chance of success. We were + hard at it all day on Monday; and on Tuesday, as the French + reinforcements which we had been expecting did not arrive, the + order was given to retire. + + In our retreat we marched close upon eighty miles. We passed + through Cambrai, and a halt was called at St. Quentin. The + Germans, in their mad rush to get to Paris, had seldom been far + behind us, and when we came to St. Quentin the word went through + the ranks that we were going into action. The men were quite + jubilant at the prospect. They had not been at all pleased at + their continued retirement before the enemy, and they at once + started to get things ready. The engagement opened briskly, both + our artillery and the Germans going at it for all they were + worth. We were in good skirmishing order, and under the cover of + our guns we were all the time getting nearer and nearer the + enemy. When we had come to within 100 yards of the German lines, + the commands were issued for a charge, and the Black Watch made + the charge along with the Scots Greys. Not far from us the 9th + Lancers and the Cameronians joined in the attack. + + It was the finest thing I ever saw. The Scots Greys galloped + forward with us hanging on to their stirrups, and it was a sight + never to be forgotten. We were simply being dragged by the + horses as they flew forward through a perfect cloud of bullets + from the enemy's maxims. All other sounds were drowned by the + thunder of the horses' hoofs as they careered wildly on, some of + them nearly driven mad by the bullets which struck them. It was + no time for much thinking. Saddles were being emptied quickly, + as we closed on the German lines and tore past their maxims, + which were in the front ranks. + + We were on the German gunners before they knew where they were, + and many of them went down, scarcely realizing that we were + amongst them. Then the fray commenced in deadly earnest. The + Black Watch and the Scots Greys went into it like men + possessed. They fought like demons. It was our bayonets against + the Germans' swords. You could see nothing but the glint of + steel, and soon even that was wanting as our boys got well into + the midst of the enemy. The swords of the Germans were no use + against our bayonets. They went down in hundreds. + + Then the enemy began to waver, and soon broke and fled before + the bayonets, like rabbits before the shot of a gun. + + There were about 1900 of us in that charge against 20,000 + Germans, and the charge itself lasted about four hours. We took + close upon 4000 prisoners, and captured a lot of their guns. In + the course of the fighting I got a cut from a German sword--they + are very much like saws--and fell into a pool of water, where I + lay unconscious for twenty-three hours. I was picked up by one + of the 9th Lancers. + + + + +THE BATTLES OF THE MARNE + + +At Marathon (490 B.C.) and at Salamis (480 B.C.) the Greeks defeated +the Persians and saved Europe for western civilization. Had the +Persians won, the history of Europe and of the world would be the story +of the civilization of the East instead of that of the West. + +At Tours (732 A.D.) Charles Martel defeated the forces of the +Mohammedans, who had already conquered Spain, and saved Europe for +Christianity. + +At the Marne (1914 and 1918) the French, the English, and (in the +second battle) the Americans, defeated the modern Huns and saved Europe +for democracy and from the rule of merciless brute force. The First +Battle of the Marne has been called the sixteenth decisive battle of +the world. + +Before the First Battle of the Marne, September 5 to 10, 1914, the +German military machine had been winning, as never an army had won +before in the entire recorded history of the world. Its path had been +one of treachery, of atrocities, of savagery, but one of tremendous and +unparalleled victory. The Germans at home called it "the great times." + +Brave little Belgium had been able to hold back the German hordes but +for a short time at Lige and Namur, but, as future events proved, long +enough to make possible the decisive battles at the Marne. The Germans +had taken Brussels and Antwerp, had destroyed Louvain, had filled +themselves with outrage and murder, had drunk of blood and wine and +success until they were thoroughly intoxicated with the belief so +common to drunken brutes that no men in the world can stand against +them. The little Belgian army, "the contemptible little English army" +(as the Kaiser called it), and the magnificent French army had been +retreating day by day almost as fast as the Germans could advance. Soon +Paris and then all of France would be in German hands--and what a +glorious time they would have in the gayest and most beautiful capital +of the world. Although bodies of German cavalry raided the coast, the +German leaders, elated and intoxicated with thoughts of rich plunder +and dissipation, did not turn aside in force to follow the Belgian army +and to take the Channel ports of Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogne, but +pushed on toward Paris. The French government, expecting a siege of the +city, moved to Bordeaux. + +The main forces of the Germans had turned south from the coast towards +Paris with General von Kluck's army of about 200,000 men at the right +or west of the German line of advance. General von Kluck was +attempting to outflank the English army, that is, to throw part of his +forces around the extreme western end of the English army, which had to +keep retiring rapidly to avoid being encircled. The French army was +obliged to fall back to keep in touch with the British. + +The English retired nearly one hundred miles without losing their +cheerfulness or their confidence. It was this turning movement on the +left that forced all the allies to retire. An English writer who was +with the army said that though the Germans constantly attacked with +reckless courage, yet the British and French retired slowly with their +faces to the foe, and showing the greatest heroism. The numbers of the +Germans were greater than those of the Allies, and the Germans gave +them no rest. Night and day they hammered away, coming on like great +waves. The gaps the English made were filled instantly. The German guns +played upon the Allies constantly. Their cavalry swept down upon them +recklessly. If the English had great losses, the Germans had greater. +The English fought with cool bravery. They never wavered an instant. +But the pressure upon them could not be resisted. Column after column, +squadron after squadron, mass after mass, the enemy came on like a +battering ram, crushing everything in its way. They swarmed on all +sides, even though shattered by shot and shell. Nothing but the +steadfast courage, the sheer pluck, the spirit, the soul of the +English soldiers saved the army from complete destruction. + +"The enemy hung on to us like grim death," said a wounded soldier. +"They wanted us to retreat in a direction that would best suit their +plans. But we were not taking marching orders from them. We went our +own way at our own pace. We were retiring, not retreating." + +Then on the fifth of September came General Joffre's appeal to the +defenders of civilization, and particularly to the French soldiers: +"The hour has come to hold our positions at any cost and to fight +rather than to retreat.... No longer must we look at the enemy over our +shoulders, for the time has come to put forth all our efforts in +attacking and defeating him." + +A French writer has said of the retreat, which by order of General +Joffre had now come to an end, "Their bodies retreated, but never their +souls;" and he might have added of the German advance, "It was an +advance of bodies, not of souls." It was material might in men and guns +forcing back an army weaker in everything except soul and spirit. The +World War has shown over and over again, not only at the Marne but at a +hundred other places and in a hundred other ways, that soul and spirit +are the real conquerors and that God is not always, as Napoleon said, +on the side of the larger battalions. + +The Germans had come on flushed with success and egotism, destroying +French property, looting, and dissipating. Their spirit was the spirit +they found in the French wine cellars, and as for soul, as civilized +people understand the word, they had none. They were an army of tired, +conquering brutes. Their morale was low because of their great success +and all that had accompanied it of feasts and slaughter. The morale of +the French was never higher. Every day and every hour they had been +compelled to retreat, giving up, giving up all that they loved even +better than life itself to these brutes, until the brain of the French +army said on the evening of September 5, 1914, "You have gone so far in +order that you may now stand successfully." And in the morning at dawn, +it was not only the bodies of the French soldiers that hurled +themselves against the invaders, but the souls of French men, the soul +of France; and all along the line from Verdun to Meaux, under the +gallant leadership of Manoury, Foch, Sarrail, Castelnau, and others, +the French armies held. If they had not held--not only held but +attacked--all of future history would be different. + +General Foch, commander in chief at the Second Battle of the Marne, +inspired his troops in this first battle to supernatural bravery. He +knew they must not yield, so with his right broken, his left shattered, +he attacked with his center. It was that or retreat. His message to +the commander-in-chief, General Joffre, will never be forgotten. + +"My left has been forced back, my right is routed. I shall attack with +the center." + +The Germans could not put their souls into the battles as the French +soldiers did, and besides, the Germans were weakened by feasting and +dissipation. With the Huns it was the right of might; with the Allies +it was the might of right, and in the end the second always defeats the +first. + +Some one has well said: + +"It is the law of good to protect and to build up. It is the law of +evil to destroy. It is in the very nature of good to lead men aright. +It is in the very nature of evil to lead men astray. Goodness makes for +wisdom. Badness is continually exercising poor judgment. + +"Germany and Austria have made colossal mistakes in this war because of +their colossal violation of truth and justice. In brutally wronging +Serbia, they lost the friendship and support of Italy. In perpetrating +the monstrous crime against Belgium, they brought against them the +whole might of the British Empire. In breaking international law with +their reckless submarine warfare, they caused the United States to +enter the war on the side of the Allies." + +It is said that the army of the German Crown Prince retreated before +the impetuous attack of the French and, because of this retreat, all +the other German armies were obliged to do likewise. It is more +probable, however, that the general retreat was due to General Joffre's +strategy. The Germans under General von Kluck were within about twenty +miles of Paris, near Meaux on the Marne, when suddenly they were struck +in the flank and rear by about twenty thousand fresh troops brought out +unexpectedly from Paris in motor trucks, taxis, limousines, and all +kinds of pleasure cars. Now the Germans, who had caused the retreat of +the French and British armies upon Paris by continually outflanking the +British, were in their turn outflanked and compelled to retreat, and +Paris was saved. + +An English writer has said that although the Germans were outflanked +only in the west, yet the blow passed from one end of the German line +to the other, from Meaux to Verdun, just as the blow from the buffer of +the engine, when it is coupled to the train, passes from one truck to +another to the very end of the train. + +The Germans in the next few days retreated from the Marne to the Aisne, +where they entrenched. Paris and France and Europe and the only world +worth living in were saved. The French government moved back to Paris. + +Hall Caine in "Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days" says: "The soul of +France did not fail her. It heard the second approach of that monstrous +Prussian horde, which, like a broad, irresistible tide, sweeping across +one half of Europe, came down, down, down from Mons until the thunder +of its guns could again be heard on the boulevards. And then came the +great miracle! Just as the sea itself can rise no higher when it has +reached the top of the flood, so the mighty army of Germany had to stop +its advance thirty kilometres north of Paris; and when it stirred +again, it had to go back. And back and back it went before the armies +of France, Britain, and Belgium, until it reached a point at which it +could dig itself into the earth and hide in a long, serpentine trench +stretching from the Alps to the sea. + +"Only then did the spirit of France draw breath for a moment, and the +next flash as of lightning showed her offering thanks and making +supplications before the white statue of Jeanne d'Arc in the apse of +the great cathedral of Notre Dame, sacred to innumerable memories. On +the Feast of St. Michael, ten thousand of the women of Paris were +kneeling under the dark vault, and on the broad space in the front of +the majestic faade, praying for victory. It was a great and grandiose +scene, recalling the days when faith was strong and purer. Old and +young, rich and poor, every woman with some soul that was dear to her +in that inferno at the front--the Motherhood of France was there to +ask God for the triumph of the right. + +"And in the spirit of that prayer the soul of France still lives." + +Nearly four years later the Germans, with greatly increased forces in +France, due to the collapse of Russia, were again upon the Marne and +only about forty miles from Paris. French and English and Americans +were opposing them upon a line shaped like a great letter U, extending +south with Rheims at the top on the east, and Soissons at the top on +the west. The Marne River was at the curve at the bottom, and there +most of the Americans were stationed. + +On July 15, 1918, the Germans began the offensive which was to result, +as they hoped, in the capture of Paris. They attacked on the Marne and +between the Marne and Rheims. At the end of the fourth day, they had +advanced about six miles, crossing the Marne and pushing back the +American troops. The Americans fought bravely and soon regained the +ground they had lost, although the French generals suggested that they +should not attempt to retake it. The American commander, however, sent +word to the French general, who was his superior officer, saying that +he did not feel able to follow the suggestion, for the American flag +had been compelled to retire. None of his soldiers, he said, would +understand this being allowed as long as they were able to attack. "We +are going to counter-attack," he added. They did so, and regained all +the ground lost. + +It is clear now that the French generals knew the counter-attack was +unnecessary, and knew why. West of the line from Soissons to the Marne +is a great forest, and back of this General Foch, commander in chief of +all the allied armies, had been for several days gathering guns, +ammunition, tanks, and troops ready to strike the flank of the Germans, +when they should attack between Rheims and the Marne and attempt to +cross the Marne, as he knew they would in their desire to take Paris. A +terrible tempest passed over the region just before the Allied attack, +preventing the Germans from observing the advancing tanks and troops. +An English writer has said, "The storm which had covered the noise of +the final preparation of a number of tanks which led the assault, was +over. Not a sound was heard in the forest, though it was teeming with +men and horses. Then suddenly the appointed moment came when day broke. +There was a roar from all the guns, the whole front broke into activity +as men and tanks dashed forward. I suppose there has been nothing more +dramatic in the whole war than this scene on which the general looked +down from the top of a high perch in the forest on that quiet July +morning!" + +The Allies struck so unexpectedly that they captured hundreds of guns +and thousands of prisoners, and obliged the Germans to fall back +across the Marne, losing all the territory they had gained and much +more. The danger to Paris was again turned aside by the military genius +of General Foch and the bravery of the troops under his command. + +It was the first great battle in which the Americans took part. They +showed themselves equal to the best of the Allies, and better than the +Germans. A London paper called the American counter-attack one of the +historical incidents of the whole war. All Europe, except Hunland, rang +with praises of the American troops. + + * * * * * + +In the history of the World War, most of the great land battles will be +named from rivers, the Marne, the Yser, the Somme, the Aisne, the +Ailette, the Ancre, the Bug, the Dneister, the Dunajec and the Piave. A +battle of the Rhine will probably be fought before German territory can +be invaded to any great extent. + + + + +THE QUEEN'S FLOWER + + +On July 25, 1918, nearly every person in Washington, the capital of the +United States, was asked to buy a bunch of forget-me-nots; and nearly +every one responded, so that almost $7000 worth was sold in about an +hour. In many other cities sales were held, and for many years to come +such sales will be held all over the civilized world, for the +forget-me-not is the Queen's flower, chosen by Elizabeth, Queen of +Belgium, to be sold on her birthday, July 25, to raise money for the +children of Belgium. She is a lover of flowers as are all the people of +her country. Many parts of Belgium were before the war, like Holland, +devoted to raising flowers for bulbs and seeds. It is said that the +garden at the Belgian Royal Palace was the most beautiful garden in the +world. + +For many years it has been the Queen's custom to name a flower to be +sold on her birthday for the benefit of some good cause. In 1910 she +named the La France rose to be sold for the benefit of sufferers from +tuberculosis in Belgium. Nearly $100,000 was raised on this one day. + +The war has not done away with the beautiful custom, and on the +Queen's birthday in 1918, she named a flower to be sold to raise money +to help care for the children of Belgium. She chose the forget-me-not, +for the Queen can never forget the terrible sacrifice her country was +called upon to make, nor the brutal manner in which the Huns used their +power. + +Those who have carefully studied the facts have concluded that the Huns +coolly and deliberately planned to destroy Belgium as a country and a +people, not only during the war but forever. It was to carry out this +plan that the villages and cities were burned or bombarded until they +were nothing but heaps of stone and ashes; that much of the machinery +was either destroyed or carried into Germany; that the Belgian boys and +men were herded together and deported into Germany to work as slaves; +and that the Belgian babies were neglected, starved, and murdered. If +only the old and feeble were left at the end of the war, there could be +no Belgium to compete with Germany, and Germany desired this whether +she should win or lose. + +America has done much to relieve the suffering of the Belgian people. +Germany saw to it, however, that the babies and very young children +were neglected as far as possible, with the exception of healthy +Belgian boy babies, and many of these she snatched from their parents +and carried into Germany to be raised as Huns. It has been said that +no horror of the war equaled the horror of what Germany did to Belgian +childhood. + +Queen Elizabeth realized the danger and did everything in her power to +protect and help the babies of Belgium. Although she is by birth a +German princess, she wishes never to forget and that the world may +never forget the great wrong done her country. In naming the +forget-me-not she meant that Belgium's wrong should never be forgotten, +and that the children of Belgium should not be forgotten. + +The flower is to be sold for the benefit of Belgian children at all +times and in all countries, for the Queen has said she will never name +another. + +The little blue forget-me-not will be sold all over the civilized +world, that means except in Hunland, and wherever it is sold Belgium's +story will be remembered. All that is sweet and beautiful and pure is +connecting itself in the minds and hearts of men with Belgium in her +sacrifice and suffering; and as long as history is recorded and +remembered, the word "Belgium" will awaken these feelings in those who +read. This is a part of her reward, just as the opposite is a part of +the punishment of the Hun. + + + + +AT SCHOOL NEAR THE LINES + + +The boys and girls in America have listened with great interest and +sympathy to the many stories of children in devastated France, left +fatherless, homeless, perhaps motherless, with no games or sport, +indeed with no desire to play games or sports of any kind. For them, +there seemed to be only the awful roar and thunder of the cannon, which +might at any moment send down a bursting shell upon their heads. The +clothes they wore and the food they ate were theirs only as they were +given to them, and so often given by strangers. + +In America the school children worked, earned, saved, and sent their +gifts to those thousands of destitute children, and with their gifts +sent letters of love and interest to their little French cousins across +the seas. + +Many of the letters were written in quiet, sunny schoolrooms, thousands +of miles from the noise of battle. But many a letter thus written +reached the hands of a child who sat huddled beside his teacher in a +damp, dark cellar that took the place of the pleasant little +schoolhouse he had known. + +But in those cellars and hidden places, the children studied and +learned as best they might, in order some day to be strong, bright men +and women for their beloved France, when the days of battle should be +over and victory should have been won for them to keep. + +The gladness of the children when they received the letters will +probably never be fully known. Perhaps it seemed to some of them like +that morning on which they marched away from the school building for +the last time. The shells had begun to burst near them, as they sat in +the morning session. Quickly they put aside their work, and listened +quietly while the master timed the interval between the bursting of the +shells. At his order, they had formed in line for marching, and at the +moment the third or fourth shell fell, they marched out of the school +away into a cellar seventy paces off. There, sheltered by the strong, +stout walls, they listened to the next shell bursting as it fell +straight down into the schoolhouse, where by a few moments' delay, they +would all have perished or been severely injured. + +So, while they heard the cannon roaring, they were happy to know that +their friends in America thought of them and were helping them. No one +will ever realize just how much it meant to the French people to know +that America was their friend, or the great joy they felt when the +American soldiers marched in to take their places in the fight for +France and the freedom of the world. + +Odette Gastinel, a thirteen-year-old girl of the Lyce Victor Duruy, +one of the schoolrooms near the front, has written of the coming of the +Americans. Throughout the United States her little essay has been read, +and great men and women have marveled at its beauty of thought and +wording, and have called it a little masterpiece. + +In the first paragraph, she tells of the great distance between the +millions of men (the Germans and the Allies) although separated only by +a narrow stream; and in the second, she speaks of the closeness of +sympathy between France and America,--though America lies three +thousand miles over the sea. + + It was only a little river, almost a brook; it was called the + Yser. One could talk from one side to the other without raising + one's voice, and the birds could fly over it with one sweep of + their wings. And on the two banks there were millions of men, + the one turned toward the other, eye to eye. But the distance + which separated them was greater than the spaces between the + stars in the sky; it was the distance which separates right from + injustice. + + The ocean is so vast that the sea gulls do not dare to cross it. + During seven days and seven nights the great steamships of + America, going at full speed, drive through the deep waters + before the lighthouses of France come into view; but from one + side to the other, hearts are touching. + +It is no wonder that the great American, General Pershing, stopped, in +all the tumult and business of war, to write to people in America: + + [Illustration: (hand written letter from General Pershing) + + Headquarters, Am. Ex. Forces. + France. + + In the veins of the fatherless + children of France courses + the blood of heroes. Theirs + is a heritage worth cherishing--a + heritage which appeals + to the deepest sentiments of + the soul. What France through + their fathers has done for + humanity, France through + them will do again. + + Save the fatherless + children of France! + + John J. Pershing. + + April 12, 1918] + + + + +A PLACE IN THE SUN + + +The history of Rome about 1500 years ago tells us of "the wild and +terrifying hordes" of Huns, with ideas little above those of plunder +and wanton destruction, led by Attila whose "purpose was to pillage and +increase his power." They came near setting civilization back for +hundreds of years, but were finally subdued. When we remember these +facts, we do not wonder that the Germans are called, and probably +always will be called, Huns; but another explanation is the true one. + +When in 1900, a German army was embarking at Bremerhaven for China to +help other nations to put down the Boxer rebellion, the German Kaiser, +William II, in addressing his troops said: "When you come upon the +enemy, no quarter will be given, no prisoners will be taken. As the +Huns under their King Attila, a thousand years ago, made a name for +themselves which is still mighty in tradition and story, so may the +name of German in China be kept alive through you in such a wise that +no Chinese will ever again attempt to look askance at a German." + +The United States helped put down the Boxer rebellion, and with other +nations was paid an indemnity by China. By vote of Congress, the +United States returned the money to China. Germany acted very +differently, for but three years before, she had seized from China the +land about Kiaochau Bay and the port of Tsingchau, as reparation for +the murder of two German missionaries. Although Germany had strongly +fortified this territory, Japan besieged it and regained it in +November, 1914. + +In speaking in 1901 of Germany's then new possession in China, the +Kaiser said: "In spite of the fact that we have no such fleet as we +should have, we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It +will now be my duty to see to it that this place in the sun shall +remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall +fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts." The German +Crown Prince, in an introduction to a book published in 1913, said: "It +is only by relying on our good German sword that we can hope to conquer +the place in the sun which rightly belongs to us and which no one will +yield to us voluntarily. Till the world comes to an end, the ultimate +decision must rest with the sword." + +These statements make clear to us how the modern Huns would win the +place in the sun which they have been taught to believe rightly belongs +to them. + +It is possible that the Kaiser took his idea of "a place in the sun" +from a wonderful old copper engraving by the greatest of all German +artists, Albrecht Drer. The engraving was made in 1513 and represents +a German knight in full armor mounted upon a fine war horse, riding +into a dark and narrow defile between cliffs, to reach a beautiful +castle standing in the sun on a hill beyond. A narrow path runs down +from the castle, which the knight can reach only by passing through the +gloomy and dangerous defile between the rocks. If he would reach his +desired place in the sun, he must be afraid of nothing, even though +human skulls and lizards are under his horse's feet and death and the +devil travel by his side. His horse and his dog are evidently afraid, +but the knight himself shows no fear as he rides forward with his "good +German sword" at his side and his long spear over his shoulder. A +recent German writer has said about this picture, "Every German heart +will comprehend the knight who persists in spite of death and the devil +in the course on which he has entered. Such a man of resolute action is +not tormented by subtle doubts." + +So has Germany in the World War tried to ride through the valley of +death and destruction, with death and the devil always by her side, to +reach a coveted place in the sun. That such a place can be attained +only by force is the terribly wrong ideal that has been taught to the +German people, to the children in the schools, to the adults in public +meetings and in the public press, until at last they have come to +believe it, and are willing to ride through the world accompanied by +death and the devil if they may thus gain "a place in the sun." + + [Illustration: SEEKING A PLACE IN THE SUN + _By Albrecht Drer_] + +They are, as a German poet, Felix Dahn, wrote, the kith and kin of +Thor, the god of might, who conquered all lands with his thundering +hammer; and it is their destiny to conquer the world by "the good +German sword." + +This is the ideal that the Allies are fighting against. What is the +ideal they are fighting for? It may also be illustrated by a picture, +but this time by a word picture written by a man long familiar with +Drer's wonderful engraving. For years he had a copy of the engraving +hung above his desk. As he studied it, he finally saw himself a knight +riding on through the world; and he saw riding with him, not death and +the devil, but two other knights. One of the knights was hideous to +look upon, and rode just behind him; and one was wonderfully beautiful +and strong, and rode just ahead of him. And all three rode at full +speed forever and ever, the knight, who was the man himself, in the +middle, always striving to outrun the knight who was behind him, and to +overtake the one before him. Finally he put the thought in verse, for +it seemed to him to represent the life of every human being who was +free to live out his life as he would wish. + + +THE QUEST + + A knight fared on through a beautiful world + On a mission to him unknown; + At his left and a little behind there rode + The self of his deeds alone. + + At his right and a length before sped on-- + Him none but the knight might see-- + A braver heart and a purer soul, + The self that he longed to be. + + And ever the three rode on through the world + With him at the left behind; + Till never the knight would look at him, + Feeble and foul and blind. + + Desperately on they drave, these three, + With him at the right before, + While the knight rode furiously after him + And thought of the world no more. + + Forever on he must ride on his quest + And peace can be his no more, + Till the one at his left he has dropped from sight + And o'ertaken the one before. + + Thus ages ago the three fared on, + And on they fare to-day, + With him at the left a little behind, + The right still leading the way. + +This knight seeks not a place in the sun but a change in himself, to +become a better, a braver, a truer knight. Then, wherever he may be, +he will find his place in the sun; and that nation whose people seek to +grow wiser and better and nobler will always find "the sun's rays +falling fruitfully" upon them. + +To win prosperity and happiness through becoming abler and better +people, under a government which will do all it can to aid them, +because it is "a government of the people, for the people, and by the +people," is the ideal for which the Allies fight. + +"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own +soul?" + + * * * * * + +It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the +unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly +advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task +remaining before us--that from these honored dead, we take increased +devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of +devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have +died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of +freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the +people, shall not perish from the earth. + + ABRAHAM LINCOLN. + + + + +MARSHAL JOFFRE + + +The greatest leaders in history are often men who for the larger part +of their lives have been almost unknown. Poor, simple in their habits, +but loyal and true of heart, they have risen from obscurity to +positions they alone could fill, and then through their devotion and +achievement have become the heroes of the people. + +Lincoln, the greatest example and inspiration to American hearts, was +in his youth such a simple and obscure person. The Pilgrim fathers, the +early pioneers in the West, the great inventors of the hundreds of +improvements in the world of business, travel, and communication, were +nearly all of them unknown for the greater part of their lives, but +were men of true hearts and of strong purposes. + +Unattractive, ungainly in appearance, unpopular save among those who +knew him well, but with the strength of will and soul born of the +simple, true life he had lived, Lincoln rose step by step to seats of +power until he sat at length in the highest of all. By that calmness +and vision which belong to such great men, Lincoln saved the nation +from failure and corruption. He must have foreseen the great nation +into which the United States might grow, if only he could rescue it +from the terrible ravages of war and reunite the people with one +strong, common soul. + + [Illustration: MARSHAL JOSEPH JACQUES JOFFRE + Marshal Joffre is holding the golden miniature Liberty Statue + presented to him when he visited New York City in 1917 + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +We Americans, by thinking of such a leader as Lincoln, may more clearly +appreciate what it meant to France in this World War to follow on to +victory with such a leader as Joseph Jacques Joffre. + +Marshal Joffre was born in 1852 and lived for years in Rivesaltes, a +little town near the boundary between France and Spain. His ancestors +for generations had been farmers, and his father was a cooper by trade. +The boy was a sweet-tempered, modest, intelligent, blue-eyed, and +blonde-haired youth. He suffered somewhat from his school-fellows, as +any boy does who is popular with his teachers. But he was industrious, +wide-awake, and interested in a great many things, mathematics probably +being the subject in which he excelled. Trained by thrifty peasant +parents, he acquired regular habits which were valuable to him all his +life long. Even in this World War, when great responsibility pressed +upon him, he rarely failed to retire by nine or ten at night and to +rise at five in the morning. Before six each morning, he was out for a +short, brisk walk or for a ride on his horse. + +When he was only fifteen years old, he astonished his parents by +announcing his intention to try for entrance to the cole Polytechnique +in Paris, a great training school for military officers. Such a plan +seemed, not only to his parents, but to his many friends, much too +ambitious for a barrel-maker's son. But he insisted on trying the +examination and passed fourteenth in a class of one hundred and +thirty-two. His sister, for whom Joffre always had a great affection, +declared that he would have secured a higher rank if he had not passed +such a poor examination in German, a language for which he evidently +had a strong dislike. Those who have seen his examination papers say +that they are models of neatness, clear thinking, and accuracy. + +Because of his high standing, Joffre was made sergeant of his class at +the cole Polytechnique. This honor, which made him responsible for the +order and behavior of his own classmates, was rather an embarrassing +one, for he was not of a domineering nature, and was besides the +youngest boy in the hall. He found great difficulty in exercising his +authority over these dozen or so lively youths, though he was destined +one day to be given command over more than three million men. + +By hard work he made good progress in his studies. But he did not +finish his course, for in 1870 the Franco-Prussian War broke out. +Joffre, but eighteen years of age, was made a sub-lieutenant in a Paris +fort. That terrible year left its impression upon him for life. He felt +the greatest agony at the loss of beautiful Alsace-Lorraine--a part of +his own beloved country, taken by the enemy. From that time he lived +with one hope--that he might some day be of service in setting right +that wrong, in getting back for France that which had been stolen from +her. He once said, "I have seen 1870. I have given my life utterly to +see that it did not happen again." Thus, it has been said: "The formula +for Joffre is easy to find. It is a number; it is a date; it is 1870." +What he saw at that time shaped his purposes for the future. + +Joffre is not only a thinker, but a man of action. He thinks hard for a +time, and then feels compelled to put his thoughts into action. The +story is told of how Confucius, upon leaving a funeral service, +presented his horse to the chief mourner. When asked why he did so, he +replied, "I wept with that man and so I felt I ought to _do_ something +for him." Joffre thought long and hard and then wanted to _do_ +something. + +After the war of 1870, he went into the engineering corps of the army +and for fifteen years served well in building barracks and +fortifications. Then he asked to go to Indo-China where France was +waging a colonial war. He was commissioned a lieutenant, and at the end +of three years returned a captain, with the Legion of Honor. + +He was made a member of the staff of administration of the engineering +corps, and while in this service it was said of him: "Joffre is good +at all jobs. He will be good for the big job some day." + +In 1892 he went to Africa to build a railroad. While working at that, +news came that Colonel Bonnier and his party of Frenchmen had been +attacked and many of them massacred by the natives near Timbuctoo. +Joffre organized a rescuing expedition (which has ever since been held +up as a model), took possession of Timbuctoo, and subdued the tribes; +then went back and finished his railroad. When he returned to France +this time he was a colonel, having risen one degree in the Legion of +Honor. + +After three years he was sent to Madagascar, where he built such +excellent defenses that upon his return he was made head of the French +military engineering corps. He then had the task of preparing the forts +of France. He built the forts of Belfort, pinal, Toul, and Verdun, all +of which victoriously withstood the German attacks in the World War. + +By this time, Joffre was a general. He practiced at handling troops in +the field until he knew all the tactics in moving great bodies of men. +He became chief of such matters as transportation, armament, and +mobilization. + +Yet all this time Joffre was almost entirely unknown among the French +people. Quiet, almost shy, a man of few words, he was not one to call +attention to himself. Only those who were close to him knew him and +his great ability. Late in life he had married a widow with two +beautiful daughters. He lived with them very quietly in Auteuil in the +suburbs of Paris. Here the great chief loved to gather his family about +the piano and enjoy their companionship and an evening of music. He +could often be seen mornings, walking with his two beloved daughters. +Always he was a kind, thoughtful, gentle, often silent man, and, being +silent, he had also the virtue of being a good listener. For he hated +empty words, though he talked long enough when he had something to say. +He spoke with the greatest simplicity, however, and was always very +gentle and courteous in his manners. + +The officers of the staff of eleven men who directed the military +affairs of the country, of which staff Joffre was a member, valued and +esteemed him highly. It was from among the men of this staff that a +commander in chief would be chosen in case of war. + +But when the time came in 1911 to reorganize the army and appoint a +commander in chief, the minds and hearts of the French people turned +toward General Pau, the one-armed hero of the Franco-Prussian War. +While they were eagerly waiting to applaud his promotion, they were +informed that General Joseph Joffre had accepted the appointment. +General Pau had refused the position, saying, "No patriotic Frenchman +has any right to accept this when such a man as Joffre is available." + +Joffre had a great deal of opposition to face. Unpleasant comments were +made, and worse than all, France herself was filled with all sorts of +political and social evils. + +Germany, as all France knew, was planning to dash across the border, +and that before very long. But Joffre determined that, should his +country be attacked from beyond the Rhine, it would be defended. + +Joffre was now fifty-nine years old with his blonde hair and eyebrows +grown white. His large head, square face and jaw, his great and +powerful frame, suggested strength, vigor, and a marvelous ability for +leadership. His first act was to place General Pau, whom he recognized +as a very able man, in the next highest command. + +Assisted by President Poincar and Millerand, Minister of War, he set +out to reform the army. There prevailed a system of spying, by which +officers were privately watched and reported for disloyalty upon the +least suspicion. Joffre destroyed this system entirely and announced +that all officers would be appointed purely on the basis of merit. He +dismissed several generals, some of them his own personal friends, +because they were incompetent. They were generals who were either too +old, or who could not act quickly and efficiently in the field, even +though they were good thinkers. This caused him some unhappy hours, but +he did it for France. He promoted men who successfully performed their +duties. He made excellent preparation in the new departments created by +modern science and inventions,--telephones, automobiles, and +aroplanes. Altogether he put system and order into everything, aroused +a soul in his army, and created a new spirit in France. + +A year before the war came, Germany had 720,000 men ready to march into +France. Joffre, with remarkable skill, raised his army in numbers to +about 600,000. Even so they were greatly outnumbered, but Joffre knew +that all depended on their ability, for the first few weeks, to +withstand the expected onrush of German troops. So he organized them +carefully, and best of all, put into their hearts the belief that +"there is something which triumphs over all hesitations, which governs +and decides the impulses of a great and noble democracy like +France,--the will to live strong and free, and to remain mistress of +our destinies." This spirit in Joffre and in the other French leaders +made France powerful in those first fateful days. It was the same +spirit which Joffre later imparted to his men on the eve of the Battle +of the Marne, the spirit which made that battle result in victory for +France. As the men on that September evening gathered about their +officers and listened to the reading of Joffre's message, Joffre's +spirit itself took possession of every one of them. + +"Advance," the order read, "and when you can no longer advance, hold +at all costs what you have gained. If you can no longer hold, die on +the spot." + +Joffre was careful not to make any decisions until he had thought the +question over deeply, but once made, his decisions were immediately +carried out. When he ordered a retreat, he knew the reason, and his men +trusted him and followed his orders implicitly. The people of France, +too, came to love and trust this great general of theirs. + +When the German army, fairly on its way to Paris, suddenly met the +greatest defeat Germany had known since the days of Napoleon, the +villagers near Auteuil, where Joffre had his home, came and covered the +steps of his house with flowers. This was the first tribute of the +people to the man who had saved the nation, and it showed their +confidence in the future of the country as long as it should rest in +the hands of Joseph Jacques Joffre. + +Thus, from the unknown man who in 1911 had been exalted to a great and +responsible position, Joffre quickly became known and loved by all the +people of France as "Our Joffre." He was later retired from active +service with the highest military rank, Marshal of France. + + + + +THE HUN TARGET--THE RED CROSS + + +All the civilized nations of the world have agreed to respect the Red +Cross, believing that when men are carried from the battlefield wounded +or dying, it is inhuman to war upon them further. But the agreement to +this by Germany, like all other German agreements, became only "a scrap +of paper" when the Hun leaders thought they saw an advantage in tearing +it up. + +Germany is also the only nation claiming to be civilized that kills its +prisoners when it thinks best. When the Kaiser told the German soldiers +going to China to take no prisoners, he meant that they should kill +them. + +Frightfulness was not a sudden afterthought on the part of the Germans, +arising in the excitement of war. It was deliberately planned and +taught to the German officers and soldiers. The manual prepared for +their use in land warfare contains the rules which are to guide them. +Among the directions are these: Endeavor to destroy all the enemies' +intellectual and material resources. The methods which kill the +greatest number at once are permitted. Force the inhabitants to +furnish information against their own armies and their own people. +Prisoners may be killed in case of necessity. Any wrong, no matter how +great, that will help to victory is allowed. + +How the Germans carried out the "Rules for Land Warfare" is well shown +by the proclamation posted by General von Blow in the streets of Namur +on August 25, 1914. It read as follows: + + Before four o'clock all Belgian and French soldiers must be + turned over to us as prisoners of war. Citizens who fail to do + this will be sentenced to hard labor for life in Germany. At + four o'clock all the houses in the city will be searched. Every + soldier found will be shot. Ten hostages will be taken for each + street and held by German guards. If there is any trouble in any + street, the hostages for that street will be shot. Any crime + against the German army may bring about the destruction of the + entire city and every one in it. + +Frightfulness was taught not only to officers and soldiers but to all +the German people, and especially to the children in the schools. One +of the selections read and recited, even in the primary schools of +Germany before the war, was "The Hymn of Hate" by a German poet, which +in English prose is in substance as follows: + + Hate! Germany! hate! Cut the throats of your hordes of enemies. + Put on your armor and with your bayonets pierce the heart of + every one of them. Take no prisoners. Strike them dead. Change + their fertile lands into deserts. Hate! Germany! hate! Victory + will come from your rage and hate. Break the skulls of your + enemies with blows from your axes and the butts of your guns. + They are timid, cowardly beasts. They are not men. Let your + mailed fist execute the judgment of God. + +A German general told Edith Cavell, when she was pleading in behalf of +some homeless Belgian women and children, "Pity is a waste of +feeling--a moral parasite injurious to the health." + +The whole idea of the German War Book is given in the statement made by +a great German: + +"True strategy means to hit your enemy and to hit him hard, to inflict +on the inhabitants of invaded towns the greatest possible amount of +suffering, so that they shall become tired of the struggle and cry for +peace. You must leave the people of the country through which you march +only their eyes to weep with." + +And these rules and teachings came at a time when nations were seeking +to do away with war forever and were agreeing upon rules that, if war +should come, would make it less horrible and that would in particular +spare non-combatants. + +A German soldier wrote to the American minister, Mr. Gerard, early in +the war while Mr. Gerard was still in Berlin: + + To the American Government, Washington, U.S.A.: + + Englishmen who have surrendered are shot down in small groups. + With the French one is more considerate. I ask whether men let + themselves be taken prisoner in order to be disarmed and shot + down afterwards? Is that chivalry in battle? + + It is no longer a secret among the people; one hears everywhere + that few prisoners are taken; they are shot down in small + groups. They say navely: "We don't want any unnecessary mouths + to feed. Where there is no one to enter complaint, there is no + judge." Is there, then, no power in the world which can put an + end to these murders and rescue the victims? Where is + Christianity? Where is right? Might is right. + + A Soldier and a Man Who Is No Barbarian. + +On October 25, 1914, a small party of German soldiers succeeded in +entering Dixmude and capturing the commander of the French marines +defending the town, and some of his men. It was a dark night and +raining hard, and although the Germans had been able to get through the +lines into the city and to capture Commander Jeanniot and a few of his +men, they were unable to find a way back through the lines and out of +the city. They wandered about in the rain and mud for nearly four +hours, driving the captured French marines before them with the butts +of their rifles. Day was dawning and there was no chance for them to +escape in a body in the daytime. So the officers halted them behind a +hedge and directed them to scatter. + +Then the question arose as to what they should do with their prisoners. +The majority voted that they should be put to death, and at a sign from +their leader, the Boches knelt and opened fire upon the prisoners, who +knew nothing of what was being planned. They were all killed, including +the commander, except one, who was hit only in the shoulder. Before the +Germans could put him to death, a party of French marines discovered +them. The whole band was taken prisoner and brought before the Admiral, +who sentenced three of the leaders to be executed. To have killed them +all when they were taken would have seemed only too good for them, but +the French are not a barbarian but a law-abiding people. + +Germany believes she can win in war by making it so "frightful" that +none but Germans can be strong enough to endure it. So among other +atrocities, Germany has used the red cross on hospitals and hospital +ships as a mark to guide them in dropping bombs and in aiming +torpedoes. The Roumanian Minister of the Interior stated to the United +States government the following: + + Because of the action of Germany and her allies, it has been + found advisable to remove the Red Cross conspicuously painted on + the top of the hospital buildings, because it served as a + special mark for the bombs, etc., from aeroplanes. + +Germany also believes, without doubt, that killing wounded who may +otherwise recover and go back into service will reduce the man power of +her enemies, who, she thinks, are too Christianlike, too merciful, too +faithful to their agreements to do likewise. Bombing hospitals and +killing nurses and doctors will also make it likely that more wounded +will die through lack of care and treatment. She knows that every +hospital ship sunk means another must be taken to replace it from those +carrying food or troops. + +There is no mistake about her intentions, although she did at first +offer lying excuses. She has dropped "flares," great burning torches, +at night to be sure that the red cross was there and then dropped her +bombs upon the hospital. She has killed many non-combatants in this +way. + +Germany has torpedoed, during the first four years of the war, hospital +ships with the big red crosses painted on their sides and all lights +burning at night (to show they were hospital ships), amounting to a +total tonnage of over 200,000 tons. The torpedo that sank the _Rewa_ +without warning hit the German target, the red cross, exactly. Germany +torpedoed the hospital ship _Britannic_, 50,000 tons, the largest +British ship afloat, partly, without doubt, so that she could not +compete with German ships after the war. + +The first hospital ship destroyed by the Huns was the _Portugal_, sunk +by a German submarine while she was lying at anchor in the Black Sea. +One of the survivors described the sinking as follows: + + The _Portugal_ was sinking at the place where she was broken in + two, her stern and stem going up higher all the time as she + settled amidships. All around me unfortunate Sisters of Mercy + were screaming for help. The deck became more down-sloping every + minute and I rolled off into the water between the two halves of + the sinking steamer. It so happened that the disturbance of the + water somewhat abated and I succeeded in swimming up again. I + glanced around. The _Portugal_ was no more. Nothing but broken + pieces of wreck, boxes which had contained medicaments, + materials for dressings, and provisions, were floating about. + Everywhere I could see the heads and arms of people battling + with the waves, and their shrieks for help were frightful. The + hospital ship _Portugal_ was painted white, with a red border + all around. The funnels were white with red crosses and a Red + Cross flag was on the mast. These distinguishing signs were + plainly visible and there can be no doubt whatever that they + could be perfectly well seen by the men in the submarine. The + conduct of the submarine proves that the men in it knew that + they had to do with a hospital ship. The fact of the submarine's + having moved so slowly shows the enemy was conscious of being + quite out of danger. + +Eighty-five lives were lost, including twenty-one nuns who were serving +as nurses. + +Notwithstanding the fact that, according to the Germans, God is on +their side, some power for good saved most of those on the hospital +ship _Asturias_. She did not sink when struck by the torpedo, but she +was rendered helpless by the loss of her rudder. There was no sandy +beach in sight, so the captain tried to guide her near the rocky shore +where, if she sank, perhaps some might reach land, but he found he +could not guide the ship. It was dark night, but guided by some unseen +power she dodged a reef upon which she would have gone to pieces, +rounded a headland, and beached herself upon the only piece of sandy +shore in that vicinity. + +The English hospital ship _Lanfranc_ was carrying many wounded Germans +to England when she was torpedoed. An English officer gave the +following vivid description to a London daily paper: + + The _Lanfranc_ was attacked by a submarine about 7:30 Tuesday + evening just as we had finished dinner. A few of us were + strolling to and fro on the deck when there was a crash which + shook the liner violently. This was followed by an explosion, + and glass and splinters of wood flew in all directions. I had a + narrow escape from being pitched overboard and only regained my + feet with difficulty. In a few minutes the engine had stopped + and the _Lanfranc_ appeared to be sinking rapidly, but to our + surprise she steadied herself and after a while remained + perfectly motionless. We had on board nearly 200 wounded + prisoners belonging to the Prussian Guard, and about twice as + many British wounded, many being very bad cases. The moment the + torpedo struck the _Lanfranc_, many of the slightly wounded + Prussians made a mad rush for the lifeboats. One of their + officers came up to a boat close to which I was standing. I + shouted to him to go back, whereupon he stood and scowled. "You + must save us," he begged. I told him to wait his turn. + + Meanwhile the crew and the staff had gone to their posts. The + stretcher cases were brought on deck as quickly as possible and + the first boats were lowered without delay. Help had been + summoned, and many vessels were hurrying to our assistance. In + these moments, while wounded Tommies--many of them as helpless + as little children--lay in their cots unaided, the Prussian + morale dropped to zero. They made another crazy effort to get + into a lifeboat. They managed to crowd into one, but no sooner + had it been lowered than it toppled over. The Prussians were + thrown into the water, and they fought each other in order to + reach another boat containing a number of gravely wounded + soldiers. + + The behavior of our own lads I shall never forget. Crippled as + many of them were, they tried to stand at attention while the + more serious cases were being looked after. And those who could + lend a hand hurried below to help in saving friend or enemy. I + have never seen so many individual illustrations of genuine + chivalry and comradeship. One man I saw had had a leg severed + and his head was heavily bandaged. He was lifting himself up a + staircase by the hands and was just as keen on summoning help + for Fritz as on saving himself. He whistled to a mate to come + and aid a Prussian who was unable to move owing to internal + injuries. Another Tommy limped painfully along with a Prussian + officer on his arm, and helped the latter to a boat. It is + impossible to give adequate praise to the crew and staff. They + were all heroes. They remained at their posts until the last man + had been taken off, and some of them took off articles of their + clothing and threw them into the lifeboats for the benefit of + those who were in need of warm clothing. The same spirit + manifested itself as we moved away from the scene of outrage. I + saw a sergeant take his tunic off and make a pillow of it for a + wounded German. There was a private who had his arms around an + enemy, trying hard to make the best of an uncomfortable resting + place. + + In the midst of all this tragedy the element of comedy was not + wanting. A cockney lad struck up a ditty, and the boat's company + joined in the chorus of Raymond Hitchcock's "All Dressed Up and + Nowheres to Go." Then we had "Take Me Back to Blighty," and as + a French vessel came along to our rescue, the boys sang "Pack Up + Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile." The + French displayed unforgettable hospitality. As soon as they took + our wounded on board, they improvised beds and stripped + themselves almost bare that English and German alike might be + comfortable. + +The destruction of the _Llandovery Castle_ was as bad or worse than +those already described. For a time the Huns ceased to sink hospital +ships running from France to England, but when they learned, through +spies, that the _Warilda_ carried no Germans, she was sunk early in +August, 1918, with a loss of one hundred and twenty-three doctors, +nurses, and wounded. After the _Llandovery Castle_, after the Warilda, +there could be no further German pretense that Germany was waging any +other than a barbarian war. + +Such inhumanity seems like the work of madmen. Is the Kaiser insane? +Are the German war leaders insane? Or are the German people, all, +entirely different from the people we consider sane? + +Let us remember that a Roman writer said many centuries ago, "Whom the +gods would destroy, they first make mad." + +When the Huns are losing, they show themselves at their very worst. +When they were winning in the first stages of the war, they committed +deeds blacker than those of the barbarians who sacked Rome, but after +the tide turned against them, then they became even worse and began to +use the red cross as a target in bombing hospitals and torpedoing +hospital ships. + +Moreover, at the Second Battle of the Marne, orders were issued to the +German soldiers, who were being driven back with great loss, that +seemed too inhuman even for the modern Huns. They were as follows: +"Henceforth the enemy is not to be allowed to recover his dead and +wounded except behind his own position, even under the Red Cross flag. +If stretcher bearers go out, a warning shot is to be fired. If no +attention is paid to the shot, the enemy must be thoroughly engaged at +once." + +As the _Philadelphia Public Ledger_ says, "This is typical of Prussian +militarism. It is precisely the sort of thing that our young men have +sailed away across the Atlantic to uproot and finally destroy." + + * * * * * + + We do pray for mercy; + And that same prayer doth teach us all to render + The deeds of mercy. + + SHAKESPEARE. + + + + +"THEY SHALL NOT PASS" + + +The caves described in the Arabian Nights are not more wonderful than +the rock citadel of Verdun; in many ways they are not so marvelous. The +old citadel is now like a deserted cave, but a cave lighted by +electricity and with a passenger elevator to carry one from the lowest +floor to the top of the rock, a hundred feet above. In former wars it +was a hive of soldiers. + +Blasted out of the solid rock-hill are rooms, great halls, passages, +hospitals, storerooms, and barracks. The heaviest shells of the enemy +fall harmless from the natural rock. Here, one would think, a few +soldiers could hold the town and the Meuse valley against greatly +superior numbers. And this would be true if it were not for the fact +that modern long-range guns can be placed by an enemy on the +surrounding hills, once they have won them, and prevent food, +ammunition, or supplies being brought to the citadel. Leaving these +guns with enough men to work them, the great body of the enemy could +then advance towards Paris, for the Meuse valley at Verdun is the +highway from Metz to Paris. + +The French generals realized long ago that the city and the valley +could not, because of the increased power of big guns, be defended from +the citadel. So they built great forts several miles from the city upon +the hills which surrounded it, to halt the Germans when they should +advance, as France knew they would when they were ready. + +For an army to get from Germany into France and to the plains east of +Paris, it was necessary to pass down the valley of the Meuse and +through Verdun, and for this reason France spent vast sums of money to +make these forts impregnable. + +After the opening weeks of the World War had shown how easy it was for +the German big guns to destroy the finest modern forts, like those at +Lige, Namur, and Antwerp, the French command removed the garrisons +from the forts protecting Verdun and placed them in trenches farther +away from the city and the citadel, upon the second range of hills. + +There was another way for the Germans to reach the plains of Champagne +and of Chlons, which by treaty they had agreed not to use. That way +was through Belgium. When the Huns declared this treaty only "a scrap +of paper" to be torn up whenever their plans required it, and, to the +surprise of all honorable nations, went through Belgium, they were soon +able to reach the plains east and north of Paris, and Verdun ceased to +be a key position. Verdun was about one hundred and fifty miles from +Paris, and the Germans were already less than half that distance from +the city. So when it was learned that the enemy had determined to +capture Verdun, the forts surrounding it, and the highway through the +river valley, the French command decided it was not worth holding at +the cost in lives that would be necessary. To capture it would help the +Germans very little, and to retire from it would greatly improve the +French lines. + +The Germans doubtless realized that this would be the decision of the +French and that they would have an easy, an almost bloodless, victory. +They also knew that all Germans and all Frenchmen had for centuries +looked upon Verdun as a second Gibraltar and as one of the chief +defenses of Paris and northern France, one which had been made--as the +French thought--impregnable by the expenditure of vast sums of money. +For this reason the Germans believed its loss would be taken as a +terrible blow by the French people, and would be considered by the +German populace as the greatest victory of the war. They hoped it might +be the last straw, or one of the last, that would break the backbone of +the French resistance. In order to give credit for this great victory +to their future Kaiser, the armies of the Crown Prince were selected +for the easy task. + +The French command, it is said, had already issued the first orders +for the retreat to stronger positions, when the French civic leaders +realized Germany's game by which she hoped to win a great moral victory +and to add to the hopes and courage of the German people; and although +General Joffre believed it was a mistake, the French decided to remain +just where they were. + +The Germans were so sure of everything going as they had planned that +they had advertised their coming victory in every corner of Germany and +even in the Allied countries. When they found they were to be opposed, +they brought up larger forces and when these were not strong enough to +win, they increased them, until the Battle of Verdun, in which the +Germans lost nearly half a million men in killed, wounded, and +prisoners, became probably the greatest battle in the history of the +world. It continued for six months. + +Is it not strange that this, the greatest of all battles, was not a +conflict waged to secure some territory, some river crossing, some +fort, or some city absolutely necessary to win further progress, but a +battle to add strength to the German mind and soul and to weaken the +spirit of the French? Think of these modern Huns, who believe in the +force of might and of material things, fighting for a victory over the +spirit, which is never really broken by such things and is never +_conquered_ by them, but is to be won only by justice, mercy, +friendship, love, and other spiritual forces. + +And the French spirit did not flinch or weaken. The French people and +the French soldiers said, "They shall not pass," and they did not pass. +The Germans brought their big guns near enough to destroy the city, but +the citadel laughed at them. They captured Fort Douaumont and Fort +Vaux, but later had to give them up to the French. + +All of Hunland rejoiced when the Brandenburgers captured Fort +Douaumont, and the disappointment of the French people made every one +realize that to have given up the city and the citadel without a fight, +even though it was wise from a military point of view, would have been +a grave mistake. But before the long battle was over, the French +soldiers made one of their most remarkable charges back of waves of +shell fire and swept the Germans from the hill upon which the fort was +built. They recaptured the fort, taking six thousand prisoners, and +sent thrills and cheers through France and the civilized world. + +No, they did not pass. The soul of France with her flaming sword stood +in the way. The Huns were trained to fight things that they could see, +that they could touch, that they could measure, and especially things +that they could frighten and kill. The soul of France they could not +see, just as they could not, at the opening of the war, see or +understand the soul of Belgium, and just as they did not believe in or +comprehend the soul of America, later. But the soul of France barred +their way and they did not pass, for they could neither frighten her +nor kill her. + + For though the giant ages heave the hill + And break the shore, and evermore + Make and break and work their will; + Though world on world in myriad myriads roll + Round us, each with different powers + And other forms of life than ours, + What know we greater than the soul? + + * * * * * + +The right is more precious than peace. We shall fight for the things +which we have always carried nearest our hearts. To such a task we +dedicate our lives. + + WOODROW WILSON, 1917. + + + + +VERDUN + + + She is a wall of brass; + You shall not pass! You shall not pass! + Spring up like summer grass, + Surge at her, mass on mass, + Still shall you break like glass, + Splinter and break like shivered glass, + But pass? + You shall not pass! + Germans, you shall not, shall not pass! + God's hand has written on the wall of brass-- + You shall not pass! You shall not pass! + + The valleys are quaking, + The torn hills are shaking, + The earth and the sky seem breaking. + But unbroken, undoubting, a wonder and sign, + She stands, France stands, and still holds to the line. + She counts her wounded and her dead; + You shall not pass! + She sets her teeth, she bows her head; + You shall not pass! + Till the last soul in the fierce line has fled, + You shall not pass! + + Help France? Help France? + Who would not, thanking God for this great chance, + Stretch out his hands and run to succor France? + + HAROLD BEGBIE. + + + + +THE BEAST IN MAN + + +A German leader once said, "The oldest right in the world is the right +of the strongest." This is true and will always continue to be true as +long as the world is made up only of inanimate matter and lifeless +forces and of living, thinking beings who consider "the strongest" as +meaning the powers or things that can cause the greatest destruction +and the most terrible evil. The beasts recognize these as the +strongest, and without question admit that the oldest right in the +world is the chief right in the world. + +But as men have become civilized, they have come to fear destruction, +and even the loss of life, less and less, and have learned to feel the +strength of beauty, truth, justice, mercy, purity, and innocence. So it +comes to pass that Robert Burns mourns when his plow turns under a +mountain daisy or destroys the home of a field mouse. Because he feels +the influence of the innocent and the helpless, the "wee, modest, +crimson-tipped flower" and the "wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous +beastie," he gives us two of the most beautiful poems in the English +language, poems that, by the power of their tenderness, truth, and +beauty, have brought tears to the eyes of many a strong, brave man who +feared no enemy. + +Such was the power of Joan of Arc when she led the French soldiers to +battle and to victory,--simply the power of her belief and her faith, +for she was a simple, untrained peasant girl, knowing nothing of how +battles are to be won. + +Such is the power of the English nurse, Edith Cavell, executed by the +Germans as a spy, because she helped English and Belgians to escape +from the German horrors in Belgium by crossing the line into Holland. + +Such is the power of the murdered mothers and children on the +_Lusitania_, the memory of whose wrongs cause English and American +soldiers to go "over the top," crying "Lusitania! Lusitania!" + +Such is the power of undaunted Cardinal Mercier, who in the very midst +of German officers and troops, denounces German atrocities in Belgium, +and yet is himself untouched. + +The exercise of the right of the strongest, the _right_ which comes +through _might_, brings about war. General Sherman, who knew the +terrors of war from what he saw in our Civil War, said, "War is hell." +He could not describe its horrors and so he used the one word that +means to most people the most horrible state and place in which human +beings can suffer. For many years most men have realized that war is +the most dreadful scourge of the human race, and that it should be +abolished. But as is always the case, men cannot agree,--which is, of +course, the chief reason why there are wars. In the face of terrible +calamities, disasters, and great crises, men will agree. Perhaps the +World War will prove the great disaster that will lead men to do away +forever with war. + +For twenty-five years before the world's peace was rudely broken by the +ambitions of Germany, the people of other countries had been urgently +seeking some means of doing away with war. Peace societies had been +organized and wealthy men had donated money to be used in efforts to +secure the permanent peace of the world. A Peace Palace had been +erected at The Hague from funds donated by the American +multi-millionaire, Andrew Carnegie, who had also set aside a fund of +$10,000,000 for the purpose of keeping the world at peace. The Nobel +prize of $40,000 was awarded annually to the person anywhere in the +world who had done the most for peace. Theodore Roosevelt, while +President, won this by settling the Russian-Japanese War. The Tsar of +Russia had proposed at one of the conferences of nations held at the +Peace Palace that the nations should gradually do away with military +preparations. We can see now why all these efforts failed. Germany had +her mind and heart set on war and on conquering the world. + +Most men agree that war is unnecessary, and before the German attack +upon Belgium and upon the liberty of the world, many leaders of thought +in other countries were sure a great war could never occur in modern +times. One group argued that its cost in money would be so great that +no nation could meet it for more than a few months. But the United +States is, in 1918, spending nearly $50,000,000 a day for war, and she +can continue to do so for some years, if necessary. The cost in dollars +will never prevent war nor make a great war a very brief one. + +But think of what the cost of the war for one year would accomplish if +spent for the purposes of peace, for construction instead of +destruction. Ten billion dollars, the approximate cost of the war for +the United States for the year 1918, if put at interest at four per +cent, would earn $400,000,000, or about the cost of the Panama Canal. +This interest would send 500,000 young men and women to college each +year, and pay all their necessary expenses. It would do away with all +the slums and poverty of our great cities. If the cost to one nation +for one year would, as a permanent fund, accomplish this, it is easy to +realize that the world could almost be made an ideal one in which to +live, if the money that all the nations spend upon the World War could +have been saved and made a permanent fund for the betterment of world +conditions. + +Another group said, "Modern science has made war so terrible and so +destructive that men will not take part in it, or if this is not true +now, it soon will be." When we think of what has occurred and is +occurring every day in the present war, this seems also unlikely. + +When we read of guns that will carry a shell weighing a ton for over +twenty-five miles which will, when it explodes, destroy everything +within an eighth of a mile, and of guns less destructive that will +carry over seventy-five miles, almost wholly destroying a church and +killing sixty-five men, women, and children; when we read of bombs +dropped from the sky, killing innocent women and children, hundreds of +miles from the field of battle; of the terrible work of poison gases +and of liquid fire; of battles above the clouds from which men fall to +death in blazing air-planes, and of battles beneath the waves in which +men sink in submarines to be suffocated to death; of an entire ridge +being undermined and blown up by tons of dynamite, with an explosion +heard nearly one hundred miles away and killing thousands: how can we +believe that war is likely soon to become so terrible that men will not +engage in it, if they are willing to do so now? Sir Gilbert Parker well +says: "Guns have been invented before which the stoutest fortresses +shrivel into fiery dust; shells destroy men in platoons, blow them to +pieces, bury them alive; death pours from the clouds and spouts upward +through the sea; motor-power hurls armies of men on points of attack in +masses never hitherto employed; concealment is made well nigh +impossible. These things, however, have but made war more difficult and +dreadful; they have not made it impossible. They have only succeeded in +plumbing profounder depths of human courage, and evoking higher +qualities of endurance than have ever been seen before." + +No, most people who are thinking about the subject to-day are agreed +that wars will not end because of the destructive power of men, but +through the constructive power of human feeling and intellect. When the +great majority of men recognize, as so many do now, that as the world +exists to-day, no nation can ever gain by a war of aggression, but that +the nation at war loses her best, her young and strong, and has left +only the old and defective who cannot fight, that she loses her +industrial and commercial prosperity as well, and through these losses +loses more than she can ever gain by conquest; when all nations realize +that the destruction of great cathedrals like Rheims, of the beautiful +town hall at Lille, of the unique Cloth Market at Ypres, and of a +University like that of Louvain makes the whole world poorer beyond +measure, then will men agree that no small group of men, and no single +nation shall, in the future, be allowed to cause war; and then they +will organize some power strong enough to prevent war. + +Then will come the League of Nations to Enforce Peace, or the +Parliament of Man of which Tennyson wrote in "Locksley Hall" +seventy-five years ago. The poet seemed as in a vision to see the +present World War with its terrors and its battles in the air. Perhaps +his vision of the abolition of war and the federation of the world is +equally true. + + For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, + Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; + + Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails, + Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales; + + Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew + From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue; + + Far along the world-wide whisper of the south wind rushing warm, + With the standards of the peoples plunging through the thunder storm; + + Till the war drum throbb'd no longer, and the battle flags were furled + In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world. + + [Illustration: SIR DOUGLAS HAIG--IN COMMAND OF THE BRITISH ARMIES + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + + + + +WHEN GERMANY LOST THE WAR[4] + + +No man knows exactly when and where the three and twenty allies will +win the war, but all men know when and where Germany lost it. It was +four years ago this morning, at a point near Gemmenich, a village +southwest of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was then and there that the first gray +uniform crossed the frontier from Germany into Belgium. + +An hour before and it was not too late for Germany to win the war, or +at least to lose it with honor. An hour afterward, and Germany was +doomed. What has befallen her since that 4th of August, what will +befall her in the future, were predetermined from the fatal instant of +that summer morning when the first German soldier trod where Prussia +had promised he should never go. There is not a German killed to-day in +the flight to the Vesle whose fate was not written at Gemmenich. + +It was not merely that the invasion of a land guaranteed perpetual +neutrality brought Great Britain into the fight and turned into a world +war what Germany had hoped would be a small, swift, and easy campaign. +It was the exposure of Germany herself. Know of her what we may to-day, +we thought of her otherwise four years ago yesterday. She had thrown +about herself a mantle which hid the sword and the thick, studded +boots. She worked at science and played at art. She sang and thumped +the piano. She cleaned her streets and washed her children's faces. +Many persons in America and England believed that she was efficient and +that her very _verboten_ signs were guides to the ideal life. Even as +the Kaiser reviewed his armies he babbled of peace; peace, to believe +him, was the first object of his life. + +We do not know of any writer who has condensed the proof of Germany's +falsehood and cowardice into so few words as Von Bethmann-Hollweg, who, +as Chancellor of the Empire, spoke as follows to the Reichstag four +years ago this afternoon: + + Gentlemen, we are now acting in self-defence. Necessity knows no + law. Our troops have occupied Luxemburg and have possibly + already entered on Belgian soil. [The speaker knew that the + invasion had begun.] + + Gentlemen, that is a breach of international law. + + The French Government has notified Brussels that it would + respect Belgian neutrality as long as the adversary respected + it. But we know that France stood ready for an invasion. France + could wait, we could not. A French invasion on our flank and the + lower Rhine might have been disastrous. Thus we were forced to + ignore the rightful protests of the Governments of Luxemburg + and Belgium. The injustice--I speak openly--the injustice we + thereby commit we will try to make good as soon as our military + aims have been attained. He who is menaced as we are and is + fighting for his all, can only consider the one and best way to + strike. + +There stood the German Empire, intensively trained in the arts of war +for forty years, pleading cowardice in extenuation of her broken word. +"France could wait, we could not!" A brave man, Bethmann-Hollweg, +unless he knew before he spoke that the whole nation had sunk to the +immoral level of the cowards who invaded Belgium because they feared +that on a fair field France would have beaten them! It is curious that +in the whole record of German state-craft in the war, the Chancellor's +confession of his empire's degradations stands out almost like a clean +thing. + +The Chancellor did not deceive the people except in his implication +that France would have struck through Belgium if Germany had not. He +did not deceive himself, either. He knew the cowardice of Germany. It +is probable that he believed, as the Junkers believed, that England, +too, was a coward. Prince Lichnowsky had told them the truth about +England, but they had not believed. In the years of Kultur, they had +forgotten what honor was like. They chose to credit the stories that +England was torn with dissensions, threatened with rebellion in +Ireland and India, nervous from labor troubles, and not only physically +unprepared for war but mentally and morally unfit for war. Even the +telegram of Sir Edward Grey, communicated on the day of Belgium's +invasion, to the German Government by the British Ambassador at Berlin, +did not dispel the illusion about Great Britain: + + In view of the fact that Germany declined to give the same + assurance respecting Belgium as France gave last week in reply + to our request made simultaneously at Berlin and Paris, we must + repeat that request and ask that a satisfactory reply to it and + to my telegram of this morning be received here by 12 o'clock + to-night. If not, you are instructed to ask for your passports + and to say that His Majesty's Government feels bound to take all + steps in their power to uphold the neutrality of Belgium and the + observance of a treaty to which Germany is as much a party as + ourselves. + +Even that memorable document, we say, did not convince Germany that +common honor still lived across the Channel. The Foreign Secretary, Von +Jagow, a mere tool of the Kaiser, took it mechanically; but Von +Bethmann-Hollweg added to the sum of German cowardice. Brave as he had +been in the Reichstag, he whimpered to Sir Edward Goschen when he saw +that "12 o'clock to-night" on paper. This account of the conversation +is Goschen's, but the German Chancellor later confirmed the +Englishman's version: + + I found the Chancellor very agitated. His Excellency at once + began a harangue which lasted for about twenty minutes. He said + that the step taken by His Majesty's Government was terrible to + a degree; just for a word--"neutrality," a word which in war + time had so often been disregarded--just for a scrap of paper, + Great Britain was going to make war on a kindred nation who + desired nothing better than to be friends with her. + +When he added that it was a matter of "life and death" to Germany to +advance through Belgium, the British Ambassador replied that it was "a +matter of life and death for the honor of Great Britain that she should +keep her solid engagement to do her utmost to defend Belgium's +neutrality if attacked." Her utmost! Aye, she has done it! + +A last gasp from the German Chancellor: "But at what price will that +compact have been kept? Has the British Government thought of that?" +Sir Edward Goschen replied that "fear of consequences could hardly be +regarded as an excuse for breaking solemn engagements," but these words +were lost. The German Chancellor had abandoned himself to the +contemplation of the truth: that morning Germany had been beaten when a +soldier stepped across a line. How long the decision might be in +dispute Bethmann-Hollweg could not know, but he must have known that, +cheating, Germany had loaded the dice at the wrong side. If she had +struck fairly at France, England would have had to stand by, neutral. +The seas would be open to Germany. If France had violated Belgium's +neutrality--as Germany professed to believe she intended to do--England +would have attacked France, keeping the pledge made in the Treaty of +London. But now, because England weighed a promise and not the price of +keeping it, there could be no swift stroke at lone France, no dash +eastward to subdue Russia. To-day, when Germany sees how ripe Russia +was then for revolution, the remembrance of that 4th of August must be +the bitterest drop in the deep cup of her regret. + +The items at which we have glanced were not all or even the most +important acts of Germany's dawning tragedy. It was not merely that she +revealed herself to the world, but that she revealed herself to +herself. The moving picture of Kultur, of fake idealism, of humaneness, +which she had unreeled before our charitable eyes was stopped, and +stopped forever. The film, exposed momentarily to the flame of truth, +exploded and left on the screen the hideous picture of Germany as she +was. No more sham for a naked nation. In went the unmasked Prussian to +outrage and murder, to bind and burn. When a Government violated its +word to the world, why should the individual check his passions? All +the world, at first unbelieving, watched the procession of horror, and +then, against its wishes, against all the ingrained faith that the long +years had stored within the human breast, the world saw that it was +dealing with nothing less than a monster. + +England's day, this? Yes, and a glorious anniversary for her. She has +indeed kept her "solid engagement to do her utmost." In a million +graves are men of the British Empire who did not consider the price at +which the compact would be kept. Their lives for a scrap of paper--and +welcome! When we think that we are winning the war--and nobody denies +that it is American men and food and ships and guns that are winning it +now--let us look back to the 4th of August, 1914, and remember what +nation it was that stood between the beast and his prey, scorning all +his false offers of kindness to Belgium, his promises not to rob +France, and his hypocritical cry of "kindred nation" to the England he +really hated. + +But it is not alone England's day. It is the day of the opening of the +world's eyes to the criminality of Prussia. It is the anniversary of +Germany's loss of the war. We--America, France, England, Italy, and the +rest of us--will win it, but Germany lost it herself with the one +stroke at Gemmenich. She believed it a masterpiece of cunning. It was +the foul thrust of a coward and the deliberate mistake of a fool. + + _The New York Sun_, August 4, 1918. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] COURTESY OF _THE NEW YORK SUN_ + + + + +CARRY ON![5] + + + It's easy to fight when everything's right, + And you're mad with the thrill and the glory; + It's easy to cheer when victory's near, + And wallow in fields that are gory. + It's a different song when everything's wrong, + When you're feeling infernally mortal; + When it's ten against one, and hope there is none, + Buck up, little soldier, and chortle: + + Carry on! Carry on! + There isn't much punch in your blow. + You're glaring and staring and hitting out blind; + You're muddy and bloody, but never you mind. + Carry on! Carry on! + You haven't the ghost of a show. + It's looking like death, but while you've a breath, + Carry on, my son! Carry on! + + And so in the strife of the battle of life + It's easy to fight when you're winning; + It's easy to slave, and starve and be brave, + When the dawn of success is beginning. + But the man who can meet despair and defeat + With a cheer, there's the man of God's choosing; + The man who can fight to Heaven's own height + Is the man who can fight when he's losing. + + Carry on! Carry on! + Things never were looming so black. + But show that you haven't a cowardly streak, + And though you're unlucky you never are weak. + Carry on! Carry on! + Brace up for another attack. + + * * * * * + + Carry on, old man! Carry on! + + There are some who drift out in the deserts of doubt, + And some who in brutishness wallow; + There are others, I know, who in piety go + Because of a Heaven to follow. + But to labor with zest, and to give of your best, + For the sweetness and joy of the giving; + To help folks along with a hand and a song; + Why, there's the real sunshine of living. + + Carry on! Carry on! + Fight the good fight and true; + Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer; + There's big work to do, and that's why you are here. + Carry on! Carry on! + Let the world be the better for you; + And at last when you die, let this be your cry: + Carry on, my soul! Carry on! + + ROBERT SERVICE. + + [Illustration: A DOG DELIVERING A DISPATCH AT HEADQUARTERS + _Copyright by Western Newspaper Union Photo. Service_] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] COPYRIGHT, BY BARSE AND HOPKINS + + + + +WAR DOGS + + +The story of "The Animals Going to War" tells how, one by one, the wild +creatures, then the enemies of man, were made his friends and learned +to be his helpers. In the World War, the horse has borne man into the +thick of the conflict, the mule has drawn his big guns into place, and +the dog has wonderfully come to his aid, so that now, whenever the +"dogs of war" are let loose, the war dogs go with them. + +The Battle of Verdun had been raging for months; Fort Douaumont had +been taken, lost, and finally retaken by the French. The Germans still +poured against it a terrific rain of shot and shell, and within the +battered fortress the guns were disabled and the ammunition nearly +exhausted. Help was needed and needed at once. Long ago the wireless +had been shot to pieces, and the telephones had been destroyed. It was +sure death for a man to venture outside, let alone trying to reach the +lines behind, where he might secure help. + +Still the defenders stood firm, and in their hearts, if not with their +lips, over and over they repeated those magic words, "They shall not +pass!" But the shells continued to fall in their very midst, and unless +that battery could be silenced, the fort and all the men in it would be +lost. What could be done when no messenger could reach the lines +behind? + +Suddenly, as the men were straining their eyes almost hopelessly in the +direction of those lines, they saw a small, dark speck moving across +the fields, stopping only here and there behind a rock to take shelter +from the bursting shells. Now and then it dashed wildly over the open +fields. But ever straight on toward the fort it came. Swiftly the +entrance of the fort was flung open, and in dashed one of the faithful +dogs, unhurt. In the wallet, fastened to his collar, was found a +message telling that relief was coming. Strapped to his back was a tiny +pannier, inside of which were two frightened carrier pigeons. On a slip +of paper the commander quickly wrote his message: "Stop the German +battery on our left." Then adding any necessary facts as to pointing +the guns, he fastened the message to the trembling bird and let it +loose. Straight to its home, above shot and shell, flew the pigeon. In +a few moments the German battery was silenced, and Douaumont and the +brave defenders were saved. + +All along the lines, the dogs were busy bearing important messages back +and forth from one commander to another, and from one fort to another. +Zip, an English bulldog, ran two miles in heavy shell fire and +afterward had to go about with his jaw in splints; but he delivered his +message and seemed anxious to get well enough to carry another. One of +the other messenger dogs, it is said, carried orders almost +continuously for seventy-two hours, hardly stopping to eat or drink; +for no war dog would eat or drink anything given him by strangers. The +faithful animals were in danger of being taken prisoners, as well as of +being struck. Indeed, in one instance a heavy cannon rolled over upon a +big mastiff, pinning him there until help came. + +When the battle ceased, the dogs sprang from the trenches and searched +the fields and woods for wounded men. They could find them much more +quickly and with less danger of being seen than any Red Cross man. + +In former wars among civilized peoples, the firing has always been upon +armed forces, and the guns were silent after each battle to allow both +sides to find and care for the wounded soldiers in the field. The +Germans, however, have used the Red Cross doctors and stretcher-bearers +for targets, so that to send them out only means to add them to the +number wounded. But the dogs, creeping among the men, can seldom be +seen by the enemy, and besides are able to find the wounded quicker and +more easily. As soon as a dog finds an injured soldier, he seizes his +cap, a button, or a bit of his clothing, and runs back with it to the +doctor or a Red Cross nurse, for he will give it to no one else. The +stretcher-bearers then follow the dog and bring back the wounded man. +Often the man may lie in a dense thicket where no one would think to +look for him, but the dog, by his keen sense of smell or by hearing the +deep breaths or some slight sound made by the injured man, creeps in +and finds him. + +Sometimes, to attract the attention of an ambulance driver, the dogs +give several short, quick barks; but usually they do their work +silently, for if they bark, the enemy will fire. + +Many times a dog finds a man unable to get back to the lines, but not +so seriously wounded but that he can help himself somewhat. In such a +case, before running for help, the dog stands quiet, close to the +soldier, and allows him to take the flasks and first-aid bandages from +the wallet which is hung about the dog's neck or pinned to the blanket +on his back. + +Thus, by the help of these faithful friends, the lives of many hundreds +of men have been saved. Over one hundred were rescued in one night +after a battle. A big Newfoundland, named Napoleon, had the credit of +saving as many as twenty. One of the men, in speaking of him, said, +"Part of his tail has been blown away, and once he was left for dead in +No Man's Land, but he is still on the job, working for civilization." + +When not fighting or on watch, the men in the trenches enjoy the +company of the dogs and teach them to perform all sorts of tricks, the +fox terriers proving especially intelligent. They also do good work in +keeping the trenches free from rats. + +At night, a French sentinel sometimes crawls through the entanglements +on his way to a "listening post" out in No Man's Land. With him goes a +sentinel dog. The sentinel's purpose is to discover if the enemy are +getting ready for a surprise attack. Lying flat on the earth, or +crouching in a shell hole, he listens with bated breath for any +telltale noises. The dog, listening too, creeps along beside him, or +slinks silently out into the darkness. He can tell, when his master +cannot, if an enemy is abroad. Making no sound, giving no betraying +bark, as soon as he discovers the enemy the dog draws near to his +master, stands at attention, his ears pricked up, his hair bristling, +his tail wagging as he silently paws the ground or growls so low that +only his master can hear him. If the German soldier attempts to fight, +the dog springs at him and throws him to the ground. + +A group of soldiers were on watch one night in one of the front +trenches, when all of the dogs suddenly became uneasy, growling low, +and growing more and more excited. The soldiers knew their dogs and +trusted their warnings, so they telephoned back to the main trenches +for help. In less than half an hour, an attack was made from the +German trenches opposite. Meanwhile, however, renforcements had +arrived for the Allies, which sent the enemy back to his own lines +again. How the dogs knew so long before that the attack was coming, +whether they could have heard the first faint signs of preparation in +the enemy trenches, the soldiers could not tell. + +When a front line trench of the enemy is captured, it is the faithful +dogs who draw up the many cartloads of ammunition and supplies, and +some of the smaller guns. For this, the Belgian dogs are especially +well fitted. + +Happy as long as they can help in the fighting, restless and uneasy +whenever sent back to the hospitals for treatment or rest, these dogs +have shown the worth of all the training they have received, as well as +a great amount of natural intelligence. + +While Zip, Napoleon, Spot, Stop, Mignon, and Boue have been doing +their bit on the firing line, still others have been taking their +training in readiness to go to the front. And very hard training it is. +Sheep dogs, fox terriers, bulldogs, collies, St. Bernards, +Newfoundlands, Alaskan wolf dogs, mongrels,--all must be carefully +trained by expert dog trainers. + +First they must learn to distinguish between the uniform of their +country and that of the enemy. They must not bark, because then the +enemy will be sure to shoot. In carrying letters from post to post, +they must learn to recognize the posts by name. + + [Illustration: A FRENCH OFFICER AND HIS DOG BOTH WEARING + ANTI-GAS MASKS WHILE CROSSING A DANGEROUS ZONE IN FRANCE + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +About three months of training are necessary to teach the dogs to +travel as far as three kilometres in this work. Two of the dogs are put +into the care of two trainers, and taught to recognize both as their +masters, and to carry dispatches from one to the other. + +The dogs must be trained to obey implicitly. If the master stops +abruptly in his walk, the dog must do the same; if the trainer runs, +the dog must keep in perfect step, ready at a given signal to lie down, +or follow a scent, or find a wounded soldier. For many hours he must be +trained in jumping, because of the great heights over which he must +spring, carrying heavy weights in his mouth or upon his back or around +his neck. He must learn to make no sound except when ordered to do so, +to find objects which have been most skillfully hidden, to distinguish +between a dead man and one wounded and breathing, to deliver the token +of a wounded man only to the doctor or Red Cross nurse, to allow +nothing to hinder him from carrying out any task, to refuse food and +water from strangers, and to aid soldiers on the watch. These watch +dogs must learn to give a signal when they scent poison gas or hear the +enemy creeping up. And they must guard prisoners very carefully. + +Some dogs cannot learn all of these duties, and so specialists examine +every dog that is enlisted. There are tests for health, intelligence, +speed, quick tempers, and even tempers. When a dog has been in training +for several weeks, he is sometimes found in the end to be unfit for +service, and the trainer has to admit a new recruit in his place and +start all over again. Often a dog can do certain tasks much better than +others, and so each one is assigned to the kind of service which he can +do best. + +It is marvelous what great services these dogs have rendered in the +World War. The governments have recognized their worth, and societies +have been formed to train and protect them. The French people, in 1912, +organized the "Blue Cross." It is a Blue Cross officer who examines the +dogs and a Blue Cross doctor who gives first aid and orders an injured +dog to the hospital for further treatment. The Blue Cross also has been +at work in Italy. + +The American Red Cross Society has taken over the task of securing and +protecting dogs on the American front, but instead of the red cross, +the animals wear a red star, so that the field is blest with three red +symbols of mercy--the red cross, the red triangle, and the red star. +The number of dogs added to the war service during the first four years +of the war was about ten thousand on all fronts. + +Not only have dogs been provided by various societies, but many have +been given by private families. One elderly French father wrote to the +French War Department, "I already have three sons and a son-in-law with +the Colors; now I give up my dog, and 'Vive la France!'" + +The French government officials, as well as the various societies, have +shown their gratitude by awarding honors to the canine heroes. Many +have been mentioned in the orders for bravery and heroic conduct. +Several have been presented with gold collars. The French government +has even published a "Golden Book of Dogs," in which are recorded some +of the heroic deeds of these brave and faithful friends of man. One of +the dogs wearing a French medal of honor is a plucky fox terrier, who +is said to have saved one hundred fifty lives after the Battle of the +Marne. Boue, a fuzzy-haired, dirty, yellow-and-black, tailless little +fellow, is another hero, who has been cited three times for his +bravery. During a heavy action, when all the telephone wires had been +destroyed, Boue carried communications between a commandant and his +force, fulfilling his duty perfectly without allowing anything to +distract him. + +Shall we not change the old proverb from "As brave as a lion," to "As +brave as a dog"? + + + + +THE _BELGIAN PRINCE_ + + +The _Belgian Prince_ was a British cargo steamer. On a voyage from +Liverpool to Philadelphia, with Captain Hassan in command, she was, on +July 31, 1917, attacked and sunk by a German U-boat. For brutal +savagery and barbarism, the drowning of the crew of the _Belgian +Prince_ is one of the most astounding in the history of human warfare. +Captain Hassan was taken aboard the U-boat, and no further knowledge of +his fate has been received. The _Belgian Prince_ was a merchant ship, +not a warship in any sense of the word. + +The Germans evidently intended to sink her without a trace left behind +to tell the story, as their Minister to Argentina advised his +government to do with Argentine ships; but three members of her crew, +the chief engineer and two seamen, escaped as by a miracle. Their +stories are now among the records of the British Admiralty; they have +also been published in many books which have a place in thousands of +libraries, public and private, all over the world. How will the Hun, +when peace comes again, face his fellow-men? + +The story of the chief engineer, Thomas Bowman, is as follows: + + At 7:50 P.M. on the night of July 31, the _Belgian Prince_ was + traveling along at ten knots, when she was struck. The weather + was fine and the sea smooth. It was a clear day and just + beginning to darken. I was on the after deck of the ship, off + watch, taking a stroll and having a smoke. The donkeyman shouted + out, "Here's a torpedo coming." I turned and saw the wake on the + port about a hundred yards away. I yelled a warning, but the + words were no more than out of my mouth when we were hit. + + I was thrown on deck by a piece of spar, and when I recovered I + found the ship had a very heavy list to port and almost all the + crew had taken to the boats. I got into the starboard lifeboat, + which was my station. Until then I had seen no submarine, but + now heard it firing a machine gun at the other side of the ship. + With a larger gun it shot away the radio wires aloft so that we + could send out no S.O.S. messages. As soon as we had pulled away + from the ship I saw the U-boat, which promptly made toward our + own boats and hailed us in English, commanding us to come + alongside her. We were covered by their machine gun and + revolvers. We were in two lifeboats and the captain's dinghy. + + The submarine commander then asked for our captain and told him + to come on board, which he did. He was taken down inside the + submarine and we saw him no more. The rest of us, forty-three in + number, were then ordered to board the submarine and to line up + on deck. A German officer and several sailors were very foul and + abusive in their language. They ordered us, in English, to strip + off our life belts and overcoats and throw them down on the + deck. + + When this was done they proceeded to search us, making us hold + up our hands and threatening us with revolvers. These sailors, + while they passed along the deck and were searching us, + deliberately kicked most of the life belts overboard from where + we had dropped them. Beyond making us take off our life belts + and coats there was no interference with our clothing. They + robbed me of my seaman's discharge book and certificate, which + they threw overboard, but kept four one-pound notes. + + After searching us, the German sailors climbed into our + lifeboats and threw out the oars, gratings, thole-pins, and + baling tins. The provisions and compass they lugged aboard the + submarine. They then smashed our boats with axes so as to make + them useless, and cast them adrift. I saw all this done myself. + Several of the German sailors then got into our dinghy and rowed + to the _Belgian Prince_. These men must have been taken off + later, after they had ransacked the ship. + + The submarine then moved ahead for a distance of several miles. + I could not reckon it accurately because it was hard to judge + her speed. She then stopped, and after a moment or two I heard a + rushing sound like water pouring into the ballast tanks of the + submarine. + + "Look out for yourselves, boys," I shouted. "She is going down." + + The submarine then submerged, leaving all our crew in the water, + barring the captain, who had been taken below. We had no means + of escape but for those who had managed to retain their life + belts. I tried to jump clear, but was carried down with the + submarine, and when I came to the surface I could see only about + a dozen of our men left afloat, including a young lad named + Barnes, who was shouting for help. + + I swam toward him and found that he had a life belt on, but was + about paralyzed with cold and fear. I held him up during the + night. He became unconscious and died while I was holding him. + All this time I could hear no other men in the water. When dawn + broke I could see the _Belgian Prince_ about a mile and a half + away and still floating. I began to swim in her direction, but + had not gone far when I saw her blow up. + + I then drifted about in the life belt for an hour or two longer + and saw smoke on the horizon. This steamer was laying a course + straight for me, having seen the explosion of the _Belgian + Prince_. She proved to be a British naval vessel, which also + found the two other survivors in the water. We were taken to + port and got back our strength after a while. None of us had + given the submarine commander and crew any reason for their + behavior toward us. And I make this solemn declaration + conscientiously, believing it to be true. + +The two common sailors who survived were William Snell, a negro, of +Norfolk, Virginia, and George Silenski, a Russian. William Snell's +story is as follows: + + Two men of the submarine's crew stayed on top of the conning + tower with rifles in their hands which they kept trained on us. + Seven other Germans stood abreast of our line on the starboard + side of the boat, armed with automatic pistols. The captain of + the submarine, a blond man with blue eyes, was also on deck and + stood near the forward gun, giving orders to his crew in German, + and telling them what to do. Pretty soon he walked along in + front of the men of the _Belgian Prince_, asking them if they + had arms on them. He ordered us to take off our life belts and + throw them on deck, which we did. As they dropped at our feet, + he helped his sailors pick them up and sling them overboard. + + When I threw my belt down, I shoved it along on the deck with my + foot, and finally stood on it. As the commander walked along the + line, he huddled us together in a crowd and then went and pulled + the plugs out of our lifeboats, which were lying on the + starboard side of the submarine. When he went back to the + conning tower, I quickly picked up my belt and hid it under a + big, loose oilskin which I was wearing when I left the _Belgian + Prince_. The Germans did not make me take it off when they + searched me. I hugged the life belt close to my breast with one + arm. + + When the commander returned to the conning tower, four German + sailors came on deck from below and got into our captain's small + boat, which was on the port side. The submarine then backed a + little, steamed ahead, and rammed and smashed one of our + lifeboats, which had been cast adrift. + + The four men who had jumped into our captain's boat now pulled + alongside the _Belgian Prince_. The submarine then got under way + and moved ahead at about nine knots, as near as I could guess, + leaving her four men aboard the _Belgian Prince_, and all of us, + except our skipper, huddled together on the forward deck, which + was almost awash. + + She steamed like this for some time, and then I noticed that the + water was rising slowly on the deck until it came up to my + ankles. I had also noticed, a little while before this, that the + conning tower was closed. The water kept on rising around my + legs, and when it got almost up to my knees I pulled out my life + belt, threw it over my shoulders, and jumped overboard. The + other men didn't seem to know what was going to happen. Some of + them were saying, "I wonder if they mean to drown us." + + About ten seconds after I had jumped, I heard a suction as of a + vessel sinking and the submarine had submerged entirely, leaving + the crew of the _Belgian Prince_ to struggle in the water. + + I began to swim toward our own ship which I could see faintly in + the distance, it being not very dark in that latitude until late + in the evening. The water was not cold, like the winter time, + and I was not badly chilled, but swam and floated all night, on + my back and in other positions. One of our crew, who had no + life belt, kept about five yards from me for half an hour after + the submarine submerged. Then he became exhausted and sank. I + could hear many other cries for help, but I could not see the + men. + + When day came, there were lots of bodies of old shipmates + floating around me. Then about five o'clock, as near as I can + judge, I made out the _Belgian Prince_ and four men coming over + the side. They had been lowering some stuff into a boat. I cried + out, "Help, help!" but they paid no attention to me. + + Then the submarine came to the surface and the four sailors + hoisted their stuff out of the rowboat and were taken aboard. + Ten minutes later the submarine submerged. Then there was a + great explosion as the _Belgian Prince_ broke in two and sank. + Soon I saw a vessel approaching and she passed me, but turned + and came back just in time. I was all in. It was a British + patrol steamer, and as soon as I came to, I made a full report + to the captain of the loss of the _Belgian Prince_ and the + drowning of her crew. + +The Russian, in his story, tells of the taking away of the life belts +and the smashing of the lifeboats; of the crew of the _Belgian Prince_ +being left to sink or swim after the U-boat submerged--in all of these +details agreeing with the stories of the other two. And he adds: + + Then I swam toward the ship all night, although I had no life + belt or anything to support me. About five o'clock in the + morning I reached the _Belgian Prince_ and climbed on board. I + stayed there about an hour and got some dry clothes and put them + on. + + I saw the submarine come near the ship and three or four of her + men climbed on board. I hid and they did not notice me. They + had come to put bombs in the ship, so I jumped overboard from + the poop with a life belt on. The submarine fired two shells + into the ship to make her hurry up and sink. Then the Germans + steamed away. I climbed into our little boat which had been left + adrift and stayed there until a British patrol ship came along + and picked me up. + +Do you wonder that the members of the British Seamen's Union have taken +a pledge, "No peace until the sea is free from Hun outrages"; and that +they have declared a boycott on all German ships, cargoes, and sailors +for seven years after the war? Sailors of other nations are joining +with the British in this boycott. + + * * * * * + + The quality of mercy is not strain'd, + It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven + Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; + It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: + 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes + The thrond monarch better than his crown: + + * * * * * + + It is an attribute to God himself; + And earthly power doth then show likest God's + When mercy seasons justice. + + SHAKESPEARE. + + + + +DARING THE UNDARABLE + + We are thirty in the hands of Fate + And thirty-one with Death, our mate. + + +So sang the men who, with D'Annunzio, the Italian poet and hero, set +out "to dare the undarable." + +Little has yet been told of the deeds of the Italians in the World War, +but as they become known, the people of other nations realize that +Italy has really worked wonders in her almost superhuman attempts to +conquer, not only men, but nature as well. When the complete story is +written of her struggles with avalanches, snow, frost, and enemy +soldiers in the mountain passes, it will be one continuous record of +heroic deeds. + +D'Annunzio, although well over fifty years of age, and in most +countries judged too old for actual warfare, has been one of Italy's +most daring fighters. He was known throughout his native land by his +writings, and his fiery, passionate pleas published in all Italian +cities before Italy entered the war, helped his countrymen see the +right and decide to fight for it. + +As soon as Italy decided to join the Allies, D'Annunzio sought and was +granted a post of great danger. He became an aviator, in the same corps +with his son. + +Austria, whenever possible, sent aviators over Venice and other Italian +cities to drop bombs, although this warfare upon non-combatant women +and children was contrary to international law. The Austrians, like the +Germans, seemed to believe that it was wise for them to use any means +to win. + +In August, 1918, D'Annunzio commanded a flight of eight bombing +airplanes over Vienna. It was a long-distance record for a squadron of +planes. Leaving the Italian lines at half past five in the morning, +they flew to Vienna and back, over six hundred miles, reaching home in +about sixteen hours. It was necessary for them to fly very high, at +about fifteen thousand feet, to cross the Alps and to escape the +Austrian barrage. All the machines returned but one, which was obliged +to land on account of engine trouble. + +More than a million printed declarations, or statements, were dropped +on Vienna to inform the Austrians of the real state of affairs. In +Germany and Austria, the people were allowed to know only what their +rulers thought would be good for them to know. D'Annunzio wanted to +show them that Italians could drop bombs on Vienna if they desired to +do so, or thought it right to do so. + +The manifestoes, as they are called, were in German, and read as +follows: + + We Italians do not war upon women, children, and old men--but + only upon your blind, obstinate, and cruel rulers, who cannot + give you either peace or food, but try to keep you quiet with + hatred and falsehood. + + You are said to be intelligent. Why do you wear the uniform of + Prussia? It is suicide for you to continue the war. The victory + that would end the war promised to you by the Prussians is like + the wheat they promised you from Ukraine. You will all die while + waiting for it. People of Vienna, think for yourselves! Awake! + +In February, 1918, D'Annunzio with twenty-nine companions set out on +three small torpedo boats to destroy some Austrian warships discovered +by an Italian aviator to be lying hidden in the Bay of Buccari. To get +at them, it was necessary to steam past the Austrian fortifications. +Discovery meant death. + +It is not strange that D'Annunzio was the mastermind of this +expedition, for he loves the sea, as he says, with all the strength of +his soul. He was born on a yacht at sea and has written much about +ships and the ocean. He has taken as his motto three Latin words, +"Memento audere semper," which mean, "Remember always to dare." + +As they steam away from the Italian shores, D'Annunzio talks to his +brave companions. He says, "Sailors, companions, what we are about to +do is a task for silent men. Silence is our trusty helmsman. For that +reason I need not urge you with many words to be brave, for I know you +are already eager to match your courage against the unknown danger. If +I were to tell you where we are bound, you would hardly be able to keep +from dancing for joy. We are only a handful of men on three small +ships, but our hearts are stronger than the motors, and our wills can +go further than the torpedoes. + +"We carry with us, to leave for a souvenir for the enemy, three bottles +sealed and crowned with the flaming tricolor of Italy. We will leave +them to-night floating on the smooth surface of the bay amid the +wreckage of the vessels we have struck." + +Then D'Annunzio reads to them the letter which he has written and +inclosed in each bottle, ridiculing the Austrians because they have +hidden their ships safely behind the guns of the forts, and do not have +courage to come out in the open sea. He says the Italians are always +ready "to dare the undarable," and that they have come to make the +enemy whom they hate most of all, the laughingstock of the world. + +He goes on speaking to the sailors: "Because this thing that we attempt +is so dangerous, we have already conquered Fate. To-morrow your names +will be honored in all Italy, and will shine as golden as the torpedo. +Therefore, every one to-day must give all of himself and more than all +of himself, all of his strength and courage, and even more. Do you +swear it? Answer me." + +The sailors cry, "We swear it! Viva l'Italia!" + +And D'Annunzio answers, "Memento audere semper." + +They have been steaming for twenty-four hours and are now very near the +enemy's guns guarding the entrance to the bay. The very audacity of the +Italians seems to save them, for they steam on unchallenged, and when +near enough, discharge a torpedo at the giant Austrian dreadnought. The +ship is struck and all is excitement and confusion. Rockets are sent up +to alarm and inform the forts. The Italian torpedo boats turn for home. +D'Annunzio says, "The sky is starry, the sea is starry, and our hearts +are starry, too." + +One of their three ships is soon disabled and falls behind. The other +two turn back to help her, and this is what probably saves them all; +for the Austrian forts, seeing them sailing into the harbor, think they +are Austrian vessels and do not fire upon them. When they steam out of +the harbor, the forts think they are Austrian torpedo boats in pursuit +of the Italians who must have escaped in the darkness. As D'Annunzio +says, "Our very audacity has conquered Fate." + +They sank one of the largest of the Austrian dreadnoughts, and then +returned in safety to Italy. + +It remained, however, for another Italian naval officer to outdo those +who "dared the undarable" at Buccari. Lieutenant Luigi Rizzo, with two +small motor patrol boats, succeeded in sinking two huge dreadnoughts +protected by an escort of fast destroyers. His story of the encounter +is as follows: + + We were returning to our base just before dawn on July 10, 1918, + after a night of dull, monotonous work along the enemy's coast, + when I saw smoke coming from ships nearly two miles away. I + thought we had been discovered and were being pursued. The only + way I could know what we had to contend with was to get nearer + the enemy, so I turned the two boats in my command toward the + distant smoke. + + Soon I discovered that it was two of Austria's largest + dreadnoughts protected by a great convoy of destroyers. + Evidently because we were so small, we had not been seen in the + darkness; and although we were poorly armed, with only two large + torpedoes for each of our two boats and eight smaller ones to + throw by hand, we crept ahead until we were inside the line of + the destroyers, and slowly and quietly approaching the + dreadnoughts. I headed for one of them which proved to be the + _St. Stephen_, and Lieutenant Aonzo, in charge of the other + boat, made for the other, the _Prince Eugene_. + + Then the watch on the dreadnoughts discovered us and began to + fire at us with their small guns. How we escaped destruction is + a miracle. Lieutenant Aonzo sent his first torpedo, and missed; + but the second struck the giant fairly. Both of my torpedoes + struck the _St. Stephen_. + + After that all was confusion and excitement. We were fired upon + and encircled by a muddled crowd of destroyers. I turned my boat + to escape. A destroyer stood directly in my way and I veered off + and almost touched the bow of the sinking _St. Stephen_ in + passing. The destroyers gave their attention to me and this + allowed Lieutenant Aonzo to escape. + + I saw that I would soon be overtaken, so I sent two torpedoes at + the nearest destroyer. The first missed, but the second hit the + mark. There was a tremendous explosion. The destroyer wobbled + and began to turn over. I put on all power and escaped in the + darkness. + + The whole thing did not take over fifteen minutes. When we were + sure of our escape, the five boys of my crew went nearly mad + with joy, hugging, cheering, kissing, and crying in their + excitement at what we had done. They hoisted our largest flag + and trimmed our boat with bunting. A short way from us we could + see that Lieutenant Aonzo was doing the same. + + We knew the reception we would have when those at home learned + the story, but we did not expect so much. The King decorated and + honored us, the Admiralty gave us prize money, and the people + added their contributions to it, for they declared we doubtless + saved the city of Ancona from bombardment. + +Lieutenant Rizzo was promoted to the rank of Commandant although not +yet thirty years of age. + +The _St. Stephen_ sank where she was torpedoed. The _Prince Eugene_ was +able to make for home, but sank before she reached there, a short way +from the Austrian coast. At the beginning of 1918, Austria had four of +these giant dreadnoughts; on July 11, she had but one still floating. + + + + +KILLING THE SOUL + + +As the centuries pass, the greatest glory of any nation, its highest +satisfaction and pride, is in the works of art which it possesses. In +each country there are works of art which have been preserved through +many generations. They are the great inheritance of all the past ages. +Every nation prizes this inheritance and wishes to hold it in +safekeeping for still another generation; for into these creations of +genius, men have put their souls. + +If a famous inventor of machinery dies and the particular machine which +he made is destroyed, there are yet other machines left, which have +been made after his pattern, usually much better than the first one +which he constructed. + +While steamboats, railways, telegraphs, and automobiles are very +useful, they are not so mysterious and individual but that they may be +exactly copied and many, many duplicates be made and used by every +country under the sun. + +If all the music of the great composer Beethoven should be destroyed so +that no copy remained in the world, there perhaps would be some master +musicians of to-day who could remember and write down the notes, and so +reproduce the wonderful compositions once more. + +But there have been artists who have seen visions and dreamed dreams of +God and heaven and the best and happiest things they had found in life. +Such a one, with the power of his great genius, has made the dream into +a picture, a painting, a statue, or a wonderful building, which no +other person in the world is able to copy exactly. Indeed, there are +many half-finished works which no artist, however great, has been able +to complete. The creator has put into the work his soul, the best of +all he thought and knew. So when many artists with their many dreams +brought their finest works together into one place, it was certain that +forever that place would be cherished and the wonder of it would belong +to all people everywhere. While the artists have died long ago, their +spirits, their very souls, seem alive to-day in the beautiful art works +which they have left. It is for this reason that we speak of great +artists who lived eight or nine hundred years ago, as if they were +still living to-day, for their souls are alive in what they so +wonderfully made. Those who look upon these works are mysteriously +inspired to live better and happier lives themselves. + + [Illustration: RHEIMS CATHEDRAL] + +The loveliest art works in France are its Gothic cathedrals, and of +them all, the Cathedral at Rheims was probably the most wonderful. No +monument of ancient or modern times is more widely known to the world. +It was built in the Middle Ages and expressed all the aspiration and +faith of the people of that time. For seven hundred years it has been +cherished for its great beauty, for the memory of the men who made it +so beautiful, and for the sacred services which have been held in it. +All the kings of France, except six, were crowned in it. One of the +most striking services was the coronation of Charles VII, while Joan of +Arc stood beside him with the sacred banner in her hands. + +The cathedral held the works of many ancient artists. It was especially +famous for its rose window, in which the figures of prophets and +martyrs were glorified by the afternoon sun. Beneath the window was a +magnificent gallery. Statues of angels, a beautiful statue of Christ, +and one of the Madonna were to be found in this wonderful building. The +stained glass windows were all very beautiful. Even the bells in the +tower were famous. + +With the excuse that the French were using the great towers of the old +cathedral as observation posts, the Germans bombarded and destroyed the +church. The roof was battered in and burned, the stained glass windows +broken, the famous bells pounded into a shapeless mass of metal, and +the wonderful statues and decorations hopelessly destroyed. Only the +statue of Joan of Arc, in front of the cathedral, remained uninjured, +as though to say, "I am the soul of France. You cannot injure or kill +me." Afterwards the Germans bombarded the church a second time, +attempting to tear down even the walls that were still standing. + +Even savages in war respect sacred places, but the Germans deliberately +aimed their guns at them. No excuse can ever be accepted by the +civilized world for this deliberate destruction, and certainly the +excuse cannot be accepted by military men that the act was due to bad +marksmanship. + +Other ancient churches were horribly damaged. The Germans stabled their +horses in them, broke down the candelabra and statues, and carried away +many valuable relics. + +The burning of the University buildings at Louvain completely destroyed +the treasures that had been preserved for centuries. Priceless +manuscripts, paintings that can never be replaced, and valuable books +in rare bindings were lost to the world. + +The Germans scornfully but ignorantly declared, "Why should we care if +every monument in the world is destroyed? We can build better ones." +But the German idea of beauty is great strength and huge size. Their +own public buildings and statues are often horrible in color, immense +and awkward in appearance. They give people the impression of a +fearsome brute spreading himself out before them. With few exceptions, +there are no dainty figures and designs, nor any beautiful thoughts and +feelings, as shown in the work of real artists. + +The old cathedral at Rheims can never be restored. No one can ever +bring back the old beauty and color; no one can revive those statues +and paintings so that ever again they will seem to breathe forth the +soul of the artists who fashioned them seven hundred years ago. The +walls may be rebuilt, and artists of tomorrow may beautify them, but +the spirit of the great men of the Middle Ages is gone--it has fled +from the place forever. Thus the Germans, not content with killing the +bodies of men, have in this way killed the souls of some of the +greatest of the geniuses of the past. How can she pay the damage, or +meet a fitting punishment? + + * * * * * + +What a peerless jewel was this cathedral, more beautiful even than +Notre Dame in Paris, more open to the light, more ethereal, more +soaringly uplifted with its columns like long reeds surprisingly +fragile considering the weight they bear, a miracle of the religious +art of France, a masterpiece which the faith of our ancestors had +called into being in all its mystic purity. + + PIERRE LOTI. + + + + +THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION + + +The controller, as he is called on the Siberian railroad, was passing +through the cars to see that every passenger had a ticket. He did not +notice the _mooshik_, which is what the Russian peasant is called in +his own language, hiding under one of the car seats with a large bundle +in front of him; or if he saw him, he passed on without seeming to have +done so. + +The _mooshik_ had given the brakeman a small sum of money, about fifty +cents in our currency, to let him hide there whenever the controller +came around, and in this way ride from Petrograd, or Petersburg as the +Bolsheviki renamed it after the revolution, to Vladivostok, a distance +of about four thousand miles. + +Now this _mooshik_ did not need to go to Vladivostok; but his Russian +nature made him _go_, go somewhere, it made little difference where. He +had been the year before to Jerusalem, but this was for religious +reasons, and now he must go again for no reason except that from within +came the impulse to travel, an impulse too strong to be denied. The +Russian government did not attempt to discourage the people from +traveling, but actually made it easier by fixing fares for long +distances at very small amounts. This traveler did not have even that +small amount, but he found it easy with a smaller one to bribe his way +in Russia. + +There is a society in Russia, whose members pledge themselves never to +remain more than three days in any one place; and it is said that +wealthy Russians, after their children have grown up, will often divide +their property and with staff in hand spend the remainder of their +lives in traveling from one holy place to another. + +A dream, a vision, leads the wealthy man to do this, and perhaps this +is true also of the _mooshik_; but it is as likely that he goes because +of the reality, the real people, the real village, the real home that +he leaves behind. He is uneducated, for only seven out of every hundred +can read and write in Russia. He lives in a shed as filthy and bad +smelling as a pig-pen, or rather he starves there, starves both for +food and for comfort. Black bread, potatoes, and sometimes cabbage, +make up his "balanced diet." He cannot afford money for meat, eggs, +milk, butter, sugar, or any of the many other ordinary foods of the +American home, nor for the light of lamp or candle. + +It is not strange that such _mooshiki_ constantly move on and have no +love for their native place, and have never established an "Old Home +Day." It is not so strange that their former Tsar, Peter the Great, +said, "One can treat other European people as human beings, but I have +to do with cattle." Are they not treated like cattle? + +But it is strange that a Russian writer can say of these people, and +say it with truth, "A Russian may steal and drink and cheat until it is +almost impossible to live with him; and yet, in spite of it all, you +feel a charm in him that draws you to him, and that there is something +more in him, some good or promise of good, that raises him above the +level of all other races you have ever met." It is strange that he is +so religious, so pitying of others, and so critical of himself; that he +has so many noble visions and dreams for which he is ready and willing +to die. + +Uneducated, with little or no respect for truth or honesty in their own +dealings, with no experience in government, having always been robbed +by the aristocracy, and now eager and willing in turn to rob them, but +with dreams of a society of men where all crime and hardship and +unnecessary suffering are abolished, where there are no grafters, no +self-seekers, no wrong-doers, no conflict, no robbery, no war--these +Russian _mooshiki_, workmen, soldiers, and sailors, as a result of a +revolution, found themselves attempting to govern a nation nearly twice +as large in population as the United States. There are indeed two +problems before the world, to make the world safe for democracy, and to +make democracy safe for the world. + +History tells the story of many revolutions. The story of the American +Revolution, which was an uprising of the American colonies against the +mother country, and that of the French Revolution, in which the +laborers and peasants and some others rose against the extravagant and +autocratic rulers of France, are well known to Americans. + +When the real character and aims of the German autocracy were made +plain to the world, all free people hoped for and expected the World +War to end in a revolution of the German people. But the mass of the +German people are kept ignorant of what the rest of the world feels and +thinks about them, and have so long been trained to unquestioning +obedience that a German revolution can come, if ever, only after some +unexpected and appalling German defeat. + +It has been said that if, at the time the Russian revolution broke out, +a few regiments of trained veteran soldiers had been in Petrograd, the +revolution would have been put down by these soldiers, to whom +obedience to commands of superiors had become second nature. Those on +guard in the city were newly-formed regiments recently trained and +taken into the service. + +The Russian revolution of March 9-13, 1917, overthrew Tsar Nicholas and +the Romanoff dynasty. The Tsar has since been shot, and his son and +heir has died--from exposure, it was reported. When Tsar Nicholas +succeeded his father on the throne of Russia, the Russian people +rejoiced and felt certain better days were at hand, and that they +should love and loyally support the new Tsar. He had his opportunity +and he threw it aside. Instead of granting larger liberty and a greater +part in the government to the common people when they petitioned for +it, he replied, "Let it be known that I shall guard the autocracy as +firmly as did my father." His father was as autocratic as the German +Kaiser. + +Tsar Nicholas was weak and fickle. He made promises when in trouble and +refused to keep his promises when trouble seemed avoided. The Russian +people were much disappointed in him, and every year their +disappointment grew. Some dreadful massacres of workers at Jaroslav, of +peasants in Kharkov, and of miners on the Lena changed their +disappointment to hatred. + +As the Tsar grew older he drew away from touch with the people, and +lived in his palaces, leaving affairs of state to his ministers who +were chosen from a small and selfish clique. They brought on the war +with Japan, and its failure was due to them. When Russia was defeated, +the people were on the brink of a revolution; but the Tsar promised +them a constitution, and trouble was put off for a while. When the +people were quiet again, he broke his word and did not give them a +constitution. Instead, in every way possible, he lessened the power +and freedom of the people, and took revenge upon those who had caused +the trouble by having them arrested and exiled, or executed. + +He was very much under the influence of his wife. She was even weaker +in many ways than he was and seemed to be in the power of an ignorant +and wicked peasant who claimed to be a monk and was called Rasputin, +the Black Monk. His influence over the weak Tsar and the weaker Tsarina +so angered and disgusted some of the young Russian leaders that finally +they had him secretly put to death--but not until he had helped to set +every one against Tsar Nicholas and his wife. + +For a while after the World War broke out, matters seemed to be going +better. The people wanted the influence of Germany destroyed, and they +expected the Russian army would soon be in Berlin. But when defeat and +disaster overwhelmed the armies through the treachery of government +officials, the people began to turn and to condemn Rasputin, the +Tsarina, and the Tsar. It is said that Rasputin had one of his friends +serving as physician to the Tsar and that he kept Nicholas drugged. It +hardly seems possible that this can be true, but at any rate, the Tsar +seemed to show no sense in his dealing with the situation. Instead of +appointing better ministers, he appointed worse ones, suggested by +Rasputin. Every one became disgusted and felt that only a revolution +would save Russia. If it had not come from the people, it would have +come from the nobles. It was looked forward to by all, but not until +after the war. + +There was suffering everywhere in the capital, Petrograd. Living was +very high. It was difficult to get enough to eat or to get carried from +place to place. Steam trains and trolleys were few and irregular. +Though there was plenty of food in Russia, the railroads were in such +bad shape that it did not reach the capital. But the Russians were +fighting Germany, and no one expected or seemed to desire a revolution +until after the war. When it did come, it was not planned, but seemed +to come as if by accident. + +Trouble began in the factory districts, in connection with bread riots. +Stones were thrown, and some damage was done to property. Then crowds +gathered and marched up and down the streets crying for bread, singing +revolutionary songs, and carrying red flags. + +The police were not able to handle the situation alone, and the +soldiers were called upon. These were Cossacks and recently trained. +There was bad feeling between the police and the Cossacks, and so the +Cossacks were inclined to listen to the people and to become friendly +with them. + +On Sunday, March 11, the factory hands planned to make a great +demonstration. The Tsar, learning of it, ordered notices to be posted +warning the people that if they gathered, the soldiers were ordered to +fire upon them. A few people did gather, and they were fired upon by +machine guns and several were killed. The next morning, the officers +who had ordered the soldiers to fire upon the people were killed by +their own men. Then notices were posted by the government saying that +unless the rioters went to work, they would immediately be sent to the +front. + +Other regiments revolted, and there was a battle between these and the +few who remained loyal to the government. It was not a serious battle; +but some were killed and the loyal regiments were defeated. Then +soldiers and people ran through the streets crying, "Down with the +Government." + +The Tsar was at the front. Had he been in Petrograd, he might have +saved the government by making some new promises; but, as it was, it +soon fell. + +As soon as the government was overthrown and the Tsar taken prisoner, +those who had long sought for a revolution and had been forced to flee +from Russia, came rushing back from Switzerland, Greece, France, and +the United States. They were the real leaders after they arrived. + +An American who was in Petrograd at the time gives the following +account of the revolution: + + Their first demand was that all prison doors should be opened + and that the oppressed the world over should be freed. + + The revolution was picturesque and full of color. Nearly every + morning one could see regiment after regiment, soldiers, + Cossacks, and sailors, with their regimental colors, and bands, + and revolutionary flags, marching to the Duma to take the new + oath of allegiance. They were cheered; they were blessed; + handkerchiefs were waved; hats were raised, as marks of + appreciation and gratitude to these men, without whose help + there would have been no revolution. The enthusiasm became so + contagious that men and women, young and old, high and low, fell + in alongside, or behind, joined in the singing of the + Marseillaise, and walked to the Duma to take the oath of + allegiance, and having taken it, they felt as purified as if + they had partaken of the communion. + + Another picturesque sight was the army trucks filled with armed + soldiers, red handkerchiefs tied to their bayonets, dashing up + and down the streets, ostensibly for the purpose of protecting + the citizens, but really for the mere joy of riding about and + being cheered. One of these trucks stands out vividly in my + mind: it contained about twenty soldiers, having in their midst + a beautiful young woman with a red banner, and a young hoodlum + astride the engine. + +No one knows, at the end of the fourth year of the World War, what the +result of the Russian revolution will be. It has so far left Russia a +prey to Germany, but Germany is showing such criminal greed and +unfairness that she may find her easily gained plunder will be her +destruction, like the drowning robber with his pockets filled with +gold. + +The Russian _mooshik_ has a motto, or rather a philosophy, which is +expressed by the word "_nitchevo_." This word has several meanings, one +of which is "nothing." Just what the _mooshik_ has in mind when he +says "_nitchevo_" is illustrated by the following story. + +When Bismarck was Prussian ambassador at the court of Tsar Alexander +II, he was invited by the Tsar to take part in a great hunt, a dozen or +more miles out of the capital. + +Bismarck started with his own horses and sledge but soon met with a +serious accident, and was obliged to call upon the Russian peasants, or +_mooshiki_, to help him by providing a horse, sledge, and driver. Soon +a peasant appeared with a very small and raw-boned horse attached to a +sledge that seemed about ready to fall to pieces. + +"That looks more like a rat than a horse," growled Bismarck, but he got +into the sledge. + +The peasant answered but one word, "_Nitchevo._" + +Soon the horse was flying over the snow at a great rate of speed. There +was no road to be seen and the peasant was heading for the woods. "Look +out!" yelled Bismarck. "You will throw me out!" But the peasant +replied, "_Nitchevo._" + +In a moment they were among the trees and were turning, now this way, +now that, to avoid hitting them. The raw-boned horse had not lessened +his speed in the least. Suddenly there was a crash. The sledge had +skidded and struck a tree. The peasant and his passenger were thrown +out headlong. + +Bismarck was a man of fiery temper. When he had picked himself up, he +rushed up to the peasant, who was trying to stop his bleeding nose, and +yelled, "I will kill you." The _mooshik_ did not seem at all frightened +or troubled, and answered simply, "_Nitchevo._" He drew a piece of rope +from the sledge and began to tie the broken parts together. + +"I shall be late at the hunt," yelled the angry Bismarck. + +"_Nitchevo_," replied the peasant. + +While the sledge was being repaired, Bismarck noticed a small piece of +iron broken from the runner and lying on the snow. He picked it up and +put it in his pocket. + +The _mooshik_ soon had the sledge ready for them, and this time he +reached the hunting lodge with his distinguished passenger without +further accident or delay. + +The Tsar and his companions laughed heartily at the story, as related +by Bismarck, and then explained to the Prussian that by _nitchevo_ the +_mooshik_ meant that nothing mattered, that they would get where they +had started for, if they did not let accidents or circumstances turn +them from it. + +When Bismarck returned to the capital he had a ring made from the piece +of iron, and on the inside of it he had inscribed the word _nitchevo_. + +The Russian _mooshik_ of to-day is the same in character and belief as +the _mooshik_ that replied "_Nitchevo_" to Bismarck. To Germany, to the +Kaiser, to the world, the Russians, amid all their sorrows and +troubles, are saying "_Nitchevo._" They will reach their goal at +length, for they look upon the dangers and delays as nothing. + + * * * * * + +The Russian word _Bolsheviki_, used to designate the revolutionary +party which was in power in Russia in 1918, is composed of two words: +_bolsh_, meaning many; and _vik_, meaning most. _Bolsheviki_ means the +greatest number, or the common people, as compared with the few, or the +aristocracy. _Bolshevik_, with the accent on the first syllable, is the +singular and means one of the greatest number. _Bolsheviki_, with +accents on the second and on the last syllables, is the plural. +Similarly _mooshik_ means a peasant, and _mooshiki_ means peasants. + + + + +A BALLAD OF FRENCH RIVERS[6] + + + Of streams that men take honor in + The Frenchman looks to three, + And each one has for origin + The hills of Burgundy; + And each has known the quivers + Of blood and tears and pain-- + O gallant bleeding rivers, + The Marne, the Meuse, the Aisne. + + Says Marne: "My poplar fringes + Have felt the Prussian tread, + The blood of brave men tinges + My banks with lasting red; + Let others ask due credit, + But France has me to thank; + Von Kluck himself has said it: + I turned the Boche's flank!" + + Says Meuse: "I claim no winning, + No glory on the stage; + Save that, in the beginning + I strove to save Lige. + Alas! that Frankish rivers + Should share such shame as mine-- + In spite of all endeavors + I flow to join the Rhine!" + + Says Aisne: "My silver shallows + Are salter than the sea, + The woe of Rheims still hallows + My endless tragedy. + Of rivers rich in story + That run through green Champagne, + In agony and glory, + The chief am I, the Aisne!" + + Now there are greater waters + That Frenchmen all hold dear-- + The Rhone, with many daughters, + That runs so icy clear; + There's Moselle, deep and winy, + There's Loire, Garonne and Seine. + But O the valiant tiny-- + The Marne, the Meuse, the Aisne! + + CHRISTOPHER MORLEY. + + * * * * * + +A river is the most human and companionable of all inanimate things. It +has a life, a character, a voice of its own; and is as full of +good-fellowship as a sugar-maple is of sap. It can talk in various +tones, loud or low; and of many subjects, grave or gay. + + HENRY VAN DYKE. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] COPYRIGHT BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY + + + + +BACILLI AND BULLETS + + +Sir William Osler, one of the greatest medical men in the world, told +the soldiers in the English training camps that he wanted to help them +to get a true knowledge of their foes. The officers had impressed the +soldiers with the truth that it was always necessary to find out where +their enemies were and how many they were. But Sir William Osier told +them of other invisible enemies which they should most fear, and fight +against. "While the bullets from your foes are to be dreaded," he said, +"the bacilli are far more dangerous." Indeed in the wars of the world, +the two have been as Saul and David,--the one slaying thousands, the +other tens of thousands. + +He continued, "I can never see a group of recruits marching to the +depot without asking what percentage of these fine fellows will die +from wounds, and what percentage will perish miserably from neglect of +ordinary sanitary precautions. It is bitter enough to lose thousands of +the best of our young men in a hideous war, but it adds terribly to the +tragedy to think that more than one half of the losses may be due to +preventable disease. Typhus fever, malaria, cholera, enteric, and +dysentery have won more victories than powder and shot. Some of the +diseases need no longer be dreaded. Typhus and malaria, which one +hundred years ago routed a great English army in the expedition against +Antwerp, are no longer formidable foes. But enough such foes remain, as +we found by sad experience in South Africa. Of the 22,000 lives lost in +that war--can you believe it?--the bullets accounted for only 8000, the +bacilli for 14,000. In the long, hard campaign before us, more men will +go into the field than ever before in the history of the Empire. Before +it is too late, let us take every possible precaution to guard against +a repetition of such disasters. I am here to warn you soldiers against +enemies more subtle, more dangerous, and more fatal than the Germans, +enemies against which no successful battle can be fought without your +intelligent coperation. So far the world has only seen one great war +waged with the weapons of science against these foes. Our allies, the +Japanese, went into the Russian campaign prepared as fully against +bacilli as against bullets, with the result that the percentage of +deaths from disease was the lowest that has ever been attained in a +great war. Which lesson shall we learn? Which example shall we follow, +Japan, or South Africa with its sad memories? + +"We are not likely to have to fight three scourges, typhus, malaria, +and cholera, though the possibility of the last has to be considered. +But there remain dysentery, pneumonia, and enteric. + +"Dysentery has been for centuries one of the most terrible of camp +diseases, killing thousands, and, in its prolonged damage to health, it +is one of the most fatal of foes to armies. So far as we know, it is +conveyed by water, and only by carrying out strictly, under all +circumstances, the directions about boiling water, can it be prevented. +It is a disease which, even under the best of circumstances, cannot +always be prevented; but with care there should never again be +widespread outbreaks in camps themselves. + +"Pneumonia is a much more difficult disease to prevent. Many of us, +unfortunately, carry the germ with us. In these bright days all goes +well in a holiday camp like this; but when the cold and the rain come, +and the long marches, the resisting forces of the body are lowered, the +enemy, always on the watch, overpowers the guards, rushes the defenses, +and attacks the lungs. Be careful not to neglect coughs and colds. A +man in good condition should be able to withstand the wettings and +exposures that lower the system, but in a winter campaign, pneumonia +causes a large amount of sickness and is one of the serious enemies of +the soldier. + +"Above all others one disease has proved most fatal in modern +warfare--enteric, or typhoid fever. Over and over again it has killed +thousands before they ever reached the fighting line. The United States +troops had a terrible experience in the Spanish-American War. In six +months, between June and November, among 107,973 officers and men in 92 +volunteer regiments, 20,738, practically one fifth of the entire +number, had typhoid fever, and 1580 died. The danger is chiefly from +persons who have already had the disease and who carry the germs in +their intestines, harmless to them, but capable of infecting barracks +or camps. It was probably by flies and by dust carrying the germs that +the bacilli were so fatal in South Africa. Take to heart these figures: +there were 57,684 cases of typhoid fever, of which 19,454 were +invalided, and 8022 died. More died from the bacilli of this disease +than from the bullets of the Boers. Do let this terrible record impress +upon you the importance of carrying out with religious care the +sanitary regulations. + +"One great advance in connection with typhoid fever has been made of +late years, and of this I am come specially to ask you to take +advantage. An attack of an infectious disease so alters the body that +it is no longer susceptible to another attack of the same disease; once +a person has had scarlet fever, smallpox, or chicken pox, he is not +likely to have a second attack. He is immune. When bacilli make a +successful entry into our bodies, they overcome the forces that +naturally protect the system, and grow; but the body puts up a strong +fight, all sorts of anti-bodies are formed in the blood, and if +recovery takes place, the patient is safe for a few years at least +against that disease. + +"It was an Englishman, Jenner, who, in 1798, found that it was possible +to produce this immunity by giving a person a mild attack of the +disease, or of one very much like it. Against smallpox all of you have +been vaccinated--a harmless, safe, and effective measure. Let me give +you a war illustration. General Wood of the United States Army told me +that, when he was at Santiago, reports came that in villages not far +distant smallpox was raging, and the people were without help of any +kind. He called for volunteers, all men who showed scars of +satisfactory vaccination. Groups of these soldiers went into the +villages, took care of the smallpox patients, cleaned up the houses, +stayed there until the epidemic was over, and not one of them took the +disease. Had not those men been vaccinated, at least 99 per cent of +them would have taken smallpox. + +"Now what I wish to ask you is to take advantage of the knowledge that +the human body can be protected by vaccination against typhoid. +Discovered through the researches of Sir Almroth Wright, this measure +has been introduced successfully into our own regular army, into the +armies of France, the United States, Japan, and Germany. I told you a +few minutes ago about the great number of cases of typhoid fever in the +volunteer troops in America during the Spanish-American War. That +resulted largely from the wide prevalence of the disease in country +districts, so that the camps became infected; and we did not then know +the importance of the fly as a carrier. But in the regular army in the +United States, where inoculation has been practiced now for several +years, the number of cases has fallen from 3.53 per thousand men to +practically nil. In a strength of 90,646 there were, in 1913, only +three cases of typhoid fever. In France the typhoid rate among the +unvaccinated was 168.44 per thousand, and among the vaccinated .18 per +thousand. In India, where the disease has been very prevalent, the +success of the measure has been remarkable. + +"In the United States, and in France, and in some other countries, this +vaccination against the disease is compulsory. It is not a serious +matter; you may feel badly for twenty-four hours, and the place of +inoculation will be tender, but I hope I have said enough to convince +you that, in the interests of the cause, you should gladly put up with +this temporary inconvenience. If the lessons of past experience count, +any expeditionary force on the Continent has much more to fear from the +bacillus of typhoid fever than from bullets and bayonets. Think again +of South Africa, with its 57,000 cases of typhoid fever! With a million +of men in the field, their efficiency will be increased one third if we +can prevent typhoid. It can be prevented, it must be prevented; but +meanwhile the decision is in your hands, and I know it will be in favor +of your King and Country." + + * * * * * + +The soldiers in the American army are also inoculated against measles, +scarlet fever, and the pneumonia germ. + +Tetanus, or lockjaw, is one of the grave dangers faced by the wounded +soldiers; for the germ of this disease has its home in the earth, and +during a battle, soldiers with open wounds often lie for hours in the +fields and trenches. Antitoxin treatment has reduced the death-rate. + +Two new diseases have been produced by the World War,--spotted typhus +and trench fever; both are carried by vermin. This was proved by +soldiers who volunteered to permit experiments to be made upon them. By +preventing and destroying the vermin, these diseases are being +conquered. + + + + +THE TORCH OF VALOR[7] + + +The torch of valor has been passed from one brave hand to another down +the centuries, to be held to-day by the most valiant in the long line +of heroes. Deeds have been done in Europe since August, 1914, which +rival the most stirring feats sung by Homer or Virgil, by the +minnesingers of Germany, by the troubadours of Provene, or told in the +Norse sagas or Celtic ballads. No exploit of Ajax or Achilles excels +that of the Russian Cossack, wounded in eleven places and slaying as +many foes. The trio that held the bridge against Lars Porsena and his +cohorts have been equaled by the three men of Battery L, fighting with +their single gun in the gray and deathly dawn until the enemy's battery +was silenced. Private Wilson, who, single-handed, killed seven of the +enemy and captured a gun, sold newspapers in private life; but he need +not fear comparison with any of his ancient and radiant line. Who that +cares for courage can forget that Frenchman, forced to march in front +of a German battalion stealing to surprise his countrymen at the bridge +of Three Grietchen, near Ypres? To speak meant death for himself, to +be silent meant death for his comrades; and still the sentry gave no +alarm. So he gave it himself. "Fire! For the love of God, fire!" he +cried, his soul alive with sacrifice; and so died. The ancient hero of +romance, who gathered to his own heart the lance heads of the foe that +a gap might be made in their phalanx, did no more than that. Nelson +conveniently forgot his blind eye at Copenhagen, and even in this he +has his followers still. Bombardier Havelock was wounded in the thigh +by fragments of shell. He had his wound dressed at the ambulance and +was ordered to hospital. Instead of obeying, he returned to his +battery, to be wounded again in the back within five minutes. Once more +he was patched up by the doctor and sent to hospital, this time in +charge of an orderly. He escaped from his guardian, went back to fight, +and was wounded for the third time. Afraid to face the angry surgeon, +he lay all day beside the gun. That night he was reprimanded by his +officers--and received the V.C.! Also there are the airmen, day after +day facing appalling dangers in their frail, bullet-torn craft. Was +there ever a stouter heart than that of the aviator, wounded to death +and still planing downwards, to be found seated in his place and +grasping the controls, stone-dead? Few eyes were dry that read the +almost mystic story of that son of France who, struck blind in a storm +of fire, still navigated his machine, obedient to the instructions of +his military companion, himself mortally wounded by shrapnel and dying +even as earth was reached. + +There is no need to worship the past with a too-abject devotion, +whatever in the way of glory it has been to us and done for us. Chandos +and Du Guesclin, Leonidas and De Bussy have worthy compeers to-day. +Beside them may stand Lance-Corporal O'Leary, the Irish peasant's son. +Of his own deed he merely says that he led some men to an important +position, and took it from the Huns, "killing some of their gunners and +taking a few prisoners." History will tell the tale otherwise: how this +modest soldier, outstripping his eager comrades, coolly selected a +machine gun for attack, and killed the five men tending it before they +could slew round; how he then sped onwards alone to another barricade, +which he captured, after killing three of the enemy, and making +prisoners of two more. Even officialism burst its bonds for a moment as +it records the deed: + + Lance-Corporal O'Leary thus practically captured the enemy's + position by himself, and prevented the rest of the attacking + party from being fired on. + +The epic of Lieutenant Leach and Sergeant Hogan, who volunteered to +recapture a trench taken by the Germans, after two failures of their +comrades, is reading to give one at once a gulp in the throat and a +song in the heart. With consummate daring they undertook the venture; +with irresistible skill they succeeded, killing eight of the enemy, +wounding two, and taking sixteen prisoners. In the words of the veteran +of Waterloo, "It was as good fighting as Boney himself would have made +a man a gineral for." + +There are isolated incidents of this kind in every war; but in a +thousand different places in France and Belgium the dauntless, +nonchalant valor of Irishmen, Englishmen, Scotsmen, and Welshmen has +shown itself. Did ever the gay Gordons do a gayer or more gallant thing +than was done on the 29th of September, 1914, on the western front? +Thirty gunners of a British field battery had just been killed or +wounded. Thirty others were ordered to take their place. They knew that +they were going to certain death, and they went with a cheery "Good-by, +you fellows!" to their comrades of the reserve. Two minutes later every +man had fallen, and another thirty stepped to the front with the same +farewell, smoking their cigarettes as they went out to die--like that +"very gallant gentleman," Oates, who went forth from Scott's tent into +the blizzard and immortality. Englishmen can lift up their heads with +pride, human nature can take heart and salute the future with hope, +when the Charge of the Five Hundred at Gheluvelt is recalled. There, on +the Ypres road to Calais, 2400 British soldiers, Scots Guards, South +Wales Borderers, and the Welsh and Queen's Regiments held up 24,000 +Germans in a position terribly exposed. On that glorious and bloody day +the Worcesters, 500 strong, charged the hordes of Germans, twenty times +their number, through the streets of Gheluvelt and up and beyond to the +very trenches of the foe; and in the end the ravishers of Belgium, +under the stress and storm of their valor, turned and fled. On that day +300 out of 500 of the Worcesters failed to answer the roll call when +the fight was over, and out of 2400 only 800 lived of all the remnants +of regiments engaged; but the road to Calais was blocked against the +Huns; and it remains so even to this day. Who shall say that greatness +of soul is not the possession of the modern world? Did men die better +in the days before the Csars? + +Not any one branch of the service, not any one class of men alone has +done these deeds of valor; but in the splendid democracy of heroism, +the colonel and the private, the corporal and the lieutenant--one was +going to say, have thrown away, but no!--have offered up their lives on +the altars of sacrifice, heedless of all save that duty must be done. + +But greater than such deeds, of which there have been inspiring +hundreds, is the patient endurance shown by men whose world has +narrowed down to that little corner of a great war which they are +fighting for their country. To fight on night and day in the trenches, +under avalanches of murdering metal and storms of rending shrapnel, +calls for higher qualities than those short, sharp gusts of conflict +which in former days were called battles. Then men faced death in the +open, weapon in hand, cheered by color and music and the personal +contest, man upon man outright, greatly daring for a few sharp hours. +Now all the pageantry is gone; the fight rages without ceasing; men +must eat and sleep in the line of fire; death and mutilation ravage +over them even while they rest. Nerves have given way, men have gone +mad under this prolonged strain, and the marvel is that any have borne +it; yet they have not only borne it, they have triumphed over it. These +have known the exaltation of stripping life of its impedimenta to do a +thing set for them to do; giving up all for an idea. The great +obsession is on them; they are swayed and possessed by something +greater than themselves; they live in an atmosphere which, breathing, +inflames them to the utmost of their being. + +There was a corner in the British lines where men had fought for days, +until the place was a shambles; where food could only rarely reach +them; where they stood up to their knees in mud and water, where men +endured, but where Death was the companion of their fortitude. Yet +after a lull in the firing there came from some point in the battered +trench the new British battle-cry, "Are we downhearted?" And then, as +we are told, one blood-stained specter feebly raised himself above the +broken parapet, shouted "No!" and fell back dead. There spoke a spirit +of high endurance, of a shining defiance, of a courage which wants no +pity, which exalts as it wends its way hence. + + SIR GILBERT PARKER. + + * * * * * + + Mother Earth! Are thy heroes dead? + Do they thrill the soul of the years no more? + Are the gleaming snows and the poppies red + All that is left of the brave of yore? + Are there none to fight as Theseus fought, + Far in the young world's misty dawn? + Or to teach as the gray-haired Nestor taught? + Mother Earth! Are the heroes gone? + + Gone?--in a grander form they rise; + Dead?--we may clasp their hands in ours, + And catch the light of their clearer eyes, + And wreathe their brows with immortal flowers. + Wherever a noble deed is done, + 'Tis the pulse of a hero's heart is stirred; + Wherever right has a triumph won + There are the heroes' voices heard. + + EDNA DEAN PROCTOR. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] FROM "THE WORLD IN THE CRUCIBLE." COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY DODD, MEAD +AND COMPANY + + + + +MARSHAL FOCH + + +A Great German philosopher said many years ago that history was the +story of the struggle of the human race for freedom. Would the Huns +conquer Europe and put back human liberty for hundreds of years? This +was the question that was answered at the battle of the Marne in +September, 1914, and the answer depended upon what General Foch was +able to do with his army. It was necessary that he should attack, and +General Joffre ordered him to do so. + +General Foch did not reply that he was having all he could do to hold +his own and to prevent his army from being captured or destroyed, +although this was really the situation. He sent back to his commanding +general a message that will never be forgotten, one that was in keeping +with the maxim he had always taught his students in the military +school, that the best defense is an offense: "My left has been forced +back; my right has been routed; I shall attack with my center." + + [Illustration: MARSHAL FERDINAND FOCH + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +Foch is a man of medium height. His face is an especially striking one. +He has the forehead of a thinker, with two deep folds between the +eyebrows; he has deep-set eyes, a large nose, a strong mouth slightly +hidden under a gray mustache, and a chin which shows decision and +force. His whole face expresses great power of thought and will. + +Before the war, he was a professor of military history. He was +accustomed to outline to the young officers in his class a clear +statement of a military situation, and the orders which had been +followed. He would then call upon his pupils to decide what +difficulties would arise and what the results would be. In this way, +they learned to discover for themselves the solutions of many kinds of +military problems. + +Since Foch has been accustomed to this clear reasoning on all war +problems, no military situation can surprise him. As a commander, he +selects the goal to be reached, and the most skillful way of reaching +it, and his men have confidence that he is right. This is what gives a +commander the power to do things. + +Marshal Joffre realized General Foch's ability and quickly advanced +him. + +After the First Battle of the Marne, it was necessary to appoint a +commander for the French forces north of Paris, and it was very +important to select one who had the initiative and the ability to check +the German attempt to capture the Channel ports. The new commander must +also be a man of great tact, for he would have to work with the British +and the Belgians. General Foch was selected, and has proved to be the +right man in the right place. + +The race for the Channel ports was an exciting one. Although the +Germans lost, it seemed at times as if they would win, and be able to +establish submarine bases within a very short distance of England. In +fact, if they had captured Calais, they could have fired with their +long-range guns across the Channel and have bombarded English coast +towns, and perhaps London itself. + +Foch's decision and strength of purpose are well illustrated by an +incident which is told by the French officers working under his +command. He had sent some cavalry to protect the British army from +being outflanked and disastrously defeated. At the close of the day, +the cavalry commander reported to General Foch that he had been obliged +to withdraw, as the Germans had been renforced. "Did you throw all the +forces possible into the fight?" asked General Foch. "No," answered the +cavalry commander. "You will at once take up your old position and hold +the enemy there until you have lost every gun," directed the general. +"Then you will report to headquarters for further orders." + +Foch is a leader who plans well, who knows how to command, and how to +make others obey. His orders always end with the words, "Without +delay!" Because the enemy has usually had larger numbers and more +ammunition, time has been everything to the Allies. Foch saved time and +so saved the Allies. + +After his great victory at the Second Battle of the Marne, Foch was +made a Marshal of France. + +The Allies, in 1918, through the influence of President Wilson, it is +said, decided to appoint a generalissimo, that is, one who should have +direction of all the Allied forces on the west front, including those +in Italy. Foch was appointed to this command, and from this time the +German plans and campaigns began to go wrong. To this one man, who +entered the French army in his teens, and who commanded at sixty-six +the largest forces ever under one general, the successes of the Allies +were due, more than to any other single individual, unless it be +President Wilson. + +Between July 15 and October, he had regained all the territory taken by +the Germans in their great drives of 1918 and had driven the enemy out +of the St. Mihiel salient which they had held since 1914. These +victories were won not by hammer blows of greatly superior numbers but +by generalship of the highest order and far superior to that of the +German leaders. + + + + +THE MEXICAN PLOT + + +It is true that Germany does not know the meaning of honesty and fair +play. Most Americans, in everything, want "a square deal." They demand +it for themselves, and a true American feels that the harshest thing +that can be said of him is that he is not fair and square in his +dealings. In any American school, a pupil who is deceitful is at once +shunned by all the other boys and girls as a "cheat" and a "sneak." He +has no place among them, least of all in their games and sports, for +not to play according to the rules of the game is to upset and spoil +the sport entirely. + +In playing some of our great national games, like baseball and +football, where the players are divided into teams, one player, by +cheating, does not suffer for it himself alone, but his whole team has +to pay the penalty. Indeed, if he persisted in being unfair, he would +soon lose his place in the team for all time. + +The Germans would not understand this, and they would not understand +that the last half of the ninth inning in a ball game is seldom played +because the winners do not wish to "rub in" the defeat of their +opponents. Some think that it is because German children have had few +sports and games that the German nation has so little sense of honesty +and fair play. + +In German schools, the pupils at one time were allowed to engage in +certain sports, but later these were officially forbidden. + +The rulers of Germany have for years forbidden anything taught in their +schools which did not praise Germany and make the children believe +their Emperor to be a god. The pupils are taught in history, geography, +and even in reading, only those facts about other countries which show +how much inferior they are to Germany. + +So the pupils have never learned the true and the interesting things +about other countries in the great wide world. German history tells +only about Germany's great war victories. The pupils never learn of +Germany's defeats in war. The teacher makes the history class the +liveliest of the day, often seeming to be more of a Fourth of July +orator than a school teacher. The children are taught that Germany is +the one civilized country in the world; that there was never anything +good that did not come from Germany; that even the victory of the +North, in the Civil War in America, was due to there being such a large +majority of German-born men on the Northern side. + +Their geography tells only about Germany's political divisions, its +civilization, and its commerce. Their readers contain stories of German +military "heroes." The two great school holidays are the Emperor's +Birthday and Sedan Day, the anniversary of the great defeat of the +French in the Franco-Prussian War. + +The walls of the schoolrooms are covered with pictures of the Emperor, +the Empress, and of battle scenes, especially those showing German +soldiers bringing in French prisoners. The singing of "Deutschland ber +Alles" occurs several times a day. + +A German boy is trained into a soldier, hard-hearted and deceitful. The +pupils in school are made to spy on one another, and the teachers, too, +spy on one another. An American boy was expelled from a German +gymnasium in Berlin, because he refused to "tattle-tale" on the pupils +in his class. + +The Germans have not been taught to respect the rights of others,--no +one apparently has any personal rights except the Kaiser and certain +high officials; and so great has been their power that they have been +able to cheat the whole German nation, and they have attempted to cheat +the other nations of the world. + +Some years before the Spanish-American War, Germany began to show an +unfair spirit toward the United States. Much ill-feeling existed +between the two countries in their commercial relationships. There +grew up among the aristocracy of Germany, especially among the +landowners, an extremely hostile attitude toward the government in +Washington. This hostility was first publicly shown by a remark +reported to have been made by the Emperor at mess with a company of +officers, to the effect that "it would not be too bad if America should +very soon require Europe to teach her the proper place for her." This +remark was afterward officially denied, with the addition that the +Emperor's feeling for the United States was not hostile. + +When, however, Prince Henry of Prussia, brother of the German Emperor, +arrived on a government mission in Hongkong, it is said he gave a +banquet to representatives from all the fleets in port. Commodore Dewey +of the American fleet was present. After the dinner, Prince Henry +called for the usual national toasts. There is a custom in the navy of +calling upon the representatives of the different nations in a certain +regulated and well-understood order. But when the time came to call for +the toast to the United States, the Prince passed it by; he did this +several times. Commodore Dewey, realizing that this was intentional on +the part of Prince Henry, left the banquet. The next morning a +messenger from the German prince brought the explanation that the act +had been committed wholly by mistake, and was not meant as a +discourtesy to the United States or her commander. Dewey thanked the +messenger for his courteous manner in delivering his Admiral's word, +but sent back the statement that such an incident called for a personal +apology from the Prince. Very soon Prince Henry called in person and +apologized, saying that the name of the United States had not been +written in its proper order on the list which he followed in giving the +toasts. + +When war had been declared between the United States and Spain, and +Commodore Dewey had received orders to "seek the Spanish fleet and +destroy it," he set sail from Hongkong for Manila. Germany, according +to announcements from Spain, was determined to prevent the bombardment +of the city, because of German interests and German subjects there. +After capturing the Spanish fortress which guarded Manila, it was +necessary for Dewey to maintain a strict blockade against the city, +lest Spanish renforcements should arrive. No American troops or ships +could reach him in less than six weeks. + +In Manila Bay were warships of Great Britain, Russia, France, Japan, +and Austria. These nations were content to send only one or two +vessels, while from Germany there were five and sometimes seven. One of +them, the _Deutschland_, was commanded by Prince Henry, and was heavily +armed. In fact, in numbers and guns, the Germans were stronger than the +Americans with their six small vessels. + +There was one regulation common to all blockade codes, one which was +always followed by the officers on every ship. It was that no foreign +boats should move about the bay after sunset, without the permission of +the blockade commander. + +But the Germans sent launches out at night and in many ways violated +the rules. When Dewey protested, they only sent them off later at +night. They even gave the Spaniards many supplies. Then Dewey had to +turn the searchlights on them and keep their vessels covered, to +prevent any boat leaving at night without his knowledge. + +This is particularly offensive to any naval commander, and the German +Admiral, Von Diederichs, objected. The American commander was courteous +but firm, and said that the United States, and not Germany, was holding +the blockade. + +Still the Germans persisted in moving their vessels so mysteriously +that an American ship was sent to meet every incoming vessel to demand +its nationality, its last port, and its destination. To the German flag +lieutenant, who brought a strong protest against this order, Dewey +said: "Tell Admiral von Diederichs that there are some acts that mean +war, and his fleet is dangerously near those acts. If he wants war, he +may have it here, now, or at the time that best suits him." + +Von Diederichs answered that his actions were not intended to violate +the rules, but he then went to the British commander, Captain +Chichester, and asked whether he intended to follow such strict orders. +The English captain suspected the German and answered, "Admiral Dewey +and I have a perfect understanding in the matter." Then he added, "He +has asked us to do just what he has asked of you, and we have been +directed to follow his orders to the letter." + +The English commander then sent a dispatch to Admiral Dewey, saying +that his orders were just, his regulations fair, and that if the +American commander felt unable to enforce them alone, he could depend +upon the British fleet to assist him. It is understood that the British +officer afterward informed Von Diederichs of what he had done, and the +Germans strictly obeyed the rules and gave no further trouble. + +Not many years ago, in 1911 in fact, while the United States was doing +her best by Germany, the German government tried to injure and deceive +her. + +At that time Germany was also plotting against France, to make war upon +her and to seize the whole country. Perhaps Germany knew that America +would not allow such horrible crimes to succeed, and so sooner or later +she would find herself at war with the United States. + +Therefore Germany must think ahead, and plan some means of making the +United States keep her ideas of justice to herself and let Germany do +as she chose. German officials consulted together and said, "Mexico is +a little country at the very southern tip of the United States, +conveniently near the new waterway at Panama. We could do some damage +there, with Mexico's help, and as a reward, Mexico might get back some +of the states just over the border--New Mexico, Texas, and +Arizona--which formerly belonged to her. + +"Then Japan is across the sea from Mexico and the gold coast of the +United States. Japan needs more land for her millions of people. She +might as well take California and some of the islands near Panama. All +this would keep America busy so that she could not hinder us from doing +our will in France." + +A press correspondent in Berlin, as early as February, 1911, sent the +following word by cablegram: + + The story was told here last night that Japan and Mexico have + come to an understanding with each other against America, and + that the United States, therefore, is secretly favoring the + Mexican revolutionists led by Madero. To-day the report is + published in several newspapers, even in the most trustworthy of + them. The report says: "Since America obtained the Panama Canal, + she has had an increasing interest in robbing Mexico and the + Central American states of their independence." + + According to the story, the present trouble has arisen because + of Mexico's refusal to allow the United States to use Magdalena + Bay as a coaling station. There must be some reason for + publishing the story so widely. It is made much of by the jingo + press, which warns the Central and the South American states to + beware of ambitious political plans of the United States. + +As this word was sent in time of peace, it was not censored, and while +it did not at that time appear to be of great importance, it really +meant that Germany was taking advantage of the civil war in Mexico to +stir up antagonism between that country and the United States. + +In American and German newspapers, stories were also printed hinting at +bad feelings between the United States and the Japanese government, +though no one seemed to know from whom the stories came. It was said +that, before long, an American fleet would be forcing its way into +Japanese waters, or the Japanese fleet would form in battle line +somewhere along the coast of California. + +In that same year, stories were publicly printed in American papers, +intended to spread the belief that Japan and Mexico were especially +friendly to Germany, and that they were interested in plotting together +against the United States. These stories were so mysterious and +mischievous that explanations from the different governments became +necessary. + +During the last week of February, 1917, there came into the hands of +the State Department in America, a note from Alfred Zimmermann, German +Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the German Minister in Mexico City. The +American government had already urged the German government to cease +submarine warfare, as it was not at all a fair method of fighting, but +was, instead, entirely barbarous and contrary to international law. +Germany, however, determined to wage unrestricted submarine warfare +against England and her allies. Twelve days before the plan was finally +announced, this note was sent to the German Minister in Mexico: + + BERLIN, Jan. 19, 1917. + + On the 1st of February we intend to begin submarine warfare + unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor + to keep neutral with the United States of America. + + If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the + following basis with Mexico: + + That we shall make war together and together make peace. We + shall give general financial support, and it is understood that + Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, + and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement. + + You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the + above in the greatest confidence, as soon as it is certain that + there will be an outbreak of war with the United States, and + suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, + should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to + this plan; at the same time offer to mediate between Germany and + Japan. + + Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the + employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel + England to make peace in a few months. + + ZIMMERMANN. + +When all this became known to the American people, at first it was +almost impossible for them to believe that Germany had been plotting +against the United States, and for so long. Only the word of the +President of the United States, saying that clear and sufficient +evidence to prove it beyond dispute was in the hands of the government, +could persuade them that Germany had been for years acting the "cheat" +and the "sneak." + +The first step taken by the American government was to ask Mexico and +Japan to explain the many stories that had been circulated, and to tell +whether they had agreed with Germany to war against the United States. + +The people in this country waited anxiously to hear from Japan, for it +would be denying the truth to say that the stories had not aroused +suspicion. Japan answered just as the United States would have answered +in her place, an answer that left no room for doubt. Not only did the +Japanese Foreign Minister deny that Japan had been asked by Mexico or +Germany to join against the United States, but he added more than is +absolutely necessary in diplomatic circles; he added that even if such +a proposal had come, it would have been rejected at once. + +This is exactly such an answer as the United States would have given to +any friendly country. The answer did more to bind the friendship +between the two countries than many years of official visits and formal +expressions of goodwill could possibly have done. The Japanese people +were glad that such an answer had been sent by their government. In +fact, the Japanese Ambassador in this country, in speaking of the +matter said, "We cannot condemn the plot too strongly. Our Foreign +Minister and Premier have expressed the feeling of the Japanese +Government and the Japanese people. And it is not alone the government; +but the people are back of the government in denouncing the intrigue. +In one way it is unfortunate, because we do not feel flattered at the +thought of being approached for such an object; but the incident, on +the other hand, is certain to have the good effect of putting us in a +true light before the world, and of binding our friendship with +America. We have a treaty alliance with Great Britain, and owe +allegiance to the Allied cause. In Japan we place above everything else +our national honor, which involves faithfulness to our treaties." + +Germany never supposed that she would be the means by which Japan and +the United States, instead of being thrust further apart, would be +drawn closer together. Germany dreamed a different sort of dream. +Judging other nations by herself, she did not expect England to come to +the aid of Belgium and France, and now she had made another mistake. +She had set both Japan and Mexico down as the natural foes of the +United States, waiting only for a favorable opportunity to strike. + +The answer from Mexico was not so satisfactory as that from Japan. +Villa, the famous Mexican bandit chief, when he conferred on the border +with Major-General Scott as to the firing at Naco, it is said, had +whispered to the American General a story of Japanese conspiracy in +Mexico City. He claimed that the captain of a Japanese vessel in a +Mexican port had spoken of the natural ties of friendship that should +exist between Mexico and Japan, and had also spoken of the United +States as the natural enemy to both countries. Villa had boasted loudly +that, if war came between Japan and the United States, Mexico would be +found fighting for her American neighbor. But later, when the United +States recognized Carranza as ruler of Mexico and turned against Villa, +the bandit chief hastened to seek aid against his "neighbor," from +Tokio. Needless to say, he failed. + +General Huerta's effort to start a new revolution in Mexico, after he +returned to the United States from Spain, has been traced directly to +the Germans. He, too, looked hopefully for aid from Japan, but was +disappointed. + +Before the United States had recognized the Carranza government, the +Carranza officials displayed great affection for the Japanese Minister +who had been sent to their country, and for Japan. But the government +at Tokio knew that the display was merely made for American eyes, and +carefully avoided any warm response. Thus has Zimmermann's scheme come +to be called his "back-stairs policy" and "the plot that failed." + +Thanks to the discovery of the Zimmermann plot, Japan and the United +States understand each other better, and are growing more and more +friendly. Mexico is keeping her troubles to herself and has all she can +do in straightening out her own affairs. The boys and girls in America +will hope, if baseball and football will teach the Mexicans to play +fair, that these games and others like them will become as popular +there as they are in the United States. + + * * * * * + +A man is a father, a brother, a German, a Roman, an American; but +beneath all these relations, he is a man. The end of his human destiny +is not to be the best German, or the best Roman, or the best father, +but the best man he can be.... + +Though darkness sometimes shadows our national sky, though confusion +comes from error, and success breeds corruption, yet will the storm +pass in God's good time; and in clearer sky and purer atmosphere, our +national life grow stronger and nobler, sanctified more and more, +consecrated to God and liberty by the martyrs who fall in the strife +for the just and true. + + GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS. + + + + +WHY WE FIGHT GERMANY + + +Because of Belgium, invaded, outraged, enslaved, impoverished Belgium. +We cannot forget Lige, Louvain, and Cardinal Mercier. Translated into +terms of American history, these names stand for Bunker Hill, +Lexington, and Patrick Henry. + +Because of France, invaded, desecrated France, a million of whose +heroic sons have died to save the land of Lafayette. Glorious, golden +France, the preserver of the arts, the land of noble spirit, the first +land to follow our lead into republican liberty. + +Because of England, from whom came the laws, traditions, standards of +life, and inherent love of liberty which we call Anglo-Saxon +civilization. We defeated her once upon the land and once upon the sea. +But Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Canada are free because of what +we did. And they are with us in the fight for the freedom of the seas. + +Because of Russia--new Russia. She must not be overwhelmed now. Not +now, surely, when she is just born into freedom. Her peasants must have +their chance; they must go to school to Washington, to Jefferson, and +to Lincoln, until they know their way about in this new, strange world +of government by the popular will. + +Because of other peoples, with their rising hope that the world may be +freed from government by the soldier. + +We are fighting Germany because she sought to terrorize us and then to +fool us. We could not believe that Germany would do what she said she +would do upon the seas. + +We still hear the piteous cries of children coming up out of the sea +where the _Lusitania_ went down. And Germany has never asked the +forgiveness of the world. + +We saw the _Sussex_ sunk, crowded with the sons and daughters of +neutral nations. + +We saw ship after ship sent to the bottom--ships of mercy bound out of +America for the Belgian starving, ships carrying the Red Cross and +laden with the wounded of all nations, ships carrying food and clothing +to friendly, harmless, terrorized peoples, ships flying the Stars and +Stripes--sent to the bottom hundreds of miles from shore, manned by +American seamen, murdered against all law, without warning. + +We believed Germany's promise that she would respect the neutral flag +and the rights of neutrals, and we held our anger and outrage in check. +But now we see that she was holding us off with fair promises until she +could build her huge fleet of submarines. For when spring came, she +blew her promise into the air, just as at the beginning she had torn up +that "scrap of paper." Then we saw clearly that there was but one law +for Germany, her will to rule. + +We are fighting Germany because in this war feudalism is making its +last stand against on-coming democracy. We see it now. This is a war +against an old spirit, an ancient, outworn spirit. It is a war against +feudalism--the right of the castle on the hill to rule the village +below. It is a war for democracy--the right of all to be their own +masters. Let Germany be feudal if she will. But she must not spread her +system over a world that has outgrown it. + +We fight with the world for an honest world in which nations keep their +word, for a world in which nations do not live by swagger or by threat, +for a world in which men think of the ways in which they can conquer +the common cruelties of nature instead of inventing more horrible +cruelties to inflict upon the spirit and body of man, for a world in +which the ambition of the philosophy of a few shall not make miserable +all mankind, for a world in which the man is held more precious than +the machine, the system, or the State. + + SECRETARY FRANKLIN K. LANE, June 4, 1917. + + + + +GENERAL PERSHING + + +In April, 1917, a small group of men in civilian dress climbed up the +side of the ocean liner, the _Baltic_, just outside of New York harbor. +Each one carried a suitcase or a hand-bag, which was his only baggage. +They had come down the harbor through the fog and mist on a tugboat. +These men were officers in the United States army, and among them were +General Pershing and his staff--"Black Jack Pershing," as his men +affectionately called him. + +They were given no farewell at the dock, in fact their going was kept a +profound secret; for should the Germans learn upon what liner the chief +officers of the American army that was soon to gather in France, took +passage, all their submarines would neglect everything else in +attempting to sink this one vessel. + +The officers reached England in safety, and made preparations for the +great American armies that were soon to follow them. General Pershing +was appointed commander of these armies. He had just come from service +in Mexico, where he had led American troops in search of the outlaw, +Villa. + + [Illustration: GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING + _Photograph from Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +General Pershing is a West Point graduate; but he narrowly escaped +following another career, for he gained his appointment to West Point +by only one point over his nearest competitor. He has made fighting his +life work. We are all beginning to see that in the world as it is made +up at present, some men must prepare for fighting and make fighting +their life work. Universal peace must come through war, and many are +hoping that it will come as a result of the World War. William Jennings +Bryan and Henry Ford are among the world's leading advocates of +universal peace. When the United States declared war, Bryan said, "The +quickest road to peace is through the war to victory"; and Henry Ford +turned over to the government his great automobile factories and gave +his own services on one of the war boards, to make the war more quickly +successful. + +An interesting story is told us in the _Dallas News_ of Pershing's +school days at normal school, before he went to West Point. It shows +that he never shunned a fight, if the rights of others needed to be +defended. + + An incident of the boyhood days of General John J. Pershing, + illustrating how the principle for which the American general is + leading this nation's armies against the hordes of + autocracy--the square deal for every one--has always + predominated in the American leader, was related yesterday by + Dr. James L. Holloway of Dallas, who went to school with + Pershing in Kirksville, Missouri, many years ago, and who + during that period was an intimate friend of the General. + + "When I arrived at Kirksville to attend the Normal School there, + I was a green country boy," Dr. Holloway said, "and carried my + belongings in a very frail trunk. The baggageman who was on the + station platform was handling my trunk roughly, and when I + remonstrated with him in my timid way, he merely pitched the + trunk off the baggage wagon and laughed at me. When the trunk + fell on the ground it broke open and scattered my things around + on the platform. I indignantly told him that I would report the + matter to the headquarters of the railroad in St. Louis, and + again he laughed at me. + + "I wrote the head of the baggage department, as I said I would, + and later learned that the offending baggageman had been + severely censured. Meanwhile I had struck up a strong + acquaintance with Jack Pershing, who was a big, husky boy from a + Missouri country town. I will always remember his broad + forehead, his determined-looking jaw, and his steel gray eyes. + He was a favorite among the boys at the Normal School, not so + much on account of his mental brilliancy but because of his + personal stamina. + + "Two weeks after my encounter with the baggageman, Pershing and + I walked down to the railroad station. It was on Sunday and the + baggage office was closed. Pershing left me for a moment, and as + I walked around a corner of the station I met the baggageman, + who approached threateningly. 'You're the fellow who reported me + to headquarters,' he said, bullying me. I admitted that I had. + 'Well,' said the baggageman, 'I'm going to lick you good for + it.' With these words he started toward me. At this juncture + Pershing's big frame rounded the corner of the station. + + "'What's the trouble, Holloway?' he asked. I told him the + baggageman was threatening me with violence. 'He is, is he?' + said Pershing. 'Well, we'll clean his plowshare for him right + now.' + + "I shall never forget this expression. The baggageman, seeing + that he was no match for Pershing--let alone the two of us--left + the scene of action. We didn't even have a chance to lay our + hands on him. + + "Six months after this occurred, Pershing was appointed to West + Point. I have never seen him since." + +For several years after his graduation from West Point, no promotion +came to Pershing; but he was not idle nor soured by disappointment. He +continued to study, especially military tactics. He became so well +versed in this branch that he was sent to West Point to teach it. + +When the Spanish-American War broke out, Pershing asked for a command, +and was appointed first lieutenant with a troop of colored cavalry, and +sent to Cuba. At the battle of El Caney he led his troops with such +bravery and success that he was at once promoted and made a captain +"for gallantry in action." + +Then he went to the Philippines with General Chaffee. He performed much +valuable service there. Perhaps the single deed by which his work there +is best known is the lesson he taught the Sultan of Mindanao. The +Sultan was a Mohammedan, and ruled over many thousand Malays. To kill a +Christian was thought to be a good deed by the Sultan, and he was +always glad of an opportunity to show his goodness. For three hundred +years, he and his predecessors had escaped punishment by the Spaniards, +who owned and ruled the islands. + +The Sultan's chief village and stronghold could be reached only by +passing through the dense and dangerous tropical jungles; and when it +was reached, it was found to be surrounded by a wall of earth and +bamboo, forty feet thick, and outside the wall by a moat fifty feet +wide. It does not seem so strange that the Spaniards had done nothing. + +But Pershing cut a path through the jungles and reached the Sultan's +village, and informed him that there must be no more murders of +Christians. The Sultan was very pleasant, in fact he laughed at the +young American captain. + +Soon word came to American headquarters that the Sultan had caused the +death of another Christian missionary. In forty-eight hours most of the +earth and bamboo wall was in the moat, and the Sultan's village was +destroyed. In less than two years, Pershing established law and order +in all of western Mindanao. + +He was also in command of the troops sent to the Border and into Mexico +after the outlaw, Villa. The soldiers with him there always recall his +constant advice, "Shoulders back, chin up, and do your best." + +General Pershing is a man who has never feared obstacles, and has +never hesitated to give the time and labor necessary to overcome them. +That there is no easy path to greatness and success, but that both will +come to him who prepares himself, who works, who sticks at it, who is +brave and sacrificing--this is the lesson of General Pershing's life +and work. + +Shortly after General Pershing reached France, the French people +celebrated the birthday of Lafayette; and General Pershing visited the +tomb of the great French patriot, to place there a wreath in token of +America's gratitude. A large number of French people were gathered +there, and every one supposed General Pershing would make a +speech--that is, every one except General Pershing. When he was called +upon, he was dumfounded, but at last he said, "Well, Lafayette, we are +here." That was all. + +Could he have said more if he had talked an hour? He said, "Lafayette, +your people now need us. We have not forgotten. Here we are, and behind +us are all the resources of the wealthiest and most enterprising nation +in the world, billions of dollars and millions of men. We are only the +first to arrive to pay the debt we have owed to you for one hundred and +forty years, but here we are at last." + +It is said that men and women wept aloud as the full significance of +the words and all they meant for France became clear to them. + + + + +THE MELTING POT + + +America has been called the "crucible" or the "melting pot" of nations, +because many peoples of many races and many countries come together +here, and in the heat of life and struggle are molded into Americans. +President Wilson said, in a speech at Cincinnati in 1916, "America is +not made out of a single stock. Here we have a great melting pot." + +As soon as we entered the war against Germany, the question arose in +the minds of most people as to how the large number of Germans in the +United States would act. Germany had taught them that even though they +became naturalized and took the oath of allegiance as American +citizens, such action was not binding, but was like "a scrap of paper" +to be destroyed and forgotten whenever necessity demanded, and that +"once a German" meant "always a German." It seems now that Germany +actually expected the Germans, who had left their native land to seek +opportunity, freedom, and citizenship under the Stars and Stripes, to +fight against their new and adopted home; but events have proved that +most German-Americans have higher ideals of right. A leading +German-American has written a book entitled "Right before Peace"; its +title carries the thought that has guided most of his fellow-countrymen +and their children in the United States during the World War. + +A few months after the United States had declared that a state of war +existed with Germany, many leading men of this country of foreign birth +and parentage, signed, with others, a declaration drawn up by Theodore +Roosevelt. This declaration, somewhat abbreviated but not altered in +thought, is as follows. It makes very clear what America should mean to +her adopted children. + + We Americans are the children of the crucible. We have boasted + that out of the crucible, the melting pot of life, in this free + land, all the men and all the women who have come here from all + the nations come forth as Americans, and as nothing else, like + all other Americans, equal to them, and holding no allegiance to + any other land or nation. We hold it then to be our duty, as it + is of every American, always to stand together for the honor and + interest of America, even if such a stand brings us into + conflict with our fatherland. If an American does not so act, he + is false to the teachings and the lives of Washington and + Lincoln; he has no right in our country, and he should be sent + out of it; for he has shown that the crucible has failed to do + its work. The crucible must melt all who are cast into it, and + it must turn them out in one American mold, the mold shaped one + hundred and forty years ago by the men who, under Washington, + founded this as a free nation, separate from all others. Even at + that time, these true Americans were of different races; Paul + Revere and Charles Carroll, Marion, Herkimer, Sullivan, + Schuyler, and Muhlenberg were equals in service and respect + with Lighthorse Harry Lee and Israel Putnam. Most of them, + however, were of English blood, but they did not hesitate to + fight Great Britain when she was in the wrong. They stood for + liberty and for the eternal rule of right and justice, and they + stood as Americans and as nothing else. + + So must all Americans of whatever race act to-day; otherwise + they are traitors to America. This applies, especially to-day, + to all Americans of German blood who, in any manner, support + Germany against the United States and her Allies. + + Many pacifists have during the last three years proved + themselves the evil enemies of their country. They now seek an + inconclusive peace. In so doing they show themselves to be the + spiritual heirs of the Tories, who, in the name of peace, + opposed Washington, and of the Copperheads, who, in the name of + peace, opposed Lincoln. We look upon them as traitors to the + Republic and to the great cause of justice and humanity. This + war is a war for the vital interests of America. When we fight + for America abroad, we save our children from fighting for + America at home beside their own ruined hearthstones. To accept + any peace, except one based on the complete overthrow of Germany + as she is under the ideals of Prussia and the Hohenzollerns, we + believe would be an act of baseness and cowardice, and a + betrayal of this country and of mankind. + + The test of an American to-day is service against Germany. We + should put forth as speedily as possible every particle of our + vast, lazy strength to win the triumph over Germany. The + government should at once deal with the greatest severity with + traitors at home. + + We must have but one flag. We must also have but one language. + This must be the language of the Declaration of Independence, of + Washington's Farewell Address, and of Lincoln's Gettysburg + Speech. + + Of us who sign, some are Protestants, some are Catholics, some + are Jews. Most of us were born in this country of parents born + in various countries of the Old World--in Germany, France, + England, Ireland, Italy, the Slavonic and the Scandinavian + lands; some of us were born abroad; some of us are of + Revolutionary stock. All of us are Americans, and nothing but + Americans. + + +THE AMERICAN'S CREED[8] + +I believe in the United States of America as a government of the +people, by the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived +from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a +sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and +inseparable, established upon those principles of freedom, equality, +justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their +lives and fortunes. + +I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support +its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend +it against all enemies. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY E.J. WYATT, BALTIMORE. + + + + +BIRDMEN + + +Although I am an American, I am still in the French aviation corps, in +which I enlisted when the war broke out. I am too old for service under +the Stars and Stripes, but not too old to risk my life under the French +flag for the freedom of the world. + +I was trained in a French aviation school. Flyers were needed +immediately; and so I did not go through "a ground school," or any +teaching like that given for eight weeks in the American ground +schools. I was sent directly to the flying field and given a machine at +once. I did not, as they do at American flying fields, go up first with +an instructor who might be tempted to "scare me to death" by "looping +the loop" or doing "tail spins." I took my own machine at the very +start and, after being given the simplest directions, away I went in +it; but I did not break any records for altitude. + +It was a small monoplane with a 20-horse-power motor, and its wings had +been clipped; so all it could do was to roll along the ground. It was, +however, some time before I could guide it in a straight line. I was +discouraged at first, but felt better when I learned that it was very +difficult even for an experienced flyer. + +Such machines are called "penguins" and have a trick of turning +suddenly in a short half circle and smashing the end of a wing against +the ground. The queer antics of beginners in them furnish fun for every +one on the flying fields. + +After I had mastered this machine, I was given one with a motor of +greater horse power, and in this I could fly along the ground at nearly +sixty miles an hour; but I could not rise into the air, for the wings +were clipped and did not have sufficient sustaining power to hold the +machine in the air. + +Then at last I was given a plane with full-sized wings; but, as its +motor generated only about 25-horse power, I could get only from three +to six feet above the ground, and went skimming along now on the ground +and now a few feet in the air. + +In these machines, we learned only how to manage the tail of the +machine. As we skimmed along the ground, we tipped the tail at an angle +slightly above a straight line. In a few moments we were off the +ground, and the roar of the motor sounded softer and smoother. It +seemed as if we were very far from the earth, and that something might +break and dash us to our death--in reality, we had not risen six feet. +To get back to earth, we must push the lever that lowers the tail--but +this must be done very slightly and very carefully. A little push too +much, and the machine will suddenly dive into the ground. + +After my experience with the first two machines, I found it easy to +handle this one, and was soon given one that would take me up about +fifty feet and give me a chance to learn the "feel of the air." All my +flying was still in straight lines, or as nearly straight as I could +make it. We were not yet allowed to try to turn. + +In the next machine I could rise two or three hundred feet and began to +learn to turn, although most of the flying was still in straight lines. + +I was beginning to make good landings, which is the hardest part of the +game. We have to let the ship down on two wheels and let the tail skid +at a speed of thirty-five miles an hour and not break the landing gear. + +The machines often bound three or four times when landing and that is +hard on the landing gear. My last landing was so soft that I was not +sure when I touched the ground. To take off is quite easy. The ship is +controlled by an upright stick which is between one's knees and just +right for the left hand. The rudder is controlled by the feet, and the +throttle is on the right side. To take off, we get up a speed of about +forty-six miles per hour and raise the tail up until the ship is level, +and then when she starts to rise, lift the nose just a little and climb +slowly. + +On turns, the ship has to be banked, tipped up with the inside wing +low, and turned with the rudder. It is quite a hard thing to do when it +is rough, as just about the time we bank, we get a puff of wind which +will hit one wing and she will roll and rock so that we have to get her +straightened out. It is a fight all the time until you get about 3000 +feet up, when the air gets steady. + +To land, we slow the engine down to idling speed and come down in a +steep glide until five or six feet from the ground, then level off and +glide along until she begins to settle, then jerk the tail down until +she stops. We always have to take off and come down against the wind. + +I was obliged to follow the directions of my instructor, much against +my own wishes. It seemed to me that I could now do anything in the air +and that there was not the slightest danger. This too early feeling of +mastery is the cause of many beginners' being injured or killed, by +trying "stunts" too difficult for them. + +I did not spend much time in flying at first, after I had learned how +to handle the airplane. It is not difficult to stay in the air and to +fly, but it is difficult to land safely without breaking the machine. +So I was kept practicing landing. + +To secure my license I was required to fly 50 miles in a straight line +to a named place, and then back; then to fly 200 miles in a triangle, +passing through two named places; and last of all to stay one hour in +the air at an altitude higher than 7000 feet. + +Now the French schools require only a 30-mile flight with three +successful landings, before sending the flyer to the finishing school, +where he learns to do all the "stunts" that a fighter must be able to +do in order to succeed. I learned the tail wing slip, the tail spin and +dive, the _vrille_, to loop the loop, and many other fancy flying +tricks. They have saved my life more than once. + +I was interested in reading the other day James Norman Hall's funny +description of how he learned at last to master the penguin. He felt +triumphant, but he says, "But no one had seen my splendid sortie. Now +that I had arrived, no one paid the least attention to me. All eyes +were turned upward, and following them with my own, I saw an airplane +outlined against a heaped-up pile of snow-white cloud. It was moving at +tremendous speed, when suddenly it darted straight upward, wavered for +a second or two, turned slowly on one wing, and fell, nose-down, +turning round and round as it fell, like a scrap of paper. It was the +_vrille_, the prettiest piece of arial acrobatics that one could wish +to see. It was a wonderful, an incredible sight. + +"Some one was counting the turns of the _vrille_. Six, seven, eight; +then the airman came out of it on an even keel, and, nosing down to +gather speed, looped twice in quick succession. Afterward he did the +_retournement_, turning completely over in the air and going back in +the opposite direction; then spiraled down and passed over our heads at +about fifty meters, landing at the opposite side of the field so +beautifully that it was impossible to know when the machine touched the +ground." + +There is nothing in all the experiences of life like what one feels in +flying through the air, especially at a great height and with no other +machines in sight. There is a loneliness, unlike any other kind of +loneliness; there is a feeling of smallness and weakness; a sense of +the immensity of things and of the presence and nearness of God. It is +surprising that in doing that in which man has shown his greatest power +over the forces of Nature, he feels most his littleness and how easily +he could be destroyed by the very forces he has conquered. + +Lieutenant Roberts, an American flying in France, described not long +ago an experience that came just after his first flight. He was up in +the air, higher than anybody had ever been before, when the machine +suddenly broke into little pieces, which, as he was tumbling down +through the air, he vainly tried to catch. Just as he hit the ground +and broke every bone in his body, he woke up on the floor beside his +bunk. + +The Englishmen are the most daring of all the flyers, take the most +risks, and do the most dangerous "stunts." Not so much is heard of them +because their exploits and their scores are not announced by the +British army. Bishop, who has just been ordered from the flying field +to safer work, is said to have brought down nearly eighty German +planes, and on the day he learned of his recall, went up and brought +down two. + +The Americans are daredevils, too. I took one of them one night as a +"guest," when I went over Metz on a bombing expedition. One of the +bombs stuck. He thought it might cause us trouble when we landed, +possibly explode and kill us, so he crawled out over the fusilage and +released it. He certainly earned his passage. + +With several other Americans we formed what we called the American +Escadrille; but as the United States was neutral at that time, we were +obliged to change the name to the Lafayette Escadrille. + +Since joining the squadron, I have used all sorts of machines, and +there are many of them, from the heavy bombing machine to the swift +little swallow-like scouts. + +My first important work was reconnoissance, in which I carried an +observer. I managed the machine, and he did the reconnoitering. We went +out twice a day and flew over into German territory, sometimes as far +in as fifty miles, observing all that was going on, the movements of +troops and supplies, and the building of railroads and defensive works. +We also took photographs of the country over which we flew. + +Reconnoissance is dangerous work, and is constantly growing more so, as +anti-aircraft guns are improved. These guns are mounted on a revolving +table, upon which is a mirror in which the airplane shows as soon as it +comes within range of the gun. With an instrument designed for the +purpose, the crew get the flyer's altitude; and with another, the rate +at which he is traveling. They aim the gun for the proper altitude, +make the correct allowance for the time it will take the shell to reach +him, and as they have an effective range of over 30,000 feet, there is +reason to worry. Yet by zig-zagging and other devices, the aviators are +rarely brought down by anti-aircraft guns. The small scout machines +with a wing spread of not more than thirty feet are not visible to the +naked eye when at an altitude of over 10,000 feet, and are therefore +safe from these guns at this height. + +But reconnoissance, to be effective, must be done at a much lower +altitude, and sometimes the machine must remain under fire for a +considerable period of time. Poiret, the French aviator, fighting with +the Russians, with a captain of the General Staff for an observer, was +under rifle and shell fire for about twenty minutes. His machine was +up about 4000 feet. Ten bullets and two pieces of shell hit his +airplane, but he never lost control. The captain was shot through the +heel, the bullet coming out of his calf; but he continued taking notes. +They returned in safety to their lines. + +I also did some work in directing artillery fire. For this my machine +was equipped with a wireless apparatus for sending. No method has yet +been devised whereby an airplane in flight can receive wireless +messages. In directing the fire of the big guns, the aviator seeks to +get directly over the object that is under fire, and to signal or send +wireless messages in regard to where the shells land. After the aviator +is in position, the third shot usually reaches the target. + +I am not yet one of the great aces, and will not, therefore, tell you +about any of my air battles. I hope some day you may read of them and +that I may come to have the honor of being named with Lufbery, +Guynemer, Nungesser, Fonk, Bishop, Ball, Gent, Chapman, McConnell, +Prince, Putnam, and other heroes of the air. + +Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford, who won the Victoria Cross for destroying +a giant Zeppelin, is one of the greatest of these; at least, he +performed a feat never accomplished before and never since. + +At three o'clock one morning in June, 1915, he discovered a Zeppelin +returning from bombing towns along the east coast of England. The Huns +shot Captain Fryatt because, as they said, he was a non-combatant and +tried to defend himself. The rule that non-combatants should not attack +military forces was made with the understanding that military forces +would not war on non-combatants. But law, or justice, or agreements +never are allowed by the Huns to stand in their way. This Zeppelin was +returning from a raid in which twenty-four were killed and sixty +seriously injured, nearly all women and children, and all +non-combatants. + +Lieutenant Warneford well knew of the dastardly deeds of the Zeppelins, +and he immediately gave chase, firing as he approached. The Zeppelin +returned his shots. He mounted as rapidly as possible so as to get the +great gas-bag below him, until he reached over 6000 feet and the +Zeppelin was about 150 feet directly below him. Both were moving very +rapidly, and to hit was exceedingly difficult, but he dropped six +bombs, one after the other. One of them hit the Zeppelin squarely, +exploded the gas-bag, and set it afire its entire length. The explosion +turned Lieutenant Warneford's airplane upside down, and although he +soon righted it, he was obliged to land. He was over territory occupied +by the Germans and he landed behind the German lines, but he succeeded +in rising again before being captured, and returned to his hangar in +safety, to tell his marvelous story. The Zeppelin and its crew were +completely destroyed. A few days later Lieutenant Warneford was killed. + +One of the greatest air duels, between airplanes, was during the Battle +of Vimy Ridge. At that time Immelman was as great a German ace as were +Boelke and Richthofen later, and Ball was the greatest of the English. + +One morning Ball learned that Immelman was stationed with the Germans +on the opposite line, and carried him a challenge which read: + + CAPTAIN IMMELMAN: I challenge you to a man-to-man fight to take + place this afternoon at two o'clock. I will meet you over the + German lines. Have your anti-aircraft guns withhold their fire + while we decide which is the better man. The British guns will + be silent. + + BALL. + +Ball dropped this from his airplane behind the German lines, and soon +afterward Immelman dropped his answer behind the British lines: + + CAPTAIN BALL: + + Your challenge is accepted. The German guns will not interfere. + I will meet you promptly at two. + + IMMELMAN. + +A few minutes before two, the guns ceased firing, and all on both sides +fixed their eyes in the air to witness a contest between two knights +that would make the contests of the days of chivalry seem tame. + + [Illustration: A BATTLE IN THE AIR + The French plane at the top is maneuvering for position + preparatory to swooping down on its German adversary. + _Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y._] + +In an air battle, the machine that is higher up is thought to have the +advantage. Both Ball and Immelman went up very high, but Ball was below +and seemed uncertain what to do. The British were afraid that he had +lost his nerve and courage when he found himself below, for he made no +effort to get above his opponent, but was flying now this way and now +that, as if "rattled." + +Immelman did not delay, but went into a nose dive directly towards the +machine below, which he would be able to rake with his machine gun as +he approached; but just at the proper moment, Ball suddenly looped the +loop and was directly above the German, and in position to fire. As the +shower of bullets struck Immelman and his machine, it burst into flames +and dropped like a blazing comet. + +Ball returned to his hangar, got a wreath of flowers, and went into the +air again to drop them upon the spot where Immelman had fallen dead. + +Four days later Ball was killed in a fight with four German planes, but +not until he had brought down three of them. + +But the fighting planes do not get all the thrills in the air. A young +English aviator and his observer who were directing artillery fire in +September, 1918, showed as great devotion and courage as any ace and +lived through as exciting an adventure as ever befell a fighting +plane. + +They were flying over No Man's Land to get the proper range for a +battery which was to destroy a bridge of great value to the Huns. Their +engine had been running badly and back-firing. They would have returned +home had their work been of less importance. + +Suddenly the pilot smelled burning wood, and looking down, saw the +framework near his feet blackened and smoldering. It had caught fire +from the backfire of the engine and the exhaust, but was not yet in a +decided blaze. He turned off the gas and opened the throttle. Then he +made a steep, swift dive, and the powerful rush of the air put the fire +out. + +Then he hesitated, trying to decide whether to "play safe" and go home +or whether to continue their work until the battery had secured the +exact range. He knew that in a very short time and with a little more +observation, their work would be completely successful. So he turned to +the observer and asked him what he thought. The observer leaned over +and examined the damage near the pilot's feet. It did not look very +bad; so he shouted, "Let's carry on." + +Up they went again and in a short time had shells from the battery +falling all about the bridge, which was soon destroyed. Their work was +done, and well done. In the excitement they had forgotten the bad +engine until they heard it give one last sputter and stop. + +Then they perceived the woodwork was on fire again and really blazing +this time. To dive now would only fan the flames about the pilot's +feet, but they must get to the ground, and get there quickly, too. + +The pilot put the machine into a side slip toward the British line. +This fanned the flames away from his feet. The observer squirted the +fire extinguisher on the burning wood near the pilot's feet, and thus +enabled him to keep control of the rudder bar. + +They were now within fifteen hundred feet of the ground, but the heat +was almost unbearable. The right wing was beginning to burn. Down, +down, they went, and luckily towards a fairly good landing place. One +landing wheel struck the ground with such force that it was broken off, +and the airplane bumped along on the other for a short distance until +it finally crashed on its nose and left wing. + +Both pilot and observer were unhurt. They sprang to the ground and +hurried away from the burning wreck just in time, for a few seconds +later the gasoline tank exploded. They looked at each other without a +word, but neither of them regretted that he had stayed up until the job +had been finished. + +Such is the life and the danger of the flyers; but thousands of the +finest young men of all the nations at war eagerly seek the service, +for the aviators are the eyes of the armies and will determine always +more than any other branch which side shall be finally victorious. + + + + +ALAN SEEGER[9] + + +As England and the world lost Rupert Brooke, so America and the world +lost Alan Seeger. English poetry and lovers of beauty expressed in +verse are losers to a greater extent than we can ever know. + +It is not strange that these two young poets should have enlisted at +the very beginning of the war, for they recognized what high-minded men +mean by _noblesse oblige_. Much having been given you, much is expected +from you. Those of the highest education should show the way to those +less favored. So Rupert Brooke enlisted in the English navy, and Alan +Seeger enlisted in the French army as one of the Foreign Legion. + +He felt he owed a debt to France that could only be paid by helping her +in her struggle for life and liberty. He gave his life, at the age of +twenty-eight, to pay the debt. + +Alan Seeger lived a life like that of many other American boys. At +Staten Island where he passed his first years, he could see every day +the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, the skyscrapers of New York, +the ferry boats to the Jersey shore, the great ocean liners inward +bound and outward bound,--all the great and significant things that say +"America" to one landing for the first time at the greatest seaport of +the world. Later he lived in New York and attended the Horace Mann +School. His vacations were spent among the hills and mountains of New +Hampshire and in southern California. He fitted for college at a famous +preparatory school at Tarrytown on the Hudson, attended Harvard +College, and after graduation lived for two years in New York City. All +this is American, and thousands of other American boys have passed +through the same or a similar experience. + +Alan Seeger was romantic. So are most boys. But with most boys, romance +goes no further than books and dreams. "Robinson Crusoe," "Huckleberry +Finn," "Treasure Island," and other tales of adventure and of foreign +lands are all the romance that many know. But, like Rupert Brooke, Alan +Seeger had the opportunity to live romance, as he always declared he +would do. He found it in his life as a boy in Mexico, as a young man in +Paris, and in the Foreign Legion of the French army. The Foreign Legion +was made up of foreigners in France who volunteered to fight with the +French army. Its story is a stirring one of brave deeds and tremendous +losses. To have belonged to it is a great glory. + +Alan Seeger enjoyed life and found the world exceedingly beautiful. He +says, + + From a boy + I gloated on existence. Earth to me + Seemed all sufficient, and my sojourn there + One trembling opportunity for joy. + +Like Rupert Brooke, he thought often of Death, which he feared not at +all. In his beautiful poem entitled, "I Have a Rendezvous with Death," +he looked forward to his own death in the spring of 1916. He lost his +life on July 4 of that year while storming the village of +Belloy-en-Santerre. The first two stanzas are as follows: + + I have a rendezvous with Death + At some disputed barricade, + When Spring comes back with rustling shade + And apple blossoms fill the air-- + I have a rendezvous with Death + When Spring brings back blue days and fair + + It may be he shall take my hand + And lead me into his dark land + And close my eyes and quench my breath-- + It may be I shall pass him still. + I have a rendezvous with Death + On some scarred slope of battered hill, + When Spring comes round again this year + And the first meadow flowers appear. + +Alan Seeger has written two poems that all Americans should know. One +is entitled "Ode in Memory of the American Volunteers Fallen for +France." It was to have been read before the statue of Lafayette and +Washington in Paris, on Memorial Day, 1916; but permission to go to +Paris to read it did not reach Seeger in time, to the disappointment of +him and many others. It is perhaps the best long poem Seeger has +written, although "Champagne, 1914-15" is by many ranked ahead of it. + + * * * * * + +"A man is judged and ranked by that which he considers to be of the +greatest value. Some men believe it is knowledge, and spend their lives +in study and research; some think it is beauty, and vainly seek to +capture it and hold it in song, poem, statue, or painting; some say it +is goodness, and devote their lives to service, self-denial, and +sacrifice; some declare it is life itself, and therefore never kill any +creature and always carefully protect their own lives from disease and +danger; and some are sure it is being true to the best knowledge, the +greatest beauty, the highest good that one can know and feel and +realize; for this alone is life, and times come when the only way to +save one's life is to lose it." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[9] BASED ON POEMS OF ALAN SEEGER, COPYRIGHT HELD BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S +SONS. + + + + +CAN WAR EVER BE RIGHT? + + +After England had entered the war against the Central Powers, Gilbert +Murray, an English writer, asked this question and answered it by +saying "Yes," and giving his reasons. + +He had always favored peace. He hated war, not merely for its own +cruelty and folly, but because it was an enemy of good government, of +friendship and gentleness, and of art, learning, and literature. + +Yet he believed firmly that England was right in declaring war against +Germany on August 4, 1914, and that she would have failed in her duty +if she had remained neutral. France, Russia, Belgium, and Serbia had no +choice. They were obliged to fight, for the war was forced upon them. +Germany did not wish to fight England; but after carefully looking over +the whole matter, England, of her own free will, declared war. She took +upon her shoulders a great responsibility. But she was right. + +With a few changes in the wording and some omissions, the argument of +Gilbert Murray is as follows: + +"How can such a thing be? It is easy enough to see that our cause is +right, and that the German cause is wrong. It is hardly possible to +study the official papers issued by the British, the German, and the +Russian governments, without seeing that Germany--or some party in +Germany--had plotted this war beforehand; that she chose a moment when +she thought her neighbors were at a disadvantage; that she prevented +Austria from making a settlement even at the last moment; that in order +to get more quickly at France she violated her treaty with Belgium. +Evidence shows that she has carried out the violation with a cruelty +that has no equal in the wars of modern and civilized nations. Yet +there may be some people who still feel doubtful. Germany's wrong-doing +they think is no reason for us to do likewise. We did our best to keep +the general peace; there we were right. We failed; the German +government made war in spite of us. There we were unfortunate. It was a +war already on an enormous scale and we decided to make it larger +still. There we were wrong. Could we not have stood aside, as the +United States did, ready to help refugees and sufferers, anxious to +heal wounds and not make them, watchful for the first chance of putting +an end to this time of horror? + +"'Try for a moment,' they say, 'to realize the suffering in one small +corner of a battlefield. You have seen a man here and there badly hurt +in an accident; you have seen perhaps a horse with its back broken, and +you can remember how dreadful it seemed to you. In that one corner how +many men, how many horses, will be lying, hurt far worse, and just +waiting to die? Terrible wounds, extreme torment; and all, further than +any eye can see, multiplied and multiplied! And, for all your just +anger against Germany, what have these wounded done? The horses are not +to blame for anybody's foreign policy. They have only come where their +masters took them. And the masters themselves ... though certain German +rulers and leaders are wicked, these soldiers, peasants, working-men, +shop-keepers, and schoolmasters, have really done nothing in +particular; at least, perhaps they have now, but they had not up to the +time when you, seeing they were in war and misery already, decided to +make war on them also and increase their sufferings. You say that +justice must be done on such wrong-doers. But as far as the rights and +wrongs of the war go, you are simply condemning to death and torture +innocent men, by thousands and thousands; is that the best way to +satisfy your sense of justice? These innocent people, you say, are +fighting to protect the guilty parties whom you are determined to +reach. Well, perhaps, at the end of the war, after millions of innocent +people have suffered, you may at last, if all goes well with your arms, +get at the "guilty parties." You will hold an inquiry, you will decide +that certain Prussians with long titles are the guilty parties, and +even then you will not know what to do with them. You will probably +try, and almost certainly fail, to make them somehow feel ashamed. It +is likely enough that they will instead become great national heroes. + +"'And after all, this is supposed to be a war in which one party is +wrong and the other right, and the right wins. Suppose both are wrong; +or suppose the wrong party wins? It is as likely as not; for, if the +right party is helped by his good conscience, the wrong has probably +taken pains to have the odds on his side before he began quarreling. In +that case, all the wild waste of blood and treasure, all the suffering +of innocent people and dumb animals, all the tears of women and +children have not set up the right, but established the wrong. To do a +little evil that great or certain good may come is all very well; but +to do great evil for only a chance of getting something which half the +people may think good and the other half think bad ... that is neither +good morals nor good sense. Anybody not in a passion must see that it +is insanity,' So they say who think war always wrong. + +"Their argument is wrong. It is judging war as a profit-and-loss +account. It leaves out of sight the fact that in some causes it is +better to fight and be broken than to yield peacefully; that sometimes +the mere act of resisting to the death is in itself a victory. + +"Let us try to understand this. The Greeks who fought and died at +Thermopyl had no doubt that they were doing right to fight and die, +and we all agree with them. They probably knew they would be defeated. +They probably expected that, after their defeat, the Persians would +easily conquer the rest of Greece, and would treat it much more harshly +because it had resisted. But such thoughts did not affect them. They +would not consent to their country's dishonor. + +"Take again a very clear modern case: the fine story of the French +tourist who was captured, together with a priest and some other white +people, by Moorish robbers. The Moors gave their prisoners the choice +either to trample on the Cross or to be killed. The Frenchman was not a +Christian. He disliked Christianity. But he was not going to trample on +the Cross at the orders of a robber. He stuck to his companions and +died with them. + +"Honor and dishonor are real things. I will not try to define them; but +will only notice that, like religion, they admit no bargaining. Indeed, +we can almost think of honor as being simply that which a free man +values more than life, and dishonor as that which he avoids more than +suffering or death. And the important point for us is that there are +such things as honor and dishonor. + +"There are some people, followers of Tolstoy, who accept this as far as +dying is concerned, but will have nothing to do with killing. Passive +resistance, they say, is right; martyrdom is right; but to resist +violence by violence is sin. + +"I was once walking with a friend of Tolstoy's in a country lane, and a +little girl was running in front of us. I put to him the well-known +question: 'Suppose you saw a man, wicked or drunk or mad, run out and +attack that child. You are a big man, and carry a big stick: would you +not stop him and, if necessary, knock him down?' 'No,' he said, 'why +should I commit a sin. I would try to persuade him, I would stand in +his way, I would let him kill me, but I would not strike him,' Some few +people will always be found, less than one in a thousand, to take this +view. They will say: 'Let the little girl be killed or carried off; let +the wicked man commit another wickedness; I, at any rate, will not add +to the mass of useless violence that I see all around me.' + +"With such persons one cannot reason, though one can often respect +them. Nearly every normal man will feel that the real sin, the real +dishonor, lies in allowing such an act to be committed under your eyes +while you have the strength to prevent it. And the stronger you are, +the greater your chance of success, by so much the more are you bound +to interfere. If the robbers are overpoweringly strong and there is no +chance of beating them, then and only then should you think of +martyrdom. Martyrdom is not the best possibility. It is almost the +worst. It is the last resort when there is no hope of successful +resistance. The best thing--suppose once the robbers are there and +intent on crime--the best thing is to overawe them at once; the next +best, to defeat them after a hard struggle; the third best, to resist +vainly and be martyred; the worst of all, the one evil that need never +be endured, is to let them have their own will without protest. + +"We have noticed that in all these cases of honor there seems to be no +counting of cost, no balancing of good and evil. Ordinarily we are +always balancing results, but when honor or religion come on the scene, +all such balancing ceases. The point of honor is the point at which a +man says to some wrong proposal, 'I will not do it. I will rather die.' + +"These things are far easier to see where one man is concerned than +where it is a whole nation. But they arise with nations, too. In the +case of a nation the material consequences are much larger, and the +point of honor is apt to be less clear. But, in general, whenever one +nation in dealing with another relies simply on force or fraud, and +denies to its neighbor the common consideration due to human beings, a +point of honor must arise. + +"Austria says suddenly to Serbia: 'You are a wicked little state. I +have annexed and governed against their will some millions of your +countrymen, yet you are still full of anti-Austrian feeling, which I +do not intend to allow. You will dismiss from your service all +officials, politicians, and soldiers who do not love Austria, and I +will further send you from time to time lists of persons whom you are +to dismiss or put to death. And if you do not agree to this within +forty-eight hours, I, being vastly stronger than you, will make you. As +a matter of fact, Serbia did her very best to comply with Austria's +demands; she accepted about two thirds of them, and asked for +arbitration on the remaining third. But it is clear that she could not +accept them all without being dishonored. That is, Serbia would have +given up her freedom at the threat of force; the Serbs would no longer +be a free people, and every individual Serb would have been humiliated. +He would have confessed himself to be the kind of man who will yield +when an Austrian bullies him. And if it is urged that under good +Austrian government Serbia would become richer and safer, and the +Serbian peasants get better markets, such pleas cannot be listened to. +They are a price offered for slavery; and a free man will not accept +slavery at any price. + +"Germany, again, says to Belgium: 'We have no quarrel with you, but we +intend for certain reasons to march across your territory and perhaps +fight a battle or two there. We know that you are pledged by treaty not +to allow any such thing, but we cannot help that. Consent, and we will +pay you afterwards; refuse, and we shall make you wish you had never +been born.' At that moment Belgium was a free, self-governing state. If +it had yielded to Germany's demand, it would have ceased to be either +free or self-governing. It is possible that, if Germany had been +completely victorious, Belgium would have suffered no great material +injury; but she would have taken orders from a stranger who had no +right to give them, simply because he was strong. Belgium refused. She +has had some of her towns destroyed, some thousands of her soldiers +killed, many more thousands of her women, children, and non-combatants +outraged and beggared; but she is still free. She still has her honor. + +"Let us think this matter out more closely. The follower of Tolstoy +will say: 'We speak of Belgium's honor and Serbia's honor; but who is +Serbia and who is Belgium? There is no such person as either. There are +only great numbers of people who happen to be Serbians and Belgians, +and who mostly have had nothing to do with questions at issue. Some of +them are honorable people, some dishonorable. The honor of each one of +them depends very much on whether he pays his debts and tells the +truth, but not in the least on whether a number of foreigners walk +through his country or interfere with his government. King Albert and +his ministers might feel humiliated if the German government compelled +them to give way against their will; but would the ordinary +population? Would the ordinary peasant or shop-keeper or artisan in the +districts of Vise and Lige and Louvain have felt particularly +disgraced or ashamed? He would probably have made a little money and +been greatly amused by the sight of the troops passing. He would not +have suffered any injury that can for a moment be compared with what he +has suffered now, in order that his government might feel proud of +itself.' + +"I will not raise the point that, as a matter of fact, to grant a right +of way to Germany would have been to declare war against France, so +that Belgium would not, by giving up her independence, have been spared +the danger of war. I will assume that it was simply a question of +honor. And I believe that our follower of Tolstoy is very wrong. + +"Is it true, in a healthy and well-governed state, that the average +citizen is indifferent to the honor of his country? We know that it is +not. True, the average citizen may often not understand what is going +on, but as soon as he knows, he cares. Suppose for a moment that the +King, or the Prime Minister, or the President of the United States, +were found to be in the pay of a foreign state, can any one pretend +that the ordinary citizens of Great Britain or America would take it +quietly? That any normal man would be found saying: 'Well, the King, or +the President, or the Prime Minister, is behaving dishonorably, but +that is a matter for him, not for me. I am an honest and honorable man, +and my government can do what it likes.' The notion is absurd. The +ordinary citizen would feel instantly and without question that his +country's honor involved his own. And woe to the society in which it +were otherwise! We know of such societies in history. They are the kind +which is called 'corrupt,' and which generally has not long to live. +Belgium has proved that she is not that kind of society. + +"But what about Great Britain herself? At the present moment a very +clear case has arisen, and we can test our own feelings. Great Britain +had, by a solemn treaty, pledged herself to help keep the neutrality of +Belgium. Belgium is a little state lying between two very strong +states, France and Germany, and in danger of being overrun or abused by +one of them unless the Great Powers guaranteed her safety. The treaty, +signed by Prussia, Russia, Austria, France, and Great Britain, bound +all these Powers not to attack Belgium, move troops into it, or annex +any part of it; and further, to resist by armed force any Power which +should try to do any of these things. Belgium, on her part, was bound +to maintain her own neutrality to the best of her power, and not to +side with any state which was at war with another. + +"At the end of July, 1914, the exact case arose in which we had +pledged ourselves to act. Germany, suddenly and without excuse, invaded +Belgium, and Belgium appealed to us and France to defend her. Meantime +she fought alone, desperately, against overwhelming odds. The issue was +clear. The German Chancellor, Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, in his speech +of August 6, admitted that Germany had no grievance against Belgium, +and no excuse except 'necessity.' She could not get to France quick +enough by the direct road. Germany put her case to us, roughly, on +these grounds. 'True, you did sign a treaty, but what is a treaty? We +ourselves signed the same treaty, and see what we are doing! Anyhow, +treaty or no treaty, we have Belgium in our power. If she had done what +we wanted, we would have treated her kindly; as it is we shall show her +no mercy. If you will now do what we want and stay quiet, later on we +will consider a friendly deal with you. If you interfere, you must take +the consequences. We trust you will not be so insane as to plunge your +whole empire into danger for the sake of "a scrap of paper."' Our +answer was: 'Evacuate Belgium within twelve hours or we fight you.' + +"I think that answer was right. Consider the situation carefully. No +question arises of overhaste or lack of patience on our part. From the +first moment of the crisis, we had labored night and day in every court +of Europe for any possible means of peace. We had carefully and +sincerely explained to Germany beforehand what attitude she might +expect from us. We did not send our ultimatum till Belgium was already +invaded. It is just the plain question put to the British government, +and, I think, to every one who feels himself a British citizen: 'The +exact case contemplated in your treaty has arisen: the people you swore +to protect is being massacred; will you keep your word at a gigantic +cost, or will you break it at the bidding of Germany?' For my own part, +weighing the whole question, I would rather die than submit; and I +believe that the government, in deciding to keep its word at the cost +of war, has expressed the feeling of the average British citizen. + +"War is not all evil. It is a true tragedy, which must have nobleness +and triumph in it as well as disaster, but we must not begin to praise +war without stopping to reflect on the hundreds of thousands of human +beings involved in such horrors of pain that, if here in our ordinary +hours we saw one man so treated, the memory would sicken us to the end +of our lives; we must remember the horses and dogs, remember the gentle +natures brutalized by hardship and filth, and the once decent persons +transformed by rage and fear into devils of cruelty. But, when we have +realized that, we may begin to see in this desert of evil some oases of +good. + +"Do the fighting men become degraded? Day after day come streams of +letters from the front, odd stories, fragments of diaries, and the +like; full of the small intimate facts which reveal character, and +almost with one accord they show that these men have not fallen, but +risen. No doubt there has been some selection in the letters; to some +extent the writers repeat what they wish to have remembered, and say +nothing of what they wish to forget. But, when all allowances are made, +one cannot read the letters and the dispatches without a feeling of +admiration for the men about whom they tell. They were not originally a +set of chosen men. They were just our ordinary fellow citizens, the men +you meet on a crowded pavement. There was nothing to suggest that their +conduct in common life was better than that of their neighbors. Yet +now, under the stress of war, having a duty before them that is clear +and unquestioned and terrible, they are daily doing nobler things than +we most of us have ever had the chance of doing, things which we hardly +dare hope that we might be able to do. I am not thinking of the rare +achievements that win a V.C. or a Cross of the Legion of Honor, but of +the common necessary heroism of the average man; the long endurance, +the devoted obedience, the close-banded life in which self-sacrifice is +the normal rule, and all men may be forgiven except the man who saves +himself at the expense of his comrade. I think of the men who share +their last biscuit with a starving peasant, who help wounded comrades +through days and nights of horrible retreat, who give their lives to +save mates or officers. + +"For example, to take these two stories: + +"Relating his experiences to a pressman, Lance-Corporal Edmondson, of +the Royal Irish Lancers, said: 'There is absolutely no doubt that our +men are still animated by the spirit of old. I came on a couple of men +of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had been cut off at Mons. +One was badly wounded, but his companion had stuck by him all the time +in a country swarming with Germans, and, though they had only a few +biscuit between them, they managed to pull through until we picked them +up. I pressed the unwounded man to tell me how they managed to get +through the four days on six biscuit, but he always got angry and told +me to shut up. I fancy he went without anything, and gave the biscuit +to the wounded man. They were offered shelter many times by French +peasants, but they were so afraid of bringing trouble on these kind +folk that they would never accept shelter. One night they lay out in +the open all through a heavy downpour, though there was a house at hand +where they could have had shelter. Uhlans were on the prowl, and they +would not think of compromising the French people, who would have been +glad to help them.' + +"The following story of an unidentified private of the Royal Irish +Regiment, who deliberately threw away his life in order to warn his +comrades of an ambush, is told by a wounded corporal of the West +Yorkshire Regiment now in hospital in Woolwich: + +"'The fight in which I got hit was in a little French village near to +Rheims. We were working in touch with the French corps on our left, and +early one morning we were sent ahead to this village, which we had +reason to believe was clear of the enemy. On the outskirts we +questioned a French lad, but he seemed scared and ran away. We went on +through the long narrow street, and just as we were in sight of the +end, the figure of a man dashed out from a farmhouse on the right. +Immediately the rifles began to crack in front, and the poor chap fell +dead before he reached us. + +"'He was one of our men, a private of the Royal Irish Regiment. We +learned that he had been captured the previous day by a party of German +cavalry, and had been held a prisoner at the farm, where the Germans +were in ambush for us. He tumbled to their game, and though he knew +that if he made the slightest sound they would kill him, he decided to +make a dash to warn us of what was in store. He had more than a dozen +bullets in him and there was not the slightest hope for him. We carried +him into a house until the fight was over, and then we buried him next +day with military honors. His identification disk and everything else +was missing, so that we could only put over his grave the tribute that +was paid to a greater: "He saved others; himself he could not save." +There wasn't a dry eye among us when we laid him to rest in that little +village.' + +"Or I think again of the expressions on faces that I have seen or read +about, something alert and glad and self-respecting in the eyes of +those who are going to the front, and even of the wounded who are +returning. 'Never once,' writes one correspondent, 'not once since I +came to France have I seen among the soldiers an angry face or heard an +angry word.... They are always quiet, orderly, and wonderfully +cheerful.' And no one who has followed the war need be told of their +heroism. I do not forget the thousands left on the battlefield to die, +or the groaning of the wounded sounding all day between the crashes of +the guns. But there is a strange, deep gladness as well. 'One feels an +extraordinary freedom,' says a young Russian officer, 'in the midst of +death, with the bullets whistling round. The same with all the +soldiers. The wounded all want to get well and return to the fight. +They fight with tears of joy in their eyes.' + +"Human nature is a mysterious thing, and man finds his weal and woe not +in the obvious places. To have something before you, clearly seen, +which you know you must do, and can do, and will spend your utmost +strength and perhaps your life in doing, that is one form at least of +very high happiness, and one that appeals--the facts prove it--not only +to saints and heroes but to average men. Doubtless the few who are wise +enough and have enough imagination, may find opportunity for that same +happiness in everyday life, but in war ordinary men find it. This is +the inward triumph which lies at the heart of the great tragedy." + + * * * * * + + O yet we trust that somehow good + Will be the final goal of ill, + To pangs of nature, sins of will, + Defects of doubt, and taints of blood; + + That nothing walks with aimless feet; + That not one life shall be destroyed, + Or cast as rubbish to the void, + When God hath made the pile complete; + + That not a worm is cloven in vain; + That not a moth with vain desire + Is shrivelled in a fruitless fire, + Or but subserves another's gain. + + Behold, we know not anything; + I can but trust that good shall fall + At last--far off--at last, to all, + And every winter change to spring. + + ALFRED TENNYSON. + + + + +WHAT ONE AMERICAN DID[10] + + +If a person had been standing one night beside the railroad tracks in +Germany in the fall of 1917, he would have seen a train speeding along +through the darkness at about thirty-five miles an hour. He would have +noticed through an open window a tall soldier in the uniform of an +English flyer, a lieutenant in the R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps), stand +up on the seat as if to get something out of the rack; and then he +would have been astounded to see the same tall English flyer come +flying out feet first through the window, to land on the side of his +head on the stone ballast of the opposite track. + +Few persons could do this and come through alive. This English flyer a +few weeks before had fallen eight thousand feet, with a bullet in his +neck, when his airplane had been shot down in a fight with four German +machines. When picked up within the German lines, he was enough alive +to be taken to a hospital. The bullet was removed, and he recovered. He +was a British flyer, simply because America did not enter the war soon +enough for him, and like many other young Americans, he was eager to +fight the German beast and "save the world for democracy." + +He was being taken with six other officers from a prison in Belgium to +a prison camp in Germany. He knew that, once there, his chances for +escape would be very small; and he felt he preferred death to life in a +German prison camp. He knew that, if he were not killed in his leap +from the train, the Germans would doubtless shoot him as a spy, should +they succeed in recapturing him. Some Germans wanted all Americans who +enlisted in the Allied armies to be shot, as they had shot Captain +Fryatt, on the ground that they were non-combatants attacking war +forces; for this was before America entered the war against Germany. +Besides, prisoners were not allowed to know what was going on in +Germany. An escaped prisoner who could find out was, therefore, likely +to be treated as a spy. + +Pat O'Brien's cheek was cut open, and his left eye badly injured and +swollen so that he could not open it. He had scratched his hands and +wrists, and sprained his ankle. But he was hard to kill. In the +excitement caused by his jump through the car window, the Germans did +not stop the train immediately, and so did not reach the spot where he +had fallen, until he had recovered consciousness and had got away from +the track. He was careful in walking away to hold the tail of his coat +so that the blood dropping from his cheek would not fall upon the +ground and show which way he went. Before daylight he had been able to +put more than five miles between him and the tracks. He then hid in a +deep woods, knowing that he must travel by night and keep out of sight +by day, for he was wearing the uniform of a British flyer. + +The story of his adventures is one of the most interesting of all the +strange and interesting stories of the World War. When he reached +England, King George sent for him to come to Buckingham Palace and +spent nearly an hour listening to it. Lieutenant O'Brien has published +it in a book which he calls "Outwitting the Hun." Boys and girls who +like an exciting story of adventure, a true story, will want to read +this book. + +He knew the North Star, and by this he set his course west, in order to +reach Belgium, and then go north from Belgium to Holland. It rained a +great share of the time, but this did not make much difference, for he +had to swim so many canals and rivers that his clothes were always wet. +At first he had taken off his clothes when he had to swim and had tied +them in a bundle to his head to keep them from getting wet; but after +he lost one of his shoes in the water in this way and had to spend +nearly two hours diving before he recovered it, he swam with his +clothes and shoes on. He never could have gone on without shoes. Had +he not been a good diver, he could not have found the shoe in the mud +under eight feet of water; had he not been a good swimmer, he could not +have crossed the Meuse River, nearly half a mile wide, after many days +and nights of traveling almost without food (as it was, he dropped in a +dead faint when he reached the farther side); and had he not known the +North Star, he would have had no idea at night whether he was going in +the right direction or going in, a circle. Rainy and cloudy nights +delayed him greatly. + +He did not dare ask for food at the houses in Germany, for he would +have been immediately turned over to the authorities. So he lived on +raw carrots, turnips, cabbages, sugar beets, and potatoes, which he +found in the fields. He knew he must not make a fire even if he could +do so in the Indian's way, by rubbing sticks together. He had no +matches. He found some celery one night and ate so much of it that it +made him sick. He had only the water in the canals and rivers to drink, +and most of this was really unfit for human beings. He lay for an hour +one night in a cabbage field lapping the dew from the cabbage leaves, +he was so thirsty for pure, fresh water. + +One day before he reached Belgium, he was awakened from his sleep in +the woods by voices near him. He kept very quiet, and soon heard the +sound of axes and saw a great tree, not far from him, tremble. He was +lying in a clump of thick bushes and could not move without making a +noise. He knew that if the great tree with its huge branches fell in +his direction, he would surely be killed or at least pinned to the +earth and badly injured--and his capture meant that he would be shot as +a spy. But there was nothing for him to do but wait, and hope. At last +the tree began to sway, and then fell away from him instead of towards +him. He had again escaped death. + +When he reached Belgium, which he did in eighteen days after his escape +through the car window, he followed the North Star, for he knew Holland +was to the north, and once in Holland he would be free. His feet were +sore and bleeding, his knees badly swollen, and he was sick from +exposure and starvation. For a while, he had a severe fever and raved +and talked all night long in his half sleeping state. He feared some +one would hear him and that he would be taken. He was weary and tired +of struggling and fighting, and ready to give up; but his will, his +soul, would not let him. He tells us how he raved when the fever was on +him, and called on the North Star to save him from the coward, Pat +O'Brien, who wanted him to quit. + +He says he cried aloud, "There you are, you old North Star! You want me +to get to Holland, don't you? But this Pat O'Brien--this Pat O'Brien +who calls himself a soldier--he's got a yellow streak--North Star--and +he says it can't be done! He wants me to quit--to lie down here for +the Huns to find me and take me back to Courtrai--after all you've +done, North Star, to lead me to liberty. Won't you make this coward +leave me, North Star? I don't want to follow him--I just want to follow +you--because you--you are taking me away from the Huns and this Pat +O'Brien--this fellow who keeps after me all the time and leans on my +neck and wants me to lie down--this yellow Pat O'Brien who wants me to +go back to the Huns!" + +In Belgium, he had a somewhat easier time, as far as food went, for he +found he could go to the Belgian houses and ask for it. As he could not +speak the language, and did not want them to know he was an English +soldier, he pretended he was deaf and dumb. He had finally succeeded in +getting some overalls and discarding his uniform. + +Belgium was full of German soldiers, many of them living in the houses +of the Belgians, so he was obliged to use extreme care in approaching a +house to ask for food or help. Every Belgian was supposed to carry a +card, called in German an _Ausweiss_. It identified the bearer when +stopped by a German sentinel or soldier. Lieutenant O'Brien knew that +without this card he would be arrested and that his looks made him a +suspicious character. His eye had hardly healed, his face was covered +with a three weeks' beard, and altogether he was a disreputable looking +creature. + +After very many interesting and exciting experiences, he succeeded in +reaching the boundary line. To prevent Belgians taking refuge in +Holland and to prevent escaped prisoners, and even German soldiers, +from crossing the line into this neutral country, where, if they were +in uniform, they would be interned for the rest of the war, the Germans +had built all along the line three barbed wire fences, six feet apart. +The center fence was charged with electricity of such a voltage that +any human being coming in contact with it would be instantly +electrocuted. This triple barrier of wire was guarded by German +sentinels day and night. + +Lieutenant O'Brien reached the barrier in the night, and hid himself +when he heard the tramp of the German sentinel. He waited until the +sentinel returned and noted carefully how long he was gone, in order to +learn how much time he had in which to work. + +He thought he could build a ladder out of two fallen trees by tying +branches across them, and in this way get over the ten-foot center +fence. He succeeded in getting his ladder together, by working all +night, and with it he hid in the woods all the next day. When night +came, he shoved the ladder under the first barbed wire fence and +crawled in after it. He placed it carefully up against one of the posts +to which the charged electric wires were fastened and began to climb up +it, when all of a sudden it slipped and came in contact with the live +wires. The trees out of which he had constructed it were so soaked with +water that they made good conductors of electricity, and he received +such a charge that he was thrown to the ground unconscious, where he +lay while the sentinel passed within seven feet of him. + +He gave up the ladder and decided to dig under the live wires. He had +only his hands to dig with, but the ground was fairly soft. After some +hours, he had a hole deep enough and wide enough to crawl through +without touching the live wire. He found a wire running along under the +ground. He knew this could not be alive, for the ground would discharge +any electricity there might be in it. So he took hold of it and, after +much struggling, was able to get it out of the way. Then he crawled +carefully under the live wires and was a free man in Holland, for he +wore no uniform and would not be interned. + +At the first village he came to, some of the Dutch people loaned him +enough money to ride third-class to Rotterdam. He said he was glad he +was not riding first-class, for he would have looked as much out of +place in a first-class compartment as a Hun would in heaven. + +The English consul at Rotterdam gave him money and a passport to +England, and from there he came to see his mother, in a little town in +Illinois, called Momence. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] BY COURTESY OF HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. + + + + +RAEMAEKERS + + +There are many ways of fighting, and the Germans, in their forty-four +years of planning to conquer the world, thought of them all. The only +forces they neglected were the mighty forces of fairness, justice, +innocence, pity, purity, friendship, love, and other similar spiritual +forces that Americans have been taught to look upon as the greatest of +all. + +There is a force called Rumor which sometimes speaks the truth, but +which usually lies, that is a great power for evil and rarely for good. +The Germans used this with the Italian troops in Italy, sending into +their lines, by dropping them from airplanes and in other ways, all +sorts of rumors about Austria and Italy, about the coming collapse of +the Allies, about what great friends the Russians and Germans had +become when the Russians realized that it was foolish and wrong to +fight,--until the Italian soldiers lost the spirit which had carried +them over the Alps and very near to the conquest of Austria, and were +then easily defeated in the next powerful Austrian attack. + +German agents spread stories through the papers of the United States to +help Germany in the eyes and minds of the American people. They bought +leading papers in Paris and one in New York to use in misleading people +as to Germany's actions and aims. They printed lies for their own +people to make them believe the war was forced on Germany, and that +they were fighting against the whole world, for their lives and for +liberty. They published cartoons in German papers in great numbers to +carry, even to those who could not read, the ideas about the war and +about her enemies that German rulers wished the people to believe. + +The German leaders, in all lines, realize the power of advertising, and +they tried to fill men's eyes and ears with false statements of the +German cause. Not long ago almost any kind of advertisement was allowed +in the papers published in the United States. Pictures of a man +perfectly bald were printed side by side with others of a man with +flowing locks, all the result of a few applications of Dr. Quack's +Wonderful Hair Restorer, or some other equally good. Letters were +published, bought and paid for, often from prominent people, declaring +that two bottles (or more) of some patent medicine had made them over +from hopeless invalids to vigorous, joyous manhood or womanhood. +Falsehoods, or at least misleading statements, were given about +foodstuffs, either on the packages or in advertisements about them. + +But the United States government soon put a stop to this +misrepresentation and compelled advertisers and food manufacturers not +only to stop lying, but even to print the truth; and the manufacture +and sale of things injurious to the public health were controlled. The +American people want honesty, frankness, and fair dealing in all +things. + +The Germans seem to be a different kind of people in every way. It is +to be hoped that sometime they will cease to act as manufacturers of +patent medicines and adulterated foods were accustomed to act; but as +long as Germany is after material gain, as these manufacturers were +after money, it is very likely that she will seek to get it by deceit +and lying, until the governments of the earth oblige her to be honest, +or quit business. + +It is said that it takes a long time to catch a lie. It depends, +however, upon how many get after it and how swift and powerful they +are. German lies have been counted upon as a considerable part of her +fighting forces. She has spent millions of dollars and used thousands +of men in this service. Is it not strange that one little, almost +insignificant looking Dutchman, hardly heard of before the war, has +been able almost alone to defeat the money and the men used by Germany +to hoodwink the world? But this Dutchman, Louis Raemaekers, working for +the _Amsterdam Telegraf_, had for years seen through German ideas and +aims. He says, "Germany has never made any secret of her ideas or her +intentions, She has always been frank, as selfish people often are. I +have seen through the German idea for more than twenty years. A +generation ago, I saw, as every one who cared to see did, what it was +leading us to; in fact, Germany told us." + +And he adds about the German people: "There is only one way to reach +the modern German. Beat him over the head. He understands nothing else. +The world must go on beating him over the head until he cries 'Enough'; +or the world can never live with him." + +Knowing Germany, and that German victory meant the loss of all that is +really worth while in this world, the loss of liberty, and the +destruction of any government that is what Lincoln said all governments +should be, "of the people, for the people, and by the people"--Louis +Raemaekers fought Germany with his pen and his brush, and fought her so +well that the German government offered a large reward for him dead or +alive, and a leading German writer said he had done more harm to the +Prussian cause than an armed division of Allied troops. + +The _Cologne Gazette_, in a furious article dealing with Raemaekers, +declared that after the war Germany would settle accounts with Holland +and would demand payment with interest for the damage done Germany by +his cartoons. + + [Illustration: CIVILIZATION UNDER THE LASH + Taken from "Raemaekers' Cartoon History of the War," by + permission of The Century Company.] + +Some of the Dutch people feared Germany so greatly that they succeeded +in bringing Raemaekers to trial for having violated the neutrality of +Holland. German influence was strong in Holland, and Raemaekers was +hated by many of his own people; but the better sense of the Dutch +triumphed, and he was acquitted. + +One of his first cartoons represented Germany in the form of the +Kaiser, wearing a German uniform and spiked helmet, with a foot upon +the body of Luxemburg and a knee upon the prostrate form of Belgium, +whom he was choking to death. He holds an uplifted sword in his hand +and is saying, "This is how I deal with the small fry." + +Another shows with almost sickening force the heart-breaking suffering +of Belgian mothers, as contrasted with the cruelty and hard-heartedness +of the Huns. A Belgian woman is kneeling beside a pile of dead from her +village, with an expression of almost insane suffering upon her face. A +German officer is passing, with one hand thrust into his coat front and +a cigar in his mouth. He stops to say, "Ah! was your boy among the +twelve this morning? Then you'll find him among this lot." + +A third shows a German looting a house and carrying away everything +that he thinks is of value to him. The furniture is smashed and a woman +and child lie dead on the floor. The Hun is saying, "It's all right. If +I had not done it some one else might." + +A fourth shows a line of hostages standing in front of a wall to be +shot for an offense that the German officer in command claims some one +in the village committed. Those taken as hostages are innocent of wrong +doing. The cartoon shows the ends of the barrels of the German muskets +pointed at the hearts of the hostages and a German officer with his +sword raised and his lips parted to give the order to fire. It shows +but four of the hostages: an old man, probably the mayor of the town; a +white-haired priest; a well-to-do man, and his son, about fourteen +years of age. The boy is asking, "Father, what have we done?"--the cry +that went up to their Heavenly Father from thousands of martyrs in +Belgium. + +It is no wonder that the German rulers fear this Dutch artist more than +they do a division of soldiers. His fighting against the Huns and their +atrocities and against the German nature and teaching that made these +atrocities possible will continue in every nation of the earth, as long +as printing presses furnish pictures and people look at them. + +His pen or pencil wrote a language that all could read, and they spoke +the truth so that it turned all who read it against the modern Hun. + +When he visited England, one of the leading papers declared that he was +a genius, probably the only genius produced by the war; and that long +after the most exciting and interesting articles in newspapers and +magazines were forgotten, and the great number of books on the war had +been lost or stowed away in dusty garrets, his cartoons would live and +stir the indignation of men yet unborn; and that Louis Raemaekers had +nailed the Kaiser to a cross of immortal infamy. + +France has honored him as one of the great heroes of the war, and has +given him the Legion of Honor. + +George Creel says, "He is a voice, a sword, a flame. His cartoons are +the tears of women, the battle shout of indomitable defenders, the +indignation of humanity, the sob of civilization. They will go down in +history." + +One of the wonderful painters of old Japan put so much of himself, of +his soul and heart, into every stroke of his brush that it was said, +"If a swift and keen sword should cut through his brush at work, it +would bleed." + +Through the pen and brush of Louis Raemaekers has pulsed the heart +blood of suffering Belgium and horrified humanity; and for this reason, +his cartoons are inspired and move the hearts and minds of all men to +despise and condemn those who could commit such inhuman deeds. + + + + +THE GOD IN MAN + + +A soldier on the firing step, aiming at the enemy, is suddenly struck; +and he drops down to the bottom of the trench. His nearest comrade must +keep on firing, but two stretcher-bearers are ready at their posts. +They rush forward, take the first-aid packet from the soldier's pocket, +cut his clothes away from the wound, and quickly dress it. They carry +him to the trench doctor, who treats the wound again. Then they take +the soldier from the trenches to the nearest field ambulance, where his +wound is again cared for. + +He is so badly hurt that he needs to recover far from the sound of the +thundering cannon. But he is not so seriously injured that he cannot +stand a short journey. So he is placed, as comfortably as possible, in +an ambulance train, with skilled Red Cross nurses to attend to him. The +train arrives just in time to meet the hospital ship at the port. The +soldier is carried on board, and soon finds himself in a quiet hospital +in London--all in little more than twenty-four hours, a day and a +night. + +So thousands of men have been cared for each week, by a never-ending +line of devoted Red Cross stretcher-bearers, doctors, and nurses, on +the battlefield, on the trains, on hospital ships, and in the home +hospitals, in London, and in every fighting country in the world. + +Somewhat back from the lines are the stationary hospitals, where many +soldiers are left who cannot be carried farther, but must be treated +there. "Mushroom hospitals" they are called; for, although they have +the appearance of having been there before, they really have sprung up +only since the war started. The wards are spotlessly clean, filled with +rows and rows of beds, also spotlessly clean. Beyond are the operating +rooms, baths, kitchens, and gardens filled with flowers, where the +wounded men may breathe fresh air and get back the strength which they +have so willingly lost in service. All the time, hundreds of new +patients are arriving, hundreds are leaving, either to go to more +distant hospitals, or to go back to the lines to fight. + +In comes one soldier who does not see or know where he is, nor who it +was that brought him. But when at last he opens his eyes, he finds +himself in a spotlessly clean white bed for the first time in months. +He looks about, and yes, there is Bobby, his own pet collie, sitting +beside him. He had lost him when he went over the top in the fight; but +somehow Bobby had followed him here, and somebody had been kind enough +to let him stay beside his master in this clean and pleasant room. + +By and by the wounded soldier grows well enough to be carried out into +the garden. There he and Bobby sit and watch the men caring for the +flowers. These men are not hired; they are wounded soldiers helping +about the hospital. The garden itself was made by a soldier who was a +gardener before the war. Every man helps with his knowledge of some +trade. The napkin rings and salt cellars used in the hospital were made +by a soldier tinsmith out of old biscuit boxes. + +One day our wounded soldier becomes so well that he may walk away with +Bobby, and a nurse brings him his suit, his rifle, and all his +equipment, nicely cleansed and put in order. + +So everybody does his bit in the hospitals. Dentists and +eye-specialists, surgeons and nurses, wearing the Red Cross, work +tirelessly from morning till night and sometimes both day and night, to +save the brave wounded men. They do their work as best they can, +sweetly and cheerfully, caring for the German soldiers as well as for +their own Allied soldiers. To know of them, to watch them in their work +of mercy, is to realize that there is something different from the +beast in man--there is the God in man, the spirit of love and tender, +skillful care, which they dare to give in the face of awful danger. + +One of the brave nurses wrote home to America something of all she was +doing. Among many things, she said: "The Huns were pouring down in +streams to attack our men. I immediately began to get the hospital +ready to receive the wounded. + +"Our surgeon was away on leave, but another equally good arrived. On +Tuesday, the wounded men began to come in. Wednesday and Thursday I +served from early morning until midnight. Bombs were bursting in the +distance, and news came that the Huns were within a few miles of us. + +"A Red Cross unit came, and one English nurse arrived to help us. She +had lost the others in her party, and had walked miles to get here. It +seemed as if God had sent them all from heaven! + +"All the surgical supplies that I could save from those you sent me +from the Red Cross, I had put away for emergency. I don't know what we +would have done without them! + +"I had to see that the surgeons had whatever they needed, and from all +sides every one was calling for help. Through it all, I was up every +morning at four and never went to bed till midnight. The cannon were +roaring, star shells exploding, bombs dropping around us,--but nothing +touching us! + +"For eight days our men fought gloriously. They were a wonder and such +a surprise to the Huns. Now perhaps they know what they have to face! + +"The little hospital was able to save many, many lives. We have sent +away most of our wounded to-day, and are now waiting in suspense for +what may come next--but we are ready to do our best, whatever comes. + +"We do not dare keep the seriously wounded now for any length of time, +for no one knows when the Huns may fight their way through. We know +what the 'front line' really means. No one goes in or out except by +military or Red Cross camion. No private telegrams can be sent, and to +our joy, we do not have to bother with food-ration cards, for a while +at least. _Boches_ are over our heads all day, and cannons booming. I +am so used to it now that I don't mind it. + +"I am so homesick to see you all, but I will not leave my work until +the end of this horrible war, if God will give me health and strength. +Don't worry. I intend to stick to my post to the end, and if the Huns +come down upon us, the Red Cross will get us out." + +Nor are these all of the ways in which the Red Cross shows the God in +man. From the beginning of the war until March, 1918, over $36,000,000 +of American money alone was spent in the following ways: + + FRANCE, $30,936,103. + + Established rest stations along all routes followed by the + American troops in France. + + Built canteens for use of French and American soldiers at the + front, also at railroad junctions and in Paris. + + Supplied American troops with comfort kits and sent them + Christmas gifts. + + Established a hospital-distributing service that supplies 3423 + French military hospitals, and a surgical dressing service that + supplies 2000. + + Provided an artificial-limb factory and special plants for the + manufacture of splints and nitrous oxide gas. + + Established a casualty service for gathering information in + regard to wounded and missing, this information to be sent to + relatives. + + Opened a children's refuge hospital in the war zone and + established a medical and traveling center to accommodate 1200 + children in the reconquered sections of France. Fifty thousand + children throughout France are being cared for in some measure + by the Red Cross. + + Planned extensive reclamation work in the invaded sections of + France from which the enemy has been driven; this work is now + being carried out with the coperation of the Society of Friends + and alumn units from Smith College and other colleges. + + Established a large central warehouse in Paris and numerous + warehouses at important points from the sea to the Swiss border, + for storing of hospital supplies, food, soldiers' comforts, + tobacco, blankets, clothing, beds, and other articles of relief. + + Secured and operated 400 motor cars for the distribution of + supplies. + + Opened a hospital and convalescent home for children; also + established an ambulance service for the adult refugees, who are + now returning from points within the German lines at the rate of + 1000 a day. + + Improved health conditions in the American war zone before the + coming of American troops. + + + BELGIUM, .,086,131. + + Started reconstruction work in reconquered territory, supplying + returned refugees with temporary dwellings, tools, furniture, + farm animals, and supplies essential to giving them a fresh + start in life. + + Appropriated $600,000 for the relief of Belgian children, + covering their removal from territories under bombardment and + the establishment and maintenance of them in colonies. + + Provided funds for the operation of a hospital for wounded + Belgian soldiers and for part of the equipment of a typhoid + hospital. + + + ITALY, $3,588,826. + + Provided the Italian army with 60 ambulances, 40 trucks, and 100 + American drivers. + + Contracted for 10 field hospitals complete for use by the Sanita + Militaire and the Italian Red Cross. + + Supplied 1,000,000 surgical dressings. Opened relief + headquarters in 9 districts of Italy. + + Established a hospital for refugees at Rimini. + + Planned and made appropriations for extensive work among the + refugees in all parts of Italy. + + + ROUMANIA, .,676,368. + + Rushed more than $100,000 worth of medical supplies and + foodstuffs into Roumania immediately after the retreat to Jassy. + + Carried general relief work into every part of the stricken + country not invaded by the Teuton and Bulgarian forces. + + + UNITED STATES, $8,589,899. + + Organized and trained 45 ambulance companies, totaling 5580 men, + for service with American soldiers and sailors. + + Built and maintained four laboratory cars for emergency use in + stamping out epidemics at cantonments and training camps. + + Started work of bettering sanitary conditions in the zones + immediately surrounding the cantonments. + + Established camp service bureaus to look out for comfort and + welfare of soldiers in training. + + Supplied 2,000,000 sweaters to soldiers and sailors. + + Mobilized 14,000 trained nurses for care of our men. + + Established a department of Home Service and opened training + schools for workers. + + Planned convalescent houses at all cantonments and training + camps. Increased membership from scant half million to + approximately 22,000,000. + + For War Relief in other countries, including + Great Britain, Russia, and Serbia $7,581,075 + To supply food to American prisoners in + Germany $343,304 + For supplies purchased for shipment abroad $15,000,000 + +The Jewish Relief Societies of this country have also forwarded large +sums of money to relieve the terrible suffering among their people in +Russia, Poland, Turkey, Palestine, and others of the war-stricken +countries. Approximately $24,000,000 was sent abroad for this purpose +during the first four years of the war. + +One evening the train drew into the station of a little town in France. +It stopped long enough for half a hundred tired, dusty soldiers to gain +the platform, then puffed away out of sight. They were not the fighting +soldiers--they were engineers. The men looked about in a bewildered way +for the train with which they were supposed to connect. But it was +nowhere in sight; it had gone. They were sorry not to meet the rest of +their company, but there was nothing for them to do but remain in the +town overnight. They walked the streets, and found that every hotel, +boarding house, and private home was filled to the last cot. Thousands +of American troops were in the town, on their way to the front. The +engineers had ridden for many hours and were very hungry, but their +pockets were nearly empty. + +Suddenly they stopped before a large building painted a deep blue, and +bearing the sign, + + Knights of Columbus + Everybody Welcome. + +The half a hundred men walked in, passed group after group of soldiers +and sailors, and found the secretary. Soon they were dining on Knights +of Columbus ham and eggs, without money and without price! The +secretary himself served them. + +They entered the large lounging room, found tables covered with good +reading books, easy chairs and writing benches set about the room, and +a stage at the back with piano, victrola, and a moving picture screen. + +So when they least expected it, but most wanted it, they found a place +that seemed like home. Knights of Comfort, the Knights of Columbus have +been called, and comfort they have given to thousands of soldiers and +sailors. About $50,000,000 has been raised by the society for one year +of such good work. + +Almost on the very battleground is another source of comfort to the +fighting men,--the little huts with the sign of the Red Triangle,--the +Y.M.C.A. There is hardly one American home which has not received from +some soldier a letter on paper marked with the little red triangle. +Thousands have been written at the benches inside the huts, and +thousands of books and magazines found in the huts have been read in +spare time by the soldier lads. + +Usually only the paper for letter writing is furnished at the huts, and +the men buy their postage stamps. Often fifty to a hundred men are in +line to purchase stamps, so that at times the secretary heaves a sigh +of relief when at last he has to hang up the sign "Stamps All Out." In +one hut as many as three thousand letters have been handled in one day, +besides parcel-post packages, registered letters, and money-orders. + +The United States government has realized the valuable services of the +society and recognized it officially, permitting its men to wear the +uniform, and to accompany the soldiers right into the trenches. + +Often before and always after the men go into battle, the "Y" workers +bring up great kettles of hot chocolate and a store of biscuit. This is +a godsend to the men who have been fighting for hours with little, if +anything, to eat. + +Passing over the battlefield, the workers write down messages from +wounded and dying men, to be sent to their relatives. They learn all +they can about those who have been taken prisoners, and so bring +comfort to the people at home. + +The secretaries send to the United States free of charge money from +the soldiers to their home folks. In one month, a million dollars was +brought to the Y.M.C.A. with the simple instructions that it be +delivered to addresses given by the soldiers. The controller of the New +York Life Insurance Company in France has had charge of this. + +The association has nearly 400 motor trucks engaged in various kinds of +transport work. It aids greatly in caring for and entertaining the +soldiers, as many as 4000 of them at a time. It has opened many hotels +in France, four of them in Paris, and owns several factories for the +making of chocolate. It holds religious services for the men, providing +preachers of all the different faiths. So it, too, shares in the +godlike services of the Red Cross and Knights of Columbus. + +Near the trenches and at training camps, other work has been done +similar to that of the Y.M.C.A. and Knights of Columbus, by the +Salvation Army. The soldier boys have especially enjoyed the doughnuts +and pies furnished them by this society. + +It has, it is said, placed 153 comfort and refreshment huts at the +front in Europe, and is building many more. It maintains about 80 +military homes, caring for about 100,000 men each week. It operates +nearly 50 ambulances. Over 700 of its members are devoting their lives +to war work in the trenches and at the camps. It was the first, it is +said, of the societies of mercy at the front, and spent for the work +mentioned $1,000,000, all made up of nickels and dimes of small givers, +before the society made any "drive" for funds. + +Letters from officials, friends, and soldier boys tell what glorious +work these and other similar societies have done and are doing. They +bring a little touch of heaven into the very worst places and +conditions, and show the God in man. + + +IN FLANDERS FIELDS + + In Flanders fields the poppies blow + Between the crosses, row on row, + That mark our place; and in the sky + The larks still bravely singing, fly + Scarce heard amid the guns below. + + We are the Dead. Short days ago + We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, + Loved and were loved, and now we lie + In Flanders fields. + + Take up our quarrel with the foe: + To you from failing hands we throw + The torch; be yours to hold it high. + If ye break faith with us who die + We shall not sleep, though poppies grow + In Flanders fields. + + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN MCCRAE. + + + + +THE WORLD WAR + + +The story of the World War is the story of the control of the sea by +the Allies, of land fighting on two fronts, the western and the +eastern, and of separate scattered campaigns in Africa and Asia. + + +THE WESTERN FRONT + +Here the war really began and here it seems likely to be decided and +ended. The Germans who planned the war were ready and, using their +railroads built for that purpose, rushed their armies to the Belgian +border before France had hardly begun to mobilize. Luxemburg was +overrun at once and Belgium invaded. The brave Belgians under General +Leman held up the advance for several days at Lige and saved France +and western civilization. The Huns soon occupied nearly all of Belgium, +taking Brussels on August 20 and Antwerp on October 9. + +They pushed on directly toward Paris, driving the British who had been +landed, the Belgians, and the French, before them. They advanced to +within twenty miles of Paris, near Meaux on the Marne, and were there +defeated September 5-10, 1914, and forced to retreat to the Aisne, +where they entrenched themselves. + +The Germans had driven the British south by constantly threatening to +outflank them, and there had been a race to the gates of Paris. Now the +British turned the tables and, in attempting to outflank the Germans, +there was a race away from Paris to the North Sea, with the final +result that the enemies were lined up opposite each other, from +Switzerland near the German border to the coast between Dunkirk and +Ostend. + +Until 1918 trench warfare continued. The Germans sought to drive the +English out of Ypres, but did not succeed. In one of these attacks on +April 22, 1915, gas was used for the first time. + +The British and French won a great victory on the Somme, July, 1916, +taking nearly 75,000 prisoners. This battle is recognized as one of the +turning points of the war, for it caused the extensive retreat of the +Germans the following spring. The Huns devastated the territory from +which they retreated more completely and mercilessly than any army, +even barbarians, had ever done before in the history of the world. The +British attempted to capture Lille and the bases of the German +submarines on the Belgian coast at Ostend and Zeebrugge, but were +unsuccessful. + +In November, 1917, General Byng, in a surprise attack in which for the +first time a large number of tanks were used, broke the famous +Hindenburg line of trenches and captured 8000 Germans. He soon lost +all the territory he had gained and many men, through being surprised +himself by attacks on both sides of the pocket or salient which he had +pushed into the German lines. + +The Battle of the Somme referred to above was intended to relieve the +terrible pressure of the Germans on the French forts at Verdun. The +German Crown Prince had attacked these in July, 1916, determined to +break through at whatever cost. But the soul of France rose to the +occasion and declared, "They shall not pass!" The Battle of Verdun +lasted from July until December, 1916. The Germans lost half a million +men, _but they did not pass_. Before many months every vantage point +which the Germans had won was back in French hands. + +In 1917, the French pushed the Germans back between Rheims and Soissons +to the Ailette River, where they remained until the Second Battle of +the Marne, July, 1918. + +Little of importance happened during the winter of 1917 and 1918, and +Germany, with Russia out of the way, prepared to deliver a final blow +and win the war, before American troops should arrive in force. The +Germans, with large numbers of troops from the eastern front, were so +confident, that great fear was felt among the Allies that America would +be too late. + +The German plan as it unfolded itself was to attack, wave after wave, +with tremendous numbers of men; to use great quantities of a new and +more terrible gas; to pay no attention to losses, but to break through +where the French and English lines joined; then to push the French +south towards Paris and the English north towards the sea. They +expected to take Amiens, forty miles from the mouth of the Somme, and +to push down the river to the sea. With the broad river between them +and the French, a small force could keep the French from crossing, +while the great German army captured or destroyed the British, who +would be hemmed in by the sea. + +The attack was launched on March 21 over a front of fifty miles and it +nearly succeeded. It brought the Germans to within six miles of Amiens, +which would have been captured if the English on Vimy Ridge had not +prevented them by holding the German line from advancing. The Germans +waited a month, planning an attack which should capture Vimy Ridge and +prepare the way for the capture of Amiens. In this they were +unsuccessful. + +Not being able to divide the armies of the French and English or to +take the Channel ports, they turned in May toward Paris. They attacked +in tremendous force between Rheims and Soissons and pushed forward +thirty-two miles to the Marne. On July 15 they launched another great +offensive over a front of fifty miles from east of Rheims to west of +Chteau-Thierry. They crossed the Marne and were making some progress +when, on July 18, the French and Americans struck them on the flank +between Soissons and Chteau-Thierry. The Germans were forced to +retreat, having lost 220,000 men, hundreds of guns, and vast stores. + +At this time over 1,000,000 American soldiers were in France. They +arrived in time and showed themselves "the bravest of the brave." One +of the American units was granted, for its bravery in the Second Battle +of the Marne, the only regimental decoration ever awarded by France to +a foreign regiment; and the French commander bestowed upon one division +the most thrilling praise. "They showed," he said, "discipline that +filled the Germans with surprise. They marched with officers at the +sides and with closed ranks exactly like veteran French troops." + +Italy began operations against Austria in May, 1915. For more than two +years, she advanced over almost impassable mountain ranges to the +reconquest of the territory Austria had stolen from her. Then, in +October, 1917, Italy met with a terrible disaster; she lost 180,000 men +and was driven back to the river Piave and to within fifteen miles of +Venice. This costly defeat was due partly to lack of supplies which her +allies should have furnished her; partly to printed lies dropped from +Austrian airplanes among the Italian soldiers telling of the wonderful +peace and liberty that had come to Russia, where Germans and Russians +were like brothers; and partly to the mistake of Italy and her +commanders. It resulted in making all the Allies realize that they +could not succeed separately but must work together as one, if they +were going to win; and in the appointment of General Ferdinand Foch as +commander in chief of all the allied forces in the West, including +European Russia. + +In the spring of 1918, the Austrians, at Germany's command, renewed +their attack and succeeded in crossing the Piave, which in its upper +reaches towards the mountains was almost a dry river bed. They waited +until, as they supposed, the mountain snows had melted. After many of +them were across and after they had been checked on the western bank by +the Italians, they attempted to recross the river. In the meantime +floods had poured down from the mountains changing the dry bed into a +rushing river, deep and broad, in which thousands of the Austrians were +lost. Austria was able to make no further effort. + + +THE EASTERN FRONT + +Russia was the first of the Great Powers among the Allies to enter the +war, but Germany did not count upon her remaining in it long. German +influence, especially that of the German Socialists with the uneducated +Russians, was so strong that the Kaiser expected a revolution long +before it happened. The Russian leaders were self-seeking, and the Tsar +and his advisers were lacking in ability and force. The Germans +thought Russia would collapse very soon, and thus leave Germany free to +turn and conquer France; after which they could settle with England, +and then with the United States. + +Until the close of 1916, the Russian armies gave the Germans fierce +opposition except when, through treachery of the officers of the +government, supplies and ammunition were withheld and the soldiers had +to fight cannon, machine guns, and rifles with the butts of their +muskets. Of course the Russians were driven back, but not until they +had come within one hundred and eighty-five miles of Berlin, which was +the nearest approach of an enemy army during the first four years of +the war. + +In the fall of 1914, the Russian armies suffered through treachery a +terrible defeat near Tannenberg in the Masurian Lake region of East +Prussia, but the great leader of their armies farther south, Grand Duke +Nicholas, invaded Austria, capturing stronghold after stronghold until +treachery of Russian officials forced him to retreat. The retreat of +his armies was conducted in so masterly a manner that it has ranked him +as one of the great generals of the World War. + +As soon as German money and German lies had undermined the directing +forces at the Russian capital, it was an easy matter for German armies +to overrun Russian Poland, to capture Warsaw and the great Russian +fortresses, and to advance as far north as Riga. + +Then in the spring of 1917 came the revolution, when the Duma refused +to obey the order of the Tsar. The soldiers sided with the people; the +Tsar was thrown into prison, to be shot more than a year later. Germany +made a "peace drive," and soon had the entire Russian army ready to +quit. Leaders in the service of Germany, like Lenine, used dreamers +like Trotsky to help on the breaking up of Russia. Kerensky, who had +been chosen to lead the government after the first revolution, was +deposed and obliged to flee the country as the result of a second +revolution by soldiers, sailors, and workmen. Lenine became Prime +Minister and Trotsky, Foreign Minister. Then the way was clear for +Germany to work her will. Agreeing to all proposals, she led the +_Bolsheviki_, which means "the majority," into such a situation that +they were powerless. Then throwing aside all her agreements, she forced +them to sign the disgraceful treaty of peace at Brest-Litovsk. It broke +up a portion of the old Russia into several nations or independent +provinces, which separated the Russia that remained entirely from the +rest of Europe. The provinces, Ukraine, Poland, Finland, Esthonia, +Livonia, Courland, and Lithuania were really dependencies of Germany. +Turkey was also rewarded by receiving a part of Transcaucasia, which +Germany later attempted to take from her. + +The Germans promised not to use soldiers from the eastern front against +Russia's former allies in the West; but this promise was only another +"scrap of paper," and she transferred vast numbers to the front in +Italy and in France and, by their help, nearly won her great drives of +1918. + +When Russia collapsed and made peace with the Central Powers, Roumania, +who entered the war on the side of the Allies, August 27, 1916, was +left entirely surrounded by enemies and, to save herself from the fate +of Belgium and Serbia, was obliged to consent to peace terms offered by +Germany. She ceded a large part of her territory south of the Danube to +Bulgaria, who had joined the Central Powers "for what she could get out +of it," on October 4, 1915. Bulgaria's king is called "The Fox of the +Balkans" and looks upon agreements, treaties, and honesty in the German +manner. Like the Germans, all his acts show that he believes "might is +right" and that any act is justified if necessary to his success. + + +THE DARDANELLES AND FARTHER EAST + +In the spring of 1915, English and French fleets attempted to force the +Dardanelles, but failed. Had the straits been opened and Constantinople +taken, Russia would probably have been saved and the war shortened. +Many believe now that a mistake was made in not sacrificing the ships +necessary to force the straits and to capture Constantinople, but at +the time the French and British leaders were unwilling to make the +sacrifice. Troops had been landed at Gallipoli to assist the fleets, +but they were withdrawn in January, 1916. + +England sent an expedition from the Persian Gulf to capture Bagdad in +the fall of 1914. It was small in numbers and suffered some reverses, +but succeeded in capturing the city on March 11, 1917. + +When Turkey entered the war on the side of the Central Powers, the +Germans hoped to stir up a religious war, uniting all the Mohammedans +in the East under the lead of Turkey, against the Christian nations. +All Mohammedans, however, do not recognize the Sultan of Turkey as +their leader, and the King of Hedjaz revolted against Turkey in June, +1916. Hedjaz includes all the Arab tribes between the Tigris on the +east and Syria on the west. Arabia forms the largest part of the +territory of this kingdom. + +With the assistance of the King of Hedjaz, the English have been able, +by advancing across the Sinai Desert, to capture Jerusalem. Jerusalem, +the Holy City of the Christians, has been in Mohammedan hands, except +for two short periods, for seven hundred and thirty years. The Crusades +were fought to take it from them, and ever since, Christians have +mourned that it had to be left in the hands of the Moslems. It probably +will never again pass from the control of Christian nations. + +Japan entered the war early, August 23, 1914, as an ally of Great +Britain and, on November 7, had taken the only German colony in China, +Tsingtau. Germany had forced this from China, as punishment for the +murder of two German missionaries. Japan and Australia soon captured +all the German possessions in the Pacific, and Great Britain all the +German colonies in Africa, leaving Germany without a single colonial +possession. + + +THE SEA + +The Kaiser is reported to have said, "Germany's future lies on the +sea"; and it seems as if the control of the sea by the Allies has +really determined her future, for had the Central Powers controlled the +sea, they would have won the war. + +By the wise foresight of those directing the movements of the British +navy, the Grand Fleet, numbering about four hundred vessels, had been +assembled for inspection just before the war broke out, and they were +ready, when England entered the war, to move to ports from which they +could attack the Germans, if the latter should decide to send out their +fleet. The Grand Fleet has all through the war remained hidden, and, +like some invisible power, is protecting the freedom of the world. +Hundreds of swift scout ships keep watch ready to report every move of +the enemy. Only once has Germany come out in force, to be driven back +to shelter, defeated, in the Battle of Jutland, May 31, and June 1, +1916. + +Germany placed her hopes in the submarine, but she has had little +chance to use it against English war vessels. She also scattered mines +upon the high seas in violation of the laws of war and of nations. One +of these mines on June 5, 1916, sank the British cruiser _Hampshire_, +which was carrying Lord Kitchener to Russia. Lord Kitchener and his +staff were lost. + +Germany used every power in her hands to win, never hesitating to set +aside the laws of nations or the opinions of civilized men. So she +turned her submarines against merchant ships in violation of +international law. The sinking of the _Lusitania_ was the first great +shock to the United States. President Wilson protested on behalf of the +American people, and after other merchant vessels had been sunk and +more American lives lost, Germany was given her choice of a break with +America or of promising that she would give up her submarine attacks +without warning upon merchant ships. Germany promised to do so, but +made this promise, as the United States learned later, only to give her +time to build enough submarines to starve out England in a year or less +by using them against merchant ships in violation of her agreement with +the United States. It was only another "scrap of paper." + +So America entered the war April 6, 1917, and at once the danger from +submarines began to grow less, for American destroyers, combined with +those of the other Allies, soon were sinking submarines faster than +Germany could build them, and American shipyards began to turn out +merchant ships in such unheard-of numbers that the sinking of a few +ships each month became a minor matter. At the close of the fourth year +of the war, an English writer said of what America had done in one +year: + + It would be idle to recount here what America has done. But for + what she has done the heart of every Briton beats with + gratitude. There is physical evidence of it over here. American + soldiers throng the streets. American sailors gather in our + ports. American naval vessels are scouring our home waters in + fullest coperation with the British and French and have reduced + the destruction by submarine pirates by more than half what it + was one year ago. On land they are fighting with the Allies the + battles of civilization and dying for its ideals, and the + fondest wish of every patriot both here and in France is that + the community of feeling thus cemented in blood will never pass + away. + +In October, 1918, there were about two million American soldiers in +France. They had made possible the great victories, beginning with the +Second Battle of the Marne, by which all the German gains of 1918 were +wiped out and the St. Mihiel salient recovered. The Huns had held this +salient since 1914. Its capture was a brilliant victory for the +American army under General Pershing. It was accomplished in +twenty-seven hours. + +King George of England wired President Wilson as follows: + + London, Sept. 14, 1918. + + On behalf of the British Empire, I heartily congratulate you on + the brilliant achievement of the American and Allied troops + under the leadership of General Pershing in the St. Mihiel + salient. + + The far-reaching results secured by these successful operations, + which have marked the active intervention of the American army + on a great scale under its own administration, are the happiest + augury for the complete, and, I hope, not far-distant triumph of + the Allied cause. + +President Wilson cabled to General Pershing: + + Please accept my warmest congratulations on the brilliant + achievements of the army under your command. The boys have done + what we expected of them and done it in the way we most admire. + + We are deeply proud of them and of their chief. Please convey to + all concerned my grateful and affectionate thanks. + +Frank H. Simonds, the famous military critic, says: + + In our own national history, therefore, as in world history, the + Battle of St. Mihiel will have an enduring place. To the world + it announced the arrival of America in her appointed place in + the battle line of civilization.... The road from Concord Bridge + to the heights above the Meuse is long, but it runs straight, + and along it men are still led by the same love of liberty and + service of democracy which was revealed in our first battle + morning nearly a century and a half ago. + +At the beginning of October, 1918, the Allies were everywhere +successful, in Palestine, in the Balkans, in northern Russia, in +Siberia, and on the western front. The world was proving again that +deceit and violence always lose in the long run. + + +THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE WAR + +In July, 1918, the western battle line, running from the North Sea to +Switzerland, was, in general, a huge curve bending into France. Germany +had been working on interior lines on this western front--that is, as +her forces were needed to defend or to attack, she moved them from +place to place on the inside of the circle. The Allies were obliged to +work on the outside of the circle and were therefore at a considerable +disadvantage. + +Then, too, the Germans had the initiative, that is, they could +determine when and where to attack, while the Allies in 1918, up to +July 18, were having all they could attend to in defending themselves +and preventing a serious break in their lines. + +With July 18, 1918, all this was changed. The Allied forces were now +under the direction of a single commander, Marshal Foch, one of the +great military geniuses of all time. His plan was to strike at a +weakened point; then, when the Germans had rushed reinforcements to +ward off the danger, to strike at some other point in the line and thus +use up the German reserves; and to give the German commanders no time +to prepare an offensive on a large scale. The German by nature seems to +think that size determines victory. The big things seem to him the +things that are effective and that win. So his offensives were planned +on a great scale and required months of preparation; and after one +offensive had been stopped, he required more months of comparative rest +to plan and prepare another. The French nature is different; it is +subtle, deft, and skillful, and by repeated strokes of less force, +often accomplishes what the German fails to do with one mighty blow. In +riveting the plates on a ship, or in joining the framework of a steel +skyscraper, a riveting machine is used which, by very rapidly repeated +blows, does the work quickly and well. Somewhat in this way did Marshal +Foch strike the German line, now in this spot, now in that, capturing +or putting out of action large numbers of German troops, outflanking +first one strategic point and then another. As a consequence, the +German line was obliged to draw back and back to prevent the Allies +from breaking through and attacking the German supply trains coming up +in the rear with food and munitions. + +West of Verdun the Germans had come into Belgium and France along the +line of the Meuse through Lige and Namur, and across Luxemburg by the +main railway through Sedan. Could either of these great lines of +communication be captured, the Germans would be unable to withdraw to +their own territory without terrible losses, if at all; for between +their armies and Germany lay the great forest region of Ardennes with +but few roads. Two millions of men could not retreat through this +region without leaving guns and munitions behind and their retreat +becoming a rout. + +From Verdun the Meuse River runs north and west to Sedan and to the +railroad which extended from the German lines through Luxemburg to +Germany. Marshal Foch honored General Pershing and the American troops +by assigning to them the difficult task of advancing from Verdun +through the valley of the Meuse to Sedan. The story of the fighting of +the Americans in this advance is a story glowing with deeds of heroism +and of reckless daring, a story of the overcoming of almost impossible +difficulties and of final victory. At Sedan in 1870, the Germans +humbled the French and decided the Franco-Prussian War. It is a strange +turn of history that, with the capture of Sedan from the Germans in +1918, the World War was practically decided and ended. + +The Allied army from Salonica, with the help of the Serbians, had +conquered Bulgaria late in September, and she had surrendered +unconditionally, thus cutting off Germany and Austria from +communication with their ally, Turkey. General Allenby's conquest of +Palestine and occupation of Aleppo brought Turkey to realize that she +was helpless. She surrendered the last of October. Then the +strengthened and refreshed Italian army attacked the Austrians on the +Piave in Italy and won perhaps the most complete victory of the war on +the western front, capturing over five hundred thousand prisoners and +completely breaking Austria's power for further resistance. Austria +surrendered on November 4. + +Thus Germany was left alone, open to attack on her southern and eastern +fronts, while being hopelessly beaten in the west. She asked President +Wilson to secure an armistice from the Allied nations. The President +had declared earlier in the war that we would never deal with the +Kaiser and the autocratic rulers of Germany who had repeatedly broken +their word to us and to other nations. The German people, aware of this +fact, were taking things into their own hands, and the German +Revolution had really begun. + +The German Chancellor informed President Wilson that Germany had +changed its form of government and was now being ruled by those +responsible to the German people, and that the German government was +willing to make peace on the basis of President Wilson's Fourteen +Points, as stated on January 8, 1918, and of his later declarations, +particularly that of September 27, 1918. + +After some correspondence, the President referred the German government +to Marshal Foch. Envoys were sent from Spa, the German headquarters, +under flag of truce to the headquarters of Marshal Foch in a railroad +car near Senlis. The terms of the armistice made it absolutely +impossible for Germany to renew the war after the cessation of +hostilities, for she was obliged to evacuate all invaded territory, to +remove all her troops twenty miles back from the Rhine, and to give the +control of the river and its crossings to the Allies. She was also +forced to surrender vast quantities of large and small guns, two +thousand air-planes, all her submarines, and the greater part of her +navy. She was practically to give over the control of her railways and +shipping to the Allies and to renounce the unfair treaties with Russia +and Roumania. Alsace-Lorraine was to be returned to France, and Belgium +and northern France restored. The armistice was signed by the Germans +on November 11, 1918. It has been called the most complete surrender +ever known, but Germany had no choice, for her armies were defeated and +her navy had no hope in a battle against the overwhelming odds of the +Allies. + +_Der Tag_ or "The Day" for which haughty Germans had hoped, had come, +but how different from the day they had imagined! When the white flag +of truce was raised on the German battle line, the red flag of +revolution was unfurled in Berlin and other German cities. The Kaiser +had abdicated, the Crown Prince had renounced his right to the throne, +and both had taken refuge in Holland. Other German kings were +abdicating and royal princes were fleeing for safety. + +Great celebrations were held in the Allied countries. It seemed as if +the people in the great cities of America had gone wild with joy. +President Wilson appeared in the hall of the national House of +Representatives at one o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, November 11, +and announced the signing of the armistice and its terms and the +conclusion of the war. He asked America to show a spirit of helpfulness +rather than one of revenge toward the conquered Germans, concluding his +message as follows: + + The present and all that it holds belongs to the nations and the + peoples who preserve their self-control and the orderly + processes of their governments; the future to those who prove + themselves the true friends of mankind. To conquer with arms is + to make only a temporary conquest. I am confident that the + nations that have learned the discipline of freedom and that + have settled with self-possession to its ordered practice are + now about to make conquest of the world by the sheer power of + example and of friendly helpfulness. + + The peoples who have but just come out from under the yoke of + arbitrary government and who are now coming at last into their + freedom, will never find the treasures of liberty they are in + search of if they look for them by the light of the torch. They + will find that every pathway that is stained with blood of their + own brothers leads to the wilderness, not to the seat of their + hope. They are now face to face with their initial test. We must + hold the light steady until they find themselves. And in the + meantime, if it be possible, we must establish a peace that will + justly define their place among the nations, remove all fear of + their neighbors and of their former masters, and enable them to + live in security and contentment when they have set their own + affairs in order. I, for one, do not doubt their purpose or + their capacity. There are some happy signs that they know and + will choose the way of self-control and peaceful accommodation. + If they do, we shall put our aid at their disposal in every way + that we can. If they do not, we must await with patience and + sympathy the awakening and recovery that will assuredly come at + last. + +To the people of the United States he sent the following message: + + My Fellow Countrymen: The armistice was signed this morning. + Everything for which America fought has been accomplished. It + will now be our fortunate duty to assist, by example, by sober, + friendly council, and by material aid, in the establishment of + just democracy throughout the world. + + WOODROW WILSON. + +No one can foretell all that this victory, won through the most +terrible suffering and sacrifice the world has ever been called upon to +bear, means to mankind; but we know it means a new day and a new +opportunity for millions of down-trodden men and women in all parts of +the world. It means giving a new world of democracy and equality of +opportunity to those who never dreamed this possible, except by leaving +their native lands and coming to America. It means bringing all that +America means to us to races that for centuries have lived without +hope. It means the downfall and the punishment of those who would +selfishly rise by the persecution and suffering of others. It means +that in the end right must always conquer might. + + + + +NATIONS AND THE MORAL LAW + + +I believe there is no permanent greatness to a nation except it be +based upon morality. I do not care for military greatness or military +renown. I care for the condition of the people among whom I live. +Crowns, coronets, mitres, military display, the pomp of war, wide +colonies, and a huge empire are in my view all trifles, light as air +and not worth considering, unless with them you can have a fair share +of comfort, contentment, and happiness among the great body of the +people. Palaces, baronial castles, great halls, stately mansions, do +not make a nation. The nation in every country dwells in the cottage. + +I ask you then to believe, as I do most devoutly believe, that the +moral law was not written for men alone in their individual character, +but that it was written as well for nations. + +If nations reject and deride that moral law, there is a penalty which +will inevitably follow. It may not come at once, it may not come in our +life-time; but rely upon it, the great Italian is not a poet only, but +a prophet, when he says: + + The sword of heaven is not in haste to smite, + Nor yet doth linger. + + JOHN BRIGHT. + + + + + +-------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | The following accents are represented as shown: | + | macron (straight line) over a letter or letters: [=x] [=xx] | + | 1 dot over a letter: [.x] | + | tilde over a letter: [~x] | + | breve (u-shaped symbol): [)x] | + | | + | The reader should consult the html or utf8 text versions | + | for proper accents. | + | | + +-------------------------------------------------------------+ + + +PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY + +Foreign sounds which cannot be exactly reproduced in English are +represented by their nearest English equivalents. + + + +Aerschot+ (rsk[)o]t) + +Ailette+ (ail [)e]t) + +Aisne+ (ain) + +Aix-la-Chapelle+ (aiks-l[.a]-sh[.a] pel) + +Alsace+ ([.a]l sss) + +Amiens+ ([.a] mee [)a]ng) + +Ancre+ (ngkr) + +Andenne+ (ng d[)e]n) + +Aonzo+ ( [=o]nz[=o]) + +Arras+ ([.a] rss) + +Ausweiss+ (owsv[=i]z) + +Auteuil+ ([=o] tery[~e]) + + +Battice+ (bat tees) + +Belfort+ (b[)e]l f[=o]r) + +Belloy-en-Santerre+ (bel w-ng-sng tair) + +Bernstorff+ (bernstorf) + +Bethmann-Hollweg+ (baitman-hollvaik) + +Boche+ (b[)o]sh) + +Boelke+ (b[=a]lk[~e]) + +Boers+ (b[=oo]rs) + +Bolsheviki+ (bol shayvee kee) + +Bonnier+ (bon ee ay) + +Bordeaux+ (bor d[=o]) + +Boue+ (b[=oo] ay) + +Boulogne+ (b[=oo] l[=o]n) + +Brest-Litovsk+ (br[)e]st-ly[)e] t[)o]fsk) + +Bruges+ (breezh) + +Brussels+ (br[)u]selz) + +Buccari+ (b[)oo]k kree) + +Bueken+ (beek[)e]n) + +Blow+ (beel[=o]) + + +Calais+ (k[.a] lay) + +Cambrai+ (kam bray) + +Carnegie+ (kr n[)e]g[)i]) + +Castelnau+ (k[.a]s tel n[=o]) + +Celle+ (tsel[~e]) + +Chlons+ (sh long) + +Champagne+ (sham pain) + +Chandos+ (chand[)o]s) + +Charleroi+ (shr l[~e] rw) + +Chteau-Thierry+ (sh t[=o]-tee [~e] ree) + +Chaudfontaine+ (sh[=o]d fong tain) + +Chillon+ (shee y[)o]ng) + +Cologne+ (k[=o] l[=o]n) + +Courtrai+ (k[=oo]r tray) + + +D'Annunzio+ (d[.a] n[)oo]ntsi[=o]) + +De Bussy+ (d[~e] beesee) + +Deutschland ber Alles+ (doichlant eeber l[~e]s) + +Devon+ (d[)e]v[)u]n) + +Dinant+ (dee nng) + +Dixmude+ (diks meed) + +Dniester+ (neester) + +Douaumont+ (d[=oo] [.a] mong) + +Du Guesclin+ (dee gay kl[)a]ng) + +Dunajec+ (d[=oo]n[.a] yeck) + +Drer+ (deerer) + +Duruy+ (dee ree ee) + + +cole+ (ay kol) + +Embourg+ (em b[)oo]rk) + +pinal+ (ay pee nl) + +Evegne+ ([)e] vain yay) + + +Foch+ (f[)o]sh) + +franc-tireur+ (frng-tee rer) + + +Gallipoli+ (gal lipo lee) + +Gemmenich+ ([=g][)e]m menik) + +Genet+ (zh[)e] nay) + +Gheluvelt+ (hay leevelt) + +Ghent+ ([=g][)e]nt) + +Grietchen+ (greetsh[)e]n) + +Guynemer+ (gwee nay may) + + +Hague+ (haig) + +Havre+ (vr') + +Hedjaz+ (hej z) + +Herve+ (herv) + +Hotel de Ville+ (o teld[~e] veel) + +Huerta+ (wairt) + + +Jagow+ (ygow) + +Jaroslav+ (y r[=o] slv) + +Jassy+ (yssy) + +Jeanne d'Arc+ (zhn dark) + +Jeanniot+ (zhn nee [=o]) + +Joffre+ (zh[=o]ff) + +Junkers+ (y[=oo]ngkers) + + +Kharkov+ (krk[)o]f) + +Kiaochau+ (kee owchow) + +Krupp+ (kr[)oo]p) + +Kultur+ (k[)oo]l t[=oo]r) + + +Leman+ (leeman) + +Lens+ (lng) + +Lichnowsky+ (lish novskee) + +Lige+ (lee aizh) + +Lille+ (leel) + +Loire+ (lwr) + +Loncin+ (long s[)a]ng) + +Lorraine+ (l[=o] rain) + +Loti, Pierre+ (l[=o] tee, pee air) + +Louvain+ (l[=oo] v[)a]ng) + +Lyce+ (lee say) + + +Maas+ (ms) + +Madero+ (m dayr[=o]) + +Magdeburg+ (mgd[)e] b[)oo]rk) + +Malines+ (m[.a] leen) + +Manoury+ (m[.a] n[=oo]ry) + +Marne+ (mrn) + +Marseillaise+ (mr s[)e] l[=a]z) + +Meaux+ (m[=o]) + +Mercier+ (mer seeay) + +Meuse+ (merz) + +Mignon+ (meen yong) + +Millerand+ (meel rng) + +Mindanao+ (meen d n[=o]) + +Mons+ (mongs) + +mooshiki+ (m[=oo] shee kee) + +Moselle+ (m[=o] z[)e]l) + +Munsterlagen+ (mun ster lgen) + + +Namur+ (n[.a] meer) + +noblesse oblige+ (no bl[)e]s [=o] bleezh) + +Notre Dame+ (n[=o] tr' d[.a]m) + + +Ostend+ ([)o]s tend) + +Ourcq+ ([=oo]rk) + + +Pau+ (p[=o]) + +Piave+ (pee vay) + +poilu+ (pw lee) + +Poincar+ (pwngk[.a] ray) + +Poiret+ (pw[.a] ray) + +Provene+ (pr[=o] vngs) + + +Raemaekers+ (r mkers) + +Rasputin+ (r[.a]s p[=u]tin) + +Reichstag+ (r[=i]chstk) + +retournment+ (r[)e] t[)oo]rn mng) + +Rheims+ (reemz) + +Richthofen+ (rikth[=o] fen) + +Rivesaltes+ (reev s[.a]lt) + +Rizzo, Luigi+ (reetso, l[=oo] eejee) + + +St. Mihiel+ (s[)a]ngmee y[)e]l) + +Saint Pierre+ (s[)a]ng pee air) + +Saint Quentin+ (s[)a]ng kng t[)a]ng) + +Sarrail+ (s[.a]r r[.a]y[~e]) + +Scyros+ (s[=i]r[)o]s) + +Seine+ (sain) + +Seraing+ (ser r[)a]ng) + +Soissons+ (sw s[)o]ng) + +Somme+ (s[)o]m) + + +Tamines+ (t[.a] meen) + +Toul+ (t[=oo]l) + +Tours+ (t[=oo]r) + +Tsingchau+ (tsingchow) + + +Uhlan+ ([=oo]ln) + + +Vaux+ (v[=o]) + +Verdun+ (v[)e]r d[)u]ng) + +Vesle+ (vail) + +Villa+ (veely) + +Vimy+ (veemee) + +Vise+ (vees) + +Viva l'Italia+ (veev[.a] lee t[.a]lee [.a]) + +Vive la France+ (veevl[.a] frnts) + +Vladivostok+ (vl dee vs t[)o]k) + +Von Diederichs+ (f[=o]n deeder iks) + +Von Kluck+ (f[=o]n kl[=oo]k) + +vrille+ (vreey[~e]) + + +Wackerzeel+ (v[.a]ker tsail) + +Werchter+ (verkter) + + +Ypres+ (eepr') + +Yser+ (ee say) + + +Zeebrugge+ (tsay br[)oo]g[~e]) + + + + +THE RECKONING + + + What do they reck who sit aloof on thrones, + Or in the chambered chancelleries apart, + Playing the game of state with subtle art, + If so be they may win, what wretched groans + Rise from red fields, what unrecorded bones + Bleach within shallow graves, what bitter smart + Pierces the widowed or the orphaned heart-- + The unhooded horror for which naught atones! + + A word, a pen-stroke, and this might not be! + But vengeance, power-lust, festering jealousy + Triumph, and grim carnage stalks abroad. + Hark! Hear that ominous bugle on the wind! + And they who might have stayed it, shall they find + No reckoning within the courts of God? + + CLINTON SCOLLARD + + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lest We Forget, by +John Gilbert Thompson and Inez Bigwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEST WE FORGET *** + +***** This file should be named 36634-8.txt or 36634-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/6/3/36634/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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margin-left: 16em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i20 {display: block; margin-left: 20em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i22 {display: block; margin-left: 22em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i24 {display: block; margin-left: 24em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i25 {display: block; margin-left: 25em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i28 {display: block; margin-left: 28em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.pn { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + color: gray; background-color: inherit; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers in poems */ + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Lest We Forget, by John Gilbert Thompson and Inez Bigwood + +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: Lest We Forget + World War Stories + +Author: John Gilbert Thompson + Inez Bigwood + +Release Date: July 5, 2011 [EBook #36634] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEST WE FORGET *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen" style="font-weight: bold;">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<br /> +<p class="noin">Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has been preserved.</p> +<p class="noin">Click on the images to see a larger version.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/cover.jpg" width="50%" alt="Book Cover" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/image1a.jpg" width="60%" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<h3>RECESSIONAL</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">God of our fathers, known of old,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Lord of our far-flung battle-line,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Beneath whose awful Hand we hold<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dominion over palm and pine—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lest we forget—lest we forget!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> * * * * *<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Far-called, our navies melt away;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On dune and headland sinks the fire:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lo, all our pomp of yesterday<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lest we forget—lest we forget!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">RUDYARD KIPLING<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/image1b.jpg" width="60%" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/frontis.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/frontis.jpg" width="55%" alt=""Not My Soul"" /></a><br /> +<p class="noin sc" style="margin-left: 25%; margin-top: .2em; margin-bottom: .2em;">The Kaiser: "You See You Have Lost Everything."<br /> +The King of the Belgians: "Not My Soul."</p> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">(Reproduced by permission of the proprietors of <i>Punch</i>.)</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h1>LEST WE FORGET</h1> + +<h2>WORLD WAR STORIES</h2> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>JOHN GILBERT THOMPSON</h3> +<h5>PRINCIPAL OF THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL<br /> +FITCHBURG, MASS.</h5> + +<h5>AND</h5> + +<h3>INEZ BIGWOOD</h3> +<h5>INSTRUCTOR IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE<br /> +STATE NORMAL SCHOOL<br /> +FITCHBURG, MASS.</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/deco.png" width="8%" alt="Publisher's Mark" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4>SILVER, BURDETT AND COMPANY<br /> +BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO</h4> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4><span class="sc">Copyright, 1918, by</span><br /> +SILVER, BURDETT AND COMPANY</h4> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>PREFACE</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Books and articles in astounding numbers have been published in the +past four years to explain the World War and to inform the public as +to its progress. Societies and agencies of the government have urged +that every available means be employed to inform the American people +of the reasons for the war and the issues at stake; and much has been +done for adults.</p> + +<p>Little or no thought seems to have been given to youthful readers who +are beginning to think for themselves, and whose first thinking should +be properly guided, for they are at an age when tales of heroism and +daring make a strong appeal. In many homes the children are the only +readers, and in nearly all, their thinking and reading exercise a +powerful influence.</p> + +<p>This volume of stories of the World War is prepared to meet this +important need, and to set before the pupils the war's unparalleled +deeds of heroism, with the aims and ideals which have inspired them, +and which have led American youth to look upon the sacrifice of life +as none too high a price to pay for the liberation of mankind.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>It may be used as a reading book or as an historical reader for the +upper grammar grades. While great care has been employed to secure +accuracy of fact and to select material of permanent value, the +stories are written in a manner that will appeal to children.</p> + +<p>The thanks of the authors and publishers are hereby expressed to those +who have kindly granted permission to use copyrighted material.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="toc" id="toc"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="80%" summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="10%"></td> + <td class="tdc" width="50%"></td> + <td class="tdc" width="30%"></td> + <td class="tdr" width="10%" style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">1.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_SHOT_HEARD">The Shot Heard Round the World</a></td> + <td class="tdr">1</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">2.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#A_KING_OF_HEROES">A King of Heroes</a></td> + <td class="tdr">20</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">3.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#DEFENSE_OF_LIEGE">The Defense of Liége</a></td> + <td class="tdr">31</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">4.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#LOUVAIN_DESTRUCTION">The Destruction of Louvain</a></td> + <td class="tdr">38</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">5.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#CARDINAL_MERCIER">Cardinal Mercier</a></td> + <td class="tdr">43</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">6.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#AND_THE_COCK_CREW">And the Cock Crew</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Amelia Josephine Burr</i></td> + <td class="tdr">57</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">7.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#LAWYERS_APPEAL">A Belgian Lawyer's Appeal</a></td> + <td class="tdr">59</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">8.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#EDITH_CAVELL">Edith Cavell</a></td> + <td class="tdr">61</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">9.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#SON">Son</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Robert W. Service</i></td> + <td class="tdr">66</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">10.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CASE_OF_SERBIA">The Case of Serbia</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>David Lloyd George</i></td> + <td class="tdr">68</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">11.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#CAPTAIN_FRYATT">The Murder of Captain Fryatt</a></td> + <td class="tdr">71</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">12.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#RUPERT_BROOKE">Rupert Brooke</a></td> + <td class="tdr">76</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">13.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#SAVE_THE_KIDDIES">"Let Us Save the Kiddies"</a></td> + <td class="tdr">81</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">14.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#BLACK_WATCH">The Charge of the Black Watch and the Scots Greys</a></td> + <td class="tdr">91</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">15.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#BATTLES_OF_THE_MARNE">The Battles of the Marne</a></td> + <td class="tdr">94</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">16.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_QUEENS_FLOWER">The Queen's Flower</a></td> + <td class="tdr">105</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">17.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#AT_SCHOOL">At School Near the Lines</a></td> + <td class="tdr">108</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">18.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#A_PLACE_IN_THE_SUN">A Place in the Sun</a></td> + <td class="tdr">112</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">19.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#MARSHAL_JOFFRE">Marshal Joffre</a></td> + <td class="tdr">119</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">20.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#HUN_TARGET">The Hun Target—The Red Cross</a></td> + <td class="tdr">129</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">21.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THEY_SHALL_NOT_PASS">"They Shall Not Pass"</a></td> + <td class="tdr">140</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">22.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#VERDUN">Verdun</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Harold Begbie</i></td> + <td class="tdr">146</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">23.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_BEAST_IN_MAN">The Beast in Man</a></td> + <td class="tdr">147</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">24.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#WHEN_GERMANY_LOST">When Germany Lost the War</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>New York Sun</i></td> + <td class="tdr">155</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">25.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CARRY_ON">Carry on!</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Robert W. Service</i></td> + <td class="tdr">162</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">26.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#WAR_DOGS">War Dogs</a></td> + <td class="tdr">165</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">27.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_BELGIAN_PRINCE">The Belgian Prince</a></td> + <td class="tdr">175<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">28.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#DARING_THE_UNDARABLE">Daring the Undarable</a></td> + <td class="tdr">182</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">29.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#KILLING_THE_SOUL">Killing the Soul</a></td> + <td class="tdr">189</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">30.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_RUSSIAN_REVOLUTION">The Russian Revolution</a></td> + <td class="tdr">195</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">31.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#FRENCH_RIVERS">A Ballad of French Rivers</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Christopher Morley</i></td> + <td class="tdr">207</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">32.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#BACILLI_AND_BULLETS">Bacilli and Bullets</a></td> + <td class="tdr">209</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">33.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#TORCH_OF_VALOR">The Torch of Valor</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Sir Gilbert Parker</i></td> + <td class="tdr">216</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">34.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#MARSHAL_FOCH">Marshal Foch</a></td> + <td class="tdr">223</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">35.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_MEXICAN_PLOT">The Mexican Plot</a></td> + <td class="tdr">228</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">36.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#WHY_WE_FIGHT_GERMANY">Why We Fight Germany</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Franklin K. Lane</i></td> + <td class="tdr">242</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">37.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#GENERAL_PERSHING">General Pershing</a></td> + <td class="tdr">245</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">38.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_MELTING_POT">The Melting Pot</a></td> + <td class="tdr">252</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">39.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#BIRDMEN">Birdmen</a></td> + <td class="tdr">256</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">40.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#ALAN_SEEGER">Alan Seeger</a></td> + <td class="tdr">271</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">41.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#CAN_WAR_EVER_BE_RIGHT">Can War Ever be Right?</a></td> + <td class="tdr">275</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">42.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#ONE_AMERICAN">What One American Did</a></td> + <td class="tdr">293</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">43.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#RAEMAEKERS">Raemaekers</a></td> + <td class="tdr">301</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">44.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_GOD_IN_MAN">The God in Man</a></td> + <td class="tdr">309</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">45.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#FLANDERS_FIELDS">In Flanders Fields</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae</i></td> + <td class="tdr">321</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">46.</td> + <td class="tdlsc" colspan="2"><a href="#THE_WORLD_WAR">The World War</a></td> + <td class="tdr">322</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">47.</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#NATIONS_AND_THE_MORAL_LAW">Nations and the Moral Law</a></td> + <td class="tdr"><i>John Bright</i></td> + <td class="tdr">343</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep001.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep001.jpg" width="75%" alt="Joint Session of Congress" /></a><br /> +<p class="right1" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Copyright by G.V. Buck. From Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">President Wilson Announcing to Joint Session of Congress the +Severance of Our Relations with Germany</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_SHOT_HEARD" id="THE_SHOT_HEARD"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h1>LEST WE FORGET</h1> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h3>THE SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>On April 19, 1775, was fired "the shot heard round the world." It was +the shot fired for freedom and democracy by the Americans at Lexington +and Concord. In 1836, upon the completion of the battle monument at +Concord, the gallant deeds of those early patriots were commemorated +by Emerson in verse.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By the rude bridge that arched the flood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here once the embattled farmers stood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And fired the shot heard round the world.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>This is not the only shot for freedom fired by America and Americans. +As President Wilson has said, "The might of America is the might of a +sincere love for the freedom of mankind." The shots of the Civil War +were fired for united democracy and universal freedom.</p> + +<p>The soldiers and sailors of the United States fired upon the Spaniards +in the Spanish-American War, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>that an oppressed people might be +released and given an opportunity to live and work and grow in +liberty.</p> + +<p>That the Filipinos, like the Cubans, might learn to understand +freedom, to safeguard it, and to use it wisely, has been the whole +purpose of the United States in aiding them.</p> + +<p>On April 6, 1917, the shot was heard again. The whole world had been +listening anxiously for it, and was not disappointed.</p> + +<p>Those against whom the first American shot for freedom was fired in +1775 have now become the strongest defenders of liberty and democracy. +Their country is one of the three greatest democracies of the world. +Shoulder to shoulder, the Americans and British fight for the freedom +of mankind everywhere. They fight to defend the truth and to make this +truth serve down-trodden peoples as well as the mighty.</p> + +<p>Indeed, President Wilson has wisely said, "The only thing that ever +set any man free, the only thing that ever set any nation free, is the +truth. A man that is afraid of the truth is afraid of life. A man who +does not love the truth is in the way of failure."</p> + +<p>Germany has no love for the truth. The history of the empire is strewn +with broken promises and acts of deceitfulness. America stands for +something different. It stands for those ideals which President Wilson +saw when he looked at the flag.</p> + +<p>"And as I look at that flag," he said, "I seem to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>see many characters +upon it which are not visible to the physical eye. There seem to move +ghostly visions of devoted men who, looking at that flag, thought only +of liberty, of the rights of mankind, of the mission of America to +show the way to the world for the realization of the rights of +mankind; and every grave of every brave man of the country would seem +to have upon it the colors of the flag; if he was a true American, +would seem to have on it that stain of red which means the true pulse +of blood, and that beauty of pure white which means the peace of the +soul. And then there seems to rise over the graves of those men and to +hallow their memory, that blue space of the sky in which stars swim, +these stars which exemplify for us that glorious galaxy of the States +of the Union, bodies of free men banded together to vindicate the +rights of mankind."</p> + +<p>At Mount Vernon, he said, in speaking of the work of George +Washington, "A great promise that was meant for all mankind was here +given plan and reality." So for the sake of many peoples of Europe who +were wronged, America has carried out that promise. When honorable +Americans promise, they would rather give up life than fail to keep +their word. But when the Germans promise it means only "a slip of the +tongue," for this is also the meaning of the German word which is +translated "promise."</p> + +<p>That the United States has to fulfill this special <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>mission of +defending the truth is very clear. The great American leader said +again in behalf of his people:</p> + +<p>"I suppose that from the first America has had one particular mission +in the world. Other nations have grown rich, other nations have been +as powerful as we are in material resources; other nations have built +up empires and exercised dominion. We are not alone in any of these +things, but we are peculiar in this, that from the first we have +dedicated our force to the service of justice and righteousness and +peace.</p> + +<p>"The princes among us are those who forget themselves and serve +mankind. America was born into the world to do mankind's service, and +no man is an American in whom the desire to do mankind's service is +not greater than the desire to serve himself.</p> + +<p>"Our life is but a little plan. One generation follows another very +quickly. If a man with red blood in him had his choice, knowing that +he must die, he would rather die to vindicate some right, unselfish to +himself, than die in his bed. We are all touched with the love of the +glory which is real glory, and the only glory comes from utter +self-forgetfulness and self-sacrifice. We never erect a statue to a +man who has merely succeeded. We erect statues to men who have +forgotten themselves and been glorified by the memory of others. This +is the standard that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>America holds up to mankind in all sincerity and +in all earnestness.</p> + +<p>"We have gone down to Mexico to serve mankind, if we can find out the +way. We do not want to fight the Mexicans; we want to serve the +Mexicans if we can, because we know how we would like to be free and +how we would like to be served, if there were friends standing by +ready to serve us. A war of aggression is not a war in which it is a +proud thing to die, but a war of service is a thing in which it is a +proud thing to die."</p> + +<p>The liberty-loving nations now fighting in the World War desire that +truth and freedom shall be secured even to the Germans along with all +other peoples. If the Germans had possessed these priceless virtues, +probably no World War would have been necessary. But the spirit of +militarism has bound down and deceived the German people.</p> + +<p>President Wilson, at West Point, said: "Militarism does not consist in +the existence of any army, not even in the existence of a very great +army. Militarism is a spirit. It is a point of view. It is a system. +It is a purpose. The purpose of militarism is to use armies for +aggression. The spirit of militarism is the opposite of the civilian +spirit, the citizen spirit. In a country where militarism prevails, +the military man looks down upon the civilian, regards him as +inferior, thinks of him as intended for his, the military <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>man's +support and use, and just as long as America is America that spirit +and point of view is impossible with us. There is as yet in this +country, so far as I can discover, no taint of the spirit of +militarism."</p> + +<p>The people of Germany have given up their sons, paid enormous taxes +which kept them poor but made landowners rich, all for the sake of the +military whims of their superiors.</p> + +<p>Any American would say, like President Wilson, "I would rather belong +to a poor nation that was free than to a rich nation that had ceased +to be in love with liberty. But we shall not be poor if we love +liberty, because the nation that loves liberty truly sets every man +free to do his best and be his best, and that means the release of all +the splendid energies of a great people who think for themselves."</p> + +<p>Thus, it is clear that America fights <i>to serve</i>. The Germans fight +<i>to get</i>, even as their word "kriegen," used by them to mean "make +war," really means "to get." For them, making war is never with the +idea of service, but with the idea of getting. They desire many things +for Germany, and to get them, they have used the most brutal force. +Not for a moment would they stop to listen to the opinions of mankind +throughout the world.</p> + +<p>President Wilson spoke with authority, when he said: "I have not read +history without observing that the greatest forces in the world and +the only <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>permanent forces are the moral forces. We have the evidence +of a very competent witness, namely, the first Napoleon, who said that +as he looked back in the last days of his life upon so much as he knew +of human history, he had to record the judgment that force had never +accomplished anything that was permanent. Force will not accomplish +anything that is permanent, I venture to say, in the great struggle +which is now going on on the other side of the sea. The permanent +things will be accomplished afterward, when the opinion of mankind is +brought to bear upon the issues, and the only thing that will hold the +world steady is this same silent, insistent, all-powerful opinion of +mankind. Force can sometimes hold things steady until opinion has time +to form, but no force that was ever exerted except in response to that +opinion was ever a conquering and predominant force."</p> + +<p>By the opinions of mankind, he meant ideals, of which he had already +said: "The pushing things in this world are ideals, not ideas. One +ideal is worth twenty ideas."</p> + +<p>Thus, in behalf of the great American nation, he calls upon the young +Americans of to-day to follow the true spirit of their country. To +them all he says, "You are just as big as the things you do, just as +small as the things you leave undone. The size of your life is the +scale of your thinking."</p> + +<p>When this great American president who believed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>that moral force was +always greater than physical force and who taught that America's +mission in the world was to serve all mankind and finally to make them +free; when he perceived after every other means had failed, that only +physical force could affect Germany and that "the sore spot" in the +world must be healed, as a cancer is, with the surgeon's knife; then +he appeared in person, on April 2, 1917, before the Congress of the +United States and read his great war message. Following his advice, +Congress declared on April 6 that a state of war existed with Germany.</p> + +<p>The message was in substance as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p class="noin">Gentlemen of the Congress:</p> + +<p>I have called the Congress into extraordinary session because +there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, +and made immediately.</p> + +<p>On the third of February last I laid before you the +extraordinary announcement of the Imperial German Government +that on and after the first day of February it was its purpose +to put aside all restraints of law or of humanity and use its +submarines to sink every vessel that sought to approach either +the ports of Great Britain and Ireland or the western coasts of +Europe or any of the ports controlled by the enemies of Germany +within the Mediterranean.</p> + +<p>The new policy has swept every restriction aside. Vessels of +every kind, whatever their flag, their character, their cargo, +their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to +the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy +for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with +those of belligerents.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the stricken +people of Belgium, though the latter were provided with +safe-conduct by the German Government itself and were +distinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk +with the same reckless lack of compassion or of principle....</p> + +<p>I am not now thinking of the loss of property, immense and +serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale +destruction of the lives of non-combatants, men, women, and +children, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in the +darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and +lawful. Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and +innocent people cannot be.</p> + +<p>The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a +warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations. +American ships have been sunk, American lives taken, in ways +which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships +and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk +in the waters in the same way. The challenge is to all mankind. +Each nation must decide for itself how it will meet it.</p> + +<p>The choice we make for ourselves must be made after very careful +thought. We must put excited feeling away. Our motives will not +be revenge or the victorious show of the physical might of the +nation, but only the vindication of right, of human rights, of +which we are only a single champion....</p> + +<p>The German Government denies the right of neutrals to use arms +at all within the areas of the sea which it has proscribed, even +in the defense of their rights. The armed guards which we have +placed on our merchant ships will be treated as beyond the pale +of law and subject to be dealt with as pirates would be.</p> + +<p>There is one choice we cannot make, we are incapable of making; +we will not choose the path of submission and suffer the most +sacred rights of our nation and our people to be ignored <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>or +violated. The wrongs against which we now array ourselves are +not common wrongs; they cut to the very roots of human life.</p> + +<p>With a profound sense of the solemn step I am taking and of the +grave responsibilities which it involves, but in unhesitating +obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, I advise that +the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German +Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the +Government and people of the United States; that it formally +accept the status of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon +it and that it take immediate steps not only to put the country +in a more thorough state of defense, but also to exert all its +power and employ all its resources to bring the Government of +the German Empire to terms and end the war.</p> + +<p>While we do these things—these deeply momentous things—let us +be very clear, and make very clear to all the world what our +motives and our objects are. Our object is to vindicate the +principles of peace and justice in the life of the world against +selfish and autocratic power and to set up among the really free +and self-governed peoples of the world such a concert of purpose +and action as will henceforth insure the observance of those +principles.</p> + +<p>Neutrality is no longer desirable where the peace of the world +is involved and the freedom of its peoples; and the menace to +that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic +governments backed by organized force which is controlled wholly +by their will, not by the will of their people.</p> + +<p>We have no quarrel with the German people. We have no feeling +toward them but one of sympathy and friendship. It was not upon +their impulse that their Government acted in entering this war. +It was not with their knowledge or approval.</p> + +<p>A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>by +a partnership of democratic nations. No autocratic Government +could be trusted to keep faith within it, or to observe its +agreements. It must be a league of honor, a partnership of +opinion. Intrigue would eat its vitals away; the plotting of +inner circles, who could plan what they would and render an +account to no one, would be a corruption seated at its very +heart. Only free peoples can hold their purpose and their honor +steady to a common end, and prefer the interests of mankind to +any narrow interests of their own.</p> + +<p>Indeed, it is now evident that German spies were here even +before the war began. They have played their part in serving to +convince us at last that that Government entertains no real +friendship for us, and means to act against our peace and +security at its convenience. That it means to stir up enemies +against us at our very doors, the note to the German Minister at +Mexico City is eloquent evidence.</p> + +<p>We are accepting this challenge because we know that in such a +Government, following such methods, we can never have a friend; +and that in the presence of its organized power, always lying in +wait to accomplish we know not what purpose, there can be no +assured security of the democratic governments of the world.</p> + +<p>We are now about to accept gage of battle with this natural foe +of liberty, and shall, if necessary, spend the whole force of +the nation to check and nullify its pretensions and its power. +We are glad, now that we see the facts with no veil of false +pretense about them, to fight thus for the peace of the world +and for the liberation of its peoples, the German people +included; for the rights of nations great and small and the +privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of +obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace +must be planted upon the tested foundations of political +liberty.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no +dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material +compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but +one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be +satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the +faith and the freedom of the nations can make them.</p> + +<p>Just because we fight without rancor and without selfish object, +seeking nothing for ourselves but what we shall wish to share +with all free people, we shall, I feel confident, conduct our +operations as belligerents without passion and ourselves observe +the principles of right and of fair play we profess to be +fighting for.</p> + +<p>It will be all the easier for us to conduct ourselves as +belligerents in a high spirit of right and fairness because we +act without animus, not in enmity toward a people or with the +desire to bring any injury or disadvantage upon them, but only +in armed opposition to an irresponsible Government which has +thrown aside all considerations of humanity and of right, and is +running amuck.</p> + +<p>We are, let me say again, the sincere friends of the German +people, and shall desire nothing so much as the early +reëstablishment of intimate relations of mutual advantage +between us, however hard it may be for them, for the time being, +to believe that this is spoken from our hearts.</p> + +<p>We have borne with their present Government through all these +bitter months because of that friendship, exercising a patience +and forbearance which would otherwise have been impossible. We +shall, happily, still have an opportunity to prove that +friendship in our daily attitude and actions toward the millions +of men and women of German birth and native sympathy who live +among us and share our life, and we shall be proud to prove it +toward all who are in fact loyal to their neighbors and to the +Government in the hour of test.</p> + +<p>They are, most of them, as true and loyal Americans as if <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>they +had never known any other fealty or allegiance. They will be +prompt to stand with us in rebuking and restraining the few who +may be of a different mind and purpose.</p> + +<p>If there should be disloyalty, it will be dealt with with a firm +hand of stern repression; but if it lifts its head at all, it +will lift it only here and there and without countenance except +from a lawless and malignant few.</p> + +<p>It is a distressing and oppressive duty, gentlemen of the +Congress, which I have performed in thus addressing you. There +are, it may be, many months of fiery trial and sacrifice ahead +of us. It is a fearful thing to lead this great, peaceful people +into war—into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, +civilization itself seeming to be in the balance.</p> + +<p>But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight +for the things which we have always carried nearest our +hearts—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to +authority to have a voice in their own government, for the +rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion +of right by such a concert of free people as shall bring peace +and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last +free.</p> + +<p>To such a task we can dedicate our lives and our fortunes, +everything that we are and everything that we have, with the +pride of those who know that the day has come when America is +privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles +that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has +treasured. God helping her, she can do no other.</p></div> + +<p>On July 4, 1918, the United States had been at war for more than a +year, and it seemed to the millions of people who were anxiously +waiting for the peaceful giant to awake that very little had been +accomplished. They were fearful that the Germans in their next <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>great +offensive, for which they had been preparing for over two months, +might capture Paris, or at least get near enough to it to destroy the +city with their long range artillery. The offensives, already launched +by the Germans, had been frightfully effective, and the Allies felt +that American soldiers in large numbers were necessary to save them +from possible disaster. They were looking for a great "push" by the +enemy and one that German leaders had promised the people at home +would bring victory and settle the war in their favor. This offensive, +as we know, was launched on July 15 and instead of succeeding was +changed by Marshal Foch's counter-stroke into a serious defeat for the +Germans.</p> + +<p>But this outcome could not of course be predicted in America on July +4, and hearts were heavy with fear that the United States might after +all be too slow and too late. It was not then generally known that +during the months of May and June, over a half million American +soldiers had been landed in France.</p> + +<p>On July 4, 1776, the American colonies by a Declaration of +Independence determined to fight for liberty and democracy; on April +6, 1917, the American Congress declared that the United States would +help defeat the selfish aims of Germany. In the early fight of the +American colonies for independence, the first battles were fought in +April and the Declaration of Independence was signed in July of the +next year; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>in the fight for the liberty of all peoples, the German +included, the Americans entered the war in April, and the President on +July 4 of the following year, standing at the tomb of Washington at +Mount Vernon, read a Declaration of Independence, not for America +alone, but for the entire world.</p> + +<p>In 1776, the declaration was supported by a small army of a few small +colonies, in 1918 the declaration was supported by the full strength +of the greatest and wealthiest nation on the globe.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful day with a cloudless sky and a cooling breeze. +President Wilson and his party, including members of the cabinet; the +British ambassador, the Earl of Reading; the French ambassador, Jules +J. Jusserand; and other members of the diplomatic corps, had come down +the Potomac from Washington on the President's steam yacht, the +<i>Mayflower</i>.</p> + +<p>When they had gathered around the tomb of Washington near his old +home, Mount Vernon, on the banks of the beautiful Potomac River, +representatives of thirty-three nations placed wreaths of palms on the +tomb to show their fealty to the principles for which the "Father of +His Country" fought; then all stood with bared heads while John +McCormack sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." As the beautiful notes rose +and swelled and echoed over the hallowed ground, into the hearts of +all present came the conviction that the starry flag would soon bring +to all the peoples <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>of the world the peace and security that +surrounded that historic group at Mount Vernon.</p> + +<p>Then the President with the marines about him, and beyond them +thousands of American citizens, began to read the Declaration of the +Independence of the World. It is so simple in language that even +children of twelve years of age may understand nearly all of it, and +it is so deep and noble in thought that even the greatest scholars and +statesmen will find it worthy of close study. It will stand forever +with Washington's Farewell Address and Lincoln's Gettysburg Speech as +a great American document. It is as follows, except that the four ends +for which the world is fighting are restated in briefer form:</p> + +<div class="block"><p class="noin">Gentlemen of the Diplomatic Corps and my Fellow-Citizens:</p> + +<p>I am happy to draw apart with you to this quiet place of old +counsel in order to speak a little of the meaning of this day of +our nation's independence. The place seems very still and +remote. It is as serene and untouched by hurry of the world as +it was in those great days long ago, when General Washington was +here and held leisurely conference with the men who were to be +associated with him in the creation of a nation.</p> + +<p>From these gentle slopes, they looked out upon the world and saw +it whole, saw it with the light of the future upon it, saw it +with modern eyes that turned away from a past which men of +liberated spirits could no longer endure. It is for that reason +that we cannot feel, even here, in the immediate presence of +this sacred tomb, that this is a place of death. It was a place +of achievement.</p> + +<p>A great promise that was meant for all mankind was here <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>given +plan and reality. The associations by which we are here +surrounded are the inspiriting associations of that noble death +which is only a glorious consummation. From this green hillside +we also ought to be able to see with comprehending eyes the +world that lies around us and conceive anew the purpose that +must set men free.</p> + +<p>It is significant—significant of their own character and +purpose and of the influences they were setting afoot—that +Washington and his associates, like the barons at Runnymede, +spoke and acted, not for a class but for a people. It has been +left for us to see to it that it shall be understood that they +spoke and acted, not for a single people only, but for all +mankind. They were thinking not of themselves and of the +material interests which centered in the little groups of +landholders and merchants and men of affairs with whom they were +accustomed to act, in Virginia and the colonies to the north and +south of here, but of a people which wished to be done with +classes and special interests and the authority of men whom they +had not themselves chosen to rule over them.</p> + +<p>They entertained no private purpose, desired no peculiar +privilege. They were consciously planning that men of every +class should be free and America a place to which men out of +every nation might resort who wished to share with them the +rights and privileges of freemen. And we take our cue from +them—do we not? We intend what they intended.</p> + +<p>We here in America believe our participation in this present war +to be only the fruitage of what they planted. Our case differs +from theirs only in this, that it is our inestimable privilege +to concert with men out of every nation what shall make not only +the liberties of America secure, but the liberties of every +other people as well. We are happy in the thought that we are +permitted to do what they would have done had they been in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>our +place. There must now be settled once for all what was settled +for America in the great age upon whose inspiration we draw +to-day.</p> + +<p>This is surely a fitting place from which calmly to look out +upon our task that we may fortify our spirits for its +accomplishment. And this is the appropriate place from which to +avow, alike to the friends who look on and to the friends with +whom we have the happiness to be associated in action, the faith +and purpose with which we act.</p> + +<p>This, then, is our conception of the great struggle in which we +are engaged. The plot is written plain upon every scene and +every act of the supreme tragedy. On the one hand stand the +peoples of the world—not only the peoples actually engaged, but +many others also who suffer under mastery but cannot act; +peoples of many races and every part of the world—the peoples +of stricken Russia still, among the rest, though they are for +the moment unorganized and helpless. Opposed to them, masters of +many armies, stand an isolated, friendless group of governments +who speak no common purpose, but only selfish ambitions of their +own by which none can profit but themselves, and whose peoples +are fuel in their hands; governments which fear their people and +yet are for the time their sovereign lords, making every choice +for them and disposing of their lives and fortunes as they will, +as well as of the lives and fortunes of every people who fall +under their power—governments clothed with the strange +trappings and the primitive authority of an age that is +altogether alien and hostile to our own. The past and the +present are in deadly grapple and the peoples of the world are +being done to death between them.</p> + +<p>There can be but one issue. The settlement must be final. There +can be no compromise. No half-way decision would be tolerable. +No half-way decision is conceivable. These are the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>ends for +which the associated peoples of the world are fighting and which +must be conceded them before there can be peace:</p> + +<p>1. Every power anywhere that can secretly and of its own single +choice bring war upon the world must be bound or destroyed.</p> + +<p>2. All questions must be settled in accordance with the wishes +of the people concerned.</p> + +<p>3. The same respect for honor and for law that leads honorable +men to hold their promises as sacred and to keep them at any +cost must direct the nations in dealing with one another.</p> + +<p>4. A league of nations must be formed strong enough to insure +the peace of the world.</p> + +<p>These great objects can be put into a single sentence. What we +seek is the reign of law, based upon the consent of the governed +and sustained by the organized opinion of mankind.</p> + +<p>These great ends cannot be achieved by debating and seeking to +reconcile and accommodate what statesmen may wish, with their +projects for balances of power and national opportunity. They +can be realized only by the determination of what the thinking +peoples of the world desire, with their longing hope for justice +and for social freedom and opportunity.</p> + +<p>I cannot but fancy that the air of this place carries the +accents of such principles with a peculiar kindness. Here were +started forces which the great nation against which they were +primarily directed at first regarded as a revolt against its +rightful authority, but which it has long since seen to have +been a step in the liberation of its own peoples as well as of +the people of the United States; and I stand here now to +speak—speak proudly and with confident hope—of the spread of +this revolt, this liberation, to the great stage of the world +itself! The blinded rulers of Prussia have aroused forces they +know little of—forces which, once aroused, can never be crushed +to earth again; for they have at their heart an inspiration and +a purpose which are deathless and of the very stuff of triumph!</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="A_KING_OF_HEROES" id="A_KING_OF_HEROES"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>A KING OF HEROES<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>"King" is not a word that will go out of use when the world has been +won for democracy. We shall still use it much as we do now, when we +say, "He is a prince" or "He is a king among men"; for there are still +good kings, as well as bad ones. Some countries that are really +democratic prefer to keep kings as reminders of their past and as +ornaments of their present.</p> + +<p>England is really more democratic than the United States and yet +England has a king; and as some one has said, he is a king and a +democrat and a king of democrats. This was well shown by his letter to +the first American soldiers who marched through London in April, 1918, +on their way to the battle line in France. Each soldier was handed an +envelope bearing the inscription, "A message to you from his majesty, +King George V." In the envelope was the letter shown on the opposite +page, from a democratic king to the American soldiers in the army of +democracy.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep021.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep021.jpg" width="45%" alt="hand written letter from the King of England" /></a><br /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>No autocratic king or kaiser desires to shake the hand of each of his +soldiers or to become in any way one of them. To an autocrat, to the +German Kaiser, to the German officers, the German privates are only +Things to be used as are swords and guns. A wounded German officer +felt insulted because he was made well again in an English hospital in +the same ward with German privates.</p> + +<p>An interesting story is told of a Red Cross nurse, to whom a badly +wounded man was brought at a field hospital during one of the battles +in which the brave little Belgian army was trying to hold back the +invading Germans. All the surgeons were busy, and the man needed +assistance at once. The nurse knew what was needed to save his life +until he could receive surgical treatment, and she knew how to do it; +but she could not do it alone. She must have help at once, and of the +right kind.</p> + +<p>She was about to give up in despair, when she saw a man walking +through the field hospital, cheering the sufferers and asking if he +could be of any assistance. She called to him, and when he came she +said, "You can save this man's life if you will help me and do just +what I tell you, just when I tell you to do it. Do you think you can +take orders and obey them promptly?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," replied the man. "Let us save this poor soldier's life, +if we can."</p> + +<p>The nurse set to work, telling the stranger just what she wanted him +to do. She wasted no words, but gave orders as if she expected them to +be obeyed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>quickly and intelligently. The stranger proved himself +equal to the occasion, and the delicate work which saved the man's +life was soon done.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said the nurse, as she finished. "I see you are used to +taking orders and know how to obey. I shall remain with this soldier, +until he regains consciousness. He will want to know to whose +assistance he owes his life. Kindly give me your name."</p> + +<p>The stranger hesitated. Then he said, "The soldier really owes his +life to you, but I am glad if I was able to help. If he asks, you may +tell him the people call me Albert."</p> + +<p>And all at once the commanding little Red Cross nurse understood that +the tall, quiet man, who, she said, showed that he was used to taking +orders, was Albert, King of the Belgians.</p> + +<p>Italy has a king and Belgium has a king; but like King George of +England they are democratic kings, exercising what authority is +granted to them by the people in accordance with a constitution. The +German Kaiser claims to hold all authority of life and death over his +people, including the right of declaring defensive war, by "divine +right," by God's choice of him and his family to rule.</p> + +<p>When Germany, at the outbreak of the war in 1914, resolved to break +the treaty in which with other nations she had pledged herself never +to violate, but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>always to defend, the neutrality of Belgium; when she +was ready to declare to the world that a sacred treaty was only "a +scrap of paper" to be torn up whenever her needs seemed to require it, +she sent on Sunday night, August 2, 1914, at seven o'clock, an +ultimatum to the Belgian government—to be answered within twelve +hours—in substance as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>The German Government has received information, of the accuracy +of which there can be no doubt, that it <i>may</i> be the intention +of France to send her forces across Belgium to attack Germany.</p> + +<p>The German Government fears that Belgium, no matter how good her +intentions, may not be able unaided to prevent such a French +advance; and therefore it is necessary for the protection of +Germany that she should act at once.</p> + +<p>The German Government would be very sorry to have Belgium +consider her action in this matter as a hostile act, for it is +forced upon Germany by her enemies. In order to prevent any +misunderstanding, the German Government declares:</p> + +<p>1. Germany intends no hostile act against Belgium, and if +Belgium makes no resistance, the German Government pledges the +security of the Belgian Kingdom and all its possessions.</p> + +<p>2. Germany pledges herself to evacuate all Belgian territory at +the end of the war.</p> + +<p>3. Germany will pay cash for all supplies needed by her troops +which Belgians are willing to sell her and will make good any +damage caused by her forces.</p> + +<p>4. If Belgium resists the advance of the German forces, the +German Government will be compelled to consider Belgium as an +enemy and will act accordingly. If not, the friendly relations +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>which have long united the two nations will become stronger and +more lasting.</p></div> + +<p>In twelve hours Belgium must make a decision that would change her +entire future history and, as later events proved, the history of +Europe and of the world. She made it; and by that decision she +sacrificed herself and brought death and destruction upon her people +and her possessions, but she saved her honor and her soul. Germany had +promised her everything, if she would only let the German armies march +unhindered through Belgium into France. No Belgian should be harmed or +disturbed, and anything needed by the German army would be paid for. +After the Germans had won the war, as they doubtless would have done +if Belgium had not blocked their way, Belgium would have become a +thriving, wealthy kingdom, under German protection. Antwerp would have +been perhaps the greatest port in the world, and Brussels, next to +Berlin, the world's most magnificent capital. But the Belgians did not +hesitate nor did their heroic king.</p> + +<p>The Belgian Government replied on Monday morning, at four o'clock, in +substance as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>The Note from the German Government has caused the most painful +surprise to the Belgian Government. The French on August 1 +assured us most emphatically that they would respect our +neutrality. If this should prove to be false, the Belgian <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>army +will offer the greatest possible resistance to invasion by them. +The neutrality of Belgium is guaranteed by the powers, among +them Germany, and the attack which the German Government +threatens to make on Belgium would be a violation of the Law of +Nations. No military necessity can justify such a violation of +right.</p> + +<p>The Belgian Government, if it accepted the proposals of Germany, +would sacrifice the honor of the nation and betray its duty to +Europe; and it therefore refuses to believe that this will be +demanded in order to maintain its independence. If this +expectation proves unfounded, the Belgian Government is fully +decided to resist by all means in its power any attack against +its rights.</p></div> + +<p>On Tuesday the King brought in person a message to the Belgian +Legislature, as President Wilson has often brought such messages to +the American Congress. King Albert's message was in substance as +follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Not since 1830 has Belgium passed through such an anxious hour. +Our independence is threatened. We still have hope that what we +dread may not happen; but if we have to resist invasion and +defend our homes, that duty will find us armed, courageous, and +ready for any sacrifice. Already our young men have risen to +defend their country in danger. I send to them, in the name of +the nation, a brotherly greeting. Everywhere in the provinces of +Flanders and of Walloon alike, in city and country, one feeling +fills all minds—that our duty is to resist the enemies of our +independence with firm courage and as a united nation.</p> + +<p>The perfect mobilization of our army, the great number of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>volunteers, the devotion of the citizens, the self-denial of +families have shown beyond doubt the bravery of the Belgian +people. The moment to act has come.</p> + +<p>No one in this nation will betray his duty. The army is ready, +and the Government has absolute trust in its leaders and its +soldiers.</p> + +<p>If the foreigner violates our territory, he will find all +Belgians grouped round their King and their Government, in which +they have absolute confidence.</p> + +<p>I have faith in our destinies. A nation which defends its rights +commands the respect of all. Such a nation cannot die. God will +be with us in a just cause. Long live independent Belgium!</p></div> + +<p>Hardly had the King finished his noble message, when the Prime +Minister announced to the Legislature that Germany had declared war +upon Belgium, and that her troops were moving against Liége.</p> + +<p>Never as long as men remember the history of these fateful days will +the decisive action of the heroic Belgian people and of their heroic +king be forgotten. The slightest hesitation between right and wrong +would have set civilization and human liberty back perhaps a thousand +years. And the decision had to be made not only by a people, but by a +young king with German blood in his veins and married to a German +princess—and between sunset and sunrise.</p> + +<p>Did he see the horrors before him and his people? Did he see the +destruction of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the pride of +his people? Did he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>see the tearing down and burning of the entire +city of Louvain, with its university and its valuable library +containing some of the oldest and most nearly priceless books and +manuscripts? Did he see the children and the aged dying by the +roadside of hunger and fatigue? Did he see the Belgian men carried off +as slaves to work in Germany?</p> + +<p>Do you think he or his Queen would have hesitated if he had? No one +who really knows them thinks so. Nothing can justify choosing the +wrong. King Albert, the King of Heroes, and Queen Elizabeth of the +Belgians are honored and respected by all who love liberty and +justice, for it has been well said, "Treaties and engagements are +certainly scraps of paper, just as promises are no more than breaths. +But upon such scraps of paper and breaths the fabric of civilization +has been built, and without them its everyday activity would come to +an end." They represent truly the heroic Belgian people who by their +decision on Sunday night, August 2, 1914, saved the world. Queen +Elizabeth, although a Bavarian princess, has said of the Germans, +"Between them and me has fallen a curtain of iron which will never +again be lifted."</p> + +<p>The Belgian Minister to the United States said of King Albert after +the war had begun:</p> + +<p>"It is when one talks with our soldiers that one perceives how he is +loved; they say, all of them, that they will die for him. He is +constantly at their side, encouraging them by his presence and his +courage. At certain moments, he adventures too far; always he is in +the very midst of combat."</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep029.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep029.jpg" width="45%" alt="King Albert of Belgium" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">King Albert of Belgium</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>The King and Queen are both of them unusually brave and daring. Not +many royal pairs would trust their lives to cross the English Channel +and return in an airplane, as they did in the summer of 1918 to attend +a celebration held by the King and Queen of England.</p> + +<p>A Belgian soldier writing of King Albert said: "The King came and +placed himself at my side in the trench. He took the rifle of a +soldier so tired he could not stand, to give him a chance to rest, and +fired, just like the other soldiers, for an hour and a half. He +himself often carries their letters to the soldiers and distributes +among them the little bundles which their friends and parents send +them from the homes now destroyed. He shares their mess with the +soldiers and he calls them always 'my friends.' He does not want that +they shall do him honor; he wishes simply to be a soldier in all that +the word <i>soldier</i> means. One night he was seen, exhausted by fatigue, +sleeping on the grass at the side of the road."</p> + +<p>Do you wonder that the Belgians love their King and that the world +honors him as the Hero King of a Nation of Heroes?</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="DEFENSE_OF_LIEGE" id="DEFENSE_OF_LIEGE"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>DEFENSE OF LIÉGE<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>To Germany's unfair and treacherous proposal that Belgium be false to +her promises to the world, there was but one answer for Belgium. It +was "No." Immediately after this reply had been received by the German +minister, and just as King Albert had finished his noble speech and +left the House, the Belgian Prime Minister had to announce to +Parliament that Germany had already declared war and that even at that +moment the German soldiers were advancing toward Liége, and within a +few hours would be besieging the city.</p> + +<p>Liége was the industrial center of Belgium, just as Antwerp was the +commercial, and Brussels the political center, or capital. The city of +Liége was famous for its coal mines, glass factories, and iron works. +Of the latter the Cockerill Works of Seraing have been named as second +only to Krupp's. The city is important historically and also +politically—being the truest democracy in Europe. Its people were +happy and free. Its governor was trusted and respected, but no less +bound by common law than the people themselves.</p> + +<p>Liége also has great strategic advantages. Situated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>on the left bank +of the Meuse, in a valley at the junction of three rivers, it is a +natural stronghold. It was besides supposed to be fortified more +perfectly than any other city in the world. A ring of twelve forts +surrounded it, six of them large and powerful, six not so powerful and +smaller.</p> + +<p>One weakness, however, as General Emmich, commander of the German +forces, knew, was the great distance between the forts. The small +forts were not placed between the large ones; but two of the smaller +works were together on the southwest, two in a ten-mile gap across the +northeast, a fifth was between two of the larger forts on the +southeast. The three points where the small forts were situated were +the places that the enemy planned to attack.</p> + +<p>Another weakness was the smallness of the garrison,—74,000 men were +needed for the defense of Liége and Namur, and only about a hundred +men were stationed in some of the forts.</p> + +<p>But the Belgians were equally aware of the weak points. General Leman +gave orders to throw up entrenchments between forts and to fill the +garrison. Even then, the number of men in the forts was but 25,000, +when it should have been at least 50,000.</p> + +<p>Yet the Belgian soldiers, following the example of their brave leader, +General Leman, did all they could to prepare a strong resistance.</p> + +<p>Without any delay, the German commander, on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>August 5, sent forward +his men in the 7th army corps with the purpose of taking Fort Evegnée, +the little fort on the southeast. No time was taken to bring up the +heavy guns—the Germans thought they would not need them. In this they +were mistaken.</p> + +<p>Three times they rushed forward, but were repulsed. The third time +they reached the Belgian trenches; but, obeying an order to +counter-attack, the Belgians rushed out and drove the Germans back, +inflicting heavy losses and taking 800 prisoners.</p> + +<p>At the same time, an attack was made from the northeast by the German +9th corps. The fighting was even fiercer here, but the enemy managed +to break through the defenses. During the fighting, the enemy schemed +to capture the Belgian general. Could they take General Leman, they +thought, the Belgian soldiers would not long hold out. Therefore, when +the fight was fiercest, eight Uhlans, two officers, and six privates, +mistaken for Englishmen because they were in English uniform, rode to +the headquarters of General Leman and attempted to take him prisoner. +But they were discovered and either killed or captured, after a +hand-to-hand struggle in the headquarter's building with members of +the Belgian staff aided by gendarmes. Heavy street fighting forced the +Germans back of the defenses once more. Then, by a decisive +counter-attack, the second attack of the enemy was repulsed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>That same night came a third attack from the southeast again, against +Fort Evegnée, and also from the southwest against the two small forts, +Chaudfontaine and Embourg.</p> + +<p>It was a bright moonlight night. The Belgians on the southwest took +advantage of it to work at strengthening their defenses. They needed +no lights and used none, for they were in less danger of being seen by +the enemy.</p> + +<p>If the Germans should take this part of the city, it would be +particularly valuable to them, for here were the great iron works, the +railway depots, the electric lighting works, and the small-arms and +gun factory. Besides, they could then without doubt easily march on +through Belgium and, as the German commander planned, overrun France. +France surely needed all the time which the brave Belgian soldiers +could save for her, for it had never been thought that Germany would +break through on that side. France, since her previous war with +Germany, when she had lost the beautiful provinces of Alsace and +Lorraine, had massed her garrisons on the eastern line. In fact, very +few forts had been built on the Belgian side, since the two countries +had always maintained friendly relationships with each other, and the +neutrality of Belgium was guaranteed by the Powers. Now, if Germany +could not be held back until the French soldiers could be brought up +to the Belgian <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>border, then Germany's plan of greed and tyranny would +be successful, and all of Europe would be lost. To check the Germans +here meant to save the rest of Europe.</p> + +<p>The city of Liége lay in darkness, save for the light of the kindly +moon. From among the crowd of buildings, the old citadel arose like a +great shadow. The searchlights flashed fitfully from the forts, +traveling across the enemy's position, while the men watched, half +expecting that the enemy would advance in the darkness, as so many of +Germany's black deeds were committed under cover of night. Over the +country, to the east, lay the ruined buildings, the broken walls, and +the dead from the fearful conflict of that day.</p> + +<p>Half an hour before midnight, a storm of shot and shell broke upon the +trenches. High explosive shells burst with brilliant flashes and loud +uproar. The guns from the forts replied, and the city shook in the +thundering shock.</p> + +<p>Heavy forces of Germans advanced, made a rush for the ditches, but +were pushed back. Just before daybreak, however, the 10th corps crept +up silently and rushed forward in a mass. The searchlights were thrown +upon them, and the guns of the Belgian regiments fired upon them. Only +after a hard fight, lasting five long hours, did the Germans break and +run.</p> + +<p>But with all the heroism of the Belgian garrison, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>after four days and +four nights of ceaseless fighting, the men were exhausted. They could +not be relieved, while the Germans had many fresh troops in reserve. +The Belgian gunners might be able to hold the forts, but they could +not long hold the stretches of ground between. But by this time the +Belgian staff realized this and ordered two of the generals to +withdraw secretly with their forces while yet there was time. General +Leman was left in charge of the remaining forces to continue the brave +defense of the works. The Germans had brought up their heavy +artillery. Sooner or later they would break through.</p> + +<p>On August 6, the Germans cut their way through between the forts and +entered the city. The forts held out for a time, still holding the +enemy from crossing the rivers. Once they had nearly crossed the large +bridge over the Meuse, but the Belgians blew it up, and time after +time, as the pontoon-bridges of the Germans were thrown across, above +and below Liége, the fire from the forts destroyed them.</p> + +<p>Then, surrounded by enemies inside the city and outside, the garrison +was forced to retire. In the latter part of August, all the forts of +Liége were in the hands of the Germans. But Belgium had made a brave +resistance; she had stood like Horatius at the bridge. She had kept +the Germans back, and by so delaying them had saved Europe.</p> + +<p>The defense of Liége was one of the most brilliant <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>military +achievements and one of the decisive events in world history.</p> + +<p>Its brave leader, General Leman, did not see the close of the siege. +He was wounded and captured when Fort Loncin, the large fort where he +had taken his stand with his men, exploded under the terrific fire of +the enemy. But from his prison, he sent the following letter to King +Albert:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>After a severe engagement fought on August 4, 5, and 6, I +considered that the forts of Liége could not play any other part +but that of stopping the advance of the enemy. I maintained the +military government in order to coördinate the defense as much +as possible and in order to exert a moral influence on the +garrison.</p> + +<p>Your Majesty is aware that I was at the Fort of Loncin on August +6 at noon.</p> + +<p>Your Majesty will learn with sorrow that the fort exploded +yesterday at 5:20 <span class="fakesc">P.M.</span>, and that the greater part of +the garrison is buried under the ruins. If I have not died in +this catastrophe, it is owing to the fact that my work had +removed me from the stronghold. Whilst I was being suffocated by +the gases after the explosion of the powder, a German captain +gave me a drink. I was then made a prisoner and brought to +Liége. I am aware that this letter is lacking in sequence, but I +am physically shaken by the explosion of the Fort of Loncin. For +the honor of our armies I have refused to surrender the fortress +and the forts. May your Majesty deign to forgive me. In Germany, +where I am taken, my thoughts will be, as they have always been, +with Belgium and her King. I would willingly have given my life +better to serve them, but death has not been granted me.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">General Leman.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="LOUVAIN_DESTRUCTION" id="LOUVAIN_DESTRUCTION"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE DESTRUCTION OF LOUVAIN<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>More than one hundred years ago, Napoleon, the famous French general, +started out to conquer the world, just as the Germans have been +dreaming of doing. Napoleon had almost unbelievable success—carrying +the banner of France into practically the whole of Europe. But into +whatever provinces Napoleon went, though bent upon the subjugation of +a world, he never allowed his army to wantonly lay waste and destroy. +There was great attraction for him in the wonderful works of art which +he found in many of the large cities. He ordered his men to seize +these works secretly and to carry them back to Paris. There they were +preserved. France indeed is now named the preserver of the arts.</p> + +<p>Had the German officers done even this, their crime would not be so +great to-day. The French not only saved art and property, but also +tried to save the lives of non-combatants as often as possible.</p> + +<p>One of the leading daily papers of Cologne, Germany, explained in its +issue of February 10, 1915, why the German soldiers have committed +deeds that will forever shame the German people in the minds <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>of the +rest of humanity. Like the invasion of Belgium, these deeds are not +defended as <i>right</i> or <i>just</i> but as <i>necessary</i> to help on the German +advance to victory. The article read as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>We have adopted it as a principle that the wrong-doing of an +individual must be expiated by the entire community to which he +belongs. The village in which our troops are fired upon will be +burned. If the guilty one is not found, substitutes will be +chosen from the population at large, and will be executed under +martial law.... The innocent must suffer with the guilty, and, +if the latter are not caught, must receive punishment in their +place, not because a crime has been committed, but to prevent +the commission of a future crime. Every case in which a village +is burned down, or hostages are executed, or the inhabitants of +a village which has taken arms against our invading forces are +killed, is a warning to the inhabitants of the territory not yet +occupied. There can be no doubt that the destruction of Battice, +Herve, Louvain, and Dinant has served as warning. The +devastation and bloodshed of the opening days of the war have +prevented the larger Belgian cities from attempting any attacks +upon the weak forces with which it was necessary for us to hold +them.</p></div> + +<p>The destruction of works of art and of the beautiful cathedrals built +in the Middle Ages cannot be explained and defended in this way, but +some other pitiable and often childish excuse is offered. The Germans +always assume that others do as they would do in the same +circumstances. They assumed England would not interfere, if the +neutrality of Belgium <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>was violated, for Germany would not have +interfered, had she been in England's place. They assumed the French +and English would use the towers of the cathedrals for observation +posts, for Germany would have done so; and although they were promised +by the Allied officers that the towers would not be so used and were +informed by the bishops and priests that they were not so used, yet +they proceeded to destroy the beautiful structures. Their own promises +and statements in a similar case would have been of no value, and so +they assumed the promises of others were valueless and that the +priests had been compelled to lie about the matter, as the Germans +would have forced them to do, if possible.</p> + +<p>They also fired upon the cathedrals of Ypres, Soissons, Arras, and +Rheims in retaliation, whenever the enemy bombarded the German lines +near by. Destroying a cathedral was like killing pure and beautiful +women and children. The Huns felt the Allies would let them advance +rather than have it happen.</p> + +<p>As the Germans were on their way to seize Antwerp, after they had +taken the Belgian capital, they were driven out of Malines and turned +upon Louvain. They were greatly irritated at the strong resistance +which the Belgian army was making. They even feared that suddenly +Belgium's allies would join her at Antwerp and invade Germany, +upsetting the German plans entirely.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>Therefore they sought to terrorize and subdue the country by a +complete destruction of Louvain, one of the most ancient and historic +towns in that section of Europe. Its buildings and monuments were of +world-wide interest.</p> + +<p>Repulsed and chased back to the outskirts of Louvain, the troops were +ordered to destroy the town. The soldiers marched down the streets, +singing and jeering, while the officers rode about in their military +automobiles with an air of bravado, as they contemplated the deed they +were about to do. They first attempted to anger the people, so as to +have some pretext for the criminal deed they had determined upon. But +the people, knowing the character of the Germans, showed remarkable +restraint. They gave up all firearms, even old rifles and bows and +arrows that were valuable historic relics. They housed and fed their +enemies, paid them immense sums of money; and when the commander sent +for two hundred and fifty mattresses, they even brought their own beds +and cast them, with everything they could lay hands on, down into the +market-place. They knew the penalty for refusal was the death of their +respected burgomaster.</p> + +<p>The people of Boston, at the time of the Revolution, refused to feed +and house the British soldiers. But these people of Louvain submitted +to much worse than that, hoping that the enemy would pass on and spare +their lives and their homes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>But on Tuesday evening, August 25, as the people were sitting down to +their evening meal, the soldiers suddenly rushed wildly through the +streets, and furnished with bombs, set fire to all parts of the town. +That night witnessed some of the most terrible deeds in all history. +The town of 45,000 inhabitants was wiped out; many of the citizens +were killed, and others were sent by train to an unknown destination. +Besides the loss of life, there was lost to the world forever a great +store of historic and artistic wealth.</p> + +<p>But one principal building in all the town was left standing—the +Hotel de Ville. This was purposely saved as a monument to German +authority, when the whole country should be taken over and rebuilt as +a German-Belgium!</p> + +<p>This cowardly act of cruelty will always stand out as typical of +German atrocity. Louvain was undefended and was already in the hands +of the Germans. By this one deed perhaps more than any other, Germany +showed to what depths of degradation she would stoop. By the +destruction of Louvain, she put back civilization and culture for five +hundred years, and her own good name was burned away from among the +nations of the world. The Germans from that day were branded as the +enemies of the human race. The world sprang with united sympathy to +the side of little Belgium—so that for her the destruction of Louvain +meant more than a glorious victory.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CARDINAL_MERCIER" id="CARDINAL_MERCIER"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CARDINAL MERCIER<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>He is an old man, nearly seventy, with thin, grayish-white hair. He is +very tall, as was Abraham Lincoln, nearly six feet and six inches. He +is thin, with deep-set, jet-black eyes, and thin, almost bloodless +lips.</p> + +<p>He is a symbol of oppressed Belgium,—frail in body, lacking great +physical strength, but standing tall and erect with flashing eyes; +unconquerable because of his unconquerable soul.</p> + +<p>The spirit of such men as he, and of such nations as his beloved +Belgium, is well expressed in Henley's now famous "Invictus."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Out of the night that covers me,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Black as the pit from pole to pole,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I thank whatever gods may be<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For my unconquerable soul.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In the fell clutch of circumstance<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I have not winced nor cried aloud,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Under the bludgeonings of chance<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My head is bloody, but unbowed.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"> * * * * *<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It matters not how strait the gate,<br /></span><span class='pn'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +<span class="i2">How charged with punishments the scroll.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I am the master of my fate;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I am the captain of my soul.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Amidst all the horrible deeds committed by the Germans in Belgium, +Cardinal Mercier has spoken the truth publicly and fearlessly. His +unconquerable soul seems to have protected his frail body. He is one +of the great heroes of brave, suffering Belgium—a hero who carries +neither sword nor gun; but his courage might be envied by every +soldier on the field of battle, and his judgment by every commander +directing them.</p> + +<p>The Germans seemed to fear him from the first. General von Bissing, +who was the German Governor of invaded Belgium, wrote to Cardinal +Mercier, after the Cardinal's Easter letter to the oppressed Belgians +appeared, and called him to account, suggesting what might happen to +him if he did not cease his attacks upon the Germans and German +methods.</p> + +<p>The Cardinal replied that he would never surrender his liberty of +judgment and that, whenever the orders and laws of the Germans were in +conflict with the laws of God, he would follow the latter and advise +his people to do the same.</p> + +<p>"We render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's," he wrote, "for we +pay you the silent dread of your strength, but we keep, sacred in our +hearts <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>and free from your orders, our ideas of right and wrong.</p> + +<p>"It was not without careful thought that we denounced to the world the +evils you have done to our brothers and sisters—frightful evils and +horrible crimes, the tragic horror of which cold reason refuses to +admit.</p> + +<p>"But had we not done so, we should have felt ourselves unworthy of our +high office.</p> + +<p>"As a Belgian, we have heard the cries of sorrow of our people; as a +patriot, we have sought to heal the wounds of our country; and as a +bishop, we have denounced the crimes against innocent priests."</p> + +<p>They deprived him of his automobile, with which he used to hasten to +all parts of Belgium to assist and comfort sufferers from German +tyranny and torture. They ordered him to remain in his residence.</p> + +<p>As a part of his church duty, he wished to go to Brussels to celebrate +high mass. He applied for a pass which would allow him to go by train +or trolley. An excuse was invented for refusing it. Then the Cardinal +sent word to the Commandant that he must go and that he would walk. +Two hours afterward he left his residence on foot, accompanied by two +or three priests, and started on his walk of fifteen or more miles to +Brussels.</p> + +<p>Men, women, and children, and priests from every part of the city +crowded about him and followed him, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>till he reached the German +sentries, who stopped the crowd and demanded where they were going.</p> + +<p>The Cardinal showed his <i>Ausweiss</i>, an identification card which every +Belgian must carry, and he was allowed to proceed with two priests for +companions. The other priests demanded the right to go on, and a +heated dispute arose between them and the sentries. One of the priests +lost his temper and forgot himself so far that he began to beat one of +the sentries with his umbrella. The other sentry called for help, and +the crowd was soon dispersed. The angry priest was put under arrest +and led off to the guardhouse.</p> + +<p>The Cardinal had gone on but a short way when the uproar behind him +caused him to stop and look back at what was happening. When he saw +the priest led off by the soldiers, he and his companions turned back +and followed the soldiers to the little guardhouse. He walked directly +in, looking neither to the right nor the left, standing a head above +the rest of the crowd. He fixed his piercing black eyes upon the eyes +of the priest; then he beckoned him to come and turned and walked out, +followed by the priest.</p> + +<p>The soldiers made no attempt to stop them. They seemed to recognize an +authority that they could not help obeying, even though they did not +want to. The Cardinal accompanied by the three priests went on down +the road and out of Malines towards <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>Brussels. They walked about half +way to the city and then took the trolleys.</p> + +<p>In speaking of the Germans, the Cardinal is reported to have said, +"They are so stupid, these Germans! Sometimes I feel that they are +like silly, cruel children, and that I should do something to help +them."</p> + +<p>He loves America and the Americans and is grateful for all that the +United States have done for his suffering people. He told one of his +fellow-workers who had become discouraged, "If you follow a great +Captain, as I do, you will never be discouraged."</p> + +<p>In him martyred Belgium has found a voice heard round the world. He +has never ceased to denounce the atrocious crimes of the German +masters of his country and he has continually sought to comfort and +cheer his unhappy people. He sees far, and so he sees clearly the +power outside ourselves that finally brings to Right the victory over +Might. His Pastoral Letter, Christmas, 1914, will never be forgotten +nor will the words of cheer to his suffering people when he reminds +them of the greatest truth of life, that only through sacrifice and +suffering come the things best worth while. His statement in letters +to the German Commandant of the facts concerning the deportation of +Belgians into Germany, to work as virtual slaves, will forever form +part of the records of history's blackest deeds.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>This Pastoral Letter of Christmas, 1914, is in part as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>It was in Rome itself that I received the tidings—stroke after +stroke—of the destruction of the church of Louvain, of the +burning of the Library and of the scientific laboratories of our +great University and of the devastation of the city, and next of +the wholesale shooting of citizens, and tortures inflicted upon +women and children, and upon unarmed and undefended men. And +while I was still under the shock of these calamities, the +telegraph brought us news of the bombardment of our beautiful +metropolitan church, of the church of Notre Dame, of the +episcopal palace, and of a great part of our dear city of +Malines.</p> + +<p>Afar, without means of communication with you, I was compelled +to lock my grief within my own afflicted heart, and to carry it, +with the thought of you, which never left me, to my God.</p> + +<p>I needed courage and light, and sought them in such thoughts as +these. A disaster has come upon the world, and our beloved +little Belgium, a nation so faithful in the great mass of her +population to God, so upright in her patriotism, so noble in her +King and Government, is the first sufferer. She bleeds; her sons +are stricken down, within her fortresses, and upon her fields, +in defense of her rights and of her territory. Soon there will +not be one Belgian family not in mourning. Why all this sorrow, +my God? Lord, Lord, hast Thou forsaken us?</p> + +<p>The truth is that no disaster on earth is as terrible as that +which our sins provoke.</p> + +<p>I summon you to face what has befallen us, and to speak to you +simply and directly of what is your duty, and of what may be +your hope. That duty I shall express in two words: Patriotism +and Endurance.</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span><br /> + +<h4>PATRIOTISM</h4> + +<p>When, on my return from Rome, I went to Havre to greet our +Belgian, French, and English wounded; when, later at Malines, at +Louvain, at Antwerp, it was given to me to take the hands of +those brave men who carried a bullet in their flesh, a wound on +their forehead, because they had marched to the attack of the +enemy, or borne the shock of his onslaught, it was a word of +gratitude to them that rose to my lips. "O brave friends," I +said, "it was for us, it was for each one of us, it was for me, +that you risked your lives and are now in pain. I am moved to +tell you of my respect, of my thankfulness, to assure you that +the whole nation knows how much she is in debt to you."</p> + +<p>For in truth our soldiers are our saviors.</p> + +<p>A first time, at Liége, they saved France; a second time, in +Flanders, they halted the advance of the enemy upon Calais. +France and England know it; and Belgium stands before them both, +and before the entire world, as a nation of heroes. Never before +in my whole life did I feel so proud to be a Belgian as when, on +the platforms of French stations, and halting a while in Paris, +and visiting London, I was witness of the enthusiastic +admiration our allies feel for the heroism of our army. Our King +is, in the esteem of all, at the very summit of the moral scale; +he is doubtless the only man who does not recognize that fact, +as, simple as the simplest of his soldiers, he stands in the +trenches and puts new courage, by the calmness of his face, into +the hearts of those of whom he requires that they shall not +doubt of their country. The foremost duty of every Belgian +citizen at this hour is gratitude to the army.</p> + +<p>If any man had rescued you from shipwreck or from a fire, you +would hold yourselves bound to him by a debt of everlasting +thankfulness. But it is not one man, it is two hundred and fifty +thousand men who fought, who suffered, who fell for you so that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>you might be free, so that Belgium might keep her independence, +so that after battle, she might rise nobler, purer, more erect, +and more glorious than before.</p> + +<p>Pray daily, my Brethren, for these two hundred and fifty +thousand, and for their leaders to victory; pray for our +brothers in arms; pray for the fallen; pray for those who are +still engaged; pray for the recruits who are making ready for +the fight to come.</p> + +<p>Better than any other man, perhaps, do I know what our unhappy +country has undergone. Nor will any Belgian, I trust, doubt of +what I suffer in my soul, as a citizen and as a Bishop, in +sympathy with all this sorrow. These last four months have +seemed to me age-long. By thousands have our brave ones been +mown down; wives, mothers are weeping for those they shall not +see again; hearths are desolate; dire poverty spreads, anguish +increases. At Malines, at Antwerp, the people of two great +cities have been given over, the one for six hours, the other +for thirty-four hours of a continuous bombardment, to the throes +of death. I have passed through the greater part of the most +terribly devastated districts and the ruins I beheld, and the +ashes, were more dreadful than I, prepared by the saddest of +forebodings, could have imagined. Other parts which I have not +yet had time to visit have in like manner been laid waste. +Churches, schools, asylums, hospitals, convents in great +numbers, are in ruins. Entire villages have all but disappeared. +At Werchter-Wackerzeel, for instance, out of three hundred and +eighty homes, a hundred and thirty remain; at Tremeloo two +thirds of the village are overthrown; at Bueken out of a hundred +houses, twenty are standing; at Schaffen one hundred and +eighty-nine houses out of two hundred are destroyed—eleven +still stand. At Louvain the third part of the buildings are +down; one thousand and seventy-four dwellings have disappeared; +on the town land <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>and in the suburbs, one thousand eight hundred +and twenty-three houses have been burnt.</p> + +<p>In this dear city of Louvain, perpetually in my thoughts, the +magnificent church of St. Peter will never recover its former +splendor. The ancient college of St. Ives, the art-schools, the +consular and commercial schools of the University, the old +markets, our rich library with its collections, its unique and +unpublished manuscripts, its archives, its gallery of great +portraits of illustrious rectors, chancellors, professors, +dating from the time of its foundation, which preserved for +masters and students alike a noble tradition and were an +incitement in their studies—all this accumulation of +intellectual, of historic, and of artistic riches, the fruit of +the labors of five centuries—all is reduced to dust.</p> + +<p>Thousands of Belgian citizens have in like manner been deported +to the prisons of Germany, to Münsterlagen, to Celle, to +Magdeburg. At Münsterlagen alone three thousand one hundred +civil prisoners were numbered. History will tell of the physical +and moral torments of their long martyrdom. Hundreds of innocent +men were shot. I possess no complete list, but I know that there +were ninety-one shot at Aerschot, and that there, under pain of +death, their fellow citizens were compelled to dig their graves. +In the Louvain group of communes one hundred and seventy-six +persons, men and women, old men and babies, rich and poor, in +health and sickness, were shot or burnt.</p> + +<p>In my diocese alone I know that thirteen priests were put to +death. One of these, the parish priest of Gelrode, suffered, I +believe, a veritable martyrdom.</p> + +<p>We can neither number our dead nor compute the measure of our +ruins. And what would it be if we turned our sad steps towards +Liége, Namur, Andenne, Dinant, Tamines, Charleroi, and +elsewhere?</p> + +<p>And where lives were not taken, and where buildings were not +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>thrown down, what anguish unrevealed! Families, hitherto living +at ease, now in bitter want; all commerce at an end, all careers +ruined; industry at a standstill; thousands upon thousands of +workingmen without employment; working-women, shop-girls, humble +servant-girls without the means of earning their bread; and poor +souls forlorn on the bed of sickness and fever, crying, "O Lord, +how long, how long?"</p> + +<p>How long, O Lord, they wondered, how long wilt Thou suffer the +pride of this iniquity? Or wilt Thou finally justify the impious +opinion that Thou carest no more for the work of Thy hands? A +shock from a thunderbolt, and behold all human foresight is set +at naught. Europe trembles upon the brink of destruction.</p> + +<p>The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.</p> + +<p>Many are the thoughts that throng the breast of man to-day, and +the chief of them all is this: God reveals Himself as the +Master. The nations that made the attack, and the nations that +are warring in self-defense, alike confess themselves to be in +the hand of Him without whom nothing is made, nothing is done. +Men long unaccustomed to prayer are turning again to God. Within +the army, within the civil world, in public, and within the +individual conscience, there is prayer. Nor is that prayer +to-day a word learnt by rote, uttered lightly by the lip; it +surges from the troubled heart, it takes the form, at the feet +of God, of the very sacrifice of life.</p> + +<p>God will save Belgium, my Brethren, you cannot doubt it.</p> + +<p>Nay, rather, He is saving her.</p> + +<p>Across the smoke of conflagration, across the stream of blood, +have you not glimpses, do you not perceive signs, of His love +for us? Is there a patriot among us who does not know that +Belgium has grown great? Nay, which of us would have the heart +to cancel this last page of our national history? Which of us +does <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>not exult in the brightness of the glory of this shattered +nation? Let us acknowledge that we needed a lesson in +patriotism. There were Belgians, and many such, who wasted their +time and their talents in futile quarrels of class with class, +of race with race, of passion with personal passion.</p> + +<p>Yet when, on the second of August, a mighty foreign power, +confident in its own strength and defiant of the faith of +treaties, dared to threaten us in our independence, then did all +Belgians, without difference of party, or of condition, or of +origin, rise up as one man, [close-ranged] about their own king +and their own government, and cry to the invader: "Thou shalt +not pass!"</p> + +<p>At once, instantly, we were conscious of our own patriotism. For +down within us all is something deeper than personal interests, +than personal kinships, than party feeling, and this is the need +and the will to devote ourselves to that more general interest +which Rome called the public thing, <i>Res publica</i>. And this +profound will within us is Patriotism.</p> + +<p>Our country is not a mere gathering of persons or of families +dwelling on the same soil, having amongst themselves relations, +more or less intimate, of business, of neighborhood, of a +community of memories, happy or unhappy. Not so; it is an +association of living souls to be defended and safeguarded at +all costs, even the cost of blood, under the leadership of those +presiding over its fortunes. And it is because of this general +spirit that the people of a country live a common life in the +present, through the past, through the aspirations, the hopes, +the confidence in a life to come, which they share together. +Patriotism, an internal principle of order and of unity, an +organic bond of the members of a nation, was placed by the +finest thinkers of Greece and Rome at the head of the natural +virtues.</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span><br /> + +<h4>ENDURANCE</h4> + +<p>We may now say, my Brethren, without unworthy pride, that our +little Belgium has taken a foremost place in the esteem of +nations. I am aware that certain onlookers, notably in Italy and +in Holland, have asked how it could be necessary to expose this +country to so immense a loss of wealth and of life, and whether +a verbal manifesto against hostile aggression, or a single +cannon-shot on the frontier, would not have served the purpose +of protest. But assuredly all men of good feeling will be with +us in our rejection of these paltry counsels.</p> + +<p>On the 19th of April, 1839, a treaty was signed in London, by +King Leopold, in the name of Belgium on the one part, and by the +Emperor of Austria, the King of France, the Queen of England, +the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia on the other; and +its seventh article decreed that Belgium should form a separate +and perpetually neutral State, and should be held to the +observance of this neutrality in regard to all other States. The +signers promised, for themselves and their successors, upon +their oaths, to fulfill and to observe that treaty in every +point and every article. Belgium was thus bound in honor to +defend her own independence. She kept her oath. The other Powers +were bound to respect and to protect her neutrality. Germany +violated her oath; England kept hers.</p> + +<p>These are the facts.</p> + +<p>The laws of conscience are sovereign laws. We should have acted +unworthily had we evaded our obligation by a mere feint of +resistance. And now we would not change our first resolution; we +exult in it. Being called upon to write a most solemn page in +the history of our country, we resolved that it should be also a +sincere, also a glorious page. And as long as we are required to +give proof of endurance, so long we shall endure.</p> + +<p>All classes of our citizens have devoted their sons to the +cause <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>of their country; but the poorer part of the population +have set the noblest example, for they have suffered also +privation, cold, and famine. If I may judge of the general +feeling from what I have witnessed in the humbler quarters of +Malines, and in the most cruelly afflicted districts of my +diocese, the people are energetic in their endurance. They look +to be righted; they will not hear of surrender.</p> + +<p>The sole lawful authority in Belgium is that of our King, of the +elected representatives of the nation. This authority alone has +a right to our affection, our submission.</p> + +<p>Occupied provinces are not conquered provinces. Belgium is no +more a German province than Galicia is a Russian province. +Nevertheless the occupied portion of our country is in a +position it is compelled to endure. The greater part of our +towns, having surrendered to the enemy on conditions, are bound +to observe those conditions. From the outset of military +operations, the civil authorities of the country urged upon all +private persons the necessity of avoiding hostile acts against +the enemy's army. That instruction remains in force. It is our +army, and our army solely, in league with the brave troops of +our Allies, that has the honor and the duty of national defense. +Let us intrust the army with our final deliverance.</p> + +<p>Towards the persons of those who are holding dominion among us +by military force, and who cannot but know of the energy with +which we have defended, and are still defending, our +independence, let us conduct ourselves with all needful +forbearance. Let us observe the rules they have laid upon us so +long as those rules do not violate our personal liberty, nor our +consciences, nor our duty to our country. Let us not take +bravado for courage, nor tumult for bravery.</p> + +<p>Our distress has moved the other nations. England, Ireland, and +Scotland; France, Holland, the United States, Canada, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>have vied +with each other in generosity for our relief. It is a spectacle +at once most mournful and most noble. Here again is a revelation +of the Providential Wisdom which draws good from evil. In your +name, my Brethren, and in my own, I offer to the governments and +the nations that have succored us the assurance of our +admiration and our gratitude.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4>OZYMANDIAS</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I met a traveler from an antique land<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stand in the desert.... Near them, on the sand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tell that its sculptor well those passions read<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And on the pedestal these words appear:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nothing beside remains. Round the decay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lone and level sands stretch far away.<br /></span> +<span class="i10 sc">Percy Bysshe Shelley.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="AND_THE_COCK_CREW" id="AND_THE_COCK_CREW"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>AND THE COCK CREW<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I hate them all!" said old Gaspard,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in his weather-beaten face<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The lines of bitterness grew hard,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For he had seen his dwelling-place<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Laid waste in very wantonness,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all his little treasures flung<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Into that never-sated press<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From which no wine, but gall, had sprung—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And not his heart alone was sore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For in his frail old limbs he bore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wounds of the heavy, ruthless hand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That weighed so cruelly of late<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Upon the people and the land.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It was not hard to understand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Why old Gaspard should hate<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Even the German lad who lay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His neighbor in the hospital,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The boy who pleaded night and day:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Don't let me die! don't let me die!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When I see the dawn, I know<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I shall live out that day, and then<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'm not afraid—till dark—but oh,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How soon the night comes round again!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Don't let me die! don't let me die!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The old man muttered at each low,<br /></span><span class='pn'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Pitiful, half delirious cry,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"They should die, had I the say,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In hell's own torment, one and all!"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And then would drag himself away,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Despite each motion's agony,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To where the wounded poilus lay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And cheer them with his mimicry<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of barnyard noises, and his gay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Old songs of what life used to be.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One night the lad suddenly cried,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Mother!" And though the sister knew—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He was so young, so terrified,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"You're safe—the east is light," she lied.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But "No!" he sobbed, "the cock must crow<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Before the dawn!" They did not hear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A cripple crawl across the floor,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But all at once, outside the door,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the courtyard, shrill and clear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Once, twice and thrice, chanticleer crew.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The blue eyes closed and the boy sighed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"I'm not afraid, now day's begun.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll live—till—" With a smile, he died.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And in that hour when he denied<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The god of hate, I think that One<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Passed through the hospital's dim yard<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And turning, looked on old Gaspard.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10 sc">Amelia Josephine Burr.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> COPYRIGHT BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="LAWYERS_APPEAL" id="LAWYERS_APPEAL"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>A BELGIAN LAWYER'S APPEAL<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>One of the great lawyers of Belgium in behalf of the members of the +bar of Brussels, Liége, Ghent, Charleroi, Mons, Louvain, and Antwerp, +appeared twice before the German Court of Justice at Brussels and +appealed for more just treatment of the Belgian people. In his first +appeal, he protested against the illegal manner in which the Belgians +were accused of crime, tried, and convicted at the pleasure of German +officials. He concluded with the following eloquent words:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>I can understand martial law for armies in the field. It is the +immediate reply to an aggression against the troops, the quick +justice of the commander of the army responsible for his +soldiers. But our armies are far away; we are no longer in the +zone of military operations. Nothing here threatens your troops, +the inhabitants are calm.</p> + +<p>The people have taken up work again. You have bidden them do it. +Each one attends to his business—magistrates, judges, officials +of the provinces and cities, the clergy, all are at their posts, +united in one outburst of national interest and brotherhood.</p> + +<p>However, this does not mean that they have forgotten. The +Belgian people lived happily in their corner of the earth, +confident <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>in their dream of independence. They saw this dream +dispelled; they saw their country ruined and devastated; its +ancient hospitable soil has been sown with thousands of tombs +where our own sleep; the war has made tears flow which no hand +can dry. No, the murdered soul of Belgium will never forget.</p></div> + +<p>His second appeal will be spoken by school children in Belgium, and +perhaps in America, when the names of the German judges to whom he +spoke are forgotten even in Germany.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>We are not annexed. We are not conquered. We are not even +vanquished. Our army is fighting. Our colors float alongside +those of France, England, and Russia. The country subsists. She +is simply unfortunate. More than ever, then, we now owe +ourselves to her, body and soul. To defend her rights is also to +fight for her.</p> + +<p>We are living hours now as tragic as any country has ever known. +All is destruction and ruin around us. Everywhere we see +mourning. Our army has lost half of its effective forces. Its +percentage in dead and wounded will never be reached by any of +the belligerents. There remains to us only a corner of ground +over there by the sea. The waters of the Yser flow through an +immense plain peopled by the dead. It is called the Belgian +Cemetery. There sleep our children by the thousands. There they +are sleeping their last sleep. The struggle goes on bitterly and +without mercy.</p> + +<p>Your sons, Mr. President, are at the front; mine as well. For +months we have been living in anxiety regarding the morrow.</p> + +<p>Why these sacrifices, why this sorrow? Belgium could have +avoided these disasters, saved her existence, her treasures, and +the lives of her children, but she preferred her honor.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="EDITH_CAVELL" id="EDITH_CAVELL"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>EDITH CAVELL<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>Americans are particularly interested in the story of Edith Cavell, +because the American minister in Brussels on behalf of the American +people asked German officials to spare her life, or at least to +postpone her execution, until he might have an opportunity to see that +she was properly defended. Germany's disregard of America and the +wishes of the American people was clearly shown by the scornful manner +in which Germany set aside as of no importance American protests and +requests. Her action in this case was similar to her action earlier in +regard to the <i>Lusitania</i>, involving in both cases direct falsehoods +by representatives of the German government.</p> + +<p>Germans wondered that the shooting of an English woman for treason +should cause a sensation, just as they wondered why even their enemies +did not applaud them for murdering more than a thousand non-combatants +on the <i>Lusitania</i>. They did not realize that both of these crimes +would add thousands of volunteers to the armies fighting against them, +and that they would always be recorded in history as among the most +despicable deeds of a civilized nation. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>Some one has said, "Attila +and his Huns were ignorant barbarians, but the modern Huns know better +and therefore they are more to be condemned."</p> + +<p>Edith Cavell was so brave, so frank, so honest that it would seem that +even to the Germans her virtues would</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The deep damnation of her taking-off.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noin">But not so, for German education and training have evidently made the +German people look upon almost everything in a way different from that +of Americans, Englishmen, and Frenchmen. And yet the common German +people do at times show that they have a feeling of admiration, if not +of affection, for peoples of other nations; for we are told of a +German city erecting a statue to the French and English soldiers who +died as captives in the German prison located there, with the +inscription, <i>To our Comrades, who here died for their Fatherland</i>.</p> + +<p>But we must remember that there are many kingdoms in Germany and cruel +Prussia rules them all. It was Prussian savagery and barbarity that +approved the massacre by the Turks of almost an entire people, the +Armenians, and it was done under the eyes of German officers. The same +is true of the wholesale slaughter of non-combatant Serbian men, +women, and children by the Bulgarians. A word from Germany would have +stopped it all.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>When the war broke out, Edith Cavell was living in England with her +aged mother. She felt her duty was in Belgium and she went to Brussels +and established a private hospital. An American woman, Mary Boyle +O'Reilly of Boston, a daughter of the poet, John Boyle O'Reilly, +worked with her for a time. When Miss O'Reilly was expelled from +Belgium, she begged Miss Cavell to leave that land of horror, but Miss +Cavell only said, "My duty is here."</p> + +<p>She and her nurses cared for many a wounded German soldier and this +alone should have insured her fair treatment, if not gratitude, from +Germany.</p> + +<p>She was arrested, kept in solitary confinement for ten weeks without +any charge being made against her; then was tried secretly for having +sheltered French and Belgian soldiers who were seeking to escape to +Holland.</p> + +<p>It is probably true that Miss Cavell did this, but the history of war +in modern times records no case where any one has been put to death +for giving shelter for a short time to a fugitive soldier. Such an act +does not, according to the custom of civilized countries, make one a +spy, nor is it treason.</p> + +<p>Those who have investigated the case carefully have come to the +conclusion that the Germans decided to make a terrible example of some +of the women in Brussels who were sympathizing with and perhaps +helping French and Belgian soldiers to escape to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>Holland, for about +the same time twenty-two other women were arrested on the same charge +as that finally made against Edith Cavell.</p> + +<p>When Brand Whitlock, the American minister, learned from an outsider +(he could get no information from the German officials) that Edith +Cavell had been condemned, he sent the following letters, one a +personal one, the other an official one, to the German commandant:</p> + +<div class="block"><p class="noin">Personal:</p> + +<p class="noin sc">My Dear Baron:</p> + +<p>I am too ill to put my request before you in person, but once +more I appeal to the generosity of your heart. Stand by and save +from death this unfortunate woman. Have pity on her.</p> + +<p class="right"><span style="padding-right: 15%;">Your devoted friend,</span><br /> +<span class="sc">Brand Whitlock</span>.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="noin">Official:</p> + +<p>I have just heard that Miss Cavell, a British subject, and +consequently under the protection of my Legation, was this +morning condemned to death by court-martial.</p> + +<p>If my information is correct, the sentence in the present case +is more severe than all the others that have been passed in +similar cases which have been tried by the same Court, and, +without going into the reasons for such a drastic sentence, I +feel that I have the right to appeal to your Excellency's +feelings of humanity and generosity in Miss Cavell's favor, and +to ask that the death penalty passed on Miss Cavell may be +commuted and that this unfortunate woman shall not be executed.</p> + +<p>Miss Cavell is the head of the Brussels Surgical Institute. She +has spent her life in alleviating the sufferings of others, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>her school has turned out many nurses who have watched at the +bedside of the sick all the world over, in Germany as in +Belgium. At the beginning of the war Miss Cavell bestowed her +care as freely on the German soldiers as on others. Even in +default of all other reasons, her career as a servant of +humanity is such as to inspire the greatest sympathy and to call +for pardon. If the information in my possession is correct, Miss +Cavell, far from shielding herself, has, with commendable +straightforwardness, admitted the truth of all the charges +against her, and it is the very information which she herself +has furnished, which has aggravated the severity of the sentence +passed on her.</p> + +<p>It is then with confidence, and in the hope of its favorable +reception, that I have the honor to present to your Excellency +my request for pardon on Miss Cavell's behalf.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Brand Whitlock.</p> +</div> + +<br /> + +<p>But no real attention was paid to the American notes. Edith Cavell was +sentenced at five o'clock on the afternoon of October 11, and was put +to death that same night.</p> + +<p>Permission was refused to take her body for burial outside the prison. +It is doubtless still buried in the prison yard unless the Germans +have removed it for fear a monument may be erected above it. The +English are to erect a monument in her honor in London. Dr. James M. +Beck, in writing about her case, says of her burial in the prison +yard, "One can say of that burial place, as Byron said of the prison +cell of Chillon: 'Let none these marks efface, for they appeal from +tyranny to God.'"</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="SON" id="SON"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>SON<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He hurried away, young heart of joy, under our Devon sky!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I watched him go, my beautiful boy, and a weary woman was I.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For my hair is gray, and his was gold; he'd the best of his life to live;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I'd loved him so, and I'm old, I'm old; and he's all I had to give.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ah, yes, he was proud and swift and gay, but oh, how my eyes were dim!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the sun in his heart he went away, but he took the sun with him.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For look! How the leaves are falling now, and the winter won't be long....<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, boy, my boy with the sunny brow, and the lips of love and of song!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">How we used to sit at the day's sweet end, we two by the fire-light's gleam,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And we'd drift to the Valley of Let's Pretend, on the beautiful River of Dream.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, dear little heart! All wealth untold would I gladly, gladly pay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Could I just for a moment closely hold that golden head to my gray.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For I gaze in the fire, and I'm seeing there a child, and he waves to me;<br /></span><span class='pn'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +<span class="i0">And I run and I hold him up in the air, and he laughs and shouts with glee;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A little bundle of love and mirth, crying: "Come, Mumsie dear!"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ah, me! If he called from the ends of the earth I know that my heart would hear.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10"> * * * * * * *<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yet the thought comes thrilling through all my pain: how worthier could he die?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yea, a loss like that is a glorious gain, and pitiful proud am I.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For Peace must be bought with blood and tears, and the boys of our hearts must pay;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And so in our joy of the after-years, let us bless them every day.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And though I know there's a hasty grave with a poor little cross at its head,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the gold of his youth he so gladly gave, yet to me he'll never be dead.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the sun in my Devon lane will be gay, and my boy will be with me still,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So I'm finding the heart to smile and say: "Oh God, if it be Thy Will!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20 sc">Robert W. Service.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> COPYRIGHT BY BARSE AND HOPKINS.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CASE_OF_SERBIA" id="CASE_OF_SERBIA"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE CASE OF SERBIA<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>But Belgium is not the only little nation that has been attacked in +this war, and I make no excuse for referring to the case of the other +little nation—the case of Serbia. The history of Serbia is not +unblotted. What history in the list of nations is unblotted? The first +nation that is without sin, let her cast a stone at Serbia—a nation +trained in a horrible school. But she won her freedom with her +tenacious valor, and she has maintained it by the same courage. If any +Serbians were mixed up in the assassination of the Grand Duke, they +ought to be punished. Serbia admits that. The Serbian Government had +nothing to do with it. Not even Austria claimed that. The Serbian +Prime Minister is one of the most capable and honored men in Europe. +Serbia was willing to punish any one of her subjects who had been +proved to have any complicity in that assassination. What more could +you expect?</p> + +<p>What were the Austrian demands? Serbia sympathized with her +fellow-countrymen in Bosnia. That was one of her crimes. She must do +so no more. Her newspapers were saying nasty things about Austria. +They must do so no longer. That is the Austrian spirit. How dare you +criticize a Prussian official? <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>And if you laugh, it is a capital +offense. Serbian newspapers must not criticize Austria. I wonder what +would have happened had we taken up the same line about German +newspapers. Serbia said: "Very well, we will give orders to the +newspapers that they must not criticize Austria in future, neither +Austria, nor Hungary, nor anything that is theirs." She promised not +to sympathize with Bosnia; promised to write no critical articles +about Austria. She would hold no public meetings at which anything +unkind was said about Austria. That was not enough. She must dismiss +from her army officers whom Austria should subsequently name. But +these officers had just emerged from a war where they were adding +luster to the Serbian arms—gallant, brave, efficient. I wonder +whether it was their guilt or their efficiency that prompted Austria's +action. Serbia was to undertake in advance to dismiss them from the +army—the names to be sent in subsequently. Can you name a country in +the world that would have stood that? Supposing Austria or Germany had +issued an ultimatum of that kind to this country. "You must dismiss +from your army and from your navy all those officers whom we shall +subsequently name." Well, I think I could name them now. Lord +Kitchener would go. Sir John French would be sent about his business. +General Smith-Dorrien would be no more, and I am sure that Sir John +Jellicoe would go. And <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>there is another gallant old warrior who would +go—Lord Roberts.</p> + +<p>It was a difficult situation for a small country. Here was a demand +made upon her by a great military power who could put five or six men +in the field for every one she could; and that power supported by the +greatest military power in the world. How did Serbia behave? It is not +what happens to you in life that matters; it is the way in which you +face it. And Serbia faced the situation with dignity. She said to +Austria: "If any officers of mine have been guilty and are proved to +be guilty, I will dismiss them." Austria said, "That is not good +enough for me." It was not guilt she was after, but capacity.</p> + +<p>Then came Russia's turn. Russia has a special regard for Serbia. She +has a special interest in Serbia. Russians have shed their blood for +Serbian independence many a time. Serbia is a member of her family, +and she cannot see Serbia maltreated. Austria knew that. Germany knew +that, and Germany turned around to Russia and said: "I insist that you +shall stand by with your arms folded whilst Austria is strangling your +little brother to death." What answer did the Russian Slav give? He +gave the only answer that becomes a man. He turned to Austria and +said: "You lay hands on that little fellow and I will tear your +ramshackle empire limb from limb."</p> + +<p class="rightsc">David Lloyd George, 1914.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CAPTAIN_FRYATT" id="CAPTAIN_FRYATT"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE MURDER OF CAPTAIN FRYATT<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>Captain Charles Fryatt was in command of a British steamship named +<i>Brussels</i>, running from Tilbury, England, to the Hook of Holland. His +ship was hailed in 1915 by a German submarine and ordered to stop.</p> + +<p>A torpedo costs several thousand dollars, therefore a submarine saves +one whenever she can sink a ship by some other means. Also a submarine +can carry but few torpedoes, so by saving them she can remain longer +at sea and at her work of destruction.</p> + +<p>Captain Fryatt was well aware that if he came to a stop, the Germans +would board his ship and sink her by bombs, or would order the +passengers off and sink her by shells from the guns. This is the way +they sank the <i>Carolina</i> off the coast of New Jersey, leaving the +passengers in open boats—many of whom died from exposure and by the +capsizing of one boat in the tempest which struck them at midnight.</p> + +<p>Captain Fryatt knew that by the laws of nations he had the right to +defend his ship, so instead of stopping as the Germans ordered him to +do, he put on full speed and turned the head of his ship towards <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>the +submarine, hoping to ram her and sink her. He was obeying instructions +from his government, and was doing nothing but what he had a perfect +right to do according to international law.</p> + +<p>He did not succeed, but he gained time and forced the submarine to +submerge, for British destroyers were coming up in answer to his +wireless call.</p> + +<p>For his bravery, the British Government rewarded him by giving him a +gold watch and naming him with praise in the House of Commons.</p> + +<p>More than a year later, on June 23, 1916, German warships out on a +raid captured the <i>Brussels</i>, which Captain Fryatt still commanded. He +was taken to Bruges, Belgium, and put on trial for his life. The +Germans claimed his case was like that of a non-combatant on land who +fired upon the soldiers. They found him guilty on June 27 and +sentenced him to be shot, for having attempted to sink the submarine, +U-33, by ramming it. They laid much emphasis on the fact that the +British Government had rewarded him, although this really had nothing +to do with whether or not he had a right to defend his ship.</p> + +<p>The United States was not then at war with Germany, and the diplomatic +affairs of England were in charge of the United States Ambassador in +Berlin. When Ambassador Gerard learned that Captain Fryatt had been +captured and taken to Bruges for trial, he sent two notes to the +proper German officials, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>demanding the right to visit Captain Fryatt +and to secure counsel for him.</p> + +<p>The German officials acknowledged his notes and assured him that they +would take the necessary steps to meet his request.</p> + +<p>But the morning of the day after Ambassador Gerard sent his notes, +Captain Fryatt was tried and sentenced, and was shot in the afternoon +of the same day. As in the case of Edith Cavell, Germany's answer to +America was a lie, and a scornful carrying out of her illegal purpose +before the American Ambassador could do anything more. She acted in +exactly the same way in connection with the <i>Lusitania</i>, and with all +her submarine warfare, or piracy, as it really is according to +international law.</p> + +<p>One of the leading German writers on international law says, "The +merchant ship has the right of self-defense against an enemy attack, +and this right it can exercise against visit, for this is indeed the +first act of capture."</p> + +<p>Germany knew she had no right to shoot Captain Fryatt, and she did not +want her right challenged at his trial; so she did not allow the +American Ambassador to see him and to secure counsel for him.</p> + +<p>She desired to make him an example of German "frightfulness" as she +had in the case of Edith Cavell and of the <i>Lusitania</i>. She thought +this would prevent other British vessels trying to ram her +submarines.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>The whole world is wondering if Germany would cower under +"frightfulness," and therefore believes other peoples will. Her policy +certainly has never had the effect that she hoped it would. It has +simply made her enemies fight all the harder and dare all the more, +because they remember her inhuman acts and unlawful deeds.</p> + +<p>The Germans published the following notice of the trial and execution:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>On Thursday at Bruges before the Court Martial of the Marine +Corps, the trial took place of Captain Fryatt, of the British +steamer <i>Brussels</i>, which was brought in as a prize. The accused +was condemned to death because, although he was not a member of +a combatant force, he made an attempt, on the afternoon of March +28, 1915, to ram the German submarine, U-33, near the Maas +Lightship.</p> + +<p>The accused received at the time from the British Admiralty a +gold watch as a reward for his brave conduct on that occasion, +and his action was mentioned with praise in the House of +Commons.</p> + +<p>On the occasion in question, disregarding the U-boat's signal to +stop and show his national flag, he turned at a critical moment +at high speed against the submarine, which escaped the steamer +by a few metres only because of swiftly diving. He confessed +that in so doing he had acted in accordance with the +instructions of the Admiralty. The sentence was confirmed +yesterday afternoon and carried out by shooting.</p> + +<p>This is one of the many nefarious <i>franc-tireur</i> proceedings of +the British merchant marine against our war vessels, and it has +found a belated but merited expiation.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>The civilized nations of the world, in which we do not include Germany +and her allies, have agreed that the execution of Captain Fryatt was a +murder. Possibly the Germans also know it, but defend it as they did +the invasion of Belgium, as "necessary" to German victory.</p> + +<p>History will forever record it as an example of the black deeds done +by desperate men who care only to accomplish their selfish ends, and +will explain how these evil deeds of horror and of terror have injured +those who committed them more than those who suffered from them.</p> + +<p>On the very day of the execution of Captain Fryatt, the British +passenger liner <i>Falaba</i> was torpedoed and sunk without warning. She +sank in eight minutes carrying with her one hundred and four men, +women, and children, who were "not members of a combatant force."</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="RUPERT_BROOKE" id="RUPERT_BROOKE"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>RUPERT BROOKE<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>Among the losses that the World War has caused—many of them losses +that can never be made good—is that of the promising young English +poet, Rupert Brooke.</p> + +<p>He was a fine type in mind and body. His father was a teacher in the +great English school at Rugby, and here the boy learned to write, and +to play cricket, tennis, and football. He was interested in every form +of athletics and was strong and skillful at all. He was a great walker +and a fine diver and swimmer. He was said to have been one of the +handsomest Englishmen of his day, tall, broad, easy, and graceful in +his movements, with steady blue eyes, and a wavy mass of fair hair.</p> + +<p>He had traveled much in France, Germany, Italy, the United States, +Canada, and the South Seas, where he visited Stevenson's home in +Samoa. Of all lands, however, he loved England best.</p> + +<p>When the war broke out, Brooke said, "Well, if Armageddon's on, I +suppose I should be there." He enlisted, was commissioned as +lieutenant, and was sent almost immediately with the English forces +to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>relieve Antwerp, at that time besieged by the Germans. This +experience, lying day after day in trenches under German fire, +followed by the terrible retreat by night with the thousands of +Belgians who had lost everything except their lives, changed the +careless, happy youth into a man. He was but twenty-seven years old +when he enlisted. He wrote but little poetry after his enlistment, but +it is all of a finer, more spiritual quality than any of his previous +work.</p> + +<p>He spent the following winter training in England, and then joined the +British Expeditionary Forces for the Dardanelles. He never reached +there, however, for he died at Scyros on April 23, 1915, and was +buried by torchlight at night, in an olive grove on the island.</p> + +<p>One of his friends, Wilfred Gibson, has paid a beautiful tribute to +him in a short poem entitled "The Going." It is a tribute that might +well be offered to any of the thousands of young heroes from many +lands who have gone with a sudden glory in their young eyes to give +all, that human liberty should not be lost.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He's gone.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I do not understand.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I only know<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That, as he turned to go,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And waved his hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In his young eyes a sudden glory shone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I was dazzled by a sunset glow—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he was gone<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>Death appeared to be in his mind constantly after his terrible +experience at Antwerp, but he seems never to have feared it. It is +really the subject of all of his five sonnets written in 1914, and +these are the best of his work. He thought constantly of England and +of all that she had done for him and meant to him. He thought also of +the little meaningful things of life, and put them into these +sonnets—dawn, sunset, the beautiful colors of the earth, music, +flowers, the feel of furs, and the touch of a cheek. Strange that he +should have thought of the touching of fur. It probably gave him a +strange sensation as it does to many. And then he thought of water and +its movement in the wind, and its warmth under the sun, which seemed +to him like life, just as its freezing under the frost seemed to him +like death. All of this and more he put into a beautiful sonnet +entitled "The Dead."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">These hearts were woven of human joys and cares,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And sunset, and the colors of the earth.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">These had seen movement, and heard music; known<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Slumber and waking; loved; gone proudly friended;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Felt the quick stir of wonder; sat alone;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Touched flowers and furs and cheeks. All this is ended.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There are waters blown by changing winds to laughter<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And lit by the rich skies, all day. And after,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Frost, with a gesture, stays the waves that dance<br /></span><span class='pn'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +<span class="i0">And wandering loveliness. He leaves a white<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Unbroken glory, a gathered radiance,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A width, a shining peace, under the night.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Note how significant is every human experience which he mentions from +"the quick stir of wonder" which the youth feels, to the kindness +which comes with years. "They had seen movement" is strange, and yet +many like Rupert Brooke are fascinated with movement and see life +chiefly in motion,—in smiles and steps.</p> + +<p>His finest poem, however, is the last of the five sonnets and is +entitled "The Soldier." Here he pours out his heart in love of England +and in the pride that he feels in being an Englishman. Read France or +America or some other worthy homeland in place of England and it will +appeal to other hearts beside Englishmen. It is a beautiful poem, one +that will live forever.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If I should die, think only this of me:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That there's some corner of a foreign field<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That is forever England. There shall be<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A body of England's, breathing English air,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And think, this heart, all evil shed away,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A pulse in the eternal mind, no less<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;<br /></span><span class='pn'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>One of our American poets, George Edward Woodberry, has beautifully +said:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>There is a grave in Scyros, amid the white and pinkish marble of +the isle, the wild thyme and the poppies, near the green and +blue waters. There Rupert Brooke was buried. Thither have gone +the thoughts of his countrymen, and the hearts of the young +especially. It will long be so. For a new star shines in the +English heavens.</p></div> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ever the faith endures,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">England, my England—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Take us and break us: we are yours,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">England, my own!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Life is good, and joy runs high<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Between English earth and sky:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Death is death; but we shall die<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the song on your bugles blown,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">England—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the stars on your bugles blown."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10 sc">W.E. Henley.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> BASED ON "THE COLLECTED POEMS OF RUPERT BROOKE," +COPYRIGHT BY JOHN LANE COMPANY.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="SAVE_THE_KIDDIES" id="SAVE_THE_KIDDIES"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>"LET US SAVE THE KIDDIES"<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>At 12:20 noon, on Saturday, May 1, 1915, there steamed out of New York +harbor one of the largest and fastest passenger ships in the world. It +was the <i>Lusitania</i>, flying the British flag, and bound for Europe, +via Liverpool. On board were nearly two thousand men, women, and +children. They were not overcrowded, however, for the <i>Lusitania</i> was +the finest, the most comfortable of ocean boats. It was more than an +eighth of a mile in length, 88 feet in width, and 60 feet in depth, +and had a speed of nearly 30 miles an hour.</p> + +<p>Her passengers, once out from shore, settled down to seven days of +life in this immense, floating hotel. Tiny babies toddled across the +smooth, shining floors of the new home, or watched with gurgles of +delight the older children rollicking and romping over the decks. The +women chatted and sang, and played all sorts of games. The men, too, +engaged in many contests, athletic stunts, and games. At night, when +the little ones were quietly sleeping in their bunks, their elders +gathered in the grand saloon and there listened to some fine singer, a +famous violinist, or a great lecturer.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep082.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep082.jpg" width="75%" alt="Lusitania" /></a><br /> +<p class="right1" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">The <i>Lusitania</i> in New York Harbor</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>So the days passed, the people living as one great family. New +friendships grew, and many delightful acquaintances were formed. The +complete harmony and restfulness of such a life, the clear skies and +sunshine, and the vast expanse of blue-green ocean, all made them +forget that they were riding into a region of horror and war.</p> + +<p>For nearly ten months Belgium, England, France, and Russia had been +waging war against Germany. Around England's coasts lurked the horrors +of the German submarine. The travelers on the morning of sailing had +read the warning against crossing. It has since been called the "Death +Notice." It read:</p> + +<div class="block"><h4>NOTICE</h4> + +<p>Travelers 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 any of +her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters; and that +travelers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or +her allies do so at their own risk.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Imperial German Embassy.</p> + +<p><span class="sc">Washington</span>, D.C., April 22, 1915.</p> +</div> + +<p>It had been printed in the newspapers beside the advertisement of the +sailing of the <i>Lusitania</i>, and was posted that very morning by order +of Count von <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>Bernstorff, German ambassador to the United States. But +most of the travelers paid no attention to the notice after reading +it, for they were sure that no implement of war would be turned +against a passenger ship. With stout hearts, many of the travelers +said, "We are Americans. No country will refuse respect and protection +for an American citizen in any part of the world." Or they said, "We +are British citizens,—not soldiers. We are on a merchant vessel—not +a battleship. Surely our rights will be respected. We cross under +necessity."</p> + +<p>So they dared to exercise their freedom and their rights when they +boarded the steamer for this return trip.</p> + +<p>After sailing for five days in safety, they came at last within sight +of land. Early on Friday morning a heavy fog had lowered, but the ship +continued to plow steadily through the tranquil waters. Toward noon +the fog lifted and the sunshine and blue sky came to view, +contributing to the full enjoyment of the travelers.</p> + +<p>They had just finished luncheon. Some were quietly writing +letters—others playing games. Many had strolled to the upper decks. +They greeted their new acquaintances, regretting that they were so +soon to part, for they were now but ten or fifteen miles out from +shore off "Old Head of Kinsale," and within a few hours all would +land, going on their separate ways <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>for the rest of the journey. +Though they were nearing a world at war, all seemed peaceful.</p> + +<p>The ship's clock pointed at two, when a few men standing on deck saw +what looked like a whale rising from the water about three quarters of +a mile away. They saw it speeding toward them, and suddenly they knew +what it was; but no one named it, until with a train of bubbles it +disappeared under the ship, and they cried, "It's a torpedo!"</p> + +<p>With a fearful explosion, the center of the ship was blown up through +the decks, making a great heap of wreckage. The passengers fled from +the lower to the upper decks, many of them not stopping for life +preservers. Some of those who did strap on the life preservers did not +put them on correctly. Many leaped into the water, trusting to be +picked up by a passing boat. Although every one was terribly +frightened, yet there seemed to be no panic. The men lowered the +lifeboats, which were crowded to the full. As many as seventy or +eighty people, it is said, were packed into one small boat.</p> + +<p>Leslie N. Morton, a mere lad, has been officially named as bravest of +the crew. He was stationed on the starboard side, keeping look-out, +when the torpedo struck. He, with the assistance of his mate, rowed a +lifeboat for some miles, put the people on a fishing smack, and +returned again for other survivors, rescuing in all nearly a hundred.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>There were many acts of heroism among the passengers, but in all of +the distress one young man stood out among the hundreds upon the ship. +Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a young American millionaire, quickly realizing +that the steamer was sinking, turned to his valet and cried, "Let us +save the kiddies!" The two sprang to the rescue of the babies and +small children, carrying two of the little ones in their arms at a +time and placing them carefully in the lifeboats with their mothers. +Mr. Vanderbilt and his valet continued their efforts to the very last. +When they could find no more children, they turned to the assistance +of the women that were left. When last seen, Mr. Vanderbilt was +smilingly, almost happily, lending his aid to the passengers who still +remained on deck.</p> + +<p>The whole civilized world honors the memory of this brave youth, who +gave his life in serving helpless women and children. Gratifying +indeed it is to know that the little ones were cared for, though sad +to learn that even then only twenty-five of the hundred and +twenty-nine babies on board were saved. About one hundred children +were innocent victims of that dastardly deed which the Germans, +through savage desire to terrorize, became brutes enough to do.</p> + +<p>Elbert Hubbard, a noted American writer, and his wife went down with +the ship. Charles Frohman, a leading producer of plays, was another +prominent American lost. He has been cited as the finest example <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>of +faith and calm strength, for, realizing that there was little hope for +him, he smilingly remarked, "Why fear death? It is the most beautiful +adventure that life gives us."</p> + +<p>In less than twenty minutes after the torpedo struck, nothing except +floating pieces of wreckage strewn on the disturbed surface of the +water marked the place of the great calamity.</p> + +<p>The wireless operator had sent the S.O.S. signal of distress several +times, and also had time to send the message, "Come at once, big list, +10 miles south of 'Old Head of Kinsale.'" He had received answers +before his apparatus was put out of use, and soon trawlers and pilot +boats came to the rescue and brought to shore those who had survived. +The cold ocean water, however, had made many so numb that they were +unable to help themselves enough to be lifted into the lifeboats, even +when the life preservers had kept them afloat. Of the 159 Americans on +board, 124 perished. In all, only 761 people were saved; 1198 +perished.</p> + +<p>That day the terrible news came over the cable to America,—the great +passenger steamer <i>Lusitania</i> had been torpedoed by a German +submarine; probably a thousand lives had been lost, among them many +Americans!</p> + +<p>At the White House, the President realized the awful import of such a +message.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>In a day or so, nearly two thousand telegrams poured in from all parts +of the country; and it is said that the President read them all, for +he wanted to know how the individual American felt.</p> + +<p>The Germans offered all sorts of excuses for their cruel deed. A +German paper printed the following:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Must we not, we who may be defeated by starvation and by lack of +war materials, must we not defend ourselves from this great +danger (with which the enemy's blockade threatens us), with all +our might and with all the means that the German spirit can +invent, and which the honor of the German people recognizes as +lawful weapons? Have those, who now raise such outcries, any +right to accuse us, those who allowed their friends and +relatives to trust themselves on a ship whose destruction was +announced with perfect clearness in advance? When our enemy's +blockade method forces us to measures in self-defense, <i>the +death of non-combatants is a matter of no consequence</i>.</p></div> + +<p>A blockade of an enemy's ports is, and always has been, a perfectly +fair kind of warfare. In our Civil War, the southern ports were, from +the beginning, blockaded by the northern warships. Germany was in no +danger of starving, as the events since have proved. Her excuses were, +as they have been in every case where she has played the part of the +brute, worse than no excuses and always based on falsehoods.</p> + +<p>"The steamer carried ammunition for England," they said. But it was +bought and carried in accordance with international law. Germany had +the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>same right to buy and carry from a neutral country. "It was a +British ship," they said. But it was a passenger ship and carried +nearly two thousand people, many of them Americans, who, according to +all international agreements, were guaranteed safe passage even in +time of war.</p> + +<p>All nations recognize the obligation of an enemy to visit and search +the vessel they think should be sunk, to make sure it carries +contraband of war, and if so, to give the people an opportunity to get +safely into the lifeboats. Not only did the Germans not do this, but +they did not even signal the ship that it was about to be sunk. The +newspaper warning put out by Bernstorff was no excuse for committing +an unlawful, inhuman act.</p> + +<p>From all points of view, the Germans, in sinking the <i>Lusitania</i>, +committed a horrible crime, not only against international law, but +against humanity and civilization. In all war, armed forces meet armed +forces; never do armed forces strangle and butcher the innocent and +unprotected. There is such a thing as <i>legitimate</i> warfare, except +among barbarians.</p> + +<p>Here again was shown the German attitude in the "scrap of paper." +Evidently trusting to the great distance of the United States and her +well-known unpreparedness, Germany thought that a friendly relation +with this country was a matter of entire indifference to her; or, if +she hoped to draw America <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>into the war, she little dreamed to what +end those hopes would come!</p> + +<p>Around the world one verdict was pronounced against Germany. This +verdict was well worded in a Russian paper, the <i>Courier</i>:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>The right to punish these criminals who violate the laws of +humanity belongs first and foremost to the great American +Republic. America knows well how to use this right. The sympathy +of the civilized world is guaranteed her beforehand. The world +is being suffocated by poisonous gases of inhuman cruelty spread +abroad by Germany, who, in the madness of her rage, is +committing needless, purposeless, and senseless murder, solely +from lust of blood and horrors!</p></div> + +<p>The American government, upon the occurrence of the calamity, showed +great forbearance, believing that "a man of proved temper and tried +courage is not always bound to return a madman's blow." A strong +protest was sent to the Imperial German Government, which caused +Germany to abandon for a time her submarine attacks upon neutral +vessels. It was the renewal of these attacks that finally led to the +declaration of war by the United States of America upon Germany and +her allies, and it was the <i>Lusitania</i> outrage more than any other one +event that roused the fighting spirit of America.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="BLACK_WATCH" id="BLACK_WATCH"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE CHARGE OF THE BLACK WATCH AND THE SCOTS GREYS<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>Sometimes a retreat is in reality a great victory. It has been said +that it requires a greater general to direct successfully a great +retreat than it does to direct a great attack.</p> + +<p>Some marvelous retreats have occurred in the World War, the greatest +coming at its very beginning, when the English and French fell back to +save Paris and to defeat the Germans at the Marne. This retreat was +really a series of battles, day after day, with terrible losses on +both sides.</p> + +<p>An English private in the Black Watch, named Walter Morton, only +nineteen years of age, described for the <i>Scotsmen</i> one of these +battles in which his regiment and the Scots Greys made a magnificent +charge. His story was as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>We went straight from Boulogne to Mons, being one of the first +British regiments to reach that place. Neither army seemed to +have a very good position there, but the numbers of the Germans +were far too great to give us any chance of success. We were +hard at it all day on Monday; and on Tuesday, as the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>French +reinforcements which we had been expecting did not arrive, the +order was given to retire.</p> + +<p>In our retreat we marched close upon eighty miles. We passed +through Cambrai, and a halt was called at St. Quentin. The +Germans, in their mad rush to get to Paris, had seldom been far +behind us, and when we came to St. Quentin the word went through +the ranks that we were going into action. The men were quite +jubilant at the prospect. They had not been at all pleased at +their continued retirement before the enemy, and they at once +started to get things ready. The engagement opened briskly, both +our artillery and the Germans going at it for all they were +worth. We were in good skirmishing order, and under the cover of +our guns we were all the time getting nearer and nearer the +enemy. When we had come to within 100 yards of the German lines, +the commands were issued for a charge, and the Black Watch made +the charge along with the Scots Greys. Not far from us the 9th +Lancers and the Cameronians joined in the attack.</p> + +<p>It was the finest thing I ever saw. The Scots Greys galloped +forward with us hanging on to their stirrups, and it was a sight +never to be forgotten. We were simply being dragged by the +horses as they flew forward through a perfect cloud of bullets +from the enemy's maxims. All other sounds were drowned by the +thunder of the horses' hoofs as they careered wildly on, some of +them nearly driven mad by the bullets which struck them. It was +no time for much thinking. Saddles were being emptied quickly, +as we closed on the German lines and tore past their maxims, +which were in the front ranks.</p> + +<p>We were on the German gunners before they knew where they were, +and many of them went down, scarcely realizing that we were +amongst them. Then the fray commenced in deadly earnest. The +Black Watch and the Scots Greys went into it like men +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>possessed. They fought like demons. It was our bayonets against +the Germans' swords. You could see nothing but the glint of +steel, and soon even that was wanting as our boys got well into +the midst of the enemy. The swords of the Germans were no use +against our bayonets. They went down in hundreds.</p> + +<p>Then the enemy began to waver, and soon broke and fled before +the bayonets, like rabbits before the shot of a gun.</p> + +<p>There were about 1900 of us in that charge against 20,000 +Germans, and the charge itself lasted about four hours. We took +close upon 4000 prisoners, and captured a lot of their guns. In +the course of the fighting I got a cut from a German sword—they +are very much like saws—and fell into a pool of water, where I +lay unconscious for twenty-three hours. I was picked up by one +of the 9th Lancers.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="BATTLES_OF_THE_MARNE" id="BATTLES_OF_THE_MARNE"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE BATTLES OF THE MARNE<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>At Marathon (490 <span class="fakesc">B.C.</span>) and at Salamis (480 <span class="fakesc">B.C.</span>) the +Greeks defeated the Persians and saved Europe for western +civilization. Had the Persians won, the history of Europe and of the +world would be the story of the civilization of the East instead of +that of the West.</p> + +<p>At Tours (732 <span class="fakesc">A.D.</span>) Charles Martel defeated the forces of the +Mohammedans, who had already conquered Spain, and saved Europe for +Christianity.</p> + +<p>At the Marne (1914 and 1918) the French, the English, and (in the +second battle) the Americans, defeated the modern Huns and saved +Europe for democracy and from the rule of merciless brute force. The +First Battle of the Marne has been called the sixteenth decisive +battle of the world.</p> + +<p>Before the First Battle of the Marne, September 5 to 10, 1914, the +German military machine had been winning, as never an army had won +before in the entire recorded history of the world. Its path had been +one of treachery, of atrocities, of savagery, but one of tremendous +and unparalleled victory. The Germans at home called it "the great +times."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>Brave little Belgium had been able to hold back the German hordes but +for a short time at Liége and Namur, but, as future events proved, +long enough to make possible the decisive battles at the Marne. The +Germans had taken Brussels and Antwerp, had destroyed Louvain, had +filled themselves with outrage and murder, had drunk of blood and wine +and success until they were thoroughly intoxicated with the belief so +common to drunken brutes that no men in the world can stand against +them. The little Belgian army, "the contemptible little English army" +(as the Kaiser called it), and the magnificent French army had been +retreating day by day almost as fast as the Germans could advance. +Soon Paris and then all of France would be in German hands—and what a +glorious time they would have in the gayest and most beautiful capital +of the world. Although bodies of German cavalry raided the coast, the +German leaders, elated and intoxicated with thoughts of rich plunder +and dissipation, did not turn aside in force to follow the Belgian +army and to take the Channel ports of Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogne, +but pushed on toward Paris. The French government, expecting a siege +of the city, moved to Bordeaux.</p> + +<p>The main forces of the Germans had turned south from the coast towards +Paris with General von Kluck's army of about 200,000 men at the right +or west of the German line of advance. General von Kluck was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>attempting to outflank the English army, that is, to throw part of his +forces around the extreme western end of the English army, which had +to keep retiring rapidly to avoid being encircled. The French army was +obliged to fall back to keep in touch with the British.</p> + +<p>The English retired nearly one hundred miles without losing their +cheerfulness or their confidence. It was this turning movement on the +left that forced all the allies to retire. An English writer who was +with the army said that though the Germans constantly attacked with +reckless courage, yet the British and French retired slowly with their +faces to the foe, and showing the greatest heroism. The numbers of the +Germans were greater than those of the Allies, and the Germans gave +them no rest. Night and day they hammered away, coming on like great +waves. The gaps the English made were filled instantly. The German +guns played upon the Allies constantly. Their cavalry swept down upon +them recklessly. If the English had great losses, the Germans had +greater. The English fought with cool bravery. They never wavered an +instant. But the pressure upon them could not be resisted. Column +after column, squadron after squadron, mass after mass, the enemy came +on like a battering ram, crushing everything in its way. They swarmed +on all sides, even though shattered by shot and shell. Nothing but the +steadfast courage, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>the sheer pluck, the spirit, the soul of the +English soldiers saved the army from complete destruction.</p> + +<p>"The enemy hung on to us like grim death," said a wounded soldier. +"They wanted us to retreat in a direction that would best suit their +plans. But we were not taking marching orders from them. We went our +own way at our own pace. We were retiring, not retreating."</p> + +<p>Then on the fifth of September came General Joffre's appeal to the +defenders of civilization, and particularly to the French soldiers: +"The hour has come to hold our positions at any cost and to fight +rather than to retreat.... No longer must we look at the enemy over +our shoulders, for the time has come to put forth all our efforts in +attacking and defeating him."</p> + +<p>A French writer has said of the retreat, which by order of General +Joffre had now come to an end, "Their bodies retreated, but never +their souls;" and he might have added of the German advance, "It was +an advance of bodies, not of souls." It was material might in men and +guns forcing back an army weaker in everything except soul and spirit. +The World War has shown over and over again, not only at the Marne but +at a hundred other places and in a hundred other ways, that soul and +spirit are the real conquerors and that God is not always, as Napoleon +said, on the side of the larger battalions.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>The Germans had come on flushed with success and egotism, destroying +French property, looting, and dissipating. Their spirit was the spirit +they found in the French wine cellars, and as for soul, as civilized +people understand the word, they had none. They were an army of tired, +conquering brutes. Their morale was low because of their great success +and all that had accompanied it of feasts and slaughter. The morale of +the French was never higher. Every day and every hour they had been +compelled to retreat, giving up, giving up all that they loved even +better than life itself to these brutes, until the brain of the French +army said on the evening of September 5, 1914, "You have gone so far +in order that you may now stand successfully." And in the morning at +dawn, it was not only the bodies of the French soldiers that hurled +themselves against the invaders, but the souls of French men, the soul +of France; and all along the line from Verdun to Meaux, under the +gallant leadership of Manoury, Foch, Sarrail, Castelnau, and others, +the French armies held. If they had not held—not only held but +attacked—all of future history would be different.</p> + +<p>General Foch, commander in chief at the Second Battle of the Marne, +inspired his troops in this first battle to supernatural bravery. He +knew they must not yield, so with his right broken, his left +shattered, he attacked with his center. It was that or retreat. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>His +message to the commander-in-chief, General Joffre, will never be +forgotten.</p> + +<p>"My left has been forced back, my right is routed. I shall attack with +the center."</p> + +<p>The Germans could not put their souls into the battles as the French +soldiers did, and besides, the Germans were weakened by feasting and +dissipation. With the Huns it was the right of might; with the Allies +it was the might of right, and in the end the second always defeats +the first.</p> + +<p>Some one has well said:</p> + +<p>"It is the law of good to protect and to build up. It is the law of +evil to destroy. It is in the very nature of good to lead men aright. +It is in the very nature of evil to lead men astray. Goodness makes +for wisdom. Badness is continually exercising poor judgment.</p> + +<p>"Germany and Austria have made colossal mistakes in this war because +of their colossal violation of truth and justice. In brutally wronging +Serbia, they lost the friendship and support of Italy. In perpetrating +the monstrous crime against Belgium, they brought against them the +whole might of the British Empire. In breaking international law with +their reckless submarine warfare, they caused the United States to +enter the war on the side of the Allies."</p> + +<p>It is said that the army of the German Crown <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>Prince retreated before +the impetuous attack of the French and, because of this retreat, all +the other German armies were obliged to do likewise. It is more +probable, however, that the general retreat was due to General +Joffre's strategy. The Germans under General von Kluck were within +about twenty miles of Paris, near Meaux on the Marne, when suddenly +they were struck in the flank and rear by about twenty thousand fresh +troops brought out unexpectedly from Paris in motor trucks, taxis, +limousines, and all kinds of pleasure cars. Now the Germans, who had +caused the retreat of the French and British armies upon Paris by +continually outflanking the British, were in their turn outflanked and +compelled to retreat, and Paris was saved.</p> + +<p>An English writer has said that although the Germans were outflanked +only in the west, yet the blow passed from one end of the German line +to the other, from Meaux to Verdun, just as the blow from the buffer +of the engine, when it is coupled to the train, passes from one truck +to another to the very end of the train.</p> + +<p>The Germans in the next few days retreated from the Marne to the +Aisne, where they entrenched. Paris and France and Europe and the only +world worth living in were saved. The French government moved back to +Paris.</p> + +<p>Hall Caine in "Three Hundred and Sixty-five <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>Days" says: "The soul of +France did not fail her. It heard the second approach of that +monstrous Prussian horde, which, like a broad, irresistible tide, +sweeping across one half of Europe, came down, down, down from Mons +until the thunder of its guns could again be heard on the boulevards. +And then came the great miracle! Just as the sea itself can rise no +higher when it has reached the top of the flood, so the mighty army of +Germany had to stop its advance thirty kilometres north of Paris; and +when it stirred again, it had to go back. And back and back it went +before the armies of France, Britain, and Belgium, until it reached a +point at which it could dig itself into the earth and hide in a long, +serpentine trench stretching from the Alps to the sea.</p> + +<p>"Only then did the spirit of France draw breath for a moment, and the +next flash as of lightning showed her offering thanks and making +supplications before the white statue of Jeanne d'Arc in the apse of +the great cathedral of Notre Dame, sacred to innumerable memories. On +the Feast of St. Michael, ten thousand of the women of Paris were +kneeling under the dark vault, and on the broad space in the front of +the majestic façade, praying for victory. It was a great and grandiose +scene, recalling the days when faith was strong and purer. Old and +young, rich and poor, every woman with some soul that was dear to her +in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>that inferno at the front—the Motherhood of France was there to +ask God for the triumph of the right.</p> + +<p>"And in the spirit of that prayer the soul of France still lives."</p> + +<p>Nearly four years later the Germans, with greatly increased forces in +France, due to the collapse of Russia, were again upon the Marne and +only about forty miles from Paris. French and English and Americans +were opposing them upon a line shaped like a great letter U, extending +south with Rheims at the top on the east, and Soissons at the top on +the west. The Marne River was at the curve at the bottom, and there +most of the Americans were stationed.</p> + +<p>On July 15, 1918, the Germans began the offensive which was to result, +as they hoped, in the capture of Paris. They attacked on the Marne and +between the Marne and Rheims. At the end of the fourth day, they had +advanced about six miles, crossing the Marne and pushing back the +American troops. The Americans fought bravely and soon regained the +ground they had lost, although the French generals suggested that they +should not attempt to retake it. The American commander, however, sent +word to the French general, who was his superior officer, saying that +he did not feel able to follow the suggestion, for the American flag +had been compelled to retire. None of his soldiers, he said, would +understand this being allowed as long as they were able to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>attack. +"We are going to counter-attack," he added. They did so, and regained +all the ground lost.</p> + +<p>It is clear now that the French generals knew the counter-attack was +unnecessary, and knew why. West of the line from Soissons to the Marne +is a great forest, and back of this General Foch, commander in chief +of all the allied armies, had been for several days gathering guns, +ammunition, tanks, and troops ready to strike the flank of the +Germans, when they should attack between Rheims and the Marne and +attempt to cross the Marne, as he knew they would in their desire to +take Paris. A terrible tempest passed over the region just before the +Allied attack, preventing the Germans from observing the advancing +tanks and troops. An English writer has said, "The storm which had +covered the noise of the final preparation of a number of tanks which +led the assault, was over. Not a sound was heard in the forest, though +it was teeming with men and horses. Then suddenly the appointed moment +came when day broke. There was a roar from all the guns, the whole +front broke into activity as men and tanks dashed forward. I suppose +there has been nothing more dramatic in the whole war than this scene +on which the general looked down from the top of a high perch in the +forest on that quiet July morning!"</p> + +<p>The Allies struck so unexpectedly that they captured hundreds of guns +and thousands of prisoners, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>and obliged the Germans to fall back +across the Marne, losing all the territory they had gained and much +more. The danger to Paris was again turned aside by the military +genius of General Foch and the bravery of the troops under his +command.</p> + +<p>It was the first great battle in which the Americans took part. They +showed themselves equal to the best of the Allies, and better than the +Germans. A London paper called the American counter-attack one of the +historical incidents of the whole war. All Europe, except Hunland, +rang with praises of the American troops.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>In the history of the World War, most of the great land battles will +be named from rivers, the Marne, the Yser, the Somme, the Aisne, the +Ailette, the Ancre, the Bug, the Dneister, the Dunajec and the Piave. +A battle of the Rhine will probably be fought before German territory +can be invaded to any great extent.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_QUEENS_FLOWER" id="THE_QUEENS_FLOWER"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE QUEEN'S FLOWER<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>On July 25, 1918, nearly every person in Washington, the capital of +the United States, was asked to buy a bunch of forget-me-nots; and +nearly every one responded, so that almost $7000 worth was sold in +about an hour. In many other cities sales were held, and for many +years to come such sales will be held all over the civilized world, +for the forget-me-not is the Queen's flower, chosen by Elizabeth, +Queen of Belgium, to be sold on her birthday, July 25, to raise money +for the children of Belgium. She is a lover of flowers as are all the +people of her country. Many parts of Belgium were before the war, like +Holland, devoted to raising flowers for bulbs and seeds. It is said +that the garden at the Belgian Royal Palace was the most beautiful +garden in the world.</p> + +<p>For many years it has been the Queen's custom to name a flower to be +sold on her birthday for the benefit of some good cause. In 1910 she +named the La France rose to be sold for the benefit of sufferers from +tuberculosis in Belgium. Nearly $100,000 was raised on this one day.</p> + +<p>The war has not done away with the beautiful <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>custom, and on the +Queen's birthday in 1918, she named a flower to be sold to raise money +to help care for the children of Belgium. She chose the forget-me-not, +for the Queen can never forget the terrible sacrifice her country was +called upon to make, nor the brutal manner in which the Huns used +their power.</p> + +<p>Those who have carefully studied the facts have concluded that the +Huns coolly and deliberately planned to destroy Belgium as a country +and a people, not only during the war but forever. It was to carry out +this plan that the villages and cities were burned or bombarded until +they were nothing but heaps of stone and ashes; that much of the +machinery was either destroyed or carried into Germany; that the +Belgian boys and men were herded together and deported into Germany to +work as slaves; and that the Belgian babies were neglected, starved, +and murdered. If only the old and feeble were left at the end of the +war, there could be no Belgium to compete with Germany, and Germany +desired this whether she should win or lose.</p> + +<p>America has done much to relieve the suffering of the Belgian people. +Germany saw to it, however, that the babies and very young children +were neglected as far as possible, with the exception of healthy +Belgian boy babies, and many of these she snatched from their parents +and carried into Germany to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>raised as Huns. It has been said that +no horror of the war equaled the horror of what Germany did to Belgian +childhood.</p> + +<p>Queen Elizabeth realized the danger and did everything in her power to +protect and help the babies of Belgium. Although she is by birth a +German princess, she wishes never to forget and that the world may +never forget the great wrong done her country. In naming the +forget-me-not she meant that Belgium's wrong should never be +forgotten, and that the children of Belgium should not be forgotten.</p> + +<p>The flower is to be sold for the benefit of Belgian children at all +times and in all countries, for the Queen has said she will never name +another.</p> + +<p>The little blue forget-me-not will be sold all over the civilized +world, that means except in Hunland, and wherever it is sold Belgium's +story will be remembered. All that is sweet and beautiful and pure is +connecting itself in the minds and hearts of men with Belgium in her +sacrifice and suffering; and as long as history is recorded and +remembered, the word "Belgium" will awaken these feelings in those who +read. This is a part of her reward, just as the opposite is a part of +the punishment of the Hun.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="AT_SCHOOL" id="AT_SCHOOL"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>AT SCHOOL NEAR THE LINES<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The boys and girls in America have listened with great interest and +sympathy to the many stories of children in devastated France, left +fatherless, homeless, perhaps motherless, with no games or sport, +indeed with no desire to play games or sports of any kind. For them, +there seemed to be only the awful roar and thunder of the cannon, +which might at any moment send down a bursting shell upon their heads. +The clothes they wore and the food they ate were theirs only as they +were given to them, and so often given by strangers.</p> + +<p>In America the school children worked, earned, saved, and sent their +gifts to those thousands of destitute children, and with their gifts +sent letters of love and interest to their little French cousins +across the seas.</p> + +<p>Many of the letters were written in quiet, sunny schoolrooms, +thousands of miles from the noise of battle. But many a letter thus +written reached the hands of a child who sat huddled beside his +teacher in a damp, dark cellar that took the place of the pleasant +little schoolhouse he had known.</p> + +<p>But in those cellars and hidden places, the children <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>studied and +learned as best they might, in order some day to be strong, bright men +and women for their beloved France, when the days of battle should be +over and victory should have been won for them to keep.</p> + +<p>The gladness of the children when they received the letters will +probably never be fully known. Perhaps it seemed to some of them like +that morning on which they marched away from the school building for +the last time. The shells had begun to burst near them, as they sat in +the morning session. Quickly they put aside their work, and listened +quietly while the master timed the interval between the bursting of +the shells. At his order, they had formed in line for marching, and at +the moment the third or fourth shell fell, they marched out of the +school away into a cellar seventy paces off. There, sheltered by the +strong, stout walls, they listened to the next shell bursting as it +fell straight down into the schoolhouse, where by a few moments' +delay, they would all have perished or been severely injured.</p> + +<p>So, while they heard the cannon roaring, they were happy to know that +their friends in America thought of them and were helping them. No one +will ever realize just how much it meant to the French people to know +that America was their friend, or the great joy they felt when the +American soldiers marched in to take their places in the fight for +France and the freedom of the world.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>Odette Gastinel, a thirteen-year-old girl of the Lycée Victor Duruy, +one of the schoolrooms near the front, has written of the coming of +the Americans. Throughout the United States her little essay has been +read, and great men and women have marveled at its beauty of thought +and wording, and have called it a little masterpiece.</p> + +<p>In the first paragraph, she tells of the great distance between the +millions of men (the Germans and the Allies) although separated only +by a narrow stream; and in the second, she speaks of the closeness of +sympathy between France and America,—though America lies three +thousand miles over the sea.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>It was only a little river, almost a brook; it was called the +Yser. One could talk from one side to the other without raising +one's voice, and the birds could fly over it with one sweep of +their wings. And on the two banks there were millions of men, +the one turned toward the other, eye to eye. But the distance +which separated them was greater than the spaces between the +stars in the sky; it was the distance which separates right from +injustice.</p> + +<p>The ocean is so vast that the sea gulls do not dare to cross it. +During seven days and seven nights the great steamships of +America, going at full speed, drive through the deep waters +before the lighthouses of France come into view; but from one +side to the other, hearts are touching.</p></div> + +<p>It is no wonder that the great American, General Pershing, stopped, in +all the tumult and business of war, to write to people in America:</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep111.png"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep111.png" width="55%" alt="hand written letter from General Pershing" /></a><br /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="A_PLACE_IN_THE_SUN" id="A_PLACE_IN_THE_SUN"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>A PLACE IN THE SUN<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The history of Rome about 1500 years ago tells us of "the wild and +terrifying hordes" of Huns, with ideas little above those of plunder +and wanton destruction, led by Attila whose "purpose was to pillage +and increase his power." They came near setting civilization back for +hundreds of years, but were finally subdued. When we remember these +facts, we do not wonder that the Germans are called, and probably +always will be called, Huns; but another explanation is the true one.</p> + +<p>When in 1900, a German army was embarking at Bremerhaven for China to +help other nations to put down the Boxer rebellion, the German Kaiser, +William II, in addressing his troops said: "When you come upon the +enemy, no quarter will be given, no prisoners will be taken. As the +Huns under their King Attila, a thousand years ago, made a name for +themselves which is still mighty in tradition and story, so may the +name of German in China be kept alive through you in such a wise that +no Chinese will ever again attempt to look askance at a German."</p> + +<p>The United States helped put down the Boxer rebellion, and with other +nations was paid an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>indemnity by China. By vote of Congress, the +United States returned the money to China. Germany acted very +differently, for but three years before, she had seized from China the +land about Kiaochau Bay and the port of Tsingchau, as reparation for +the murder of two German missionaries. Although Germany had strongly +fortified this territory, Japan besieged it and regained it in +November, 1914.</p> + +<p>In speaking in 1901 of Germany's then new possession in China, the +Kaiser said: "In spite of the fact that we have no such fleet as we +should have, we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It +will now be my duty to see to it that this place in the sun shall +remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may +fall fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts." The +German Crown Prince, in an introduction to a book published in 1913, +said: "It is only by relying on our good German sword that we can hope +to conquer the place in the sun which rightly belongs to us and which +no one will yield to us voluntarily. Till the world comes to an end, +the ultimate decision must rest with the sword."</p> + +<p>These statements make clear to us how the modern Huns would win the +place in the sun which they have been taught to believe rightly +belongs to them.</p> + +<p>It is possible that the Kaiser took his idea of "a place in the sun" +from a wonderful old copper <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>engraving by the greatest of all German +artists, Albrecht Dürer. The engraving was made in 1513 and represents +a German knight in full armor mounted upon a fine war horse, riding +into a dark and narrow defile between cliffs, to reach a beautiful +castle standing in the sun on a hill beyond. A narrow path runs down +from the castle, which the knight can reach only by passing through +the gloomy and dangerous defile between the rocks. If he would reach +his desired place in the sun, he must be afraid of nothing, even +though human skulls and lizards are under his horse's feet and death +and the devil travel by his side. His horse and his dog are evidently +afraid, but the knight himself shows no fear as he rides forward with +his "good German sword" at his side and his long spear over his +shoulder. A recent German writer has said about this picture, "Every +German heart will comprehend the knight who persists in spite of death +and the devil in the course on which he has entered. Such a man of +resolute action is not tormented by subtle doubts."</p> + +<p>So has Germany in the World War tried to ride through the valley of +death and destruction, with death and the devil always by her side, to +reach a coveted place in the sun. That such a place can be attained +only by force is the terribly wrong ideal that has been taught to the +German people, to the children in the schools, to the adults in public +meetings and in the public press, until at last they have come to +believe it, and are willing to ride through the world accompanied by +death and the devil if they may thus gain "a place in the sun."</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep115.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep115.jpg" width="55%" alt="Seeking A Place In the Sun" /></a><br /> +<p class="right2" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>By Albrecht Dürer</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">Seeking A Place In the Sun</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>They are, as a German poet, Felix Dahn, wrote, the kith and kin of +Thor, the god of might, who conquered all lands with his thundering +hammer; and it is their destiny to conquer the world by "the good +German sword."</p> + +<p>This is the ideal that the Allies are fighting against. What is the +ideal they are fighting for? It may also be illustrated by a picture, +but this time by a word picture written by a man long familiar with +Dürer's wonderful engraving. For years he had a copy of the engraving +hung above his desk. As he studied it, he finally saw himself a knight +riding on through the world; and he saw riding with him, not death and +the devil, but two other knights. One of the knights was hideous to +look upon, and rode just behind him; and one was wonderfully beautiful +and strong, and rode just ahead of him. And all three rode at full +speed forever and ever, the knight, who was the man himself, in the +middle, always striving to outrun the knight who was behind him, and +to overtake the one before him. Finally he put the thought in verse, +for it seemed to him to represent the life of every human being who +was free to live out his life as he would wish.</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span><br /> + +<h4>THE QUEST</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A knight fared on through a beautiful world<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On a mission to him unknown;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At his left and a little behind there rode<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The self of his deeds alone.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">At his right and a length before sped on—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Him none but the knight might see—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A braver heart and a purer soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The self that he longed to be.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And ever the three rode on through the world<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With him at the left behind;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till never the knight would look at him,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Feeble and foul and blind.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Desperately on they drave, these three,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With him at the right before,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While the knight rode furiously after him<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And thought of the world no more.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Forever on he must ride on his quest<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And peace can be his no more,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till the one at his left he has dropped from sight<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And o'ertaken the one before.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thus ages ago the three fared on,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And on they fare to-day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With him at the left a little behind,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The right still leading the way.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>This knight seeks not a place in the sun but a change in himself, to +become a better, a braver, a truer knight. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>Then, wherever he may be, +he will find his place in the sun; and that nation whose people seek +to grow wiser and better and nobler will always find "the sun's rays +falling fruitfully" upon them.</p> + +<p>To win prosperity and happiness through becoming abler and better +people, under a government which will do all it can to aid them, +because it is "a government of the people, for the people, and by the +people," is the ideal for which the Allies fight.</p> + +<p>"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his +own soul?"</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the +unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly +advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task +remaining before us—that from these honored dead, we take increased +devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of +devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have +died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of +freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the +people, shall not perish from the earth.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Abraham Lincoln.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="MARSHAL_JOFFRE" id="MARSHAL_JOFFRE"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>MARSHAL JOFFRE<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The greatest leaders in history are often men who for the larger part +of their lives have been almost unknown. Poor, simple in their habits, +but loyal and true of heart, they have risen from obscurity to +positions they alone could fill, and then through their devotion and +achievement have become the heroes of the people.</p> + +<p>Lincoln, the greatest example and inspiration to American hearts, was +in his youth such a simple and obscure person. The Pilgrim fathers, +the early pioneers in the West, the great inventors of the hundreds of +improvements in the world of business, travel, and communication, were +nearly all of them unknown for the greater part of their lives, but +were men of true hearts and of strong purposes.</p> + +<p>Unattractive, ungainly in appearance, unpopular save among those who +knew him well, but with the strength of will and soul born of the +simple, true life he had lived, Lincoln rose step by step to seats of +power until he sat at length in the highest of all. By that calmness +and vision which belong to such great men, Lincoln saved the nation +from failure and corruption. He must have foreseen the great nation +into which the United States might grow, if only he could rescue it +from the terrible ravages of war and reunite the people with one +strong, common soul.</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep120.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep120.jpg" width="55%" alt="Marshal Joffre" /></a><br /> +<p class="right1" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">Marshal Joseph Jacques Joffre</p> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">Marshal Joffre is holding the golden miniature Liberty Statue +presented to him when he visited New York City in 1917</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>We Americans, by thinking of such a leader as Lincoln, may more +clearly appreciate what it meant to France in this World War to follow +on to victory with such a leader as Joseph Jacques Joffre.</p> + +<p>Marshal Joffre was born in 1852 and lived for years in Rivesaltes, a +little town near the boundary between France and Spain. His ancestors +for generations had been farmers, and his father was a cooper by +trade. The boy was a sweet-tempered, modest, intelligent, blue-eyed, +and blonde-haired youth. He suffered somewhat from his school-fellows, +as any boy does who is popular with his teachers. But he was +industrious, wide-awake, and interested in a great many things, +mathematics probably being the subject in which he excelled. Trained +by thrifty peasant parents, he acquired regular habits which were +valuable to him all his life long. Even in this World War, when great +responsibility pressed upon him, he rarely failed to retire by nine or +ten at night and to rise at five in the morning. Before six each +morning, he was out for a short, brisk walk or for a ride on his +horse.</p> + +<p>When he was only fifteen years old, he astonished his parents by +announcing his intention to try for entrance to the École +Polytechnique in Paris, a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>great training school for military +officers. Such a plan seemed, not only to his parents, but to his many +friends, much too ambitious for a barrel-maker's son. But he insisted +on trying the examination and passed fourteenth in a class of one +hundred and thirty-two. His sister, for whom Joffre always had a great +affection, declared that he would have secured a higher rank if he had +not passed such a poor examination in German, a language for which he +evidently had a strong dislike. Those who have seen his examination +papers say that they are models of neatness, clear thinking, and +accuracy.</p> + +<p>Because of his high standing, Joffre was made sergeant of his class at +the École Polytechnique. This honor, which made him responsible for +the order and behavior of his own classmates, was rather an +embarrassing one, for he was not of a domineering nature, and was +besides the youngest boy in the hall. He found great difficulty in +exercising his authority over these dozen or so lively youths, though +he was destined one day to be given command over more than three +million men.</p> + +<p>By hard work he made good progress in his studies. But he did not +finish his course, for in 1870 the Franco-Prussian War broke out. +Joffre, but eighteen years of age, was made a sub-lieutenant in a Paris +fort. That terrible year left its impression upon him for life. He felt +the greatest agony at the loss of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>beautiful Alsace-Lorraine—a part of +his own beloved country, taken by the enemy. From that time he lived +with one hope—that he might some day be of service in setting right +that wrong, in getting back for France that which had been stolen from +her. He once said, "I have seen 1870. I have given my life utterly to +see that it did not happen again." Thus, it has been said: "The formula +for Joffre is easy to find. It is a number; it is a date; it is 1870." +What he saw at that time shaped his purposes for the future.</p> + +<p>Joffre is not only a thinker, but a man of action. He thinks hard for +a time, and then feels compelled to put his thoughts into action. The +story is told of how Confucius, upon leaving a funeral service, +presented his horse to the chief mourner. When asked why he did so, he +replied, "I wept with that man and so I felt I ought to <i>do</i> something +for him." Joffre thought long and hard and then wanted to <i>do</i> +something.</p> + +<p>After the war of 1870, he went into the engineering corps of the army +and for fifteen years served well in building barracks and +fortifications. Then he asked to go to Indo-China where France was +waging a colonial war. He was commissioned a lieutenant, and at the +end of three years returned a captain, with the Legion of Honor.</p> + +<p>He was made a member of the staff of administration of the engineering +corps, and while in this service <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>it was said of him: "Joffre is good +at all jobs. He will be good for the big job some day."</p> + +<p>In 1892 he went to Africa to build a railroad. While working at that, +news came that Colonel Bonnier and his party of Frenchmen had been +attacked and many of them massacred by the natives near Timbuctoo. +Joffre organized a rescuing expedition (which has ever since been held +up as a model), took possession of Timbuctoo, and subdued the tribes; +then went back and finished his railroad. When he returned to France +this time he was a colonel, having risen one degree in the Legion of +Honor.</p> + +<p>After three years he was sent to Madagascar, where he built such +excellent defenses that upon his return he was made head of the French +military engineering corps. He then had the task of preparing the +forts of France. He built the forts of Belfort, Épinal, Toul, and +Verdun, all of which victoriously withstood the German attacks in the +World War.</p> + +<p>By this time, Joffre was a general. He practiced at handling troops in +the field until he knew all the tactics in moving great bodies of men. +He became chief of such matters as transportation, armament, and +mobilization.</p> + +<p>Yet all this time Joffre was almost entirely unknown among the French +people. Quiet, almost shy, a man of few words, he was not one to call +attention to himself. Only those who were close to him knew him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>and +his great ability. Late in life he had married a widow with two +beautiful daughters. He lived with them very quietly in Auteuil in the +suburbs of Paris. Here the great chief loved to gather his family +about the piano and enjoy their companionship and an evening of music. +He could often be seen mornings, walking with his two beloved +daughters. Always he was a kind, thoughtful, gentle, often silent man, +and, being silent, he had also the virtue of being a good listener. +For he hated empty words, though he talked long enough when he had +something to say. He spoke with the greatest simplicity, however, and +was always very gentle and courteous in his manners.</p> + +<p>The officers of the staff of eleven men who directed the military +affairs of the country, of which staff Joffre was a member, valued and +esteemed him highly. It was from among the men of this staff that a +commander in chief would be chosen in case of war.</p> + +<p>But when the time came in 1911 to reorganize the army and appoint a +commander in chief, the minds and hearts of the French people turned +toward General Pau, the one-armed hero of the Franco-Prussian War. +While they were eagerly waiting to applaud his promotion, they were +informed that General Joseph Joffre had accepted the appointment. +General Pau had refused the position, saying, "No patriotic Frenchman +has any right to accept this when such a man as Joffre is available."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>Joffre had a great deal of opposition to face. Unpleasant comments +were made, and worse than all, France herself was filled with all +sorts of political and social evils.</p> + +<p>Germany, as all France knew, was planning to dash across the border, +and that before very long. But Joffre determined that, should his +country be attacked from beyond the Rhine, it would be defended.</p> + +<p>Joffre was now fifty-nine years old with his blonde hair and eyebrows +grown white. His large head, square face and jaw, his great and +powerful frame, suggested strength, vigor, and a marvelous ability for +leadership. His first act was to place General Pau, whom he recognized +as a very able man, in the next highest command.</p> + +<p>Assisted by President Poincaré and Millerand, Minister of War, he set +out to reform the army. There prevailed a system of spying, by which +officers were privately watched and reported for disloyalty upon the +least suspicion. Joffre destroyed this system entirely and announced +that all officers would be appointed purely on the basis of merit. He +dismissed several generals, some of them his own personal friends, +because they were incompetent. They were generals who were either too +old, or who could not act quickly and efficiently in the field, even +though they were good thinkers. This caused him some unhappy hours, +but he did it for France. He promoted men who <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>successfully performed +their duties. He made excellent preparation in the new departments +created by modern science and inventions,—telephones, automobiles, +and aëroplanes. Altogether he put system and order into everything, +aroused a soul in his army, and created a new spirit in France.</p> + +<p>A year before the war came, Germany had 720,000 men ready to march +into France. Joffre, with remarkable skill, raised his army in numbers +to about 600,000. Even so they were greatly outnumbered, but Joffre +knew that all depended on their ability, for the first few weeks, to +withstand the expected onrush of German troops. So he organized them +carefully, and best of all, put into their hearts the belief that +"there is something which triumphs over all hesitations, which governs +and decides the impulses of a great and noble democracy like +France,—the will to live strong and free, and to remain mistress of +our destinies." This spirit in Joffre and in the other French leaders +made France powerful in those first fateful days. It was the same +spirit which Joffre later imparted to his men on the eve of the Battle +of the Marne, the spirit which made that battle result in victory for +France. As the men on that September evening gathered about their +officers and listened to the reading of Joffre's message, Joffre's +spirit itself took possession of every one of them.</p> + +<p>"Advance," the order read, "and when you can <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span>no longer advance, hold +at all costs what you have gained. If you can no longer hold, die on +the spot."</p> + +<p>Joffre was careful not to make any decisions until he had thought the +question over deeply, but once made, his decisions were immediately +carried out. When he ordered a retreat, he knew the reason, and his +men trusted him and followed his orders implicitly. The people of +France, too, came to love and trust this great general of theirs.</p> + +<p>When the German army, fairly on its way to Paris, suddenly met the +greatest defeat Germany had known since the days of Napoleon, the +villagers near Auteuil, where Joffre had his home, came and covered +the steps of his house with flowers. This was the first tribute of the +people to the man who had saved the nation, and it showed their +confidence in the future of the country as long as it should rest in +the hands of Joseph Jacques Joffre.</p> + +<p>Thus, from the unknown man who in 1911 had been exalted to a great and +responsible position, Joffre quickly became known and loved by all the +people of France as "Our Joffre." He was later retired from active +service with the highest military rank, Marshal of France.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="HUN_TARGET" id="HUN_TARGET"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE HUN TARGET—THE RED CROSS<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>All the civilized nations of the world have agreed to respect the Red +Cross, believing that when men are carried from the battlefield +wounded or dying, it is inhuman to war upon them further. But the +agreement to this by Germany, like all other German agreements, became +only "a scrap of paper" when the Hun leaders thought they saw an +advantage in tearing it up.</p> + +<p>Germany is also the only nation claiming to be civilized that kills +its prisoners when it thinks best. When the Kaiser told the German +soldiers going to China to take no prisoners, he meant that they +should kill them.</p> + +<p>Frightfulness was not a sudden afterthought on the part of the +Germans, arising in the excitement of war. It was deliberately planned +and taught to the German officers and soldiers. The manual prepared +for their use in land warfare contains the rules which are to guide +them. Among the directions are these: Endeavor to destroy all the +enemies' intellectual and material resources. The methods which kill +the greatest number at once are permitted. Force <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>the inhabitants to +furnish information against their own armies and their own people. +Prisoners may be killed in case of necessity. Any wrong, no matter how +great, that will help to victory is allowed.</p> + +<p>How the Germans carried out the "Rules for Land Warfare" is well shown +by the proclamation posted by General von Bülow in the streets of +Namur on August 25, 1914. It read as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Before four o'clock all Belgian and French soldiers must be +turned over to us as prisoners of war. Citizens who fail to do +this will be sentenced to hard labor for life in Germany. At +four o'clock all the houses in the city will be searched. Every +soldier found will be shot. Ten hostages will be taken for each +street and held by German guards. If there is any trouble in any +street, the hostages for that street will be shot. Any crime +against the German army may bring about the destruction of the +entire city and every one in it.</p></div> + +<p>Frightfulness was taught not only to officers and soldiers but to all +the German people, and especially to the children in the schools. One +of the selections read and recited, even in the primary schools of +Germany before the war, was "The Hymn of Hate" by a German poet, which +in English prose is in substance as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Hate! Germany! hate! Cut the throats of your hordes of enemies. +Put on your armor and with your bayonets pierce the heart of +every one of them. Take no prisoners. Strike them dead. Change +their fertile lands into deserts. Hate! Germany! <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>hate! Victory +will come from your rage and hate. Break the skulls of your +enemies with blows from your axes and the butts of your guns. +They are timid, cowardly beasts. They are not men. Let your +mailed fist execute the judgment of God.</p></div> + +<p>A German general told Edith Cavell, when she was pleading in behalf of +some homeless Belgian women and children, "Pity is a waste of +feeling—a moral parasite injurious to the health."</p> + +<p>The whole idea of the German War Book is given in the statement made +by a great German:</p> + +<p>"True strategy means to hit your enemy and to hit him hard, to inflict +on the inhabitants of invaded towns the greatest possible amount of +suffering, so that they shall become tired of the struggle and cry for +peace. You must leave the people of the country through which you +march only their eyes to weep with."</p> + +<p>And these rules and teachings came at a time when nations were seeking +to do away with war forever and were agreeing upon rules that, if war +should come, would make it less horrible and that would in particular +spare non-combatants.</p> + +<p>A German soldier wrote to the American minister, Mr. Gerard, early in +the war while Mr. Gerard was still in Berlin:</p> + +<div class="block"><p class="noin">To the American Government, Washington, U.S.A.:</p> + +<p>Englishmen who have surrendered are shot down in small groups. +With the French one is more considerate. I ask whether <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>men let +themselves be taken prisoner in order to be disarmed and shot +down afterwards? Is that chivalry in battle?</p> + +<p>It is no longer a secret among the people; one hears everywhere +that few prisoners are taken; they are shot down in small +groups. They say naïvely: "We don't want any unnecessary mouths +to feed. Where there is no one to enter complaint, there is no +judge." Is there, then, no power in the world which can put an +end to these murders and rescue the victims? Where is +Christianity? Where is right? Might is right.</p> + +<p class="right">A Soldier and a Man Who Is No Barbarian.</p> +</div> + +<p>On October 25, 1914, a small party of German soldiers succeeded in +entering Dixmude and capturing the commander of the French marines +defending the town, and some of his men. It was a dark night and +raining hard, and although the Germans had been able to get through +the lines into the city and to capture Commander Jeanniot and a few of +his men, they were unable to find a way back through the lines and out +of the city. They wandered about in the rain and mud for nearly four +hours, driving the captured French marines before them with the butts +of their rifles. Day was dawning and there was no chance for them to +escape in a body in the daytime. So the officers halted them behind a +hedge and directed them to scatter.</p> + +<p>Then the question arose as to what they should do with their +prisoners. The majority voted that they should be put to death, and at +a sign from their leader, the Boches knelt and opened fire upon the +prisoners, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>who knew nothing of what was being planned. They were all +killed, including the commander, except one, who was hit only in the +shoulder. Before the Germans could put him to death, a party of French +marines discovered them. The whole band was taken prisoner and brought +before the Admiral, who sentenced three of the leaders to be executed. +To have killed them all when they were taken would have seemed only +too good for them, but the French are not a barbarian but a +law-abiding people.</p> + +<p>Germany believes she can win in war by making it so "frightful" that +none but Germans can be strong enough to endure it. So among other +atrocities, Germany has used the red cross on hospitals and hospital +ships as a mark to guide them in dropping bombs and in aiming +torpedoes. The Roumanian Minister of the Interior stated to the United +States government the following:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Because of the action of Germany and her allies, it has been +found advisable to remove the Red Cross conspicuously painted on +the top of the hospital buildings, because it served as a +special mark for the bombs, etc., from aeroplanes.</p></div> + +<p>Germany also believes, without doubt, that killing wounded who may +otherwise recover and go back into service will reduce the man power +of her enemies, who, she thinks, are too Christianlike, too merciful, +too faithful to their agreements to do likewise. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>Bombing hospitals +and killing nurses and doctors will also make it likely that more +wounded will die through lack of care and treatment. She knows that +every hospital ship sunk means another must be taken to replace it +from those carrying food or troops.</p> + +<p>There is no mistake about her intentions, although she did at first +offer lying excuses. She has dropped "flares," great burning torches, +at night to be sure that the red cross was there and then dropped her +bombs upon the hospital. She has killed many non-combatants in this +way.</p> + +<p>Germany has torpedoed, during the first four years of the war, +hospital ships with the big red crosses painted on their sides and all +lights burning at night (to show they were hospital ships), amounting +to a total tonnage of over 200,000 tons. The torpedo that sank the +<i>Rewa</i> without warning hit the German target, the red cross, exactly. +Germany torpedoed the hospital ship <i>Britannic</i>, 50,000 tons, the +largest British ship afloat, partly, without doubt, so that she could +not compete with German ships after the war.</p> + +<p>The first hospital ship destroyed by the Huns was the <i>Portugal</i>, sunk +by a German submarine while she was lying at anchor in the Black Sea. +One of the survivors described the sinking as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>The <i>Portugal</i> was sinking at the place where she was broken in +two, her stern and stem going up higher all the time as she +settled amidships. All around me unfortunate Sisters of Mercy +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>were screaming for help. The deck became more down-sloping every +minute and I rolled off into the water between the two halves of +the sinking steamer. It so happened that the disturbance of the +water somewhat abated and I succeeded in swimming up again. I +glanced around. The <i>Portugal</i> was no more. Nothing but broken +pieces of wreck, boxes which had contained medicaments, +materials for dressings, and provisions, were floating about. +Everywhere I could see the heads and arms of people battling +with the waves, and their shrieks for help were frightful. The +hospital ship <i>Portugal</i> was painted white, with a red border +all around. The funnels were white with red crosses and a Red +Cross flag was on the mast. These distinguishing signs were +plainly visible and there can be no doubt whatever that they +could be perfectly well seen by the men in the submarine. The +conduct of the submarine proves that the men in it knew that +they had to do with a hospital ship. The fact of the submarine's +having moved so slowly shows the enemy was conscious of being +quite out of danger.</p></div> + +<p>Eighty-five lives were lost, including twenty-one nuns who were +serving as nurses.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the fact that, according to the Germans, God is on +their side, some power for good saved most of those on the hospital +ship <i>Asturias</i>. She did not sink when struck by the torpedo, but she +was rendered helpless by the loss of her rudder. There was no sandy +beach in sight, so the captain tried to guide her near the rocky shore +where, if she sank, perhaps some might reach land, but he found he +could not guide the ship. It was dark night, but guided by some unseen +power she dodged a reef <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>upon which she would have gone to pieces, +rounded a headland, and beached herself upon the only piece of sandy +shore in that vicinity.</p> + +<p>The English hospital ship <i>Lanfranc</i> was carrying many wounded Germans +to England when she was torpedoed. An English officer gave the +following vivid description to a London daily paper:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>The <i>Lanfranc</i> was attacked by a submarine about 7:30 Tuesday +evening just as we had finished dinner. A few of us were +strolling to and fro on the deck when there was a crash which +shook the liner violently. This was followed by an explosion, +and glass and splinters of wood flew in all directions. I had a +narrow escape from being pitched overboard and only regained my +feet with difficulty. In a few minutes the engine had stopped +and the <i>Lanfranc</i> appeared to be sinking rapidly, but to our +surprise she steadied herself and after a while remained +perfectly motionless. We had on board nearly 200 wounded +prisoners belonging to the Prussian Guard, and about twice as +many British wounded, many being very bad cases. The moment the +torpedo struck the <i>Lanfranc</i>, many of the slightly wounded +Prussians made a mad rush for the lifeboats. One of their +officers came up to a boat close to which I was standing. I +shouted to him to go back, whereupon he stood and scowled. "You +must save us," he begged. I told him to wait his turn.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the crew and the staff had gone to their posts. The +stretcher cases were brought on deck as quickly as possible and +the first boats were lowered without delay. Help had been +summoned, and many vessels were hurrying to our assistance. In +these moments, while wounded Tommies—many of them as helpless +as little children—lay in their cots unaided, the Prussian +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>morale dropped to zero. They made another crazy effort to get +into a lifeboat. They managed to crowd into one, but no sooner +had it been lowered than it toppled over. The Prussians were +thrown into the water, and they fought each other in order to +reach another boat containing a number of gravely wounded +soldiers.</p> + +<p>The behavior of our own lads I shall never forget. Crippled as +many of them were, they tried to stand at attention while the +more serious cases were being looked after. And those who could +lend a hand hurried below to help in saving friend or enemy. I +have never seen so many individual illustrations of genuine +chivalry and comradeship. One man I saw had had a leg severed +and his head was heavily bandaged. He was lifting himself up a +staircase by the hands and was just as keen on summoning help +for Fritz as on saving himself. He whistled to a mate to come +and aid a Prussian who was unable to move owing to internal +injuries. Another Tommy limped painfully along with a Prussian +officer on his arm, and helped the latter to a boat. It is +impossible to give adequate praise to the crew and staff. They +were all heroes. They remained at their posts until the last man +had been taken off, and some of them took off articles of their +clothing and threw them into the lifeboats for the benefit of +those who were in need of warm clothing. The same spirit +manifested itself as we moved away from the scene of outrage. I +saw a sergeant take his tunic off and make a pillow of it for a +wounded German. There was a private who had his arms around an +enemy, trying hard to make the best of an uncomfortable resting +place.</p> + +<p>In the midst of all this tragedy the element of comedy was not +wanting. A cockney lad struck up a ditty, and the boat's company +joined in the chorus of Raymond Hitchcock's "All Dressed Up and +Nowheres to Go." Then we had "Take Me <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>Back to Blighty," and as +a French vessel came along to our rescue, the boys sang "Pack Up +Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile." The +French displayed unforgettable hospitality. As soon as they took +our wounded on board, they improvised beds and stripped +themselves almost bare that English and German alike might be +comfortable.</p></div> + +<p>The destruction of the <i>Llandovery Castle</i> was as bad or worse than +those already described. For a time the Huns ceased to sink hospital +ships running from France to England, but when they learned, through +spies, that the <i>Warilda</i> carried no Germans, she was sunk early in +August, 1918, with a loss of one hundred and twenty-three doctors, +nurses, and wounded. After the <i>Llandovery Castle</i>, after the Warilda, +there could be no further German pretense that Germany was waging any +other than a barbarian war.</p> + +<p>Such inhumanity seems like the work of madmen. Is the Kaiser insane? +Are the German war leaders insane? Or are the German people, all, +entirely different from the people we consider sane?</p> + +<p>Let us remember that a Roman writer said many centuries ago, "Whom the +gods would destroy, they first make mad."</p> + +<p>When the Huns are losing, they show themselves at their very worst. +When they were winning in the first stages of the war, they committed +deeds blacker than those of the barbarians who sacked Rome, but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>after +the tide turned against them, then they became even worse and began to +use the red cross as a target in bombing hospitals and torpedoing +hospital ships.</p> + +<p>Moreover, at the Second Battle of the Marne, orders were issued to the +German soldiers, who were being driven back with great loss, that +seemed too inhuman even for the modern Huns. They were as follows: +"Henceforth the enemy is not to be allowed to recover his dead and +wounded except behind his own position, even under the Red Cross flag. +If stretcher bearers go out, a warning shot is to be fired. If no +attention is paid to the shot, the enemy must be thoroughly engaged at +once."</p> + +<p>As the <i>Philadelphia Public Ledger</i> says, "This is typical of Prussian +militarism. It is precisely the sort of thing that our young men have +sailed away across the Atlantic to uproot and finally destroy."</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">We do pray for mercy;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And that same prayer doth teach us all to render<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The deeds of mercy.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14 sc">Shakespeare.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THEY_SHALL_NOT_PASS" id="THEY_SHALL_NOT_PASS"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>"THEY SHALL NOT PASS"<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The caves described in the Arabian Nights are not more wonderful than +the rock citadel of Verdun; in many ways they are not so marvelous. +The old citadel is now like a deserted cave, but a cave lighted by +electricity and with a passenger elevator to carry one from the lowest +floor to the top of the rock, a hundred feet above. In former wars it +was a hive of soldiers.</p> + +<p>Blasted out of the solid rock-hill are rooms, great halls, passages, +hospitals, storerooms, and barracks. The heaviest shells of the enemy +fall harmless from the natural rock. Here, one would think, a few +soldiers could hold the town and the Meuse valley against greatly +superior numbers. And this would be true if it were not for the fact +that modern long-range guns can be placed by an enemy on the +surrounding hills, once they have won them, and prevent food, +ammunition, or supplies being brought to the citadel. Leaving these +guns with enough men to work them, the great body of the enemy could +then advance towards Paris, for the Meuse valley at Verdun is the +highway from Metz to Paris.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>The French generals realized long ago that the city and the valley +could not, because of the increased power of big guns, be defended +from the citadel. So they built great forts several miles from the +city upon the hills which surrounded it, to halt the Germans when they +should advance, as France knew they would when they were ready.</p> + +<p>For an army to get from Germany into France and to the plains east of +Paris, it was necessary to pass down the valley of the Meuse and +through Verdun, and for this reason France spent vast sums of money to +make these forts impregnable.</p> + +<p>After the opening weeks of the World War had shown how easy it was for +the German big guns to destroy the finest modern forts, like those at +Liége, Namur, and Antwerp, the French command removed the garrisons +from the forts protecting Verdun and placed them in trenches farther +away from the city and the citadel, upon the second range of hills.</p> + +<p>There was another way for the Germans to reach the plains of Champagne +and of Châlons, which by treaty they had agreed not to use. That way +was through Belgium. When the Huns declared this treaty only "a scrap +of paper" to be torn up whenever their plans required it, and, to the +surprise of all honorable nations, went through Belgium, they were +soon able to reach the plains east and north of Paris, and Verdun +ceased to be a key position. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>Verdun was about one hundred and fifty +miles from Paris, and the Germans were already less than half that +distance from the city. So when it was learned that the enemy had +determined to capture Verdun, the forts surrounding it, and the +highway through the river valley, the French command decided it was +not worth holding at the cost in lives that would be necessary. To +capture it would help the Germans very little, and to retire from it +would greatly improve the French lines.</p> + +<p>The Germans doubtless realized that this would be the decision of the +French and that they would have an easy, an almost bloodless, victory. +They also knew that all Germans and all Frenchmen had for centuries +looked upon Verdun as a second Gibraltar and as one of the chief +defenses of Paris and northern France, one which had been made—as the +French thought—impregnable by the expenditure of vast sums of money. +For this reason the Germans believed its loss would be taken as a +terrible blow by the French people, and would be considered by the +German populace as the greatest victory of the war. They hoped it +might be the last straw, or one of the last, that would break the +backbone of the French resistance. In order to give credit for this +great victory to their future Kaiser, the armies of the Crown Prince +were selected for the easy task.</p> + +<p>The French command, it is said, had already issued <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>the first orders +for the retreat to stronger positions, when the French civic leaders +realized Germany's game by which she hoped to win a great moral +victory and to add to the hopes and courage of the German people; and +although General Joffre believed it was a mistake, the French decided +to remain just where they were.</p> + +<p>The Germans were so sure of everything going as they had planned that +they had advertised their coming victory in every corner of Germany +and even in the Allied countries. When they found they were to be +opposed, they brought up larger forces and when these were not strong +enough to win, they increased them, until the Battle of Verdun, in +which the Germans lost nearly half a million men in killed, wounded, +and prisoners, became probably the greatest battle in the history of +the world. It continued for six months.</p> + +<p>Is it not strange that this, the greatest of all battles, was not a +conflict waged to secure some territory, some river crossing, some +fort, or some city absolutely necessary to win further progress, but a +battle to add strength to the German mind and soul and to weaken the +spirit of the French? Think of these modern Huns, who believe in the +force of might and of material things, fighting for a victory over the +spirit, which is never really broken by such things and is never +<i>conquered</i> by them, but is to be won only by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>justice, mercy, +friendship, love, and other spiritual forces.</p> + +<p>And the French spirit did not flinch or weaken. The French people and +the French soldiers said, "They shall not pass," and they did not +pass. The Germans brought their big guns near enough to destroy the +city, but the citadel laughed at them. They captured Fort Douaumont +and Fort Vaux, but later had to give them up to the French.</p> + +<p>All of Hunland rejoiced when the Brandenburgers captured Fort +Douaumont, and the disappointment of the French people made every one +realize that to have given up the city and the citadel without a +fight, even though it was wise from a military point of view, would +have been a grave mistake. But before the long battle was over, the +French soldiers made one of their most remarkable charges back of +waves of shell fire and swept the Germans from the hill upon which the +fort was built. They recaptured the fort, taking six thousand +prisoners, and sent thrills and cheers through France and the +civilized world.</p> + +<p>No, they did not pass. The soul of France with her flaming sword stood +in the way. The Huns were trained to fight things that they could see, +that they could touch, that they could measure, and especially things +that they could frighten and kill. The soul of France they could not +see, just as they could not, at the opening of the war, see or +understand the soul of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>Belgium, and just as they did not believe in +or comprehend the soul of America, later. But the soul of France +barred their way and they did not pass, for they could neither +frighten her nor kill her.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For though the giant ages heave the hill<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And break the shore, and evermore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Make and break and work their will;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though world on world in myriad myriads roll<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Round us, each with different powers<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And other forms of life than ours,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What know we greater than the soul?<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>The right is more precious than peace. We shall fight for the things +which we have always carried nearest our hearts. To such a task we +dedicate our lives.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Woodrow Wilson, 1917.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="VERDUN" id="VERDUN"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>VERDUN<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She is a wall of brass;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You shall not pass! You shall not pass!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spring up like summer grass,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Surge at her, mass on mass,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still shall you break like glass,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Splinter and break like shivered glass,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">But pass?<br /></span> +<span class="i4">You shall not pass!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Germans, you shall not, shall not pass!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">God's hand has written on the wall of brass—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You shall not pass! You shall not pass!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The valleys are quaking,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The torn hills are shaking,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The earth and the sky seem breaking.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But unbroken, undoubting, a wonder and sign,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She stands, France stands, and still holds to the line.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She counts her wounded and her dead;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">You shall not pass!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She sets her teeth, she bows her head;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">You shall not pass!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till the last soul in the fierce line has fled,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">You shall not pass!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Help France? Help France?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who would not, thanking God for this great chance,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stretch out his hands and run to succor France?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20 sc">Harold Begbie.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_BEAST_IN_MAN" id="THE_BEAST_IN_MAN"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE BEAST IN MAN<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>A German leader once said, "The oldest right in the world is the right +of the strongest." This is true and will always continue to be true as +long as the world is made up only of inanimate matter and lifeless +forces and of living, thinking beings who consider "the strongest" as +meaning the powers or things that can cause the greatest destruction +and the most terrible evil. The beasts recognize these as the +strongest, and without question admit that the oldest right in the +world is the chief right in the world.</p> + +<p>But as men have become civilized, they have come to fear destruction, +and even the loss of life, less and less, and have learned to feel the +strength of beauty, truth, justice, mercy, purity, and innocence. So +it comes to pass that Robert Burns mourns when his plow turns under a +mountain daisy or destroys the home of a field mouse. Because he feels +the influence of the innocent and the helpless, the "wee, modest, +crimson-tipped flower" and the "wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous +beastie," he gives us two of the most beautiful poems in the English +language, poems that, by the power of their tenderness, truth, and +beauty, have brought <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>tears to the eyes of many a strong, brave man +who feared no enemy.</p> + +<p>Such was the power of Joan of Arc when she led the French soldiers to +battle and to victory,—simply the power of her belief and her faith, +for she was a simple, untrained peasant girl, knowing nothing of how +battles are to be won.</p> + +<p>Such is the power of the English nurse, Edith Cavell, executed by the +Germans as a spy, because she helped English and Belgians to escape +from the German horrors in Belgium by crossing the line into Holland.</p> + +<p>Such is the power of the murdered mothers and children on the +<i>Lusitania</i>, the memory of whose wrongs cause English and American +soldiers to go "over the top," crying "Lusitania! Lusitania!"</p> + +<p>Such is the power of undaunted Cardinal Mercier, who in the very midst +of German officers and troops, denounces German atrocities in Belgium, +and yet is himself untouched.</p> + +<p>The exercise of the right of the strongest, the <i>right</i> which comes +through <i>might</i>, brings about war. General Sherman, who knew the +terrors of war from what he saw in our Civil War, said, "War is hell." +He could not describe its horrors and so he used the one word that +means to most people the most horrible state and place in which human +beings can suffer. For many years most men have realized that war is +the most dreadful scourge of the human race, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>that it should be +abolished. But as is always the case, men cannot agree,—which is, of +course, the chief reason why there are wars. In the face of terrible +calamities, disasters, and great crises, men will agree. Perhaps the +World War will prove the great disaster that will lead men to do away +forever with war.</p> + +<p>For twenty-five years before the world's peace was rudely broken by +the ambitions of Germany, the people of other countries had been +urgently seeking some means of doing away with war. Peace societies +had been organized and wealthy men had donated money to be used in +efforts to secure the permanent peace of the world. A Peace Palace had +been erected at The Hague from funds donated by the American +multi-millionaire, Andrew Carnegie, who had also set aside a fund of +$10,000,000 for the purpose of keeping the world at peace. The Nobel +prize of $40,000 was awarded annually to the person anywhere in the +world who had done the most for peace. Theodore Roosevelt, while +President, won this by settling the Russian-Japanese War. The Tsar of +Russia had proposed at one of the conferences of nations held at the +Peace Palace that the nations should gradually do away with military +preparations. We can see now why all these efforts failed. Germany had +her mind and heart set on war and on conquering the world.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>Most men agree that war is unnecessary, and before the German attack +upon Belgium and upon the liberty of the world, many leaders of +thought in other countries were sure a great war could never occur in +modern times. One group argued that its cost in money would be so +great that no nation could meet it for more than a few months. But the +United States is, in 1918, spending nearly $50,000,000 a day for war, +and she can continue to do so for some years, if necessary. The cost +in dollars will never prevent war nor make a great war a very brief +one.</p> + +<p>But think of what the cost of the war for one year would accomplish if +spent for the purposes of peace, for construction instead of +destruction. Ten billion dollars, the approximate cost of the war for +the United States for the year 1918, if put at interest at four per +cent, would earn $400,000,000, or about the cost of the Panama Canal. +This interest would send 500,000 young men and women to college each +year, and pay all their necessary expenses. It would do away with all +the slums and poverty of our great cities. If the cost to one nation +for one year would, as a permanent fund, accomplish this, it is easy +to realize that the world could almost be made an ideal one in which +to live, if the money that all the nations spend upon the World War +could have been saved and made a permanent fund for the betterment of +world conditions.</p> + +<p>Another group said, "Modern science has made war <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>so terrible and so +destructive that men will not take part in it, or if this is not true +now, it soon will be." When we think of what has occurred and is +occurring every day in the present war, this seems also unlikely.</p> + +<p>When we read of guns that will carry a shell weighing a ton for over +twenty-five miles which will, when it explodes, destroy everything +within an eighth of a mile, and of guns less destructive that will +carry over seventy-five miles, almost wholly destroying a church and +killing sixty-five men, women, and children; when we read of bombs +dropped from the sky, killing innocent women and children, hundreds of +miles from the field of battle; of the terrible work of poison gases +and of liquid fire; of battles above the clouds from which men fall to +death in blazing air-planes, and of battles beneath the waves in which +men sink in submarines to be suffocated to death; of an entire ridge +being undermined and blown up by tons of dynamite, with an explosion +heard nearly one hundred miles away and killing thousands: how can we +believe that war is likely soon to become so terrible that men will +not engage in it, if they are willing to do so now? Sir Gilbert Parker +well says: "Guns have been invented before which the stoutest +fortresses shrivel into fiery dust; shells destroy men in platoons, +blow them to pieces, bury them alive; death pours from the clouds and +spouts upward through the sea; motor-power hurls armies of men on +points of attack in masses <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>never hitherto employed; concealment is +made well nigh impossible. These things, however, have but made war +more difficult and dreadful; they have not made it impossible. They +have only succeeded in plumbing profounder depths of human courage, +and evoking higher qualities of endurance than have ever been seen +before."</p> + +<p>No, most people who are thinking about the subject to-day are agreed +that wars will not end because of the destructive power of men, but +through the constructive power of human feeling and intellect. When +the great majority of men recognize, as so many do now, that as the +world exists to-day, no nation can ever gain by a war of aggression, +but that the nation at war loses her best, her young and strong, and +has left only the old and defective who cannot fight, that she loses +her industrial and commercial prosperity as well, and through these +losses loses more than she can ever gain by conquest; when all nations +realize that the destruction of great cathedrals like Rheims, of the +beautiful town hall at Lille, of the unique Cloth Market at Ypres, and +of a University like that of Louvain makes the whole world poorer +beyond measure, then will men agree that no small group of men, and no +single nation shall, in the future, be allowed to cause war; and then +they will organize some power strong enough to prevent war.</p> + +<p>Then will come the League of Nations to Enforce <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>Peace, or the +Parliament of Man of which Tennyson wrote in "Locksley Hall" +seventy-five years ago. The poet seemed as in a vision to see the +present World War with its terrors and its battles in the air. Perhaps +his vision of the abolition of war and the federation of the world is +equally true.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Far along the world-wide whisper of the south wind rushing warm,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the standards of the peoples plunging through the thunder storm;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Till the war drum throbb'd no longer, and the battle flags were furled<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep154.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep154.jpg" width="75%" alt="Sir Douglas Haig" /></a><br /> +<p class="right1" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">Sir Douglas Haig—In Command of the British Armies</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="WHEN_GERMANY_LOST" id="WHEN_GERMANY_LOST"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>WHEN GERMANY LOST THE WAR<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>No man knows exactly when and where the three and twenty allies will +win the war, but all men know when and where Germany lost it. It was +four years ago this morning, at a point near Gemmenich, a village +southwest of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was then and there that the first +gray uniform crossed the frontier from Germany into Belgium.</p> + +<p>An hour before and it was not too late for Germany to win the war, or +at least to lose it with honor. An hour afterward, and Germany was +doomed. What has befallen her since that 4th of August, what will +befall her in the future, were predetermined from the fatal instant of +that summer morning when the first German soldier trod where Prussia +had promised he should never go. There is not a German killed to-day +in the flight to the Vesle whose fate was not written at Gemmenich.</p> + +<p>It was not merely that the invasion of a land guaranteed perpetual +neutrality brought Great Britain into the fight and turned into a +world war what Germany had hoped would be a small, swift, and easy +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>campaign. It was the exposure of Germany herself. Know of her what we +may to-day, we thought of her otherwise four years ago yesterday. She +had thrown about herself a mantle which hid the sword and the thick, +studded boots. She worked at science and played at art. She sang and +thumped the piano. She cleaned her streets and washed her children's +faces. Many persons in America and England believed that she was +efficient and that her very <i>verboten</i> signs were guides to the ideal +life. Even as the Kaiser reviewed his armies he babbled of peace; +peace, to believe him, was the first object of his life.</p> + +<p>We do not know of any writer who has condensed the proof of Germany's +falsehood and cowardice into so few words as Von Bethmann-Hollweg, +who, as Chancellor of the Empire, spoke as follows to the Reichstag +four years ago this afternoon:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Gentlemen, we are now acting in self-defence. Necessity knows no +law. Our troops have occupied Luxemburg and have possibly +already entered on Belgian soil. [The speaker knew that the +invasion had begun.]</p> + +<p>Gentlemen, that is a breach of international law.</p> + +<p>The French Government has notified Brussels that it would +respect Belgian neutrality as long as the adversary respected +it. But we know that France stood ready for an invasion. France +could wait, we could not. A French invasion on our flank and the +lower Rhine might have been disastrous. Thus we were forced to +ignore the rightful protests of the Governments of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>Luxemburg +and Belgium. The injustice—I speak openly—the injustice we +thereby commit we will try to make good as soon as our military +aims have been attained. He who is menaced as we are and is +fighting for his all, can only consider the one and best way to +strike.</p></div> + +<p>There stood the German Empire, intensively trained in the arts of war +for forty years, pleading cowardice in extenuation of her broken word. +"France could wait, we could not!" A brave man, Bethmann-Hollweg, +unless he knew before he spoke that the whole nation had sunk to the +immoral level of the cowards who invaded Belgium because they feared +that on a fair field France would have beaten them! It is curious that +in the whole record of German state-craft in the war, the Chancellor's +confession of his empire's degradations stands out almost like a clean +thing.</p> + +<p>The Chancellor did not deceive the people except in his implication +that France would have struck through Belgium if Germany had not. He +did not deceive himself, either. He knew the cowardice of Germany. It +is probable that he believed, as the Junkers believed, that England, +too, was a coward. Prince Lichnowsky had told them the truth about +England, but they had not believed. In the years of Kultur, they had +forgotten what honor was like. They chose to credit the stories that +England was torn with dissensions, threatened with rebellion in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>Ireland and India, nervous from labor troubles, and not only +physically unprepared for war but mentally and morally unfit for war. +Even the telegram of Sir Edward Grey, communicated on the day of +Belgium's invasion, to the German Government by the British Ambassador +at Berlin, did not dispel the illusion about Great Britain:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>In view of the fact that Germany declined to give the same +assurance respecting Belgium as France gave last week in reply +to our request made simultaneously at Berlin and Paris, we must +repeat that request and ask that a satisfactory reply to it and +to my telegram of this morning be received here by 12 o'clock +to-night. If not, you are instructed to ask for your passports +and to say that His Majesty's Government feels bound to take all +steps in their power to uphold the neutrality of Belgium and the +observance of a treaty to which Germany is as much a party as +ourselves.</p></div> + +<p>Even that memorable document, we say, did not convince Germany that +common honor still lived across the Channel. The Foreign Secretary, +Von Jagow, a mere tool of the Kaiser, took it mechanically; but Von +Bethmann-Hollweg added to the sum of German cowardice. Brave as he had +been in the Reichstag, he whimpered to Sir Edward Goschen when he saw +that "12 o'clock to-night" on paper. This account of the conversation +is Goschen's, but the German Chancellor later confirmed the +Englishman's version:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>I found the Chancellor very agitated. His Excellency at once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +began a harangue which lasted for about twenty minutes. He said +that the step taken by His Majesty's Government was terrible to +a degree; just for a word—"neutrality," a word which in war +time had so often been disregarded—just for a scrap of paper, +Great Britain was going to make war on a kindred nation who +desired nothing better than to be friends with her.</p></div> + +<p>When he added that it was a matter of "life and death" to Germany to +advance through Belgium, the British Ambassador replied that it was "a +matter of life and death for the honor of Great Britain that she +should keep her solid engagement to do her utmost to defend Belgium's +neutrality if attacked." Her utmost! Aye, she has done it!</p> + +<p>A last gasp from the German Chancellor: "But at what price will that +compact have been kept? Has the British Government thought of that?" +Sir Edward Goschen replied that "fear of consequences could hardly be +regarded as an excuse for breaking solemn engagements," but these +words were lost. The German Chancellor had abandoned himself to the +contemplation of the truth: that morning Germany had been beaten when +a soldier stepped across a line. How long the decision might be in +dispute Bethmann-Hollweg could not know, but he must have known that, +cheating, Germany had loaded the dice at the wrong side. If she had +struck fairly at France, England would have had to stand by, neutral. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>The seas would be open to Germany. If France had violated Belgium's +neutrality—as Germany professed to believe she intended to +do—England would have attacked France, keeping the pledge made in the +Treaty of London. But now, because England weighed a promise and not +the price of keeping it, there could be no swift stroke at lone +France, no dash eastward to subdue Russia. To-day, when Germany sees +how ripe Russia was then for revolution, the remembrance of that 4th +of August must be the bitterest drop in the deep cup of her regret.</p> + +<p>The items at which we have glanced were not all or even the most +important acts of Germany's dawning tragedy. It was not merely that +she revealed herself to the world, but that she revealed herself to +herself. The moving picture of Kultur, of fake idealism, of +humaneness, which she had unreeled before our charitable eyes was +stopped, and stopped forever. The film, exposed momentarily to the +flame of truth, exploded and left on the screen the hideous picture of +Germany as she was. No more sham for a naked nation. In went the +unmasked Prussian to outrage and murder, to bind and burn. When a +Government violated its word to the world, why should the individual +check his passions? All the world, at first unbelieving, watched the +procession of horror, and then, against its wishes, against all the +ingrained faith that the long years had stored within the human +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span>breast, the world saw that it was dealing with nothing less than a +monster.</p> + +<p>England's day, this? Yes, and a glorious anniversary for her. She has +indeed kept her "solid engagement to do her utmost." In a million +graves are men of the British Empire who did not consider the price at +which the compact would be kept. Their lives for a scrap of paper—and +welcome! When we think that we are winning the war—and nobody denies +that it is American men and food and ships and guns that are winning +it now—let us look back to the 4th of August, 1914, and remember what +nation it was that stood between the beast and his prey, scorning all +his false offers of kindness to Belgium, his promises not to rob +France, and his hypocritical cry of "kindred nation" to the England he +really hated.</p> + +<p>But it is not alone England's day. It is the day of the opening of the +world's eyes to the criminality of Prussia. It is the anniversary of +Germany's loss of the war. We—America, France, England, Italy, and +the rest of us—will win it, but Germany lost it herself with the one +stroke at Gemmenich. She believed it a masterpiece of cunning. It was +the foul thrust of a coward and the deliberate mistake of a fool.</p> + +<p class="right"><i>The New York Sun</i>, August 4, 1918.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> COURTESY OF <i>THE NEW YORK SUN</i></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CARRY_ON" id="CARRY_ON"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CARRY ON!<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It's easy to fight when everything's right,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And you're mad with the thrill and the glory;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It's easy to cheer when victory's near,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And wallow in fields that are gory.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It's a different song when everything's wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When you're feeling infernally mortal;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When it's ten against one, and hope there is none,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Buck up, little soldier, and chortle:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Carry on! Carry on!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">There isn't much punch in your blow.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You're glaring and staring and hitting out blind;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You're muddy and bloody, but never you mind.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Carry on! Carry on!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">You haven't the ghost of a show.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It's looking like death, but while you've a breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Carry on, my son! Carry on!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And so in the strife of the battle of life<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It's easy to fight when you're winning;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It's easy to slave, and starve and be brave,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the dawn of success is beginning.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the man who can meet despair and defeat<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With a cheer, there's the man of God's choosing;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The man who can fight to Heaven's own height<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is the man who can fight when he's losing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Carry on! Carry on!<br /></span><span class='pn'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Things never were looming so black.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But show that you haven't a cowardly streak,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And though you're unlucky you never are weak.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Carry on! Carry on!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Brace up for another attack.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"> * * * * *<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Carry on, old man! Carry on!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There are some who drift out in the deserts of doubt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And some who in brutishness wallow;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There are others, I know, who in piety go<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Because of a Heaven to follow.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But to labor with zest, and to give of your best,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the sweetness and joy of the giving;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To help folks along with a hand and a song;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Why, there's the real sunshine of living.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">Carry on! Carry on!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fight the good fight and true;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There's big work to do, and that's why you are here.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Carry on! Carry on!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Let the world be the better for you;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And at last when you die, let this be your cry:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Carry on, my soul! Carry on!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14 sc">Robert Service.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep164.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep164.jpg" width="75%" alt="A Dog Delivering a Dispatch at Headquarters" /></a><br /> +<p class="right1" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Copyright by Western Newspaper Union Photo. Service</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">A Dog Delivering a Dispatch at Headquarters</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> COPYRIGHT, BY BARSE AND HOPKINS</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="WAR_DOGS" id="WAR_DOGS"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>WAR DOGS<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The story of "The Animals Going to War" tells how, one by one, the +wild creatures, then the enemies of man, were made his friends and +learned to be his helpers. In the World War, the horse has borne man +into the thick of the conflict, the mule has drawn his big guns into +place, and the dog has wonderfully come to his aid, so that now, +whenever the "dogs of war" are let loose, the war dogs go with them.</p> + +<p>The Battle of Verdun had been raging for months; Fort Douaumont had +been taken, lost, and finally retaken by the French. The Germans still +poured against it a terrific rain of shot and shell, and within the +battered fortress the guns were disabled and the ammunition nearly +exhausted. Help was needed and needed at once. Long ago the wireless +had been shot to pieces, and the telephones had been destroyed. It was +sure death for a man to venture outside, let alone trying to reach the +lines behind, where he might secure help.</p> + +<p>Still the defenders stood firm, and in their hearts, if not with their +lips, over and over they repeated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>those magic words, "They shall not +pass!" But the shells continued to fall in their very midst, and +unless that battery could be silenced, the fort and all the men in it +would be lost. What could be done when no messenger could reach the +lines behind?</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as the men were straining their eyes almost hopelessly in +the direction of those lines, they saw a small, dark speck moving +across the fields, stopping only here and there behind a rock to take +shelter from the bursting shells. Now and then it dashed wildly over +the open fields. But ever straight on toward the fort it came. Swiftly +the entrance of the fort was flung open, and in dashed one of the +faithful dogs, unhurt. In the wallet, fastened to his collar, was +found a message telling that relief was coming. Strapped to his back +was a tiny pannier, inside of which were two frightened carrier +pigeons. On a slip of paper the commander quickly wrote his message: +"Stop the German battery on our left." Then adding any necessary facts +as to pointing the guns, he fastened the message to the trembling bird +and let it loose. Straight to its home, above shot and shell, flew the +pigeon. In a few moments the German battery was silenced, and +Douaumont and the brave defenders were saved.</p> + +<p>All along the lines, the dogs were busy bearing important messages +back and forth from one commander to another, and from one fort to +another. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>Zip, an English bulldog, ran two miles in heavy shell fire +and afterward had to go about with his jaw in splints; but he +delivered his message and seemed anxious to get well enough to carry +another. One of the other messenger dogs, it is said, carried orders +almost continuously for seventy-two hours, hardly stopping to eat or +drink; for no war dog would eat or drink anything given him by +strangers. The faithful animals were in danger of being taken +prisoners, as well as of being struck. Indeed, in one instance a heavy +cannon rolled over upon a big mastiff, pinning him there until help +came.</p> + +<p>When the battle ceased, the dogs sprang from the trenches and searched +the fields and woods for wounded men. They could find them much more +quickly and with less danger of being seen than any Red Cross man.</p> + +<p>In former wars among civilized peoples, the firing has always been upon +armed forces, and the guns were silent after each battle to allow both +sides to find and care for the wounded soldiers in the field. The +Germans, however, have used the Red Cross doctors and stretcher-bearers +for targets, so that to send them out only means to add them to the +number wounded. But the dogs, creeping among the men, can seldom be +seen by the enemy, and besides are able to find the wounded quicker and +more easily. As soon as a dog finds an injured soldier, he seizes his +cap, a button, or a bit of his clothing, and runs <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>back with it to the +doctor or a Red Cross nurse, for he will give it to no one else. The +stretcher-bearers then follow the dog and bring back the wounded man. +Often the man may lie in a dense thicket where no one would think to +look for him, but the dog, by his keen sense of smell or by hearing the +deep breaths or some slight sound made by the injured man, creeps in +and finds him.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, to attract the attention of an ambulance driver, the dogs +give several short, quick barks; but usually they do their work +silently, for if they bark, the enemy will fire.</p> + +<p>Many times a dog finds a man unable to get back to the lines, but not +so seriously wounded but that he can help himself somewhat. In such a +case, before running for help, the dog stands quiet, close to the +soldier, and allows him to take the flasks and first-aid bandages from +the wallet which is hung about the dog's neck or pinned to the blanket +on his back.</p> + +<p>Thus, by the help of these faithful friends, the lives of many +hundreds of men have been saved. Over one hundred were rescued in one +night after a battle. A big Newfoundland, named Napoleon, had the +credit of saving as many as twenty. One of the men, in speaking of +him, said, "Part of his tail has been blown away, and once he was left +for dead in No Man's Land, but he is still on the job, working for +civilization."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>When not fighting or on watch, the men in the trenches enjoy the +company of the dogs and teach them to perform all sorts of tricks, the +fox terriers proving especially intelligent. They also do good work in +keeping the trenches free from rats.</p> + +<p>At night, a French sentinel sometimes crawls through the entanglements +on his way to a "listening post" out in No Man's Land. With him goes a +sentinel dog. The sentinel's purpose is to discover if the enemy are +getting ready for a surprise attack. Lying flat on the earth, or +crouching in a shell hole, he listens with bated breath for any +telltale noises. The dog, listening too, creeps along beside him, or +slinks silently out into the darkness. He can tell, when his master +cannot, if an enemy is abroad. Making no sound, giving no betraying +bark, as soon as he discovers the enemy the dog draws near to his +master, stands at attention, his ears pricked up, his hair bristling, +his tail wagging as he silently paws the ground or growls so low that +only his master can hear him. If the German soldier attempts to fight, +the dog springs at him and throws him to the ground.</p> + +<p>A group of soldiers were on watch one night in one of the front +trenches, when all of the dogs suddenly became uneasy, growling low, +and growing more and more excited. The soldiers knew their dogs and +trusted their warnings, so they telephoned back to the main trenches +for help. In less than half an hour, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>an attack was made from the +German trenches opposite. Meanwhile, however, reënforcements had +arrived for the Allies, which sent the enemy back to his own lines +again. How the dogs knew so long before that the attack was coming, +whether they could have heard the first faint signs of preparation in +the enemy trenches, the soldiers could not tell.</p> + +<p>When a front line trench of the enemy is captured, it is the faithful +dogs who draw up the many cartloads of ammunition and supplies, and +some of the smaller guns. For this, the Belgian dogs are especially +well fitted.</p> + +<p>Happy as long as they can help in the fighting, restless and uneasy +whenever sent back to the hospitals for treatment or rest, these dogs +have shown the worth of all the training they have received, as well +as a great amount of natural intelligence.</p> + +<p>While Zip, Napoleon, Spot, Stop, Mignon, and Bouée have been doing +their bit on the firing line, still others have been taking their +training in readiness to go to the front. And very hard training it +is. Sheep dogs, fox terriers, bulldogs, collies, St. Bernards, +Newfoundlands, Alaskan wolf dogs, mongrels,—all must be carefully +trained by expert dog trainers.</p> + +<p>First they must learn to distinguish between the uniform of their +country and that of the enemy. They must not bark, because then the +enemy will be sure to shoot. In carrying letters from post to post, +they must learn to recognize the posts by name.</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep171.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep171.jpg" width="35%" alt="" /></a><br /> +<p class="right2" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">A French Officer and His Dog Both Wearing Anti-Gas Masks While +Crossing a Dangerous Zone in France</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>About three months of training are necessary to teach the dogs to +travel as far as three kilometres in this work. Two of the dogs are +put into the care of two trainers, and taught to recognize both as +their masters, and to carry dispatches from one to the other.</p> + +<p>The dogs must be trained to obey implicitly. If the master stops +abruptly in his walk, the dog must do the same; if the trainer runs, +the dog must keep in perfect step, ready at a given signal to lie +down, or follow a scent, or find a wounded soldier. For many hours he +must be trained in jumping, because of the great heights over which he +must spring, carrying heavy weights in his mouth or upon his back or +around his neck. He must learn to make no sound except when ordered to +do so, to find objects which have been most skillfully hidden, to +distinguish between a dead man and one wounded and breathing, to +deliver the token of a wounded man only to the doctor or Red Cross +nurse, to allow nothing to hinder him from carrying out any task, to +refuse food and water from strangers, and to aid soldiers on the +watch. These watch dogs must learn to give a signal when they scent +poison gas or hear the enemy creeping up. And they must guard +prisoners very carefully.</p> + +<p>Some dogs cannot learn all of these duties, and so <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>specialists +examine every dog that is enlisted. There are tests for health, +intelligence, speed, quick tempers, and even tempers. When a dog has +been in training for several weeks, he is sometimes found in the end +to be unfit for service, and the trainer has to admit a new recruit in +his place and start all over again. Often a dog can do certain tasks +much better than others, and so each one is assigned to the kind of +service which he can do best.</p> + +<p>It is marvelous what great services these dogs have rendered in the +World War. The governments have recognized their worth, and societies +have been formed to train and protect them. The French people, in +1912, organized the "Blue Cross." It is a Blue Cross officer who +examines the dogs and a Blue Cross doctor who gives first aid and +orders an injured dog to the hospital for further treatment. The Blue +Cross also has been at work in Italy.</p> + +<p>The American Red Cross Society has taken over the task of securing and +protecting dogs on the American front, but instead of the red cross, +the animals wear a red star, so that the field is blest with three red +symbols of mercy—the red cross, the red triangle, and the red star. +The number of dogs added to the war service during the first four +years of the war was about ten thousand on all fronts.</p> + +<p>Not only have dogs been provided by various societies, but many have +been given by private families. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>One elderly French father wrote to +the French War Department, "I already have three sons and a son-in-law +with the Colors; now I give up my dog, and 'Vive la France!'"</p> + +<p>The French government officials, as well as the various societies, +have shown their gratitude by awarding honors to the canine heroes. +Many have been mentioned in the orders for bravery and heroic conduct. +Several have been presented with gold collars. The French government +has even published a "Golden Book of Dogs," in which are recorded some +of the heroic deeds of these brave and faithful friends of man. One of +the dogs wearing a French medal of honor is a plucky fox terrier, who +is said to have saved one hundred fifty lives after the Battle of the +Marne. Bouée, a fuzzy-haired, dirty, yellow-and-black, tailless little +fellow, is another hero, who has been cited three times for his +bravery. During a heavy action, when all the telephone wires had been +destroyed, Bouée carried communications between a commandant and his +force, fulfilling his duty perfectly without allowing anything to +distract him.</p> + +<p>Shall we not change the old proverb from "As brave as a lion," to "As +brave as a dog"?</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_BELGIAN_PRINCE" id="THE_BELGIAN_PRINCE"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE <i>BELGIAN PRINCE</i><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The <i>Belgian Prince</i> was a British cargo steamer. On a voyage from +Liverpool to Philadelphia, with Captain Hassan in command, she was, on +July 31, 1917, attacked and sunk by a German U-boat. For brutal +savagery and barbarism, the drowning of the crew of the <i>Belgian +Prince</i> is one of the most astounding in the history of human warfare. +Captain Hassan was taken aboard the U-boat, and no further knowledge +of his fate has been received. The <i>Belgian Prince</i> was a merchant +ship, not a warship in any sense of the word.</p> + +<p>The Germans evidently intended to sink her without a trace left behind +to tell the story, as their Minister to Argentina advised his +government to do with Argentine ships; but three members of her crew, +the chief engineer and two seamen, escaped as by a miracle. Their +stories are now among the records of the British Admiralty; they have +also been published in many books which have a place in thousands of +libraries, public and private, all over the world. How will the Hun, +when peace comes again, face his fellow-men?</p> + +<p>The story of the chief engineer, Thomas Bowman, is as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>At 7:50 <span class="fakesc">P.M.</span> on the night of July 31, the <i>Belgian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Prince</i> was traveling along at ten knots, when she was struck. +The weather was fine and the sea smooth. It was a clear day and +just beginning to darken. I was on the after deck of the ship, +off watch, taking a stroll and having a smoke. The donkeyman +shouted out, "Here's a torpedo coming." I turned and saw the +wake on the port about a hundred yards away. I yelled a warning, +but the words were no more than out of my mouth when we were +hit.</p> + +<p>I was thrown on deck by a piece of spar, and when I recovered I +found the ship had a very heavy list to port and almost all the +crew had taken to the boats. I got into the starboard lifeboat, +which was my station. Until then I had seen no submarine, but +now heard it firing a machine gun at the other side of the ship. +With a larger gun it shot away the radio wires aloft so that we +could send out no S.O.S. messages. As soon as we had pulled away +from the ship I saw the U-boat, which promptly made toward our +own boats and hailed us in English, commanding us to come +alongside her. We were covered by their machine gun and +revolvers. We were in two lifeboats and the captain's dinghy.</p> + +<p>The submarine commander then asked for our captain and told him +to come on board, which he did. He was taken down inside the +submarine and we saw him no more. The rest of us, forty-three in +number, were then ordered to board the submarine and to line up +on deck. A German officer and several sailors were very foul and +abusive in their language. They ordered us, in English, to strip +off our life belts and overcoats and throw them down on the +deck.</p> + +<p>When this was done they proceeded to search us, making us hold +up our hands and threatening us with revolvers. These sailors, +while they passed along the deck and were searching us, +deliberately kicked most of the life belts overboard from where +we had dropped them. Beyond making us take off our life belts +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>and coats there was no interference with our clothing. They +robbed me of my seaman's discharge book and certificate, which +they threw overboard, but kept four one-pound notes.</p> + +<p>After searching us, the German sailors climbed into our +lifeboats and threw out the oars, gratings, thole-pins, and +baling tins. The provisions and compass they lugged aboard the +submarine. They then smashed our boats with axes so as to make +them useless, and cast them adrift. I saw all this done myself. +Several of the German sailors then got into our dinghy and rowed +to the <i>Belgian Prince</i>. These men must have been taken off +later, after they had ransacked the ship.</p> + +<p>The submarine then moved ahead for a distance of several miles. +I could not reckon it accurately because it was hard to judge +her speed. She then stopped, and after a moment or two I heard a +rushing sound like water pouring into the ballast tanks of the +submarine.</p> + +<p>"Look out for yourselves, boys," I shouted. "She is going down."</p> + +<p>The submarine then submerged, leaving all our crew in the water, +barring the captain, who had been taken below. We had no means +of escape but for those who had managed to retain their life +belts. I tried to jump clear, but was carried down with the +submarine, and when I came to the surface I could see only about +a dozen of our men left afloat, including a young lad named +Barnes, who was shouting for help.</p> + +<p>I swam toward him and found that he had a life belt on, but was +about paralyzed with cold and fear. I held him up during the +night. He became unconscious and died while I was holding him. +All this time I could hear no other men in the water. When dawn +broke I could see the <i>Belgian Prince</i> about a mile and a half +away and still floating. I began to swim in her direction, but +had not gone far when I saw her blow up.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>I then drifted about in the life belt for an hour or two longer +and saw smoke on the horizon. This steamer was laying a course +straight for me, having seen the explosion of the <i>Belgian +Prince</i>. She proved to be a British naval vessel, which also +found the two other survivors in the water. We were taken to +port and got back our strength after a while. None of us had +given the submarine commander and crew any reason for their +behavior toward us. And I make this solemn declaration +conscientiously, believing it to be true.</p></div> + +<p>The two common sailors who survived were William Snell, a negro, of +Norfolk, Virginia, and George Silenski, a Russian. William Snell's +story is as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Two men of the submarine's crew stayed on top of the conning +tower with rifles in their hands which they kept trained on us. +Seven other Germans stood abreast of our line on the starboard +side of the boat, armed with automatic pistols. The captain of +the submarine, a blond man with blue eyes, was also on deck and +stood near the forward gun, giving orders to his crew in German, +and telling them what to do. Pretty soon he walked along in +front of the men of the <i>Belgian Prince</i>, asking them if they +had arms on them. He ordered us to take off our life belts and +throw them on deck, which we did. As they dropped at our feet, +he helped his sailors pick them up and sling them overboard.</p> + +<p>When I threw my belt down, I shoved it along on the deck with my +foot, and finally stood on it. As the commander walked along the +line, he huddled us together in a crowd and then went and pulled +the plugs out of our lifeboats, which were lying on the +starboard side of the submarine. When he went back to the +conning tower, I quickly picked up my belt and hid it under a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>big, loose oilskin which I was wearing when I left the <i>Belgian +Prince</i>. The Germans did not make me take it off when they +searched me. I hugged the life belt close to my breast with one +arm.</p> + +<p>When the commander returned to the conning tower, four German +sailors came on deck from below and got into our captain's small +boat, which was on the port side. The submarine then backed a +little, steamed ahead, and rammed and smashed one of our +lifeboats, which had been cast adrift.</p> + +<p>The four men who had jumped into our captain's boat now pulled +alongside the <i>Belgian Prince</i>. The submarine then got under way +and moved ahead at about nine knots, as near as I could guess, +leaving her four men aboard the <i>Belgian Prince</i>, and all of us, +except our skipper, huddled together on the forward deck, which +was almost awash.</p> + +<p>She steamed like this for some time, and then I noticed that the +water was rising slowly on the deck until it came up to my +ankles. I had also noticed, a little while before this, that the +conning tower was closed. The water kept on rising around my +legs, and when it got almost up to my knees I pulled out my life +belt, threw it over my shoulders, and jumped overboard. The +other men didn't seem to know what was going to happen. Some of +them were saying, "I wonder if they mean to drown us."</p> + +<p>About ten seconds after I had jumped, I heard a suction as of a +vessel sinking and the submarine had submerged entirely, leaving +the crew of the <i>Belgian Prince</i> to struggle in the water.</p> + +<p>I began to swim toward our own ship which I could see faintly in +the distance, it being not very dark in that latitude until late +in the evening. The water was not cold, like the winter time, +and I was not badly chilled, but swam and floated all night, on +my back and in other positions. One of our crew, who had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>no +life belt, kept about five yards from me for half an hour after +the submarine submerged. Then he became exhausted and sank. I +could hear many other cries for help, but I could not see the +men.</p> + +<p>When day came, there were lots of bodies of old shipmates +floating around me. Then about five o'clock, as near as I can +judge, I made out the <i>Belgian Prince</i> and four men coming over +the side. They had been lowering some stuff into a boat. I cried +out, "Help, help!" but they paid no attention to me.</p> + +<p>Then the submarine came to the surface and the four sailors +hoisted their stuff out of the rowboat and were taken aboard. +Ten minutes later the submarine submerged. Then there was a +great explosion as the <i>Belgian Prince</i> broke in two and sank. +Soon I saw a vessel approaching and she passed me, but turned +and came back just in time. I was all in. It was a British +patrol steamer, and as soon as I came to, I made a full report +to the captain of the loss of the <i>Belgian Prince</i> and the +drowning of her crew.</p></div> + +<p>The Russian, in his story, tells of the taking away of the life belts +and the smashing of the lifeboats; of the crew of the <i>Belgian Prince</i> +being left to sink or swim after the U-boat submerged—in all of these +details agreeing with the stories of the other two. And he adds:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Then I swam toward the ship all night, although I had no life +belt or anything to support me. About five o'clock in the +morning I reached the <i>Belgian Prince</i> and climbed on board. I +stayed there about an hour and got some dry clothes and put them +on.</p> + +<p>I saw the submarine come near the ship and three or four of her +men climbed on board. I hid and they did not notice me. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>They +had come to put bombs in the ship, so I jumped overboard from +the poop with a life belt on. The submarine fired two shells +into the ship to make her hurry up and sink. Then the Germans +steamed away. I climbed into our little boat which had been left +adrift and stayed there until a British patrol ship came along +and picked me up.</p></div> + +<p>Do you wonder that the members of the British Seamen's Union have +taken a pledge, "No peace until the sea is free from Hun outrages"; +and that they have declared a boycott on all German ships, cargoes, +and sailors for seven years after the war? Sailors of other nations +are joining with the British in this boycott.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The quality of mercy is not strain'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The thronèd monarch better than his crown:<br /></span> +<span class="i0"> * * * * *<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It is an attribute to God himself;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And earthly power doth then show likest God's<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When mercy seasons justice.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i14 sc">Shakespeare.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="DARING_THE_UNDARABLE" id="DARING_THE_UNDARABLE"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>DARING THE UNDARABLE<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We are thirty in the hands of Fate<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thirty-one with Death, our mate.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<br /> + +<p>So sang the men who, with D'Annunzio, the Italian poet and hero, set +out "to dare the undarable."</p> + +<p>Little has yet been told of the deeds of the Italians in the World +War, but as they become known, the people of other nations realize +that Italy has really worked wonders in her almost superhuman attempts +to conquer, not only men, but nature as well. When the complete story +is written of her struggles with avalanches, snow, frost, and enemy +soldiers in the mountain passes, it will be one continuous record of +heroic deeds.</p> + +<p>D'Annunzio, although well over fifty years of age, and in most +countries judged too old for actual warfare, has been one of Italy's +most daring fighters. He was known throughout his native land by his +writings, and his fiery, passionate pleas published in all Italian +cities before Italy entered the war, helped his countrymen see the +right and decide to fight for it.</p> + +<p>As soon as Italy decided to join the Allies, D'Annunzio <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>sought and +was granted a post of great danger. He became an aviator, in the same +corps with his son.</p> + +<p>Austria, whenever possible, sent aviators over Venice and other +Italian cities to drop bombs, although this warfare upon non-combatant +women and children was contrary to international law. The Austrians, +like the Germans, seemed to believe that it was wise for them to use +any means to win.</p> + +<p>In August, 1918, D'Annunzio commanded a flight of eight bombing +airplanes over Vienna. It was a long-distance record for a squadron of +planes. Leaving the Italian lines at half past five in the morning, +they flew to Vienna and back, over six hundred miles, reaching home in +about sixteen hours. It was necessary for them to fly very high, at +about fifteen thousand feet, to cross the Alps and to escape the +Austrian barrage. All the machines returned but one, which was obliged +to land on account of engine trouble.</p> + +<p>More than a million printed declarations, or statements, were dropped +on Vienna to inform the Austrians of the real state of affairs. In +Germany and Austria, the people were allowed to know only what their +rulers thought would be good for them to know. D'Annunzio wanted to +show them that Italians could drop bombs on Vienna if they desired to +do so, or thought it right to do so.</p> + +<p>The manifestoes, as they are called, were in German, and read as +follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>We Italians do not war upon women, children, and old men—but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +only upon your blind, obstinate, and cruel rulers, who cannot +give you either peace or food, but try to keep you quiet with +hatred and falsehood.</p> + +<p>You are said to be intelligent. Why do you wear the uniform of +Prussia? It is suicide for you to continue the war. The victory +that would end the war promised to you by the Prussians is like +the wheat they promised you from Ukraine. You will all die while +waiting for it. People of Vienna, think for yourselves! Awake!</p></div> + +<p>In February, 1918, D'Annunzio with twenty-nine companions set out on +three small torpedo boats to destroy some Austrian warships discovered +by an Italian aviator to be lying hidden in the Bay of Buccari. To get +at them, it was necessary to steam past the Austrian fortifications. +Discovery meant death.</p> + +<p>It is not strange that D'Annunzio was the mastermind of this +expedition, for he loves the sea, as he says, with all the strength of +his soul. He was born on a yacht at sea and has written much about +ships and the ocean. He has taken as his motto three Latin words, +"Memento audere semper," which mean, "Remember always to dare."</p> + +<p>As they steam away from the Italian shores, D'Annunzio talks to his +brave companions. He says, "Sailors, companions, what we are about to +do is a task for silent men. Silence is our trusty helmsman. For that +reason I need not urge you with many words <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>to be brave, for I know +you are already eager to match your courage against the unknown +danger. If I were to tell you where we are bound, you would hardly be +able to keep from dancing for joy. We are only a handful of men on +three small ships, but our hearts are stronger than the motors, and +our wills can go further than the torpedoes.</p> + +<p>"We carry with us, to leave for a souvenir for the enemy, three +bottles sealed and crowned with the flaming tricolor of Italy. We will +leave them to-night floating on the smooth surface of the bay amid the +wreckage of the vessels we have struck."</p> + +<p>Then D'Annunzio reads to them the letter which he has written and +inclosed in each bottle, ridiculing the Austrians because they have +hidden their ships safely behind the guns of the forts, and do not +have courage to come out in the open sea. He says the Italians are +always ready "to dare the undarable," and that they have come to make +the enemy whom they hate most of all, the laughingstock of the world.</p> + +<p>He goes on speaking to the sailors: "Because this thing that we +attempt is so dangerous, we have already conquered Fate. To-morrow +your names will be honored in all Italy, and will shine as golden as +the torpedo. Therefore, every one to-day must give all of himself and +more than all of himself, all of his strength and courage, and even +more. Do you swear it? Answer me."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>The sailors cry, "We swear it! Viva l'Italia!"</p> + +<p>And D'Annunzio answers, "Memento audere semper."</p> + +<p>They have been steaming for twenty-four hours and are now very near +the enemy's guns guarding the entrance to the bay. The very audacity +of the Italians seems to save them, for they steam on unchallenged, +and when near enough, discharge a torpedo at the giant Austrian +dreadnought. The ship is struck and all is excitement and confusion. +Rockets are sent up to alarm and inform the forts. The Italian torpedo +boats turn for home. D'Annunzio says, "The sky is starry, the sea is +starry, and our hearts are starry, too."</p> + +<p>One of their three ships is soon disabled and falls behind. The other +two turn back to help her, and this is what probably saves them all; +for the Austrian forts, seeing them sailing into the harbor, think +they are Austrian vessels and do not fire upon them. When they steam +out of the harbor, the forts think they are Austrian torpedo boats in +pursuit of the Italians who must have escaped in the darkness. As +D'Annunzio says, "Our very audacity has conquered Fate."</p> + +<p>They sank one of the largest of the Austrian dreadnoughts, and then +returned in safety to Italy.</p> + +<p>It remained, however, for another Italian naval officer to outdo those +who "dared the undarable" at Buccari. Lieutenant Luigi Rizzo, with two +small <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>motor patrol boats, succeeded in sinking two huge dreadnoughts +protected by an escort of fast destroyers. His story of the encounter +is as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>We were returning to our base just before dawn on July 10, 1918, +after a night of dull, monotonous work along the enemy's coast, +when I saw smoke coming from ships nearly two miles away. I +thought we had been discovered and were being pursued. The only +way I could know what we had to contend with was to get nearer +the enemy, so I turned the two boats in my command toward the +distant smoke.</p> + +<p>Soon I discovered that it was two of Austria's largest +dreadnoughts protected by a great convoy of destroyers. +Evidently because we were so small, we had not been seen in the +darkness; and although we were poorly armed, with only two large +torpedoes for each of our two boats and eight smaller ones to +throw by hand, we crept ahead until we were inside the line of +the destroyers, and slowly and quietly approaching the +dreadnoughts. I headed for one of them which proved to be the +<i>St. Stephen</i>, and Lieutenant Aonzo, in charge of the other +boat, made for the other, the <i>Prince Eugene</i>.</p> + +<p>Then the watch on the dreadnoughts discovered us and began to +fire at us with their small guns. How we escaped destruction is +a miracle. Lieutenant Aonzo sent his first torpedo, and missed; +but the second struck the giant fairly. Both of my torpedoes +struck the <i>St. Stephen</i>.</p> + +<p>After that all was confusion and excitement. We were fired upon +and encircled by a muddled crowd of destroyers. I turned my boat +to escape. A destroyer stood directly in my way and I veered off +and almost touched the bow of the sinking <i>St. Stephen</i> in +passing. The destroyers gave their attention to me and this +allowed Lieutenant Aonzo to escape.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>I saw that I would soon be overtaken, so I sent two torpedoes at +the nearest destroyer. The first missed, but the second hit the +mark. There was a tremendous explosion. The destroyer wobbled +and began to turn over. I put on all power and escaped in the +darkness.</p> + +<p>The whole thing did not take over fifteen minutes. When we were +sure of our escape, the five boys of my crew went nearly mad +with joy, hugging, cheering, kissing, and crying in their +excitement at what we had done. They hoisted our largest flag +and trimmed our boat with bunting. A short way from us we could +see that Lieutenant Aonzo was doing the same.</p> + +<p>We knew the reception we would have when those at home learned +the story, but we did not expect so much. The King decorated and +honored us, the Admiralty gave us prize money, and the people +added their contributions to it, for they declared we doubtless +saved the city of Ancona from bombardment.</p></div> + +<p>Lieutenant Rizzo was promoted to the rank of Commandant although not +yet thirty years of age.</p> + +<p>The <i>St. Stephen</i> sank where she was torpedoed. The <i>Prince Eugene</i> +was able to make for home, but sank before she reached there, a short +way from the Austrian coast. At the beginning of 1918, Austria had +four of these giant dreadnoughts; on July 11, she had but one still +floating.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="KILLING_THE_SOUL" id="KILLING_THE_SOUL"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>KILLING THE SOUL<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>As the centuries pass, the greatest glory of any nation, its highest +satisfaction and pride, is in the works of art which it possesses. In +each country there are works of art which have been preserved through +many generations. They are the great inheritance of all the past ages. +Every nation prizes this inheritance and wishes to hold it in +safekeeping for still another generation; for into these creations of +genius, men have put their souls.</p> + +<p>If a famous inventor of machinery dies and the particular machine +which he made is destroyed, there are yet other machines left, which +have been made after his pattern, usually much better than the first +one which he constructed.</p> + +<p>While steamboats, railways, telegraphs, and automobiles are very +useful, they are not so mysterious and individual but that they may be +exactly copied and many, many duplicates be made and used by every +country under the sun.</p> + +<p>If all the music of the great composer Beethoven should be destroyed +so that no copy remained in the world, there perhaps would be some +master <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>musicians of to-day who could remember and write down the +notes, and so reproduce the wonderful compositions once more.</p> + +<p>But there have been artists who have seen visions and dreamed dreams +of God and heaven and the best and happiest things they had found in +life. Such a one, with the power of his great genius, has made the +dream into a picture, a painting, a statue, or a wonderful building, +which no other person in the world is able to copy exactly. Indeed, +there are many half-finished works which no artist, however great, has +been able to complete. The creator has put into the work his soul, the +best of all he thought and knew. So when many artists with their many +dreams brought their finest works together into one place, it was +certain that forever that place would be cherished and the wonder of +it would belong to all people everywhere. While the artists have died +long ago, their spirits, their very souls, seem alive to-day in the +beautiful art works which they have left. It is for this reason that +we speak of great artists who lived eight or nine hundred years ago, +as if they were still living to-day, for their souls are alive in what +they so wonderfully made. Those who look upon these works are +mysteriously inspired to live better and happier lives themselves.</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep191.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep191.jpg" width="45%" alt="Rheims Cathedral" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">Rheims Cathedral</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>The loveliest art works in France are its Gothic cathedrals, and of +them all, the Cathedral at Rheims was probably the most wonderful. +No monument of ancient or modern times is more widely known to the +world. It was built in the Middle Ages and expressed all the +aspiration and faith of the people of that time. For seven hundred +years it has been cherished for its great beauty, for the memory of +the men who made it so beautiful, and for the sacred services which +have been held in it. All the kings of France, except six, were +crowned in it. One of the most striking services was the coronation of +Charles VII, while Joan of Arc stood beside him with the sacred banner +in her hands.</p> + +<p>The cathedral held the works of many ancient artists. It was +especially famous for its rose window, in which the figures of +prophets and martyrs were glorified by the afternoon sun. Beneath the +window was a magnificent gallery. Statues of angels, a beautiful +statue of Christ, and one of the Madonna were to be found in this +wonderful building. The stained glass windows were all very beautiful. +Even the bells in the tower were famous.</p> + +<p>With the excuse that the French were using the great towers of the old +cathedral as observation posts, the Germans bombarded and destroyed +the church. The roof was battered in and burned, the stained glass +windows broken, the famous bells pounded into a shapeless mass of +metal, and the wonderful statues and decorations hopelessly destroyed. +Only the statue <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>of Joan of Arc, in front of the cathedral, remained +uninjured, as though to say, "I am the soul of France. You cannot +injure or kill me." Afterwards the Germans bombarded the church a +second time, attempting to tear down even the walls that were still +standing.</p> + +<p>Even savages in war respect sacred places, but the Germans +deliberately aimed their guns at them. No excuse can ever be accepted +by the civilized world for this deliberate destruction, and certainly +the excuse cannot be accepted by military men that the act was due to +bad marksmanship.</p> + +<p>Other ancient churches were horribly damaged. The Germans stabled +their horses in them, broke down the candelabra and statues, and +carried away many valuable relics.</p> + +<p>The burning of the University buildings at Louvain completely +destroyed the treasures that had been preserved for centuries. +Priceless manuscripts, paintings that can never be replaced, and +valuable books in rare bindings were lost to the world.</p> + +<p>The Germans scornfully but ignorantly declared, "Why should we care if +every monument in the world is destroyed? We can build better ones." +But the German idea of beauty is great strength and huge size. Their +own public buildings and statues are often horrible in color, immense +and awkward in appearance. They give people the impression of a +fearsome brute spreading himself out before them. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>With few +exceptions, there are no dainty figures and designs, nor any beautiful +thoughts and feelings, as shown in the work of real artists.</p> + +<p>The old cathedral at Rheims can never be restored. No one can ever +bring back the old beauty and color; no one can revive those statues +and paintings so that ever again they will seem to breathe forth the +soul of the artists who fashioned them seven hundred years ago. The +walls may be rebuilt, and artists of tomorrow may beautify them, but +the spirit of the great men of the Middle Ages is gone—it has fled +from the place forever. Thus the Germans, not content with killing the +bodies of men, have in this way killed the souls of some of the +greatest of the geniuses of the past. How can she pay the damage, or +meet a fitting punishment?</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>What a peerless jewel was this cathedral, more beautiful even than +Notre Dame in Paris, more open to the light, more ethereal, more +soaringly uplifted with its columns like long reeds surprisingly +fragile considering the weight they bear, a miracle of the religious +art of France, a masterpiece which the faith of our ancestors had +called into being in all its mystic purity.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Pierre Loti.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_RUSSIAN_REVOLUTION" id="THE_RUSSIAN_REVOLUTION"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The controller, as he is called on the Siberian railroad, was passing +through the cars to see that every passenger had a ticket. He did not +notice the <i>mooshik</i>, which is what the Russian peasant is called in +his own language, hiding under one of the car seats with a large +bundle in front of him; or if he saw him, he passed on without seeming +to have done so.</p> + +<p>The <i>mooshik</i> had given the brakeman a small sum of money, about fifty +cents in our currency, to let him hide there whenever the controller +came around, and in this way ride from Petrograd, or Petersburg as the +Bolsheviki renamed it after the revolution, to Vladivostok, a distance +of about four thousand miles.</p> + +<p>Now this <i>mooshik</i> did not need to go to Vladivostok; but his Russian +nature made him <i>go</i>, go somewhere, it made little difference where. +He had been the year before to Jerusalem, but this was for religious +reasons, and now he must go again for no reason except that from +within came the impulse to travel, an impulse too strong to be denied. +The Russian government did not attempt to discourage the people from +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>traveling, but actually made it easier by fixing fares for long +distances at very small amounts. This traveler did not have even that +small amount, but he found it easy with a smaller one to bribe his way +in Russia.</p> + +<p>There is a society in Russia, whose members pledge themselves never to +remain more than three days in any one place; and it is said that +wealthy Russians, after their children have grown up, will often +divide their property and with staff in hand spend the remainder of +their lives in traveling from one holy place to another.</p> + +<p>A dream, a vision, leads the wealthy man to do this, and perhaps this +is true also of the <i>mooshik</i>; but it is as likely that he goes +because of the reality, the real people, the real village, the real +home that he leaves behind. He is uneducated, for only seven out of +every hundred can read and write in Russia. He lives in a shed as +filthy and bad smelling as a pig-pen, or rather he starves there, +starves both for food and for comfort. Black bread, potatoes, and +sometimes cabbage, make up his "balanced diet." He cannot afford money +for meat, eggs, milk, butter, sugar, or any of the many other ordinary +foods of the American home, nor for the light of lamp or candle.</p> + +<p>It is not strange that such <i>mooshiki</i> constantly move on and have no +love for their native place, and have never established an "Old Home +Day." It is not so strange that their former Tsar, Peter the Great, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>said, "One can treat other European people as human beings, but I have +to do with cattle." Are they not treated like cattle?</p> + +<p>But it is strange that a Russian writer can say of these people, and +say it with truth, "A Russian may steal and drink and cheat until it +is almost impossible to live with him; and yet, in spite of it all, +you feel a charm in him that draws you to him, and that there is +something more in him, some good or promise of good, that raises him +above the level of all other races you have ever met." It is strange +that he is so religious, so pitying of others, and so critical of +himself; that he has so many noble visions and dreams for which he is +ready and willing to die.</p> + +<p>Uneducated, with little or no respect for truth or honesty in their +own dealings, with no experience in government, having always been +robbed by the aristocracy, and now eager and willing in turn to rob +them, but with dreams of a society of men where all crime and hardship +and unnecessary suffering are abolished, where there are no grafters, +no self-seekers, no wrong-doers, no conflict, no robbery, no +war—these Russian <i>mooshiki</i>, workmen, soldiers, and sailors, as a +result of a revolution, found themselves attempting to govern a nation +nearly twice as large in population as the United States. There are +indeed two problems before the world, to make the world safe for +democracy, and to make democracy safe for the world.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>History tells the story of many revolutions. The story of the American +Revolution, which was an uprising of the American colonies against the +mother country, and that of the French Revolution, in which the +laborers and peasants and some others rose against the extravagant and +autocratic rulers of France, are well known to Americans.</p> + +<p>When the real character and aims of the German autocracy were made +plain to the world, all free people hoped for and expected the World +War to end in a revolution of the German people. But the mass of the +German people are kept ignorant of what the rest of the world feels +and thinks about them, and have so long been trained to unquestioning +obedience that a German revolution can come, if ever, only after some +unexpected and appalling German defeat.</p> + +<p>It has been said that if, at the time the Russian revolution broke +out, a few regiments of trained veteran soldiers had been in +Petrograd, the revolution would have been put down by these soldiers, +to whom obedience to commands of superiors had become second nature. +Those on guard in the city were newly-formed regiments recently +trained and taken into the service.</p> + +<p>The Russian revolution of March 9-13, 1917, overthrew Tsar Nicholas +and the Romanoff dynasty. The Tsar has since been shot, and his son +and heir has died—from exposure, it was reported. When Tsar <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span>Nicholas +succeeded his father on the throne of Russia, the Russian people +rejoiced and felt certain better days were at hand, and that they +should love and loyally support the new Tsar. He had his opportunity +and he threw it aside. Instead of granting larger liberty and a +greater part in the government to the common people when they +petitioned for it, he replied, "Let it be known that I shall guard the +autocracy as firmly as did my father." His father was as autocratic as +the German Kaiser.</p> + +<p>Tsar Nicholas was weak and fickle. He made promises when in trouble +and refused to keep his promises when trouble seemed avoided. The +Russian people were much disappointed in him, and every year their +disappointment grew. Some dreadful massacres of workers at Jaroslav, +of peasants in Kharkov, and of miners on the Lena changed their +disappointment to hatred.</p> + +<p>As the Tsar grew older he drew away from touch with the people, and +lived in his palaces, leaving affairs of state to his ministers who +were chosen from a small and selfish clique. They brought on the war +with Japan, and its failure was due to them. When Russia was defeated, +the people were on the brink of a revolution; but the Tsar promised +them a constitution, and trouble was put off for a while. When the +people were quiet again, he broke his word and did not give them a +constitution. Instead, in every way <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>possible, he lessened the power +and freedom of the people, and took revenge upon those who had caused +the trouble by having them arrested and exiled, or executed.</p> + +<p>He was very much under the influence of his wife. She was even weaker +in many ways than he was and seemed to be in the power of an ignorant +and wicked peasant who claimed to be a monk and was called Rasputin, +the Black Monk. His influence over the weak Tsar and the weaker +Tsarina so angered and disgusted some of the young Russian leaders +that finally they had him secretly put to death—but not until he had +helped to set every one against Tsar Nicholas and his wife.</p> + +<p>For a while after the World War broke out, matters seemed to be going +better. The people wanted the influence of Germany destroyed, and they +expected the Russian army would soon be in Berlin. But when defeat and +disaster overwhelmed the armies through the treachery of government +officials, the people began to turn and to condemn Rasputin, the +Tsarina, and the Tsar. It is said that Rasputin had one of his friends +serving as physician to the Tsar and that he kept Nicholas drugged. It +hardly seems possible that this can be true, but at any rate, the Tsar +seemed to show no sense in his dealing with the situation. Instead of +appointing better ministers, he appointed worse ones, suggested by +Rasputin. Every <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>one became disgusted and felt that only a revolution +would save Russia. If it had not come from the people, it would have +come from the nobles. It was looked forward to by all, but not until +after the war.</p> + +<p>There was suffering everywhere in the capital, Petrograd. Living was +very high. It was difficult to get enough to eat or to get carried +from place to place. Steam trains and trolleys were few and irregular. +Though there was plenty of food in Russia, the railroads were in such +bad shape that it did not reach the capital. But the Russians were +fighting Germany, and no one expected or seemed to desire a revolution +until after the war. When it did come, it was not planned, but seemed +to come as if by accident.</p> + +<p>Trouble began in the factory districts, in connection with bread +riots. Stones were thrown, and some damage was done to property. Then +crowds gathered and marched up and down the streets crying for bread, +singing revolutionary songs, and carrying red flags.</p> + +<p>The police were not able to handle the situation alone, and the +soldiers were called upon. These were Cossacks and recently trained. +There was bad feeling between the police and the Cossacks, and so the +Cossacks were inclined to listen to the people and to become friendly +with them.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, March 11, the factory hands planned to make a great +demonstration. The Tsar, learning of it, ordered notices to be posted +warning the people <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span>that if they gathered, the soldiers were ordered +to fire upon them. A few people did gather, and they were fired upon +by machine guns and several were killed. The next morning, the +officers who had ordered the soldiers to fire upon the people were +killed by their own men. Then notices were posted by the government +saying that unless the rioters went to work, they would immediately be +sent to the front.</p> + +<p>Other regiments revolted, and there was a battle between these and the +few who remained loyal to the government. It was not a serious battle; +but some were killed and the loyal regiments were defeated. Then +soldiers and people ran through the streets crying, "Down with the +Government."</p> + +<p>The Tsar was at the front. Had he been in Petrograd, he might have +saved the government by making some new promises; but, as it was, it +soon fell.</p> + +<p>As soon as the government was overthrown and the Tsar taken prisoner, +those who had long sought for a revolution and had been forced to flee +from Russia, came rushing back from Switzerland, Greece, France, and +the United States. They were the real leaders after they arrived.</p> + +<p>An American who was in Petrograd at the time gives the following +account of the revolution:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Their first demand was that all prison doors should be opened +and that the oppressed the world over should be freed.</p> + +<p>The revolution was picturesque and full of color. Nearly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>every +morning one could see regiment after regiment, soldiers, +Cossacks, and sailors, with their regimental colors, and bands, +and revolutionary flags, marching to the Duma to take the new +oath of allegiance. They were cheered; they were blessed; +handkerchiefs were waved; hats were raised, as marks of +appreciation and gratitude to these men, without whose help +there would have been no revolution. The enthusiasm became so +contagious that men and women, young and old, high and low, fell +in alongside, or behind, joined in the singing of the +Marseillaise, and walked to the Duma to take the oath of +allegiance, and having taken it, they felt as purified as if +they had partaken of the communion.</p> + +<p>Another picturesque sight was the army trucks filled with armed +soldiers, red handkerchiefs tied to their bayonets, dashing up +and down the streets, ostensibly for the purpose of protecting +the citizens, but really for the mere joy of riding about and +being cheered. One of these trucks stands out vividly in my +mind: it contained about twenty soldiers, having in their midst +a beautiful young woman with a red banner, and a young hoodlum +astride the engine.</p></div> + +<p>No one knows, at the end of the fourth year of the World War, what the +result of the Russian revolution will be. It has so far left Russia a +prey to Germany, but Germany is showing such criminal greed and +unfairness that she may find her easily gained plunder will be her +destruction, like the drowning robber with his pockets filled with +gold.</p> + +<p>The Russian <i>mooshik</i> has a motto, or rather a philosophy, which is +expressed by the word "<i>nitchevo</i>." This word has several meanings, +one of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>which is "nothing." Just what the <i>mooshik</i> has in mind when +he says "<i>nitchevo</i>" is illustrated by the following story.</p> + +<p>When Bismarck was Prussian ambassador at the court of Tsar Alexander +II, he was invited by the Tsar to take part in a great hunt, a dozen +or more miles out of the capital.</p> + +<p>Bismarck started with his own horses and sledge but soon met with a +serious accident, and was obliged to call upon the Russian peasants, +or <i>mooshiki</i>, to help him by providing a horse, sledge, and driver. +Soon a peasant appeared with a very small and raw-boned horse attached +to a sledge that seemed about ready to fall to pieces.</p> + +<p>"That looks more like a rat than a horse," growled Bismarck, but he +got into the sledge.</p> + +<p>The peasant answered but one word, "<i>Nitchevo.</i>"</p> + +<p>Soon the horse was flying over the snow at a great rate of speed. +There was no road to be seen and the peasant was heading for the +woods. "Look out!" yelled Bismarck. "You will throw me out!" But the +peasant replied, "<i>Nitchevo.</i>"</p> + +<p>In a moment they were among the trees and were turning, now this way, +now that, to avoid hitting them. The raw-boned horse had not lessened +his speed in the least. Suddenly there was a crash. The sledge had +skidded and struck a tree. The peasant and his passenger were thrown +out headlong.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span>Bismarck was a man of fiery temper. When he had picked himself up, he +rushed up to the peasant, who was trying to stop his bleeding nose, +and yelled, "I will kill you." The <i>mooshik</i> did not seem at all +frightened or troubled, and answered simply, "<i>Nitchevo.</i>" He drew a +piece of rope from the sledge and began to tie the broken parts +together.</p> + +<p>"I shall be late at the hunt," yelled the angry Bismarck.</p> + +<p>"<i>Nitchevo</i>," replied the peasant.</p> + +<p>While the sledge was being repaired, Bismarck noticed a small piece of +iron broken from the runner and lying on the snow. He picked it up and +put it in his pocket.</p> + +<p>The <i>mooshik</i> soon had the sledge ready for them, and this time he +reached the hunting lodge with his distinguished passenger without +further accident or delay.</p> + +<p>The Tsar and his companions laughed heartily at the story, as related +by Bismarck, and then explained to the Prussian that by <i>nitchevo</i> the +<i>mooshik</i> meant that nothing mattered, that they would get where they +had started for, if they did not let accidents or circumstances turn +them from it.</p> + +<p>When Bismarck returned to the capital he had a ring made from the +piece of iron, and on the inside of it he had inscribed the word +<i>nitchevo</i>.</p> + +<p>The Russian <i>mooshik</i> of to-day is the same in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>character and belief +as the <i>mooshik</i> that replied "<i>Nitchevo</i>" to Bismarck. To Germany, to +the Kaiser, to the world, the Russians, amid all their sorrows and +troubles, are saying "<i>Nitchevo.</i>" They will reach their goal at +length, for they look upon the dangers and delays as nothing.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>The Russian word <i>Bolsheviki</i>, used to designate the revolutionary +party which was in power in Russia in 1918, is composed of two words: +<i>bolsh</i>, meaning many; and <i>vik</i>, meaning most. <i>Bolsheviki</i> means the +greatest number, or the common people, as compared with the few, or +the aristocracy. <i>Bolshevik</i>, with the accent on the first syllable, +is the singular and means one of the greatest number. <i>Bolsheviki</i>, +with accents on the second and on the last syllables, is the plural. +Similarly <i>mooshik</i> means a peasant, and <i>mooshiki</i> means peasants.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="FRENCH_RIVERS" id="FRENCH_RIVERS"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>A BALLAD OF FRENCH RIVERS<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Of streams that men take honor in<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The Frenchman looks to three,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And each one has for origin<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The hills of Burgundy;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And each has known the quivers<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of blood and tears and pain—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O gallant bleeding rivers,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The Marne, the Meuse, the Aisne.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Says Marne: "My poplar fringes<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Have felt the Prussian tread,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The blood of brave men tinges<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My banks with lasting red;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let others ask due credit,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But France has me to thank;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Von Kluck himself has said it:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I turned the Boche's flank!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Says Meuse: "I claim no winning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No glory on the stage;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Save that, in the beginning<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I strove to save Liége.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Alas! that Frankish rivers<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should share such shame as mine—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In spite of all endeavors<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I flow to join the Rhine!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Says Aisne: "My silver shallows<br /></span><span class='pn'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +<span class="i2">Are salter than the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The woe of Rheims still hallows<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My endless tragedy.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of rivers rich in story<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That run through green Champagne,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In agony and glory,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The chief am I, the Aisne!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now there are greater waters<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That Frenchmen all hold dear—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Rhone, with many daughters,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That runs so icy clear;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There's Moselle, deep and winy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">There's Loire, Garonne and Seine.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But O the valiant tiny—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The Marne, the Meuse, the Aisne!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10 sc">Christopher Morley.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>A river is the most human and companionable of all inanimate things. +It has a life, a character, a voice of its own; and is as full of +good-fellowship as a sugar-maple is of sap. It can talk in various +tones, loud or low; and of many subjects, grave or gay.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Henry van Dyke.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> COPYRIGHT BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="BACILLI_AND_BULLETS" id="BACILLI_AND_BULLETS"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>BACILLI AND BULLETS<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>Sir William Osler, one of the greatest medical men in the world, told +the soldiers in the English training camps that he wanted to help them +to get a true knowledge of their foes. The officers had impressed the +soldiers with the truth that it was always necessary to find out where +their enemies were and how many they were. But Sir William Osier told +them of other invisible enemies which they should most fear, and fight +against. "While the bullets from your foes are to be dreaded," he +said, "the bacilli are far more dangerous." Indeed in the wars of the +world, the two have been as Saul and David,—the one slaying +thousands, the other tens of thousands.</p> + +<p>He continued, "I can never see a group of recruits marching to the +depot without asking what percentage of these fine fellows will die +from wounds, and what percentage will perish miserably from neglect of +ordinary sanitary precautions. It is bitter enough to lose thousands +of the best of our young men in a hideous war, but it adds terribly to +the tragedy to think that more than one half of the losses may be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>due +to preventable disease. Typhus fever, malaria, cholera, enteric, and +dysentery have won more victories than powder and shot. Some of the +diseases need no longer be dreaded. Typhus and malaria, which one +hundred years ago routed a great English army in the expedition +against Antwerp, are no longer formidable foes. But enough such foes +remain, as we found by sad experience in South Africa. Of the 22,000 +lives lost in that war—can you believe it?—the bullets accounted for +only 8000, the bacilli for 14,000. In the long, hard campaign before +us, more men will go into the field than ever before in the history of +the Empire. Before it is too late, let us take every possible +precaution to guard against a repetition of such disasters. I am here +to warn you soldiers against enemies more subtle, more dangerous, and +more fatal than the Germans, enemies against which no successful +battle can be fought without your intelligent coöperation. So far the +world has only seen one great war waged with the weapons of science +against these foes. Our allies, the Japanese, went into the Russian +campaign prepared as fully against bacilli as against bullets, with +the result that the percentage of deaths from disease was the lowest +that has ever been attained in a great war. Which lesson shall we +learn? Which example shall we follow, Japan, or South Africa with its +sad memories?</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>"We are not likely to have to fight three scourges, typhus, malaria, +and cholera, though the possibility of the last has to be considered. +But there remain dysentery, pneumonia, and enteric.</p> + +<p>"Dysentery has been for centuries one of the most terrible of camp +diseases, killing thousands, and, in its prolonged damage to health, +it is one of the most fatal of foes to armies. So far as we know, it +is conveyed by water, and only by carrying out strictly, under all +circumstances, the directions about boiling water, can it be +prevented. It is a disease which, even under the best of +circumstances, cannot always be prevented; but with care there should +never again be widespread outbreaks in camps themselves.</p> + +<p>"Pneumonia is a much more difficult disease to prevent. Many of us, +unfortunately, carry the germ with us. In these bright days all goes +well in a holiday camp like this; but when the cold and the rain come, +and the long marches, the resisting forces of the body are lowered, +the enemy, always on the watch, overpowers the guards, rushes the +defenses, and attacks the lungs. Be careful not to neglect coughs and +colds. A man in good condition should be able to withstand the +wettings and exposures that lower the system, but in a winter +campaign, pneumonia causes a large amount of sickness and is one of +the serious enemies of the soldier.</p> + +<p>"Above all others one disease has proved most <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>fatal in modern +warfare—enteric, or typhoid fever. Over and over again it has killed +thousands before they ever reached the fighting line. The United +States troops had a terrible experience in the Spanish-American War. +In six months, between June and November, among 107,973 officers and +men in 92 volunteer regiments, 20,738, practically one fifth of the +entire number, had typhoid fever, and 1580 died. The danger is chiefly +from persons who have already had the disease and who carry the germs +in their intestines, harmless to them, but capable of infecting +barracks or camps. It was probably by flies and by dust carrying the +germs that the bacilli were so fatal in South Africa. Take to heart +these figures: there were 57,684 cases of typhoid fever, of which +19,454 were invalided, and 8022 died. More died from the bacilli of +this disease than from the bullets of the Boers. Do let this terrible +record impress upon you the importance of carrying out with religious +care the sanitary regulations.</p> + +<p>"One great advance in connection with typhoid fever has been made of +late years, and of this I am come specially to ask you to take +advantage. An attack of an infectious disease so alters the body that +it is no longer susceptible to another attack of the same disease; +once a person has had scarlet fever, smallpox, or chicken pox, he is +not likely to have a second attack. He is immune. When bacilli make a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>successful entry into our bodies, they overcome the forces that +naturally protect the system, and grow; but the body puts up a strong +fight, all sorts of anti-bodies are formed in the blood, and if +recovery takes place, the patient is safe for a few years at least +against that disease.</p> + +<p>"It was an Englishman, Jenner, who, in 1798, found that it was +possible to produce this immunity by giving a person a mild attack of +the disease, or of one very much like it. Against smallpox all of you +have been vaccinated—a harmless, safe, and effective measure. Let me +give you a war illustration. General Wood of the United States Army +told me that, when he was at Santiago, reports came that in villages +not far distant smallpox was raging, and the people were without help +of any kind. He called for volunteers, all men who showed scars of +satisfactory vaccination. Groups of these soldiers went into the +villages, took care of the smallpox patients, cleaned up the houses, +stayed there until the epidemic was over, and not one of them took the +disease. Had not those men been vaccinated, at least 99 per cent of +them would have taken smallpox.</p> + +<p>"Now what I wish to ask you is to take advantage of the knowledge that +the human body can be protected by vaccination against typhoid. +Discovered through the researches of Sir Almroth Wright, this measure +has been introduced successfully into our <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>own regular army, into the +armies of France, the United States, Japan, and Germany. I told you a +few minutes ago about the great number of cases of typhoid fever in +the volunteer troops in America during the Spanish-American War. That +resulted largely from the wide prevalence of the disease in country +districts, so that the camps became infected; and we did not then know +the importance of the fly as a carrier. But in the regular army in the +United States, where inoculation has been practiced now for several +years, the number of cases has fallen from 3.53 per thousand men to +practically nil. In a strength of 90,646 there were, in 1913, only +three cases of typhoid fever. In France the typhoid rate among the +unvaccinated was 168.44 per thousand, and among the vaccinated .18 per +thousand. In India, where the disease has been very prevalent, the +success of the measure has been remarkable.</p> + +<p>"In the United States, and in France, and in some other countries, +this vaccination against the disease is compulsory. It is not a +serious matter; you may feel badly for twenty-four hours, and the +place of inoculation will be tender, but I hope I have said enough to +convince you that, in the interests of the cause, you should gladly +put up with this temporary inconvenience. If the lessons of past +experience count, any expeditionary force on the Continent has much +more to fear from the bacillus of typhoid fever than <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>from bullets and +bayonets. Think again of South Africa, with its 57,000 cases of +typhoid fever! With a million of men in the field, their efficiency +will be increased one third if we can prevent typhoid. It can be +prevented, it must be prevented; but meanwhile the decision is in your +hands, and I know it will be in favor of your King and Country."</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>The soldiers in the American army are also inoculated against measles, +scarlet fever, and the pneumonia germ.</p> + +<p>Tetanus, or lockjaw, is one of the grave dangers faced by the wounded +soldiers; for the germ of this disease has its home in the earth, and +during a battle, soldiers with open wounds often lie for hours in the +fields and trenches. Antitoxin treatment has reduced the death-rate.</p> + +<p>Two new diseases have been produced by the World War,—spotted typhus +and trench fever; both are carried by vermin. This was proved by +soldiers who volunteered to permit experiments to be made upon them. +By preventing and destroying the vermin, these diseases are being +conquered.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="TORCH_OF_VALOR" id="TORCH_OF_VALOR"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE TORCH OF VALOR<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The torch of valor has been passed from one brave hand to another down +the centuries, to be held to-day by the most valiant in the long line +of heroes. Deeds have been done in Europe since August, 1914, which +rival the most stirring feats sung by Homer or Virgil, by the +minnesingers of Germany, by the troubadours of Provençe, or told in +the Norse sagas or Celtic ballads. No exploit of Ajax or Achilles +excels that of the Russian Cossack, wounded in eleven places and +slaying as many foes. The trio that held the bridge against Lars +Porsena and his cohorts have been equaled by the three men of Battery +L, fighting with their single gun in the gray and deathly dawn until +the enemy's battery was silenced. Private Wilson, who, single-handed, +killed seven of the enemy and captured a gun, sold newspapers in +private life; but he need not fear comparison with any of his ancient +and radiant line. Who that cares for courage can forget that +Frenchman, forced to march in front of a German battalion stealing to +surprise his countrymen at the bridge of Three Grietchen, near Ypres? +To <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>speak meant death for himself, to be silent meant death for his +comrades; and still the sentry gave no alarm. So he gave it himself. +"Fire! For the love of God, fire!" he cried, his soul alive with +sacrifice; and so died. The ancient hero of romance, who gathered to +his own heart the lance heads of the foe that a gap might be made in +their phalanx, did no more than that. Nelson conveniently forgot his +blind eye at Copenhagen, and even in this he has his followers still. +Bombardier Havelock was wounded in the thigh by fragments of shell. He +had his wound dressed at the ambulance and was ordered to hospital. +Instead of obeying, he returned to his battery, to be wounded again in +the back within five minutes. Once more he was patched up by the +doctor and sent to hospital, this time in charge of an orderly. He +escaped from his guardian, went back to fight, and was wounded for the +third time. Afraid to face the angry surgeon, he lay all day beside +the gun. That night he was reprimanded by his officers—and received +the V.C.! Also there are the airmen, day after day facing appalling +dangers in their frail, bullet-torn craft. Was there ever a stouter +heart than that of the aviator, wounded to death and still planing +downwards, to be found seated in his place and grasping the controls, +stone-dead? Few eyes were dry that read the almost mystic story of +that son of France who, struck blind in a storm of fire, still +navigated his machine, obedient to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>instructions of his military +companion, himself mortally wounded by shrapnel and dying even as +earth was reached.</p> + +<p>There is no need to worship the past with a too-abject devotion, +whatever in the way of glory it has been to us and done for us. +Chandos and Du Guesclin, Leonidas and De Bussy have worthy compeers +to-day. Beside them may stand Lance-Corporal O'Leary, the Irish +peasant's son. Of his own deed he merely says that he led some men to +an important position, and took it from the Huns, "killing some of +their gunners and taking a few prisoners." History will tell the tale +otherwise: how this modest soldier, outstripping his eager comrades, +coolly selected a machine gun for attack, and killed the five men +tending it before they could slew round; how he then sped onwards +alone to another barricade, which he captured, after killing three of +the enemy, and making prisoners of two more. Even officialism burst +its bonds for a moment as it records the deed:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Lance-Corporal O'Leary thus practically captured the enemy's +position by himself, and prevented the rest of the attacking +party from being fired on.</p></div> + +<p>The epic of Lieutenant Leach and Sergeant Hogan, who volunteered to +recapture a trench taken by the Germans, after two failures of their +comrades, is reading to give one at once a gulp in the throat and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>a +song in the heart. With consummate daring they undertook the venture; +with irresistible skill they succeeded, killing eight of the enemy, +wounding two, and taking sixteen prisoners. In the words of the +veteran of Waterloo, "It was as good fighting as Boney himself would +have made a man a gineral for."</p> + +<p>There are isolated incidents of this kind in every war; but in a +thousand different places in France and Belgium the dauntless, +nonchalant valor of Irishmen, Englishmen, Scotsmen, and Welshmen has +shown itself. Did ever the gay Gordons do a gayer or more gallant +thing than was done on the 29th of September, 1914, on the western +front? Thirty gunners of a British field battery had just been killed +or wounded. Thirty others were ordered to take their place. They knew +that they were going to certain death, and they went with a cheery +"Good-by, you fellows!" to their comrades of the reserve. Two minutes +later every man had fallen, and another thirty stepped to the front +with the same farewell, smoking their cigarettes as they went out to +die—like that "very gallant gentleman," Oates, who went forth from +Scott's tent into the blizzard and immortality. Englishmen can lift up +their heads with pride, human nature can take heart and salute the +future with hope, when the Charge of the Five Hundred at Gheluvelt is +recalled. There, on the Ypres road to Calais, 2400 British soldiers, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span>Scots Guards, South Wales Borderers, and the Welsh and Queen's +Regiments held up 24,000 Germans in a position terribly exposed. On +that glorious and bloody day the Worcesters, 500 strong, charged the +hordes of Germans, twenty times their number, through the streets of +Gheluvelt and up and beyond to the very trenches of the foe; and in +the end the ravishers of Belgium, under the stress and storm of their +valor, turned and fled. On that day 300 out of 500 of the Worcesters +failed to answer the roll call when the fight was over, and out of +2400 only 800 lived of all the remnants of regiments engaged; but the +road to Calais was blocked against the Huns; and it remains so even to +this day. Who shall say that greatness of soul is not the possession +of the modern world? Did men die better in the days before the Cæsars?</p> + +<p>Not any one branch of the service, not any one class of men alone has +done these deeds of valor; but in the splendid democracy of heroism, +the colonel and the private, the corporal and the lieutenant—one was +going to say, have thrown away, but no!—have offered up their lives +on the altars of sacrifice, heedless of all save that duty must be +done.</p> + +<p>But greater than such deeds, of which there have been inspiring +hundreds, is the patient endurance shown by men whose world has +narrowed down to that little corner of a great war which they are +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span>fighting for their country. To fight on night and day in the trenches, +under avalanches of murdering metal and storms of rending shrapnel, +calls for higher qualities than those short, sharp gusts of conflict +which in former days were called battles. Then men faced death in the +open, weapon in hand, cheered by color and music and the personal +contest, man upon man outright, greatly daring for a few sharp hours. +Now all the pageantry is gone; the fight rages without ceasing; men +must eat and sleep in the line of fire; death and mutilation ravage +over them even while they rest. Nerves have given way, men have gone +mad under this prolonged strain, and the marvel is that any have borne +it; yet they have not only borne it, they have triumphed over it. +These have known the exaltation of stripping life of its impedimenta +to do a thing set for them to do; giving up all for an idea. The great +obsession is on them; they are swayed and possessed by something +greater than themselves; they live in an atmosphere which, breathing, +inflames them to the utmost of their being.</p> + +<p>There was a corner in the British lines where men had fought for days, +until the place was a shambles; where food could only rarely reach +them; where they stood up to their knees in mud and water, where men +endured, but where Death was the companion of their fortitude. Yet +after a lull in the firing there came from some point in the battered +trench the new British <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>battle-cry, "Are we downhearted?" And then, as +we are told, one blood-stained specter feebly raised himself above the +broken parapet, shouted "No!" and fell back dead. There spoke a spirit +of high endurance, of a shining defiance, of a courage which wants no +pity, which exalts as it wends its way hence.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Sir Gilbert Parker.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Mother Earth! Are thy heroes dead?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Do they thrill the soul of the years no more?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are the gleaming snows and the poppies red<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All that is left of the brave of yore?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are there none to fight as Theseus fought,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Far in the young world's misty dawn?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or to teach as the gray-haired Nestor taught?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mother Earth! Are the heroes gone?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Gone?—in a grander form they rise;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dead?—we may clasp their hands in ours,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And catch the light of their clearer eyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And wreathe their brows with immortal flowers.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wherever a noble deed is done,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis the pulse of a hero's heart is stirred;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wherever right has a triumph won<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There are the heroes' voices heard.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10 sc">Edna Dean Proctor.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> FROM "THE WORLD IN THE CRUCIBLE." COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY +DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="MARSHAL_FOCH" id="MARSHAL_FOCH"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>MARSHAL FOCH<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>A Great German philosopher said many years ago that history was the +story of the struggle of the human race for freedom. Would the Huns +conquer Europe and put back human liberty for hundreds of years? This +was the question that was answered at the battle of the Marne in +September, 1914, and the answer depended upon what General Foch was +able to do with his army. It was necessary that he should attack, and +General Joffre ordered him to do so.</p> + +<p>General Foch did not reply that he was having all he could do to hold +his own and to prevent his army from being captured or destroyed, +although this was really the situation. He sent back to his commanding +general a message that will never be forgotten, one that was in +keeping with the maxim he had always taught his students in the +military school, that the best defense is an offense: "My left has +been forced back; my right has been routed; I shall attack with my +center."</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep224.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep224.jpg" width="50%" alt="" /></a><br /> +<p class="right2" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">Marshal Ferdinand Foch</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>Foch is a man of medium height. His face is an especially striking +one. He has the forehead of a thinker, with two deep folds between +the eyebrows; he has deep-set eyes, a large nose, a strong mouth +slightly hidden under a gray mustache, and a chin which shows decision +and force. His whole face expresses great power of thought and will.</p> + +<p>Before the war, he was a professor of military history. He was +accustomed to outline to the young officers in his class a clear +statement of a military situation, and the orders which had been +followed. He would then call upon his pupils to decide what +difficulties would arise and what the results would be. In this way, +they learned to discover for themselves the solutions of many kinds of +military problems.</p> + +<p>Since Foch has been accustomed to this clear reasoning on all war +problems, no military situation can surprise him. As a commander, he +selects the goal to be reached, and the most skillful way of reaching +it, and his men have confidence that he is right. This is what gives a +commander the power to do things.</p> + +<p>Marshal Joffre realized General Foch's ability and quickly advanced +him.</p> + +<p>After the First Battle of the Marne, it was necessary to appoint a +commander for the French forces north of Paris, and it was very +important to select one who had the initiative and the ability to +check the German attempt to capture the Channel ports. The new +commander must also be a man of great tact, for he would have to work +with the British and the Belgians. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>General Foch was selected, and has +proved to be the right man in the right place.</p> + +<p>The race for the Channel ports was an exciting one. Although the +Germans lost, it seemed at times as if they would win, and be able to +establish submarine bases within a very short distance of England. In +fact, if they had captured Calais, they could have fired with their +long-range guns across the Channel and have bombarded English coast +towns, and perhaps London itself.</p> + +<p>Foch's decision and strength of purpose are well illustrated by an +incident which is told by the French officers working under his +command. He had sent some cavalry to protect the British army from +being outflanked and disastrously defeated. At the close of the day, +the cavalry commander reported to General Foch that he had been +obliged to withdraw, as the Germans had been reënforced. "Did you +throw all the forces possible into the fight?" asked General Foch. +"No," answered the cavalry commander. "You will at once take up your +old position and hold the enemy there until you have lost every gun," +directed the general. "Then you will report to headquarters for +further orders."</p> + +<p>Foch is a leader who plans well, who knows how to command, and how to +make others obey. His orders always end with the words, "Without +delay!" Because the enemy has usually had larger numbers and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>more +ammunition, time has been everything to the Allies. Foch saved time +and so saved the Allies.</p> + +<p>After his great victory at the Second Battle of the Marne, Foch was +made a Marshal of France.</p> + +<p>The Allies, in 1918, through the influence of President Wilson, it is +said, decided to appoint a generalissimo, that is, one who should have +direction of all the Allied forces on the west front, including those +in Italy. Foch was appointed to this command, and from this time the +German plans and campaigns began to go wrong. To this one man, who +entered the French army in his teens, and who commanded at sixty-six +the largest forces ever under one general, the successes of the Allies +were due, more than to any other single individual, unless it be +President Wilson.</p> + +<p>Between July 15 and October, he had regained all the territory taken +by the Germans in their great drives of 1918 and had driven the enemy +out of the St. Mihiel salient which they had held since 1914. These +victories were won not by hammer blows of greatly superior numbers but +by generalship of the highest order and far superior to that of the +German leaders.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_MEXICAN_PLOT" id="THE_MEXICAN_PLOT"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE MEXICAN PLOT<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>It is true that Germany does not know the meaning of honesty and fair +play. Most Americans, in everything, want "a square deal." They demand +it for themselves, and a true American feels that the harshest thing +that can be said of him is that he is not fair and square in his +dealings. In any American school, a pupil who is deceitful is at once +shunned by all the other boys and girls as a "cheat" and a "sneak." He +has no place among them, least of all in their games and sports, for +not to play according to the rules of the game is to upset and spoil +the sport entirely.</p> + +<p>In playing some of our great national games, like baseball and +football, where the players are divided into teams, one player, by +cheating, does not suffer for it himself alone, but his whole team has +to pay the penalty. Indeed, if he persisted in being unfair, he would +soon lose his place in the team for all time.</p> + +<p>The Germans would not understand this, and they would not understand +that the last half of the ninth inning in a ball game is seldom played +because the winners do not wish to "rub in" the defeat of their +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>opponents. Some think that it is because German children have had few +sports and games that the German nation has so little sense of honesty +and fair play.</p> + +<p>In German schools, the pupils at one time were allowed to engage in +certain sports, but later these were officially forbidden.</p> + +<p>The rulers of Germany have for years forbidden anything taught in +their schools which did not praise Germany and make the children +believe their Emperor to be a god. The pupils are taught in history, +geography, and even in reading, only those facts about other countries +which show how much inferior they are to Germany.</p> + +<p>So the pupils have never learned the true and the interesting things +about other countries in the great wide world. German history tells +only about Germany's great war victories. The pupils never learn of +Germany's defeats in war. The teacher makes the history class the +liveliest of the day, often seeming to be more of a Fourth of July +orator than a school teacher. The children are taught that Germany is +the one civilized country in the world; that there was never anything +good that did not come from Germany; that even the victory of the +North, in the Civil War in America, was due to there being such a +large majority of German-born men on the Northern side.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>Their geography tells only about Germany's political divisions, its +civilization, and its commerce. Their readers contain stories of +German military "heroes." The two great school holidays are the +Emperor's Birthday and Sedan Day, the anniversary of the great defeat +of the French in the Franco-Prussian War.</p> + +<p>The walls of the schoolrooms are covered with pictures of the Emperor, +the Empress, and of battle scenes, especially those showing German +soldiers bringing in French prisoners. The singing of "Deutschland +über Alles" occurs several times a day.</p> + +<p>A German boy is trained into a soldier, hard-hearted and deceitful. +The pupils in school are made to spy on one another, and the teachers, +too, spy on one another. An American boy was expelled from a German +gymnasium in Berlin, because he refused to "tattle-tale" on the pupils +in his class.</p> + +<p>The Germans have not been taught to respect the rights of others,—no +one apparently has any personal rights except the Kaiser and certain +high officials; and so great has been their power that they have been +able to cheat the whole German nation, and they have attempted to +cheat the other nations of the world.</p> + +<p>Some years before the Spanish-American War, Germany began to show an +unfair spirit toward the United States. Much ill-feeling existed +between the two countries in their commercial relationships. There +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>grew up among the aristocracy of Germany, especially among the +landowners, an extremely hostile attitude toward the government in +Washington. This hostility was first publicly shown by a remark +reported to have been made by the Emperor at mess with a company of +officers, to the effect that "it would not be too bad if America +should very soon require Europe to teach her the proper place for +her." This remark was afterward officially denied, with the addition +that the Emperor's feeling for the United States was not hostile.</p> + +<p>When, however, Prince Henry of Prussia, brother of the German Emperor, +arrived on a government mission in Hongkong, it is said he gave a +banquet to representatives from all the fleets in port. Commodore +Dewey of the American fleet was present. After the dinner, Prince +Henry called for the usual national toasts. There is a custom in the +navy of calling upon the representatives of the different nations in a +certain regulated and well-understood order. But when the time came to +call for the toast to the United States, the Prince passed it by; he +did this several times. Commodore Dewey, realizing that this was +intentional on the part of Prince Henry, left the banquet. The next +morning a messenger from the German prince brought the explanation +that the act had been committed wholly by mistake, and was not meant +as a discourtesy to the United States or her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>commander. Dewey thanked +the messenger for his courteous manner in delivering his Admiral's +word, but sent back the statement that such an incident called for a +personal apology from the Prince. Very soon Prince Henry called in +person and apologized, saying that the name of the United States had +not been written in its proper order on the list which he followed in +giving the toasts.</p> + +<p>When war had been declared between the United States and Spain, and +Commodore Dewey had received orders to "seek the Spanish fleet and +destroy it," he set sail from Hongkong for Manila. Germany, according +to announcements from Spain, was determined to prevent the bombardment +of the city, because of German interests and German subjects there. +After capturing the Spanish fortress which guarded Manila, it was +necessary for Dewey to maintain a strict blockade against the city, +lest Spanish reënforcements should arrive. No American troops or ships +could reach him in less than six weeks.</p> + +<p>In Manila Bay were warships of Great Britain, Russia, France, Japan, +and Austria. These nations were content to send only one or two +vessels, while from Germany there were five and sometimes seven. One +of them, the <i>Deutschland</i>, was commanded by Prince Henry, and was +heavily armed. In fact, in numbers and guns, the Germans were stronger +than the Americans with their six small vessels.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>There was one regulation common to all blockade codes, one which was +always followed by the officers on every ship. It was that no foreign +boats should move about the bay after sunset, without the permission +of the blockade commander.</p> + +<p>But the Germans sent launches out at night and in many ways violated +the rules. When Dewey protested, they only sent them off later at +night. They even gave the Spaniards many supplies. Then Dewey had to +turn the searchlights on them and keep their vessels covered, to +prevent any boat leaving at night without his knowledge.</p> + +<p>This is particularly offensive to any naval commander, and the German +Admiral, Von Diederichs, objected. The American commander was +courteous but firm, and said that the United States, and not Germany, +was holding the blockade.</p> + +<p>Still the Germans persisted in moving their vessels so mysteriously +that an American ship was sent to meet every incoming vessel to demand +its nationality, its last port, and its destination. To the German +flag lieutenant, who brought a strong protest against this order, +Dewey said: "Tell Admiral von Diederichs that there are some acts that +mean war, and his fleet is dangerously near those acts. If he wants +war, he may have it here, now, or at the time that best suits him."</p> + +<p>Von Diederichs answered that his actions were not intended to violate +the rules, but he then went to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>British commander, Captain +Chichester, and asked whether he intended to follow such strict +orders. The English captain suspected the German and answered, +"Admiral Dewey and I have a perfect understanding in the matter." Then +he added, "He has asked us to do just what he has asked of you, and we +have been directed to follow his orders to the letter."</p> + +<p>The English commander then sent a dispatch to Admiral Dewey, saying +that his orders were just, his regulations fair, and that if the +American commander felt unable to enforce them alone, he could depend +upon the British fleet to assist him. It is understood that the +British officer afterward informed Von Diederichs of what he had done, +and the Germans strictly obeyed the rules and gave no further trouble.</p> + +<p>Not many years ago, in 1911 in fact, while the United States was doing +her best by Germany, the German government tried to injure and deceive +her.</p> + +<p>At that time Germany was also plotting against France, to make war +upon her and to seize the whole country. Perhaps Germany knew that +America would not allow such horrible crimes to succeed, and so sooner +or later she would find herself at war with the United States.</p> + +<p>Therefore Germany must think ahead, and plan some means of making the +United States keep her ideas of justice to herself and let Germany do +as she chose. German officials consulted together and said, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>"Mexico +is a little country at the very southern tip of the United States, +conveniently near the new waterway at Panama. We could do some damage +there, with Mexico's help, and as a reward, Mexico might get back some +of the states just over the border—New Mexico, Texas, and +Arizona—which formerly belonged to her.</p> + +<p>"Then Japan is across the sea from Mexico and the gold coast of the +United States. Japan needs more land for her millions of people. She +might as well take California and some of the islands near Panama. All +this would keep America busy so that she could not hinder us from +doing our will in France."</p> + +<p>A press correspondent in Berlin, as early as February, 1911, sent the +following word by cablegram:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>The story was told here last night that Japan and Mexico have +come to an understanding with each other against America, and +that the United States, therefore, is secretly favoring the +Mexican revolutionists led by Madero. To-day the report is +published in several newspapers, even in the most trustworthy of +them. The report says: "Since America obtained the Panama Canal, +she has had an increasing interest in robbing Mexico and the +Central American states of their independence."</p> + +<p>According to the story, the present trouble has arisen because +of Mexico's refusal to allow the United States to use Magdalena +Bay as a coaling station. There must be some reason for +publishing the story so widely. It is made much of by the jingo +press, which warns the Central and the South American states to +beware of ambitious political plans of the United States.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>As this word was sent in time of peace, it was not censored, and while +it did not at that time appear to be of great importance, it really +meant that Germany was taking advantage of the civil war in Mexico to +stir up antagonism between that country and the United States.</p> + +<p>In American and German newspapers, stories were also printed hinting +at bad feelings between the United States and the Japanese government, +though no one seemed to know from whom the stories came. It was said +that, before long, an American fleet would be forcing its way into +Japanese waters, or the Japanese fleet would form in battle line +somewhere along the coast of California.</p> + +<p>In that same year, stories were publicly printed in American papers, +intended to spread the belief that Japan and Mexico were especially +friendly to Germany, and that they were interested in plotting +together against the United States. These stories were so mysterious +and mischievous that explanations from the different governments +became necessary.</p> + +<p>During the last week of February, 1917, there came into the hands of +the State Department in America, a note from Alfred Zimmermann, German +Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the German Minister in Mexico City. +The American government had already urged the German government to +cease submarine warfare, as it was not at all a fair method of +fighting, but was, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>instead, entirely barbarous and contrary to +international law. Germany, however, determined to wage unrestricted +submarine warfare against England and her allies. Twelve days before +the plan was finally announced, this note was sent to the German +Minister in Mexico:</p> + +<div class="block"><p class="right"><span class="sc">Berlin</span>, Jan. 19, 1917.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of February we intend to begin submarine warfare +unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor +to keep neutral with the United States of America.</p> + +<p>If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the +following basis with Mexico:</p> + +<p>That we shall make war together and together make peace. We +shall give general financial support, and it is understood that +Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, +and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement.</p> + +<p>You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the +above in the greatest confidence, as soon as it is certain that +there will be an outbreak of war with the United States, and +suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, +should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to +this plan; at the same time offer to mediate between Germany and +Japan.</p> + +<p>Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the +employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel +England to make peace in a few months.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Zimmermann.</p> +</div> + +<p>When all this became known to the American people, at first it was +almost impossible for them to believe that Germany had been plotting +against the United <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>States, and for so long. Only the word of the +President of the United States, saying that clear and sufficient +evidence to prove it beyond dispute was in the hands of the +government, could persuade them that Germany had been for years acting +the "cheat" and the "sneak."</p> + +<p>The first step taken by the American government was to ask Mexico and +Japan to explain the many stories that had been circulated, and to +tell whether they had agreed with Germany to war against the United +States.</p> + +<p>The people in this country waited anxiously to hear from Japan, for it +would be denying the truth to say that the stories had not aroused +suspicion. Japan answered just as the United States would have +answered in her place, an answer that left no room for doubt. Not only +did the Japanese Foreign Minister deny that Japan had been asked by +Mexico or Germany to join against the United States, but he added more +than is absolutely necessary in diplomatic circles; he added that even +if such a proposal had come, it would have been rejected at once.</p> + +<p>This is exactly such an answer as the United States would have given +to any friendly country. The answer did more to bind the friendship +between the two countries than many years of official visits and +formal expressions of goodwill could possibly have done. The Japanese +people were glad that such an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>answer had been sent by their +government. In fact, the Japanese Ambassador in this country, in +speaking of the matter said, "We cannot condemn the plot too strongly. +Our Foreign Minister and Premier have expressed the feeling of the +Japanese Government and the Japanese people. And it is not alone the +government; but the people are back of the government in denouncing +the intrigue. In one way it is unfortunate, because we do not feel +flattered at the thought of being approached for such an object; but +the incident, on the other hand, is certain to have the good effect of +putting us in a true light before the world, and of binding our +friendship with America. We have a treaty alliance with Great Britain, +and owe allegiance to the Allied cause. In Japan we place above +everything else our national honor, which involves faithfulness to our +treaties."</p> + +<p>Germany never supposed that she would be the means by which Japan and +the United States, instead of being thrust further apart, would be +drawn closer together. Germany dreamed a different sort of dream. +Judging other nations by herself, she did not expect England to come +to the aid of Belgium and France, and now she had made another +mistake. She had set both Japan and Mexico down as the natural foes of +the United States, waiting only for a favorable opportunity to strike.</p> + +<p>The answer from Mexico was not so satisfactory as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>that from Japan. +Villa, the famous Mexican bandit chief, when he conferred on the +border with Major-General Scott as to the firing at Naco, it is said, +had whispered to the American General a story of Japanese conspiracy +in Mexico City. He claimed that the captain of a Japanese vessel in a +Mexican port had spoken of the natural ties of friendship that should +exist between Mexico and Japan, and had also spoken of the United +States as the natural enemy to both countries. Villa had boasted +loudly that, if war came between Japan and the United States, Mexico +would be found fighting for her American neighbor. But later, when the +United States recognized Carranza as ruler of Mexico and turned +against Villa, the bandit chief hastened to seek aid against his +"neighbor," from Tokio. Needless to say, he failed.</p> + +<p>General Huerta's effort to start a new revolution in Mexico, after he +returned to the United States from Spain, has been traced directly to +the Germans. He, too, looked hopefully for aid from Japan, but was +disappointed.</p> + +<p>Before the United States had recognized the Carranza government, the +Carranza officials displayed great affection for the Japanese Minister +who had been sent to their country, and for Japan. But the government +at Tokio knew that the display was merely made for American eyes, and +carefully avoided any warm response. Thus has Zimmermann's scheme +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>come to be called his "back-stairs policy" and "the plot that failed."</p> + +<p>Thanks to the discovery of the Zimmermann plot, Japan and the United +States understand each other better, and are growing more and more +friendly. Mexico is keeping her troubles to herself and has all she +can do in straightening out her own affairs. The boys and girls in +America will hope, if baseball and football will teach the Mexicans to +play fair, that these games and others like them will become as +popular there as they are in the United States.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>A man is a father, a brother, a German, a Roman, an American; but +beneath all these relations, he is a man. The end of his human destiny +is not to be the best German, or the best Roman, or the best father, +but the best man he can be....</p> + +<p>Though darkness sometimes shadows our national sky, though confusion +comes from error, and success breeds corruption, yet will the storm +pass in God's good time; and in clearer sky and purer atmosphere, our +national life grow stronger and nobler, sanctified more and more, +consecrated to God and liberty by the martyrs who fall in the strife +for the just and true.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">George William Curtis.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="WHY_WE_FIGHT_GERMANY" id="WHY_WE_FIGHT_GERMANY"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>WHY WE FIGHT GERMANY<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>Because of Belgium, invaded, outraged, enslaved, impoverished Belgium. +We cannot forget Liége, Louvain, and Cardinal Mercier. Translated into +terms of American history, these names stand for Bunker Hill, +Lexington, and Patrick Henry.</p> + +<p>Because of France, invaded, desecrated France, a million of whose +heroic sons have died to save the land of Lafayette. Glorious, golden +France, the preserver of the arts, the land of noble spirit, the first +land to follow our lead into republican liberty.</p> + +<p>Because of England, from whom came the laws, traditions, standards of +life, and inherent love of liberty which we call Anglo-Saxon +civilization. We defeated her once upon the land and once upon the +sea. But Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Canada are free because +of what we did. And they are with us in the fight for the freedom of +the seas.</p> + +<p>Because of Russia—new Russia. She must not be overwhelmed now. Not +now, surely, when she is just born into freedom. Her peasants must +have their chance; they must go to school to Washington, to Jefferson, +and to Lincoln, until they know their <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span>way about in this new, strange +world of government by the popular will.</p> + +<p>Because of other peoples, with their rising hope that the world may be +freed from government by the soldier.</p> + +<p>We are fighting Germany because she sought to terrorize us and then to +fool us. We could not believe that Germany would do what she said she +would do upon the seas.</p> + +<p>We still hear the piteous cries of children coming up out of the sea +where the <i>Lusitania</i> went down. And Germany has never asked the +forgiveness of the world.</p> + +<p>We saw the <i>Sussex</i> sunk, crowded with the sons and daughters of +neutral nations.</p> + +<p>We saw ship after ship sent to the bottom—ships of mercy bound out of +America for the Belgian starving, ships carrying the Red Cross and +laden with the wounded of all nations, ships carrying food and +clothing to friendly, harmless, terrorized peoples, ships flying the +Stars and Stripes—sent to the bottom hundreds of miles from shore, +manned by American seamen, murdered against all law, without warning.</p> + +<p>We believed Germany's promise that she would respect the neutral flag +and the rights of neutrals, and we held our anger and outrage in +check. But now we see that she was holding us off with fair promises +until she could build her huge fleet of submarines. For <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>when spring +came, she blew her promise into the air, just as at the beginning she +had torn up that "scrap of paper." Then we saw clearly that there was +but one law for Germany, her will to rule.</p> + +<p>We are fighting Germany because in this war feudalism is making its +last stand against on-coming democracy. We see it now. This is a war +against an old spirit, an ancient, outworn spirit. It is a war against +feudalism—the right of the castle on the hill to rule the village +below. It is a war for democracy—the right of all to be their own +masters. Let Germany be feudal if she will. But she must not spread +her system over a world that has outgrown it.</p> + +<p>We fight with the world for an honest world in which nations keep +their word, for a world in which nations do not live by swagger or by +threat, for a world in which men think of the ways in which they can +conquer the common cruelties of nature instead of inventing more +horrible cruelties to inflict upon the spirit and body of man, for a +world in which the ambition of the philosophy of a few shall not make +miserable all mankind, for a world in which the man is held more +precious than the machine, the system, or the State.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="sc">Secretary Franklin K. Lane</span>, June 4, 1917.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="GENERAL_PERSHING" id="GENERAL_PERSHING"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>GENERAL PERSHING<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>In April, 1917, a small group of men in civilian dress climbed up the +side of the ocean liner, the <i>Baltic</i>, just outside of New York +harbor. Each one carried a suitcase or a hand-bag, which was his only +baggage. They had come down the harbor through the fog and mist on a +tugboat. These men were officers in the United States army, and among +them were General Pershing and his staff—"Black Jack Pershing," as +his men affectionately called him.</p> + +<p>They were given no farewell at the dock, in fact their going was kept +a profound secret; for should the Germans learn upon what liner the +chief officers of the American army that was soon to gather in France, +took passage, all their submarines would neglect everything else in +attempting to sink this one vessel.</p> + +<p>The officers reached England in safety, and made preparations for the +great American armies that were soon to follow them. General Pershing +was appointed commander of these armies. He had just come from service +in Mexico, where he had led American troops in search of the outlaw, +Villa.</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep246.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep246.jpg" width="55%" alt="General John J. Pershing" /></a><br /> +<p class="right2" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Photograph from Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">General John J. Pershing</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>General Pershing is a West Point graduate; but he narrowly escaped +following another career, for he gained his appointment to West Point +by only one point over his nearest competitor. He has made fighting +his life work. We are all beginning to see that in the world as it is +made up at present, some men must prepare for fighting and make +fighting their life work. Universal peace must come through war, and +many are hoping that it will come as a result of the World War. +William Jennings Bryan and Henry Ford are among the world's leading +advocates of universal peace. When the United States declared war, +Bryan said, "The quickest road to peace is through the war to +victory"; and Henry Ford turned over to the government his great +automobile factories and gave his own services on one of the war +boards, to make the war more quickly successful.</p> + +<p>An interesting story is told us in the <i>Dallas News</i> of Pershing's +school days at normal school, before he went to West Point. It shows +that he never shunned a fight, if the rights of others needed to be +defended.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>An incident of the boyhood days of General John J. Pershing, +illustrating how the principle for which the American general is +leading this nation's armies against the hordes of +autocracy—the square deal for every one—has always +predominated in the American leader, was related yesterday by +Dr. James L. Holloway of Dallas, who went to school with +Pershing in Kirksville, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span>Missouri, many years ago, and who +during that period was an intimate friend of the General.</p> + +<p>"When I arrived at Kirksville to attend the Normal School there, +I was a green country boy," Dr. Holloway said, "and carried my +belongings in a very frail trunk. The baggageman who was on the +station platform was handling my trunk roughly, and when I +remonstrated with him in my timid way, he merely pitched the +trunk off the baggage wagon and laughed at me. When the trunk +fell on the ground it broke open and scattered my things around +on the platform. I indignantly told him that I would report the +matter to the headquarters of the railroad in St. Louis, and +again he laughed at me.</p> + +<p>"I wrote the head of the baggage department, as I said I would, +and later learned that the offending baggageman had been +severely censured. Meanwhile I had struck up a strong +acquaintance with Jack Pershing, who was a big, husky boy from a +Missouri country town. I will always remember his broad +forehead, his determined-looking jaw, and his steel gray eyes. +He was a favorite among the boys at the Normal School, not so +much on account of his mental brilliancy but because of his +personal stamina.</p> + +<p>"Two weeks after my encounter with the baggageman, Pershing and +I walked down to the railroad station. It was on Sunday and the +baggage office was closed. Pershing left me for a moment, and as +I walked around a corner of the station I met the baggageman, +who approached threateningly. 'You're the fellow who reported me +to headquarters,' he said, bullying me. I admitted that I had. +'Well,' said the baggageman, 'I'm going to lick you good for +it.' With these words he started toward me. At this juncture +Pershing's big frame rounded the corner of the station.</p> + +<p>"'What's the trouble, Holloway?' he asked. I told him the +baggageman was threatening me with violence. 'He is, is he?' +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span>said Pershing. 'Well, we'll clean his plowshare for him right +now.'</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget this expression. The baggageman, seeing +that he was no match for Pershing—let alone the two of us—left +the scene of action. We didn't even have a chance to lay our +hands on him.</p> + +<p>"Six months after this occurred, Pershing was appointed to West +Point. I have never seen him since."</p></div> + +<p>For several years after his graduation from West Point, no promotion +came to Pershing; but he was not idle nor soured by disappointment. He +continued to study, especially military tactics. He became so well +versed in this branch that he was sent to West Point to teach it.</p> + +<p>When the Spanish-American War broke out, Pershing asked for a command, +and was appointed first lieutenant with a troop of colored cavalry, +and sent to Cuba. At the battle of El Caney he led his troops with +such bravery and success that he was at once promoted and made a +captain "for gallantry in action."</p> + +<p>Then he went to the Philippines with General Chaffee. He performed +much valuable service there. Perhaps the single deed by which his work +there is best known is the lesson he taught the Sultan of Mindanao. +The Sultan was a Mohammedan, and ruled over many thousand Malays. To +kill a Christian was thought to be a good deed by the Sultan, and he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>was always glad of an opportunity to show his goodness. For three +hundred years, he and his predecessors had escaped punishment by the +Spaniards, who owned and ruled the islands.</p> + +<p>The Sultan's chief village and stronghold could be reached only by +passing through the dense and dangerous tropical jungles; and when it +was reached, it was found to be surrounded by a wall of earth and +bamboo, forty feet thick, and outside the wall by a moat fifty feet +wide. It does not seem so strange that the Spaniards had done nothing.</p> + +<p>But Pershing cut a path through the jungles and reached the Sultan's +village, and informed him that there must be no more murders of +Christians. The Sultan was very pleasant, in fact he laughed at the +young American captain.</p> + +<p>Soon word came to American headquarters that the Sultan had caused the +death of another Christian missionary. In forty-eight hours most of +the earth and bamboo wall was in the moat, and the Sultan's village +was destroyed. In less than two years, Pershing established law and +order in all of western Mindanao.</p> + +<p>He was also in command of the troops sent to the Border and into +Mexico after the outlaw, Villa. The soldiers with him there always +recall his constant advice, "Shoulders back, chin up, and do your +best."</p> + +<p>General Pershing is a man who has never feared <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span>obstacles, and has +never hesitated to give the time and labor necessary to overcome them. +That there is no easy path to greatness and success, but that both +will come to him who prepares himself, who works, who sticks at it, +who is brave and sacrificing—this is the lesson of General Pershing's +life and work.</p> + +<p>Shortly after General Pershing reached France, the French people +celebrated the birthday of Lafayette; and General Pershing visited the +tomb of the great French patriot, to place there a wreath in token of +America's gratitude. A large number of French people were gathered +there, and every one supposed General Pershing would make a +speech—that is, every one except General Pershing. When he was called +upon, he was dumfounded, but at last he said, "Well, Lafayette, we are +here." That was all.</p> + +<p>Could he have said more if he had talked an hour? He said, "Lafayette, +your people now need us. We have not forgotten. Here we are, and +behind us are all the resources of the wealthiest and most +enterprising nation in the world, billions of dollars and millions of +men. We are only the first to arrive to pay the debt we have owed to +you for one hundred and forty years, but here we are at last."</p> + +<p>It is said that men and women wept aloud as the full significance of +the words and all they meant for France became clear to them.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_MELTING_POT" id="THE_MELTING_POT"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE MELTING POT<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>America has been called the "crucible" or the "melting pot" of +nations, because many peoples of many races and many countries come +together here, and in the heat of life and struggle are molded into +Americans. President Wilson said, in a speech at Cincinnati in 1916, +"America is not made out of a single stock. Here we have a great +melting pot."</p> + +<p>As soon as we entered the war against Germany, the question arose in +the minds of most people as to how the large number of Germans in the +United States would act. Germany had taught them that even though they +became naturalized and took the oath of allegiance as American +citizens, such action was not binding, but was like "a scrap of paper" +to be destroyed and forgotten whenever necessity demanded, and that +"once a German" meant "always a German." It seems now that Germany +actually expected the Germans, who had left their native land to seek +opportunity, freedom, and citizenship under the Stars and Stripes, to +fight against their new and adopted home; but events have proved that +most German-Americans have higher ideals of right. A leading +German-American has written a book entitled "Right <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span>before Peace"; its +title carries the thought that has guided most of his fellow-countrymen +and their children in the United States during the World War.</p> + +<p>A few months after the United States had declared that a state of war +existed with Germany, many leading men of this country of foreign +birth and parentage, signed, with others, a declaration drawn up by +Theodore Roosevelt. This declaration, somewhat abbreviated but not +altered in thought, is as follows. It makes very clear what America +should mean to her adopted children.</p> + +<div class="block"><p>We Americans are the children of the crucible. We have boasted +that out of the crucible, the melting pot of life, in this free +land, all the men and all the women who have come here from all +the nations come forth as Americans, and as nothing else, like +all other Americans, equal to them, and holding no allegiance to +any other land or nation. We hold it then to be our duty, as it +is of every American, always to stand together for the honor and +interest of America, even if such a stand brings us into +conflict with our fatherland. If an American does not so act, he +is false to the teachings and the lives of Washington and +Lincoln; he has no right in our country, and he should be sent +out of it; for he has shown that the crucible has failed to do +its work. The crucible must melt all who are cast into it, and +it must turn them out in one American mold, the mold shaped one +hundred and forty years ago by the men who, under Washington, +founded this as a free nation, separate from all others. Even at +that time, these true Americans were of different races; Paul +Revere and Charles Carroll, Marion, Herkimer, Sullivan, +Schuyler, and Muhlenberg were equals in service and respect +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>with Lighthorse Harry Lee and Israel Putnam. Most of them, +however, were of English blood, but they did not hesitate to +fight Great Britain when she was in the wrong. They stood for +liberty and for the eternal rule of right and justice, and they +stood as Americans and as nothing else.</p> + +<p>So must all Americans of whatever race act to-day; otherwise +they are traitors to America. This applies, especially to-day, +to all Americans of German blood who, in any manner, support +Germany against the United States and her Allies.</p> + +<p>Many pacifists have during the last three years proved +themselves the evil enemies of their country. They now seek an +inconclusive peace. In so doing they show themselves to be the +spiritual heirs of the Tories, who, in the name of peace, +opposed Washington, and of the Copperheads, who, in the name of +peace, opposed Lincoln. We look upon them as traitors to the +Republic and to the great cause of justice and humanity. This +war is a war for the vital interests of America. When we fight +for America abroad, we save our children from fighting for +America at home beside their own ruined hearthstones. To accept +any peace, except one based on the complete overthrow of Germany +as she is under the ideals of Prussia and the Hohenzollerns, we +believe would be an act of baseness and cowardice, and a +betrayal of this country and of mankind.</p> + +<p>The test of an American to-day is service against Germany. We +should put forth as speedily as possible every particle of our +vast, lazy strength to win the triumph over Germany. The +government should at once deal with the greatest severity with +traitors at home.</p> + +<p>We must have but one flag. We must also have but one language. +This must be the language of the Declaration of Independence, of +Washington's Farewell Address, and of Lincoln's Gettysburg +Speech.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span>Of us who sign, some are Protestants, some are Catholics, some +are Jews. Most of us were born in this country of parents born +in various countries of the Old World—in Germany, France, +England, Ireland, Italy, the Slavonic and the Scandinavian +lands; some of us were born abroad; some of us are of +Revolutionary stock. All of us are Americans, and nothing but +Americans.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4>THE AMERICAN'S CREED<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></h4> + +<p>I believe in the United States of America as a government of the +people, by the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived +from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a +sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and +inseparable, established upon those principles of freedom, equality, +justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their +lives and fortunes.</p> + +<p>I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support +its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend +it against all enemies.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY E.J. WYATT, BALTIMORE.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="BIRDMEN" id="BIRDMEN"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>BIRDMEN<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>Although I am an American, I am still in the French aviation corps, in +which I enlisted when the war broke out. I am too old for service +under the Stars and Stripes, but not too old to risk my life under the +French flag for the freedom of the world.</p> + +<p>I was trained in a French aviation school. Flyers were needed +immediately; and so I did not go through "a ground school," or any +teaching like that given for eight weeks in the American ground +schools. I was sent directly to the flying field and given a machine +at once. I did not, as they do at American flying fields, go up first +with an instructor who might be tempted to "scare me to death" by +"looping the loop" or doing "tail spins." I took my own machine at the +very start and, after being given the simplest directions, away I went +in it; but I did not break any records for altitude.</p> + +<p>It was a small monoplane with a 20-horse-power motor, and its wings +had been clipped; so all it could do was to roll along the ground. It +was, however, some time before I could guide it in a straight line. I +was discouraged at first, but felt better when I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span>learned that it was +very difficult even for an experienced flyer.</p> + +<p>Such machines are called "penguins" and have a trick of turning +suddenly in a short half circle and smashing the end of a wing against +the ground. The queer antics of beginners in them furnish fun for +every one on the flying fields.</p> + +<p>After I had mastered this machine, I was given one with a motor of +greater horse power, and in this I could fly along the ground at +nearly sixty miles an hour; but I could not rise into the air, for the +wings were clipped and did not have sufficient sustaining power to +hold the machine in the air.</p> + +<p>Then at last I was given a plane with full-sized wings; but, as its +motor generated only about 25-horse power, I could get only from three +to six feet above the ground, and went skimming along now on the +ground and now a few feet in the air.</p> + +<p>In these machines, we learned only how to manage the tail of the +machine. As we skimmed along the ground, we tipped the tail at an +angle slightly above a straight line. In a few moments we were off the +ground, and the roar of the motor sounded softer and smoother. It +seemed as if we were very far from the earth, and that something might +break and dash us to our death—in reality, we had not risen six feet. +To get back to earth, we must push the lever that lowers the tail—but +this must be done very <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span>slightly and very carefully. A little push too +much, and the machine will suddenly dive into the ground.</p> + +<p>After my experience with the first two machines, I found it easy to +handle this one, and was soon given one that would take me up about +fifty feet and give me a chance to learn the "feel of the air." All my +flying was still in straight lines, or as nearly straight as I could +make it. We were not yet allowed to try to turn.</p> + +<p>In the next machine I could rise two or three hundred feet and began +to learn to turn, although most of the flying was still in straight +lines.</p> + +<p>I was beginning to make good landings, which is the hardest part of +the game. We have to let the ship down on two wheels and let the tail +skid at a speed of thirty-five miles an hour and not break the landing +gear.</p> + +<p>The machines often bound three or four times when landing and that is +hard on the landing gear. My last landing was so soft that I was not +sure when I touched the ground. To take off is quite easy. The ship is +controlled by an upright stick which is between one's knees and just +right for the left hand. The rudder is controlled by the feet, and the +throttle is on the right side. To take off, we get up a speed of about +forty-six miles per hour and raise the tail up until the ship is +level, and then when she starts to rise, lift the nose just a little +and climb slowly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span>On turns, the ship has to be banked, tipped up with the inside wing +low, and turned with the rudder. It is quite a hard thing to do when +it is rough, as just about the time we bank, we get a puff of wind +which will hit one wing and she will roll and rock so that we have to +get her straightened out. It is a fight all the time until you get +about 3000 feet up, when the air gets steady.</p> + +<p>To land, we slow the engine down to idling speed and come down in a +steep glide until five or six feet from the ground, then level off and +glide along until she begins to settle, then jerk the tail down until +she stops. We always have to take off and come down against the wind.</p> + +<p>I was obliged to follow the directions of my instructor, much against +my own wishes. It seemed to me that I could now do anything in the air +and that there was not the slightest danger. This too early feeling of +mastery is the cause of many beginners' being injured or killed, by +trying "stunts" too difficult for them.</p> + +<p>I did not spend much time in flying at first, after I had learned how +to handle the airplane. It is not difficult to stay in the air and to +fly, but it is difficult to land safely without breaking the machine. +So I was kept practicing landing.</p> + +<p>To secure my license I was required to fly 50 miles in a straight line +to a named place, and then back; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span>then to fly 200 miles in a triangle, +passing through two named places; and last of all to stay one hour in +the air at an altitude higher than 7000 feet.</p> + +<p>Now the French schools require only a 30-mile flight with three +successful landings, before sending the flyer to the finishing school, +where he learns to do all the "stunts" that a fighter must be able to +do in order to succeed. I learned the tail wing slip, the tail spin +and dive, the <i>vrille</i>, to loop the loop, and many other fancy flying +tricks. They have saved my life more than once.</p> + +<p>I was interested in reading the other day James Norman Hall's funny +description of how he learned at last to master the penguin. He felt +triumphant, but he says, "But no one had seen my splendid sortie. Now +that I had arrived, no one paid the least attention to me. All eyes +were turned upward, and following them with my own, I saw an airplane +outlined against a heaped-up pile of snow-white cloud. It was moving +at tremendous speed, when suddenly it darted straight upward, wavered +for a second or two, turned slowly on one wing, and fell, nose-down, +turning round and round as it fell, like a scrap of paper. It was the +<i>vrille</i>, the prettiest piece of aërial acrobatics that one could wish +to see. It was a wonderful, an incredible sight.</p> + +<p>"Some one was counting the turns of the <i>vrille</i>. Six, seven, eight; +then the airman came out of it on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span>an even keel, and, nosing down to +gather speed, looped twice in quick succession. Afterward he did the +<i>retournement</i>, turning completely over in the air and going back in +the opposite direction; then spiraled down and passed over our heads +at about fifty meters, landing at the opposite side of the field so +beautifully that it was impossible to know when the machine touched +the ground."</p> + +<p>There is nothing in all the experiences of life like what one feels in +flying through the air, especially at a great height and with no other +machines in sight. There is a loneliness, unlike any other kind of +loneliness; there is a feeling of smallness and weakness; a sense of +the immensity of things and of the presence and nearness of God. It is +surprising that in doing that in which man has shown his greatest +power over the forces of Nature, he feels most his littleness and how +easily he could be destroyed by the very forces he has conquered.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Roberts, an American flying in France, described not long +ago an experience that came just after his first flight. He was up in +the air, higher than anybody had ever been before, when the machine +suddenly broke into little pieces, which, as he was tumbling down +through the air, he vainly tried to catch. Just as he hit the ground +and broke every bone in his body, he woke up on the floor beside his +bunk.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span>The Englishmen are the most daring of all the flyers, take the most +risks, and do the most dangerous "stunts." Not so much is heard of +them because their exploits and their scores are not announced by the +British army. Bishop, who has just been ordered from the flying field +to safer work, is said to have brought down nearly eighty German +planes, and on the day he learned of his recall, went up and brought +down two.</p> + +<p>The Americans are daredevils, too. I took one of them one night as a +"guest," when I went over Metz on a bombing expedition. One of the +bombs stuck. He thought it might cause us trouble when we landed, +possibly explode and kill us, so he crawled out over the fusilage and +released it. He certainly earned his passage.</p> + +<p>With several other Americans we formed what we called the American +Escadrille; but as the United States was neutral at that time, we were +obliged to change the name to the Lafayette Escadrille.</p> + +<p>Since joining the squadron, I have used all sorts of machines, and +there are many of them, from the heavy bombing machine to the swift +little swallow-like scouts.</p> + +<p>My first important work was reconnoissance, in which I carried an +observer. I managed the machine, and he did the reconnoitering. We +went out twice a day and flew over into German territory, sometimes +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span>as far in as fifty miles, observing all that was going on, the +movements of troops and supplies, and the building of railroads and +defensive works. We also took photographs of the country over which we +flew.</p> + +<p>Reconnoissance is dangerous work, and is constantly growing more so, +as anti-aircraft guns are improved. These guns are mounted on a +revolving table, upon which is a mirror in which the airplane shows as +soon as it comes within range of the gun. With an instrument designed +for the purpose, the crew get the flyer's altitude; and with another, +the rate at which he is traveling. They aim the gun for the proper +altitude, make the correct allowance for the time it will take the +shell to reach him, and as they have an effective range of over 30,000 +feet, there is reason to worry. Yet by zig-zagging and other devices, +the aviators are rarely brought down by anti-aircraft guns. The small +scout machines with a wing spread of not more than thirty feet are not +visible to the naked eye when at an altitude of over 10,000 feet, and +are therefore safe from these guns at this height.</p> + +<p>But reconnoissance, to be effective, must be done at a much lower +altitude, and sometimes the machine must remain under fire for a +considerable period of time. Poiret, the French aviator, fighting with +the Russians, with a captain of the General Staff for an observer, was +under rifle and shell fire for about twenty <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span>minutes. His machine was +up about 4000 feet. Ten bullets and two pieces of shell hit his +airplane, but he never lost control. The captain was shot through the +heel, the bullet coming out of his calf; but he continued taking +notes. They returned in safety to their lines.</p> + +<p>I also did some work in directing artillery fire. For this my machine +was equipped with a wireless apparatus for sending. No method has yet +been devised whereby an airplane in flight can receive wireless +messages. In directing the fire of the big guns, the aviator seeks to +get directly over the object that is under fire, and to signal or send +wireless messages in regard to where the shells land. After the +aviator is in position, the third shot usually reaches the target.</p> + +<p>I am not yet one of the great aces, and will not, therefore, tell you +about any of my air battles. I hope some day you may read of them and +that I may come to have the honor of being named with Lufbery, +Guynemer, Nungesser, Fonk, Bishop, Ball, Genét, Chapman, McConnell, +Prince, Putnam, and other heroes of the air.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford, who won the Victoria Cross for destroying +a giant Zeppelin, is one of the greatest of these; at least, he +performed a feat never accomplished before and never since.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock one morning in June, 1915, he discovered a Zeppelin +returning from bombing towns <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span>along the east coast of England. The +Huns shot Captain Fryatt because, as they said, he was a non-combatant +and tried to defend himself. The rule that non-combatants should not +attack military forces was made with the understanding that military +forces would not war on non-combatants. But law, or justice, or +agreements never are allowed by the Huns to stand in their way. This +Zeppelin was returning from a raid in which twenty-four were killed +and sixty seriously injured, nearly all women and children, and all +non-combatants.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Warneford well knew of the dastardly deeds of the +Zeppelins, and he immediately gave chase, firing as he approached. The +Zeppelin returned his shots. He mounted as rapidly as possible so as +to get the great gas-bag below him, until he reached over 6000 feet +and the Zeppelin was about 150 feet directly below him. Both were +moving very rapidly, and to hit was exceedingly difficult, but he +dropped six bombs, one after the other. One of them hit the Zeppelin +squarely, exploded the gas-bag, and set it afire its entire length. +The explosion turned Lieutenant Warneford's airplane upside down, and +although he soon righted it, he was obliged to land. He was over +territory occupied by the Germans and he landed behind the German +lines, but he succeeded in rising again before being captured, and +returned to his hangar in safety, to tell his marvelous story. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span>The +Zeppelin and its crew were completely destroyed. A few days later +Lieutenant Warneford was killed.</p> + +<p>One of the greatest air duels, between airplanes, was during the +Battle of Vimy Ridge. At that time Immelman was as great a German ace +as were Boelke and Richthofen later, and Ball was the greatest of the +English.</p> + +<p>One morning Ball learned that Immelman was stationed with the Germans +on the opposite line, and carried him a challenge which read:</p> + +<div class="block"><p><span class="sc">Captain Immelman:</span> I challenge you to a man-to-man fight +to take place this afternoon at two o'clock. I will meet you +over the German lines. Have your anti-aircraft guns withhold +their fire while we decide which is the better man. The British +guns will be silent.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Ball.</p> +</div> + +<p>Ball dropped this from his airplane behind the German lines, and soon +afterward Immelman dropped his answer behind the British lines:</p> + +<div class="block"><p><span class="sc">Captain Ball:</span></p> + +<p>Your challenge is accepted. The German guns will not interfere. +I will meet you promptly at two.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Immelman.</p> +</div> + +<p>A few minutes before two, the guns ceased firing, and all on both +sides fixed their eyes in the air to witness a contest between two +knights that would make the contests of the days of chivalry seem +tame.</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep267.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep267.jpg" width="55%" alt="A Battle in the Air" /></a><br /> +<p class="right2" style="margin-top: .2em;"><i>Copyright by Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.</i></p> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">A Battle in the Air</p> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">The French plane at the top is maneuvering for position preparatory to +swooping down on its German adversary.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span>In an air battle, the machine that is higher up is thought to have the +advantage. Both Ball and Immelman went up very high, but Ball was +below and seemed uncertain what to do. The British were afraid that he +had lost his nerve and courage when he found himself below, for he +made no effort to get above his opponent, but was flying now this way +and now that, as if "rattled."</p> + +<p>Immelman did not delay, but went into a nose dive directly towards the +machine below, which he would be able to rake with his machine gun as +he approached; but just at the proper moment, Ball suddenly looped the +loop and was directly above the German, and in position to fire. As +the shower of bullets struck Immelman and his machine, it burst into +flames and dropped like a blazing comet.</p> + +<p>Ball returned to his hangar, got a wreath of flowers, and went into +the air again to drop them upon the spot where Immelman had fallen +dead.</p> + +<p>Four days later Ball was killed in a fight with four German planes, +but not until he had brought down three of them.</p> + +<p>But the fighting planes do not get all the thrills in the air. A young +English aviator and his observer who were directing artillery fire in +September, 1918, showed as great devotion and courage as any ace and +lived through as exciting an adventure as ever befell a fighting +plane.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>They were flying over No Man's Land to get the proper range for a +battery which was to destroy a bridge of great value to the Huns. +Their engine had been running badly and back-firing. They would have +returned home had their work been of less importance.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the pilot smelled burning wood, and looking down, saw the +framework near his feet blackened and smoldering. It had caught fire +from the backfire of the engine and the exhaust, but was not yet in a +decided blaze. He turned off the gas and opened the throttle. Then he +made a steep, swift dive, and the powerful rush of the air put the +fire out.</p> + +<p>Then he hesitated, trying to decide whether to "play safe" and go home +or whether to continue their work until the battery had secured the +exact range. He knew that in a very short time and with a little more +observation, their work would be completely successful. So he turned +to the observer and asked him what he thought. The observer leaned +over and examined the damage near the pilot's feet. It did not look +very bad; so he shouted, "Let's carry on."</p> + +<p>Up they went again and in a short time had shells from the battery +falling all about the bridge, which was soon destroyed. Their work was +done, and well done. In the excitement they had forgotten the bad +engine until they heard it give one last sputter and stop.</p> + +<p>Then they perceived the woodwork was on fire again <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span>and really blazing +this time. To dive now would only fan the flames about the pilot's +feet, but they must get to the ground, and get there quickly, too.</p> + +<p>The pilot put the machine into a side slip toward the British line. +This fanned the flames away from his feet. The observer squirted the +fire extinguisher on the burning wood near the pilot's feet, and thus +enabled him to keep control of the rudder bar.</p> + +<p>They were now within fifteen hundred feet of the ground, but the heat +was almost unbearable. The right wing was beginning to burn. Down, +down, they went, and luckily towards a fairly good landing place. One +landing wheel struck the ground with such force that it was broken +off, and the airplane bumped along on the other for a short distance +until it finally crashed on its nose and left wing.</p> + +<p>Both pilot and observer were unhurt. They sprang to the ground and +hurried away from the burning wreck just in time, for a few seconds +later the gasoline tank exploded. They looked at each other without a +word, but neither of them regretted that he had stayed up until the +job had been finished.</p> + +<p>Such is the life and the danger of the flyers; but thousands of the +finest young men of all the nations at war eagerly seek the service, +for the aviators are the eyes of the armies and will determine always +more than any other branch which side shall be finally victorious.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="ALAN_SEEGER" id="ALAN_SEEGER"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>ALAN SEEGER<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>As England and the world lost Rupert Brooke, so America and the world +lost Alan Seeger. English poetry and lovers of beauty expressed in +verse are losers to a greater extent than we can ever know.</p> + +<p>It is not strange that these two young poets should have enlisted at +the very beginning of the war, for they recognized what high-minded +men mean by <i>noblesse oblige</i>. Much having been given you, much is +expected from you. Those of the highest education should show the way +to those less favored. So Rupert Brooke enlisted in the English navy, +and Alan Seeger enlisted in the French army as one of the Foreign +Legion.</p> + +<p>He felt he owed a debt to France that could only be paid by helping +her in her struggle for life and liberty. He gave his life, at the age +of twenty-eight, to pay the debt.</p> + +<p>Alan Seeger lived a life like that of many other American boys. At +Staten Island where he passed his first years, he could see every day +the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, the skyscrapers of New <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span>York, +the ferry boats to the Jersey shore, the great ocean liners inward +bound and outward bound,—all the great and significant things that +say "America" to one landing for the first time at the greatest +seaport of the world. Later he lived in New York and attended the +Horace Mann School. His vacations were spent among the hills and +mountains of New Hampshire and in southern California. He fitted for +college at a famous preparatory school at Tarrytown on the Hudson, +attended Harvard College, and after graduation lived for two years in +New York City. All this is American, and thousands of other American +boys have passed through the same or a similar experience.</p> + +<p>Alan Seeger was romantic. So are most boys. But with most boys, +romance goes no further than books and dreams. "Robinson Crusoe," +"Huckleberry Finn," "Treasure Island," and other tales of adventure +and of foreign lands are all the romance that many know. But, like +Rupert Brooke, Alan Seeger had the opportunity to live romance, as he +always declared he would do. He found it in his life as a boy in +Mexico, as a young man in Paris, and in the Foreign Legion of the +French army. The Foreign Legion was made up of foreigners in France +who volunteered to fight with the French army. Its story is a stirring +one of brave deeds and tremendous losses. To have belonged to it is a +great glory.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span>Alan Seeger enjoyed life and found the world exceedingly beautiful. He +says,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">From a boy<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I gloated on existence. Earth to me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Seemed all sufficient, and my sojourn there<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One trembling opportunity for joy.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Like Rupert Brooke, he thought often of Death, which he feared not at +all. In his beautiful poem entitled, "I Have a Rendezvous with Death," +he looked forward to his own death in the spring of 1916. He lost his +life on July 4 of that year while storming the village of +Belloy-en-Santerre. The first two stanzas are as follows:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I have a rendezvous with Death<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At some disputed barricade,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When Spring comes back with rustling shade<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And apple blossoms fill the air—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I have a rendezvous with Death<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When Spring brings back blue days and fair<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">It may be he shall take my hand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And lead me into his dark land<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And close my eyes and quench my breath—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It may be I shall pass him still.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I have a rendezvous with Death<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On some scarred slope of battered hill,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When Spring comes round again this year<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the first meadow flowers appear.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span>Alan Seeger has written two poems that all Americans should know. One +is entitled "Ode in Memory of the American Volunteers Fallen for +France." It was to have been read before the statue of Lafayette and +Washington in Paris, on Memorial Day, 1916; but permission to go to +Paris to read it did not reach Seeger in time, to the disappointment +of him and many others. It is perhaps the best long poem Seeger has +written, although "Champagne, 1914-15" is by many ranked ahead of it.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>"A man is judged and ranked by that which he considers to be of the +greatest value. Some men believe it is knowledge, and spend their +lives in study and research; some think it is beauty, and vainly seek +to capture it and hold it in song, poem, statue, or painting; some say +it is goodness, and devote their lives to service, self-denial, and +sacrifice; some declare it is life itself, and therefore never kill +any creature and always carefully protect their own lives from disease +and danger; and some are sure it is being true to the best knowledge, +the greatest beauty, the highest good that one can know and feel and +realize; for this alone is life, and times come when the only way to +save one's life is to lose it."</p> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> BASED ON POEMS OF ALAN SEEGER, COPYRIGHT HELD BY CHARLES +SCRIBNER'S SONS.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CAN_WAR_EVER_BE_RIGHT" id="CAN_WAR_EVER_BE_RIGHT"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CAN WAR EVER BE RIGHT?<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>After England had entered the war against the Central Powers, Gilbert +Murray, an English writer, asked this question and answered it by +saying "Yes," and giving his reasons.</p> + +<p>He had always favored peace. He hated war, not merely for its own +cruelty and folly, but because it was an enemy of good government, of +friendship and gentleness, and of art, learning, and literature.</p> + +<p>Yet he believed firmly that England was right in declaring war against +Germany on August 4, 1914, and that she would have failed in her duty +if she had remained neutral. France, Russia, Belgium, and Serbia had +no choice. They were obliged to fight, for the war was forced upon +them. Germany did not wish to fight England; but after carefully +looking over the whole matter, England, of her own free will, declared +war. She took upon her shoulders a great responsibility. But she was +right.</p> + +<p>With a few changes in the wording and some omissions, the argument of +Gilbert Murray is as follows:</p> + +<p>"How can such a thing be? It is easy enough to see that our cause is +right, and that the German cause is wrong. It is hardly possible to +study the official <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>papers issued by the British, the German, and the +Russian governments, without seeing that Germany—or some party in +Germany—had plotted this war beforehand; that she chose a moment when +she thought her neighbors were at a disadvantage; that she prevented +Austria from making a settlement even at the last moment; that in +order to get more quickly at France she violated her treaty with +Belgium. Evidence shows that she has carried out the violation with a +cruelty that has no equal in the wars of modern and civilized nations. +Yet there may be some people who still feel doubtful. Germany's +wrong-doing they think is no reason for us to do likewise. We did our +best to keep the general peace; there we were right. We failed; the +German government made war in spite of us. There we were unfortunate. +It was a war already on an enormous scale and we decided to make it +larger still. There we were wrong. Could we not have stood aside, as +the United States did, ready to help refugees and sufferers, anxious +to heal wounds and not make them, watchful for the first chance of +putting an end to this time of horror?</p> + +<p>"'Try for a moment,' they say, 'to realize the suffering in one small +corner of a battlefield. You have seen a man here and there badly hurt +in an accident; you have seen perhaps a horse with its back broken, +and you can remember how dreadful it seemed to you. In that one corner +how many <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span>men, how many horses, will be lying, hurt far worse, and +just waiting to die? Terrible wounds, extreme torment; and all, +further than any eye can see, multiplied and multiplied! And, for all +your just anger against Germany, what have these wounded done? The +horses are not to blame for anybody's foreign policy. They have only +come where their masters took them. And the masters themselves ... +though certain German rulers and leaders are wicked, these soldiers, +peasants, working-men, shop-keepers, and schoolmasters, have really +done nothing in particular; at least, perhaps they have now, but they +had not up to the time when you, seeing they were in war and misery +already, decided to make war on them also and increase their +sufferings. You say that justice must be done on such wrong-doers. But +as far as the rights and wrongs of the war go, you are simply +condemning to death and torture innocent men, by thousands and +thousands; is that the best way to satisfy your sense of justice? +These innocent people, you say, are fighting to protect the guilty +parties whom you are determined to reach. Well, perhaps, at the end of +the war, after millions of innocent people have suffered, you may at +last, if all goes well with your arms, get at the "guilty parties." +You will hold an inquiry, you will decide that certain Prussians with +long titles are the guilty parties, and even then you will not know +what to do with them. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span>You will probably try, and almost certainly +fail, to make them somehow feel ashamed. It is likely enough that they +will instead become great national heroes.</p> + +<p>"'And after all, this is supposed to be a war in which one party is +wrong and the other right, and the right wins. Suppose both are wrong; +or suppose the wrong party wins? It is as likely as not; for, if the +right party is helped by his good conscience, the wrong has probably +taken pains to have the odds on his side before he began quarreling. +In that case, all the wild waste of blood and treasure, all the +suffering of innocent people and dumb animals, all the tears of women +and children have not set up the right, but established the wrong. To +do a little evil that great or certain good may come is all very well; +but to do great evil for only a chance of getting something which half +the people may think good and the other half think bad ... that is +neither good morals nor good sense. Anybody not in a passion must see +that it is insanity,' So they say who think war always wrong.</p> + +<p>"Their argument is wrong. It is judging war as a profit-and-loss +account. It leaves out of sight the fact that in some causes it is +better to fight and be broken than to yield peacefully; that sometimes +the mere act of resisting to the death is in itself a victory.</p> + +<p>"Let us try to understand this. The Greeks who fought and died at +Thermopylæ had no doubt that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span>they were doing right to fight and die, +and we all agree with them. They probably knew they would be defeated. +They probably expected that, after their defeat, the Persians would +easily conquer the rest of Greece, and would treat it much more +harshly because it had resisted. But such thoughts did not affect +them. They would not consent to their country's dishonor.</p> + +<p>"Take again a very clear modern case: the fine story of the French +tourist who was captured, together with a priest and some other white +people, by Moorish robbers. The Moors gave their prisoners the choice +either to trample on the Cross or to be killed. The Frenchman was not +a Christian. He disliked Christianity. But he was not going to trample +on the Cross at the orders of a robber. He stuck to his companions and +died with them.</p> + +<p>"Honor and dishonor are real things. I will not try to define them; +but will only notice that, like religion, they admit no bargaining. +Indeed, we can almost think of honor as being simply that which a free +man values more than life, and dishonor as that which he avoids more +than suffering or death. And the important point for us is that there +are such things as honor and dishonor.</p> + +<p>"There are some people, followers of Tolstoy, who accept this as far +as dying is concerned, but will have nothing to do with killing. +Passive resistance, they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>say, is right; martyrdom is right; but to +resist violence by violence is sin.</p> + +<p>"I was once walking with a friend of Tolstoy's in a country lane, and +a little girl was running in front of us. I put to him the well-known +question: 'Suppose you saw a man, wicked or drunk or mad, run out and +attack that child. You are a big man, and carry a big stick: would you +not stop him and, if necessary, knock him down?' 'No,' he said, 'why +should I commit a sin. I would try to persuade him, I would stand in +his way, I would let him kill me, but I would not strike him,' Some +few people will always be found, less than one in a thousand, to take +this view. They will say: 'Let the little girl be killed or carried +off; let the wicked man commit another wickedness; I, at any rate, +will not add to the mass of useless violence that I see all around +me.'</p> + +<p>"With such persons one cannot reason, though one can often respect +them. Nearly every normal man will feel that the real sin, the real +dishonor, lies in allowing such an act to be committed under your eyes +while you have the strength to prevent it. And the stronger you are, +the greater your chance of success, by so much the more are you bound +to interfere. If the robbers are overpoweringly strong and there is no +chance of beating them, then and only then should you think of +martyrdom. Martyrdom is not the best possibility. It is almost the +worst. It is the last <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>resort when there is no hope of successful +resistance. The best thing—suppose once the robbers are there and +intent on crime—the best thing is to overawe them at once; the next +best, to defeat them after a hard struggle; the third best, to resist +vainly and be martyred; the worst of all, the one evil that need never +be endured, is to let them have their own will without protest.</p> + +<p>"We have noticed that in all these cases of honor there seems to be no +counting of cost, no balancing of good and evil. Ordinarily we are +always balancing results, but when honor or religion come on the +scene, all such balancing ceases. The point of honor is the point at +which a man says to some wrong proposal, 'I will not do it. I will +rather die.'</p> + +<p>"These things are far easier to see where one man is concerned than +where it is a whole nation. But they arise with nations, too. In the +case of a nation the material consequences are much larger, and the +point of honor is apt to be less clear. But, in general, whenever one +nation in dealing with another relies simply on force or fraud, and +denies to its neighbor the common consideration due to human beings, a +point of honor must arise.</p> + +<p>"Austria says suddenly to Serbia: 'You are a wicked little state. I +have annexed and governed against their will some millions of your +countrymen, yet you are still full of anti-Austrian feeling, which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span>I +do not intend to allow. You will dismiss from your service all +officials, politicians, and soldiers who do not love Austria, and I +will further send you from time to time lists of persons whom you are +to dismiss or put to death. And if you do not agree to this within +forty-eight hours, I, being vastly stronger than you, will make you. +As a matter of fact, Serbia did her very best to comply with Austria's +demands; she accepted about two thirds of them, and asked for +arbitration on the remaining third. But it is clear that she could not +accept them all without being dishonored. That is, Serbia would have +given up her freedom at the threat of force; the Serbs would no longer +be a free people, and every individual Serb would have been +humiliated. He would have confessed himself to be the kind of man who +will yield when an Austrian bullies him. And if it is urged that under +good Austrian government Serbia would become richer and safer, and the +Serbian peasants get better markets, such pleas cannot be listened to. +They are a price offered for slavery; and a free man will not accept +slavery at any price.</p> + +<p>"Germany, again, says to Belgium: 'We have no quarrel with you, but we +intend for certain reasons to march across your territory and perhaps +fight a battle or two there. We know that you are pledged by treaty +not to allow any such thing, but we cannot help that. Consent, and we +will pay you afterwards; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span>refuse, and we shall make you wish you had +never been born.' At that moment Belgium was a free, self-governing +state. If it had yielded to Germany's demand, it would have ceased to +be either free or self-governing. It is possible that, if Germany had +been completely victorious, Belgium would have suffered no great +material injury; but she would have taken orders from a stranger who +had no right to give them, simply because he was strong. Belgium +refused. She has had some of her towns destroyed, some thousands of +her soldiers killed, many more thousands of her women, children, and +non-combatants outraged and beggared; but she is still free. She still +has her honor.</p> + +<p>"Let us think this matter out more closely. The follower of Tolstoy +will say: 'We speak of Belgium's honor and Serbia's honor; but who is +Serbia and who is Belgium? There is no such person as either. There +are only great numbers of people who happen to be Serbians and +Belgians, and who mostly have had nothing to do with questions at +issue. Some of them are honorable people, some dishonorable. The honor +of each one of them depends very much on whether he pays his debts and +tells the truth, but not in the least on whether a number of +foreigners walk through his country or interfere with his government. +King Albert and his ministers might feel humiliated if the German +government compelled them <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span>to give way against their will; but would +the ordinary population? Would the ordinary peasant or shop-keeper or +artisan in the districts of Vise and Liége and Louvain have felt +particularly disgraced or ashamed? He would probably have made a +little money and been greatly amused by the sight of the troops +passing. He would not have suffered any injury that can for a moment +be compared with what he has suffered now, in order that his +government might feel proud of itself.'</p> + +<p>"I will not raise the point that, as a matter of fact, to grant a +right of way to Germany would have been to declare war against France, +so that Belgium would not, by giving up her independence, have been +spared the danger of war. I will assume that it was simply a question +of honor. And I believe that our follower of Tolstoy is very wrong.</p> + +<p>"Is it true, in a healthy and well-governed state, that the average +citizen is indifferent to the honor of his country? We know that it is +not. True, the average citizen may often not understand what is going +on, but as soon as he knows, he cares. Suppose for a moment that the +King, or the Prime Minister, or the President of the United States, +were found to be in the pay of a foreign state, can any one pretend +that the ordinary citizens of Great Britain or America would take it +quietly? That any normal man would be found saying: 'Well, the King, +or the President, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span>or the Prime Minister, is behaving dishonorably, +but that is a matter for him, not for me. I am an honest and honorable +man, and my government can do what it likes.' The notion is absurd. +The ordinary citizen would feel instantly and without question that +his country's honor involved his own. And woe to the society in which +it were otherwise! We know of such societies in history. They are the +kind which is called 'corrupt,' and which generally has not long to +live. Belgium has proved that she is not that kind of society.</p> + +<p>"But what about Great Britain herself? At the present moment a very +clear case has arisen, and we can test our own feelings. Great Britain +had, by a solemn treaty, pledged herself to help keep the neutrality +of Belgium. Belgium is a little state lying between two very strong +states, France and Germany, and in danger of being overrun or abused +by one of them unless the Great Powers guaranteed her safety. The +treaty, signed by Prussia, Russia, Austria, France, and Great Britain, +bound all these Powers not to attack Belgium, move troops into it, or +annex any part of it; and further, to resist by armed force any Power +which should try to do any of these things. Belgium, on her part, was +bound to maintain her own neutrality to the best of her power, and not +to side with any state which was at war with another.</p> + +<p>"At the end of July, 1914, the exact case arose in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>which we had +pledged ourselves to act. Germany, suddenly and without excuse, +invaded Belgium, and Belgium appealed to us and France to defend her. +Meantime she fought alone, desperately, against overwhelming odds. The +issue was clear. The German Chancellor, Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, in +his speech of August 6, admitted that Germany had no grievance against +Belgium, and no excuse except 'necessity.' She could not get to France +quick enough by the direct road. Germany put her case to us, roughly, +on these grounds. 'True, you did sign a treaty, but what is a treaty? +We ourselves signed the same treaty, and see what we are doing! +Anyhow, treaty or no treaty, we have Belgium in our power. If she had +done what we wanted, we would have treated her kindly; as it is we +shall show her no mercy. If you will now do what we want and stay +quiet, later on we will consider a friendly deal with you. If you +interfere, you must take the consequences. We trust you will not be so +insane as to plunge your whole empire into danger for the sake of "a +scrap of paper."' Our answer was: 'Evacuate Belgium within twelve +hours or we fight you.'</p> + +<p>"I think that answer was right. Consider the situation carefully. No +question arises of overhaste or lack of patience on our part. From the +first moment of the crisis, we had labored night and day in every +court of Europe for any possible means of peace. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span>We had carefully and +sincerely explained to Germany beforehand what attitude she might +expect from us. We did not send our ultimatum till Belgium was already +invaded. It is just the plain question put to the British government, +and, I think, to every one who feels himself a British citizen: 'The +exact case contemplated in your treaty has arisen: the people you +swore to protect is being massacred; will you keep your word at a +gigantic cost, or will you break it at the bidding of Germany?' For my +own part, weighing the whole question, I would rather die than submit; +and I believe that the government, in deciding to keep its word at the +cost of war, has expressed the feeling of the average British citizen.</p> + +<p>"War is not all evil. It is a true tragedy, which must have nobleness +and triumph in it as well as disaster, but we must not begin to praise +war without stopping to reflect on the hundreds of thousands of human +beings involved in such horrors of pain that, if here in our ordinary +hours we saw one man so treated, the memory would sicken us to the end +of our lives; we must remember the horses and dogs, remember the +gentle natures brutalized by hardship and filth, and the once decent +persons transformed by rage and fear into devils of cruelty. But, when +we have realized that, we may begin to see in this desert of evil some +oases of good.</p> + +<p>"Do the fighting men become degraded? Day after <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span>day come streams of +letters from the front, odd stories, fragments of diaries, and the +like; full of the small intimate facts which reveal character, and +almost with one accord they show that these men have not fallen, but +risen. No doubt there has been some selection in the letters; to some +extent the writers repeat what they wish to have remembered, and say +nothing of what they wish to forget. But, when all allowances are +made, one cannot read the letters and the dispatches without a feeling +of admiration for the men about whom they tell. They were not +originally a set of chosen men. They were just our ordinary fellow +citizens, the men you meet on a crowded pavement. There was nothing to +suggest that their conduct in common life was better than that of +their neighbors. Yet now, under the stress of war, having a duty +before them that is clear and unquestioned and terrible, they are +daily doing nobler things than we most of us have ever had the chance +of doing, things which we hardly dare hope that we might be able to +do. I am not thinking of the rare achievements that win a V.C. or a +Cross of the Legion of Honor, but of the common necessary heroism of +the average man; the long endurance, the devoted obedience, the +close-banded life in which self-sacrifice is the normal rule, and all +men may be forgiven except the man who saves himself at the expense of +his comrade. I think of the men who share their last biscuit <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span>with a +starving peasant, who help wounded comrades through days and nights of +horrible retreat, who give their lives to save mates or officers.</p> + +<p>"For example, to take these two stories:</p> + +<p>"Relating his experiences to a pressman, Lance-Corporal Edmondson, of +the Royal Irish Lancers, said: 'There is absolutely no doubt that our +men are still animated by the spirit of old. I came on a couple of men +of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had been cut off at Mons. +One was badly wounded, but his companion had stuck by him all the time +in a country swarming with Germans, and, though they had only a few +biscuit between them, they managed to pull through until we picked +them up. I pressed the unwounded man to tell me how they managed to +get through the four days on six biscuit, but he always got angry and +told me to shut up. I fancy he went without anything, and gave the +biscuit to the wounded man. They were offered shelter many times by +French peasants, but they were so afraid of bringing trouble on these +kind folk that they would never accept shelter. One night they lay out +in the open all through a heavy downpour, though there was a house at +hand where they could have had shelter. Uhlans were on the prowl, and +they would not think of compromising the French people, who would have +been glad to help them.'</p> + +<p>"The following story of an unidentified private of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span>the Royal Irish +Regiment, who deliberately threw away his life in order to warn his +comrades of an ambush, is told by a wounded corporal of the West +Yorkshire Regiment now in hospital in Woolwich:</p> + +<p>"'The fight in which I got hit was in a little French village near to +Rheims. We were working in touch with the French corps on our left, +and early one morning we were sent ahead to this village, which we had +reason to believe was clear of the enemy. On the outskirts we +questioned a French lad, but he seemed scared and ran away. We went on +through the long narrow street, and just as we were in sight of the +end, the figure of a man dashed out from a farmhouse on the right. +Immediately the rifles began to crack in front, and the poor chap fell +dead before he reached us.</p> + +<p>"'He was one of our men, a private of the Royal Irish Regiment. We +learned that he had been captured the previous day by a party of +German cavalry, and had been held a prisoner at the farm, where the +Germans were in ambush for us. He tumbled to their game, and though he +knew that if he made the slightest sound they would kill him, he +decided to make a dash to warn us of what was in store. He had more +than a dozen bullets in him and there was not the slightest hope for +him. We carried him into a house until the fight was over, and then we +buried him next day with military honors. His identification <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span>disk and +everything else was missing, so that we could only put over his grave +the tribute that was paid to a greater: "He saved others; himself he +could not save." There wasn't a dry eye among us when we laid him to +rest in that little village.'</p> + +<p>"Or I think again of the expressions on faces that I have seen or read +about, something alert and glad and self-respecting in the eyes of +those who are going to the front, and even of the wounded who are +returning. 'Never once,' writes one correspondent, 'not once since I +came to France have I seen among the soldiers an angry face or heard +an angry word.... They are always quiet, orderly, and wonderfully +cheerful.' And no one who has followed the war need be told of their +heroism. I do not forget the thousands left on the battlefield to die, +or the groaning of the wounded sounding all day between the crashes of +the guns. But there is a strange, deep gladness as well. 'One feels an +extraordinary freedom,' says a young Russian officer, 'in the midst of +death, with the bullets whistling round. The same with all the +soldiers. The wounded all want to get well and return to the fight. +They fight with tears of joy in their eyes.'</p> + +<p>"Human nature is a mysterious thing, and man finds his weal and woe +not in the obvious places. To have something before you, clearly seen, +which you know you must do, and can do, and will spend your utmost +strength and perhaps your life in doing, that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span>is one form at least of +very high happiness, and one that appeals—the facts prove it—not +only to saints and heroes but to average men. Doubtless the few who +are wise enough and have enough imagination, may find opportunity for +that same happiness in everyday life, but in war ordinary men find it. +This is the inward triumph which lies at the heart of the great +tragedy."</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O yet we trust that somehow good<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Will be the final goal of ill,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To pangs of nature, sins of will,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Defects of doubt, and taints of blood;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That nothing walks with aimless feet;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That not one life shall be destroyed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or cast as rubbish to the void,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When God hath made the pile complete;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That not a worm is cloven in vain;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That not a moth with vain desire<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Is shrivelled in a fruitless fire,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or but subserves another's gain.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Behold, we know not anything;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I can but trust that good shall fall<br /></span> +<span class="i2">At last—far off—at last, to all,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And every winter change to spring.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10 sc">Alfred Tennyson.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="ONE_AMERICAN" id="ONE_AMERICAN"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>WHAT ONE AMERICAN DID<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>If a person had been standing one night beside the railroad tracks in +Germany in the fall of 1917, he would have seen a train speeding along +through the darkness at about thirty-five miles an hour. He would have +noticed through an open window a tall soldier in the uniform of an +English flyer, a lieutenant in the R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps), stand +up on the seat as if to get something out of the rack; and then he +would have been astounded to see the same tall English flyer come +flying out feet first through the window, to land on the side of his +head on the stone ballast of the opposite track.</p> + +<p>Few persons could do this and come through alive. This English flyer a +few weeks before had fallen eight thousand feet, with a bullet in his +neck, when his airplane had been shot down in a fight with four German +machines. When picked up within the German lines, he was enough alive +to be taken to a hospital. The bullet was removed, and he recovered. +He was a British flyer, simply because America did not enter the war +soon enough for him, and like many other young <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span>Americans, he was +eager to fight the German beast and "save the world for democracy."</p> + +<p>He was being taken with six other officers from a prison in Belgium to +a prison camp in Germany. He knew that, once there, his chances for +escape would be very small; and he felt he preferred death to life in +a German prison camp. He knew that, if he were not killed in his leap +from the train, the Germans would doubtless shoot him as a spy, should +they succeed in recapturing him. Some Germans wanted all Americans who +enlisted in the Allied armies to be shot, as they had shot Captain +Fryatt, on the ground that they were non-combatants attacking war +forces; for this was before America entered the war against Germany. +Besides, prisoners were not allowed to know what was going on in +Germany. An escaped prisoner who could find out was, therefore, likely +to be treated as a spy.</p> + +<p>Pat O'Brien's cheek was cut open, and his left eye badly injured and +swollen so that he could not open it. He had scratched his hands and +wrists, and sprained his ankle. But he was hard to kill. In the +excitement caused by his jump through the car window, the Germans did +not stop the train immediately, and so did not reach the spot where he +had fallen, until he had recovered consciousness and had got away from +the track. He was careful in walking away to hold the tail of his coat +so that the blood <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span>dropping from his cheek would not fall upon the +ground and show which way he went. Before daylight he had been able to +put more than five miles between him and the tracks. He then hid in a +deep woods, knowing that he must travel by night and keep out of sight +by day, for he was wearing the uniform of a British flyer.</p> + +<p>The story of his adventures is one of the most interesting of all the +strange and interesting stories of the World War. When he reached +England, King George sent for him to come to Buckingham Palace and +spent nearly an hour listening to it. Lieutenant O'Brien has published +it in a book which he calls "Outwitting the Hun." Boys and girls who +like an exciting story of adventure, a true story, will want to read +this book.</p> + +<p>He knew the North Star, and by this he set his course west, in order +to reach Belgium, and then go north from Belgium to Holland. It rained +a great share of the time, but this did not make much difference, for +he had to swim so many canals and rivers that his clothes were always +wet. At first he had taken off his clothes when he had to swim and had +tied them in a bundle to his head to keep them from getting wet; but +after he lost one of his shoes in the water in this way and had to +spend nearly two hours diving before he recovered it, he swam with his +clothes and shoes on. He never could have gone on without <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span>shoes. Had +he not been a good diver, he could not have found the shoe in the mud +under eight feet of water; had he not been a good swimmer, he could +not have crossed the Meuse River, nearly half a mile wide, after many +days and nights of traveling almost without food (as it was, he +dropped in a dead faint when he reached the farther side); and had he +not known the North Star, he would have had no idea at night whether +he was going in the right direction or going in, a circle. Rainy and +cloudy nights delayed him greatly.</p> + +<p>He did not dare ask for food at the houses in Germany, for he would +have been immediately turned over to the authorities. So he lived on +raw carrots, turnips, cabbages, sugar beets, and potatoes, which he +found in the fields. He knew he must not make a fire even if he could +do so in the Indian's way, by rubbing sticks together. He had no +matches. He found some celery one night and ate so much of it that it +made him sick. He had only the water in the canals and rivers to +drink, and most of this was really unfit for human beings. He lay for +an hour one night in a cabbage field lapping the dew from the cabbage +leaves, he was so thirsty for pure, fresh water.</p> + +<p>One day before he reached Belgium, he was awakened from his sleep in +the woods by voices near him. He kept very quiet, and soon heard the +sound of axes and saw a great tree, not far from him, tremble. He was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span>lying in a clump of thick bushes and could not move without making a +noise. He knew that if the great tree with its huge branches fell in +his direction, he would surely be killed or at least pinned to the +earth and badly injured—and his capture meant that he would be shot +as a spy. But there was nothing for him to do but wait, and hope. At +last the tree began to sway, and then fell away from him instead of +towards him. He had again escaped death.</p> + +<p>When he reached Belgium, which he did in eighteen days after his +escape through the car window, he followed the North Star, for he knew +Holland was to the north, and once in Holland he would be free. His +feet were sore and bleeding, his knees badly swollen, and he was sick +from exposure and starvation. For a while, he had a severe fever and +raved and talked all night long in his half sleeping state. He feared +some one would hear him and that he would be taken. He was weary and +tired of struggling and fighting, and ready to give up; but his will, +his soul, would not let him. He tells us how he raved when the fever +was on him, and called on the North Star to save him from the coward, +Pat O'Brien, who wanted him to quit.</p> + +<p>He says he cried aloud, "There you are, you old North Star! You want +me to get to Holland, don't you? But this Pat O'Brien—this Pat +O'Brien who calls himself a soldier—he's got a yellow streak—North +Star—and he says it can't be done! He wants <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span>me to quit—to lie down +here for the Huns to find me and take me back to Courtrai—after all +you've done, North Star, to lead me to liberty. Won't you make this +coward leave me, North Star? I don't want to follow him—I just want +to follow you—because you—you are taking me away from the Huns and +this Pat O'Brien—this fellow who keeps after me all the time and +leans on my neck and wants me to lie down—this yellow Pat O'Brien who +wants me to go back to the Huns!"</p> + +<p>In Belgium, he had a somewhat easier time, as far as food went, for he +found he could go to the Belgian houses and ask for it. As he could +not speak the language, and did not want them to know he was an +English soldier, he pretended he was deaf and dumb. He had finally +succeeded in getting some overalls and discarding his uniform.</p> + +<p>Belgium was full of German soldiers, many of them living in the houses +of the Belgians, so he was obliged to use extreme care in approaching +a house to ask for food or help. Every Belgian was supposed to carry a +card, called in German an <i>Ausweiss</i>. It identified the bearer when +stopped by a German sentinel or soldier. Lieutenant O'Brien knew that +without this card he would be arrested and that his looks made him a +suspicious character. His eye had hardly healed, his face was covered +with a three weeks' beard, and altogether he was a disreputable +looking creature.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span>After very many interesting and exciting experiences, he succeeded in +reaching the boundary line. To prevent Belgians taking refuge in +Holland and to prevent escaped prisoners, and even German soldiers, +from crossing the line into this neutral country, where, if they were +in uniform, they would be interned for the rest of the war, the +Germans had built all along the line three barbed wire fences, six +feet apart. The center fence was charged with electricity of such a +voltage that any human being coming in contact with it would be +instantly electrocuted. This triple barrier of wire was guarded by +German sentinels day and night.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant O'Brien reached the barrier in the night, and hid himself +when he heard the tramp of the German sentinel. He waited until the +sentinel returned and noted carefully how long he was gone, in order +to learn how much time he had in which to work.</p> + +<p>He thought he could build a ladder out of two fallen trees by tying +branches across them, and in this way get over the ten-foot center +fence. He succeeded in getting his ladder together, by working all +night, and with it he hid in the woods all the next day. When night +came, he shoved the ladder under the first barbed wire fence and +crawled in after it. He placed it carefully up against one of the +posts to which the charged electric wires were fastened and began to +climb up it, when all of a sudden it slipped and came <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span>in contact with +the live wires. The trees out of which he had constructed it were so +soaked with water that they made good conductors of electricity, and +he received such a charge that he was thrown to the ground +unconscious, where he lay while the sentinel passed within seven feet +of him.</p> + +<p>He gave up the ladder and decided to dig under the live wires. He had +only his hands to dig with, but the ground was fairly soft. After some +hours, he had a hole deep enough and wide enough to crawl through +without touching the live wire. He found a wire running along under +the ground. He knew this could not be alive, for the ground would +discharge any electricity there might be in it. So he took hold of it +and, after much struggling, was able to get it out of the way. Then he +crawled carefully under the live wires and was a free man in Holland, +for he wore no uniform and would not be interned.</p> + +<p>At the first village he came to, some of the Dutch people loaned him +enough money to ride third-class to Rotterdam. He said he was glad he +was not riding first-class, for he would have looked as much out of +place in a first-class compartment as a Hun would in heaven.</p> + +<p>The English consul at Rotterdam gave him money and a passport to +England, and from there he came to see his mother, in a little town in +Illinois, called Momence.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<br /> + +<h4>FOOTNOTES:</h4> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> BY COURTESY OF HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="RAEMAEKERS" id="RAEMAEKERS"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>RAEMAEKERS<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>There are many ways of fighting, and the Germans, in their forty-four +years of planning to conquer the world, thought of them all. The only +forces they neglected were the mighty forces of fairness, justice, +innocence, pity, purity, friendship, love, and other similar spiritual +forces that Americans have been taught to look upon as the greatest of +all.</p> + +<p>There is a force called Rumor which sometimes speaks the truth, but +which usually lies, that is a great power for evil and rarely for +good. The Germans used this with the Italian troops in Italy, sending +into their lines, by dropping them from airplanes and in other ways, +all sorts of rumors about Austria and Italy, about the coming collapse +of the Allies, about what great friends the Russians and Germans had +become when the Russians realized that it was foolish and wrong to +fight,—until the Italian soldiers lost the spirit which had carried +them over the Alps and very near to the conquest of Austria, and were +then easily defeated in the next powerful Austrian attack.</p> + +<p>German agents spread stories through the papers of the United States +to help Germany in the eyes and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span>minds of the American people. They +bought leading papers in Paris and one in New York to use in +misleading people as to Germany's actions and aims. They printed lies +for their own people to make them believe the war was forced on +Germany, and that they were fighting against the whole world, for +their lives and for liberty. They published cartoons in German papers +in great numbers to carry, even to those who could not read, the ideas +about the war and about her enemies that German rulers wished the +people to believe.</p> + +<p>The German leaders, in all lines, realize the power of advertising, +and they tried to fill men's eyes and ears with false statements of +the German cause. Not long ago almost any kind of advertisement was +allowed in the papers published in the United States. Pictures of a +man perfectly bald were printed side by side with others of a man with +flowing locks, all the result of a few applications of Dr. Quack's +Wonderful Hair Restorer, or some other equally good. Letters were +published, bought and paid for, often from prominent people, declaring +that two bottles (or more) of some patent medicine had made them over +from hopeless invalids to vigorous, joyous manhood or womanhood. +Falsehoods, or at least misleading statements, were given about +foodstuffs, either on the packages or in advertisements about them.</p> + +<p>But the United States government soon put a stop <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span>to this +misrepresentation and compelled advertisers and food manufacturers not +only to stop lying, but even to print the truth; and the manufacture +and sale of things injurious to the public health were controlled. The +American people want honesty, frankness, and fair dealing in all +things.</p> + +<p>The Germans seem to be a different kind of people in every way. It is +to be hoped that sometime they will cease to act as manufacturers of +patent medicines and adulterated foods were accustomed to act; but as +long as Germany is after material gain, as these manufacturers were +after money, it is very likely that she will seek to get it by deceit +and lying, until the governments of the earth oblige her to be honest, +or quit business.</p> + +<p>It is said that it takes a long time to catch a lie. It depends, +however, upon how many get after it and how swift and powerful they +are. German lies have been counted upon as a considerable part of her +fighting forces. She has spent millions of dollars and used thousands +of men in this service. Is it not strange that one little, almost +insignificant looking Dutchman, hardly heard of before the war, has +been able almost alone to defeat the money and the men used by Germany +to hoodwink the world? But this Dutchman, Louis Raemaekers, working +for the <i>Amsterdam Telegraf</i>, had for years seen through German ideas +and aims. He says, "Germany has never made any <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span>secret of her ideas or +her intentions, She has always been frank, as selfish people often +are. I have seen through the German idea for more than twenty years. A +generation ago, I saw, as every one who cared to see did, what it was +leading us to; in fact, Germany told us."</p> + +<p>And he adds about the German people: "There is only one way to reach +the modern German. Beat him over the head. He understands nothing +else. The world must go on beating him over the head until he cries +'Enough'; or the world can never live with him."</p> + +<p>Knowing Germany, and that German victory meant the loss of all that is +really worth while in this world, the loss of liberty, and the +destruction of any government that is what Lincoln said all +governments should be, "of the people, for the people, and by the +people"—Louis Raemaekers fought Germany with his pen and his brush, +and fought her so well that the German government offered a large +reward for him dead or alive, and a leading German writer said he had +done more harm to the Prussian cause than an armed division of Allied +troops.</p> + +<p>The <i>Cologne Gazette</i>, in a furious article dealing with Raemaekers, +declared that after the war Germany would settle accounts with Holland +and would demand payment with interest for the damage done Germany by +his cartoons.</p> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep305.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep305.jpg" width="45%" alt="Civilization under the Lash" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen sc" style="margin-top: .2em;">Civilization under the Lash</p> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">Taken from "Raemaekers' Cartoon History of the War," by permission of +The Century Company.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span>Some of the Dutch people feared Germany so greatly that they succeeded +in bringing Raemaekers to trial for having violated the neutrality of +Holland. German influence was strong in Holland, and Raemaekers was +hated by many of his own people; but the better sense of the Dutch +triumphed, and he was acquitted.</p> + +<p>One of his first cartoons represented Germany in the form of the +Kaiser, wearing a German uniform and spiked helmet, with a foot upon +the body of Luxemburg and a knee upon the prostrate form of Belgium, +whom he was choking to death. He holds an uplifted sword in his hand +and is saying, "This is how I deal with the small fry."</p> + +<p>Another shows with almost sickening force the heart-breaking suffering +of Belgian mothers, as contrasted with the cruelty and hard-heartedness +of the Huns. A Belgian woman is kneeling beside a pile of dead from her +village, with an expression of almost insane suffering upon her face. A +German officer is passing, with one hand thrust into his coat front and +a cigar in his mouth. He stops to say, "Ah! was your boy among the +twelve this morning? Then you'll find him among this lot."</p> + +<p>A third shows a German looting a house and carrying away everything +that he thinks is of value to him. The furniture is smashed and a +woman and child lie dead on the floor. The Hun is saying, "It's all +right. If I had not done it some one else might."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span>A fourth shows a line of hostages standing in front of a wall to be +shot for an offense that the German officer in command claims some one +in the village committed. Those taken as hostages are innocent of +wrong doing. The cartoon shows the ends of the barrels of the German +muskets pointed at the hearts of the hostages and a German officer +with his sword raised and his lips parted to give the order to fire. +It shows but four of the hostages: an old man, probably the mayor of +the town; a white-haired priest; a well-to-do man, and his son, about +fourteen years of age. The boy is asking, "Father, what have we +done?"—the cry that went up to their Heavenly Father from thousands +of martyrs in Belgium.</p> + +<p>It is no wonder that the German rulers fear this Dutch artist more +than they do a division of soldiers. His fighting against the Huns and +their atrocities and against the German nature and teaching that made +these atrocities possible will continue in every nation of the earth, +as long as printing presses furnish pictures and people look at them.</p> + +<p>His pen or pencil wrote a language that all could read, and they spoke +the truth so that it turned all who read it against the modern Hun.</p> + +<p>When he visited England, one of the leading papers declared that he +was a genius, probably the only genius produced by the war; and that +long after the most exciting and interesting articles in newspapers +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span>and magazines were forgotten, and the great number of books on the war +had been lost or stowed away in dusty garrets, his cartoons would live +and stir the indignation of men yet unborn; and that Louis Raemaekers +had nailed the Kaiser to a cross of immortal infamy.</p> + +<p>France has honored him as one of the great heroes of the war, and has +given him the Legion of Honor.</p> + +<p>George Creel says, "He is a voice, a sword, a flame. His cartoons are +the tears of women, the battle shout of indomitable defenders, the +indignation of humanity, the sob of civilization. They will go down in +history."</p> + +<p>One of the wonderful painters of old Japan put so much of himself, of +his soul and heart, into every stroke of his brush that it was said, +"If a swift and keen sword should cut through his brush at work, it +would bleed."</p> + +<p>Through the pen and brush of Louis Raemaekers has pulsed the heart +blood of suffering Belgium and horrified humanity; and for this +reason, his cartoons are inspired and move the hearts and minds of all +men to despise and condemn those who could commit such inhuman deeds.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_GOD_IN_MAN" id="THE_GOD_IN_MAN"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE GOD IN MAN<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>A soldier on the firing step, aiming at the enemy, is suddenly struck; +and he drops down to the bottom of the trench. His nearest comrade +must keep on firing, but two stretcher-bearers are ready at their +posts. They rush forward, take the first-aid packet from the soldier's +pocket, cut his clothes away from the wound, and quickly dress it. +They carry him to the trench doctor, who treats the wound again. Then +they take the soldier from the trenches to the nearest field +ambulance, where his wound is again cared for.</p> + +<p>He is so badly hurt that he needs to recover far from the sound of the +thundering cannon. But he is not so seriously injured that he cannot +stand a short journey. So he is placed, as comfortably as possible, in +an ambulance train, with skilled Red Cross nurses to attend to him. +The train arrives just in time to meet the hospital ship at the port. +The soldier is carried on board, and soon finds himself in a quiet +hospital in London—all in little more than twenty-four hours, a day +and a night.</p> + +<p>So thousands of men have been cared for each week, by a never-ending +line of devoted Red Cross <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span>stretcher-bearers, doctors, and nurses, on +the battlefield, on the trains, on hospital ships, and in the home +hospitals, in London, and in every fighting country in the world.</p> + +<p>Somewhat back from the lines are the stationary hospitals, where many +soldiers are left who cannot be carried farther, but must be treated +there. "Mushroom hospitals" they are called; for, although they have +the appearance of having been there before, they really have sprung up +only since the war started. The wards are spotlessly clean, filled +with rows and rows of beds, also spotlessly clean. Beyond are the +operating rooms, baths, kitchens, and gardens filled with flowers, +where the wounded men may breathe fresh air and get back the strength +which they have so willingly lost in service. All the time, hundreds +of new patients are arriving, hundreds are leaving, either to go to +more distant hospitals, or to go back to the lines to fight.</p> + +<p>In comes one soldier who does not see or know where he is, nor who it +was that brought him. But when at last he opens his eyes, he finds +himself in a spotlessly clean white bed for the first time in months. +He looks about, and yes, there is Bobby, his own pet collie, sitting +beside him. He had lost him when he went over the top in the fight; +but somehow Bobby had followed him here, and somebody had been kind +enough to let him stay beside his master in this clean and pleasant +room.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span>By and by the wounded soldier grows well enough to be carried out into +the garden. There he and Bobby sit and watch the men caring for the +flowers. These men are not hired; they are wounded soldiers helping +about the hospital. The garden itself was made by a soldier who was a +gardener before the war. Every man helps with his knowledge of some +trade. The napkin rings and salt cellars used in the hospital were +made by a soldier tinsmith out of old biscuit boxes.</p> + +<p>One day our wounded soldier becomes so well that he may walk away with +Bobby, and a nurse brings him his suit, his rifle, and all his +equipment, nicely cleansed and put in order.</p> + +<p>So everybody does his bit in the hospitals. Dentists and +eye-specialists, surgeons and nurses, wearing the Red Cross, work +tirelessly from morning till night and sometimes both day and night, +to save the brave wounded men. They do their work as best they can, +sweetly and cheerfully, caring for the German soldiers as well as for +their own Allied soldiers. To know of them, to watch them in their +work of mercy, is to realize that there is something different from +the beast in man—there is the God in man, the spirit of love and +tender, skillful care, which they dare to give in the face of awful +danger.</p> + +<p>One of the brave nurses wrote home to America something of all she was +doing. Among many things, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span>she said: "The Huns were pouring down in +streams to attack our men. I immediately began to get the hospital +ready to receive the wounded.</p> + +<p>"Our surgeon was away on leave, but another equally good arrived. On +Tuesday, the wounded men began to come in. Wednesday and Thursday I +served from early morning until midnight. Bombs were bursting in the +distance, and news came that the Huns were within a few miles of us.</p> + +<p>"A Red Cross unit came, and one English nurse arrived to help us. She +had lost the others in her party, and had walked miles to get here. It +seemed as if God had sent them all from heaven!</p> + +<p>"All the surgical supplies that I could save from those you sent me +from the Red Cross, I had put away for emergency. I don't know what we +would have done without them!</p> + +<p>"I had to see that the surgeons had whatever they needed, and from all +sides every one was calling for help. Through it all, I was up every +morning at four and never went to bed till midnight. The cannon were +roaring, star shells exploding, bombs dropping around us,—but nothing +touching us!</p> + +<p>"For eight days our men fought gloriously. They were a wonder and such +a surprise to the Huns. Now perhaps they know what they have to face!</p> + +<p>"The little hospital was able to save many, many lives. We have sent +away most of our wounded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span>to-day, and are now waiting in suspense for +what may come next—but we are ready to do our best, whatever comes.</p> + +<p>"We do not dare keep the seriously wounded now for any length of time, +for no one knows when the Huns may fight their way through. We know +what the 'front line' really means. No one goes in or out except by +military or Red Cross camion. No private telegrams can be sent, and to +our joy, we do not have to bother with food-ration cards, for a while +at least. <i>Boches</i> are over our heads all day, and cannons booming. I +am so used to it now that I don't mind it.</p> + +<p>"I am so homesick to see you all, but I will not leave my work until +the end of this horrible war, if God will give me health and strength. +Don't worry. I intend to stick to my post to the end, and if the Huns +come down upon us, the Red Cross will get us out."</p> + +<p>Nor are these all of the ways in which the Red Cross shows the God in +man. From the beginning of the war until March, 1918, over $36,000,000 +of American money alone was spent in the following ways:</p> + +<div class="block"><p class="noin"><span class="sc">France, $30,936,103.</span></p> + +<p>Established rest stations along all routes followed by the +American troops in France.</p> + +<p>Built canteens for use of French and American soldiers at the +front, also at railroad junctions and in Paris.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span>Supplied American troops with comfort kits and sent them +Christmas gifts.</p> + +<p>Established a hospital-distributing service that supplies 3423 +French military hospitals, and a surgical dressing service that +supplies 2000.</p> + +<p>Provided an artificial-limb factory and special plants for the +manufacture of splints and nitrous oxide gas.</p> + +<p>Established a casualty service for gathering information in +regard to wounded and missing, this information to be sent to +relatives.</p> + +<p>Opened a children's refuge hospital in the war zone and +established a medical and traveling center to accommodate 1200 +children in the reconquered sections of France. Fifty thousand +children throughout France are being cared for in some measure +by the Red Cross.</p> + +<p>Planned extensive reclamation work in the invaded sections of +France from which the enemy has been driven; this work is now +being carried out with the coöperation of the Society of Friends +and alumnæ units from Smith College and other colleges.</p> + +<p>Established a large central warehouse in Paris and numerous +warehouses at important points from the sea to the Swiss border, +for storing of hospital supplies, food, soldiers' comforts, +tobacco, blankets, clothing, beds, and other articles of relief.</p> + +<p>Secured and operated 400 motor cars for the distribution of +supplies.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span>Opened a hospital and convalescent home for children; also +established an ambulance service for the adult refugees, who are +now returning from points within the German lines at the rate of +1000 a day.</p> + +<p>Improved health conditions in the American war zone before the +coming of American troops.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="noin sc">Belgium, $2,086,131.</p> + +<p>Started reconstruction work in reconquered territory, supplying +returned refugees with temporary dwellings, tools, furniture, +farm animals, and supplies essential to giving them a fresh +start in life.</p> + +<p>Appropriated $600,000 for the relief of Belgian children, +covering their removal from territories under bombardment and +the establishment and maintenance of them in colonies.</p> + +<p>Provided funds for the operation of a hospital for wounded +Belgian soldiers and for part of the equipment of a typhoid +hospital.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="noin sc">Italy, $3,588,826.</p> + +<p>Provided the Italian army with 60 ambulances, 40 trucks, and 100 +American drivers.</p> + +<p>Contracted for 10 field hospitals complete for use by the Sanita +Militaire and the Italian Red Cross.</p> + +<p>Supplied 1,000,000 surgical dressings. Opened relief +headquarters in 9 districts of Italy.</p> + +<p>Established a hospital for refugees at Rimini.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span>Planned and made appropriations for extensive work among the +refugees in all parts of Italy.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="noin sc">Roumania, $2,676,368.</p> + +<p>Rushed more than $100,000 worth of medical supplies and +foodstuffs into Roumania immediately after the retreat to Jassy.</p> + +<p>Carried general relief work into every part of the stricken +country not invaded by the Teuton and Bulgarian forces.</p> + +<br /> + +<p class="noin sc">United States, $8,589,899.</p> + +<p>Organized and trained 45 ambulance companies, totaling 5580 men, +for service with American soldiers and sailors.</p> + +<p>Built and maintained four laboratory cars for emergency use in +stamping out epidemics at cantonments and training camps.</p> + +<p>Started work of bettering sanitary conditions in the zones +immediately surrounding the cantonments.</p> + +<p>Established camp service bureaus to look out for comfort and +welfare of soldiers in training.</p> + +<p>Supplied 2,000,000 sweaters to soldiers and sailors.</p> + +<p>Mobilized 14,000 trained nurses for care of our men.</p> + +<p>Established a department of Home Service and opened training +schools for workers.</p> + +<p>Planned convalescent houses at all cantonments and training +camps. Increased membership from scant half million to +approximately 22,000,000.</p> + +<div class="centered"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="60%" summary="War Relief"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="70%"> For War Relief in other countries, including + Great Britain, Russia, and Serbia</td> + <td class="tdrvtb" width="30%">$7,581,075</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">To supply food to American prisoners in + Germany</td> + <td class="tdrvtb">$343,304</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">For supplies purchased for shipment abroad</td> + <td class="tdrvtb">$15,000,000</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The Jewish Relief Societies of this country have also forwarded large +sums of money to relieve the terrible suffering among their people in +Russia, Poland, Turkey, Palestine, and others of the war-stricken +countries. Approximately $24,000,000 was sent abroad for this purpose +during the first four years of the war.</p> + +<p>One evening the train drew into the station of a little town in +France. It stopped long enough for half a hundred tired, dusty +soldiers to gain the platform, then puffed away out of sight. They +were not the fighting soldiers—they were engineers. The men looked +about in a bewildered way for the train with which they were supposed +to connect. But it was nowhere in sight; it had gone. They were sorry +not to meet the rest of their company, but there was nothing for them +to do but remain in the town overnight. They walked the streets, and +found that every hotel, boarding house, and private home was filled to +the last cot. Thousands of American troops were in the town, on their +way to the front. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span>engineers had ridden for many hours and were +very hungry, but their pockets were nearly empty.</p> + +<p>Suddenly they stopped before a large building painted a deep blue, and +bearing the sign,</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 15%;" class="noin">Knights of Columbus<br /> +Everybody Welcome.</p> + +<p>The half a hundred men walked in, passed group after group of soldiers +and sailors, and found the secretary. Soon they were dining on Knights +of Columbus ham and eggs, without money and without price! The +secretary himself served them.</p> + +<p>They entered the large lounging room, found tables covered with good +reading books, easy chairs and writing benches set about the room, and +a stage at the back with piano, victrola, and a moving picture screen.</p> + +<p>So when they least expected it, but most wanted it, they found a place +that seemed like home. Knights of Comfort, the Knights of Columbus +have been called, and comfort they have given to thousands of soldiers +and sailors. About $50,000,000 has been raised by the society for one +year of such good work.</p> + +<p>Almost on the very battleground is another source of comfort to the +fighting men,—the little huts with the sign of the Red Triangle,—the +Y.M.C.A. There is hardly one American home which has not received from +some soldier a letter on paper marked with the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span>little red triangle. +Thousands have been written at the benches inside the huts, and +thousands of books and magazines found in the huts have been read in +spare time by the soldier lads.</p> + +<p>Usually only the paper for letter writing is furnished at the huts, +and the men buy their postage stamps. Often fifty to a hundred men are +in line to purchase stamps, so that at times the secretary heaves a +sigh of relief when at last he has to hang up the sign "Stamps All +Out." In one hut as many as three thousand letters have been handled +in one day, besides parcel-post packages, registered letters, and +money-orders.</p> + +<p>The United States government has realized the valuable services of the +society and recognized it officially, permitting its men to wear the +uniform, and to accompany the soldiers right into the trenches.</p> + +<p>Often before and always after the men go into battle, the "Y" workers +bring up great kettles of hot chocolate and a store of biscuit. This +is a godsend to the men who have been fighting for hours with little, +if anything, to eat.</p> + +<p>Passing over the battlefield, the workers write down messages from +wounded and dying men, to be sent to their relatives. They learn all +they can about those who have been taken prisoners, and so bring +comfort to the people at home.</p> + +<p>The secretaries send to the United States free of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span>charge money from +the soldiers to their home folks. In one month, a million dollars was +brought to the Y.M.C.A. with the simple instructions that it be +delivered to addresses given by the soldiers. The controller of the +New York Life Insurance Company in France has had charge of this.</p> + +<p>The association has nearly 400 motor trucks engaged in various kinds +of transport work. It aids greatly in caring for and entertaining the +soldiers, as many as 4000 of them at a time. It has opened many hotels +in France, four of them in Paris, and owns several factories for the +making of chocolate. It holds religious services for the men, +providing preachers of all the different faiths. So it, too, shares in +the godlike services of the Red Cross and Knights of Columbus.</p> + +<p>Near the trenches and at training camps, other work has been done +similar to that of the Y.M.C.A. and Knights of Columbus, by the +Salvation Army. The soldier boys have especially enjoyed the doughnuts +and pies furnished them by this society.</p> + +<p>It has, it is said, placed 153 comfort and refreshment huts at the +front in Europe, and is building many more. It maintains about 80 +military homes, caring for about 100,000 men each week. It operates +nearly 50 ambulances. Over 700 of its members are devoting their lives +to war work in the trenches and at the camps. It was the first, it is +said, of the societies of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span>mercy at the front, and spent for the work +mentioned $1,000,000, all made up of nickels and dimes of small +givers, before the society made any "drive" for funds.</p> + +<p>Letters from officials, friends, and soldier boys tell what glorious +work these and other similar societies have done and are doing. They +bring a little touch of heaven into the very worst places and +conditions, and show the God in man.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="FLANDERS_FIELDS" id="FLANDERS_FIELDS"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>IN FLANDERS FIELDS<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In Flanders fields the poppies blow<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Between the crosses, row on row,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That mark our place; and in the sky<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The larks still bravely singing, fly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Scarce heard amid the guns below.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We are the Dead. Short days ago<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Loved and were loved, and now we lie<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In Flanders fields.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Take up our quarrel with the foe:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To you from failing hands we throw<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The torch; be yours to hold it high.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If ye break faith with us who die<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We shall not sleep, though poppies grow<br /></span> +<span class="i4">In Flanders fields.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6 sc">Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_WORLD_WAR" id="THE_WORLD_WAR"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE WORLD WAR<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>The story of the World War is the story of the control of the sea by +the Allies, of land fighting on two fronts, the western and the +eastern, and of separate scattered campaigns in Africa and Asia.</p> + +<br /> + +<h4>THE WESTERN FRONT</h4> + +<p>Here the war really began and here it seems likely to be decided and +ended. The Germans who planned the war were ready and, using their +railroads built for that purpose, rushed their armies to the Belgian +border before France had hardly begun to mobilize. Luxemburg was +overrun at once and Belgium invaded. The brave Belgians under General +Leman held up the advance for several days at Liége and saved France +and western civilization. The Huns soon occupied nearly all of +Belgium, taking Brussels on August 20 and Antwerp on October 9.</p> + +<p>They pushed on directly toward Paris, driving the British who had been +landed, the Belgians, and the French, before them. They advanced to +within twenty miles of Paris, near Meaux on the Marne, and were there +defeated September 5-10, 1914, and forced to retreat to the Aisne, +where they entrenched themselves.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span>The Germans had driven the British south by constantly threatening to +outflank them, and there had been a race to the gates of Paris. Now +the British turned the tables and, in attempting to outflank the +Germans, there was a race away from Paris to the North Sea, with the +final result that the enemies were lined up opposite each other, from +Switzerland near the German border to the coast between Dunkirk and +Ostend.</p> + +<p>Until 1918 trench warfare continued. The Germans sought to drive the +English out of Ypres, but did not succeed. In one of these attacks on +April 22, 1915, gas was used for the first time.</p> + +<p>The British and French won a great victory on the Somme, July, 1916, +taking nearly 75,000 prisoners. This battle is recognized as one of +the turning points of the war, for it caused the extensive retreat of +the Germans the following spring. The Huns devastated the territory +from which they retreated more completely and mercilessly than any +army, even barbarians, had ever done before in the history of the +world. The British attempted to capture Lille and the bases of the +German submarines on the Belgian coast at Ostend and Zeebrugge, but +were unsuccessful.</p> + +<p>In November, 1917, General Byng, in a surprise attack in which for the +first time a large number of tanks were used, broke the famous +Hindenburg line of trenches and captured 8000 Germans. He soon <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span>lost +all the territory he had gained and many men, through being surprised +himself by attacks on both sides of the pocket or salient which he had +pushed into the German lines.</p> + +<p>The Battle of the Somme referred to above was intended to relieve the +terrible pressure of the Germans on the French forts at Verdun. The +German Crown Prince had attacked these in July, 1916, determined to +break through at whatever cost. But the soul of France rose to the +occasion and declared, "They shall not pass!" The Battle of Verdun +lasted from July until December, 1916. The Germans lost half a million +men, <i>but they did not pass</i>. Before many months every vantage point +which the Germans had won was back in French hands.</p> + +<p>In 1917, the French pushed the Germans back between Rheims and +Soissons to the Ailette River, where they remained until the Second +Battle of the Marne, July, 1918.</p> + +<p>Little of importance happened during the winter of 1917 and 1918, and +Germany, with Russia out of the way, prepared to deliver a final blow +and win the war, before American troops should arrive in force. The +Germans, with large numbers of troops from the eastern front, were so +confident, that great fear was felt among the Allies that America +would be too late.</p> + +<p>The German plan as it unfolded itself was to attack, wave after wave, +with tremendous numbers of men; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span>to use great quantities of a new and +more terrible gas; to pay no attention to losses, but to break through +where the French and English lines joined; then to push the French +south towards Paris and the English north towards the sea. They +expected to take Amiens, forty miles from the mouth of the Somme, and +to push down the river to the sea. With the broad river between them +and the French, a small force could keep the French from crossing, +while the great German army captured or destroyed the British, who +would be hemmed in by the sea.</p> + +<p>The attack was launched on March 21 over a front of fifty miles and it +nearly succeeded. It brought the Germans to within six miles of +Amiens, which would have been captured if the English on Vimy Ridge +had not prevented them by holding the German line from advancing. The +Germans waited a month, planning an attack which should capture Vimy +Ridge and prepare the way for the capture of Amiens. In this they were +unsuccessful.</p> + +<p>Not being able to divide the armies of the French and English or to +take the Channel ports, they turned in May toward Paris. They attacked +in tremendous force between Rheims and Soissons and pushed forward +thirty-two miles to the Marne. On July 15 they launched another great +offensive over a front of fifty miles from east of Rheims to west of +Château-Thierry. They crossed the Marne and were making some progress +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span>when, on July 18, the French and Americans struck them on the flank +between Soissons and Château-Thierry. The Germans were forced to +retreat, having lost 220,000 men, hundreds of guns, and vast stores.</p> + +<p>At this time over 1,000,000 American soldiers were in France. They +arrived in time and showed themselves "the bravest of the brave." One +of the American units was granted, for its bravery in the Second +Battle of the Marne, the only regimental decoration ever awarded by +France to a foreign regiment; and the French commander bestowed upon +one division the most thrilling praise. "They showed," he said, +"discipline that filled the Germans with surprise. They marched with +officers at the sides and with closed ranks exactly like veteran +French troops."</p> + +<p>Italy began operations against Austria in May, 1915. For more than two +years, she advanced over almost impassable mountain ranges to the +reconquest of the territory Austria had stolen from her. Then, in +October, 1917, Italy met with a terrible disaster; she lost 180,000 +men and was driven back to the river Piave and to within fifteen miles +of Venice. This costly defeat was due partly to lack of supplies which +her allies should have furnished her; partly to printed lies dropped +from Austrian airplanes among the Italian soldiers telling of the +wonderful peace and liberty that had come to Russia, where Germans and +Russians were like brothers; and partly to the mistake of Italy and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span>her commanders. It resulted in making all the Allies realize that they +could not succeed separately but must work together as one, if they +were going to win; and in the appointment of General Ferdinand Foch as +commander in chief of all the allied forces in the West, including +European Russia.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1918, the Austrians, at Germany's command, renewed +their attack and succeeded in crossing the Piave, which in its upper +reaches towards the mountains was almost a dry river bed. They waited +until, as they supposed, the mountain snows had melted. After many of +them were across and after they had been checked on the western bank +by the Italians, they attempted to recross the river. In the meantime +floods had poured down from the mountains changing the dry bed into a +rushing river, deep and broad, in which thousands of the Austrians +were lost. Austria was able to make no further effort.</p> + +<br /> + +<h4>THE EASTERN FRONT</h4> + +<p>Russia was the first of the Great Powers among the Allies to enter the +war, but Germany did not count upon her remaining in it long. German +influence, especially that of the German Socialists with the +uneducated Russians, was so strong that the Kaiser expected a +revolution long before it happened. The Russian leaders were +self-seeking, and the Tsar and his advisers were lacking in ability +and force. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span>Germans thought Russia would collapse very soon, and +thus leave Germany free to turn and conquer France; after which they +could settle with England, and then with the United States.</p> + +<p>Until the close of 1916, the Russian armies gave the Germans fierce +opposition except when, through treachery of the officers of the +government, supplies and ammunition were withheld and the soldiers had +to fight cannon, machine guns, and rifles with the butts of their +muskets. Of course the Russians were driven back, but not until they +had come within one hundred and eighty-five miles of Berlin, which was +the nearest approach of an enemy army during the first four years of +the war.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1914, the Russian armies suffered through treachery a +terrible defeat near Tannenberg in the Masurian Lake region of East +Prussia, but the great leader of their armies farther south, Grand +Duke Nicholas, invaded Austria, capturing stronghold after stronghold +until treachery of Russian officials forced him to retreat. The +retreat of his armies was conducted in so masterly a manner that it +has ranked him as one of the great generals of the World War.</p> + +<p>As soon as German money and German lies had undermined the directing +forces at the Russian capital, it was an easy matter for German armies +to overrun Russian Poland, to capture Warsaw and the great Russian +fortresses, and to advance as far north as Riga.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span>Then in the spring of 1917 came the revolution, when the Duma refused +to obey the order of the Tsar. The soldiers sided with the people; the +Tsar was thrown into prison, to be shot more than a year later. +Germany made a "peace drive," and soon had the entire Russian army +ready to quit. Leaders in the service of Germany, like Lenine, used +dreamers like Trotsky to help on the breaking up of Russia. Kerensky, +who had been chosen to lead the government after the first revolution, +was deposed and obliged to flee the country as the result of a second +revolution by soldiers, sailors, and workmen. Lenine became Prime +Minister and Trotsky, Foreign Minister. Then the way was clear for +Germany to work her will. Agreeing to all proposals, she led the +<i>Bolsheviki</i>, which means "the majority," into such a situation that +they were powerless. Then throwing aside all her agreements, she +forced them to sign the disgraceful treaty of peace at Brest-Litovsk. +It broke up a portion of the old Russia into several nations or +independent provinces, which separated the Russia that remained +entirely from the rest of Europe. The provinces, Ukraine, Poland, +Finland, Esthonia, Livonia, Courland, and Lithuania were really +dependencies of Germany. Turkey was also rewarded by receiving a part +of Transcaucasia, which Germany later attempted to take from her.</p> + +<p>The Germans promised not to use soldiers from the eastern front +against Russia's former allies in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span>West; but this promise was only +another "scrap of paper," and she transferred vast numbers to the +front in Italy and in France and, by their help, nearly won her great +drives of 1918.</p> + +<p>When Russia collapsed and made peace with the Central Powers, +Roumania, who entered the war on the side of the Allies, August 27, +1916, was left entirely surrounded by enemies and, to save herself +from the fate of Belgium and Serbia, was obliged to consent to peace +terms offered by Germany. She ceded a large part of her territory +south of the Danube to Bulgaria, who had joined the Central Powers +"for what she could get out of it," on October 4, 1915. Bulgaria's +king is called "The Fox of the Balkans" and looks upon agreements, +treaties, and honesty in the German manner. Like the Germans, all his +acts show that he believes "might is right" and that any act is +justified if necessary to his success.</p> + +<br /> + +<h4>THE DARDANELLES AND FARTHER EAST</h4> + +<p>In the spring of 1915, English and French fleets attempted to force +the Dardanelles, but failed. Had the straits been opened and +Constantinople taken, Russia would probably have been saved and the +war shortened. Many believe now that a mistake was made in not +sacrificing the ships necessary to force the straits and to capture +Constantinople, but at the time the French and British leaders were +unwilling to make the sacrifice. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span>Troops had been landed at Gallipoli +to assist the fleets, but they were withdrawn in January, 1916.</p> + +<p>England sent an expedition from the Persian Gulf to capture Bagdad in +the fall of 1914. It was small in numbers and suffered some reverses, +but succeeded in capturing the city on March 11, 1917.</p> + +<p>When Turkey entered the war on the side of the Central Powers, the +Germans hoped to stir up a religious war, uniting all the Mohammedans +in the East under the lead of Turkey, against the Christian nations. +All Mohammedans, however, do not recognize the Sultan of Turkey as +their leader, and the King of Hedjaz revolted against Turkey in June, +1916. Hedjaz includes all the Arab tribes between the Tigris on the +east and Syria on the west. Arabia forms the largest part of the +territory of this kingdom.</p> + +<p>With the assistance of the King of Hedjaz, the English have been able, +by advancing across the Sinai Desert, to capture Jerusalem. Jerusalem, +the Holy City of the Christians, has been in Mohammedan hands, except +for two short periods, for seven hundred and thirty years. The +Crusades were fought to take it from them, and ever since, Christians +have mourned that it had to be left in the hands of the Moslems. It +probably will never again pass from the control of Christian nations.</p> + +<p>Japan entered the war early, August 23, 1914, as an ally of Great +Britain and, on November 7, had taken <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span>the only German colony in +China, Tsingtau. Germany had forced this from China, as punishment for +the murder of two German missionaries. Japan and Australia soon +captured all the German possessions in the Pacific, and Great Britain +all the German colonies in Africa, leaving Germany without a single +colonial possession.</p> + +<br /> + +<h4>THE SEA</h4> + +<p>The Kaiser is reported to have said, "Germany's future lies on the +sea"; and it seems as if the control of the sea by the Allies has +really determined her future, for had the Central Powers controlled +the sea, they would have won the war.</p> + +<p>By the wise foresight of those directing the movements of the British +navy, the Grand Fleet, numbering about four hundred vessels, had been +assembled for inspection just before the war broke out, and they were +ready, when England entered the war, to move to ports from which they +could attack the Germans, if the latter should decide to send out +their fleet. The Grand Fleet has all through the war remained hidden, +and, like some invisible power, is protecting the freedom of the +world. Hundreds of swift scout ships keep watch ready to report every +move of the enemy. Only once has Germany come out in force, to be +driven back to shelter, defeated, in the Battle of Jutland, May 31, +and June 1, 1916.</p> + +<p>Germany placed her hopes in the submarine, but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span>she has had little +chance to use it against English war vessels. She also scattered mines +upon the high seas in violation of the laws of war and of nations. One +of these mines on June 5, 1916, sank the British cruiser <i>Hampshire</i>, +which was carrying Lord Kitchener to Russia. Lord Kitchener and his +staff were lost.</p> + +<p>Germany used every power in her hands to win, never hesitating to set +aside the laws of nations or the opinions of civilized men. So she +turned her submarines against merchant ships in violation of +international law. The sinking of the <i>Lusitania</i> was the first great +shock to the United States. President Wilson protested on behalf of +the American people, and after other merchant vessels had been sunk +and more American lives lost, Germany was given her choice of a break +with America or of promising that she would give up her submarine +attacks without warning upon merchant ships. Germany promised to do +so, but made this promise, as the United States learned later, only to +give her time to build enough submarines to starve out England in a +year or less by using them against merchant ships in violation of her +agreement with the United States. It was only another "scrap of +paper."</p> + +<p>So America entered the war April 6, 1917, and at once the danger from +submarines began to grow less, for American destroyers, combined with +those of the other Allies, soon were sinking submarines faster than +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span>Germany could build them, and American shipyards began to turn out +merchant ships in such unheard-of numbers that the sinking of a few +ships each month became a minor matter. At the close of the fourth +year of the war, an English writer said of what America had done in +one year:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>It would be idle to recount here what America has done. But for +what she has done the heart of every Briton beats with +gratitude. There is physical evidence of it over here. American +soldiers throng the streets. American sailors gather in our +ports. American naval vessels are scouring our home waters in +fullest coöperation with the British and French and have reduced +the destruction by submarine pirates by more than half what it +was one year ago. On land they are fighting with the Allies the +battles of civilization and dying for its ideals, and the +fondest wish of every patriot both here and in France is that +the community of feeling thus cemented in blood will never pass +away.</p></div> + +<p>In October, 1918, there were about two million American soldiers in +France. They had made possible the great victories, beginning with the +Second Battle of the Marne, by which all the German gains of 1918 were +wiped out and the St. Mihiel salient recovered. The Huns had held this +salient since 1914. Its capture was a brilliant victory for the +American army under General Pershing. It was accomplished in +twenty-seven hours.</p> + +<p>King George of England wired President Wilson as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p class="right"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span>London, Sept. 14, 1918.</p> + +<p>On behalf of the British Empire, I heartily congratulate you on +the brilliant achievement of the American and Allied troops +under the leadership of General Pershing in the St. Mihiel +salient.</p> + +<p>The far-reaching results secured by these successful operations, +which have marked the active intervention of the American army +on a great scale under its own administration, are the happiest +augury for the complete, and, I hope, not far-distant triumph of +the Allied cause.</p></div> + +<p>President Wilson cabled to General Pershing:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>Please accept my warmest congratulations on the brilliant +achievements of the army under your command. The boys have done +what we expected of them and done it in the way we most admire.</p> + +<p>We are deeply proud of them and of their chief. Please convey to +all concerned my grateful and affectionate thanks.</p></div> + +<p>Frank H. Simonds, the famous military critic, says:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>In our own national history, therefore, as in world history, the +Battle of St. Mihiel will have an enduring place. To the world +it announced the arrival of America in her appointed place in +the battle line of civilization.... The road from Concord Bridge +to the heights above the Meuse is long, but it runs straight, +and along it men are still led by the same love of liberty and +service of democracy which was revealed in our first battle +morning nearly a century and a half ago.</p></div> + +<p>At the beginning of October, 1918, the Allies were everywhere +successful, in Palestine, in the Balkans, in northern Russia, in +Siberia, and on the western front. The world was proving again that +deceit and violence always lose in the long run.</p> + +<br /> + +<h4><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span>THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE WAR</h4> + +<p>In July, 1918, the western battle line, running from the North Sea to +Switzerland, was, in general, a huge curve bending into France. +Germany had been working on interior lines on this western front—that +is, as her forces were needed to defend or to attack, she moved them +from place to place on the inside of the circle. The Allies were +obliged to work on the outside of the circle and were therefore at a +considerable disadvantage.</p> + +<p>Then, too, the Germans had the initiative, that is, they could +determine when and where to attack, while the Allies in 1918, up to +July 18, were having all they could attend to in defending themselves +and preventing a serious break in their lines.</p> + +<p>With July 18, 1918, all this was changed. The Allied forces were now +under the direction of a single commander, Marshal Foch, one of the +great military geniuses of all time. His plan was to strike at a +weakened point; then, when the Germans had rushed reinforcements to +ward off the danger, to strike at some other point in the line and +thus use up the German reserves; and to give the German commanders no +time to prepare an offensive on a large scale. The German by nature +seems to think that size determines victory. The big things seem to +him the things that are effective and that win. So his offensives were +planned on a great scale and required months of preparation; and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span>after one offensive had been stopped, he required more months of +comparative rest to plan and prepare another. The French nature is +different; it is subtle, deft, and skillful, and by repeated strokes +of less force, often accomplishes what the German fails to do with one +mighty blow. In riveting the plates on a ship, or in joining the +framework of a steel skyscraper, a riveting machine is used which, by +very rapidly repeated blows, does the work quickly and well. Somewhat +in this way did Marshal Foch strike the German line, now in this spot, +now in that, capturing or putting out of action large numbers of +German troops, outflanking first one strategic point and then another. +As a consequence, the German line was obliged to draw back and back to +prevent the Allies from breaking through and attacking the German +supply trains coming up in the rear with food and munitions.</p> + +<p>West of Verdun the Germans had come into Belgium and France along the +line of the Meuse through Liége and Namur, and across Luxemburg by the +main railway through Sedan. Could either of these great lines of +communication be captured, the Germans would be unable to withdraw to +their own territory without terrible losses, if at all; for between +their armies and Germany lay the great forest region of Ardennes with +but few roads. Two millions of men could not retreat through this +region without leaving guns and munitions behind and their retreat +becoming a rout.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span>From Verdun the Meuse River runs north and west to Sedan and to the +railroad which extended from the German lines through Luxemburg to +Germany. Marshal Foch honored General Pershing and the American troops +by assigning to them the difficult task of advancing from Verdun +through the valley of the Meuse to Sedan. The story of the fighting of +the Americans in this advance is a story glowing with deeds of heroism +and of reckless daring, a story of the overcoming of almost impossible +difficulties and of final victory. At Sedan in 1870, the Germans +humbled the French and decided the Franco-Prussian War. It is a +strange turn of history that, with the capture of Sedan from the +Germans in 1918, the World War was practically decided and ended.</p> + +<p>The Allied army from Salonica, with the help of the Serbians, had +conquered Bulgaria late in September, and she had surrendered +unconditionally, thus cutting off Germany and Austria from +communication with their ally, Turkey. General Allenby's conquest of +Palestine and occupation of Aleppo brought Turkey to realize that she +was helpless. She surrendered the last of October. Then the +strengthened and refreshed Italian army attacked the Austrians on the +Piave in Italy and won perhaps the most complete victory of the war on +the western front, capturing over five hundred thousand prisoners and +completely breaking Austria's power for further resistance. Austria +surrendered on November 4.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span>Thus Germany was left alone, open to attack on her southern and +eastern fronts, while being hopelessly beaten in the west. She asked +President Wilson to secure an armistice from the Allied nations. The +President had declared earlier in the war that we would never deal +with the Kaiser and the autocratic rulers of Germany who had +repeatedly broken their word to us and to other nations. The German +people, aware of this fact, were taking things into their own hands, +and the German Revolution had really begun.</p> + +<p>The German Chancellor informed President Wilson that Germany had +changed its form of government and was now being ruled by those +responsible to the German people, and that the German government was +willing to make peace on the basis of President Wilson's Fourteen +Points, as stated on January 8, 1918, and of his later declarations, +particularly that of September 27, 1918.</p> + +<p>After some correspondence, the President referred the German +government to Marshal Foch. Envoys were sent from Spa, the German +headquarters, under flag of truce to the headquarters of Marshal Foch +in a railroad car near Senlis. The terms of the armistice made it +absolutely impossible for Germany to renew the war after the cessation +of hostilities, for she was obliged to evacuate all invaded territory, +to remove all her troops twenty miles back from the Rhine, and to give +the control of the river and its crossings to the Allies. She <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span>was +also forced to surrender vast quantities of large and small guns, two +thousand air-planes, all her submarines, and the greater part of her +navy. She was practically to give over the control of her railways and +shipping to the Allies and to renounce the unfair treaties with Russia +and Roumania. Alsace-Lorraine was to be returned to France, and +Belgium and northern France restored. The armistice was signed by the +Germans on November 11, 1918. It has been called the most complete +surrender ever known, but Germany had no choice, for her armies were +defeated and her navy had no hope in a battle against the overwhelming +odds of the Allies.</p> + +<p><i>Der Tag</i> or "The Day" for which haughty Germans had hoped, had come, +but how different from the day they had imagined! When the white flag +of truce was raised on the German battle line, the red flag of +revolution was unfurled in Berlin and other German cities. The Kaiser +had abdicated, the Crown Prince had renounced his right to the throne, +and both had taken refuge in Holland. Other German kings were +abdicating and royal princes were fleeing for safety.</p> + +<p>Great celebrations were held in the Allied countries. It seemed as if +the people in the great cities of America had gone wild with joy. +President Wilson appeared in the hall of the national House of +Representatives at one o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, November +11, and announced the signing of the armistice and its terms <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span>and the +conclusion of the war. He asked America to show a spirit of +helpfulness rather than one of revenge toward the conquered Germans, +concluding his message as follows:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>The present and all that it holds belongs to the nations and the +peoples who preserve their self-control and the orderly +processes of their governments; the future to those who prove +themselves the true friends of mankind. To conquer with arms is +to make only a temporary conquest. I am confident that the +nations that have learned the discipline of freedom and that +have settled with self-possession to its ordered practice are +now about to make conquest of the world by the sheer power of +example and of friendly helpfulness.</p> + +<p>The peoples who have but just come out from under the yoke of +arbitrary government and who are now coming at last into their +freedom, will never find the treasures of liberty they are in +search of if they look for them by the light of the torch. They +will find that every pathway that is stained with blood of their +own brothers leads to the wilderness, not to the seat of their +hope. They are now face to face with their initial test. We must +hold the light steady until they find themselves. And in the +meantime, if it be possible, we must establish a peace that will +justly define their place among the nations, remove all fear of +their neighbors and of their former masters, and enable them to +live in security and contentment when they have set their own +affairs in order. I, for one, do not doubt their purpose or +their capacity. There are some happy signs that they know and +will choose the way of self-control and peaceful accommodation. +If they do, we shall put our aid at their disposal in every way +that we can. If they do not, we must await with patience and +sympathy the awakening and recovery that will assuredly come at +last.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span>To the people of the United States he sent the following message:</p> + +<div class="block"><p>My Fellow Countrymen: The armistice was signed this morning. +Everything for which America fought has been accomplished. It +will now be our fortunate duty to assist, by example, by sober, +friendly council, and by material aid, in the establishment of +just democracy throughout the world.</p> + +<p class="rightsc">Woodrow Wilson.</p> +</div> + +<p>No one can foretell all that this victory, won through the most +terrible suffering and sacrifice the world has ever been called upon +to bear, means to mankind; but we know it means a new day and a new +opportunity for millions of down-trodden men and women in all parts of +the world. It means giving a new world of democracy and equality of +opportunity to those who never dreamed this possible, except by +leaving their native lands and coming to America. It means bringing +all that America means to us to races that for centuries have lived +without hope. It means the downfall and the punishment of those who +would selfishly rise by the persecution and suffering of others. It +means that in the end right must always conquer might.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="NATIONS_AND_THE_MORAL_LAW" id="NATIONS_AND_THE_MORAL_LAW"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>NATIONS AND THE MORAL LAW<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<p>I believe there is no permanent greatness to a nation except it be +based upon morality. I do not care for military greatness or military +renown. I care for the condition of the people among whom I live. +Crowns, coronets, mitres, military display, the pomp of war, wide +colonies, and a huge empire are in my view all trifles, light as air +and not worth considering, unless with them you can have a fair share +of comfort, contentment, and happiness among the great body of the +people. Palaces, baronial castles, great halls, stately mansions, do +not make a nation. The nation in every country dwells in the cottage.</p> + +<p>I ask you then to believe, as I do most devoutly believe, that the +moral law was not written for men alone in their individual character, +but that it was written as well for nations.</p> + +<p>If nations reject and deride that moral law, there is a penalty which +will inevitably follow. It may not come at once, it may not come in +our life-time; but rely upon it, the great Italian is not a poet only, +but a prophet, when he says:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The sword of heaven is not in haste to smite,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Nor yet doth linger.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10 sc">John Bright.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span><br /> +<hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY</h3> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">Foreign sounds which cannot be exactly reproduced in English are +represented by their nearest English equivalents.</p> +<br /> + +<ul><li><b>Aerschot</b> (är´skŏt)</li> +<li><b>Ailette</b> (ail ĕt´)</li> +<li><b>Aisne</b> (ain)</li> +<li><b>Aix-la-Chapelle</b> (aiks´-lȧ-shȧ pel´)</li> +<li><b>Alsace</b> (ȧl säss´)</li> +<li><b>Amiens</b> (ȧ mee ăng´)</li> +<li><b>Ancre</b> (äng´kr)</li> +<li><b>Andenne</b> (äng dĕn´)</li> +<li><b>Aonzo</b> (ä ōn´zō)</li> +<li><b>Arras</b> (ȧ räss´)</li> +<li><b>Ausweiss</b> (ows´vīz)</li> +<li><b>Auteuil</b> (ō ter´yẽ)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Battice</b> (bat tees´)</li> +<li><b>Belfort</b> (bĕl fōr´)</li> +<li><b>Belloy-en-Santerre</b> (bel wä´-äng-säng tair´)</li> +<li><b>Bernstorff</b> (berns´torf)</li> +<li><b>Bethmann-Hollweg</b> (bait´man-holl´vaik)</li> +<li><b>Boche</b> (bŏsh)</li> +<li><b>Boelke</b> (bāl´kẽ)</li> +<li><b>Boers</b> (bo͞ors)</li> +<li><b>Bolsheviki</b> (bol shay´vee kee´)</li> +<li><b>Bonnier</b> (bon ee ay´)</li> +<li><b>Bordeaux</b> (bor dō´)</li> +<li><b>Bouée</b> (bo͞o ay´)</li> +<li><b>Boulogne</b> (bo͞o lōn´)</li> +<li><b>Brest-Litovsk</b> (brĕst´-lyĕ tŏfsk´)</li> +<li><b>Bruges</b> (breezh)</li> +<li><b>Brussels</b> (brŭs´elz)</li> +<li><b>Buccari</b> (bo͝ok kä´ree)</li> +<li><b>Bueken</b> (bee´kĕn)</li> +<li><b>Bülow</b> (bee´lō)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Calais</b> (kȧ lay´)</li> +<li><b>Cambrai</b> (kam bray´)</li> +<li><b>Carnegie</b> (kär nĕg´ĭ)</li> +<li><b>Castelnau</b> (kȧs tel nō´)</li> +<li><b>Celle</b> (tsel´ẽ)</li> +<li><b>Châlons</b> (shä long´)</li> +<li><b>Champagne</b> (sham pain´)</li> +<li><b>Chandos</b> (chan´dŏs)</li> +<li><b>Charleroi</b> (shär lẽ rwä´)</li> +<li><b>Château-Thierry</b> (shä tō´-tee ẽ ree´)</li> +<li><b>Chaudfontaine</b> (shōd fong tain´)</li> +<li><b>Chillon</b> (shee yŏng´)</li> +<li><b>Cologne</b> (kō lōn´)</li> +<li><b>Courtrai</b> (ko͞or tray´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>D'Annunzio</b> (dȧ no͝on´tsiō)</li> +<li><b>De Bussy</b> (dẽ bee´see)</li> +<li><b>Deutschland über Alles</b> (doich´lant ee´ber äl´ẽs)</li> +<li><b>Devon</b> (dĕv´ŭn)</li> +<li><b>Dinant</b> (dee näng´)</li> +<li><b>Dixmude</b> (diks meed´)</li> +<li><b>Dniester</b> (nees´ter)</li> +<li><b>Douaumont</b> (do͞o ȧ mong´)</li> +<li><b>Du Guesclin</b> (dee gay klăng´)</li> +<li><b>Dunajec</b> (do͞on´ȧ yeck)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span></li> +<li><b>Dürer</b> (dee´rer)</li> +<li><b>Duruy</b> (dee ree ee´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>École</b> (ay kol´)</li> +<li><b>Embourg</b> (em bo͝ork´)</li> +<li><b>Épinal</b> (ay pee näl´)</li> +<li><b>Evegnée</b> (ĕ vain yay´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Foch</b> (fŏsh)</li> +<li><b>franc-tireur</b> (fräng-tee rer´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Gallipoli</b> (gal lip´o lee)</li> +<li><b>Gemmenich</b> (ḡĕm men´ik)</li> +<li><b>Genet</b> (zhĕ nay´)</li> +<li><b>Gheluvelt</b> (hay lee´velt)</li> +<li><b>Ghent</b> (ḡĕnt)</li> +<li><b>Grietchen</b> (greet´shĕn)</li> +<li><b>Guynemer</b> (gwee nay may´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Hague</b> (haig)</li> +<li><b>Havre</b> (äv´r')</li> +<li><b>Hedjaz</b> (hej äz´)</li> +<li><b>Herve</b> (herv)</li> +<li><b>Hotel de Ville</b> (o tel´dẽ veel´)</li> +<li><b>Huerta</b> (wair´tä)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Jagow</b> (yä´gow)</li> +<li><b>Jaroslav</b> (yä rō släv´)</li> +<li><b>Jassy</b> (yäs´sy)</li> +<li><b>Jeanne d'Arc</b> (zhän dark´)</li> +<li><b>Jeanniot</b> (zhän nee ō´)</li> +<li><b>Joffre</b> (zhōff)</li> +<li><b>Junkers</b> (yo͞ong´kers)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Kharkov</b> (kär´kŏf)</li> +<li><b>Kiaochau</b> (kee ow´chow)</li> +<li><b>Krupp</b> (kro͝op)</li> +<li><b>Kultur</b> (ko͝ol to͞or´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Leman</b> (lee´man)</li> +<li><b>Lens</b> (läng)</li> +<li><b>Lichnowsky</b> (lish nov´skee)</li> +<li><b>Liége</b> (lee aizh´)</li> +<li><b>Lille</b> (leel)</li> +<li><b>Loire</b> (lwär)</li> +<li><b>Loncin</b> (long săng´)</li> +<li><b>Lorraine</b> (lō rain´)</li> +<li><b>Loti, Pierre</b> (lō tee´, pee air´)</li> +<li><b>Louvain</b> (lo͞o văng´)</li> +<li><b>Lycée</b> (lee say´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Maas</b> (mäs)</li> +<li><b>Madero</b> (mä day´rō)</li> +<li><b>Magdeburg</b> (mäg´dĕ bo͝ork)</li> +<li><b>Malines</b> (mȧ leen´)</li> +<li><b>Manoury</b> (mȧ no͞o´ry)</li> +<li><b>Marne</b> (märn)</li> +<li><b>Marseillaise</b> (mär sĕ lāz´)</li> +<li><b>Meaux</b> (mō)</li> +<li><b>Mercier</b> (mer seeay´)</li> +<li><b>Meuse</b> (merz)</li> +<li><b>Mignon</b> (meen yong´)</li> +<li><b>Millerand</b> (meel räng´)</li> +<li><b>Mindanao</b> (meen dä nä´ō)</li> +<li><b>Mons</b> (mongs)</li> +<li><b>mooshiki</b> (mo͞o shee kee´)</li> +<li><b>Moselle</b> (mō zĕl´)</li> +<li><b>Munsterlagen</b> (mun ster lä´gen)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Namur</b> (nȧ meer´)</li> +<li><b>noblesse oblige</b> (no blĕs´ ō bleezh´)</li> +<li><b>Notre Dame</b> (nō tr' dȧm´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Ostend</b> (ŏs tend´)</li> +<li><b>Ourcq</b> (o͞ork)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Pau</b> (pō)</li> +<li><b>Piave</b> (pee ä´vay)</li> +<li><b>poilu</b> (pwä lee´)</li> +<li><b>Poincaré</b> (pwäng´kȧ ray´)</li> +<li><b>Poiret</b> (pwȧ ray´)</li> +<li><b>Provençe</b> (prō vängs´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Raemaekers</b> (rä mä´kers)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span></li> +<li><b>Rasputin</b> (rȧs pū´tin)</li> +<li><b>Reichstag</b> (rīchs´täk)</li> +<li><b>retournment</b> (rĕ to͝orn mäng´)</li> +<li><b>Rheims</b> (reemz)</li> +<li><b>Richthofen</b> (rikt´hō fen)</li> +<li><b>Rivesaltes</b> (reev sȧlt´)</li> +<li><b>Rizzo, Luigi</b> (reet´so, lo͞o ee´jee)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>St. Mihiel</b> (săng´mee yĕl´)</li> +<li><b>Saint Pierre</b> (săng pee air´)</li> +<li><b>Saint Quentin</b> (săng käng tăng´)</li> +<li><b>Sarrail</b> (sȧr rȧ´yẽ)</li> +<li><b>Scyros</b> (sī´rŏs)</li> +<li><b>Seine</b> (sain)</li> +<li><b>Seraing</b> (ser răng´)</li> +<li><b>Soissons</b> (swä sŏng´)</li> +<li><b>Somme</b> (sŏm)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Tamines</b> (tȧ meen´)</li> +<li><b>Toul</b> (to͞ol)</li> +<li><b>Tours</b> (to͞or)</li> +<li><b>Tsingchau</b> (tsing´chow)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Uhlan</b> (o͞o´län)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Vaux</b> (vō)</li> +<li><b>Verdun</b> (vĕr dŭng´)</li> +<li><b>Vesle</b> (vail)</li> +<li><b>Villa</b> (veel´yä)</li> +<li><b>Vimy</b> (vee´mee)</li> +<li><b>Vise</b> (vees)</li> +<li><b>Viva l'Italia</b> (vee´vȧ lee tȧ´lee ȧ)</li> +<li><b>Vive la France</b> (veev´lȧ fränts´)</li> +<li><b>Vladivostok</b> (vlä dee väs tŏk´)</li> +<li><b>Von Diederichs</b> (fōn dee´der iks)</li> +<li><b>Von Kluck</b> (fōn klo͞ok)</li> +<li><b>vrille</b> (vree´yẽ)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Wackerzeel</b> (vȧk´er tsail´)</li> +<li><b>Werchter</b> (verk´ter)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Ypres</b> (ee´pr')</li> +<li><b>Yser</b> (ee say´)<br /><br /></li> + +<li><b>Zeebrugge</b> (tsay bro͝og´ẽ)</li> +</ul> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="THE_RECKONING" id="THE_RECKONING"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>THE RECKONING<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/image1a.jpg" width="60%" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What do they reck who sit aloof on thrones,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or in the chambered chancelleries apart,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Playing the game of state with subtle art,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If so be they may win, what wretched groans<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rise from red fields, what unrecorded bones<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bleach within shallow graves, what bitter smart<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Pierces the widowed or the orphaned heart—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The unhooded horror for which naught atones!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A word, a pen-stroke, and this might not be!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But vengeance, power-lust, festering jealousy<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Triumph, and grim carnage stalks abroad.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hark! Hear that ominous bugle on the wind!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And they who might have stayed it, shall they find<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No reckoning within the courts of God?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">CLINTON SCOLLARD<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/image1b.jpg" width="60%" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lest We Forget, by +John Gilbert Thompson and Inez Bigwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEST WE FORGET *** + +***** This file should be named 36634-h.htm or 36634-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/6/3/36634/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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