of German war literature treating of Belgium's violated neutrality. Should that des

y attempt to protest against the annexation of Belgium by Germany is prohibited by the German censor. The Social Democratic

racial-brothers the Flemings. By order of the German Government a geographical description of the country has been published,[132] in which every detai

lgien, Land und Le

and propose for themselves the part of liberator and saviour for Flemish culture. They have discovered, among other things, that Belgium was merely a paper State, a diplomatic invention, an experime

so heroically, one naturally wonders whether Herr Blocher is sane, or merely a paid agent of the German authorities. In his work he denies every and any intention to justify or condemn either Germany or Belgium, and then proc

e Neutralit?t," by Eduar

these was the sole motive for precipitating war and invading Belgium. To Germany the coast of Belgium is the door to the world and world domination. Switzerland does not possess such a door, and therefore had nothing to fear from her powerful neighbour; but if the Allies are unable to bar this door to

d hermaphrodite. According to the German conception of a "State," Belgium is an unnatural monstrosity, from

ree most serious writers on the subject are, Dr. Reinhard Frank,[134] professor of jurisprudence in Munich University;

rank: "Die belgische Neut

"Belgien's Vergangenheit un

endix to a large work written by twenty university professors, entitled "Deuts

t that Germany was a menace to Belgium, and make no mention of German aspirations for a coastline on or near the English Channel. Holland

ong neighbours as to necessary precautions against Ahab's plans for obtaining the vineyard, then Naboth acted as a wise man, and the only regret to-day is that the "strong neighbours" only offered Nabo

e German State of which they are official members. An ordinary German in writing on Germany may be under the subjective influences of his national feelings, but a German who has taken the "Staatse

of science and abstract thought; by those achievements they have deservedly become famous, bu

ere candidates in training for the teaching profession, all university men. I listened patiently to their diatribes concerning the perfidy of English Statesmen, and the

n, and gave me a friendly warning never again to make such statements to my pupils. The candidates had talked it over, and although they had provoked the disc

opinions in book form, of course the process of cashiering him would be simpler. Germans do not desire the truth so far as their own country is concerned; they do not will the truth; they will Deutschland über alles, and all infor

d that German professors are bound by the Staatseid either to discreet silence, or to employ their intellectual pop-guns in defending Germany. That these pop-guns fire colossal untruths,

note the fact that German professors are merely intellectual soldiers fighting for Germany. Without departing from the truth by one jot or t

tion, the author ventures to give an answer. If he could make a destructive attack on Britain's policy-the attack would be made without the least hesitation. Such an attack, if proved to the hilt, would bring any man renown, and in the worst case no harm

like of which we should seek in vain at the universities of Great Britain or America. It would be in the interests of truth and impartiality if every German professor who writes on the "Causes of the World War," "England's Conspiracy against Germany," "The Non-Existen

nverted into an independent republic. Doubtless the desire to found a buffer State inspired Richelieu, just as it did the representatives of Prussia

., Belgium was henceforth to be the corner-stone supporting the

to respect Belgian neutrality in 1870. Another objection is the claim that the German Empire, founded in 1870, was not bound by the Prussian signature attached to a treaty in 1839. Other writers have endeavoured to show tha

"Lawyers and diplomatists refuse, and rightly so, to accept this view." Again, p. 14.:

has certain duties imposed upon it in peace time, and in support of his contention quotes Professor Arendt (Louvain University, 1845), who wrote: "A neutral State may not conclude an alliance of defence and offence, by which in case of war b

rn, 1889). "A neutral State may not conclude a treaty in advance to protect its ow

sts of the balance of power in Europe, and I have already pointed out that the

tions only came into force in the event of war, and therefore could not be violated during peace. But this balance of power was to be maintained, above all in time of peace, and mig

breach of neutrality on the part of Belgium, even if it had occurred in peace time. The same is true for the granting of occupation rights, and la

xamples. When a tariff union between France and Belgium was proposed in 1840, England objected because the plan was not in accord with Belgian neutrality. Again in 1868, when the Eastern Railway Company

carefully meditated increase of armaments on land and sea threatened to dislodge the corner-stone. When the Conference of London declared Belgium to be a permanently neutral country, there was apparent equality of power on each

rgy has been consistently converted into concrete military and naval forces. This alteration in the potential status quo ante has

ng down all its safety-valves?" Recognizing that Belgian neutrality has existed for many years past solely on Germany's good-will, it became the right and urgent duty of the other signatory powers to endeavour to strengthen the cor

dmitted the same privileges to her rival-so far as these did not run contrary to established rights-in all parts of the world. With regard to territorial expansion a treaty had been drawn up between the two Powers and was ready to be signed just when war broke out. That tre

Belgian frontier. Why this precautionary measure was never taken is difficult to surmise, but had

. Lord Haldane has announced that the late Liberal Government was "afraid" to do this

lgium; the making of plans for putting a British garrison of defence on Belgian territory in the event of the latter's n

ish General Staff had nothing better to do than to compile guide-books to Belgium for a non-existent British army, it appears merely amusing. But if the late Liberal Government believed that Germany's potential energy could be prevented from breaking through into Belgian territory by a

confidence to Germany which she gave to England. The German mind knows quite well, that in building strategic railways to the Belgian frontier she betrayed the line of directio

on of a moment, nor a decision arrived at under the pressure of necessity, but the result of years of military preparat

Deputies, Brussels. M. Lebeau in pleading for greater military preparation used these words: "History h

able, with this difference: the wolf has first of all swallowed the lamb, and no

Germany as intrigues of the Triple Entente, threatening her (Germany's) existence, and all the horrors which have fallen upon this gallant "neutral" country the German Pecksniff designates "Belgium's Atonement."[141] It is to be feared that sooner or later, unless Germany's milita

ng the desolation and havoc of war, in a book entitled "Mit dem

ht or accepted advice from those Powers who wished to perpetuate both the territorial integrity and neutrality of Belgium. Germany's afterthought on the point is: "It was

rmitted one or two of them to gain an insight into her system of defence. By this means she afforded the Sta

Belgium's Legation Secretary in Berlin had warned his Government concerning the political dangers arising out of intimacy with England. By rev

rofessor Frank's

e naturally wonders how the value of Belgium's defence system had been depreciated by conversations with British off

State in the world. If Germany recognized Belgium's sovereignty, why should not England do the same, and, above all, why had Belg

. "Among themselves, indeed, and out of respect for their traditional constitution, they prove to be quite decent. As regards their treatment of foreigners, a great deal might

occupy fortresses in case of France becoming dangerous. The French danger passed away, and its place was taken by a more awful menace-the pressure of German potential energy; and when Belgium in turn opened her heart (this is the unproved accusation which Germany makes to-day-Author) to Eng

skr?merei" ("affectation of mysteriousness and secrecy") is a nat

ns Vergangenheit und Gegenwart" ("

good one. Schoenborn commences[145] with the customary German tactics by stating that Bethmann-Hollweg's "scrap-of-paper" speech, and von Jagow's (German Secretary of State) explanations to the Belgian representative in Berlin on August 3rd, 191

nd der Weltkrieg" ("Germany a

be feared that just as Germans have lied for a century to prove that the English were annihilated at the battle of Waterloo, and for over forty years to show that Bismarck wa

s case. "The passage of German troops through Belgium was indispensable in the interests of the preservation of the German Empire. A successful resistance to the annihilation-plans which our enemies had wrought for our downfall

y a poacher, and in that same moment perceives a second poacher bearing a gun at full-cock, creeping into a strange house in order to obtain a better shot at the forester. Just as he is about to enter the hous

146: Ibid.

hor believes that the forester would receive condign punishment for breaking into another man's house, no matter under what pretext. Unconsciously the learned professor is humorous when

authority to show that France's

elessly equipped that we see clearly to what a degree she relied upon her neighbour. The forts are in the same condition as they were twenty or t

om our 21-centimetre howitzers. It was built in 1878 and armed with forty cannon; of these the principal weapons consisted of two batteries each containing six 9-centimetre cannon, which, howev

y the side, such as are often used in Germany at village festivals or to fire a salute. The fort itself was a perfect pictur

er up wire entanglements had been commenced at the last moment. At least one battery was useless, for the field of f

ery had had nearly every gun put out of action by clean hits. In several cases we saw the barrel of the gun ya

ds from the battery to the fort. After the former had been disposed of, the artillery fire was concentrated on the fort, which w

e first shot. Instead of putting these men in trenches, their superiors had put them at thi

man who had witnessed the hopeless struggle. He lived to see his

nder: "Mit dem Hauptquarti

probability that they desired or provoked a conflict. But Germany knew that, and much more, in the month of July, 1914. Bethmann-Hollweg when addressing the Reichstag drew a t

ral confessions alleged to have been made by French soldiers, prisoners of war in Germany, stating that they entere

ve that the Entente Powers had: (1.) Caused the murder in Serajewo; (2.) Despatched the ultimatum to Serbia; (3.) Prepared themselves for

clined it. According to Professor Schoenborn Germany's final decision to invade Belgium was only taken after that refusal. It is a striking example of the immorality wh

ngement was ignored and wrote to the person in question: "You have employed o

reement with an idea of finality, and looks forward to freedom from further worry in the matter. Not so the German; with him it is an instrument to obtain, or blackmail, further

his last footnote he makes the innocuous remark: "Because the house-breaking gamekeeper fired the firs

lure, and as an academic thesis it is doubtful whether the faculty of law in

oken. Germany has suddenly remembered that the Flemings are a Low German people and that they have been "oppressed" by the Walloons

ill show, there is method in this madness. No pains are being spared to stir up racial feeling between the two peoples (Flemings and Walloons) who form King Albert

Hessen Ansprüche auf Brabant" ("The House o

eneral Union of the Netherlands. The branch society is in Lierre (a town occupied by the Germans), and the petition is a statement of Flemish national and language aspirations. Unfortunately the documen

orrowing over the alleged attempts of the Walloons to suffocate the Flemish dialect. German war books breathe hate and

on to three whole chapters intended to supply historical proof that

n Lüttich bis Flandern" ("From Lié

thers on the frontier, defenceless and at the mercy of a foreign Power. Therefore we have no right to

do not like the French and English,' said the Fleming. 'But what about Brussels?' I re

when the Flemings are freed from the embittering influence of the Walloons and French, then this Low German tribe will again learn to

and then 'Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,' in the very city which was to serve as an English base for op

d have to fight against us in this great struggle for the existence of Germany

of the German Hanse period, of Ghent, Ypres

udes his wor

ing an independent State. From that moment the Flemings, cut off in every way from th

e. This war has freed our hands, which hitherto had been bound by the dictates of conscience. Of himself the German wo

left to the mercy of the Walloons and French. They have had a wild and chequered history; and although they have o

tion of the German military system and German administration, will be a blessing to them. Eve

the lands of the Flemings and Walloons. The Belgian army, consisting of 65 per cent. Flemings, has been decimated by German arms. North and south of the Meuse a wicked harvest of hate has sprung up. But the most remarkable point is that this hate is not directed against the Germans a

en heute und morgen" ("Belgium to-day

many's 9 per cent.; in 1900, British 48 per cent., German 23-1/2 per cent. Not only had the British flag been beaten in percentages but also in absolute figures; in the ye

153: Ibi

ow Germany's war banner waves above its cathedral. Germany's maritime flag has waved during the l

154: Ibi

"It is Belgium's mission to be a gigantic factory for the rest of

and France we fight, as the poet expresses it, 'with steel and bronze, and conclude a peace some time or other.' But against England we wage war with the greatest bitterness and su

a pleasurable pride in our breasts. But when progress is announced in Flanders, when a single square yard of earth is captured by our brave troops in the Ypres district, then all Germany is be

ove best of all to hear news from that quarter. May God grant that in the pea

about Belgium"). Stettin, 1915: p. 8. Dr. Mittelmann is a personal friend of t

e all his compatriots, makes no mention of Austria. If the Central Powers should be victorious, there is no doubt that Germany would seize the booty. In justifying the

scorn and hate which had accumulated for years past in the German nation has now broken loose with volcanic force. Whoever assumes that the English were ever other than what they are-is wrong. They have never had ideals, and

156: Ibi

stile glances the crowd did not hesitate to gather round as we entered our car, and quite a hundred greedy hands were stretched towards us for alms. But in Liége, without the shadow of a doubt the best of all was the magnificent Burgundy whi

157: Ibi

a Belgian policeman before the latter's compatriots. None enjoy having their boot

that the above incident took place in Liége among the Walloons, but it would seem

nful cleanliness of the white-washed cottages makes a pleasant contrast to the homes of the Walloons. War

158: Ibi

touched. On all sides cleanliness and order which makes the heart beat gladly. And this joyful imp

ples in whose language, culture and customs there is neither similarity nor harmony. The Flemings are absolutely German, and in

inder: "Mit dem Hauptquar

blood! In recent days the waters of the Meuse have often flowed blood-red. Many a warrior has sunk into these depths. Longing and hop

160: Ibid.