rase on two occasions in addressing the Reichstag; his pur

t the whole trend of development in the relations between the two powerful neighbours may be defined by two watch-words: saigner à blanc in Germany, and the

r by national prosperity, colonial expansion and the growth of a powerful anti-military party. Whatever may be said of French chauvinists, this much remains an immovable

y fair and foul means to prevent her neighbour from again raising her head, and that policy alone is to blame for the suspicion and hatred which have marked Franco-German relations during the whole period and plunged Europ

energies to colonial work, and if possible involve her in conflicts with the other Colonizing Powers. In both of these plans he succeeded, but the c

on led to a policy of colonial pinpricks on the part of the Kaiser's Government. This seems the most probable explanation of Germany's attitude during the last decade b

t German interests. In naval affairs she adopts the same na?ve line of argument. First and foremost Germany committed herself to a policy of unlimited-even provocative-naval expansion. When the Power most concerned-Great Bri

ism. Boxers expect a rebound when they "punch the ball," but none of them would be so foolish as to deny having delivered a blow when the rebound takes place.

ring the past four decades into a possible avalanche possessing hu

ical days at the close of July last year. But from considerations of space only the outlines of the picture can be given. Before the war German

ch nation, such as we should seek for in vain at the time of Tangiers and Agadir. T

dner Neueste Nachri

e: "Conditions in France afford a striking picture of bad organization. War rage possesses

m the French capital says that there is no enthusiasm in Paris. Men and women may be seen

d afraid. Almost simultaneously false reports of French troops crossing the frontier and of French airmen dropping bo

unéville, at Cirey and by Belfort. War has thus been declared, and the endeavours for peace as described in the President's proclamation have been in vain. For the last eight days

ot merely by the feeling of duty, but also in hatred for an enemy who seeks no other goal than our anni

heir positions and face the enemy till our plan

SSI

ter fo

counterpart of that against Belgium and the Belgians. Uncorroborated tales of Germans having been ill treated in all parts of France were

lnische Volkszeit

Frenchmen, or that war delirium led them to destroy property on a wholesale scale. On the other hand, the picture obtainable of G

and was the guilty power in causing the European explosion. "The German Government has now obtained abs

mburger Fremdenbl

o fix her own guilt. Even in the year 1915 there is a section of the German public[165] which believes that the French

carew, die Schuld am Kriege" ("Czar Poi

ch are a nation of "degenerate weaklings." Inspired by these sentiments, with a mixture of hate, the German troops invaded Fr

. Enemies' troops, apparently the 7th French army corps and an infantry division from the Belfort garrison, we

losses and was thrown back into the Paroy forest. We captured a flag, two batteries, fou

ed Upper Alsace before our troops could be collected and placed on a war-footing. In spite of their numeri

guns advanced from Shirmeck on the 14th. They were attacked by hostile artillery fire while passing through a

s against over-confidence and carelessness. The men mustered again and reached the fortress in safety: they had lost their guns

ges. The enemies' retreat became a flight. Up till now more than ten thousand prisoners have

advancing on both sides of Longwy, achieved a vic

e have also been victorious and crossed the line Lunéville-B

merous prisoners and standards the left wing of

rince's army has continued

teau and completely defeated the French army which had crossed the Semois. Numerou

g on Maubeuge. An English cavalry brigade

ained victory after victory and penetrated the enemy's territory from Cambrai to the Southern V

illed, prisoners and booty; the explanation for this is the enormous ext

h at Maubeuge and to-day has attacked them in

lgian troops between the Sambre, Namur and the Meuse were completely

Maubeuge has commenced. Duke Albrecht's army pursued the de

tified enemy position, and thrown back a heavy attack from the directio

varian Crown Prince's army during its pursuit

enemy in the Vosges, and driving him southwa

armies; now the troops left behind for that purpose are urgently required for our

f Belgium. This land which now comes under German administration will be utilized for supplying a

, 116 field guns, 79 machine guns, 166 wagons and 12,934 prisoners. On September 8th General Quartermaster von Stein announced: "Maubeuge cap

egan on the same day at 2.30 p.m. and lasted over six hours. They were conducted to trains and despatched to Germa

inder: "Mit dem Hauptquar

to twenty years of age. When marching out these English youths were so stupid as to offer the hand to their German victors in token of the gentlemanlike manner in which they ac

haviour, whereupon the English-richer in experien

t patrols penetrated to within seven kilometres of the French capita

of Paris had passed beyond the Marne. There they were attacked by superior forces between Meaux

as withdrawn; the enemy made no attempt at pursuit. Up till now the booty c

advancing battle. In Lorraine and the Vo

on the Marne and the hurried retreat to the Aisne. Almost every report issued by the German headq

ris at the mercy of the invading army. They are still awaiting that decisi

ng hills and valleys, and towards 1 p.m. obtained our first glimpse down the beautiful vale of the Marne. Standi

K?nigin-Fusilieren durch Belgien

by shell fire; some houses had been entirely gutted. Dead Frenchmen lay around in heaps, some corpses so

burning sun. At the top we deployed, but for that day our artillery sufficed to dr

ves ready for the march. 'The 17th division is under heavy rifle fire and the 18th must advance to their support.' Meanwhile, the chicken soup was

. Captain von Liliencron discusses the situation with the major and then turns to us

om me a machine gun hammers away at full speed; it is now impossible to hear commands, so they are roared from man to man-it could not

wful explosion half a dozen yards away; I hear the screams of my comrades, then we rush forwards. The

None of my company are there; it seems that the two last shells have played havoc

ch and Turko bodies are still thicker. The cat-like Turkos have climbed into the trees and are shot down like crows. A maddening infantry and artiller

rous fire on to us from the forest. It cannot go on thus; one after the other is wounded or killed. We have advanced nearly eight hundred yards over open

e and bullets keep hitting them. In front of me lay a man from the fourth company; a bullet had entered his chest and passed out of his back;

p of water; there is just another draught in my bottle. With grateful eyes he hands it back to me, and in the same

undred yards of open field begins. Now and again a comrade sinks to the ground, never to rise again

npleasant accusations raised against the German army. Furthermore, the most reckless charges of uncleanliness are made. In commenting on the lot of the Landsturm troops quarter

hen Aisne und Argonnen" ("Between t

and as far as possible, life goes on as usual. Here, too, many of the inhabitants have left their homes and fled. The stupidity of this flight becomes evident

taining three thousand bottles of wine? On the route I have myself purchased some of the oldest and best wines from our men at

return than the hotel proprietor. In his home, French marauders and plunderers have destroyed and devastated the entire conten

bayonet stabs, and from the shape of the cuts they were certainly the work of French bayon

plunderers are painfully evident; it was left to the 'Hun-Kaiser' to save this historic spot from complete annihilation. In September Wilh

169: Ibid.

ccuses them of stealing books, etc. Every German writer, in describing the German advance, comments on the immense number of haversacks, weapons and equipment thrown awa

e guards round Chateau Bellevue. Is it not more reasonable to assume that the precaution was taken ag

l part of the entirety-have recognized long ago that the German soldier is not a barbarian. The terrible distress which prevails among the French is often enough relieved by the generosity of the German troops. Throngs of women and children from the filthy villages of the A

ted many Bavarian villages: otherwise he would be more careful wi

ich is entirely the result of Germany's guilt. But the point which all German writers miss is the explanation of positive evidence of brutal deeds. Their

Still, as far back as November of last year, Herr K?hrer wrote: "In the villages on the slopes of the Argonnes and on the banks of the Aisne, nearly every second soldier is wea

n live, it would seem that the earliest days of the human race have returned. They have become cave-dwellers, troglodytes in the

whiz and burst around. In them the differences of rank disappear, except that one sometimes sees a couple of chairs provided for officers. When duty does not call them to the guns, they are free to remain in the open

171: Ibi

y Moloch. Writers who look upon the Allies as deliverers who will free Germany from the degrading slavery imposed

the Government to pursue a still greater naval and army programme. Both the Liberals and Conservatives have adop

the privileged position of German officers in public life. Millions of German men have seen how in this war the German lieut

ome this appeared to be overdoing it, like the many exaggerations in the domain of orders and honours with which w

"The Soul of Germa

and joyous spirit of self-sacrifice in our men is above all praise, but the officers have higher and more responsible duties. They have not only to set an example of physic

o continuous fire and thrown entirely upon themselves. I have seen them in the artillery positions on the Aisne, in the mud-caves of the heavy batteries, where they sit in the dark on e

Donnerwetter, yes! Hats off to them!' For the lieutenant is not only the first in the fight, but he is the

ng through the streets, nose in the air-when we see all this again, and perhaps a bit of iron pinned on the breast, then we must

ection it is still the value of individual personality which will decide the issue. We m

comprehend the full meaning of the awful word Krieg (war). Mere words cannot express what it means to

s the deepest, most unbounded faith in victory. In the trenches, batteries and hospitals there is no doubt, no fear.

the sacred faith which I brought back from the battlefields) out of this blood the proud har

3: Ibid., p.

er Karlsruhe Volksfreund (July 23rd, 1915) contained a long article by "comrade" Wilhelm Kolb, attacking the anti-annexation fraction of his party. Kolb accused the opposition with "speculatin

losses of the French were appalling, but here and there a s

sengrab (large common grave) containing several hundred German soldiers. At this point (Sedan) the battle raged with awful fu

fifty yards, stretched across the land, and between them were wire entanglements and other obstacles. Besides which they had an

e Meuse the ground rises gradually to a steep hill, on which the French artillery and machine guns were placed. The only bridge over the river, at Donchery, ha

were stormed and the enemy in flight. The battle raged on into the night and then the remains of the regiments gathered at the foot of the hill. They had won a costly but glor

n me as I gazed at the battlefield. What a dispensation! Two gigantic battles on the same spot in such a short space of time; two great victories over the French. And most remar

Trier (Trèves). His book "Bilder vom Kriegsschauplatz" (Pictures from th

he valley, as if to cover the sleeping heroes with a shroud of white. Above Sedan's heights appears the shini

ege: "Bilder vom Kriegssc

are still standing and about three houses; among them, fortunately, the house occupied by Kaiser Wilhelm I. in 1870-71, when the victorious German army was marching on

bove all the 29th and 69th-have fought with splendid valour, and here they have buried many a dear friend

est who lived so happily in our midst, who marched so gaily and to

animals, soldiers and civilians, filled the houses and streets, or lay buried under the ruins-awful sacrifices to the war Fu

76: Ibid.,

ny such expressions will be sufficient to quote here. The writer of it is a German author who enjoys m

escaped in an honourable manner from the nerve-racking, trench warfare. In an honourable manner? Yes, for I have heard on all sides-from the high

nt zum deutschen Kronprinzen" ("At the Fro

y. In our small company-although the bravery of the enemy and his excellent leadership receives full recogni

178: Ibi

Germany. His book is a collection of incidents, reflections, and conversations, carefully assorted and arranged, so as to allow

o the toast of his health. Presber affirms that the moment when his royal host raised his glass and uttered the words: "Ein stil

r before placing my linen therein. This makes me think of the many changes which will be marked in the atlases which German children are now carrying to school in their satchels-after the cannon have ceased to roar. How the colouring of the map

179: Ibid.

to attain everywhere. We drove long distances from the Prince's headquarters and once passed through

he citizens of the twice-conquered town bite their lips, turn their heads aside, and pretend indifference. The women too-many of them i

as become world-famous on account of the débacle of the Third Empire, lives to see wit

180: Ibid.

ithout thinking, touch their caps when their guards stand stiffly at the salute. (And how few guards are necessary to watch this tame herd!

81: Ibid.,

er on hearing that Italy had joined the Allies, and how t

ying towards France for forty-four years, Germany has discovered during the course of t

executioner. Another[183] gives our ally the advice "awake!" After Germany has played the s

"England als Henker Frankr

inemann: "Frankreich, e

France is not fighting for hers

defence of Russo-Serbian and British commercial interests. She has placed her money and her beautiful land at the dis

eir allies-who have exploited France for the last twenty-five years, and who have plunged her into this war--in order to arrive at a reasonable understan

In this sense, to seduce France to a direct breach of faith with her allies,

opinion the exact contrary to the one last quoted. According to Dr. Platzhoff, France herself is

nst her neighbour (Germany). In several decades of painful effort, French diplomacy has solved

r Platzhoff; "Deutschlan

"This development caused great anxiety in Germany. But it seems certain that Germany could have prevented it by one means

185: Ibi

but also of the policy pursued during recent decades. In vain French ministers have protested their love of peace and

ich prophesy a revolution in French poli

186: Ibid.

s honour and welfare are in her own hands, and it appears a futile hope that Germany, after failing to bring Fr