Part 16 (1/2)

Father, and maintain that the foul, diseased imaginations which could invent such monstrous horrors are also capable of perpetrating them.

They did not spring from the imagination of an Edgar Allan Poe, but arose in the minds of Germany's brutal peasantry and bloodthirsty working cla.s.ses, who together every year commit in times of peace 9,000 acts of brutal, immoral b.e.s.t.i.a.lity, and maliciously wound 175,000 of their fellow German citizens.[129]

[Footnote 129: _Vide_ Vol. 267 _Vierteljahrshefte_, published by the Berlin Government, 1914.]

To-day Germany shouts in ecstasy that she is the chosen power of G.o.d; that her _Kultur_ will regenerate the world. Let it first regenerate the ”Augean Stable” known to the world as Germany. Without further comment readers are left to form their own opinion of a Press which breeds such filth, and the cultural level of a people which consumes such garbage.

But the world owes a debt of grat.i.tude to the Rev. Bernhard Duhr, S.J., and the ”Pax” Society in Cologne.

The accusations of plundering on the part of German soldiers is naturally denied _in toto_ by all parties in the Fatherland. Indeed, it has been discovered that the British army was guilty of wilful destruction in Belgium. A certain Major Krusemarck, commanding the 2nd battalion of the 12th Infantry Reserve Regiment, is responsible for the story. ”On October 10th I entered Wilryk, near Antwerp, and took up my quarters in the Italian Consulate. All the houses had been deserted by the inhabitants. Immediately after entering the house I perceived that English soldiers had been here and behaved in a barbarous manner.

Mirrors, valuable objects of art, etc., had been smashed in a way which betrayed purpose.” The major's report continues: ”The destruction which I have described had undoubtedly been perpetrated by members of the English army, and as proof of this I may state that in one of the rooms about a dozen visiting-cards were found with the name: Major E.L.

Gerrard, Royal Marine Light Infantery (sic).

”During the subsequent pursuit of the Belgian and English armies we heard repeated complaints from the inhabitants that especially the English troops had acted in the most inconsiderate manner, purposely destroying furniture, etc., in civilian houses.”[130]

[Footnote 130: Richard Gra.s.shoff: ”Belgien's Schuld,” p. 84.]

Without doubt the story belongs to the group of legends exposed by the ”Pax” Society, for which reason it is quoted here, as a fitting supplement to them. Yet it is psychologically interesting to note how difficult it is for Germans who burn, destroy and violate in their own country to believe that they behave otherwise than as lambs when playing the role of invaders.

One quotation from a large number will ill.u.s.trate sufficiently the respect which the German troops felt for civilian homes in the territories occupied by them: ”We got into the house by a back-door.

Orders had been issued that only food and s.h.i.+rts were to be taken. The cellar was full of wine and champagne. A corporal brought us some of the latter. After half an hour the rooms looked very different; all the cupboards had been emptied in order to get at the jams and jellies.

Several pots of fruit preserved in wine were divided as honestly as the greed of the individual allowed.

”All the underclothing was seized upon, obviously only the best being taken. Many a dirty Pole put on such a s.h.i.+rt as he had never dreamed of before. Even ladies' chemises were commandeered, and some of the men a.s.sured me that a French chemise is quite comfortable--in spite of the short sleeves.

”If there is a sterner s.e.x in France, which is exceedingly doubtful, they do not seem to possess pants; so the men resorted to the corresponding article worn by ladies.”[131] (This writer refers in other parts of his book to ”mementoes” which he carried home to the Fatherland, after being wounded at the Marne.)

[Footnote 131: H. Knutz: ”Mit den Konigin-Fusilieren durch Belgien,” p.

42.]

CHAPTER IX

THE NEUTRALITY OF BELGIUM AND GERMANY'S ANNEXATION PROPAGANDA

”Afterthoughts” is the term which would perhaps designate most concisely the section of German war literature treating of Belgium's violated neutrality. Should that designation appear unfitting, then the author has only one other to suggest--”whitewash.”

In order to apprehend clearly the method and aims concealed beneath the ”afterthoughts,” readers must bear in mind that every attempt to protest against the annexation of Belgium by Germany is prohibited by the German censor. The Social Democratic organs emphasize the fact almost daily that they are not permitted to print anything contrary to the principle of annexation.

On the other hand, numerous writers are allowed to make a most extensive propaganda by suggesting that annexation is necessary in the interests of their racial-brothers the Flemings. By order of the German Government a geographical description of the country has been published,[132] in which every detail of Belgium's wealth in minerals, agriculture, and so on, is described, with no other possible purpose than the desire to whet German Michael's appet.i.te.

[Footnote 132: ”Belgien, Land und Leute,” Berlin, 1915.]

All at once Germany has become suspiciously interested in Belgian history, in the domestic quarrels between Walloons and Flemings, in the alleged oppression of the latter (Low Germans) by the former, 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 experiment, and that no ”Belgian” people has ever existed, but rather two hostile elements were packed under the same roof against their will by the Conference of London--the said roof bears the name Belgium!

According to a good German-Swiss[133] the Belgians have no national feelings, no patriotism, and have never had a Fatherland. If a serious writer can make such statements after the Belgians have defended their native country 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 proceeds to blacken the latter's character by quoting every Belgian utterance which may be interpreted as anti-German.

These expressions lead him to the remarkable conclusion that Belgians had already violated their own neutrality!

[Footnote 133: ”Belgische Neutralitat,” by Eduard Blocher. Zurich, 1915.]