Part 28 (2/2)
Grim laughter was heard in Germany--booming, bitter laughter at the band of thieves who hoped to plunder us. And in the wantonness of their righteous wrath, German soldiers scribbled on the barrack walls an immortal sentence: 'Declarations of war thankfully received!'”[227]
[Footnote 227: A. Fendrich: ”Gegen Frankreich und Albion” (”Against France and Albion”). Stuttgart, 1915; pp. 11-12.]
”How wickedly the war was forced upon Germany! A ring of enemies surrounded her. Envy and ill-will were their motives, but they lacked the right measure for Germany's greatness. Our people stand invincible, united, staking life and everything they have--till the last enemy lies in the dust.
”Not much longer and the goal will be attained; the many-sided attack has been smashed and the war carried into enemy lands. s.h.i.+ning glory has been won by Germany's armies. The pa.s.sionate _elan_ of our soldiers, their death-despising bravery and one-minded strength, have gained victory after victory.
”Revenge begins to glow against the originator of the world-conflagration--against false England! Mute and astonished the world saw her baseness--wondering at her greatness and her sin. Envy and ill-will inspired her to cast the lives of millions into the scales, to open the flood-gates of blood, to spread pain and unspeakable misery--herself coldly smiling.
”What are men's lives to England? She pays for them. Her army of mercenaries which was to force her yoke on Europe, is paid with the gold of blackmailers. She sends hirelings into the field to defend the inheritance of her ancestors; paid mercenaries fight for her most sacred possessions, while those who pay the blood-money throng to see the masterly exponents of football. And England is proud of her splendid sons who prefer this intellectual game to stern battle with the enemy.
”How different it is with our men! With shouts of joy they march forth to meet the foe, offering their lives in a spirit of glad sacrifice for the highest and best which the world has to offer humanity. Storming forwards with the song, 'Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles,' our youthful hosts, greeting death with a smile, hurl themselves upon the enemy. Truly, wherever and so long as men are men, the glory of our warriors will find remembrance in brave hearts.”[228]
[Footnote 228: J. Bermbach: ”Zittere, England!” (”England, tremble!”).
Weimar, 1915; p. 5 _et seq_.]
”It would be neither right nor just to accuse English soldiers of a want of courage. They have fought everywhere, by land and sea, with respect-inspiring gallantry--for mercenaries! But the warlike virtues of England's armies cannot atone for the cowardice with which she has conducted the struggle for naval supremacy. Albion means England's rulers. And this England of Messrs. Grey and Churchill, has covered herself with shame for all time by the manner of her warfare on sea.
”Albion has not changed. She has hidden her battles.h.i.+ps in the bays of northern Ireland, and conducts war on sea--not against our s.h.i.+ps and soldiers, but against those at home, German women and children! 'The pinch of hunger makes the heart weak,' said the n.o.ble-minded Churchill.”[229]
[Footnote 229: Fendrich: ”Gegen Frankreich und Albion,” p. 152 _et seq_.]
”According to its composition the English army is an army of mercenaries. On that account, however, it would be a great mistake to despise the quality of the soldiers or to cherish contempt for them. The standard of physical fitness demanded of the recruits was--at least up till a short time ago--more severe than that imposed in other lands.
There is no doubt, our German brothers who have met the English on the field of battle, admit that they fight not only with valour but with unyielding stubbornness.
”This results not so much from barrack-yard drill and field manoeuvres, as from the practical experience of warfare gained in many campaigns.
England is occupied almost uninterruptedly, in warlike enterprises in some part of the world or other. Further, the officers--belonging mostly to the upper circles--have distinguished themselves in the field by a rash bravery which was marked perhaps, not so much by military as sportsmanlike behaviour.
”All in all the strategic value of the English army in regard to leaders.h.i.+p, training, discipline and the spirit of the troops, cannot compare with the conscript armies of other lands--especially the German army. Yet the contempt which has been expressed for it in the Press as an army of hirelings, is just as little merited to-day as it was in the past when it added many a glorious page to England's history.
”These remarks are intended as a refutation to the reproaches made against the English army. It is true, those unjust criticisms did not originate with experts, or they would imply a dangerous under-estimation of the enemy. But in consequence of the widespread acceptance among the ma.s.ses they unjustly feed the fires of hate.”[230]
[Footnote 230: Dr. G. Landauer: ”England.” Vienna; 1915, pp. 74-5.]
”For the last ten days we have been resting to the west of Lille not far from Armentieres; an English army is opposed to us. My battery is one of the links in the long chain of growlers[231] which daily pour fire and iron on to the enemy. We gave up counting the days and fights, for every day has its battle. Besides the English there are Indian troops, and a few French batteries in front of us.
[Footnote 231: The Germans call their big guns ”Brummer,” _i.e._, growler.--Author.]
”Every day confirms our experience that we are faced by an enemy with incomparable powers of resistance and endurance. An enemy who can hardly be shaken by the sharpest rifle-fire or the most awful rain of sh.e.l.l and shrapnel. We gain ground slowly, exceedingly slowly, and every step of soil has to be paid for dearly.
”In the trenches taken by storm the English dead lie in rows, just like men who had not winced or yielded before the bayonets of the stormers.
From the military point of view it must be admitted that such an enemy deserves the greatest respect. The English have adapted the experiences gained in their colonial wars to European conditions in a particularly clever manner.
”Every attempt to cross the ca.n.a.l was thwarted by artillery fire and in many places the enemy was more advantageously situated than our men. His trenches were at least dry while ours were flooded with water. I went into the front trenches by Dixmude and found them lined half a yard deep with f.a.ggots and wood, yet at every step our feet sank into the water and slush.
”On the other bank of the Yser lay the enemy and fired continuously.
<script>