Part 13 (1/2)
It was convenient to have the war break out immediately, in order that events might result favorably for Germany, whose enemies are totally unprepared. Preventive war was recommended by General Bernhardi and other ill.u.s.trious patriots. It would be dangerous indeed to defer the declaration of war until the enemies had fortified themselves so that they should be the ones to make war. Besides, to the Germans what kind of deterrents could law and other fictions invented by weak nations possibly be? ... No; they had the Power, and Power creates new laws.
If they proved to be the victors, History would not investigate too closely the means by which they had conquered. It was Germany that was going to win, and the priests of all cults would finally sanctify with their chants the blessed war--if it led to triumph.
”We are not making war in order to punish the Servian regicides, nor to free the Poles, nor the others oppressed by Russia, stopping there in admiration of our disinterested magnanimity. We wish to wage it because we are the first people of the earth and should extend our activity over the entire planet. Germany's hour has sounded. We are going to take our place as the powerful Mistress of the World, the place which Spain occupied in former centuries, afterwards France, and England to-day.
What those people accomplished in a struggle of many years we are going to bring about in four months. The storm-flag of the Empire is now going to wave over nations and oceans; the sun is going to s.h.i.+ne on a great slaughter... .
”Old Rome, sick unto death, called 'barbarians' the Germans who opened the grave. The world to-day also smells death and will surely call us barbarians... . So be it! When Tangiers and Toulouse, Amberes and Calais have become submissive to German barbarism ... then we will speak further of this matter. We have the power, and who has that needs neither to hesitate nor to argue... . Power! ... That is the beautiful word--the only word that rings true and clear... . Power!
One sure stab and all argument is answered forever!”
”But are you so sure of victory?” asked Desnoyers. ”Sometimes Destiny gives us great surprises. There are hidden forces that we must take into consideration or they may overturn the best-laid plans.”
The smile of the Doctor became increasingly scornful and arrogant.
Everything had been foreseen and studied out long ago with the most minute Germanic method. What had they to fear? ... The enemy most to be reckoned with was France, incapable of resisting the enervating moral influences, the sufferings, the strain and the privations of war;--a nation physically debilitated and so poisoned by revolutionary spirit that it had laid aside the use of arms through an exaggerated love of comfort.
”Our generals,” he announced, ”are going to leave her in such a state that she will never again cross our path.”
There was Russia, too, to consider, but her amorphous ma.s.ses were slow to a.s.semble and unwieldy to move. The Executive Staff of Berlin had timed everything by measure for crus.h.i.+ng France in four weeks, and would then lead its enormous forces against the Russian empire before it could begin action.
”We shall finish with the bear after killing the c.o.c.k,” affirmed the professor triumphantly.
But guessing at some objection from his cousin, he hastened on--”I know what you are going to tell me. There remains another enemy, one that has not yet leaped into the lists but which all the Germans are waiting for.
That one inspires more hatred than all the others put together, because it is of our blood, because it is a traitor to the race... . Ah, how we loathe it!”
And in the tone in which these words were uttered throbbed an expression of hatred and a thirst for vengeance which astonished both listeners.
”Even though England attack us,” continued Hartrott, ”we shall conquer, notwithstanding. This adversary is not more terrible than the others.
For the past century she has ruled the world. Upon the fall of Napoleon she seized the continental hegemony, and will fight to keep it. But what does her energy amount to? ... As our Bernhardi says, the English people are merely a nation of renters and sportsmen. Their army is formed from the dregs of the nation. The country lacks military spirit.
We are a people of warriors, and it will be an easy thing for us to conquer the English, debilitated by a false conception of life.”
The Doctor paused and then added: ”We are counting on the internal corruption of our enemies, on their lack of unity. G.o.d will aid us by sowing confusion among these detested people. In a few days you will see His hand. Revolution is going to break out in France at the same time as war. The people of Paris will build barricades in the streets and the scenes of the Commune will repeat themselves. Tunis, Algiers and all their other possessions are about to rise against the metropolis.”
Argensola seized the opportunity to smile with an aggressive incredulity.
”I repeat it,” insisted Hartrott, ”that this country is going to have internal revolution and colonial insurrection. I know perfectly well what I am talking about... . Russia also will break out into revolution with a red flag that will force the Czar to beg for mercy on his knees. You have only to read in the papers of the recent strikes in Saint Petersburg, and the manifestations of the strikers with the pretext of President Poincare's visit... . England will see her appeals to her colonies completely ignored. India is going to rise against her, and Egypt, too, will seize this opportunity for her emanc.i.p.ation.”
Julio was beginning to be impressed by these affirmations enunciated with such oracular certainty, and he felt almost irritated at the incredulous Argensola, who continued looking insolently at the seer, repeating with his winking eyes, ”He is insane--insane with pride.” The man certainly must have strong reasons for making such awful prophecies.
His presence in Paris just at this time was difficult for Desnoyers to understand, and gave to his words a mysterious authority.
”But the nations will defend themselves,” he protested to his cousin.
”Victory will not be such a very simple thing as you imagine.”
”Yes, they will defend themselves, and the struggle will be fiercely contested. It appears that, of late years, France has been paying some attention to her army. We shall undoubtedly encounter some resistance; triumph may be somewhat difficult, but we are going to prevail... .
You have no idea to what extent the offensive power of Germany has attained. n.o.body knows with certainty beyond the frontiers. If our foes should comprehend it in all its immensity, they would fall on their knees beforehand to beg for mercy, thus obviating the necessity for useless sacrifices.”
There was a long silence. Julius von Hartrott appeared lost in reverie.
The very thought of the acc.u.mulated strength of his race submerged him in a species of mystic adoration.
”The preliminary victory,” he suddenly exclaimed, ”we gained some time ago. Our enemies, therefore, hate us, and yet they imitate us. All that bears the stamp of Germany is in demand throughout the world. The very countries that are trying to resist our arms copy our methods in their universities and admire our theories, even those which do not attain success in Germany. Oftentimes we laugh among ourselves, like the Roman augurs, upon seeing the servility with which they follow us! ... And yet they will not admit our superiority!”