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Britishers have just done their fighting in their own nonchalant
way 〃because they had to〃 with scarcely a shadow of malice or
revenge rather with that respect for a doughty opponent which
always distinguishes the true fighter。
Think of that quaint story （Between The Lines； by Boyd Cable； pp 188 ff）
of the German Burschen in their trenches； singing with pious enthusiasm
the Song of Hate （probably commanded and compelled； poor devils； to sing it）
and our men for days secretly listening； learning the words； practicing
the tune on their muffled； mouth…organs； till having got it all
complete they one morning； burst it forth in full chorus on the
astonished Teutons； nor failed at the end to blaze out
〃Gott strafe England〃 at the top of； their voices as if they really
meant it and then subsided into a roar of laughter。 They simply would
not take the German 〃Hate〃 seriously。
Well； what can an enemy do with such an army？ It would seem indeed
to be invincible。
The other surprising thing about this Army is （but it is also in
part true of the Russians and others） that the members of it not
only bear so little malice in their heart of hearts against the
enemy； but that all the time they （or nine…tenths of them） are giving
their life…blood； for a Country which in hardly any available or
adequate sense can really be said to belong to them。
Not one man of ours in ten； probably not one in a hundred； has any
direct rights or interest in his native soil； and the Motherland
has too often （at any rate in the past） turned out a stepmother
who disowned him later when crippled in her service。
He is told that he is fighting for his country； but he finds that
his real privilege is to die at the foot of a Trespass…board on some
rich man's estate； singing bravely to the last that 〃Britons never；
never shall be slaves！〃 He is told that he is defending his hearth
and his home； and to prove that that is so； he is sent out on a
far campaign to further some dubious scheme in Mesopotamia！ I think
we cannot refuse to say that the good temper and they single…heartedness
and the single mindedness of the British soldier are beyond all
praise。
But； in another way； how admirable and how great has the French
soldier proved himself to be！
The passion of Patriotism； the sheer love of their own country
（in the case of the French； more truly 〃their own〃 than in the
case of the British） has swept through France in a wave of devotion
which consumed in its flame； one may almost say； the energies and
the treasures of every household。 To protect their beautiful land；
their divine mistress； from violation by the German hordes was a
thing for which all men artists； literary men and all were glad
to die。
When at Meaux the French army （reorganized and reinforced） broke
through the German centre and fell upon Von Kluck's left flank
（his right being already threatened by the French Sixth Army）；
they were surely not men who fought； but spirits rather many of
them almost ghosts； white with the fatigues and privations of a
long retreat； but to save their beloved Paris they faced the enemy
with a fury that nothing could resist。
A miracle was wrought （talk of Angels at Mons； it was Devils at Meaux）；
and Germany in that moment was defeated even though it took two
years more to make her acknowledge her defeat。
Think of Lieutenant Pericard who in a trench full of corpses at
Bois…brule cried； suddenly entranced； in a loud voice； 〃Debout les morts！〃
and in a moment； as it were； the souls of their dead comrades were
around his men； inspiring them to victory。
When again at Verdun week after week and month after month the French
army endured tine almost hourly mass…attacks of the enemy battalions
and the deluge of their shells （eight million shells； it is estimated
the Germans threw in ten weeks）； it still； though heavily punished；
stood solid； and the whole of France stood solid behind it。 France
never doubted the conclusion； and the conclusion was never doubtful。
We have spoken of ‘glory；' but the day of ‘ la gloire ' has departed。
France herself has ceased to speak of it and there can be no better
proof than that； of the change that has come over the minds of men 。
France has emerged from the War a changed nation。 The people who
in 1870 made ribald verses and sang cynical songs over the plight
of their country are now no more； and France emerges serious； resolute；
to the great work which she has before her of building the great
first Democratic State of Europe and becoming the corner…stone of
the future European Confederation。
And what shall we say of the German army？ （In the moment and merely
for the sake of brevity I leave the Belgians； Russians； Italians
and Serbians aside。）
When I think of the great German army now scattered over Europe；
fighting along that immense line （including the Austrian portion）
of some 1；400 miles in extent； when I think of this on the whole so
wonderfully goodhearted； genial； sociable people； these regiments
of Westphalians； Wurtemburgers； Saxons； Bavarians； Hungarians； these
men and boys from the fields and farms of Posen and Pomerania； the
forests of Thuringia； the vineyards of the Rhine or the vegetable
gardens of the Palatinate； these students from the Universities
and scholars from the Technical Schools； plunged in this insane War；
fighting in very truth for they know not what； and pouring out their
life…blood； like water in obedience to the long…prepared schemes
of their rulers I am seized with an immense pity。
They have been told they are fighting to save their Fatherland。
And as far as our argument is concerned it does not matter how
falsely they have been instructed or what grain of actual truth
there may be in the contention。
The point is that the vast majority of them believe this to be
true； and they too； dear children； are giving their lives for their
hearths and homes they too are leading this hateful existence in
trenches and mines； called to it by what seems to them a good
conscience； and carried onward （in company with those they have
left at home） in the mad millrace of public opinion。
However we may； blame the German High Command and certainly we must
blame those in power； who over such a long period deliberately
prepared this war； and at the last so suddenly launched it upon
Europe。
However we may blame the German High Command； we cannot refuse
to acknowledge the really great qualities of their general Army：
its extraordinary courage and devotion； its versatility and resource。
As to its goodheartedness； that is proved by the endless stories
of spontaneous friendliness shown by the German troops even to
their enemies； the individual rapprochements on occasions； the
succour to the wounded； the Christmas songs and celebrations； and
by the fact of advances of this kind so often coming first from
the German side。
As to its good sense； that element certainly has not been wanting。
Among the stories' above…mentioned as coming from the Front is one
which I have every reason to believe is true。 The Saxons one day；
in their trenches thirty or forty yards away； put up a blackboard
on which was written： 〃The English are fools！〃 The board was
of course peppered with bullets； and went drown。 Presently it
reappeared with 〃The French are fools！〃 written on it。 Being
duly peppered again it went down； and came up with 〃The Russians
are fools！〃 Same treatment。 But when it； or a similar board；
appeared for the fourth time； lo！ the inscription was 〃The Austrians
are fools！〃； and when it appeared for the fifth time； 〃The
Germans are fools！〃； and the sixth time； 〃We are all fools！〃
I don't think there could be much better sense than that。
And to think that the insane policy of a Government or Governments
should bring about the wholesale slaughter of such mien as all
these that I have described。
To think that the longer such a war goes on； the less heroic and
generous it becomes； and the more dominated by hatred and revenge by
the wish to score a military victory or the desire to secure mere
political and commercial advantages。
To think that nations who consider themselves civilized should be
thus acting： so contrary to the natural laws and instincts of
humanity that often in order for a bayonet charge men must be primed
with liquor to the verge of intoxication 。
We need not go further。
Of the three great nations primarily involved those indeed of
which we can speak most confidently； knowing them best it is
intolerable to think they should thus mutilate and destroy each other。
All we can say is： Never again must this thing happen！
When one thinks of the whole dread Coil and Entanglement； and；
what it is for； the mind reels in despair。
When one thinks of the marvellous scientific ingenuity and skill；
directed in a kind of diabolic concentration on the one purpose
of slaughter。
Of the huge guns； the 12。5's； weighing 40 tons apiece； and boxed
and rifled to the nicety of the thousandth part of an inch （I have
watched them being made at Sheffield）。
Of the larger 15 in。 guns； with range of 13 or 14 miles； so accurate
that the shells thro