HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
Likened to Belshazzar--The Kaiser's Feasts--In His Heart Barbaric Pride
of the Potentates of Old--German Madness for War--Insolent
Demands--Forty-eight Hours to Prevent a World War--Comment of Statesmen
and Leaders--The War Starts--Italy Breaks Her Alliance--Germanic Powers
Weighed and Found Wanting--Spirit Wins Over Materialism--Civilization's
Lamp Dimmed but not Darkened.
Belshazzar of Babylon sat at a feast. Very much after the fashion of
modern kings they were good at feasting in those olden days. The
farthest limits of the kingdom had been searched for every delight and
delicacy. Honeyed wines, flamingo's tongues, game from the hills, fruits
from vine and tree, spices from grove and forest, vegetables from field
and garden, fish from stream and sea; every resource of Mother Earth
that could contribute to appetite or sensual pleasure was brought to the
king's table. Singers, minstrels, dancers, magicians, entertainers of
every description were summoned to the palace that they might contribute
to the vanity of the monarch, and impress the onlooking nations about
him.
He desired to be known and feared as the greatest monarch on earth;
ruling as he did over the world's greatest city. His triumphs had been
many. He had come to believe that his power proceeded directly from the
god Bel, and that he was the chosen and anointed of that deity.
This was the period of his prime; of Babylon's greatest glory; his
kingdom seemed so firmly established he had no thought it could be
shaken. But misleading are the dreams of kings; his kingdom was suddenly
menaced from without, by Cyrus of Persia, another great monarch. There
were also dangers from within, but courtiers and flatterers kept this
knowledge from him. Priests of rival gods had set themselves up within
the empire; spies from without and conspirators within were secretly
undermining the power of the intrenched despot.
Such was Belshazzar in his pride; such his kingdom and empire. And, so
it was, this was to be an orgy that would set a record for all time to
come.
Artists and artisans of the highest skill had been summoned to the work
of beautifying the enormous palace; its gardens and grounds, innumerable
slaves furnishing the labor. The gold and silver of the nation was
gathered and beaten into ornaments and woven into beautiful designs to
grace the occasion. There was a profusion of the most gorgeous plumage
and richest fabrics, while over all were sprinkled in unheard of
prodigality, the rarest gems and jewels. It was indeed to be a fitting
celebration of the glory of Bel, and the power and magnificence of his
earthly representative; heathen opulence, heathen pride and sensuality
were to outdo themselves.
The revel started at a tremendous pace. No such wines and viands ever
before had been served. No such music ever had been heard and no such
dancers and entertainers ever before had appeared, but, fool that he
was, he had reckoned without his host; had made a covenant with Death
and Hell and had known it not, and the hour of atonement was upon him;
the handwriting on the wall of the true and outraged God, conveyed the
information; short and crisp, that he had been weighed; he and his
kingdom in the balance and found wanting; the hour--his hour, had
struck; the time of restitution and atonement long on the way, had come;
Babylon was to fall--FELL!--and for twenty-five centuries its glory and
its power has been a story that is told; its magnificence but heaps of
sand in the desert where night birds shriek and wild beasts find their
lair.
In the Kaiser's heart was the same barbaric pride, the same ambition,
the same worship of a false god and the same belief that he was the
especial agent of that deity.
His extravagances of vision and ambition were no less demoralizing to
humanity and civilization, than those that brought decay and ruin to the
potentates of old. He graced them with all the luxury and exuberance
that modern civilization, without arousing rebellious complaint among
his subjects, would permit. His gatherings appeared to be arranged for
the bringing together of the bright minds of the empire, that there
might be an exchange of thought and sentiment that would work to the
good of his country and the happiness of the world. Frequently
ministers, princes and statesmen from other countries were present, that
they might become acquainted with the German idea--its kultur--working
for the good of humanity.
Here was The Beast mentioned in Revelations, in a different guise;
wearing the face of benevolence and clothed in the raiment of Heaven.
There were feasts of which the German people knew nothing, and to which
foreign ambassadors were not invited. At these feasts the wines were
furnished by Belial. They were occasions for the glorification of the
German god of war; of greed and conquest; ambition and vanity; without
pity, sympathy or honor.
Ruthless, vain, arrogant minds met the same qualities in their leader.
Some knew and welcomed the fact that the devil was their guest of honor;
perhaps others did not know it. Deluded as they all were and blinded by
pride and self-seeking, the same handwriting that told Belshazzar of
disaster was on the wall, but they could not or would not see it. There
was no Daniel to interpret for them.
German madness for war asserted itself in the ultimatum sent by Austria
to Serbia after the assassination at Sarajevo. Sufficient time had
hardly elapsed for an investigation of the crime and the fixing of the
responsibility, before Austria made a most insolent demand upon Serbia.
The smaller nation avowed her innocence of any participation in the
murder; offered to make amends, and if it were discovered that the
conspiracy had been hatched on Serbian soil, to assist in bringing to
justice any confederates in the crime the assassin may have had.
[Illustration: NEGRO SOLDIERS ON THE RIFLE RANGE AT CAMP GRANT,
ILLINOIS. BEING TAUGHT MARKSMANSHIP. AN IDEAL LOCATION RESEMBLING BATTLE
AREAS IN FRANCE.]
[Illustration: MEDICAL DETACHMENT 365TH INFANTRY. A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP
OF MEDICAL OFFICERS AND THEIR FIELD ASSISTANTS. THIS BRANCH OF THE 92ND
DIVISION RENDERED MOST VALOROUS SERVICE.]
[Illustration: BAYONET EXERCISES IN THE TRAINING CAMP.]
[Illustration: SPORTS AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE IN THE TRAINING CAMP.]
[Illustration: NEGRO TROOPS DRILLING. SCENE AT CAMP MEADE, MD., WHERE A
PORTION OF THE 93RD DIVISION AND OTHER EFFICIENT UNITS WERE TRAINED.]
[Illustration: AN EQUINE BARBER SHOP NEAR THE CAMP. ONE OF THE DUTIES
INCIDENT TO THE TRAINING CAMP.]
[Illustration: TROOPERS OF 10TH CAVALRY GOING INTO MEXICO. THESE HEROIC
NEGRO SOLDIERS WERE AMBUSHED NEAR CARRIZAL AND SUFFERED A LOSS OF HALF
THEIR NUMBER IN ONE OF THE BRAVEST FIGHTS ON RECORD.]
[Illustration: TENTH CAVALRY SURVIVORS OF CARRIZAL. DESPOILED OF THEIR
UNIFORMS BY THE MEXICANS THEY ARRIVE AT EL PASO IN OVERALLS. LEM
SPILLSBURY, WHITE SCOUT IN CENTER. EACH SOLDIER HAS A BOUQUET OF
FLOWERS.]
[Illustration: AMERICA'S WAR TIME PRESIDENT. THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF WOODROW
WILSON WAS ESPECIALLY POSED DURING THE WAR. IN HIS STUDY AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.]
[Illustration: DR. J.E. MOORLAND, SENIOR SECRETARY OF COLORED MEN'S
DEPT., INTERNATIONAL Y.M.C.A. THE MAN LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCCESS OF
HIS RACE IN "Y" WORK.]
[Illustration: A TYPICAL GROUP OF "Y" WORKERS, SECRETARY SNYDER AND
STAFF. Y.M.C.A. NO.7, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.]
[Illustration: PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON (AT HEAD OF TABLE) AND HIS WAR
CABINET. LEFT--W.G. MCADOO SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY; THOMAS W. GREGORY,
ATTY. GENL.; JOSEPHUS DANIELS, SEC. OF NAVY; D.F. HOUSTON, SEC. OF
AGRICULTURE; WILLIAM B. WILSON, SEC. OF LABOR. RIGHT--ROBERT LANSING,
SEC. OF STATE; NEWTON D. BAKER, SEC. OF WAR; A.S. BURLESON,
POSTMASTER-GENERAL; FRANKLIN K. LANE, SEC. OF INTERIOR; WILLIAM C.
REDFIELD, SEC. OF COMMERCE.]
With a war likely to involve the greater part of Europe hanging on the
issue, it was a time for cool judgment, sober statesmanship and careful
action on all sides. Months should have been devoted to an
investigation.
But Germany and Austria did not want a sober investigation. They were
afraid that while it was proceeding the pretext for war might vanish. As
surmised above, they also may have feared that the responsibility for
the act would be placed in quarters that would be embarrassing to them.
On July 23, 1914, just twenty-five days after the murder, Austria
delivered her demands upon Serbia and placed a time limit of forty-eight
hours for their acceptance. With the fate of a nation and the probable
embroiling of all Europe hanging on the outcome, forty-eight hours was a
time too brief for proper consideration. Serbia could hardly summon her
statesmen in that time. Nevertheless the little country, realizing the
awful peril that impended, and that she alone would not be the sufferer,
bravely put aside all selfish considerations and practically all
considerations of national pride and honor.
The records show that every demand which Austria made on Serbia was
granted except one, which was only conditionally refused. Although this
demand involved the very sovereignty of Serbia--her existence as a
nation--the government offered to submit the matter to mediation or
arbitration. But Austria, cats-pawing for Germany, did not want her
demands accepted. The one clause was inserted purposely, because they
knew it could not be accepted. With Serbia meeting the situation
honestly and going over ninety percent of the way towards an amicable
adjustment, the diplomacy that could not obtain peace out of such a
situation, must have been imbecile or corrupt to the last degree.
An American historian discussing causes in the early stages of the war,
said:
"The German Imperial Chancellor pays no high compliment to the
intelligence of the American people when he asks them to believe
that 'the war is a life-and-death struggle between Germany and the
Muscovite races of Russia', and was due to the royal murders at
Sarajevo.
"To say that all Europe had to be plunged into the most
devastating war of human history because an Austrian subject
murdered the heir to the Austrian throne on Austrian soil in a
conspiracy in which Serbians were implicated, is too absurd to be
treated seriously. Great wars do not follow from such causes,
although any pretext, however trivial, may be regarded as
sufficient when war is deliberately sought.
"Nor is the Imperial Chancellor's declaration that 'the war is a
life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite races of
Russia' convincing in the slightest degree. So far as the Russian
menace to Germany is concerned, the Staats-Zeitung is much nearer
the truth when its editor, Mr. Ridder, boasts that 'no Russian army
ever waged a successful war against a first-class power.'
"The life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite
races of Russia is a diplomatic fiction invented after German
Autocracy, taking advantage of the Serbian incident, set forth to
destroy France. It was through no fear of Russia that Germany
violated her solemn treaty obligations by invading the neutrality
of Belgium and Luxemburg. It was through no fear of Russia that
Germany had massed most of her army near the frontiers of France,
leaving only six army corps to hold Russia in check. Germany's
policy as it stands revealed by her military operations was to
crush France and then make terms with Russia. The policy has failed
because of the unexpected resistance of the Belgians and the
refusal of Great Britain to buy peace at the expense of her honor."
A nearer and equally clear view is expressed for the French by M.
Clemenceau, who early in the war said:
"For twenty-five years William II has made Europe live under the
weight of a horrible nightmare. He has found sheer delight in
keeping it in a state of perpetual anxiety over his boastful
utterances of power and the sharpened sword.
"Five threats of war have been launched against us since 1875. At
the sixth he finds himself caught in the toils he had laid for us.
He threatened the very springs of England's power, though she was
more than pacific in her attitude toward him.
"For many years, thanks to him, the Continent has had to join in a
giddy race of armaments, drying up the sources of economic
development and exposing our finances to a crisis which we shrank
from discussing. We must have done with this crowned comedian,
poet, musician, sailor, warrior, pastor; this commentator absorbed
in reconciling Hammurabi with the Bible, giving his opinion on
every problem of philosophy, speaking of everything, saying
nothing." M. Clemenceau summed up the Kaiser as "another Nero; but
Rome in flames is not sufficient for him--he demands the
destruction of the universe."
The Socialist, Upton Sinclair, speaking at the time, blamed Russia as
well as Germany and Austria. He also inclined to the view that the
assassination at Sarajevo was instigated by Austria. He said:
"I assert that never before in human history has there been a war
with less pretense of justification. It is the supreme crime of the
ages; a blow at the very throat of civilization. The three nations
which began it, Austria, Russia and Germany, are governed, the
first by a doddering imbecile, the second by a weak-minded
melancholic, and the third by an epileptic degenerate, drunk upon
the vision of himself as the war lord of Europe. Behind each of
These men is a little clique of blood-thirsty aristocrats. They
fall into a quarrel among themselves. The pretext is that Serbia
instigated the murder of the heir apparent to the Austrian throne.
There is good reason far believing that as a matter of fact this
murder was instigated by the war party in Austria, because the heir
apparent had democratic and anti-military tendencies. First they
murder him and then they use his death as a pretext for plunging
the whole of civilization into a murderous strife."
Herman Ridder, editor of the Staats-Zeitung of New York contributed a
German-American view. Mr. Ridder saw the handwriting on the wall and he
very soundly deprecated war and pictured its horrors. But he could not
forget that he was appealing to a large class that held the German
viewpoint. He therefore found it necessary to soften his phrase with
some hyphenated sophistry. He dared not say that Germany was the culprit
and would be the principal sufferer. His article was:
"Sooner or later the nations engaged in war will find themselves
spent and weary. There will be victory for some, defeat for others,
and profit for none. There can hardly be any lasting laurels for
any of the contending parties. To change the map of Europe is not
worth the price of a single human life. Patriotism should never
rise above humanity.
"The history of war is merely a succession of blunders. Each treaty
of peace sows the seed of future strife.
"War offends our intelligence and outrages our sympathies. We can
but stand aside and murmur 'The pity of it all. The pity of it
all.'
"War breeds socialism. At night the opposing hosts rest on their
arms, searching the heavens for the riddle of life and death, and
wondering what their tomorrow will bring forth. Around a thousand
camp fires the steady conviction is being driven home that this
sacrifice of life might all be avoided. It seems difficult to
realize that millions of men, skilled by years of constant
application, have left the factory, the mill, or the desk to waste
not only their time but their very lives and possibly the lives of
those dependent on them to wage war, brother against brother.
"The more reasonable it appears that peace must quickly come, the
more hopeless does it seem. I am convinced that an overwhelming
majority of the populations of Germany, England and France are
opposed to this war. The Governments of these states do not want
war.
"War deals in human life as recklessly as the gambler in money.
"Imagine the point of view of a commanding general who is
confronted with the task of taking a fortress; 'That position will
cost me five thousand lives; it will be cheap at the price, for it
must be taken.'
"He discounts five thousand human lives as easily as the
manufacturer marks off five thousand dollars for depreciation. And
so five thousand homes are saddened that another flag may fly over
a few feet of fortified masonry. What a grim joke for Europe to
play upon humanity."
There were not wanting those to point out to Mr. Ridder that the
sacrifice of life could have been avoided had Germany and its tool
Austria, played fair with Serbia and the balance of Europe. Also, his
statement that the government of Germany did not want the war has been
successfully challenged from a hundred different sources.
H. G. Wells, the eminent English author, contributed a prophecy which
translated very plainly the handwriting on the wall. He said:
"This war is not going to end in diplomacy; it is going to end
diplomacy.
"It is quite a different sort of war from any that have gone before.
At the end there will be no conference of Europe on the old lines,
but a conference of the world. It will make a peace that will put an
end to Krupp, and the spirit of Krupp and Kruppism and the private
armament firms behind Krupp for evermore."
Austria formally declared war against Serbia, July 28, 1914. During the
few days intervening between the dispatch of the ultimatum to Serbia and
the formal declaration of war, Serbia and Russia, seeing the inevitable,
had commenced to mobilize their armies. On the last day of July, Germany
as Austria's ally, issued an ultimatum with a twelve hour limit
demanding that Russia cease mobilization. They were fond of short term
ultimatums. They did not permit more than enough time for the dispatch
to be transmitted and received, much less considered, before the terms
of it had expired. Russia demanded assurances from Austria that war was
not forthcoming and it continued to mobilize. On August 1, Germany
declared war. France then began to mobilize.
Germany invaded the duchy of Luxemburg and demanded free passage for its
troops across Belgium to attack France at that country's most vulnerable
point. King Albert of Belgium refused his consent on the ground that the
neutrality of his country had been guaranteed by the powers of Europe,
including Germany itself, and appealed for diplomatic help from Great
Britain. That country, which had sought through its foreign secretary,
Sir Edward Grey, to preserve the peace of Europe, was now aroused.
August 4, it sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding that the neutrality
of Belgium be respected. As the demand was not complied with, Britain
formally declared war against Germany.
Italy at that time was joined with Germany and Austria in what was known
as the Triple Alliance. But Italy recognized the fact that the war was
one of aggression and held that it was not bound by its compact to
assist its allies. The sympathies of its people were with the French and
British. Afterwards Italy repudiated entirely its alliance and all
obligations to Germany and Austria and entered the war on the side of
the allies. Thus the country of Mazzini, of Garibaldi and Victor
Emmanuel, ranged itself on the side of emancipation and human rights.
The refusal of Italy to enter a war of conquest was the first event to
set the balance of the world seriously thinking of the meaning of the
war. If Italy refused to join its old allies, it meant that Italy was
too honorable to assist their purposes; Italy knew the character of its
associates. When it finally repudiated them altogether and joined the
war on the other side, it was a terrific indictment of the Germanic
powers, for Italy had much more to gain in a material way from its old
alliance. It simply showed the world that spirit was above materialism;
that emancipation was in the air and that the lamp of civilization might
be dimmed but could not be darkened by the forces of evil.