[Illustration]
_THE CROWN PRINCE PREACHES TO AMERICA_
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We are all tired of bloodshed, we all want peace. England is the power
responsible for the continuation of the hopeless effort to crush us. In
the twentieth century of the Christian era mankind might have been
expected to have arrived at some maturity of thought and behavior. No
one can witness, as you during the last fortnight have witnessed, the
spectacle presented by this appalling sacrifice, this inconceivable
suffering preposterously out of proportion to any result obtained,
without wondering whether reason has fled from the earth.
GERMAN CROWN PRINCE _to Correspondent
of New York American. October, 1916._
[Illustration]
_"I am 'operating' at, but not inside your gate; tomorrow I come inside
with a letter from the Kaiser."_
On Sunday, October 8, the world was startled by the news that the U-53
was sinking British and neutral vessels near Nantucket Shoals Lightship,
a hundred miles from Newport, U. S. A., and leaving the crews and
passengers in small boats on the open sea. The underseas craft had
stationed itself in the steamer lane where nearly all incoming and
outgoing vessels from New York must pass, and its day's work consisted
in sending five ships to the bottom, as follows:
The _Strathdene_, a British freighter.
The _West Point_, a British freighter.
The _Stephano_, a British passenger liner.
The _Bloomersdijk_, a Dutch freighter.
The _Christian Knudsen_, Norwegian freighter.
_New York Times, October 9, 1916._
[Illustration]
_THE SUPER ANARCHIST_
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In letting loose these things and in introducing them into war, Germany
has been the great anarchist who has let loose on the world a greater
and a more terrible anarchy than any individual anarchist ever dreamed
of.
Unless there is some means of restraining these things, future war will,
by the developments of science, be made even more terrible and horrible
than this war, because Germany has thrown down all the barriers that
civilisation had previously built up so as to keep the horrors of war
within bounds.
VISCOUNT GREY, _Minister for Foreign Affairs,
London, October 23, 1916._
[Illustration]
_Fritz: "This is no longer civilized war--they are stronger than we."_
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Under the title "The Devil's Chariot" the "Duesseldorfer
Generalanzeiger's" correspondent on the Western front describes the
British "tanks" and their effect on the astonished German soldiers. As
the German trench posts came out of their holes in the foggy dawn of
September 16 and raised heads again after the heavy iron-blows of the
night and looked toward the English, their blood froze in their veins as
two mysterious monsters came creeping over the crater fields.
The monster approached slowly, hobbling, moving from side to side,
rocking and pitching, but it came nearer. Nothing obstructed it; a
supernatural force seemed to drive it onwards. Some one in the trenches
cried "the devil comes," and that word ran down the line like lightning.
Suddenly tongues of fire licked out of the armored shine of the iron
caterpillar, shells whistled over our heads, and a terrible concert of
machine-gun orchestra filled the air. The mysterious creature had
surrendered its secret, and sense returned with it, and toughness and
defiance, as the English waves of infantry surged up behind the devil's
chariot.
_Times Special Correspondent, October 24, 1916._
[Illustration]
_HOUP LA!!_
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On the Verdun front, after an intense artillery preparation, the
projected attack on the right bank of the Meuse was launched at twenty
minutes before twelve this morning.
The enemy line, attacked on a front of seven kilometers (nearly four and
a half miles), was broken through everywhere to a depth which at the
middle attained a distance of three kilometers (nearly two miles).
The village and fort of Douaumont are in our hands.
Prisoners are pouring in. Up to the present thirty-five hundred,
including about one hundred officers, have been counted. The quantity of
material captured cannot yet be estimated.
_French Official, October 27, 1916._
[Illustration]
_BROTHERS IN ARMS_
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Soldiers of France,
I am very happy to have been able to realise a desire which I have had
at heart for a long time, and to express to you my profound admiration
for your heroic exploits, for your dash as well as your tenacity, and
those magnificent military virtues which are the proud heritage of the
French Army.
Under the brilliant leadership of your eminent general-in-chief and his
distinguished collaborators you, officers, non-commissioned officers,
and soldiers, have deserved well of your dear country, which will
forever be grateful to you for your brave efforts in safeguarding and
defending it.
My armies are very proud to fight by your side and to have you as
comrades. May the bonds which unite us hold firm and the two countries
remain thus intimately united for ever.
Soldiers,--Accept my most cordial and sincere greetings. I have no doubt
that you will bring this gigantic struggle to a victorious conclusion,
and, in the name of my soldiers and my country, I beg to address to you
my warmest congratulations and best wishes.
KING GEORGE V,
_Order of the Day, France, October 27, 1916._
[Illustration]
_"PERHAPS THIS ONE WILL KILL MY BOY ON THE YSER"_
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(Belgians have been forced to labor in Germany's munition
works.)
Several of these Belgians who were put at work in Berlin managed to get
away and come to see me. They gave me a harrowing account of how they
had been seized in Belgium and made to work in Germany at making
munitions to be used probably against their own friends. I said to the
Chancellor, "There are Belgians employed in making shells contrary to
all rules of war and the Hague conventions." He said, "I do not believe
it." I said, "My automobile is at the door. I can take you in four
minutes to where thirty Belgians are working on the manufacture of
shells." But he did not find time to go.
Americans must understand that the Germans will stop at nothing to win
this war, and that the only thing they respect is force.
JAMES W. GERARD,
_"My Four Years in Germany."_
[Illustration]
_Tirpitz: "Because we have sunk 30 or 40 of your merchantmen you dare to
refuse our U-Boats entrance to your harbours. That is an unneutral and
unfriendly act against Germany."_
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The German note to Norway of October 20 is seriously written, but is in
no respect an ultimatum. The Norwegian Government has returned no answer
hitherto, but is in conference with prominent politicians of all
parties. All is calm here, but business is somewhat depressed owing to
the damage inflicted by submarines on shipping.
On October 13, Norway prohibited belligerent submarines from using her
territorial waters, except for the purpose of saving life under stress
of weather. A violent press campaign against Norway followed in Germany,
but no indication has hitherto been given of the nature of the note
presented by Germany to Norway on October 20.
_London Times Correspondent,
Christiania, October 29, 1916._
[Illustration]
_SLAVE TRANSPORT FROM GHENT_
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(Two thousand French women have been deported from Ghent to
work in German munition factories.)
The raids have taken place at Courtrai, Alost, Termonde, Bruges, Ghent,
Mons, and in numerous rural and industrial communes. The men were
assembled, examined like cattle, and those found strongest sent away to
unknown destinations.
At Bruges, the burgomaster, an old man of eighty, who since the
beginning of the occupation has given an example of noble patriotism,
has been deposed for having refused to help the German military
administration in its revolting task. The town was fined 100,000 marks
($25,000) for each day's delay in the enrolment of the victims.
_Belgian Government Official
Protest against Deportation,
November, 1916._
[Illustration]
_THE NEW KINGDOM OF POLAND_
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The liberation of Poland is closely connected with the victory of
Germany and her allies, who alone are interested in the existence of a
free Poland, and for whose sake Poland must not go back to Russia.
Germany's security demands that for all future times the Russian armies
shall not be able to use a militarily consolidated Poland as an invasion
gate to Silesia and West Prussia.
To Poland liberated from Russian rule we offer the possibility of
seeking support in the Central Powers and in firm alliance with them of
leading a free life in its own state, politically and economically.
Especially for the near future, the Poles will have a strong claim on
our assistance.
_Proclamation by_ GENERAL VON BESELER,
_Governor of Warsaw, November 5, 1916._
[Illustration]
_Belgian civilians are deported by the army in occupation to the
munition works in Germany to prevent their moral decay._
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The situation which we denounce to the civilised world may be summed up
as follows: Four hundred thousand workmen are reduced to unemployment
through no fault of their own, and largely inconvenience the German
occupation. Sons, husbands, fathers, respectful of public order, bow to
their unhappy lot. With their most pressing needs provided for, they
await with dignity the end of their period of trial.
Now, suddenly, parties of soldiers begin to enter by force these
peaceful homes, tearing youth from parent, husband from wife, father
from children. They bar with the bayonet the door through which wives
and mothers wish to pass to say farewell to those departing. They herd
their captives in groups of tens and twenties and push them into cars.
As soon as the train is filled, the officer in charge brusquely waves
the signal for departure. Thus thousands of Belgians are being reduced
to slavery.
CARDINAL MERCIER _in behalf of
Bishops of Belgium, November 7, 1916._
[Illustration]
_THE NEW KINGDOM OF POLAND_
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The rulers of the allied powers of Austria-Hungary and Germany have
given notification of their resolution to form of the Polish territory
delivered from Russian tyranny the new autonomous Kingdom of Poland.
Your most ardent desire, entertained in vain for more than a century, is
thus fulfilled.
The importance and danger of this war-time and regard for our armies
standing before the enemy oblige us for the present to keep the
administration of your new state still in our hands. Readily, however,
we will give, with your aid, to the new Poland by degrees those public
institutions which guarantee her consolidation, development, and safety.
Of these the Polish Army is the most important.
_Proclamation by_ GOV. GENERAL VON BESELER,
_Warsaw, Poland, November 10, 1916._
[Illustration]
_THE EYES OF THE ARMY_
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