Major Corbett Smith continues: “But nothing I can write will make
people at home understand what this war really is. Nothing short of
actual experience can do that. Stay, perhaps there is one thing; the
genius of Louis Raemaekers. He, at least, by his cartoons, is bringing
home to millions the hideous meaning of this war. And not only of this
war, but of all modern war. I would have a volume of his cartoons
distributed gratis by the Government to every household in the kingdom.
I would have half a dozen of the cartoons thrown upon the screen in
every cinema-house at every entertainment. The people would shudder
with horror, but they would see them and learn what Germany is and
what war means. Apart from this, I hold it to be the sacred duty of
every man and woman who can use a pen to advantage, or who can command
the attention of an audience, to make known this meaning. To cry
from the housetops what is this foul thing which Germany has thrust
upon the world, and to show the people why and how Civilization must
crush it out for ever. There is no greater honor to-day that a man
may wear--alas, there are but few left to wear it!--than the honor of
having served his King and Country in France throughout August and
September, 1914. Just that. He needs no decoration, no ‘mention.’ He
served through the ‘Retreat from Mons.’ In days to come our children,
our children’s children, will point with pride to that one little word
on the regimental color, ‘Mons.’ For in that single word will be summed
up the liberation of the world. It was the victory of the Marne which
won for Civilization that freedom, but it was, under God’s hand, the
British Navy, the stand of Belgium, and the ‘Retreat from Mons’ which
made that victory possible.”