* * * * *
_CHRISTENDOM AFTER TWENTY CENTURIES_
Raemaekers' first war cartoon, originally published on the first of
August, 1914.
[Illustration: DE MENSCHHEID NA 20 EEUWEN CHRISTENDOM]
_THE HARVEST IS RIPE_
On the evening of August 3 the German troops cross the frontier. The
storm burst so suddenly that neither party had time to adjust its mind
to the situation. The Germans seem to have expected an easy passage. The
Belgian population, never dreaming of an attack, were startled and
stupefied.
From the very beginning of the operations the civilian population of
the villages lying upon the line of the German advance were made to
experience the extreme horrors of war. "On the 4th of August," says one
witness, "at Herve I saw at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, near the
station, five Uhlans; these were the first German troops I had seen.
They were followed by a German officer and some soldiers in a motor car.
The men in the car called out to a couple of young fellows who were
standing about thirty yards away. The young men, being afraid, ran off
and then the Germans fired and killed one of them named D." The murder
of this innocent fugitive civilian was a prelude to the burning and
pillage of Herve and of other villages in the neighborhood, to the
indiscriminate shooting of civilians of both sexes, and to the organized
military execution of batches of selected males.
_British Government Committee's Report._
[Illustration]
_I CRUSH WHATEVER RESISTS ME_
The wrong--I speak openly--that we are committing we will endeavor to
make good as soon as our military goal has been reached. Anybody who is
threatened as we are threatened, and is fighting for his highest
possessions, can have only one thought--how is he to hack his way
through.
VON BETHMANN-HOLLWEG.
_Reichstag, August 4, 1915._
With a clear conscience Germany goes to the battlefield.
THE KAISER, _August, 1914_.
[Illustration]
"_THIS IS HOW I DEAL WITH SMALL FRY_"
We are now in a state of necessity, and necessity knows no law. Our
troops have occupied Luxemburg and perhaps are already on Belgian soil.
_Gentlemen, that is contrary to the dictates of international law._ It
is true that the French Government has declared at Brussels that France
is willing to respect the neutrality of Belgium, so long as her opponent
respects it. We knew, however, that France stood ready for invasion.
France could wait, but we could not wait. A French movement upon our
flank upon the lower Rhine might have been disastrous. So we were
compelled to override the just protest of the Luxemburg and Belgian
Governments.
VON BETHMANN-HOLLWEG,
_Reichstag, Berlin, 4th August, '14._
[Illustration]
_GOTT MITT UNS_
Remember that the German people are the chosen of God. On me, the German
Emperor, the spirit of God has descended. I am His sword, His weapon and
His vicegerent. Woe to the disobedient and death to cowards and
unbelievers.
_From_ THE KAISER'S _speech to his
soldiers on the way to the front._
[Illustration]
_SATAN'S PARTNER_
_Bernhardi: "War is as divine as eating and drinking"_
_Satan: "Here is a partner for me"_
The inevitableness, the idealism, the blessing of war as an
indispensable and stimulating law of development must be repeatedly
emphasized.
... War is the greatest factor in the furtherance of culture and power.
Efforts to secure peace are extraordinarily detrimental as soon as they
influence politics.
... Efforts directed toward the abolition of war are not only foolish,
but absolutely immoral, and must be stigmatized as unworthy of the human
race.
... In fact, the State is a law unto itself. Weak nations have not the
same right to live as powerful and vigorous nations.
_"Germany and the Next War. 1911."_
GEN. VON BERNHARDI.
[Illustration]
_MON FILS. BELGIUM, 1914_
"_Ah! was your boy among the twelve this morning? Then you'll find him
among this lot_"
When the German cavalry occupied the village of Linsmeau not a man of
the civilian population took part in the fighting. Nevertheless the
village was invaded at dusk on August 10 and all the male inhabitants
were compelled to come forward and hand over whatever arms they
possessed. No recently discharged firearms were found. The invaders
divided these peasants in three groups, those in one were bound, and 11
of them placed in a ditch, where they were afterwards found dead.