[17] We have not, so far, come across any attempted justification, by
German authors, of these cowardly acts; but such we shall have without
fail. It is probable that the 93 "intellectuals" whose manifesto we
recall to memory a few pages further on are preparing a fresh "appeal to
the civilized world" with a view to explaining that the German
troops--the representatives and trustees of _Kultur_--are authorised by
God Himself to use _every means_ for the protection of their precious
lives.