In a letter written to relatives in London Corporal N. Hastings of
the Guards accuses the Germans of treachery. He writes:
"If the papers were permitted to send their correspondents to the
front they would have something to say which would open the eyes of
the world about the Germans. It is an insult to Zulus to compare
these squareheads to them for treachery. Some of them fight fair and
square, but there are thousands of them who are devoid of all human
feeling. Near the banks of the River Aisne they had been attacked
and driven down by rifles and machine guns. A small number of the
Northamptons were in a trench when 400 or 500 of the Germans held
their hands up. The 'Cobblers' were ordered not to fire, and an
officer asked in French and English if they surrendered.
"They came on in skulking manner and some of them threw down their
rifles. In every way they showed they were giving themselves up as
prisoners. The 'Cobblers' were priding themselves on the capture
and the officer said, 'We have a haul here,' as they got near the
trench. When they were three or four yards away they poured a
murderous fire at the poor fellows. They had not a dog's chance and
nearly all were knocked over. The devils then tried to get back and
ran for their lives, but our battalion was soon after them. Before
they got many yards a machine gun ripped them up and scores of them
rolled over. Some of them got away, but our battalion got them in
the rear. Our lads were simply furious at such treachery.
"I had a narrow shave as I fell over one of their wounded, and
before I could get up again a bullet whizzed through the sleeve
of my coat, but he who fired was shot through the head the next
second. Some of the German officers are low bred. They are not like
ours--gentlemen--and when they get a chance they gorge themselves
and get mad drunk, so what can you expect from their men? I have
spoken to several prisoners--one seemed a decent chap and spoke
English well, having worked in London--and they admit it. The one
who spoke English was a sergeant and he said his officers were
perfectly mad because they were unable to get into Paris."