No one disputes the presence of kindly Germans in the Kaiser’s armies, and it is pleasing to read about these acts of generosity in relieving distress which is entirely the result of Germany’s guilt.  But the point which all German writers miss is the explanation of positive evidence of brutal deeds.  Their kindly incidents and proofs of German chivalry are all of a negative character, and do not overthrow one jot or tittle of the opposing positive evidence.

Iron crosses have fallen in thick showers on the German armies; during the month of July, 1915, no fewer than 3,400 of these decorations were awarded to the Bavarian army alone.  Still, as far back as November of last year, Herr Koehrer wrote:  “In the villages on the slopes of the Argonnes and on the banks of the Aisne, nearly every second soldier is wearing an iron cross.  One has the certain conviction that it is not an army of fifty or sixty thousand, but a nation of heroes which occupies the plains of France and fights for us.

“They are all heroes at the front, including those who do not wear the outward symbol of personal bravery.  When we see how our men live, it would seem that the earliest days of the human race have returned.  They have become cave-dwellers, troglodytes in the worst form.  Our heavy batteries are placed on the slopes of the Argonne forest, while the light field-howitzers occupy the summits.

“Near them holes have been dug in the wet clay or chalk, and meagrely lined with straw; these dark, damp caves are the dwellings of our officers and men for weeks at a time, while the shells from the enemy’s artillery whiz and burst around.  In them the differences of rank disappear, except that one sometimes sees a couple of chairs provided for officers.  When duty does not call them to the guns, they are free to remain in the open exposed to a sudden and awful death, or to spend their time in the womb of mother earth.  Yet one never hears a word of complaint; rather the hardships of this strange existence are borne with rough good-humour."[171]

[Footnote 171:  Ibid., p. 28.]

Contrary to the expectations of other nations, the war seems only to have increased the popularity of the military Moloch.  Writers who look upon the Allies as deliverers who will free Germany from the degrading slavery imposed upon that country, will be disappointed to learn that Germans worship the bunte Rock (gay uniform) more than ever.

At a meeting of the National Liberal leaders held in Dortmund, July, 1915, a resolution was passed calling upon the Government to pursue a still greater naval and army programme.  Both the Liberals and Conservatives have adopted the motto:  Deutsche Machtpolitik frei von Sentimentalitaet (A German policy of might free from sentimentalism).

“This war of the nations, which has overthrown so many accepted standards and created new ones, will also give a new basis to the privileged position of German officers in public life.  Millions of German men have seen how in this war the German lieutenant has again merited his special position for some generations to come.  I wish to emphasize this point over and over again.