[Footnote 229:  Fendrich:  “Gegen Frankreich und Albion,” p. 152 et seq.]

“According to its composition the English army is an army of mercenaries.  On that account, however, it would be a great mistake to despise the quality of the soldiers or to cherish contempt for them.  The standard of physical fitness demanded of the recruits was—­at least up till a short time ago—­more severe than that imposed in other lands.  There is no doubt, our German brothers who have met the English on the field of battle, admit that they fight not only with valour but with unyielding stubbornness.

“This results not so much from barrack-yard drill and field manoeuvres, as from the practical experience of warfare gained in many campaigns.  England is occupied almost uninterruptedly, in warlike enterprises in some part of the world or other.  Further, the officers—­belonging mostly to the upper circles—­have distinguished themselves in the field by a rash bravery which was marked perhaps, not so much by military as sportsmanlike behaviour.

“All in all the strategic value of the English army in regard to leadership, training, discipline and the spirit of the troops, cannot compare with the conscript armies of other lands—­especially the German army.  Yet the contempt which has been expressed for it in the Press as an army of hirelings, is just as little merited to-day as it was in the past when it added many a glorious page to England’s history.

“These remarks are intended as a refutation to the reproaches made against the English army.  It is true, those unjust criticisms did not originate with experts, or they would imply a dangerous under-estimation of the enemy.  But in consequence of the widespread acceptance among the masses they unjustly feed the fires of hate."[230]

[Footnote 230:  Dr. G. Landauer:  “England.”  Vienna; 1915, pp. 74-5.]

“For the last ten days we have been resting to the west of Lille not far from Armentieres; an English army is opposed to us.  My battery is one of the links in the long chain of growlers[231] which daily pour fire and iron on to the enemy.  We gave up counting the days and fights, for every day has its battle.  Besides the English there are Indian troops, and a few French batteries in front of us.

[Footnote 231:  The Germans call their big guns “Brummer,” i.e., growler.—­Author.]

“Every day confirms our experience that we are faced by an enemy with incomparable powers of resistance and endurance.  An enemy who can hardly be shaken by the sharpest rifle-fire or the most awful rain of shell and shrapnel.  We gain ground slowly, exceedingly slowly, and every step of soil has to be paid for dearly.

“In the trenches taken by storm the English dead lie in rows, just like men who had not winced or yielded before the bayonets of the stormers.  From the military point of view it must be admitted that such an enemy deserves the greatest respect.  The English have adapted the experiences gained in their colonial wars to European conditions in a particularly clever manner.