On the whole the reports of excesses in various parts of Germany against any and all who dared to show any anti-war sympathies proves clearly that the blood-lust aroused by the German Government’s policy had already passed beyond the control of the authorities.  In Munich one of the most modern coffee-houses (Cafe Fahrig) was completely gutted because the proprietor endeavoured to keep the demonstrants within reasonable bounds.  Serbs and Russians were attacked and ill-treated.  One such incident occurred at mid-day, Sunday, July 26th, in Munich, of which a full description is given in the Muenchen-Augsburger Abendzeitung for the following day.

A few days later (August 2nd) the Princess Cafe, Berlin, was demolished because the guests believed that there were Russians in the band.  In Hamburg on the following day a newly-opened restaurant was completely destroyed because a young Dane had failed to stand up when the national hymn was being played.  “Yesterday a young Dane remained sitting during the singing of the national hymn, for which reason the persons in the hall became greatly excited.  ‘Russian, stand up!’ was shouted to him.  In the same moment blows began to rain down upon him, so that, streaming with blood, he was carried out.” (Berliner Zeitung am Mittag, August 4th.)

These are only a selection of many such incidents which show that the national brutishness was appearing through the veneer.  In the light of such events where, on German soil, Germans murderously attacked their fellow-countrymen on such ridiculous pretexts, it requires little imagination to explain the outburst of brutality against Belgians who dared to defend hearth and home.

Meanwhile the smaller party which desired peace had not been entirely idle.  On July 28th the Social Democrats held thirty-two mass meetings in Berlin to protest against war.  “The attendance was in every case enormous, but the meetings were all orderly and calm.  The police had taken extensive precautionary measures.  The speakers were mostly members of the Reichstag or the Berlin Town Council.  Throughout they were guilty of the most fiery and tactless attacks on Austria, to whom alone they ascribed the guilt for the warlike developments.  Each meeting adopted a resolution against war.  The chief of police had forbidden all processions or demonstrations to take place after the day before.  In spite of this, many of the Socialists who had attended these meetings tried to form processions, especially in Unter den Linden.  As large bodies of troops had closed the streets, small parties of the Socialists managed to reach the Linden by means of trams and omnibuses.  At about 10 p.m. hisses and cries of ‘Down with the war party!’ were heard before the Cafe Kranzler.  In a moment the number of Democrats swelled to large proportions and the workmen’s Marseillaise was struck up, followed by a short, sharp order.  The mounted police advanced with drawn swords against