One quotation from a large number will illustrate sufficiently the respect which the German troops felt for civilian homes in the territories occupied by them:  “We got into the house by a back-door.  Orders had been issued that only food and shirts were to be taken.  The cellar was full of wine and champagne.  A corporal brought us some of the latter.  After half an hour the rooms looked very different; all the cupboards had been emptied in order to get at the jams and jellies.  Several pots of fruit preserved in wine were divided as honestly as the greed of the individual allowed.

“All the underclothing was seized upon, obviously only the best being taken.  Many a dirty Pole put on such a shirt as he had never dreamed of before.  Even ladies’ chemises were commandeered, and some of the men assured me that a French chemise is quite comfortable—­in spite of the short sleeves.

“If there is a sterner sex in France, which is exceedingly doubtful, they do not seem to possess pants; so the men resorted to the corresponding article worn by ladies."[131] (This writer refers in other parts of his book to “mementoes” which he carried home to the Fatherland, after being wounded at the Marne.)

[Footnote 131:  H. Knutz:  “Mit den Koenigin-Fusilieren durch Belgien,” p. 42.]

CHAPTER IX

THE NEUTRALITY OF BELGIUM AND GERMANY’S ANNEXATION PROPAGANDA

“Afterthoughts” is the term which would perhaps designate most concisely the section of German war literature treating of Belgium’s violated neutrality.  Should that designation appear unfitting, then the author has only one other to suggest—­“whitewash.”

In order to apprehend clearly the method and aims concealed beneath the “afterthoughts,” readers must bear in mind that every attempt to protest against the annexation of Belgium by Germany is prohibited by the German censor.  The Social Democratic organs emphasize the fact almost daily that they are not permitted to print anything contrary to the principle of annexation.

On the other hand, numerous writers are allowed to make a most extensive propaganda by suggesting that annexation is necessary in the interests of their racial-brothers the Flemings.  By order of the German Government a geographical description of the country has been published,[132] in which every detail of Belgium’s wealth in minerals, agriculture, and so on, is described, with no other possible purpose than the desire to whet German Michael’s appetite.

[Footnote 132:  “Belgien, Land und Leute,” Berlin, 1915.]

All at once Germany has become suspiciously interested in Belgian history, in the domestic quarrels between Walloons and Flemings, in the alleged oppression of the latter (Low Germans) by the former, and propose for themselves the part of liberator and saviour for Flemish culture.  They have discovered, among other things, that Belgium was merely a paper State, a diplomatic invention, an experiment, and that no “Belgian” people has ever existed, but rather two hostile elements were packed under the same roof against their will by the Conference of London—­the said roof bears the name Belgium!