Indeed, the point at which German ambition for conquest ceases would be hard to fix.  And yet Mr. Shaw pictures for us an injured-innocent, mild-gazelle Germany on the defensive!  Quite in this picture is his assertion that “the ultimatum to Servia was the escapade of a dotard,” whereas, everybody knows that the ultimatum was dictated at Berlin.  It is plain as a pikestaff that in order to bring on the Great War of conquest for which her rulers thought The Day had arrived.  Germany dictated the issue and terms of the ultimatum to Servia and then urged Austria to refuse any compromise and arbitration which might have averted war.

Mr. Shaw has assumed the impossible task of trying to blind the American public to these and other facts that prove Germany to be the aggressor in this war, but he will fail in his attempt at white-washing German policy because it is one of the characteristics of the American people that they have a strong feeling for reality and that no twisting and combining of words can prevent them from getting at the facts beneath.

Bernhardi’s writings are generally believed to be an inspiration, and in part a statement of German policy.  But Mr. Shaw differs.  In trying to prove that Bernhardism has nothing to do with the case, he maintains that Germany has neglected the Bernhardi programme, and says: 

“He warned Germany to make an alliance with Italy, Austria, Turkey, and America before undertaking the subjugation of France, then of England.”

Mr. Shaw then asserts that Germany disregarded this advice and allowed herself to be caught between Russia and a Franco-British combination with no ally save Austria.  But here again facts are against him.  For Germany has followed with marvelous precision the line drawn by Bernhardi.

She is actually fighting in partnership with Austria.  She allied herself with Italy—­though Italy has refused to fight with her in this present war of aggression.  Germany has also bent Turkey to her purpose, and has dragged the Turks into the war.  An alliance with America!  Well, to have gained the help of America in crushing France and crippling England, and ravaging and conquering Belgium was quite beyond the power of German diplomacy and intrigue!  Still Germany’s attempts to win at least America’s moral support in this war are vigorous, if unsuccessful.

And with what quotable matter Mr. Shaw provides the German rulers for the further deluding of their subjects when he writes of the German people being “stirred to their depths by the apparent treachery and duplicity of the attack made upon them in their extrernest peril from France and Russia,” when he writes of the Kaiser doing “all a Kaiser could do without unbearable ignominy to induce the British not to fight him and give him fair play with Russia,” and when he writes of “taking the Kaiser at a disadvantage.”  As though we ought meekly to have agreed to the Kaiser’s plan of defeating France and using her defeat as a bridge to England and a means of conquering England!  Uncommon nonsense about the war—­so we must rename Mr. Shaw’s production!