has now not only to battle against a world in arms, but it must
also defend itself against lies and slanders which have been piled up
around it like a hostile rampart. There is no cable at our disposal.
England has either cut the cables, or is in possession of them. No
German description of what has actually occurred can be sent by
telegraph; the wires are carrying into the world only the distortions of
our enemies. Germany is shut off as with a hedge from the outside world,
and the world is supplied solely with news given out by our enemies.
This language is strictly true; for the boldest, nay, the most impudent
imagination would be unable to invent anything to exceed the false and
absurd reports already printed by foreign newspapers.

In view of what we have experienced during this first week of the war we
can already calmly assert that when the editors of foreign newspapers
come later to compare their daily news of this week with the actual
occurrences as testified to by authentic history, they will all open
their eyes in astonishment and anger over all the lies which the
countries hostile to Germany have sent over the cables to bamboozle the
whole world. Much of all this has already become ridiculous; we must
laugh over it despite the solemnity of the crisis in which we are
living--for example, the bestowal of the cross of the Legion of Honor
upon the city of Liege by the French President because it victoriously
repulsed the attack of the Germans. Witness, too, the telegrams of
congratulation sent by the King of England and the Czar of Russia to the
Belgian King upon the victory of Liege! The joy over such "German
defeats" will prove just as brief as the jubilation over such "Belgian
victories." Such lies have short legs, and the truth will in any case
soon overtake them.

But there are other lies of a more serious character and of more
dangerous import--all such as misrepresent Germany's attitude and defame
German character. Such defamation is designed to disturb old friendships
and transform them into bitter estrangement; such defamation can also
attain its hostile purpose wherever people do not say daily to
themselves, "It is an enemy that reports such things about Germany; let
us be wise and suspend our judgment till we know actual results, till we
know what is surely the truth."

Let us select several facts as examples and as evidence--facts connected
with the preparation for this war, as well as with the co