he treaty which guaranteed the neutrality of the smaller country.
When Germany's conquering hosts came through Belgium, the war soon
became a battle of human beings rather than of fortifications. Neither
the French nor the Germans had learned from practical experience the
modern art of fighting human legions in ground trenches, but both sides
quickly betook themselves to this rabbit method of warfare.
To-day from Switzerland to the North Sea is a double wall of 4,000,000
men, all fighting, not only for their own existence but for the
existence of their nationality--their national ideals. They are
protected by aeroplanes, flying above, that keep watch of any large
movements.
They are backed by 4,000,000 men in reserve and training who keep the
trenches filled with fighting men, as 10,000 to 20,000 daily retire to
mother earth, to the hospitals, or to the camps of the imprisoned. On
the North Sea and the English Channel they are supported by fleets of
battleships, cruisers, submarines, and torpedo boat destroyers that
occasionally "scrap" with each other, the German boats now and then
attacking the English coast and harbors and the English boats now and
then assisting to mow down the German troops when they approach too
near the coast. But the great dread and key to this naval warfare is
the modern submarine.
Submarines, aeroplanes, and motor busses are three elements of warfare
never before put to the test; and the greatest of these thus far is the
gasolene motor-car. By this alone Germany may be defeated. France and
England are rich in gasolene motor power, and supplies from America are
open to them. A year ago there were less than 90,000 motor-cars in
Germany, and Prince Henry started to encourage motoring to remedy this,
but the Germans are slow to respond in sport. Indeed they know little
of sport as the English understand it, of sportsman ethics or the sense
of fair play in either sport or war. They do not comprehend the
English applause for the captain of the "Emden" and stand aghast at the
idea that he would be received as a hero in England. When a daring
aeroplane flier in the performance of his duty has met with mishap and,
landed on German soil, he is not welcomed as a hero. He is struck and
kicked.
The German is not to be blamed. It is the way he has been educated to
"assert himself," as the Germans phrase it. Indeed, when the captain
of the "Emden" was taken prisoner and was congratulat
|