South Bend news-times., 1915-07-02
GERMAN SOLDIER
ONLY OFFICERS
TOOL DURING VAR
Allies Find Him Kindhearted
and Not Brutal When Away
From AuthoritieS-0bey or
Get Shot.

LONDON. July 2.-Omcers return
Ing from the front state that the feel
ings of the ordinary British soldier
towards his enemies in the trenches
opposite have undergone great
change since the Germans began to
make use first of poisonous gases and
then OF explosive machine gun bull
lets.
The British soldier originally enter
ed the nght with the idea that IL was
TO be fought in an honorable man
ner, according 10 the once accepted
military MARQUIS OF Queensberry
rules, and ne fought accordingly, and
when he happened 10 make German
prisoners ne was invariably willing TO
shake hands with them and try 10
cheer them up If they were down
hearted. But since all this hitting be-
low the belt began, his blood is up
end mo quarter would suit him bet
ter.
Still, il is becoming more and more
evident that the average German prl-
vate is really "A rather kind-hearted
individual who only reluctantly be-
comes cruel and brutal. 1T is the OF
ncers alone who are 20 blame for all
the stains on Germany's escutcheOn,
army has made the soldiers, who have
all been going through a three-years'
course of bullying, into mere tools IN
the hands of their officers who do not
hesitate ia shooting them down on
the spot IL they do not obey quickly
enough
All the Belgian refugees with
whom i have talked while they were
housed at Alexandra palace have con-
hTmed this and many OF them have
added that the German soldiers when
not under the eyes of the officers
often even surprised them by deeds
of real kindness that showed their
good heart.
The attitude of the Quakers to-
wards war is well known. 80 IL is
rather surprising 20 hear that the
number OF these who have enlisted in
the British army is quite large. They
do not take part in the actual fight
ing. but have Joined the royal medical
corps and acCing as stretcher bearers
in Flanders they have time and again
given practical proof that they are
not towards.
As a matter of fact British wound
ed soldiers are full of praise of them
and say that the GOODNESS with which
they have behaved under the most
violent fire is astonishing. An old
colonel who saw them working at
Neuve Chapclle says that among
those who came under his personal
notice during the battle there were at
least four who deserved the Victoria
cross.
\ story is being told here, that Ger
many had the king of Italy 10 blame
tor the fact hat at the moment she
invaded Belgium, she found the Brit
ish navy fully mobiiized. Shortly be
fore the war King George reviewed
the British fleet at Spithead. The i'm
mense gatnering was 10 have been
dispersed Immediately afterwards.
the home squadron alone remaining
in English waters.
Then came the assassination of the
Austrian heir presumptive and his
cOnsort at SerajevO and after that
stirring events followed in quick sue
cession until the general conflagra-
tion broke out.
When ENGLAND declared war
against Germany the British fleet
was modified and the German fleet
dared not come out. 1t is now said
that Immediately after the SeIajevu
murders King Victor Emmanuel sent
an autograph letter 90 King George
in which he informed him that some
thing mysterious and highly danger
Gus TO England was happening i'm
Germany and asked him 10 keep the
British fleet concentrated and ready
for any emergency.
This warning was of course imme-
diately communicated TO the admir-
atty and Churchill Immediately made
all necessary preparations. but i'm or
der not 20 arouse the suspicious of
the numerous German spies i'm Eng
land the naval units assembled at
Spithead were ordered TO disperse as
originally arranged The home fleet
al rnrrf fr.rr
while the Mediterranean and high sea
squadrons departed ostensibly fol
their regular destinations and the
German spies We're enabled to cable
home that che British fleet had dis
persed.
IL was only a feint. however. or
the part Of the admiralty. for all the
British ships after steaming "a shor
distance turned around and assem-.
bled in the North sea. passing north
of Ireland and Scotland
What then was the danger thai
threatened England
ON the very day when war was de
clared a number of transports fla
bottomed vessels apE steamers carry
ing 100000 German soldiers intended
for an invasion of England left Ham
burg. where they had been assembled
during the month OF July When IN,
declaration OF war came this quartet
tl ulllAVu NA lAooio MdS AlIcduA ol
board the vessels where for week.
they had been awaiting the signal o
departure
The great day arrived and the srea
feet Of INVASION preceded bv the Ger
man warships. left Hamburg. IN TN,
North sea they suddenly sighted TN,
whole British fleet There was n,
Tight. bat the German vessels return
ed to Hamburg at greater speed thar
when they left.
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