Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-27
MEN IN TRENCHES
NOW HATE GERMANS
Sentiment Has Changed Since
Use of Barbarous Meth
DDS Began.
OFFICERS ARE TO BLAME
Average Soldier of Kaiser Is
Kind-Hearted and Honor
able Individual.
OFFICERS ARE TO BLAME
BY PHILLIP EVERETT.

BY PHILLIP EVERETT.
LONDON, June 26-Oficers return
ing from the front state that the feel
ings Of the ordinary British soldier
towards his enemies in the trenches
opposite have undergone a great change
since the Germans began to make use
first of poisonous gases and then Of ex-
plosive machine gun bullets
The British soldier originally entered
the fight with the idea that 1t was to
be fought in an honorable manner ac-
cording to the once-accepted military
Marquis OF Queensberry rules. and he
fought accordingly. and whom he hap
pened to make German prisoners he
was invariably willing to shake hands
with Thorn and try to cheer them up
II they were downhearted. But, aimee
all this hitting below the belt began,
his blood Is up and mo quarter would
suit him better.
AVERAGE GERMAN PRIVATE
KIND-HEARTED INDIVIDUAL
Still, 1t is becoming moro and more
evident that the average German pri-
vate is really a rather kind hearted in
dividual, who only reluctantly becomes
cruel and brutal. 1t Is the officers alone
who are to blame for all the stains on
Germanys escutcheon, and the iron dis
cipline OF the German army has made
the soldiers, who have all been going
through threeyears' course of bully
ing, into mere tools in the hands OF
their officers who do not hesitate in
shooting them down on the spot IL they
do not obey quickly enough.
All the Belgian refugees with whom
1 have talked while they were housed
at Alexandra Palace have confirmed
this, and many of them have added
that the German soldiers, when not I'M
der the eyes of the officers. often even
surprised them by deeds Of real kind
ness that showed their good heart.
The attitude of the Quakers towards
war Is well known, so it is rather sur
prising to hear that The number OF
these who have enlisted in the British
| army is quite large. They do not take
part In the actual fighting. but have
Joined the Royal Army Medical Corps.
and, acting stretcher-bearers in
Flanders. they have time and again
given practical proof that they are not
towards
AS matter OF fact, British wounded
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 Chapelle
says that among those who came un-
der his personal notice during the bat
tie there were ut least four who de-
served the Victoria Cross
ITALIAN KING WARNS
ENGLAND OF ITS DANGER
A story Is being told here that Ger
many had the King of Italy to blame
for tho fact that at the moment she
invaded Belgium she found the British
navy fully modified. Shortly before
the King George reviewed the Brit
ish fleet at Spithead. The immense
kgathcring was to have been dispersed
Immediately afterwards. the home
squadron alone remaining in English
| waters.
Then came the assassination OF the
Austrian heir presumptive and his con-
sort at Serajevo. and after that stirring
| events followed in quick succession until
| the general contlagration broke out.
| When England declared war against
! Germany the British fleet was mobil-
| lied, and the German fleet dared not
| ately after the Serajevo murders King
| Victor Emmanuel sent an autograph
letter to King George, in which he in
formed him that something mysterious
| and highly dangerous TO England was
happening In Germany, and asked him
to keep the British fleet concentrated
and ready for any emergency.
| This warning was. OF course i'm
mediately communicated to the ad-
miralty. and Churchill Immediately
made all necessary preparations. but,
| in order not to arouse the suspicious
Of the numerous German spies in Eng
land. the naval units assembled at Spit
head were ordered to dispense as
originally arranged The home fleet
alone remained in English waters. while
the Mediterranean and hgh-sea squad
rons departed ostensibly for their regu-
lar destinations, and the German spies
were enabled to cable home that the
British fleet had dispersed.
| 1t was only feint, however, on the
part Of the admiralty, for all the Brit
ish ships, after steaming short dis
lance, turned around and assembled in
the North Sea, passing north OF Ireland
and Scotland.
What then. was the danger that
threatened England?
On the very day when war was de-
clared u number OF transports, fat
bottomed vessels and steamers carrying
100000 German soldiers intended for an >
invasion OF England left Hamburg,
where they had been assembled during
the month of July. When the declara-
| ton OF war came this quarter OF IL
million OF troops was already on board
| the vessels. where for weeks they had
been awaiting the signal OF departure.
The great day arrived, and the great
fleet OF invasion. preceded by the Ger
man warships. left Hamburg. In tho
North Sea they suddenly sighted the
whole British fleet. There was no fight,