New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-22
"Terribleness" Again.

crotesoue in the new German agitation Tor
RUTHLESS" war. Why is it that the idea
can never seem to be eradicated from the
Teutonic mind that the world can be con-
ouered by terror? Why is it that the
dreadful lessons Of the last two years re-
main still unlearned by the German?
What of good, of profit, of advantage
has flowed from the two years in which
Germany has built up for her sons the
reputation Of wild animals throughout the
civilized world? Has it aided German
armies to conquer France, to take Nerdun'
because German soldiers have outraged
French women, slaughtered French chl!-
dren. destroyed the cathedrals, wrecked the
homes. defiled the beautiful in Northern
France?
Could any one save a German on the top
of the earth to-day believe that the crime
AGAINST civilization which was Belgium has
made the people of any civilized country
have fear of Germany? Loathing, dis
oust. a stern determination to punish,
calm and enduring will to labor that JUS
tice NAV be done, that the crimes may be
punished and the criminals brought to
court. these things have been created; but
fear? Does any one think the France OF
Verdun Is afraid? Or England, or Russia,
or Italy. yesterday launching her declara-
ton of war at Germany? Or Rumania?
More than a million and half Of Ger
mans have died since the onrush into Bel
GUM began. The official German casualty
lists report a monthly loss of 100000 men.
On every front French, British, Russian,
Italian armies are advancing. Canada,
Australia, the remote parts of half dozen
empires are sending their sons to share IN
the work Of defending civilization against
the German attack. And where in all this
can even the German see any profit or gain
for the gospel of terribeness?
There was once a legend of German su-
periority; we had the world filled with the
humbug of the Teutonic "superman" dur
ing many years that preceded Arranged
con. But what has the "superman" done?
Not even by violating Belgian neutrality,
by cheating, by setting his heel on sacred
obligation could he win. The Battle Of
the Marne should have laid at rest the SUI
perstition of the German military superior
ity. The Great German General Staff was
beaten at the Marine by a staff which had
fewer men, smaller resources, lacked prep
aration and was attacked through neutral
territory. Not all the terribleness on earth
could win the Marine; why should the
legend persist?
To-day millions Of young people are
growing up all over the world-in Britain,
in France, in Italy, In Russia, in Belgium
all about the Seven Seas, even in our own
United States-to whom the German is
not a human being, but wild beast, an
animal of atrocities, brutalities, bestiali-
ties, who has written his character on the
face Of the earth, whose soul is expressed
in Louvain, Rheims and in the Lusitania.
Does any one think that the end Of the
war will eradicate that belief from the
minds Of the new generation that is COM
y ing on?
What will the children Of Northern
France and Belgium who have survived
German occupation feel toward the Ger
mans hereafter? What the new genera
!. tion in Britain, where the Zeppelins have
u wrought their appointed task? Will there
not be Americans for many a year who
will think only Of the Lusitania when the
mention Of German or anything German
is made?
For twenty-five months the German SOL
der like the German sailor, has been SOW
ing hate and loathing and enduring de-
testation in the hearts Of millions. He has
not won world by il; he has not won 4
war by il. The battles that he has won
have been through the superiority Of his
organization, or his preparation, not
through the fear he has put in the hearts
Of his foes. There has never been a time
when his foe-that is, the Individual fight
ing man--was afraid Of him.
What strange delusion this German
idea is, AZ once ludicrous and revolving
How deeply into the mind Of the German
has sunk the chatter about superior
racer AS IL IL were conceivable that peo-
pie Of the French. Russian or British ma
ton, with all their centuries Of war and
courage, 81 battle and conquest behind
them, could be shaken by the mere pres
ence before them Of troops of nation
which is but newcomer in the world and
has seen rs capital occupied and its sover-
eigns hurnilated, its armies routed and
scattered by Frenchmen and Russians
more than once.
Nor Is IL lees prepostcrous for the Ger
man 10 imagine that the men who willingly
and completely dedicate their lives 10 the
service Of their country. who 80 forth 10