South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-22
The Astonishing
Parallel Between the
Ruthless Potsdam
Barbarian of the Fifth
Century and His
Successor Of To-day
Pointed Out by a
Distinguished
American Historian

plumber. When William II. sent his troops
TO Pekin, to a people who embody the
gentle precepts OF the Buddah TO their
most pacihcistic conclusion, he used this
language:
And as one thousand years ago the
Huns under Att,la achieved a fame that
still lives and fills the world with terror,
so let Germany In China appear in such
frightfulness that no Chinaman will ever
dare again TO look a German I'm the face"
The Germans plundered and destroyed
in the land Of COnfucius with an efficiency
worthy OF their great heroes whether Hun
or Hohenzollern. The wells became choked
with the cOrpses of Chinese girls who pre-
ferred death to the clasp Of a Christian
Prussian.
Genseric cut of Rome from her vast
granary in Northern Africa Attila chose
the line of the Danube and the Rhine:
broke into what is now France, destroyed
the beautiful buildings Of Rheims; in short
behaved there much as his descendants
are now doing in this fair garden OF Eu
Tope-dotted then as now with villas
works OF art. monuments 70 municipal
prosperity.
Attila crossed the Rhine after th,
slaughter OF ChalOns. but evidently hi
German followers, and particularly his
German wagons piled high with plumber
spread the report Of alleged victories anC
concealed the number Of his dead The
Prussian is the most dOcile Of soldiers
under the lash. but the most turbulent OF
mObs in the forum. and we may assume
that Attila knew his Prussia and acted &C
cOrdingly. On the retreat from Chalons
he massacred his hostages and tore 20
pieces two hundred young women BY lash.
ing their limbs TO the whinletrees and
then flashing the horses.
In the early Summer OF 455 Genserio
anchored at the mouth Of the Tiber With
him anchored a strong feet manned by
the best OF his Vandal and Moorish war
riOrs, also many rOOmy transports for q
return cargo OF booty He had long been
preparing for this eliminating stroke and
chose this hour when the holy city was
torn by civil disorder and a palace reyolu
ton. The beautiful Empress Eudoxia had
been left a widow through the murder Of
her husband and had been compelled 20
marry his successor, whom she rightly sus-
pected OF having connived at he bloody
work. But he in turn was murdered within
three months and the hour OF his death
was that in which Genseric marched from
Ostia 10 the Vatican. Genseric entered
the capital Of the ancient weld without
blow-even as a guest Alaric had been
here forty-fye years before, but only for
a week: and. besides Alaric was young
a mere beginner as compared with Gen.
seric Alaric, moreover. had only a wagon
train>-where the Vandal had cargo space
capable OF transporting an almost unlim-
tied quantity.
The work OF pillage was. therefore, more
cOnscientiOusly done than In 455 Lisis
had been prepared beforehand. and after
the soldiers had wearied themselves with
the usual rape and slaughter, Genseric set
TO work Systematically 70 strip the city OF
everything that could be converted into
coin. Pagan temples and Catholic churches
Welded their stores OF gold and silver or.
nament. and a third religion was laid IN
der contribution when Genseric seized tho
temple spoils Of Jerusalem which had been
brought in triumph by Titus nearly four
centuries before.
For half century Genseric scourgsd
Northern Africa-and for vet another half
century after his death his descendants
continued this Prussian process. Yet in
spite OF scourging and dragonnading and
efficiency OF the most modern kind. Ger
man colonization succeeded no better in
Vandal times than In those Of his Hohcn.
zollern imitators.
The followers OF Genseric." saws Nj
Bigelow, In very eloquent passage. were
ike the followers Of William II to-day
they penetrated TO all parts OF the wolII
as spies. but they rarely penetrated into
social circles where the word gentlemaai
has any meaning 70 the initiate The
Prussians under Genseric, who suddenly
found themselves masters OF a wealthy
Roman province could enjoy the wa-r
baths IN a luxurious villa and the MooIfss
women who administered % their appe
sites. They relished as bnrbarians the
privilege Of debauching girls OF aLcie1i
lineage in whose families their fathers
had been servants
They delighted in being waited uoof
by slaves OF a higher breeding than them
selves. and who can paint the 10Y OF
North German. strutting ferociously A-nozA
a people compelled 70 make way, ard a.
Lutte him as master. Ore Mus; sRrs
visited German colonies in order - ~
preciate the feelings OF these vAn6zls
when stretching the,r liIlbs C. l1sgus
amid 10 palaces and pam gr5TSs C Cex-
thage and contrasting their presErs SatoY.
ment with tie past missry C iAN2 EVes
:. the $50 2s5s enc forests or E-Sooss