The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-23
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

OTDe8s
 They were published in the famous Tauchnitz edition, in the little compact volumes known all over the continent by American and English travellers, making the Leipsig firm a public benefactor by prices.
 I got to thinking about them and went to one of my old book cases and fished them out from behind a lot of new ones for I wanted to get his focus on how Germany made war nearly half century ago, for I knew that he had given them the title My Experiences of the War Between France and Ger many" and that having gone with the Teutons he gave a sympathetic account of their manner of fighting.
 In the light of what he wrote then wonder what he would think if he had lived to have followed them in this ruth less war in which they relapsed into bar barism and put to shame the tales or cruelties credited to Attila and has made the name Hun" a word of frightfulness wherever a German soldier has put his foot.
 I also wanted to refresh myself in re- gard to the peace terms and see if the Prussian mind had changed within the 50 years. After reading what he sets down and viewing it in the light of this day it is hard to believe that he is writ ing about the same people for they have lost every vestige of their former home ly virtues and gone mad in their war rage, committing deeds which for years to come will damn everything Teutonic.
 But then, as now, Germany was proud of her war machine q don't mean now that it is smashed I speak of it as it was on that day in which it started to roll across Belgium in spite of solemn treaty. Forbes says on arriving at the front that One might see with his own eyes the working of that huge machine on the elaboration of every cog and pin Ion or WHICH NOll MOllkc dHQ lilS oooO- ciates had bestowed such pains" Before leaving England he had seen how the great machine could bridge the English channel and sweep into it's feeder with a suction power not to be resisted, Germans long resident in Brit ain, stalwart, lissom young fellows i1i. was evidence not only of the power ot | the military system to reach out and gather up men wherever they might be but also that the men went gladly. | Now here is what I can't understand how it was that England was fooled to the last minute by the Germans residing in the tight little isle No one had pro- tested against the peaceful invasion al- I though it ought to have been known that | in event of war the same thing would | happen that took place in the Franco Prussian war Forbes In his book tells how Germans had failed to become nat uralized, but put the Vaterland above all.
 
 They had thrown up good positions sacrificed their stake in England and be- sieged their consulate to get transporta- ! tion and arrange their passports Many gave up high positions both as to money getting and places of power to serve as privates at home, and they went not joyously or recklessly but without regret or any suggestion of its being compui- l sory. But England nearly half cen tury later was wholly unprepared fol the exodus I suppose it's tribute tc their ability to "muddle through that they slept through all in the belief that if it became necessary they would see the "blooming thing through'-and they will.
 Now get this into your head Ger many under the firm name of Bismarck & Won Moltke was in the war business for gain Bismarcks S confession about the alteration of the Ems telegram which llighted up the downcast face of the si- lent soldier member of the partnership was most Illuminating. I'll never forge as long as I live seeing Won Moltxe drive up to the Reichstag on the day on whlcf Emperor William ascended the throne.
 
 The Schleswig- -Holstein campaign opened the eyes of the firm to the ''easy money there was to be had by force of arms, ant the quick defeat of Prussia in 1866 bu increased their appetite for loot. Armed with the best repeating rifle of any arm.
 in Europe Bismarck, the willy member got out his field glasses .and looked be yond the Rhine. and cast envious eye on Alsace and Lorraine.
 |
 Now this is what Forbes saw whel
 he got to Cologne when mobilization was in process of being completed Tn
 medalled men of 1S66 and the Schleswig
 Holstein campaigns, called up from re
 serve, are welded into the same rank
 with the young soldiers who are servin:
 their first period of three years. Bayone
 for bayonet the old and the young sol
 diers balance each other, giving dash an' steadiness, leveling down the reckless , ness of youth with the staid valor o [ the veterans
 Listen to this and contrast it wit
 what happened in the first mad rus I through Belgium: T went up to Nah in a long Noahs ark style of railwa
 sitting room for my knapsack; and m