New-York tribune., 1918-10-20
BY Royal Cortissoz

struct;on Of Aerachot and the massacres
at that place
The publication OF the names, think the
reader will admit, makes a certain differ
ence. II spreads out the gnt-wthout
making it lighter-of that responsibility
which the sly apologists who are always
playing for negotiated peace would as
eign exclusively to the Great General Staff,
as though, in the process, they could re-
store the men who did the filthy deeds to
full rbership in that warm hearted or
ganizaton, "the good German people," How
about the genial Prince Eitel, with his
ducal and baronial aids in the robbing Of
the chateau near Liege? We're they acting
under orders from their superiors or were
they yielding to their own sweet impulses?
The question answers itself. There is an
other story about Eitel in French chateau,
courteousy asking his hostess, whom he
had known in society before the war, to
pick out her dearest treasures so that they
might be preserved for her. Then he had
those things shipped of to Berlin! How
ever, the episode listed by M. Maccas is
enough. Think Of what it implies. Think
OF the womenfolk OF those titled black
Pe"iUS, VIC PIllISS, tUC UUNC GEO CHC
baron, glecfully unpackng The dresses SEN,
to them, putting them on, feeling close to
their bodies the garments Of gentlewomen,
perhaps condemned by their precious hus-
bands to God nows what unmentionabe
fate! Somehow the sbysmal meanness of this
incident seems to me to give it wellnign
unique rank as an illustration Of the Ger
man soul. Only it isn't, OF course, unique.
The defenders Of "the good German peo-
plc' VIII tell US, naturally, that it takes
u German officer, a baron, duke, prince
Of the imperial house Of Hohenzollern to
sink to the last depths of vulgar infamy.
Excellent commentary on that nauseous
cant IS supplied in couple of pages in
a recent number Of "LIllustration." They
reproduce from the official American photo
graphs, taken when our troops entered
Chateau Thiecry, handful Of documents
commemoratng the German occupation
Outside. dwelling OF the better class is
shown to be intact, proof positive that it
has suffered from none Of the accidents
OF bombardment Inside, devastation reiens.
devastation slowly and meticulouslv
wrought, in cold blood. Furniture is
smashed and thrown pell-mell about
room, entangled with every other NOV
able that might also be damaged in the
upset. Paintings have huge squares cut
out of them. In one case the portrait Of An
old lady, somebody's beloved arcestress. is
slashed to ribbons across the face. Down
in the kitchen clothing, including delicate
lingerie, is found tossed into the coal bin
1t IL as though simian vindictiveness we're
raised to higher power, organized with
KIND OF obscene ingenuity. And on boxes
OF loot found in the town, all ready 70 he
shipped to Germany but abandoned in the
haste Of flight, there were labels giving
the last touch to the horrible tale, Iabels
addressed to Frau PAUL., at Berlin; Frau
Ida Schliebe, also at Berlin, and Frau Selma
Feschke, at Fischerbabke, in West Prussia.
Observe the bourgeoise titles here. No
great ladies, these, We may be sure, like
the recipients OF Prince Eiteps stolen
bounty, but Simple, kindly frauen,' no
doubt the very salt Of "the good German
people, Kipling put 1t pretty neatly
long time ago, "The Colonels lady and
Judy O'Grady are sisters under their skins
Exactly. And I cannot believe that there
mas been any more heartfelt rejoicing in
German palaces than in German fats and
cottages over the loot sent home from
France and Belgium. "Zur BeutesammeI-
ste!le' ran sign that the French came
upon when they resntered Soissons. with