Because the German military power has sinned
against women and children, it will be fought with till it is
overthrown. I wish to make clear this determination of the Allies. They
hate the army of Aerschot and Lorraine as a mother hates the defiler of
her child.
There are two wars on the Western Front. One is the war of aggression.
It was led up to by years of treachery. It was consummated in
frightfulness. It is warfare by machine. Of that war, as carried on by
the "Conquerors," the first half of this book tells. On points that
have been in dispute since the outbreak, I am able to say "I saw." When
the Army of Invasion fell on the little people, I witnessed the signs of
its passage as it wrote them by flame and bayonet on peasant homes and
peasant bodies.
In the second half of the book, I have tried to tell of a people's
uprising--the fight of the living spirit against the war-machine. A
righteous defensive war, such as Belgium and France are waging, does not
brutalize the nation. It reveals a beauty of sacrifice which makes
common men into "golden lads."
Was this struggle forced on an unwilling Germany, or was she the
aggressor?
I believe we have the answer of history in such evidences as I have seen
of her patient ancient spy system that honeycombed Belgium.
Is she waging a "holy war," ringed around by jealous foes?
I believe we have the final answer in such atrocities as I witnessed.
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