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Have not all the nations without exception acted meanly and dastardly
towards the out lying black races； and even towards those more
civilized peoples whom they thought weaker than themselves and now
in the stress of war are they not finding that their own rights
and liberties are being slowly filched from them？
Yes； that is； the end of Glory and of Greed。
But the day of glory is departed。 The newspapers； it is true；
still keep up the phrase。 They talk of a battalion 〃covering itself
with glory。〃 But the men themselves do not talk so。 They know
too well what it all means。 They see no glory in covering themselves
with the blood of their brothers of the opposing trenches； with
whom a few moments before they were joining in songs and jokes。
They only say： Now that we have begun； we will see it through but
it must not be Again。
Never I think in all the history of the world has there been a thing
so great in its way as the present British Army and Navy。 This enormous
force； raised except for a small remnant by Voluntary enlistment
from all classes of the nation； and inspired more by a general and
protective sense towards the Motherland than by anything else； has
fulfilled what it considered to be its duty and its honour with a
devotion and a heroism unsurpassed。 It were impossible to stay
and recount its many wonderful deeds。
A young officer said to me one day 〃Horrible as the whole thing
is； yet it almost seems worth while； when you think of the splendid
things done and done too in such a simple matter…of…fact way： when
you think of all the love and devotion poured out； and the lives
our men have given one for the sake of another。〃
Great indeed is the spirit of such an army； great its magnanimity；
its simplicity of mind； its unself…consciousness； its single
concentration on its purpose。
Yet perhaps the most surprising thing about our men is that they
have done all this with so little hatred in their hearts for the enemy。
Whatever the Germans may have felt； and whatever the French； the
Britishers have just done their fighting in their own nonchalant
way 〃because they had to〃 with scarcely a shadow of malice or
revenge rather with that respect for a doughty opponent which
always distinguishes the true fighter。
Think of that quaint story （Between The Lines； by Boyd Cable； pp 188 ff）
of the German Burschen in their trenches； singing with pious enthusiasm
the Song of Hate （probably commanded and compelled； poor devils； to sing it）
and our men for days secretly listening； learning the words； practicing
the tune on their muffled； mouth…organs； till having got it all
complete they one morning； burst it forth in full chorus on the
astonished Teutons； nor failed at the end to blaze out
〃Gott strafe England〃 at the top of； their voices as if they really
meant it and then subsided into a roar of laughter。 They simply would
not take the German 〃Hate〃 seriously。
Well； what can an enemy do with such an army？ It would seem indeed
to be invincible。
The other surprising thing about this Army is （but it is also in
part true of the Russians and others） that the members of it not
only bear so little malice in their heart of hearts against the
enemy； but that all the time they （or nine…tenths of them） are giving
their life…blood； for a Country which in hardly any available or
adequate sense can really be said to belong to them。
Not one man of ours in ten； probably not one in a hundred； has any
direct rights or interest in his native soil； and the Motherland
has too often （at any rate in the past） turned out a stepmother
who disowned him later when crippled in her service。
He is told that he is fighting for his country； but he finds that
his real privilege is to die at the foot of a Trespass…board on some
rich man's estate； singing bravely to the last that 〃Britons never；
never shall be slaves！〃 He is told that he is defending his hearth
and his home； and to prove that that is so； he is sent out on a
far campaign to further some dubious scheme in Mesopotamia！ I think
we cannot refuse to say that the good temper and they single…heartedness
and the single mindedness of the British soldier are beyond all
praise。
But； in another way； how admirable and how great has the French
soldier proved himself to be！
The passion of Patriotism； the sheer love of their own country
（in the case of the French； more truly 〃their own〃 than in the
case of the British） has swept through France in a wave of devotion
which consumed in its flame； one may almost say； the energies and
the treasures of every household。 To protect their beautiful land；
their divine mistress； from violation by the German hordes was a
thing for which all men artists； literary men and all were glad
to die。
When at Meaux the French army （reorganized and reinforced） broke
through the German centre and fell upon Von Kluck's left flank
（his right being already threatened by the French Sixth Army）；
they were surely not men who fought； but spirits rather many of
them almost ghosts； white with the fatigues and privations of a
long retreat； but to save their beloved Paris they faced the enemy
with a fury that nothing could resist。
A miracle was wrought （talk of Angels at Mons； it was Devils at Meaux）；
and Germany in that moment was defeated even though it took two
years more to make her acknowledge her defeat。
Think of Lieutenant Pericard who in a trench full of corpses at
Bois…brule cried； suddenly entranced； in a loud voice； 〃Debout les morts！〃
and in a moment； as it were； the souls of their dead comrades were
around his men； inspiring them to victory。
When again at Verdun week after week and month after month the French
army endured tine almost hourly mass…attacks of the enemy battalions
and the deluge of their shells （eight million shells； it is estimated
the Germans threw in ten weeks）； it still； though heavily punished；
stood solid； and the whole of France stood solid behind it。 France
never doubted the conclusion； and the conclusion was never doubtful。
We have spoken of ‘glory；' but the day of ‘ la gloire ' has departed。
France herself has ceased to speak of it and there can be no better
proof than that； of the change that has come over the minds of men 。
France has emerged from the War a changed nation。 The people who
in 1870 made ribald verses and sang cynical songs over the plight
of their country are now no more； and France emerges serious； resolute；
to the great work which she has before her of building the great
first Democratic State of Europe and becoming the corner…stone of
the future European Confederation。
And what shall we say of the German army？ （In the moment and merely
for the sake of brevity I leave the Belgians； Russians； Italians
and Serbians aside。）
When I think of the great German army now scattered over Europe；
fighting along that immense line （including the Austrian portion）
of some 1；400 miles in extent； when I think of this on the whole so
wonderfully goodhearted； genial； sociable people； these regiments
of Westphalians； Wurtemburgers； Saxons； Bavarians； Hungarians； these
men and boys