Raemaekers' Cartoon History of the War - Volume I Part 15
Library

Volume I Part 15

The story of the Belgian people's defense of freedom will inspire countless generations yet unborn.

EMMELINE PANKHURST, _in "King Albert's Book."_

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_ON TICKET-OF-LEAVE_

"_Next time I'll wear a German Helmet and plead 'Military Necessity'_"

The German went into this war with a mind which had been carefully trained out of the idea of every moral sense or obligation, private, public, or international. He does not recognize the existence of any law, least of all those he has subscribed to himself, in making war against women and children.

All mankind bears witness to-day that there is no crime, no cruelty, no abomination that the mind of man can conceive which the German has not perpetrated, is not perpetrating, and will not perpetrate if he is allowed to go on.

These horrors and perversions were not invented by him on the spur of the moment. They were arranged beforehand. Their outlines are laid down in the German war book. They are part of the system in which Germany has been scientifically trained. It is the essence of that system to make such a h.e.l.l of countries where their armies set foot that any terms she may offer will seem like heaven to the people whose bodies she has defiled and whose minds she has broken of set purpose and intention.

RUDYARD KIPLING, _at Southport, England, June, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_ANOTHER GERMAN "VICTORY"_

In June the Germans once more turned to the East and the North-East Coast. On June 4, 1915, there was a raid, doing some slight damage; and two days later there was another, by far the most serious of any that had yet happened. The raiders succeeded in reaching a town on the East Coast during the night and bombed it at their leisure. One large drapery house was struck and was completely wrecked, the entire building--a somewhat old one--collapsing. Some working-cla.s.s streets were very badly damaged, a number of houses destroyed, and many people injured. It was one of the peculiarities of this raid that, unlike most of the others, all the people injured were struck while indoors. The total casualties here were twenty-four killed, about sixty seriously injured, and a larger number slightly injured.

_Times History of the War._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"_He was a brave 'Zepp,' he had already killed over one hundred women and children_"

The outrage (see preceding page) was quickly avenged by a young British naval airman, Flight Sub-Lieut. R. A. J. Warneford, in one of the most brilliant aerial exploits of the war.

On the morning of June 7 at 3 A. M. he encountered a Zeppelin returning from the coast of Flanders to Ghent, and chased it, mounting above it and sailing over it at a height of 6,000 feet. Zeppelin and aeroplane exchanged shots, and when the Zeppelin was between one and two hundred feet immediately below him he dropped six bombs on it. One bomb hit the Zeppelin fairly, causing a terrific explosion, and setting the airship on fire from end to end. Warneford's aeroplane was caught by the force of the explosion and turned upside down, but he succeeded in righting it before it touched the ground. He was forced to alight within the German lines. Nevertheless he restarted his engine, though not without great difficulty, and in due course returned to his station without damage.

Only the framework of the Zeppelin was left, the crew being all burned or mangled, and the body of the machine being completely destroyed.

_Times History of the War._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_THE GREAT SURPRISE_

_Moses II. leads his chosen people through the channel to the promised (Eng.) land_

From a military or political or economic point of view one should look at the matter (the capture of Calais) with the eyes of Great Britain and define the Calais idea as a possibility for a seafaring continental power to conduct a war against Great Britain from the continental coast channel and with all military resources while holding open communication between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.

COUNT VON REVENTLOW.

_June, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_BOTHA TO BRITAIN_

"_I have carried out everything in accordance with our compact at Vereeniging_"

On July 9, 1915, a despatch from General Botha was published stating that he had brought his campaign in South-West Africa to a triumphant close, and had received the unconditional surrender of Governor Sietz and the German forces of 3,500 men. The campaign, commencing in February, had lasted five months. The patriotic devotion of General Botha and the loyalty of the great majority of the Dutch people to the cause of the British Empire were a magnificent vindication of the Liberal Cabinet's policy of reconciliation after the close of the South African war.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH IN ARMS_

The self-governing Colonies in the British Empire have at their disposal a 'militia,' which is sometimes only a process of formation. They can be completely ignored so far as concerns any European theatre of war.

VON BERNHARDI, _1911_.

Our thoughts naturally turn to the splendid efforts of the Oversea Dominions and India, who, from the earliest days of the war, have ranged themselves side by side with the Mother Country. The prepared armed forces of India were the first to take the field, closely followed by the gallant Canadians--who are now fighting alongside their British and French comrades in Flanders. In the Dardanelles the Australians and New Zealanders--combined with the same elements, have already accomplished a feat of arms of almost unexampled brilliancy. In each of these great Dominions new and large contingents are being prepared, while South Africa, not content with the successful conclusion of the arduous campaign in South-West Africa, is now offering large forces to engage the enemy in the main theatre of war.

LORD KITCHENER, _Guildhall speech, July 9, 1915._

There are now in training or in the field 350,000 troops of the overseas dominions alone, while this country, on estimate, has at least 2,775,000 men in the field or in training.

SIR GILBERT PARKER, _July, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration]