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_FAMINE IN BELGIUM_

In Belgium I saw this:

Homeless men, women, and children by thousands and hundreds of thousands. Many of them had been prosperous, a few had been wealthy, practically all had been comfortable. Now, with scarcely an exception, they stood all upon one common plane of misery. They had lost their homes, their farms, their workshops, their livings, and their means of making livings.

I saw them tramping aimlessly along windswept, rain-washed roads, fleeing from burning and devastated villages. I saw them sleeping in open fields upon the miry earth, with no cover and no shelter. I saw them herded together in the towns and cities to which many of them ultimately fled, existing G.o.d alone knows how. I saw them--ragged, furtive scarecrows--prowling in the shattered ruins of their homes, seeking salvage where there was no salvage to be found. I saw them living like the beasts of the field, upon such things as the beasts of the field would reject.

IRVIN S. COBB.

_New York Times._ _December 2, 1914._

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_BLUEBEARD'S CHAMBER_

Our function is ended when we have stated what the evidence establishes, but we may be permitted to express our belief that these disclosures will not have been made in vain if they touch and rouse the conscience of mankind, and we venture to hope that as soon as the present war is over the nations of the world in council will consider what means can be provided and sanctions devised to prevent the recurrence of such horrors as our generation is now witnessing.

BRYCE, F. POLLOCK, EDWARD CLARKE, KENELM E. DIGBY, ALFRED HOPKINSON, H. A. L. FISHER, HAROLD c.o.x, _Concluding words of the Report of the Committee appointed by the British Government to investigate alleged German atrocities in Belgium._

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_THE PRISONERS_

In the first days of the war it was undoubtedly and unfortunately true that prisoners of war taken by the Germans, both at the time of their capture and in transit to the prison camps, were often badly treated by the soldiers, guards or the civil population.

The instances were too numerous, the evidence too overwhelming, to be denied.... From him (U.S. Consul at Kiel) I learned that some unfortunate prisoners pa.s.sing through the town (in a part of Germany inhabited by Scandinavians) had made signs that they were suffering from hunger and thirst, that some of the kind-hearted people among the Scandinavian population had given them something to eat and drink and for this they were condemned to fines, to prison and to have their names held up to the contempt of Germans for all time.

I do not know of any one thing that can give a better idea of the official hate for the nations with which Germany was at war than this.

JAMES W. GERARD _in "My Four Years in Germany."_

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_THE EX-CONVICT:_

"_I was a 'lifer'; but they found I had so many abilities for teaching civilisation amongst our neighbours, that I am now a soldier_"

Crimes against women and young girls have been of appalling frequency.

We have proved a great number of them, but they only represent an infinitesimal proportion of those which we could have taken up. Owing to a sense of decency, which is deserving of every respect, the victims of these hateful acts usually refuse to disclose them. Doubtless fewer would have been committed if the leaders of an army whose discipline is most rigorous had taken any trouble to prevent them; yet, strictly speaking, they can only be considered as the individual and spontaneous acts of uncaged beasts.

_French Government's Official Report, September, 1914._

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_WAR LOAN MUSIC_

"_Was blazen die Trompeten Moneten heraus?_"

Early in September, 1914, the Government made the first War Loan issue.

It took the form of 50,000,000 of 5 per cent. Treasury Bonds with a five years' currency, and a 5 per cent. Loan of undefined amount, irredeemable until 1924. The price of both the Treasury Bills and the Loan was 97-1/2. During the ten days in which the lists remained open, a tremendous propaganda was carried on in the Press--this quotation is typical:

"The victories which our glorious Army has already won in the west and east justify the hopes that now, as in 1870, the expenses and burdens of the war will fall ultimately upon those who have disturbed the peace of the German Empire. But first we must help ourselves. Great interests are at stake.

"German capitalists, show that you are inspired by the same spirit as our heroes, who shed their hearts' blood in the fight. Germans who have saved money, show that you have saved, not only for yourselves, but also for the Fatherland. German corporations, companies, savings banks, and all inst.i.tutions which have blossomed and grown up under the powerful protection of the Empire, repay the Empire with your grat.i.tude in this hour of fate. German banks and bankers, show what your brilliant organization and your influence on your customers are able to produce."

_Times History of the War._

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_LIBERTe! LIBERTe CHeRIE!_

Soldiers,--Upon the memorable fields of Montmirail, of Vauchamps, of Champaubert, which a century ago witnessed the victories of our ancestors over Blucher's Prussians, your vigorous offensive has triumphed over the resistance of the Germans. Held on his flanks, his centre broken, the enemy is now retreating towards east and north by forced marches. The most renowned army corps of Old Prussia, the contingents of Westphalia, of Hanover, of Brandenburg, have retired in haste before you.

This first success is no more than a prelude. The enemy is shaken, but not yet decisively beaten.

You have still to undergo severe hardships, to make long marches, to fight hard battles.

May the image of your country, soiled by barbarians, always remain before your eyes. Never was it more necessary to sacrifice all for her.

Saluting the heroes who have fallen in the fighting of the last few days, my thoughts turn towards you--the victors in the next battle.

Forward, soldiers, for France.

FRANCHET D'ESPEREY, _General Commanding the Vth Army._ _Montmirail, September 9, 1914._