The Audacious War | Page 5

of France divides itself into four very nearly
equal sections. Italy and Switzerland are the lower quarters of this
boundary line; and of the upper quarters Belgium is the larger and
Germany the smaller. The southern half of the German quarter
boundary is a mountain range and on the open sections stand the great
fortifications of France and Germany, regarded by both countries as
practically impregnable. The defence of France on the Belgian frontier
was the treaty which guaranteed the neutrality of the smaller country.
When Germany's conquering hosts came through Belgium, the war
soon became a battle of human beings rather than of fortifications.
Neither the French nor the Germans had learned from practical
experience the modern art of fighting human legions in ground trenches,
but both sides quickly betook themselves to this rabbit method of
warfare.

To-day from Switzerland to the North Sea is a double wall of 4,000,000
men, all fighting, not only for their own existence but for the existence
of their nationality--their national ideals. They are protected by
aeroplanes, flying above, that keep watch of any large movements.
They are backed by 4,000,000 men in reserve and training who keep
the trenches filled with fighting men, as 10,000 to 20,000 daily retire to
mother earth, to the hospitals, or to the camps of the imprisoned. On the
North Sea and the English Channel they are supported by fleets of
battleships, cruisers, submarines, and torpedo boat destroyers that
occasionally "scrap" with each other, the German boats now and then
attacking the English coast and harbors and the English boats now and
then assisting to mow down the German troops when they approach too
near the coast. But the great dread and key to this naval warfare is the
modern submarine.
Submarines, aeroplanes, and motor busses are three elements of
warfare never before put to the test; and the greatest of these thus far is
the gasolene motor-car. By this alone Germany may be defeated.
France and England are rich in gasolene motor power, and supplies
from America are open to them. A year ago there were less than 90,000
motor-cars in Germany, and Prince Henry started to encourage
motoring to remedy this, but the Germans are slow to respond in sport.
Indeed they know little of sport as the English understand it, of
sportsman ethics or the sense of fair play in either sport or war. They do
not comprehend the English applause for the captain of the "Emden"
and stand aghast at the idea that he would be received as a hero in
England. When a daring aeroplane flier in the performance of his duty
has met with mishap and, landed on German soil, he is not welcomed
as a hero. He is struck and kicked.
The German is not to be blamed. It is the way he has been educated to
"assert himself," as the Germans phrase it. Indeed, when the captain of
the "Emden" was taken prisoner and was congratulated by the
Australian commander for his gallant defense, he was so taken aback
that he had to walk away and think it over. He returned to thank his
adversary for his complimentary remarks. With true German scientific

instinct he had to find his defeat in a physical cause, remarking, "It was
fortunate for you that your first shot took away my speaking tubes."
The English are sports in war,--too sporty in fact. General Joffre
warned General French over and over again, "Your officers are too
audacious; you will soon have none to command," and his words
proved true. The English officers felt that the rules of the game called
upon them to lead their men. They became targets for the guns of the
foe, until one of the present embarrassments in England is the
unprecedented loss of officers.
This has now been changed and Kitchener insists that both officers and
men shall regard themselves as property of the Empire, that the
exposure of a single life to unnecessary hazard is a breach of discipline.
For this reason Victoria Crosses are not numerous, less than two dozen
having been conferred thus far; and it has been quietly announced that
no Victoria Crosses will be conferred for single acts of bravery or
where only one life is involved. It must be team work and results
affecting many.
For this reason also it has been decreed that the 33,000 Canadians in
training at Salisbury Plain shall not be put in the front until they have
learned discipline in place of the American initiative.
These Canadian boys receive their home pay of four shillings, or $1 per
day, while the English Tommy gets one quarter of this amount. The
Canadians are fine fellows, feeling their independence and anxious to
be on the firing line, but the War Office recognizes