cars with French officers past through Belgian to reconnoiter in Germany without being stopped by Belgian authorities. Equally French aeroplanes flew over Belgium without being stopt and bombarded German cities.

Our information about the French army was furthermore corroborated by the fact that English generals visited Brussels in the spring at the time when the coalition was preparing for war against us. The governments of the coalition cannot suppose that we do not know that during the visit of King George to Paris, the military negotiations were going on between England, France and Russia for the purpose of a joint attack against Germany.2

Is not the dropping of shells without warning from an airship upon cities like Antwerp and Paris a violation of civilized warfare?

I am rather surprised at the words "without warning" in this question, because I do not see how a fortress, which is prepared for an attack in a country which is at war, should be without warning if it were attacked at any minute. The warning for every fortress in the country is the beginning of the war. I can only say that in our fortresses on the frontier, women and children were sent away on the very first oubreak of the war. As long as there has been war in the world, fortresses have always been bombarded. Whether they are bombarded from the air or from cannon on land is simply a technical detail.s

Is not the destruction of the historic edifices and library at Louvain an act of vandalism?

To begin with I doubt whether the historic edifices and library at Louvain have been destroyed. But if they should have been, the responsibility rests solely with the population of Louvain, and the act of vandalism, if there has been one, has been perpetrated also solely by that population. The facts of the case are the following: One battalion of German troops was left in charge of

the city, and of the communications of the army. They were not in line, but dispersed in the city. The priests of the city, thinking that the German army had retired, distributed arms among the civilian population and our soldiers were shot unawares. The principle of civilized warfare is based on the assumption that only the soldiers of a country shall fight against the soldiers of the other country, but that civilians, women and children shall never join in the combat. To maintain these principles severe punishment has always been inflicted upon any population that joins in the fight, and I do not refrain for one moment from saying that they deserve it. In this special case, however, the German soldiers who were attacked by the people of Louvain were mutilated, and treated with acts of beastial cruelty. If the returning troops with these facts before their eyes burnt down many houses of the city, I do not see how they can be blamed.

What is the Slavic peril? And why should Germany fear it more than England or France?

Germany does not fear the Slavic peril at all. However the existence of Austria as a great power has always been considered of vital interest to Germany because it keeps our flank covered. Furthermore it must not be forgotten that the alliance between Germany and Austria is quite a different kind of alliance than any of those among the powers who have formed a coalition against us. Austria and Germany have belonged together for a thousand years, and every fight between them has been regarded by both nations as a civil war. Historic developments since 1866 have changed the aspect of Austria and have formed a dual monarchy between Austria and Hungary. Austria is now half a Slav state and as such cannot permit the pretensions of Russia to be the protector of the Slavs. England and France are now fighting for Russia's purposes. Why they do so they will have to answer for themselves.

Would the purchase by the United States of the German merchant ships of New York harbor be a violation of neutrality?

Be.

According to my opinion, No. cause our shipping companies are absolutely private business undertakings without any interference of the Government. If, furthermore, these companies are, as the American Government has stated, not to receive payment until after the war, I cannot see how the purchase of these ships can in any way help Germany. The opposition to these plans seems to me to come simply from the wish to prevent the United States from having a mercantile marine. England has joined our enemies for the chief purpose of getting our trade. It would naturally gain nothing even if England did win the war if their trade were taken by the United States.

What do you think of the employ. ment of African and Asiatic troops in an European war?

I condemn it unconditionally.5

In conclusion I may say that it is one of the fundamental errors of American newspapers that this is a war of kings. Most emphatically is it a war of the German people. Do not Every man be deceived about it. who doubts this is fundamentally at error. I read all sorts of things about "the kings' war," but God knows it is the people's war. The absolute feeling of the German people was that the Emperor waited as long as possible, if anything that he waited at least two days too long. If any proof is needed for this statement look at the attitude of the leaders of the German Social Democrats, who are loyally supporting the Emperor. See how different it is in Russia where the Poles are in revolution; in England where the leader of the Labor group said that it was not a people's war and the government had not done enough to prevent it. The leader of the Social Democrats in "We hate war, but Germany said: since the German nation has been attacked we will stand up like one man against the autocrat who attacked us."

On another page read: "Belgium Neutrality a Myth, Says Embassy."Editor.

3If interested, read: "A Strange Set of Saints" in War Echoes.-Editor.

4As the question involved the killing from ambuscade of German barbarians, the strong pro-British "Chicago Herald" eulogizes the Belgian civilians in an editorial entitled "The Right to Defend Your Home," which we are reprinting in full on another page.-Editor.

5In order to appreciate how circumstances alter cases, you should read "But This Was To Be a White Man's War" reprinted on another page.-Consult the index.-Editor.

If no news is good news the European press censors are certainly apostles of optimism. From the "New York American."

TRIBUNE GIVES NEW LIGHT ON

GERMAN SPIRIT.

Finds People Confident and Learns English are Being "Jollied" and Deceived-Personal Letter.

The Chicago Tribune.

The following personal letter from Mr. Bennett to the editor of THE TRIBUNE is so remarkable that it is presented in full.

Before there was mention of war Mr. Bennett was sent to London to be THE TRIBUNE'S correspondent in England. At the outbreak of war he, the only TRIBUNE man near the seat of action, was cabled to proceed to the firing line. Since the German occupation of Brussels he has been entirely in German surroundings.

THE TRIBUNE does not support or decry his views. They are startling and the American people are entitled to read them.

By James O'Donnell Bennett. (War Correspondent of The Tribune.) AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, Germany, Sept. 12.-Undoubtedly you have pictures of all the notables in this set (portraits of German military leaders printed on this page) but the portraits seemed to me so well executed that they might make a welcome change from the routine of photographs.

Tomorrow John McCutcheon and I shall have been in Aix just two weeks. In that time we have sent off many thousands of words to The TribuneJohn about 20,000; I about 14,000. My first letter was 6,000 on our inability to verify stories of German atrocities: my second over 6,000 on the state of feeling, illustrated by numerous incidents, in North Germany. John said my letter on non-atrocities probably would create a sensation in America.

Matter Ready for Boat.

I have a big batch of descriptive matter under way for next Saturday's boat from Rotterdam to America.

In addition to the two long articles which I mailed I have also sent a 1,000 word cable by post to the Commercial cable office in London to be put on the wire there to you.

Whether the English censor will let it pass I much doubt, because, judging by the London papers we have seen and by the extracts which I enclose from a letter from Mrs. Bennett, England is wild with apprehension and stuffed with lies.

Germans Feel Confident.

The best of writers could hardly convey to you the sense of order, confidence and satisfaction existing in Germany. And, in view of what we have seen and heard in Germany, it would be difficult to exaggerate the madness of English newspapers in their policy of trying to jolly the English public into a belief that the Germans are being thrown back.

In the face of these "German reverses," Germany is constantly sending more men (thousands upon thousands of them) by train through Aix to the front.

Aix is absolutely serene. Manufacturers are even about to launch new building operations in this vicinity the day after tomorrow.

Not Allowed to Follow. Meanwhile we are not allowed to go into France in the wake of German columns, because, say the military authorities, vast plans are making which must in no way be imperiled by the presence of outsiders.

Those plans may culminate at the end of next week, and then, according to assurances we have received, we may be allowed to go forward.

This chance seems to us worth waiting for. If it does not materialize at the end of the week there is nothing for us to do but return to England.

Extracts from Letters.

As to the kind of reception that may await me in England, you may judge from these extracts from Mrs. Bennett's letter received by me today from London. It is dated Monday, Sept. 7, and has been a week, lacking two days, in reaching me:

"My greatest anxiety lately has been that you would write something proGerman. That, as I understand the situation here, would get you into trouble with the English authorities upon your return. They simply will not have it, no matter how true it may be.

"I wrote you a long letter last week telling you of Mr. Heitkamp's arrest (Mr. Heitkamp is manager of the Curtis Brown bureau, which serves The Tribune from London) at the instigation of the war office. He was arrested on Thursday night and not released until Saturday afternoon.

"He was handled very roughly and allowed to communicate with no one

not even his wife. He just escaped penal servitude for life, and he still does not know what they so much objected to in what he had written.

Detectives Search Mail.

"When I went down for your mail at the Curtis Brown offices I found the room which you and Mr. Heitkamp occupy full of Scotland Yard men.

"They were going through Mr. Heitkamp's papers and they went through all his papers and letters at his home. And this happened to an American whose people have lived in America since the seventeenth century and whose daily work connects him with the American press.

"So you see, my dear, how useless it is to try to say anything for the Germans. The English simply won't allow it to be used, and one takes the risk of penal servitude.

"All this has terrified me for you. You have absolutely no chance. I felt so sorry for Mrs. Heitkamp. She was not allowed to see her husband.

"As I said, I wrote you all about this, but could not get the letter through, and have been nearly frantic over the possibility of their arresting you when you return to an English port if you have sent pro-German copy to The Tribune while you were in Germany.

Fear for Safety.

"My never knowing for so many days where you were and what had happened to you made it worse.

"Please realize how serious this is and be very careful as to what you write. It would gain you nothing if you tried to be fair, and the penalty is too great. You will be careful?

"This fear has been with me constantly since Mr. Heitkamp's arrest. Of

Or How They Brought the Good News from the Aisne to Hand.

By Siegfried Jacobsohn in "The Fatherland," New York, October 28, 1914.

Monday-from Paris.

Von Kluck's army is annihilated!!!
The victory cannot be overrated.
It was a terrible, deadly strife;
Not a single German ascaped with his

life,

In one word, as already stated, Von Kluck and his men are annihilated.

Tuesday-from London.

The victory we won was glorious!
On the whole line we were victorious.
The enemy's General Von Kluck
Had to give in to British pluck!
Therefore to us his sword he tendered
And he and all his men surrendered.

Wednesday-from Rome.
The final decision of this campaign
Was yesterday reached on the River
Aisne;

A movement on the British right
Put the left wing of the foe to flight.

The Germans are beaten, pursued and hounded,

Von Kluck's army is now surrounded.

Thursday-from Copenhagen.
The British Embassy indorses
The

following news: The Allied
forces

Have beaten the brutal invaders back, Pursuing the fleeing in their track. The beaten foe-Von Kluck in the

lead

Are running away with the greatest speed.

Friday-from Paris.

We hold a fortified position,
And now expect the final decision.
Von Kluck's onslaughts on the Allies
Have cost the Germans an awful

price

But our defence is still unshaken, Our fortified hills cannot be taken.

Saturday-from Berlin via Wireless to Sayville, L. I.

The army of General Von Kluck won a decisive victory on the Aisne over the combined French and English forces. About forty thousand prisoners and five hundred guns fell into our hands. The enemy is in full retreat and pursued by our cavalry. VON STEIN, General Quartermaster..

LONDON LETTER.

By Shan F. Bullock in the Friday Literary Review of "The Chicago Evening Post," October 9, 1914.

London, Sept. 29.-Were I a philosopher-not of the Bergson type, but rather of the Anatole France sort -and had the necessary time and energy, I should write a book on the Humors of Rumor. Practically, we

have been living-that is, so far as mental and moral sustenance are concerned-for weeks now on many inventions. From time to time, of course, we have had doled out to us the crumbs that fell from the press bureau table, and, to give our authorities justice, they have never been slow to douche us with black, naked truth; but in the awful stress of events what we poor humans needed was food for our hungry imaginations. The old war correspondents used to supply that in liberal doses; now they are gone with the fine old times when armies, instead of fighting in absurd 250-mile line formations that retired this way for a hundred miles and then advanced the same way fifty miles; when instead of such athletic exercises they met on a decent-sized field in solid bodies

and gloriously hammered each other for as long as they had endurance. But our needs being still the samenay, more, in those days of light and swiftness-we have had lately to keep ourselves alive by supplying our own inventions.

How the Nation Spoofed Itself.

Now that it is all over, some of our critics are talking about the great Russian movement by way of Archangel, Leith, the English North Sea coast and Ostend, as the most stupendous newspaper spoof in journalistic history. Nothing of the sort. It was a spoof invented by the nation itself, played off by the nation itself upon itself, and, official contradiction notwithstanding, still persisted in by great part of itself. Its origin is obvious. People saw the Germans avalanching down toward Paris, with those vital lines of communication through Liege and Namur continually lengthening, and they said, "My God, if only we could get at them thru Ostend in the rear with 200,000 men!" Well, the men were not in England. But we wanted them. So by way of Archangel, some 2,000 miles away, and connected with the interior of Russia, I believe by only a single line of railway, on timber ships, Atlantic liners, men of war, Russian cruisers, fishing boats, heaven knows what, we transported to eastern Scotland a Russian army complete in every detail of accoutrement and impedimenta; and we put it in trains and we conveyed it to Dover; and not a man, woman or child in England was there who did not know somebody who had seen those trains and the Russians with their beards and Astrakhan caps inside them, or had not heard about the signal men, or had not given them apples and cigarettes and got from them "Thankski" in the Russian tongue; and at Dover we transshipped them into fleets of transports that took them to Ostend between two long lines of protecting warships; and then we rubbed our hands and said quietly, so that no German spy should hear, "Wait! Lift up your hearts! Oh, soon shall we hear the news."

A Stupendous Hoax.

But news didn't come, save by way of confirmation from Rome and Amsterdam. And we grew restive. And those who knew definitely got weakkneed. But still we believed, because we had to believe, because what true to that which should have happened. and then one morning from the official press bureau came a laconic message telling us that not a single Russian had journeyed to Belgium via English soil. Not one. But everyone we knew had been told definitely by some one that 250,000 Russians had gone. The correspondent of the "Daily News" had actually seen them in France

Enough, I doubt if ever before, even in the days of apparitions and portents, the English people have hoaxed themselves so stupendously.

A day never passes that the Servians do not annihilate another Austrian army!-From the "Public Ledger," Philadelphia, August 9, 1914.

After publishing column after column of matter which the partisans of the allies call "pro-German,' we are bitterly accused of being antiGerman. In spite of this accusation, on the other hand, we are accused of being pro-German. And all this in the name of "fairness!"

Every newspaper which tries to be neutral is having the same rather amusing experience. They are being abused by parties on all sides who, with a laughable unconsciousness of their own bias, demand justice when what they wish is partisanship. Readers who believe Germany is wrong were entirely satisfied to have all the news come from London, Paris and Antwerp and all the British and French polemics published in full. Readers of contrary sympathy do not protest against any publication in favor of their own side.

The Tribune has no bias, and real neutrals, we feel confident, do not see any. But partisans will continue to accuse us from their own viewpoints; which accusations, we must remind them, cancel each other and renew our confidence in the rectitude of our own practice.*

It seems that the contribution received from the rabid sympathizer of the "All-lies" and his admonition for a "White Man's number" made "The Tribune's" editor take notice. Result: The following two-inch headline on the first page seven columns in the very same issue

across

We have heard the "All-lies" repeat so frequently that the Germans are barbarians that we presume it must be so. However, that they are not even WHITE barbarians, we did not suspect until we read the above.

in which "Between the Firing Lines" appeared:

"REPORT BIG GERMAN ROUT."

Really thoughtful of "The Tribune's" writer of headlines to try to please sympathizers of the "All-lies" for at least a fleeting moment.

We say, for a fleeting moment, because as soon as one had read the cablegram reporting this "Big German Rout," he immediately realized that it was another of the now famous products emanating from the London-Paris Company, Unlimited. The bulletin in question said:

"LONDON, Sept. 30, 1 a. m.—A Paris dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph company says:

'It is stated here that the German right has been entirely broken and is now being pursued by the allies.

'All the automobiles in northern France have been requisitioned for the purpose of pursuit. Armored motor cars with mitrailleuses are also being used to pursue the retreating enemy.

"The official communication issued at 3 o'clock demonstrates unmistakably that the Germans have been surrounded in the Somme department, the French front extending further east.

'It is officially stated that Peronne has been recaptured.'

"This message has been referred to the British official press bureau, which, while not objecting to its publication, takes no responsibility for its correctness."

So the hopes of the "White Man" were drowned when he read that the British official press bureau, while not objecting to the publication of this bulletin, took no responsibility for its correctness.

Why should the BRITISH OFFICIAL PRESS BUREAU object?

It is saved the trouble of having to manufacture lies itself when it receives them ready made from its partner in Paris?

Incidentally such dispatches lend inspiration to the hard pressed writers of glaring head lines for the first pages of "War Extras."

We had lived under the illusion that only yellow newspapers use head lines alluding to alleged happenings as poorly substantiated as in this instance, the "Big German Rout." However, we are never too old to learn.

On October 23, when "The Tribune" desired to published Mr. James O'Donnell Bennett's new dispatch wherein he states: "I am in a position to expose of few more of the lies which have given an unprecedented touch of horror to the hos tilities now convulsing Europe," it did not want to offend the "White Man" again, and therefore printed Mr. Bennett's new disclosures with a small type head line on the third page, thus trying to appease the "White Man's" wrath if he ever read Mr. Bennett's dispatch at all. May be the "White Man" would not bother to read it after enjoying the two-inch head line across seven columns on the first page which said: "CLAIMS ALLIES GERMANS."

TAKE 70,000