BEASTS—NOT MEN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 30, 5 June 1915, Page 4

BEASTS—NOT MEN.

Not on the seas alone has Germany played the part of murderer. Professor Joseph Bedier is known in the United States as a visiting lecturer; a literary historian of more than usual talent and thoroughness. Professor Bedier has issued a booklet entitled "The German Crimes According to German Testimony." Here is the home made evidence by which Germany has eternally condemned herself—for this little volume is, as the French say, 'Y'documented" ; that is, it is not an argument, but a record of names and dates and places as brutally, just as the confession of any murderer anywhere. Professor Bedier reproduces photo-books of German officers and men taken prisoners in Belgium and France l , and newspaper articles contri-j buted to German newspapers by Ger- ( mans who wear the uniform. Thus Moritz Grosse, describing the sack of several villages, concludes: "Throwing of fire grenades in the houses. In the

evening military chorus: !Nun danket alle Gott!'—"Now let us all thank (Joel!" Crimes against humanity are in some cases boasted of by these German soldiers in other cases they are privately deplored in their journals as the acts of "highway robbers and brigands," dishonouring "our regiment and our army." "In moments like these." writes one young German officer, "we are men no longer, but beasts." (l)enn dann sind es keine Mensehen, sonder (n) Tiere.) One can add nothing to such testimony as Ger-

many herself offers in this matter: one can only grieve that men can indeed be beasts—and pray for justice.