Raemaekers' Cartoon History of the War Volume I Part 7

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_THE JUNKER_

"_What I have most admired in you, Bethmann, is that you have made Socialists our best supporters_"

England is playing a perfectly shameful role in this war. Even though France were allied to Russia by an unfortunate treaty, England was not so allied! But England, who has ever been jealous of the industrial development of our country, used the violation of our treaty of neutrality with Belgium, which was incurred only in dire need and which was yielded openly and honestly in the Reichstag by the Chancellor, as a pretext to declare war against us.

PHILIPP SCHEIDEMANN, _Socialist ex-Vice-President of the Reichstag._

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_THE HIGHER POLITICS_

_The Kaiser: "We will propose peace terms; if they accept them, we are the gainers; if they refuse them, the responsibility will rest with them_"

Germany has suggested informally that the United States should undertake to elicit from Great Britain, France, and Russia a statement of the terms under which the Allies would make peace.

The suggestion was made by the Imperial Chancellor, von Bethmann-Hollweg, to Amba.s.sador Gerard at Berlin as a result of an inquiry sent by the American Government to learn whether Emperor William was desirous of discussing peace, as recently had been reported.

_The a.s.sociated Press._ _Was.h.i.+ngton, September 17, 1914._

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_LUTHER-LIEBKNECHT IN THE REICHSTAG_

"_It is a War of Rapine! On that I take my stand. I cannot do otherwise_"

I understand that several members of the Socialist Party have written all sorts of things to the press with regard to the deliberations of the Socialist Party in the Reichstag on August 3 and 4.

According to these reports there were no serious differences of opinion in our party in regard to the political situation, and our own position and decision to a.s.sent to war credits are alleged to have been arrived at unanimously.

In order to prevent the dissemination of an inadmissible legend I feel it to be my duty to put on record the fact that the issues involved gave rise to diametrically opposite views within our parliamentary party, and these opposing views found expression with a violence hitherto unknown in our deliberations.

It is also entirely untrue to say that a.s.sent to the war credits was given unanimously.

DR. CARL LIEBKNECHT, _Member of the Reichstag._ _September 18, 1914._

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_THE LAND MINE_

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_THE VERY STONES CRY OUT,_

"_Thou art the man_"

The German Government states officially in contradiction of the report made by the Havas Agency that German artillery purposely destroyed important buildings at Rheims, that, on the contrary, orders were given to spare the Cathedral by all means.

COUNT VON BERNSTORFF.

_Was.h.i.+ngton, September, 1914._

On Sept. 19 the cathedral was fairly riddled by bombs during the entire day, and at about 3:45 the scaffolding surrounding the north tower caught fire. This fire lasted about one hour, and during that time two further bombs struck the roof, setting it also on fire.

The monument, about which no troops were ma.s.sed, towers above the rest of the town; to avoid it, in view of the uselessness of destroying it and because it was serving as a hospital, would have been an easy matter.

It would seem that the only explanation which can be offered was blind rage upon the part of the besieging army.

MR. WHITNEY WARREN'S _Official Report to the French Government._ _September, 1914._

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_THE BRAGGART_

"_It was I who opened fire on Rheims Cathedral_"

My dear Sir, how is it possible to fight these people? They seem to have no mercy, no decency. It really seems impossible to know how to meet them.

GENERAL CASTELNAU TO MR. WHITNEY WARREN.

The bells sound no more in the cathedral with two towers. Finished is the benediction!... With lead, O Rheims, we have shut your house of idolatry!

M. RUDOLF HERZOG _in Berlin Lokal-Anzeiger. Jan., 1915._