Let me add that he who wishes to understand German military ideas and military methods, ought to read along with this book (and the reports already referred to) another book, the German “Manual of the Usages of War on Land,” of which Professor Morgan has published a translation, under the title of “The German War Book.” Each of these is a complement to the other. The “War Book” sets forth the principles: this book and the Reports display the practices. The practice shocks us more, because concrete cases of cruelty rouse a livelier indignation; but the principles are a more melancholy proof of the extent to which minds of able men may be so perverted by false ideals and national vanity as to lose the common human sense of right and wrong. FOOTNOTES: [1] The writer’s chief contributions to the Bryce Report will be found on pages 190, etc., of the Committee’s Appendix [_cd._ 7895.] [2] Published by the German Foreign Office under the title of “Die völkerrechtswidrige Führung des belgischen Volkskriegs.” The abbreviation “G. W. B.” will be used in the notes to this chapter. [3] The Reports have been translated, but not the evidence. I am indebted to M. Mollard for providing me with copies of the latter, to which reference is made below. [4] Speech in the Reichstag, August 4th, 1914. But, so far as I know, no one in this country has noticed that the absolute inviolability of Belgium, under all circumstances and without exception, has been laid down in the leading German text-book on International Law, which declares that such treaties are the great “landmarks of progress” in the formation of a European polity, and that the guarantors must step in, whether invited or uninvited, to vindicate them. “Nothing,” it is added, “could make the situation of Europe more insecure than an egotistical repudiation by the great States of these duties of international fellowship.”--Holtzendorff _Handbuch des Völkerrechts_ III. (Part 16), pp. 93, 108, 109. [5] Regulations, Arts. 1 and 2. [6] _cf._ Von Bieberstein at the Hague Conference of 1907, “The international law which we wish to create should contain only those clauses the execution of which is possible from a military point of view.” (_Actes et Documents I._, page 282.) [7] Holtzendorff, IV., 385. [8] _Ibid._, IV., 374. This is an important admission in view of what the Germans allege to have happened in Belgium. [9] German White Book: Introductory Memorandum. [10] German White Book: Introductory Memorandum. [11] Belgian Grey Book (Correspondance Diplomatique relative à la Guerre de 1914), No. 8 (dated July 29th, 1914). [12] _Ibid._, No. 2 (July 24th, 1914). [13] British Blue Book (Great Britain and the European Crisis), Nos. 85 and 122. [14] G. W. B. (Appendix C), General Report on Dinant. [15] _Ibid._, Introductory Memorandum. [16] G. W. B., Appendix 51. [17] _Ibid._, Appendix 53. [18] G. W. B., Memorandum. [19] _Ibid._, Appendix 59. [20] G. W. B., Appendix 56.