XI THE MURDER, TORTURE AND VIOLATION OF WOMEN IN INVADED TERRITORY 104 XII OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN, OLD PEOPLE AND PRIESTS 117 XIII OUTRAGES ON CIVILIANS AND FRANCS-TIREURS 134 XIV SYSTEMATIC ARSON. DESECRATION OF CHURCHES 171 XV SYSTEMATIC PILLAGE AND THEFT. ROBBING THE WOUNDED AND THE DEAD 185 XVI DEGREES OF RESPONSIBILITY. CONCLUSION 216 CHAPTER I THE GERMAN THEORY OF WAR THE CUSTOM OF WAR Eternal peace is a chimera. Whatever pains we may take to avoid war, there always comes a moment when tradition and interest, passion and affection clash and bring to pass the shock which we desired to avoid, a shock which, in the conditions within which civilisation evolves, appears not merely inevitable, but salutary. So we see that philosophers and historians have generally spoken of war as a necessary evil. But just because of the services which war is called upon to render at certain times, it is important not to keep it apart from all the wholesome, righteous and moral ideas disseminated by civilisation, some of which are an age-long gain to society. The evils which war brings with it must be reduced as much as possible. A state of war, disastrous in itself, must be made subject to laws, approved by righteousness and morality, laws which experience has shown to be practicable and salutary. These laws are in effect the international conscience of civilised nations. They are the laws of humanity. In every case where military necessity is not absolutely involved, the nations demand that these laws should be set in motion. To reduce the enemy to impotence; to make it impossible for him to resist, is the aim of belligerents: but to attain that end there is no need to disown humanity. A war humanely conducted may be speedily brought to an end. Often, even, it attains its end more quickly by declining to exasperate the enemy and by conciliating opinion. On the other hand, by resorting to terrorism and attacking the enemy’s dearest, most cherished and most sacred possessions—the lives of non-combatants, private property, works of science and art, the good name of families, religion—you renew his power of resistance, increase his moral strength, and infuse into him the spirit of hatred and vengeance. GERMAN MILITARY WRITERS’ THEORY OF WAR