World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, Canadian
It is almost incomprehensible to think that any man, or set of men,
who have made not only a comfortable living, but amassed fortunes in
this land, and have enjoyed the freedom of our institutions and our
laws, should avail themselves of the protection given them by that
very freedom and those very laws to undermine the power of the land
they have sworn to defend. Yet, such is the fact. They are so
short-sighted and their skulls are so thick that they cannot discern
the difference between freedom of thought and action, and German
Kultur or German efficiency.
It is not necessary to enter into a dissertation here upon the German
point of view, because those who read this book have, I take it, long
since settled in their minds the absolute unrighteousness of the
German proposition and the corresponding righteousness of that for
which the Allies are contending, and if by chance the tale should
fall into the hands of any of the proponents of Kultur, they would
not understand the explanation if I made it.
So, I say, if any of these human snakes cross your path and their
traitorous activities, either through the spoken word or the disloyal
action, come under your observation, it is just as vital, if not more
so, that you take the necessary steps to see that it is not repeated
as it is to perform any other service for the cause.
In conclusion, let me say to you, prospective fighting men who have
not yet signed up, and I say it in all humbleness of spirit and with
a deep sense of regret that I was not permitted to do more than I
did, that if I had it to do over again and knew beforehand that I was
going to be maimed, as I have been, I would still go and thank God
for the opportunity of going.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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