The Blot on the Kaiser's 'ScutcheonHillis, Newell Dwight
History
The Blot on the Kaiser's 'Scutcheon
Hillis, Newell Dwight
World War, 1914-1918 -- Sermons
"Your name has been given us as a capable man, and you are herewith
requested to take on this office of honour, and to do your duty in a
proper German way. It must here be pointed out that your wife or fiancee
will not be able to claim a divorce. It is, in fact, hoped that the
women will bear this discomfort heroically for the sake of the war. You
will be given the district of ----. Should you not feel capable of
carrying on the task allotted to you, you will be given three days on
which to name some one in your place. On the other hand, if you are
prepared to take on a second district as well you will become
'drekoffizier' and receive a pension. An exhibition of photographs of
women and maidens in the district allotted to you is to be seen at the
office of ----. You are requested to bring this letter with you."
This is an amazing document. Plainly the German family has broken down.
But no household can be built on free love in 1918, just as no stone
building can be erected on hay, stubble or sand. The German family has
gone, and German society is tottering towards its final ruin.
6. The Red-Hot Swords in Sister Julie's Eyes
The history of heroism holds nothing finer than the story of Sister
Julie, decorated by the French Government with the Cross of the Legion
of Honour. She lived in the little village of Gerbeviller, now called
"Gerbeviller the Martyred." On August 27th the French army broke the
line of the German Crown Prince and compelled the Huns' retreat. General
Clauss was ordered to go northeast and dig in on the top of the ridge
some twelve miles north of Gerbeviller. The Germans reached the village
at nine o'clock in the morning, and by half-past twelve they had looted
all the houses and were ready to burn the doomed city. The incendiary
wagons were filled with the firebrands stamped 1912. Beginning at the
southern end of the village, the German officers and soldiers looted
every house, shop, store and public building, and then set fire to the
town. At last they came to the extreme northern end, where a few houses
and the little hospital over which Sister Julie had charge, were still
standing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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