The history of German intrigues, both before and since the war, in British and French colonies, and in neutral countries throughout the world, which are now known and proved to the hilt, may be gauged from the examples given in the foregoing brief notes. The German newspaper _Der Tag_, which, during the first month of the war, declared: "Herr Gott, sind diese Tage schön" (O Lord, how beautiful are these days), subsequently summarised the German outlook when it naively declared:--[63] "So many of our calculations have deceived us. We expected that British India would rise when the first shot was fired in Europe, but in reality thousands of Indians came to fight with the British against us. We anticipated that the whole British Empire would be torn to pieces, but the Colonies appear to be closer than ever united with the Mother Country. We expected a triumphant rebellion in South Africa, yet it turned out nothing but a failure. We expected trouble in Ireland, but instead, she sent her best soldiers against us. We anticipated that the party of 'peace at any price' would be dominant in England, but it melted away in the ardour to fight against Germany. We reckoned that England was degenerate and incapable of placing any weight in the scale, yet she seems to be our principal enemy. "The same has been the case with France and Russia. We thought that France was depraved and divided and we find that they are formidable opponents. We believed that the Russian people were far too discontented to fight for their Government, and we made our plans on the supposition of a rapid collapse of Russia, but, instead, she mobilised her millions quickly and well, and her people are full of enthusiasm and their power is crushing. Those who led us into all those mistakes and miscalculations have laid upon themselves a heavy responsibility." FOOTNOTES: [52] _Times_, April 28, 1915. [53] _Times_, January 6, 1915. [54] _Times_, April 24, 1915. (Speech by the Bishop of Singapore.) [55] _Daily News and Leader_, April 27, 1915. [56] _Morning Post_, March 27, 1915. [57] Letter from the Chinese Legation to the _Times_, March 13 and 20, 1915. [58] _Daily News and Leader_, April 22, 1915. [59] Cd. 7874. [60] _Times_, April 30, 1915. [61] _Times_, March 17, 1915. [62] _Times_, February 19, 1915. [63] _Times_, April 26, 1915. HOW THE GERMANS MAKE WAR.