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Show "um ium then ave the world its great surprise. Her little army, unfxerliictedly callgd to battle, withstood for many days the most carefpllly prepared onslaught of as powerful and effluent a military machine as ad ever been seen. Every day, indeed eveiy hour and even every minute gained, was admittedly of the utmost consequence. (The immediate ruSh into France was stopped for a time. Before theyhad hacked their Way through Liege, the apostles of the latter-day civ1lisat10n had learnt that the soul of a nation is a very effective fighting force and that this_elementary truth had been omitted from the precise methodical calculations of the German machine. They did not forget, because apparently they did net know, in these days of modern scientific development of warfare (the days of Zeppelins, armoured cars and Krupp Siege guns) that a small army led and inspired by great and noble thoughts could‘hold up even the mighty army of Germany. The sacking and burning of Louvain, the destruction of Malines, Termonde, and the many thousand homes of Belgium, the devastation of the whole country, the killing of its inhabitantsand the horrible atrocities recorded in the reports of the Belgian Commiss10n, all in pursuance of the policy of " frightfulness," have not added laurels to the brow of Germany ; they will be found in the records where all men may read. Not content with defying the elementary baSic prinCiples of International Law by its breach of faith, it has further shown its contempt for aught but might by ruthless outrages upon the laws and customs of eiVilised warfare. It is in this scorn of right and adoration of might that the tragedy of Germany is to be found. Even if it could have won the most triumphant victories its name would still be blackened for ever. But no defeats, however decisive, can take from the Belgian people the memory of their high-souled resistance. No suffering, however poignant, can deprive them of the spiritual elation of their defiance. So long as great deeds are sung and noble purposes are extolled, the heroism of the Belgians and their King 4/; 2 will be held up to the wonder of the world. / veer/V5,, ,/ By GUGLIELMO MARCONI ALMOST does the war lose part of its horror and sorrow when the unexampled heroism, patience, and fortitude of the Belgians and their King rise in their effulgent light before the mind's eye. The material loss and damage sustained by this brave little nation may perhaps never be repaid, but of her people we might say with Longfellow, " Noble souls through dust and heat Rise from disaster and defeat The stronger." By GUGLIELMO FERRERO TERRIBILE e la prova ; ma, dopo le dovute riparazioni, immensa sara la gloria del Belgio, e grandissima la autorita del suo Re. Offrendosi, martire intrepido, alla rabbia teutonica, i1 Belgio ha risvegliata la coscienza morale del mondo, Che, gia troppo stordita dalla cupidigia, dalla sete dei piaceri, dall' orgoglio del sapere e della ricchezza, avrebbe altrimenti corso il pericolo di smarrirsi interamente tra le ferocie e i furori di questa guerra terribile. Il mondo ha capito, vedendo una forza ubriaca d'orgoglio straziare a quel modo un piccolo popolo innocente, che il lavoro, la ricchezza, i1 sapere, il coraggio, la potenza non bastano : occorre ai popoli, come ai singoli uomini, conoscere pure che cosa e onore, lealta, giustizia, fede, veracita. Percib dopo la sicura Vittoria della coalizione, dopo la reintegrazione solenne del popolo belga nella sua terra e nel suo diritto, incominciera una nuova gloria dell' Europa, e una gloria piu bella ; la cui prima pagina sara stata scritta, con il suo sangue piii prezioso, dal Belgio. EVViva il Belgio I TRANSLATION Dire is the ordeal, but when due reparation has been made, great will be the glory of Belgium, and great the authority of her Kingl Belgium, an intrepid martyr, offering herself to the fury of the Teutan, has awakened the moral conscience of the war/dithat world which, dulled by cupidity, by thirst for pleasure, by the pride of wealth and knowledge, might otherwise hare been reduced to chaos in the furies and ferocities of this terrible war, When the world saw a Great [' arr drunk with pride, thus torturing a small, in- offensive nation, it understood that work and wealth and knowledge and courage and power are not allsufficient; peoples as well as indi'eiduals need to know the worth of honour, loyalty, justice, faith, and truth. And therefore, after the certain victory of the coalition, after the solemn restoration of Belgian territory and Belgian rights, a new and fairer glory will begin for Europe ,' its first page, written in its most precious blood, will tell the story of Belgium. Long lit-e Belgium ! By SALOMON REINACH SI la Belgique devait étre un jour une province allemande, l'infamie du partage de la Pologne palirait dans l'histoire a cété de celle qui n'aurait de nom dans aucune langue. On a pu dire de la Pologne qu'elle expiait ses diVisions, ses complaisances pour des voisins puissants et perfides; que peut-on dire de la Belgique, sinon qu'elle a souffert pour le droit et pour l'honneur, qu'elle a fait de son corps un rempart contre la barbarie et 16 parjure, qu'elle s'est laissée martyriser et broyer plutét que de se salir P On dira tout cela, comme on le dit a cette heure, mais a une Belgique console'e, vengée et infiniment grande. Ce petit pays de plaines ce sont les Thermopyles de l'Europe I Et l'homme héro‘ique qui a l'honneur sans pareil de combattre en roi pour la plus juste des causes, pour la plus noble des patries, dites s'il n'est pas plus digne d'admiration que Leonidas ! 'I'R.-l,\'Sl.A TION Should Belgium ever become a province of Germany, the infamy of the partition of Poland would be eclipsed in history by one which no language could adequately stigmatise. It may be not unjustly said of Poland that she owned for her dissensions, her complaisance to false and powerful neighbours ; what can be said of Belgium, save that she has suflered for Right and Honour, that she has given her body as a rampart against barbarism and perjury, that she has preferred martyrdom and min to a stain upon her honour .9 All this will be said again, as people are saying it ta-day, but it will be said to a Belgium comforted, a Belgium avenged, and infinitely great. This little country of plains is the Therrnopyla' of Europe I And that heroic man who has the supreme honour of fighting, as a King, for the mast just of causes, for the noblest of countries-is he not more admirable than Leonidas l 131 M03" |