maintenance and food, and drink, but also huge demands for financial
indemnification--war tax levies upon cities, towns, and provinces, with
individuals held as hostages for their payment--that German war plans
meant the looting, not only of nations and states, but of individual
fortunes and properties.

It now seems that the march to Paris through Belgium and the imposition
of a huge redemption tax upon Paris and France were but the
preliminaries to larger demands upon London and England.

Indeed, judged by the demands upon Belgium, the German plans
contemplated the transfer of the wealth of France and the British
Empire to Germany; and such enslavement of these peoples as would make
Germany rich, powerful and triumphant for many generations, if not
forever, over the whole habitable globe. The German minister at
Washington sounded a true German note when he asked who should question
the right of Germany to take Canada and the British possessions in
North America. Were they not at war, and if Germany were able, should
she not possess them?

It had been understood before this war that countries were invaded
under ideas of national defense. But possession of countries for the
absorption of their wealth and the enslavement of their people, to work
thereafter for the victors, was believed a barbarism from which this
world had long ago emerged in the struggle for the freedom of the
individual.