However we may, blame the German High Command -- and certainly we must
blame those in power, who over such a long period deliberately
prepared this war, and at the last so suddenly launched it upon
Europe.

However we may blame the German High Command, we cannot refuse
to acknowledge the really great qualities of their general Army:
its extraordinary courage and devotion, its versatility and resource.

As to its goodheartedness, that is proved by the endless stories
of spontaneous friendliness shown by the German troops even to
their enemies, the individual rapprochements on occasions, the
succour to the wounded, the Christmas songs and celebrations, and
by the fact of advances of this kind so often coming first from
the German side.

As to its good sense, that element certainly has not been wanting.
Among the stories' above-mentioned as coming from the Front is one
which I have every reason to believe is true. The Saxons one day,
in their trenches thirty or forty yards away, put up a blackboard
on which was written: "The English are fools!" The board was
of course peppered with bullets, and went drown. Presently it
reappeared with "The French are fools!" written on it. Being
duly peppered again it went down, and came up with "The Russians
are fools!" Same treatment. But when it, or a similar board,
appeared for the fourth time, lo! the inscription was "The Austrians
are fools!"; and when it appeared for the fifth time, "The
Germans are fools!"; and the sixth time, "We are all fools!"