MITCHENER. Why shouldnt they? What else has their army to do?
What else are they building a navy for?

BALSQUITH. Well, we never think of invading Germany.

MITCHENER. Yes we do. I have thought of nothing else for the last
ten years. Say what you will, Balsquith, the Germans have never
recognized, and until they get a stern lesson, they never WILL
recognize, the plain fact that the interests of the British
Empire are paramount, and that the command of the sea belongs by
nature to England.

BALSQUITH. But if they wont recognize it, what can I do?

MITCHENER. Shoot them down.

BALSQUITH. I cant shoot them down.

MITCHENER. Yes you can. You dont realize it; but if you fire a
rifle into a German he drops just as surely as a rabbit does.

BALSQUITH But dash it all, man, a rabbit hasnt got a rifle and a
German has. Suppose he shoots you down.

MITCHENER. Excuse me, Balsquith; but that consideration is what
we call cowardice in the army. A soldier always assumes that he
is going to shoot, not to be shot.

BALSQUITH (jumping up and walking about sulkily). Oh come! I like