第4章

类别:其他 作者:Owen Wister字数:19740更新时间:18/12/14 10:47:49
buthewasafraidtomovewithoutEngland,towhomhemadeasuccessionofindirectapproaches。Thesenearlycametosomethingtowardsthecloseof1862。ItwasonOctober7ththatGladstonespokeatNewcastleaboutJeffersonDavishavingmadeanation。Yet,afterall,Englanddidn\'tbudge,andthusheldNapoleonback。FromFranceintheendtheSouthgotneithershipsnorrecognition,inspiteofhisdeceitfulconnivanceanddesire;NapoleonflirtedawhilewithSlidell,butgrewcoldwhenhesawnochanceofEnglishcooperation。 BesidesJohnBrightandCobden,wehadotherEnglishfriendsofinfluenceandcelebrity:JohnStuartMill,ThomasHughes,GoldwinSmith,LeslieStephen,RobertGladstone,FredericHarrisonaresomeofthem。Allfromthefirstsupportedus。Allfromthefirstworkedandspokeforus。TheUnionandEmancipationSocietywasfounded。\"YourCommittee,\"saysitsfinalreportwhenthewarwasended,\"haveissuedandcirculatedupwardsoffourhundredthousandbooks,pamphlets,andtracts……andnearlyfivehundredofficialandpublicmeetingshavebeenheld……\"ThepresidentofthisSociety,Mr。Potter,spentthirtythousanddollarsinthecause,andatatimewhentimeswerehardandfortunesaswellascotton-spinnersindistressthroughourblockade。AnothermemberoftheSociety,Mr。 Thompson,writesofoneofthepublicmeetings:\"……IaddressedacrowdedassemblyofunemployedoperativesinthetownofHeywood,nearManchester,andspoketothemfortwohoursabouttheSlaveholders\' Rebellion。Theywereunitedandvociferousintheexpressionoftheirwillingnesstosufferallhardshipsconsequentuponawantofcotton,iftherebythelibertyofthevictimsofSoutherndespotismmightbepromoted。AllhonortothehalfmillionofourworkingpopulationinLancashire,Cheshire,andelsewhere,whoarebearingwithheroicfortitudetheprivationwhichyourwarhasentaileduponthem!……Theirsublimeresignation,theirself-forgetfulness,theirobservanceoflaw,theirwhole-souledloveofthecauseofhumanfreedom,theirquickandclearperceptionofthemeritsofthequestionbetweentheNorthandtheSouth……areextortingtheadmirationofallclassesofthecommunity……\" HowmuchofallthisdoyoueverhearfromthepeoplewhoremembertheAlabama? StrictlyinaccordwithBeecher\'svividsummaryofthetrueEnglandinourCivilWar,aresomepassagesofaletterfromMr。JohnBigelow,whowasatthattimeourConsul-GeneralatParis,andwhoseimpressions,writtentoourSecretaryofState,Mr。Seward,onFebruary6,1863,areinterestingtocomparewithwhatBeechersaysinthatletter,fromwhichIhavealreadygivenextracts。 \"Theanti-slaverymeetingsinEnglandarehavingtheireffectupontheGovernmentalready……ThePariscorrespondentoftheLondonPostalsocametomyhouseonWednesdayevening……Hesays……thatthereareaboutadozenpersonswhobytheirpositionandinfluenceovertheorgansofpublicopinionhaveproducedallthebadfeelingandtreacherouscon- ductofEnglandtowardsAmerica。Theyarepeoplewho,asmembersoftheGovernmentintimespast,havebeenbulliedbytheU。S……TheyarenotentirelyignorantthattheclasswhoarenowtryingtooverthrowtheGovernmentweremainlyresponsibleforthebrutality,buttheythinkweasanationaredisposedtobully,andtheyaredisposedtoassistinanypolicythatmaydismemberandweakenus。Thesescarsofwoundedpride,however,havebeencarefullyconcealedfromthepublic,whothereforecannotbereadilymadetoseewhy,whenthePresidenthasdistinctlymadetheissuebetweenslavelaborandfreelabor,thatEnglandshouldnotgowiththeNorth。HesaysthesedozenpeoplewhoruleEnglandhateuscordially……\" Thereweremorethanadozen,agoodmanymore,asweknowfromCharlesandHenryAdams。ButreadonceagainthelastparagraphofBeecher\'sletter,andnotehowitcorrespondswithwhatMr。BigelowsaysaboutthefeelingwhichourGovernment(forthirtyyears\"inthehandsorundertheinfluenceofSouthernstatesmen\")hadraisedagainstusbyitsbadmannerstoEuropeangovernments。ThiswastheharvestsownbyshirtsleevesdiplomacyandreapedbyMr。Adamsin1861。Onlysevenyearsbefore,wehadgratuitouslyoffendedfourcountriesatonce。Threeofourforeignministers(twoofthemfromtheSouth)hadmetatOstendandlateratAixintheinterestsofextendingslavery,andthere,inajointmanifesto,hadorderedSpaintosellusCuba,orwewouldtakeCubabyforce。OneofthethreewasourministertoSpain。Spainhadreceivedhimcourteouslyastherepresentativeofanationwithwhomshewasatpeace。 Itwaslikeringingthedoorbellofanacquaintance,beingshownintotheparlorandtellinghimhemustsellyouhisspoonsoryouwouldsnatchthem。Thisdoesn\'tinclineyourneighbortolikeyou。But,ashasbeensaid,Mr。AdamswasanAmericanwhodidknowhowtobehave,andtherebyserveduswellinourhourofneed。 WeremembertheAlabamaandourEnglishenemies,weforgetBright,andCobden,andallourEnglishfriends;butLincolndidnotforgetthem。 Whenayoungman,afriendofBright\'s,anEnglishman,hadbeencaughthereinaplottoseizeavesselandmakeherintoanotherAlabama,JohnBrightaskedmercyforhim;andhereareLincoln\'swordsinconsequence: \"whereasoneRuberywasconvictedonoraboutthetwelfthdayofOctober,1863,intheCircuitCourtoftheUnitedStatesfortheDistrictofCalifornia,ofengagingin,andgivingaidandcomforttotheexistingrebellionagainsttheGovernmentofthisCountry,andsentencedtotenyears\'imprisonment,andtopayafineoftenthousanddollars; \"Andwhereas,thesaidAlfredRuberyisoftheimmatureageoftwentyyears,andofhighlyrespectableparentage; \"Andwhereas,thesaidAlfredRuberyisasubjectofGreatBritain,andhispardonisdesiredbyJohnBright,ofEngland; \"Now,therefore,beitknownthatI,AbrahamLincoln,PresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,theseanddiversotherconsiderationsmethereuntomoving,andespeciallyasapublicmarkoftheesteemheldbytheUnitedStatesofAmericaforthehighcharacterandsteadyfriendshipofthesaidJohnBright,doherebygrantapardontothesaidAlfredRubery,thesametobeginandtakeeffectonthetwentiethdayofJanuary1864,onconditionthatheleavethecountrywithinthirtydaysfromandafterthatdate。\" ThusLincoln,becauseofBright;andbecauseofawordfromBrighttoCharlesSumneraboutthestarvingcotton-spinners,AmericanssentfromNewYorkthreeshipswithflourforthosefaithfulEnglishfriendsofours。 Andthen,atGenevain1872,EnglandpaidusforwhattheAlabamahaddone。ThisCourtofArbitrationgrewslowly;suggestedfirstbyMr。 ThomasBatchtoLincoln,whothoughtthemillenniumwasn\'tquiteathandbutfavored\"airingtheidea。\"Theideawasnotairedeasily。CobdenwouldhavebroughtitupinParliament,butillnessanddeathovertookhim。Theideafoundbutfewotherfriends。AtlastHoraceGreeley\"aired\" itinhispaper。OnOctober23,1863,Mr。AdamssaidtoLordJohnRussell,\"IamdirectedtosaythatthereisnofairandequitableformofconventionalarbitramentorreferencetowhichtheUnitedStateswillnotbewillingtosubmit。\"This,sometwoyearslater,Russellrecalled,sayinginreplytoastatementofourgrievancesbyAdams:\"ItappearstoHerMajesty\'sGovernmentthattherearebuttwoquestionsbywhichtheclaimofcompensationcouldbetested;theoneis,HavetheBritishGovernmentactedwithduediligence,or,inotherwords,ingoodfaithandhonesty,inthemaintenanceoftheneutralitytheyproclaimed?Theotheris,HavethelawofficersoftheCrownproperlyunderstoodtheforeignenlistmentact,whentheydeclined,inJune1862,toadvisethedetentionandseizureoftheAlabama,andonotheroccasionswhentheywereaskedtodetainotherships,buildingorfittinginBritishports? ItappearstoHerMajesty\'sGovernmentthatneitherofthesequestionscouldbeputtoaforeigngovernmentwithanyregardtothedignityandcharacteroftheBritishCrownandtheBritishNation。HerMajesty\'sGovernmentarethesoleguardiansoftheirownhonor。Theycannotadmitthattheyhaveactedwithbadfaithinmaintainingtheneutralitytheyprofessed。ThelawofficersoftheCrownmustbeheldtobebetterinterpretersofaBritishstatutethananyforeignGovernmentcanbepresumedtobe……\"Heconsentedtoacommission,butdrewthelineatanyprobingofEngland\'sgoodfaith。 Wepersisted。In1868,LordWestbury,LordHighChancellor,declaredintheHouseofLordsthat\"theanimuswithwhichtheneutralpowersactedwastheonlytruecriterion。\" Thisisthetestwhichweaskedshouldbeapplied。WequotedBritishremarksaboutus,Gladstone,forexample,asevidenceofunfriendlyandinsincereanimusonthepartofthoseattheheadoftheBritishGovernment。 Replyingtoourpressingthepointofanimus,theBritishGovernmentreassertedRussell\'srefusaltorecognizeorentertainanyquestionofEngland\'sgoodfaith:\"first,becauseitwouldbeinconsistentwiththeself-respectwhicheverygovernmentisboundtofeel……\"InMr。JohnBassettMoore\'sHistoryofInternationalArbitration,Vol。I,pages496-497,orinpapersrelatingtotheTreatyofWashington,Vol。II,GenevaArbitration,page204……PartI,IntroductoryStatement,youwillfindthewholeofthis。WhatIgiveheresufficestoshowthepositionweourselvesandEnglandtookabouttheAlabamacase。Shebackeddown。Hergoodfaithwasputinissue,andshepaidourdirectclaims。Sheate\"humblepie。\"WehadtoeathumblepieintheaffairoftheTrent。Ithasbeendonesince。Itisnotpleasant,butitmaybebeneficial。 SuchisthestoryofthetrueEnglandandthetrueAmericain1861;thedividedNorthwithwhichLincolnhadtodeal,thedividedEnglandwhereourmanyfriendscoulddolittletocheckourinfluentialenemies,untilLincolncameoutplainlyagainstslavery。Ihavehadtocompressmuch,butIhaveomittednothingmaterial,ofwhichIamaware。ThefactswouldembarrassthosewhodeterminetoassertthatEnglandwasourundividedenemyduringourCivilWar,iffactseverembarrassedacomplex。ThoseafflictedwiththecomplexcankeeptheireyesupontheAlabamaandtheLondonTimes,andavertthemfromBright,andCobden,andthecotton-spinners,andtheUnionandEmancipationSociety,andQueenVictoria。Buttoanyreaderofthiswhosecomplexisnotincurable,orwhohasnone,Iwillputthisquestion:WhatopinionofthebrainsofanyEnglishmanwouldyouhaveifheformedhisideaoftheUnitedStatesexclusivelyfromthenewspapersofWilliamRandolphHearst。 ChapterXIII:BenefitsForgotInournextwar,ourwarwithSpainin1898,EnglandsavedusfromGermany。Shediditfromfirsttolast;herpositionwasunmistakable,andeverydeterminingactofherswasasourfriend。TheservicethatsherenderedusinwarningGermanytokeepoutofit,wasevengreaterthanhersuggestionofourMonroedoctrinein1823;forin1823sheputusonguardagainstmeditated,butremote,assaultfromEurope,whilein1898 sheactivelyavertedaseriousandimminentperil。AsthethreatofherfleethadobstructedNapoleonin1803,andtheHolyAlliancein1823,soin1898itblockedtheKaiser。Lateinthatyear,whenitwasallover,thedisappointedandbaffledKaiserwrotetoafriendofJosephChamberlain,\"IfIhadhadalargerfleetIwouldhavetakenUncleSambythescruffoftheneck。\"Haveyoueverreadwhatourownfleetwaslikeinthosedays?OrourArmy?LuckyitwasforusthatwehadtodealonlywithSpain。AndeventheSpanishfleetwouldhavebeenamuchgraveropponentinManilaBay,butforLordCromer。OnitswayfromSpainthroughtheSuezCanalaformidablepartofSpain\'snavystoppedtocoalatPortSaid。Thereisalawaboutthecoalingofbelligerentwarshipsinneutralports。LordCromercouldhaveconstruedthatlawjustaswellagainstus。HisconstructionbroughtitaboutthatthoseSpanishshipscouldn\'tgettoManilaBayintimetotakepartagainstAdmiralDewey。 TheSpanishWarrevealedthatourNavycouldhiteighttimesoutofahundred,andwasinotherrespectsunpreparedandutterlyinadequatetocopewithafirst-classpower。Inconsequenceofthis,andthecriticismsofourNavyDepartment,whichAdmiralSimsasayoungmanhadwritten,Roosevelttookthestepshedidinhisfirstterm。ThreeticklishtimesinthatSpanishWarEnglandstoodourfriendagainstGermany。Whenitbrokeout,GermanagentsapproachedMr。Balfour,proposingthatEnglandjoininaEuropeancombinationinSpain\'sfavor。Mr。Balfour\'srefusaliscommonknowledge,excepttothemonomaniacwithhiscomplex。NextcametheactionofLordCromer,andfinallythatmomentinManilaBaywhenEnglandtookherstandbyoursideandGermanysawshewouldhavetofightusboth,ifshefoughtatall。 IfyousawanyGermanorFrenchpapersatthetimeofourtroubleswithSpain,yousawundisguisedhostility。IfyouhavetalkedwithanyAmericanwhowasinParisduringthatAprilof1898,yourimpressionwillbemorevividstill。TherewasanoutburstofEuropeanhateforus。 Germany,France,andAustriaalllookedexpectantlytoEngland——andEnglanddisappointedtheirexpectations。TheBritishPresswasasmuchforusastheFrenchandGermanpresswerehostile;theLondonSpectatorsaid:\"Wearenot,andwedonotpretendtobe,anagreeablepeople,butwhenthereistroubleinthefamily,weknowwhereourheartsare。\" Inthosesamedays(somewhereaboutthethirdweekinApril,1898),attheBritishEmbassyinWashington,occurredasceneofsignificanceandinterest,whichhasprobablybeentoldlessoftenthanthatinterviewbetweenMr。BalfourandtheKaiser\'semissaryinLondon。TheBritishAmbassadorwasstandingathiswindow,lookingoutattheGermanEmbassy,acrossthestreet。Withhimwasamemberofhisdiplomatichousehold。Thetwowatchedwhatwashappening。Onebyone,therepresentativesofvariousEuropeannationswereenteringthedooroftheGermanEmbassy。 \"Doyouseethem?\"saidtheAmbassador\'scompanion;\"they\'llallbeintheresoon。There。That\'sthelastofthem。\"\"Ididn\'tnoticetheFrenchAmbassador。\"\"Yes,he\'sgonein,too。\"\"I\'msurprisedatthat。I\'msorryforthat。Ididn\'tthinkhewouldbeoneofthem,\"saidtheBritishambassador。\"Now,I\'lltellyouwhat。They\'llallbecomingoverhereinalittlewhile。Iwantyoutowaitandbepresent。\"Shortlythispredictionwasverified。OverfromtheGermanEmbassycamethewholecompanyonavisittotheBritishAmbassador,thathemightaddhissignaturetoadocumenttowhichtheyhadaffixedtheirs。Hereaditquietly。Wemayeasilyimagineitspurport,sinceweknowofthemeditatedEuropeancoalitionagainstusatshetimeofourwarwithSpain。ThentheBritishAmbassadorremarked:\"IhavenoordersfrommyGovernmenttosignanysuchdocumentasthat。AndifIdidhave,Ishouldresignmypostratherthansignit。\"Apause:Thecompanyfellsilent。 \"ThenwhatwillyourExcellencydo?\"inquiredonevisitor。\"Ifyouwillalldomethehonorofcomingbackto-morrow,Ishallhaveanotherdocumentreadywhichallofuscansign。\"ThatiswhathappenedtotheEuropeancoalitionatthisend。 Somefewyearslater,thatBritishAmbassadorcametodie;andtotheBritishEmbassyrepairedTheodoreRoosevelt。\"Woulditbepossibleforustoarrange,\"hesaid,\"afuneralmorehonoredandmarkedthantheUnitedStateshaseveraccordedtoanyonenotacitizen?Ishouldlikeit。 And,\"hesuddenlyadded,shakinghisfistattheGermanEmbassyovertheway,\"I\'dliketogrindalltheirnosesinthedirt。\" ConfrontedwiththeawkwardfactthatBritainwasalmostunanimouslywithus,fromMr。BalfourdownthroughtheBritishpresstotheBritishpeople,thosenationswhoseambassadorshadpaidsounsuccessfulacallattheBritishEmbassyhadtogiveitup。Theircoalitionnevercameoff。Suchathingcouldn\'tcomeoffwithoutEngland,andEnglandsaidNo。 Next,LordCromer,atPortSaid,stretchedoutthearmofinternationallaw,andlaiditupontheSpanishfleet。Belligerentsmaylegallytakecoalenoughatneutralportstoreachtheirnearest\"homeport。\"ThatSpanishfleetwasonitswayfromSpaintoManilathroughtheSuezCanal。 Itcouldhavereachedthere,hadLordCromeralloweditcoalenoughtomakethenearesthomeportaheadofit——Manila。Buttherewasahomeportbehindit,stillnearer,namely,Barcelona。HeletittakecoalenoughtogetbacktoBarcelona。Thus,Englandagainsteppedin。 ThethirdtimewasinManilaBayitself,afterDewey\'svictory,andwhilehewasinoccupationoftheplace。OncemoretheKaisertriedit,notdiscouragedbyhisfailurewithMr。BalfourandtheBritishGovernment。 HedesiredthePhilippinesforhimself;wehadnotyetacquiredthem;wewerepolicingthem,superintendingtheharbor,administeringwhateverhadfallentousfromSpain\'sdefeat。TheKaisersent,underAdmiralDiedrich,asquadronstrongerthanDewey\'s。 DeweyindicatedwheretheGermanwastoanchor。\"IamherebytheorderofhisMajestytheGermanEmperor,\"saidDiedrich,andchosehisownplacetoanchor。HemadeitquiteplaininotherwaysthathewastakingnoordersfromAmerica。Dewey,soreporthasit,atlasttoldhimthat\"ifhewantedafighthecouldhaveitatthedropofthehat。\"ThenitwasthattheGermancalledontheEnglishAdmiral,Chichester,whowaslikewiseathand,anchoredinManilaBay。\"Whatwouldyoudo,\"inquiredDiedrich,\"intheeventoftroublebetweenAdmiralDeweyandmyself?\" \"ThatisasecretknownonlytoAdmiralDeweyandme,\"saidtheEnglishman。Plainertalkcouldhardlybe。Diedrich,thoughaGerman,understoodit。Hereturnedtohisflagship。WhathesawnextmorningwastheBritishcruiserinanewplace,interposedbetweenDeweyandhimself。 Oncemore,heunderstood;andheandhissquadronsailedoff;anditwassoonafterthisincidentthatthedisappointedKaiserwrotethat,ifonlyhisfleethadbeenlarger,hewouldhavetakenusbythescruffoftheneck。 TellthesethingstothenextmanyouheartalkingaboutGeorgeIIIortheAlabama。Youmaymeethiminfrontofabulletinboard,orinadrawing-room。Heisamongstuseverywhere,inthestreetandinthehouse。Hemaybeapaidpropagandistormerelyasillyignorantpuppet。 Butwhateverheis,hewillnotfindmuchtosayinresponse,unlessitbevain,sterilechatter。Truecome-backwillfailhimasitfailedthatmanbythebulletinboardwhoasked,\"WhatisEnglanddoing,anyhow?\"andhisneighboranswered,\"Herfleet\'skeepingtheKaiseroutofyourfrontyard。\" ChapterXIV:EnglandtheSlacker! WhatdidEnglanddointhewar,anyhow? Letushavethesedisregardedfactsalso。FromtheshelvesofhistoryI havepulleddownanddisplayedthefactswhichourschooltextbookshavesuppressed;IhavetoldtheeventswhereinEnglandhasstoodourtimelyfriendthroughoutacentury;eventswhichourimplantedprejudiceleadsustoignore,ortoforget;eventswhichshowthatanyonewhosaysEnglandisourhereditaryenemymightjustaboutaswellsaytwicetwoisfive。 WhatdidEnglanddointhewar,anyhow? Theygoonaskingit。Thepropagandists,thepromptedpuppets,thepaidparrotsofthepress,goonsayingtheseeightsenselesswordsbecausetheyareeasytosay,sincethemanwhocananswerthemisgenerallynotthere:toeverymanwhoisaresponsiblemasteroffactswehave——well,howmany?——irresponsibleshoutersinthiscountry。Whatisyourexperience?Howoftenisityourluck——asitwasmineinfrontofthebulletinboard——toseeafraudorafoolpromptlyandsatisfactorilyputinhisplace?Makeupyourmindthatwhereveryouhearanypersonwhatsoever,maleorfemale,cleanorunclean,dressedinjeans,ordressedinsilksandlaces,inquirewhatEngland\"didinthewar,anyhow? \"suchpersoneithershirksknowledge,orelseisafraudorafool。TellthemwhatthemansaidinthestreetabouttheKaiserandourfrontyard,butdon\'tstopthere。TellthemthatinMay,1918,Englandwassendingmenoffiftyandboysofeighteenandahalftothefront;thatinAugust,1918,everythirdmaleavailablebetweenthoseyearswasfighting,thateightandahalfmillionmenforarmyandnavywereraisedbytheBritishEmpire,ofwhichIreland\'ssharewastwoandthreetenthspercent,Walesthreeandseventenths,Scotland\'seightandthreetenths,andEngland\'smorethansixtypercent;andthatthis,takenproportionatelytoourgreaterpopulationwouldhaveamountedtoaboutthirteenmillionAmericans,Whenthewarstarted,theBritishEmpiremaintainedthreesoldiersoutofevery2600ofthepopulation;herentirearmy,regularestablishment,reserveandterritorialforces,amountedtosevenhundredthousandmen。Ourcasualtieswerethreehundredandtwenty-twothousand,onehundredandeighty-two。ThecasualtiesintheBritishArmywerethreemillion,forty-ninethousand,ninehundredandseventy-one——amillionmorethanwesent——andofthesesixhundredandfifty-eightthousand,sevenhundredandfour,werekilled。OfherNavy,thirty-threethousandthreehundredandsixty-onewerekilled,sixthousandfourhundredandfivewoundedandmissing;ofhermerchantmarinefourteenthousandsixhundredandsixty-onewerekilled;atotalofforty-eightthousandkilled——ortenpercentofallinactiveservice。 Someofthoseofthemerchantmarinewhoescapeddrowningthroughtorpedoesandmineswentbacktoseaafterbeingtorpedoedfive,six,andseventimes。 WhatdidEnglanddointhewar,anyhow? Throughfourfrightfulyearsshefoughtwithsplendor,shesufferedwithsplendor,sheheldonwithsplendor。ThesecondbattleofYpresisbutonedropintheseaofherepiccourage;yetitwouldfillfullacantoofapoem。SospentwasBritain\'ssingleline,sowornandthin,thatafterallthemenavailablewerebrought,gapsremained。Nomoreammunitionwascomingtothesemen,thelastroundshadbeenserved。Wetthrough,heavywithmud,theywereshelledforthreedaystopreventsleep。Manycameatlasttosleepstanding;andbeingjoggedawakewhenofficersofthelinepasseddownthetrenches,wouldsaluteandinstantlybeasleepagain。Onthefourthday,withtheKaisercometowatchthemcrumble,threelinesofHuns,waveafterwaveofGermany\'spickedtroops,fellandbrokeuponthissinglelineofBritish——anditheld。TheKaiser,hadheknownoftheexhaustedammunitionandthemoundeddead,couldhavewalkedunarmedtotheChannel。Butheneverknew。 SurgeonsbeingscantierthanmenatYpres,onewithacompoundfractureofthethighhadhimselfproppedup,andthusalldayworkedonthewoundedatthefront。Heknewitmeantdeathforhim。Thedayover,heletthemcarryhimtotherear,andthere,fromblood-poisoning,hedied。 Thusthroughfourfrightfulyears,theBritishmettheirdutyandtheirdeath。 ThereisthegreatstoryofthelittlepennysteamersoftheThames——astorylostamidthegiganticwhole。Whowilltellitright?Whowillmakethisdropofperfectvalorshineinproseorverseforfutureeyestosee?ImagineaHobokenferryboat,becausehercountryneededher,startingforSanFranciscoaroundCapeHorn,andgettingthere。SometenorelevenpennysteamersundertheirownsteamstartedfromtheThamesdowntheChannel,acrosstheBayofBiscay,pastGibraltar,andthroughthesubmarinedMediterraneanfortheRiverTigris。BoatsofshallowdraughtwereurgentlyneededontheRiverTigris。Fourorfivereachedtheirdestination。Wherearetherest? WhatdidEnglanddointhewar,anyhow? During1917-1918Britain\'sarmiesheldtheenemyinthreecontinentsandonsixfronts,andcooperatedwithherAlliesontwomorefronts。Herdead,thosesixhundredandfifty-eightthousanddead,laybytheTigris,theZambesi,theAEgean,andacrosstheworldtoFlanders\'fields。BetweenMarch21standApril17th,1918,theHunsintheirdriveused127 divisions,andofthese102wereconcentratedagainsttheBritish。ThatwasinFlanders。Britain,atthesametimeshewasfightinginFlanders,hadalsoatvarioustimessharedinthefightinginRussia,Kiaochau,NewGuinea,Samoa,Mesopotamia,Palestine,Egypt,theSudan,Cameroons,Togoland,EastAfrica,SouthWestAfrica,Saloniki,Aden,Persia,andthenorthwestfrontierofIndia。BritainclearedtwelvehundredthousandsquaremilesoftheenemyinGermancolonies。WhilefightinginMesopotamia,hersoldierswerereconstructingatthesametime。Theyreclaimedandcultivatedmorethan1100squaremilesoflandthere,whichproducedinconsequenceenoughfoodtosavetwomilliontonsofshippingannuallyfortheAllies。InPalestineandMesopotamiaalone,Britishtroopsin1917took23,590prisoners。In1918,inPalestinefromSeptember18thtoOctober7th,theytook79,000prisoners。 WhatdidEnglanddointhewar,anyhow? With\"French\'scontemptiblelittlearmy\"shesavedFranceatthestart—— butI\'llskipthat——excepttomentionthatonedivisionlost10,000outof12,000men,and350outof400officers。AtZeebruggeandOstend——donotforgettheVindictive——shedealtwithsubmarinesinAprilandMay,1918——butI\'llskipthat;Icannotsetdownallthatshedid,eitheratthestart,ornearingthefinish,oratanyparticularmomentduringthosefouryearsandthreemonthsthatshewashelpingtoholdGermanyofffromthethroatoftheworld;itwouldmakeaverythickbook。ButI amgivingyouenough,Ithink,wherewithtoanswertheignorant,andthefrauds,andthefools。Tellthemthatfrom1916to1918GreatBritainincreasedhertillageareabyfourmillionacres:wheat39percent,barley11,oats35,potatoes50——inspiteoftheshortageoflabor。Sheusedwoundedsoldiers,collegeboysandgirls,boyscouts,refugees,andsheproducedthebiggestgraincropinfiftyyears。Shestartedfourteenhundredthousandnewwargardens;mostofthosewhoworkedthemhadworkedalreadyalongdayinamunitionfactory。Thesedevotedworkersincreasedthepotatocropin1917bythreemilliontons——andthusreleasedBritishprovisionshipstocarryoursoldiersacross。InthatBostonspeechwhichoneofmycorrespondentsreferredto,ourSecretaryoftheNavydidnotmentionthis。Mentionityourself。Andtellthemabouttheboyscoutsandthewomen。Fifteenthousandoftheboyscoutsjoinedthecolors,andoverfiftythousandoftheyoungermembersservedinvariouswaysathome。 OfEngland\'swomensevenmillionwereengagedinworkonmunitionsandothernecessariesandapparatusofwar。TheterribletestofthatsecondbattleofYpres,towhichIhavemadebriefallusionabove,wroughtanindustrialrevolutioninthemanufactureofshells。Theenergyofproductionroseataratewhichmaybeindicatedbytwoorthreecomparisons:In1917asmanyheavyhowitzershellswereturnedoutinasingledayasinthewholefirstyearofthewar,asmanymediumshellsinfivedays,andasmanyfield-gunshellsineightdays。Orinotherwords,45timesasmanyfield-gunshells,73timesasmanymedium,and365timesasmanyheavyhowitzershells,wereturnedoutin1917asinthefirstyearofthewar。Theseshellsweremanufacturedinbuildingstotalingfifteenmilesinlength,fortyfeetinbreadth,withmorethantenthousandmachinetoolsdrivenbyseventeenmilesofshaftingwithanenergyoftwenty-fivethousandhorse-powerandaweeklyoutputofovertenthousandtons\'weightofprojectiles——allthislargelyworkedbythewomenofEngland。Whilethefleethadincreaseditspersonnelfrom136,000toabout400,000,and2,000,000menbyJuly,1915,hadvoluntarilyenlistedinthearmybeforeEnglandgaveupherbirthrightandacceptedcompulsoryservice,thewomenofEnglandlefttheirordinarylivestofabricatethenecessariesofwar。Theyworkedathomewhiletheirhusbands,brothers,andsonsfoughtanddiedonsixbattlefrontsabroad——sixhundredandfifty-eightthousanddied,remember;doyourememberthenumberofAmericanskilledinaction?——lessthanthirty-sixthousand;——thoseEnglishwomenworkedon,sevenmillionsofthematleast,onmilkcarts,motor-busses,elevators,steamengines,andinmakingammunition。Neverbeforehadanywomanworkedonmorethan150ofthe500differentprocessesthatgotothemakingofmunitions。TheynowhandledT。N。T。,andfulminateofmercury,moredeadlystill;helpedbuildguns,guncarriages,andthree-and-a-halftonarmycannons;workedoverheadtravelingcranesformovingtheboilersofbattleships:turnedlathes,madeeverypartofanaeroplane。Andwhowerethesesevenmillionwomen?Theeldestdaughterofadukeandthedaughterofageneralwondistinctioninadvancedmunitionwork。TheonlydaughterofanoldArmyfamilybrokedownafterayear\'sworkinabasehospitalinFrance,wasorderedsixmonths\'restathome,butaftertwomonthsenteredamunitionfactoryasanordinaryemployeeandafterninemonths\'workhadlostbutfiveminutesworkingtime。ThemotherofsevenenlistedsonswentintomunitionsnottobebehindtheminservingEngland,andoneofthemwrotehershewasprobablykillingmoreGermansthananyofthefamily。Thestewardessofatorpedoedpassengershipwasamongthefewsurvivors。 Reachingland,shegotajobatacapstanlathe。ThosewerethesevenmillionwomenofEngland——daughtersofdukes,torpedoedstewardesses,andeverythingbetween。 Sevenhundredthousandofthesewereengagedonmunitionworkproper。 Theydidfrom60to70percentofallthemachineworkonshells,fuses,andtrenchwarfaresupplies,and1450ofthemweretrainedmechanicstotheRoyalFlyingCorps。Theywereemployeduponpracticallyeveryoperationinfactory,infoundry,inlaboratory,andchemicalworks,ofwhichtheywerephysicallycapable;inmakingofgauges,forgingbillets,makingfuses,cartridges,bullets——\"lookwhattheycando,\"saidaforeman,\"ladiesfromhomeswheretheysataboutandwerewaitedupon。\" Theyalsomadeopticalglass;drilledandtappedintheshipyards; renewedelectricwiresandfittings,woundarmatures;lacqueredguardsforlampsandradiatorfronts;repairedjunctionandsectionboxes,firecontrolinstruments,automaticsearchlights。\"Wecanhardlybelieveoureyes,\"saidanotherforeman,\"whenweseetheheavystuffbroughttoandfromtheshopsinmotorlorriesdrivenbygirls。Beforethewaritwasallcartedbyhorsesandmen。Thegirlsdothejoballright,though,andtheonlythingtheyevercomplainaboutisthattheirtoesgetcold。\" Theyworkedwithouthesitationfromtwelvetofourteenhoursaday,oranight,forsevendaysaweek,andwiththevoluntarysacrificeofpublicholidays。 Thatisnotall,ornearlyall,thatthewomenofEnglanddid——Iskiptheirwelfarework,recreationwork,nursing——butitisenoughwherewithtoanswertheignorant,orthefraud,orthefool。 WhatdidEnglanddointhewar,anyhow? OnAugust8,1914,LordKitcheneraskedfor100,000volunteers。Hehadthemwithinfourteendays。InthefirstweekofSeptember170,000menenrolled,30,000inasingleday。Elevenmonthslater,twomillionhadenlisted。Tenmonthslater,fivemillionandforty-onethousandhadvoluntarilyenrolledintheArmyandNavy。 In1914BritainhadinherRoyalNavalAirService64aeroplanesand800 airmen。In1917shehadmanythousandaeroplanesand42,000airmen。InherRoyalFlyingCorpsshehadin1914,66planesand100men;in1917,severalthousandplanesandmenbytensofthousands。Inthefirstninemonthsof1917Britishairmenbroughtdown876enemymachinesanddrovedown759outofcontrol。FromJuly,1917,toJune,1918,4102enemymachinesweredestroyedorbroughtdownwithalossof1213machines。 BesidesfinancingherownwarcostsshehadbyOctober,1917,loanedeighthundredmilliondollarstotheDominionsandfivebillionfivehundredmilliontotheAllies。Sheraisedfivebillioninthirtydays。Inthefirsteightmonthsof1918shecontributedtothevariousformsofwarloanattheaveragerateofonehundredandtwenty-fourmillion,eighthundredthousandaweek。 Isthatenough?EnoughtoshowwhatEnglanddidintheWar?No,itisnotenoughforsuchpeopleascontinuetoaskwhatshedid。Nothingwouldsufficethesepersons。DuringtheearlierstagesoftheWaritwaspossiblethatthequestioncouldbeaskedhonestly——thoughneverintelligently——becausethefactsandfigureswerenotatthattimealwaysaccessible。Theywerestillpilingup,theywerescatteredabout,mentionofthemwasincidentalandfugitive,theycouldbemissedbyanybodywhowasnotdiligentlyalerttofindthem。To-dayitisquiteotherwise。Thefactsandfigureshavebeencompiled,arranged,publishedinaccessibleandconvenientform;thereforeto-day,themanorwomanwhopersistsinaskingwhatEnglanddidinthewarisnothonestbutdishonestormentallyspotted,anddoesnotwanttobeanswered。Theydon\'twanttoknow。Thequestionismerelyacamouflageoftheirspite,andwereeveryitemgivenofthegiganticandmagnificentcontributionthatEnglandmadetothedefeatoftheKaiserandallhisworks,itwouldnotstoptheirevilmouths。NotforthemamIheresettingforthapartofwhatEnglanddid;itisfortheconvenienceofthehonestAmerican,whodoeswanttoknow,thatmycollectionoffactsismadefromthevarioussourceswhichhemaynothavethetimeorthemeanstolookupforhimself。ForhisbenefitIaddsomeparticularsconcerningtheBritishNavywhichkepttheKaiseroutofourfrontyard。 AdmiralMahansaidinhisbook——andhewasanAmericanofwhoseknowledgeandwisdomCongressseemstohaveknownnothingandcaredless——\"WhydoEnglishinnatepoliticalconceptionsofpopularrepresentativegovernment,ofthebalanceoflawandliberty,prevailinNorthAmericafromtheArcticCircletotheGulfofMexico,fromtheAtlantictothePacific?BecausethecommandoftheseaatthedecisiveerabelongedtoGreatBritain。\"WehaveseenthatthedecisiveerawaswhenNapoleon\'smouthwateredforLouisiana,andwhenEnglandtookherstandbehindtheMonroeDoctrine。 AdmiralSimssaidinthesecondinstallmentofhisnarrativeTheVictoryatSea,publishedinTheWorld\'sWorkforOctober,1919,atpage619: \"……Letussupposeforamomentthatanearthquake,orsomeothergreatnaturaldisturbance,hadengulfedtheBritishfleetatScapaFlow。TheworldwouldthenhavebeenatGermany\'smercyandallthedestroyerstheAlliescouldhaveputupontheseawouldhaveavailedthemnothing,fortheGermanbattleshipsandbattlecruiserscouldhavesunkthemordriventhemintotheirports。ThenAlliedcommercewouldhavebeentheprey,notonlyofthesubmarines,whichcouldhaveoperatedwiththeutmostfreedom,butoftheGermansurfacecraftaswell。InafewweekstheBritishfoodsupplieswouldhavebeenexhausted。TherewouldhavebeenanearlyendtothesoldiersandmunitionswhichBritainwasconstantlysendingtoFrance。TheUnitedStatescouldhavesentnoforcestotheWesternfront,andtheresultwouldhavebeenthesurrenderwhichtheAlliesthemselves,inthespringof1917,regardedasanotremotepossibility。AmericawouldthenhavebeencompelledtofacetheGermanpoweralone,andtofaceitlongbeforewehadhadanopportunitytoassembleourresourcesandequipourarmies。Theworldwaspreservedfromallthesecalamitiesbecausethedestroyerandtheconvoysolvedtheproblemofthesubmarines,andbecausebackoftheseagenciesofvictorylayAdmiralBeatty\'ssquadrons,holdingatarm\'slengththeGermansurfaceshipswhilethesecomparativelyfragilecraftweresavingthelibertiesoftheworld。\" Yes。TheHighSeasFleetofGermany,costingheronebillionfivehundredmilliondollars,wasbottledup。FivemillionfivehundredthousandtonsofGermanshippingandonemilliontonsofAustrianshippingweredrivenofftheseasorcaptured;overseatradeandoverseacolonieswerecutoff。TwomillionoverseaHunsoffightingagewerehinderedfromjoiningtheenemy。OceancommerceandcommunicationwerestoppedfortheHunsandsecuredtotheAllies。In1916,2100minesweresweptupand89minesweeperslost。Theseminesweepersandpatrolboatsnumbered12in1914,and3300by1918。TopatroltheseasBritishshipshadtosteameightmillionmilesinasinglemonth。Duringthefouryearsofthewartheytransportedoverseamorethanthirteenmillionmen(losingbut2700 throughenemyaction)aswellastransportingtwomillionhorsesandmules,fivehundredthousandvehicles,twenty-fivemilliontonsofexplosives,fifty-onemilliontonsofoilandfuel,onehundredandthirtymilliontonsoffoodandothermaterialsfortheuseoftheAllies。Inonemonththreehundredandfifty-fivethousandmenwerecarriedfromEnglandtoFrance。 ItwasafterourpresentSecretaryoftheNavy,inhisspeechinBostontowhichallusionhasbeenmade,hadgivenournavyallandtheBritishnavynoneofthecreditofconveyingoursoldiersoverseas,thatAdmiralSimsrepairedthesingularoblivionoftheSecretary。WeAmericansshouldknowthetruth,hesaid。Wehadnotbeentooaccuratelyinformed。Wedidnotseemtohavebeentoldbyanybody,forinstance,thatofthefivethousandanti-submarinecraftoperatingdayandnightintheinfestedwaters,wehad160,or3percent;thatofthemillionandahalftroopswhichhadgoneoverfromhereinafewmonths,GreatBritainbroughtovertwothirdsandescortedhalf。 \"IwouldlikeAmericanpaperstopayparticularattentiontothefactthatthereareabout5000anti-submarinecraftintheoceanto-day,cuttingoutmines,escortingtroopships,andmakingitpossibleforustogoaheadandwinthiswar。TheycandothisbecausetheBritishGrandFleetissopowerfulthattheGermanHighSeasFleethastostayathome。 TheBritishGrandFleetisthefoundationstoneofthecauseofthewholeoftheAllies。\" ThusAdmiralSims。 ThatispartofwhatEnglanddidinthewar。 Note——TheauthorexpressesthanksandacknowledgmenttoPearson\'sMagazineforpermissiontousethepassagesquotedfromthearticlesbyAdmiralSims。 ChapterXV:RudeBritannia,CrudeColumbiaItmayhavebeentenyearsago,itmayhavebeenfifteen——andjusthowlongitwasbeforethewarmakesnomatter——thatIreceivedaninvitationtojoinasocietyforthepromotionofmorefriendlyrelationsbetweentheUnitedStatesandEngland。 \"No,indeed,\"Isaidtomyself。 EvenasIreadthenote,hostilityroseinme。Refusalsprangtomylipsbeforemyreasonhadactedatall。IrememberedGeorgeIII。IrememberedtheCivilWar。Theancientgrudge,theanti-Englishcomplex,hadbeeninstantlysetfermentinginme。Nothingcouldbetterdiscloseitslurkingpersistencethanmyvirtuallyautomaticexclamation,\"No,indeed!\"IknewsomethingaboutEngland\'sfriendlyacts,aboutVenezuela,andManilaBay,andEdmundBurke,andJohnBright,andtheQueen,andtheLancashirecottonspinners。Andmorethanthishistoricknowledge,IknewlivingEnglishpeople,menandwomen,amongwhomIcounteddearandevenbelovedfriends。Iknewalso,justaswellasAdmiralMahanknew,andotherAmericansbythehundredsofthousandshaveknownandknowatthismoment,thatallthebestwehaveandare——law,ethics,loveofliberty—— allofitcamefromEngland,grewinEnglandfirst,ripenedfromtheseedofwhichwearemerelyonegreatharvest,plantedherebyEngland。AndyetIinstantlyexclaimed,\"No,indeed!\" Well,havingbeeninflictedwiththeanti-Englishcomplexmyself,I understanditallthebetterinothers,andambeggingthemtocounteractitasIhavedone。YouwillrecollectthatIsaidattheoutsetoftheseobservationsthat,asIsawit,ourprejudicewasfoundeduponthreecausesfairlyseparate,althoughtheyoftenmeltedtogether。WithtwoofthesecausesIhavenowdealt——theschoolhistories,andcertainactsandpoliciesofEngland\'sthroughoutourrelationswithher。Thethirdcause,Isaid,wascertaintraitsoftheEnglishandourselveswhichhaveproducedpersonalfriction。AnAmericandoesorsayssomethingwhichangersanEnglishman,whothereupongoesaboutthinkingandsaying,\"ThoseinsufferableYankees!\"AnEnglishmandoesorsayssomethingwhichangersanAmerican,whothereupongoesaboutthinkingandsaying,\"ToHellwithEngland!\"Eachmakesthewell-nighuniversal——butnonethelessperfectlyridiculous——blunderofdamningawholepeoplebecauseoneofthemhasrubbedhimthewrongway。Nothingcouldshowupmoreforciblyandvividlythishumanweaknessforgeneralizingfrominsufficientdata,thantheincidentinLondonstreetswhichIpromisedtotellyouinfullwhenweshouldreachthetimeforit。Thetimeisnow。 InahospitalatnogreatdistancefromSanFrancisco,awoundedAmericansoldiersaidtoonewhosatbesidehim,thatneverwouldhegotoEuropetofightanybodyagain——excepttheEnglish。Themhewouldliketofight; andtotheastonishedvisitorhetoldhisreason。He,itappeared,wasoneofourAmericanswhomarchedthroughLondonstreetsonthatdaywhentheeyesofLondonlookedforthefirsttimeupontheYankeesatlastarrivedtobearahandtoEnglandandherAllies。Fromthemobcameacertaintaunt:\"Yousillyass。\" Itwas,asyouwillobserve,anunflatteringinterpretationofournationalinitials,U。S。A。OfcourseitwasenoughtomakeaproperAmericandoughboyentirely\"hotunderthecollar。\"Tothisreadingofournationalinitialsournationalreadinessretortedinkindatanearlydate:A。E。F。meantAfterEnglandFailed。Butwhy,monthsandmonthsafterwards,wheneverythingwasover,didthatfoolishdoughboyinthehospitalhugthislonethingtohismemory?Itwastheactofanunthinkingfew。Didn\'thenoticewhattherestofLondonwasdoingthatday?Didn\'therememberthatsheflewtheUnionJackandtheStarsandStripestogetherfromeverysymbolicpinnacleofcreedandgovernmentthatroseabovehercontinentofstreetsanddwellingstothesky? Couldn\'thefeelthatEngland,hisoldenemyandoldmother,bowedandstrickenandstruggling,wasopeningherarmstohimwide?She\'sapersonwhohideshertearsevenfromherself;butitseemstomethat,withadropofimaginationandhalfadropofthought,hemighthavediscoveredayearandahalfafterafewstreetroughshadinsultedhim,thattheywerenotallEngland。Withtwodropsofthoughtitmightevenhaveultimatelystruckhimthatherewecame,late,verylate,indeed,onlyjustintime,fromacountryuntouched,unafflicted,unbombed,safe,becauseofEngland\'sships,totired,broken,bleedingEngland;andthatthesightofus,sojaunty,sofresh,soinnocentofsufferingandbereavement,shouldhavebeenforathoughtlessmomentgallingtounthinkingbrains? IamperfectlysurethatifsuchconsiderationsasthesewerelaidbeforeanyAmericansoldierwhostillsmartedunderthattauntinLondonstreets,hisgoodAmericansense,whichisourbestpossession,wouldgraspandacceptthethinginitstrueproportions。Hewouldn\'twanttoblotanEmpireoutbecauseahandfulofmuckerscalledhimnames。OfthisIamperfectlysure,becauseinParisstreetsitwasmyhappylotfourmonthsaftertheArmisticetotalkwithmanyAmericansoldiers,amongwhomsomefeltsoreabouttheFrench。NotoneofthesebutsawwithhisgoodAmericansense,directlyIpointedcertainfactsouttohim,thathishostilegeneralizationhadbeenunjust。But,toquotetheoft-quotedMr。Kipling,thatisanotherstory。 AnAmericanregimentjustarrivedinFrancewasencampedforpurposesoftrainingandexperiencenextaBritishregimentcomebackfromthefronttorest。Thestreetsofthetwocampswereadjacent,andtheTommieswalkedouttowatchtheYankeespeggingdowntheirtents。 \"Aw,\"theysaid,\"wotashymeyou\'vebroughtnobodyalongtotuckyouin。\" Theymadeothersimilarremarks;commentedunfavorablyuponthealignment;\"Youwereabitlateincoming,\"theysaid。Ofcourseourboyshadanswers,andtothesetheTommieshadfurtheranswers,andthisencounterofwitsverynaturallyledtoaresultwhichcouldnotpossiblyhavebeenhappier。Idon\'tknowwhattheTommiesexpectedtheYankeestodo。Isupposetheywereasignorantofournatureasweoftheirs,andthattheyentertainedpreconceivednotions。Theysuddenlyfoundthatwewere,onceagaintoquoteMr。Kipling,\"bachelorsinbarricksmostremarkablelike\"themselves。AnAmericanfirstsergeanthitaBritishfirstsergeant。Instantlyathousandmenweremilling。Forthirtyminutestheykeptatit。Warriorsreeledtogetherandfellandroseandgotitintheneckandthejawandtheeyeandthenose——andallthewhiletheBritishandAmericanofficers,splendidlydiscreet,sawnoneofit。 Britishsoldierswerecarriedbacktotheirstreets,stillfighting,bungedYankeesstaggeredeverywhere——butnotanofficersawanyofit。 Blackeyesthenextday,andothertokens,veryplainlyshowedwhohadbeenatthisparty。ThereafteramuchbetterfeelingprevailedbetweenTommiesandYanks。 AmorepeacefulcontactproducedexcellentconsequencesatanencampmentofAmericansinEngland。TheAmericanshadbroughtoveranidea,apparently,thattheEnglishwere\"easy。\"Theytrieditoninsundryways,butendedbythediscoverythat,whileengageduponthisenterprise,theyhadbeeninsundrywaysquitecompletely\"done\" themselves。ThisgavethemarespectfortheirEnglishcousinswhichtheyhadneverfeltbefore。 Hereisanothertale,similarinmoral。ThisoccurredatBrest,inFrance。IntheYhutsatanEnglishlady,oneofthehostesses。TohercameayoungAmericanmarinewithwhomshealreadyhadsomeacquaintance。 Thisledhimtoaskforheradvice。Hesaidtoherthatashispermissionwasofonlyseventy-twohours,hewantedtobeaseconomicalofhistimeashecouldandseeeverythingbestworthwhileforhimtoseeduringhisleave。Wouldshe,therefore,tellhimwhatthingsinPariswerethemostinterestingandinwhatorderhehadbesttakethem?Sherepliedwithanothersuggestion;whynot,shesaid,askforpermissionforEngland?