The Spectator

From The Spectator, 26 December 1914: We notice in criticisms of Sir James Barrie's new play Der Tag, that the author represents the German Emperor as hesitating till the last moment about consenting to the violation of Belgian territory. The assumption that the German Emperor wanted peace up to the end is not perhaps capable of disproof by written evidence (though there is a great weight of other evidence that he had long been with the war party), but the assumption that he did not approve of the invasion of Belgium as a military measure can be definitely disproved by written evidence.

Dear Brothers and Sisters: Happy Christmas! Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, is born for us, born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, fulfilling the ancient prophecies. The Virgin's name is Mary, the wife of Joseph. Humble people, full of hope in the goodness of God, are those who welcome Jesus and recognize him. And so the Holy Spirit enlightened the shepherds of Bethlehem, who hastened to the grotto and adored the Child. Then the Spirit led the elderly and humble couple Simeon and Anna into the temple of Jerusalem, and they recognized in Jesus the Messiah. Simeon exclaimed: "My eyes have seen your salvation, the salvation prepared by God in the sight of all peoples" (Lk 2:30). Yes, brothers and sisters, Jesus is the salvation for every person and for every people!

From The Spectator, 26 December 1914: [TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR"] SIR,—Two correspondents in your issue of December 12th, writing on recruiting, say: "Compel all bachelors." There was the same feeling in my son's Territorial battalion on the first request for volunteers—the married men excused themselves (they afterwards volunteered). But why should they be excused ? Have not married men more at stake and more to fight for than the single men ? It has surely been so in Belgium. There is no fair solution and nothing which will do away with specious excuses except Universal Service, which will fall equally on married and single, those with mothers and those without, those with business to attend to and these who have not, &c.

From ‘News of the Week’, The Spectator, 26 December 1914: It is true that the British lost several trenches to the enemy at the beginning of the week, but the greater part of them had been recaptured "at this of writing." It is quite possible that before our next issue—that is, in the present case, ten days hence—the French will have advanced in the region of Reims, and also that there will be progress to report near the coast, where the activity of the British flotilla continues to produce good results. It is, however, not much good to speculate. We must be content to feel that in Flanders we and our allies are holding our own and something more.

From ‘A Proud Moment for Unionists’, The Spectator, 19 December 1914: The plight of Belgium was none the less only one of the causes which made it imperative for Britain to take up arms. It is always agreeable when stating a case for oneself to emphasize one's most chivalrous motives. It is for this reason alone, so far as we can discover, that when an Englishman is asked to-day what reasons drove his country into war, he will say : " We were bound to protect Belgium." So we were; and if there had been no other reason we must have joined the issue with Germany.

From ‘Dreams of a Warless World’, The Spectator, 19 December 1914: In truth, there is only one way to stop war, and that is for some one Great Power first to disarm the whole world, and then to see to it that no one shall again take up arms. Universal tyranny may create universal peace. Nothing else will. We know, of course, all that can be said about that tyrant being an International Committee, but such an International Committee must be run by somebody, and it would soon become merely a tyrant under an alias. A superimposed peace and true freedom cannot keep house together.

From A Scandinavian League, The Spectator, 19 December 1914: THE meeting of the three Scandinavian Kings at Malmo is an event of more than momentary importance. According to the official statement, this meeting was arranged in order that the three Kings might confer upon the neutrality of their respective countries, especially in connexion with the interference with trade which results from the war. That such a Conference should take place on such a subject is eminently reasonable, and will certainly be welcomed. in this country, as it appears to have been throughout Scandinavia. As regards the interference with trade, of which all the three Scandinavian countries are reasonably complaining, our own view as a belligerent necessarily differs somewhat from their view as neutrals.

From News of the Week, The Spectator, 19 December 1914: A SMALL squadron of German cruisers made an attack on Hartlepool, Whitby, and Scarborough on Wednesday morning. It seems that the squadron consisted of at least three battle cruisers and two armoured cruisers. Hartlepool and Scarborough were shelled simultaneously for about half an hour shortly after eight o'clock. The bombardment of Whitby began at nine o'clock, and it is possible that one or more of the ships which took part in it had come from Scarborough, which is only fifteen miles distant. As soon as the presence of the German ships was reported a British patrolling squadron tried to cut them off. They then retired at full speed and succeeded in escaping in the mist.

From The Spare Bedroom, The Spectator, 12 December 1914: OUR national individuality has been threatened, with the result that all English institutions are at this moment specially dear to the Englishman. We are prepared to defend them from first to last—from the system of government to the spare bedroom. Indeed, though we may jestingly call the spare bedroom the least among our typically English institutions, it counts for a good deal in our national life. It has been instrumental in the development of the middle-class Englishman, and be, after all, is the typical Englishman. Among the bourgeoisies of Europe the English- man alone can have a friend to stay. He regards the power to dispense hospitality as a necessary part of his dignity.

From The New German Artillery, The Spectator, 12 December 1914: We shall have to wait a long time, we surmise, till the merits or demerits of the various new weapons are proved.Perhaps before judgment is delivered other new weapons will be introduced. The data are still very imperfect. We cannot say yet, for instance, whether the old-fashioned grenade will enjoy a revival in future wars owing to the fact that the out- flanking of one huge conscript array by another similar army is in many circumstances impossible. and that therefore the trenches of the two armies approach within a few yards of one another on a parallel front. At this moment, at all events, the rival armies in Flanders can easily throw hand-grenades across the narrow gap which separates them.