tened the existence of the monarchy. Also, all that
monarchy seemed to imply.

The Belgians, doubtless with memories of the past, despised and hated
the display of military. Consequently it was only with difficulty, and
in the face of popular opposition, that the Belgium Government had
succeeded with military plans for defense, but imperfectly carried out.
Herein, perhaps, we have the keynote to Belgium's desperate resistance
to the German invaders. In the light of the foregoing, it is easily
conceivable that the Germans represented to the Belgians the military
yoke. They were determined to have none of it, upon any overtures or
terms. But they relied on France and England for protection, when common
prudence should have made the mobilization of an up-to-date army of
500,000 men ready for the call to repel an invader on either of the
frontiers, instead of the practically helpless force of 110,000.

The German General Staff did not believe the Belgians intended to raise
a serious barrier in their path. But with the crisis, democratic Belgium
united in a rush to arms, which recalls similar action by the American
colonists at the Revolution. Every form of weapon was grasped, from old
muskets to pitchforks and shearing knives. It was remarked by a foreign
witness that in default of properly equipped armories, the Belgians
emptied the museums to confront the Germans with the strangest
assortment of antiquated military tools.

As testimony of Belgian feeling, the Labor party organ "Le Peuple"
issued the following statement: "Why do we, as irreconcilable
antimilitarists, cry 'Bravo!' from the bottom of our hearts to all those
who offer themselves for the defense of the country? Because it is not
only necessary to protect the hearths and homes, the women and the
children, but it is also necessary to protect at the price of our blood
the heritage of our ancient freedom. Go, then, sons of the workers, and
register your names as recruits. We will rather die for the idea of
progress and solidarity of humanity than live under a regime whose
brutal force and savage violence have wiped outright."

The Belgian General Staff, foreseeing dire consequences from the
invading hosts, warned all to maintain as peaceful an attitude as
possible. In spite of the efforts of Belgian officials, severe penalties
were inflicted on the citizens.

On Wednesday, August 12, 1914, a German cavalry screen, thrown in
advance of the main forces, came in