those justifications, "War is war," or
"Civilians fired on our troops."

Doctors, savants, officers, Bavarians, Saxons, and Prussians have
adopted the double excuse with a marvelous unity: they advance it in a
certain tone of voice. It is firmly embedded in what is left of their
consciences as firmly as the iron cross is riveted on their necks.

Besides, it was all planned, wished for, arranged in advance. German
frightfulness formed a part of the plan of campaign. It is enough to
read the manual called "Kriegesgebrauch in Landkriege" (Military
Usage in Landwarfare) to be very much edified. Every German officer
has had this manual in his hands since the days of peace. It comprised
his rules of warfare. It was a part of his war equipment, the same as
his field glasses and his staff-officer's card. And here is what he
reads on the very first page:

War carried on energetically can not be directed against the
inhabitants and fortified places of the hostile state alone;
it will endeavor, it ought to endeavor to _destroy equally
all the enemy's intellectual and material resources_.
Humanitarian considerations, that is, consideration for the
persons of individuals and for the sake of propriety, can
have no recognition unless the end and nature of the war
allow it.

And, a little farther on, he reads there:

Profound study of the history of war will make the officer
guard against exaggerated humanitarian concessions, will
teach him that war can not take place without certain
harshness, _that true humanity consists in proceeding
without tenderness_.

Farther along in that book, he reads:

All the methods invented by the technic of modern warfare,
the most perfected as well as the most dangerous, _those
which kill the greatest number at once, are permitted_.
These last are conducive to the quickest end of the war;
they are, if you consider matters carefully, the most humane
methods.... Prisoners may be killed in case of necessity if
there is no other means of guarding them properly.... The
presence of women, children, old men, the sick and the
wounded in a beseiged city can hasten the place's fall; in
consequence it would be very foolish of the beseiger to
renounce this advantage.... They will force the inhabitants
to furnish information concerning their army, military
resources and secrets