Section 158. THE WARLIKE CHARACTER OF THE GERMANS.
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The Germans fight as a nation. Whatever[1] their birth[2] or (S. 10, N. 9) profession, all are trained[3] soldiers. The nation is the army; the army is the nation. Hence[4] they cannot be moved save at the bidding of some grand principle, and the stirring[5] of some soul-penetrating[6] and elevating sentiment; and yet they are as sensible[7] as any nation that they abandon comfort[8], domestic ease, monetary independence, everything[9] which (S. 3, N. 7) men (= man) love and live for, in[10] order to identify the nation and the army. But they are willing to pay the price. They count[11] hardihood of body and trained[12] courage of heart the noblest riches of a nation. They reckon[11] that national independence and national greatness are a thousand times more precious than gold and silver, and[13] that to die on the field of battle is better and happier than to rot[14] and crumble away in sybaritic ease. They[15] hold, too, that[16] the cause of liberty, and the free noble spirit engendered by the brotherhood of a nationality which affirms its oneness by noble acts[17], is blessed by God, and that He will give[18] victory to the armies who go forth to battle in (S. 3, N. 2) trust in[19] His name. No wonder[20] they fight and triumph[21].—Admiral Garbett.