Note 23 — Chapter XII · ANTWERP THE DAY AFTER ITS FALL

In his recent book, War and Culture—a work which I warmly recommend to all and sundry who wish to sound the depths of the socio-psychological labyrinths of the world war—Professor Gustaf F. Steffen gives the following quotation from the Swedish newspaper Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning of the 9th October, the day on which Antwerp fell:—

“In its first leading article in the number published the 1st inst., The Times states that it seems as if the noise made by the German batteries outside Antwerp were not commensurate with the importance of the operations. The Times goes on to say that they appear, in fact, not to be doing very much damage and it is very unlikely that the German Landwehr troops still in Belgium can achieve anything against the outer fortifications, seeing that the Belgian field army is so strong. Even if all the forts were destroyed, it was still doubtful whether the Germans would be able to take Antwerp, for the important factor in the defence of the city was not so much the forts as the field entrenchments.

“The Belgians were said to hold one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, they had at least 120,000 troops at their disposal and an open harbour, whilst opposed to them were only second line troops; their outer works were the newest and most formidable of all, and they knew that the French and British armies in the north of France were on the verge of victory and must come to their rescue.

“‘We do not therefore think that there is any need to worry about Antwerp,’ writes the paper in question (The Times). ‘Doubtless the graceful spires of the Antwerp churches will make the mouths of the Huns water; the city presents incomparable opportunities for the destructive side of German “Culture.” We can imagine the pretexts which will be gleefully invented for pumping petrol into the “Plantain” Museum. Every German regiment in Belgium seems to possess a special machine for squirting petrol into buildings and to include a squad of methodical incendiaries trained in the specific arts of the higher civilisation, as taught at the University of Berlin. Apparently, too, every German column has attached to it a number of mobilised cinematograph actors, who upon suitable occasions impersonate civilians firing on the soldiers.’”

This is a sample of British culture and of the “specific arts of the higher civilisation.” This is the sort of fare put before the neutral countries, especially America, by the English newspapers.