Raemaekers' Cartoon History of the War Volume I Part 12

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_SLOW ASPHYXIATION_

These men were lying struggling for breath and blue in the face. On examining the blood with the spectroscope and by other means, I ascertained that the blueness was not due to the presence of any abnormal pigment. There was nothing to account for the blueness (cyanosis) and struggle for air but the one fact that they were suffering from acute bronchitis, such as is caused by inhalation of an irritant gas. Their statements were that when in the trenches they had been overwhelmed by an irritant gas produced in front of the German trenches and carried toward them by a gentle breeze.

_Official Investigation by_ DR. J. S. HALDANE, F.R.S.

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"_Hullo! Potsdam? Did you thank your dear old G.o.d for this new success?_"

The Royal Highlanders of Montreal, 13th Battalion, and the 48th Highlanders, 15th Battalion, were more especially affected by the discharge. The Royal Highlanders, though considerably shaken, remained immovable on their ground. The 48th Highlanders, who no doubt received a more poisonous discharge, were for the moment dismayed, and, indeed, their trench, according to the testimony of very hardened soldiers, became intolerable.

The Battalion retired from the trench, but for a very short distance and for a very short time. In a few moments they were again their own men.

They advanced on and reoccupied the trenches which they had momentarily abandoned....

The sorely tried Battalion (the 13th) held on for a time in dug-outs, and, under cover of darkness, retired again to a new line being formed by reinforcements. The rearguard was under Lieut. Greenshields. But Major McCuaig remained to see that the wounded were removed. It was then, after having escaped a thousand deaths through the long battle of the night, that he was shot down and made a prisoner.

SIR MAX AITKEN, _in "Canada in Flanders."_

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"_THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI_"

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_ALL IS QUIET IN BELGIUM_

I asked General von Bissing if there was much need for this military tribunal (The Feld Gericht). I shall not forget his reply.

"We have a few serious cases," he said. "Occasionally there is a little sedition but for the most part it is only needle p.r.i.c.ks. They are quiet now. They know why," and, slowly shaking his head, von Bissing, who is known as the sternest disciplinarian in the entire German Army, smiled.

_From an interview given by the_ GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF BELGIUM _to_ EDWARD LYALL FOX, _New York Times, April, 1915._

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_Germany: "Gott strafe England! or I will do it myself"_

NOTICE!

Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or of any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.

IMPERIAL GERMAN EMBa.s.sY.

_Washington, D. C., April 22, 1915._ _Advertis.e.m.e.nt published in New York newspapers._

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"_Well, have you nearly done?_"

The Cunard liner _Lusitania_ was yesterday torpedoed by a German submarine and sank. The _Lusitania_ was naturally armed with guns.

Moreover, as is well know here, she had large quant.i.ties of war material in her cargo.

BERLIN OFFICIAL REPORT, _May 8, 1915._

This report is not correct. The _Lusitania_ was inspected before sailing, as is customary. No guns were found, mounted or unmounted, and the vessel sailed without any armament.

COLLECTOR PORT OF NEW YORK, _May 9, 1915._

The sinking of the British pa.s.senger steamer _Falaba_ by a German submarine on March 28, through which Leon C. Thrasher, an American citizen, was drowned; the attack on April 28 on the American vessel _Cushing_ by a German aeroplane; the torpedoing on May 1 of the American vessel _Gulflight_ by a German submarine as a result of which two or more American citizens met their death; and, finally, the torpedoing and sinking of the steamship _Lusitania_, const.i.tute a series of events which the Government of the United States has observed with growing concern, distress, and amazement.

FROM UNITED STATES NOTE TO GERMANY, _May 13, 1915._

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_THE LUSITANIA--HEROD'S NIGHTMARE_

"_Are they crying 'Mother'--or 'Murder'?_"

This represents not merely piracy, but piracy on a vaster scale of murder than old-time pirates ever practiced. This is the warfare which destroyed Louvain and Dinant and hundreds of men, women, and children in Belgium. It is a warfare against innocent men, women, and children traveling on the ocean, and our own fellow-countrymen and countrywomen, who are among the sufferers.