The German Chancellor, addressing the Reichstag Committee on Tuesday, admitted
that " deep discontent had seized hold of wide circles of the population." If it was influenced by the Western reverses, " it far exceeds justifiable limits " ; " the situation is grave, but we have no reason to be faint-hearted," for " the enemy's pertinacious attempts to break through will fail." Count ton Herding went on to repeat the old lie that Germany invaded Belgium in " self-defence," though she " transgressed the written law," and that " in all further fighting it was solely a question of our defence." German statesmen must surely be tired of muttering this false and stupid formula—a stale " chestnut " to which both Germans and their enemies pay no attention :-
" Have I not in a pitched battle heard
Loud gamma, neighing steeds, and trumpets' clang ? And do you tell me of a woman's tongue, That gives not half so great a blow to bear As will a chestnut in a farrmr's fire ? "
Count von Hertling's shrewish speech will assuredly bring cold comfort to his doleful countrymen.
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