WHO ARE THE HUNS?

184 The Conduct of German Troops.
Paris to Tournai, writes a letter, in which he draws a veryengaging
picture of the German troops passing through this
city on their way towards Lille. (See also the testimony of Sven
Hedin, that of the Belgian Van Op den Bosch in the "Kôlnische
Volks-Zeitung," No. 1078, 13th November, 1914: "German
soldiers are as complaisant as possible," etc.)
Colonel Muller, of the Swiss Army, who accompanied the
German troops, writes as follows in the "Neue Zurcher Zeitung:"
"The fresh and joyous soldierly spirit, the splendid comradeship,
the decent behavior of the German soldiers in the
field, must make a strong appeal to every attentive observer.
Firm as a rock is the conviction and the faith of every man
in ultimate victory. Troops informed by such a spirit and
under the leadership of capable officers inspired by the highest
sense of duty, such as the German, are assured of performing the
most tremendous tasks. . . During my last days at the front,
in constant communication with the officers, my regard for
the soldierly thoroughness, for the high degree of education,
the sound conception of duty, the glowing love for the Fatherland,
and the amiable comradeship of the German officers' corps
was immeasurably increased. A true and noble attitude of
mind, and a spontaneous, soldierly gaiety soon enabled the
stranger-guest to feel at home, and caused his heart to beat
the more warmly."
Thus do objective critics estimate the qualities of the
German soldier.
Colonel Mùller has also something to say regarding the
behavior of the German soldiers towards the enemy, when on
the nth January he states that the inhabitants had declared
in his own hearing that the Germans had brought system
and order into the methods of supplying them with the necessities
of life, etc.
Even the Agence Havas reports on the 30th January:
"Several military doctors, who had been detained in St.
Quentin by the Germans, describe the condition of the city
under German rule. The spirit of the population is excellent.
With the exception of the usual war levy which the Germans
have imposed, there have been no violations of the rights of