And I assure you the Germans are not a bloodthirsty or a drunken or a barbarous people; but in every army there are fools and, what is worse, in every army there are brutes.

You are strangers; and if you passed along the road to-day some of our more ignorant men, seeing that you were not natives and suspecting your motives, might harm you.

There might be some stupid, angry common soldier, some over- zealous under officer--you understand me, do you not, gentlemen?
"So you will please remain here quietly, having nothing to do with any of our men who may seek to talk with you.

That last is important; for I may tell you that our secret-service people have already reported your presence, and they naturally are anxious to make a showing.
"At the end of one day--perhaps two--we shall be able, I think, to give you safe conduct back to Brussels.

And then I hope you will be able to speak a good word to the American public for our army." After this fashion of speaking I heard now from the lips of Major Renner what I subsequently heard fifty times from other army men, and likewise from high German civilians, of the common German attitude toward Belgium.