F. Colburn Adams - "An Outcast"

Mary Huston Gregory - "Checking the Waste"

Frederic Jesup Stimson - "Pirate Gold"

Edmond Holmes - "What Is and What Might Be"

Annual Bibliography of Commonwealth Literature 2007
This paper argues that discourses of love in Ghanaian market literature for youth offer a view into complex negotiations of agency and empowerment. Drawing on Deborah Durham's notion of youth as "social `shifters'" and Francis Nyamnjoh's conception of the "interconnectedness" of agency, I take Ghanaian market literature as one specific case of how African literature for youth foregrounds questions of continuity and change as African societies enter into increasingly complex global relations. In this literature for youth, received notions of love, often constructed out of impressions from American pop and hip hop music, carry new notions of agency that compete with existing "domesticated" forms. Authors like Ike Tandoh and Evelyn Tay employ discourses of love to offer youth alternative avenues for empowerment in a context of socio-economic disenfranchizement. In a creative process of "straddling", this writing both reveals and reproduces the contradictions that obtain in youth configurations of agency.

Current History, A Monthly Magazine

N >> New York Times >> Current History, A Monthly Magazine




This conversation preceded by a few minutes that in which the German
Chancellor, giddy at the sight of the abyss into which Germany was
falling, uttered these celebrated words: "Just for a word, NEUTRALITY,
a word which in war times has been so often disregarded; just for A
SCRAP OF PAPER, Great Britain is going to make war on a kindred
nation. At what price would that compact (neutrality) have been kept?
Has the British Government thought of that?" Sir Edward Goschen
replied that fear of consequences would hardly be regarded as an
excuse for breaking a solemn engagement. (Official report of the
British Ambassador in Berlin to his Government.)

Finally, the solemn avowal of the German Chancellor, during the
sitting of the Reichstag on Aug. 4, 1914, settles this question
definitely: "We are in a state of legitimate defense. NECESSITY KNOWS
NO LAW. Our troops have occupied Luxemburg and have perhaps already
penetrated into Belgium. This is against the law of nations."

The truth is that every step taken by Germany was a clear indication
of her intentions against Belgium. Her strategic railroads are
concentrated on the Belgian frontier, and her military writers, von
Bernhardi, von Schliefenbach, and von der Goltz, made no secret of her
plan to carry on her war by means of an invasion of Belgium's neutral
country. Events have shown how, long before the war, preparations had
been made to carry this plan into effect.

Dr. B. Dernburg says that the one-sidedness of the Belgian inclination
is indicated by the placing of all Belgian fortresses on the eastern
frontier. The distinguished statesman (apparently confused by the
ardor of discussion) has already in another article, published in The
Independent of Dec. 7, 1914, placed Antwerp at the mouth of the Rhine;
today he places Namur on the German frontier, whereas that fortress is
situated near the frontier of France. There are three fortresses in
Belgium--Antwerp, Liege, and Namur. Antwerp is in the north, Liege in
the east, and Namur in the south. Namur, being near the French
frontier, could menace Germany only in case the Germans should have
penetrated about one-third of Belgium. It is, in fact, a fortress
against France.

Nothing has been brought forward to show that, if Germany had not
invaded Belgium, France or England would have done so. The exact
contrary is clearly indicated by the documents.

Dr. B. Dernburg cites a decision of the Supreme Court of the United
States and attempts to apply it to the case of Germany's violation of
Belgian neutrality and to justify Germany by the law of necessity. The
example chosen (the Chinese question) does not involve massacres,
bombardments, nor the burning of towns. It is not an analogous case.
The following would be a closer analogy to Germany's action in regard
to Belgium: A man pretending that he has been attacked in the street
by a powerful enemy, claims that he is justified in killing an
innocent person, if by doing so he can gain an advantage over his
adversary.

It would be difficult for any one to produce a decision of the Supreme
Court justifying a crime on the plea that the perpetration of the
crime was advantageous to the culprit who committed it.

When a nation has to resort to such arguments to defend its actions it
must realize that its case is desperate.

Germany has converted smiling and peaceful Belgium into a land of
sorrow, of mourning, and of ruins. There is not a family that does not
mourn one of its dear ones. In the face of the indignation which has
aroused the world, Germany, today, endeavors to refute the accusation
which rises against her from so many tombs, and she endeavors to throw
upon the innocent the terrible responsibility of her own crimes.

It is not probable that this course of action will win back to Germany
the sympathy which she has lost throughout the world.

The foregoing documents show clearly that Belgium had made no
agreement with England for attacking Germany, nor even an agreement
for British military defense of Belgian neutrality.

[Having replied to the representations made in the German
indictment drawn by Dr. Dernburg, the Belgian authorities
proceeded to compile a pamphlet, the contents of which are
reproduced on the following pages, purporting to show from
original documents the manner of the German violation of
Belgium's neutralized territory.]

* * * * *

THE BIG AND THE GREAT

By WILLIAM ARCHER.

[From King Albert's Book.]

The Big and the Great
When they to History's judgment seat shall come,
Which will shine glorious in the eyes of men,
Huge Germany or heroic BELGIUM?
Which will be hailed Great, Wilhelm or ALBERT, then?

* * * * *

[The following title and article are reproduced from the
second pamphlet referred to in the letter from the Belgian
Legation at Washington to THE NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT
HISTORY, appearing on Page 1110.--EDITOR.]

[BELGIAN LEGATION ARTICLE NO. 2.]

"Why Belgium Was Devastated"

"As Recorded in Proclamations of the German Commanders in Belgium"

"_Necessity knows no law_."

--BETHMANN-HOLLWEG.

"_The wrong that we are committing we will endeavor to
repair as soon as our military goal has been reached._"

--BETHMANN-HOLLWEG.


EXTRACT FROM A PROCLAMATION TO THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY
OF LIEGE.

Aug. 22, 1914.

The inhabitants of the town of Andenne, after having declared their
peaceful intentions, have made a surprise attack on our troops.

It is with my consent that the Commander in Chief has ordered the
whole town to be burned and that about one hundred people have been
shot.

I bring this fact to the knowledge of the City of Liege, so that
citizens of Liege may realize the fate with which they are menaced if
they adopt a similar attitude.

The General Commanding in Chief.
(Signed) VON BUELOW.


NOTICE POSTED AT NAMUR, AUGUST THE 25TH, 1914.

(1) French and Belgian soldiers must be surrendered as prisoners of
war at the prison before 4 o'clock. _Citizens who do not obey will be
condemned to enforced labor for life in Germany._

_A rigorous inspection of houses will begin at 4 o'clock. Every
soldier found will be immediately shot._

(2) Arms, powder, dynamite, must be surrendered at 4 o'clock. Penalty:
death by shooting.

The citizens who know where a store of arms is located must inform the
Burgomaster, _under penalty of enforced labor for life_.

(3) Each street will be occupied by a German guard who will take ten
hostages in each street, whom they will keep in custody.

If any outrage is committed in the street, _the ten hostages will be
shot_.

(4) Doors must not be locked, and at night after 8 o'clock three
windows must be lighted in each house.

(5) It is forbidden to remain in the street after 8 o'clock. The
people of Namur must understand that there is no greater nor more
horrible crime than to endanger the existence of the city and the life
of its inhabitants by attacks upon the German Army.

The Commandant of the City.
(Signed) VON BUELOW.

Namur, 25th of August, 1914. (Imprimerie Chantraine.)


LETTER ADDRESSED ON AUG. 27, 1914, BY LIEUT. GEN. VON NIEBER TO THE
BURGOMASTER OF WAVRE.

On Aug. 22, 1914, the General commanding the Second Army, Herr von
Buelow, imposed upon the City of Wavre a war levy of three million
francs, to be paid before Sept. 1, as expiation for its unqualifiable
behavior (contrary to the law of nations and the usages of war) in
making a surprise attack on the German troops.

The General in command of the Second Army has just given to the
General commanding this station of the Second Army the order to send
in without delay, this contribution which it should pay on account of
its conduct.

I order and command you to give to the bearer of the present letter
the two first installments, that is to say, two million francs in
gold.

Furthermore, I require that you give the bearer a letter, duly sealed
with the seal of the city, stating that the balance, that is to say,
one million francs, will be paid, without fail, on the 1st of
September.

I draw the attention of the city to the fact that in no case can it
count on further delay, as the civil population of the city has put
itself outside the law of nations by firing on the German soldiers.

_The City of Wavre will be burned and destroyed if the levy is not
paid in due time, without regard for any one; the innocent will suffer
with the guilty._


PROCLAMATION POSTED AT GRIVEGNEE, Sept. 8, 1914.

_Commune of Grivegnee.
Very Important Notice._

The Major Commandant Dieckmann, at the Chateau des Bruyeres, requests
me to bring the following statement to the knowledge of the
inhabitants:

Dieckmann Battalion,
Chateau des Bruyeres, Sept. 6, 1914.

Present at the discussion:

(1) The Cure Fryns of Bois de Breux.
(2) The Cure Franssen of Beyne.
(3) The Cure Lepropres of Heusay.
(4) The Cure Paquay of Grivegnee.
(5) The Burgomaster Dejardin of Beyne.
(6) The Burgomaster Hodeige of Grivegnee.
(7) Major Dieckmann.
(8) Lieut. R. Reil.

Major Dieckmann brought to the knowledge of the persons present the
following orders:

"(1) Before the 6th of September, 1914, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
all arms, munitions, explosives, and fireworks which are still in the
hands of the citizens must be surrendered at the Chateau des Bruyeres.
_Those who do not obey will render themselves liable to the death
penalty. They will be shot on the spot, or given military execution,
unless they can prove their innocence._

"(2) All inhabitants of houses in Beyne-Heusay, Grivegnee, Bois de
Greux, and Fleron must remain at home after sunset, (at present 7
o'clock P.M., German time.) The aforesaid houses must be lighted as
long as any one remains up. The entrance door must be shut. Those who
do not conform to the regulations expose themselves to severe
penalties. Any resistance to these orders will be followed by sentence
of death.

"(3) The Commandant should meet no opposition whatever in these
domiciliary visits. Each inhabitant must open all the rooms of his
house without even a summons. Whoever makes any opposition will be
severely punished.

"(4) Beginning Sept. 7, at 9 o'clock in the morning, I will permit the
houses of Beyne-Heusay, Grivegnee, Bois de Breux, to be occupied by
persons formerly dwelling in them as long as no formal prohibition to
frequent these places shall have been issued against the inhabitants
above referred to.

"(5) In order to be sure that this permission is not abused, the
Burgomasters of Beyne-Heusay and of Grivegnee shall immediately draw
up a list of persons who shall be held as hostages, at the fort of
Fleron, in twenty-four-hour shifts; on Sept. 6, for the first time,
from 6 o'clock in the evening until midday, Sept. 7.

"_The life of these hostages will depend upon the population of the
aforesaid communes remaining pacific under all circumstances._

"During the night it is strictly prohibited to make any luminous
signal whatever. The circulation of bicycles is only allowed from 7
A.M. until 5 P.M., German time.

"(6) I will designate from the lists submitted to me the persons who
will be detained as hostages from noon of one day to noon of the next
day. If the substitute does not arrive in time, the hostage will
remain another twenty-four hours. _After this second period of
twenty-four hours, the hostage incurs the penalty of death if the
substitution is not made._

"(7) Hostages will be chosen, primarily, from among priests,
Burgomasters, and other members of the civic administration.

"(8) I demand that all civilians living in the vicinity, especially in
Beyne-Heusay, Fleron, Bois de Breux, and Grivegnee, shall show
deference toward the German officers by taking off their hats and by
carrying the hand to the head in military salute. In case of doubt,
every German soldier must be saluted. If any one refuses to do so, he
must expect the German soldiers to make themselves respected by any
means they may select.

"(9) The German soldiers have the right to visit any wagon or package
belonging to the inhabitants of the surrounding country. Any
opposition will be severely punished.

"(10) _Any one knowing of the location of a store of more than one
hundred litres of petroleum, benzine, benzol, or other similar liquids
in the aforesaid communes, and who does not report same to the
military commander on the spot, incurs the penalty of death, provided
there is no doubt about the quantity and the location of the store.
Quantities of 100 litres are alone referred to._

"(11) Any one who does not instantly obey the command of 'hands up'
becomes guilty (sic) of the death penalty.

"(12) _The entrance to the Chateau des Bruyeres_ and to the park _is
prohibited under the penalty of death_ from dark till dawn, (6 P.M. to
6 A.M., German time,) to all who are not soldiers of the German Army.

"(13) During daytime entrance to the Chateau des Bruyeres is allowed
only by the northeast entrance, where there is a guard, and only to
the people to whom cards of admission have been given. Any gathering
near the guard is prohibited in the interest of the population.

"(14) Any one who by spreading false news prejudicial to the morale of
the German troops or who by any means tries to take measures against
the German Army renders himself a suspect and incurs the risk of
being shot immediately.

"(15) Whereas by the above regulations the inhabitants in the vicinity
of the fortress are threatened with severe penalties if they violate
these regulations in any way, on the other hand these same
inhabitants, if they remain peaceful, may rely upon the most
benevolent protection and help on all occasions when wrong is done
them.

"(16) The requisition of cattle in specified quantities will take
place daily from 10 A.M. until noon and from 2 P.M. to 3 P.M. at the
Chateau des Bruyeres before the Cattle Commission.

"(17) Any one who under the protection of the insignia of the Swiss
(Red Cross) Convention harms, or even tries to harm, the German Army
and is discovered shall be hung."

(Signed) DIECKMANN,
Major in Command.

Grivegnee, Sept. 8, 1914.

For certified copy: The Burgomaster,
(Signed) VICTOR HODEIGE.


SUMMONS TO CAPITULATE.

Sept. 4, 1914.

To the Commander of Termonde and, at the same time, to the Burgomaster
of Termonde:

The Germans have taken Termonde. We have placed the heaviest siege
artillery all around the town. Still, at the present time, one dares
shoot from houses upon German soldiers. The town and the fortress are
summoned to hoist immediately the white flag and to stop fighting. If
you do not yield to this summons immediately the town will be razed to
the ground within a quarter of an hour by a heavy bombardment. All the
armed forces of Termonde will immediately lay down their arms at the
Porte de Bruxelles (Brussels Gate) at the south exit from Termonde.
Arms held by the inhabitants will be deposited at the same time and at
the same place.

The General Commanding the German Forces Before Termonde,
(Signed) VON BOEHN.


PROCLAMATION POSTED IN BRUSSELS SEPT. 25, 1914.

General Government in Belgium.

It has happened recently in some places which are not at the present
time occupied by strong forces of German troops, military convoys or
patrolling parties have been attacked by surprise by the inhabitants.

I draw the attention of the public to the fact that _a record_ is kept
of the towns and villages in the vicinity in which such attacks have
taken place and that they must expect their punishment as soon as
German troops pass near by.

The Governor General of Belgium,
(Signed) BARON VON DER GOLTZ,
Field Marshal.

Brussels, 25th September.


NOTICE POSTED AT BRUSSELS OCT. 5, 1914, AND PRESUMABLY IN MOST OF THE
COMMUNES IN THE COUNTRY.

On the evening of Sept. 25 the railway and telegraph lines were
destroyed on the Lovenjoul-Vertryck line.

Consequently the two above-mentioned places on the morning of Sept. 30
had to give an account and to furnish hostages.

In the future the communities in the vicinity of a place where such
things happen (_no matter whether or not they are accomplices_) will
be punished without mercy.

To this end hostages have been taken from all places in the vicinity
of railroad lines menaced by such attacks, and at the first attempt to
destroy the railroad tracks or the telegraph or telephone wires they
will be immediately shot.

Furthermore, all troops in charge of the protection of the railroad
lines have received orders to shoot any person approaching in a
suspicious manner the railroad tracks or the telegraph or telephone
lines.

The Governor General of Belgium,
(Signed) BARON VON DER GOLTZ,
Field Marshal.


NOTICE POSTED AT BRUSSELS, NOV. 1, 1914.

A legally constituted court-martial has pronounced, the 28th of
October, 1914, the following condemnations:

"(1) Upon Policeman de Ryckere for attacking, in the exercise of his
legal functions, an agent vested with German authority, for willfully
inflicting bodily injury on two occasions in concert with other
persons, for facilitating the escape of a prisoner on one occasion,
and for attacking a German soldier--_Five years' imprisonment_.

"(2) Upon Policeman Seghers for attacking, in the exercise of his
legal functions, an agent vested with German authority, for willfully
inflicting bodily injury upon said German agent, and for facilitating
the escape of a prisoner (all these offenses constituting a single
act)--_Three years' imprisonment_."

These sentences have been confirmed by Gov. Gen. Baron von der Goltz
on Oct. 31, 1914.

The City of Brussels, excluding suburbs, has been punished for the
crime committed by its policeman de Ryckere against a German soldier
by an additional fine of 5,000,000 francs.

The Governor of Brussels,
(Signed) BARON VON LUETTWITZ,
General.

Brussels, Nov. 1, 1914.


EXTRACT FROM THE SIXTH REPORT OF THE BELGIUM COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.

After such proclamations, who will be surprised at the murders,
burnings, pillage, and destruction committed by the German Army
wherever they have met with resistance?

If a German corps or patrolling party is received at the entrance to a
village by a volley from soldiers of the regular troops who are
afterward forced to retire the whole population is held responsible.
The civilians are accused of having fired or having co-operated in the
defense and, without inquiry, the place is given over to pillage and
flames, and a part of the inhabitants are massacred.

The Commission of Inquiry has already mentioned these facts in its
report of Sept. 10, (third report.)

The facts which have been gathered since then have confirmed its
conclusions.

The odious acts which have been committed in all parts of the country
have a general character, throwing the responsibility upon the whole
German Army. It is simply the application of a preconceived
system--the carrying out of instructions--which has made of the
enemy's troops in Belgium "a horde of barbarians and a band of
incendiaries."

The reports which the commission has had the honor of submitting to
you up to the present, Mr. Minister, concern especially events of
which the towns of Aerschot and Louvain and the communes in the
Provinces of Antwerp and Brabant have been the theatre. New reports
will be sent you shortly which will permit you to take cognizance of
the gravity of acts committed by the invaders in other parts of the
country, notably in the Provinces of Liege, Namur, Hainault, and
Flanders.

The President,
(Signed) COOREMAN.

The Vice President,
(Signed) COUNT GOBLET D'ALVIELLA.

The Secretaries,
(Signed) CHEVALIER ERNEST DE BUNSWYCK,
(Signed) ORTS.




"FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH"

By SIDNEY LOW.

[From King Albert's Book.]

She is not dead! Although the spoiler's hand
Lies heavy as death upon her; though the smart
Of his accursed steel is at her heart,
And scarred upon her breast his shameful brand;
Though yet the torches of the vandal band
Smoke on her ruined fields, her trampled bones,
Her ravaged homes and desolated fanes,
She is not dead but sleeping, that wronged land.

O little nation, valorous and free,
Thou shalt o'erlive the terror and the pain;
Call back thy scattered children unto thee,
Strong with the memory of their brothers slain,
And rise from out thy charnel-house, to be
Thine own immortal, radiant self again.


[Illustration: H.I.M. AUGUSTA VICTORIA

The Most Recent Photograph of the German Empress.

(_Photo from American Press Association._)]

[Illustration: A WAR-TIME PICTURE OF THE KAISER

The Effects of the Stress of War Are Noticeable in This Photograph of
the War Lord, Taken in His Winter Campaign Uniform.

(_Photo from Underwood & Underwood._)]




"A Scrap of Paper"

Recent Versions of the German Chancellor's Reference to the Belgian
Treaty of Neutrality[2]

By Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg and Sir Edward Grey.

[Footnote 2: The report of Sir Edward Goschen, British Ambassador to
Berlin, on the severance of diplomatic connections between England and
Germany, was published by the British Foreign Office as a "White
Paper" on Aug. 27, 1914. Sir Edward said that in pursuance of
instructions from Downing Street, he went on Aug. 3 to see Gottlieb
von Jagow, the German Foreign Minister, and asked if Germany would
promise to respect Belgian neutrality. Herr von Jagow replied that it
was too late, as German troops had already crossed the Belgian border,
and explained the military necessity of this step.

After remonstrance, Sir Edward withdrew, but made another visit the
same afternoon and warned von Jagow that unless the German Government
at once withdrew its troops from Belgian soil he must demand his
passports. Herr von Jagow repeated that withdrawal was impossible;
and, seeing that war was now certain, expressed his deep regret at the
failure of the policy by which he and the Chancellor, Dr. von
Bethmann-Hollweg, had been trying to get into more friendly relations
with England and through her with France.

The Ambassador, after mutual expressions of personal regard, withdrew
and visited the Imperial Chancellor, who, according to Sir Edward's
story, "began a harangue, which lasted about twenty minutes. Just for
a word, 'neutrality'--a word which in war was so often disregarded--just
for a scrap of paper, Great Britain was going to make war on a kindred
nation. The policy to which he had devoted himself had tumbled like a
house of cards. What Great Britain had done was unthinkable--it was
like striking a man in the back when he was fighting for his life
against two assailants."

Sir Edward said that he protested strongly against this and told the
Chancellor that, while an advance through Belgium might be a matter of
life and death for Germany, the defense of Belgian neutrality, in
compliance with her solemn engagement, was a matter of life and death
for the honor of Great Britain.

"The Chancellor said," Sir Edward continued: "'But at what a price
will that compact have been kept! Has the British Government thought
of that?' I hinted to his Excellency as plainly as I could that fear
of consequences could hardly be regarded as an excuse for breaking a
solemn engagement. But his Excellency was so excited, so little
disposed to hear reason, so evidently overcome by the news of our
action, that I refrained from adding fuel to the flame by further
argument."]


I.

General Field Headquarters of the German Armies in France, via Berlin
and London, Jan. 24.--"I am surprised to learn that my phrase, 'a
scrap of paper,' which I used in my last conversation with the British
Ambassador in reference to the Belgian neutrality treaty, should have
caused such an unfavorable impression in the United States. The
expression was used in quite another connection and the meaning
implied in Sir Edward Goschen's report and the turn given to it in the
biased comment of our enemies are undoubtedly responsible for this
impression."

The speaker was Dr. Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, the German Imperial
Chancellor, and the conversation with a representative of The
Associated Press occurred at the German Army Field Headquarters, in a
town of Northern France, and in a villa serving as the office and
dwelling for the Imperial Chancellor, for the Foreign Minister,
Gottlieb von Jagow, and for the members of the diplomatic suite
accompanying Emperor William afield.

The Chancellor apparently had not relished the subject until his
attention was called to the extent to which the phrase had been used
in discussion on the responsibility of the war. He then volunteered to
give an explanation of his meaning, which in substance was that he had
spoken of the treaty not as "a scrap of paper" for Germany, but as an
instrument which had become obsolete through Belgium's forfeiture of
its neutrality, and that Great Britain had quite other reasons for
entering into the war, compared with which the neutrality treaty
appeared to have only the value of a scrap of paper.

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