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ON THE WAY TO THE FIFTH ARMY 79
history has never been known to fail. If thus the entire
German people is resolved gladly to adventure its life blood
and all that it holds dear, it matters little if the world is
’
filled with the legions of darkness ’
armed against us, for we
shall know how to stand up against it, however great be the
distress of the moment. Thus we shall indeed obey the
exhortation contained in the comforting verses of Emanuel
Geibel, the herald of the new German Empire :
" Und wenn uns nichts mehr iibrig blieb
So blieb uns doch ein Schwert,
Das zorngemut mit scharfem Hieb
Dem Trutz des Fremdlings wehrt.
" So blieb die Schlacht als letzt Gericht
Auf Leben und auf Tod.
Und wenn die Not nicht Eisen bricht,
Das Eisen bricht die Not." *
The world conflagration which Crown Prince William fore-
told is now raging before our very eyes. Will he be justified
in his steadfast faith in the people over which he is destined
one day to reign ? The writing on the wall from Ypres to the
Wartha, from Tsingtau to the Cameroons, is telling its tale.
Here is a nation which cannot go under and which never will
be conquered.
* And if nought else to us be left.
There still remains the sword
Which boldly wielded with fierce cleft
Defies the foemen’s horde.
Thus combat unto death we make.
Last arbiter indeed,
For if need will not iron break
Then iron shall break the need.
The last line is a play on the German proverb, " Not bricht Eisen " :
Necessity will (teach us to) break down (obstacles strong as) iron ; and if
it will not, our " iron " (sword) shall break the necessity itself.
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