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96 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
the Empire in the field. Neither need I touch upon all that
has been done to prepare for Germany’s fateful hour and
vital needs, or her readiness on land and sea to take up the
gauntlet when it is thrown down. But there is one thing
which "above all needs emphasising, and that is the inexorable
will of the Gennan nation. It cannot be broken, it lives with
increasing purpose. It grows stronger every day. It does
not find expression in blind and unpremeditated action, it is
conscious and disciplined. Its voice has penetrated deep down
into the bosom of every son and daughter of the German
Empire. To the onlooker it finds expression in the deep and
silent fixity of purpose underlying every action, but also in
the dauntless courage which once animated our own Charles
XII. and his men. With unshakable confidence in its leaders,
this disciplined people fights with God for Empire and country.
It knows that all that can be done is done, for all are animated
with the immutable will to strain their resources to the utter-
most, in order to attain the goal fixed by those who can discern
the situation and have prepared the line of action. Trained
strength has overcome the weakness of man. A reverse means
nothing when met with such resolution. The skill and bravery
of the opponent may sometimes thwart or delay the execution
of a plan. Such things must occur. They are reckoned as
part of the game. But the inherent superiority of German
leadership, the superb strength of the German Army, the
mutual confidence which inspires those who lead and those
who execute
We rely on one another, we on him and he on us—we march
inflexibly to victory.
I witnessed that whole day in the history at Varennes, and
was present at the successes won. I marvelled over the cool-
ness with which everything was done, but on reflection I came
to the conclusion that it would have been unnatural for these
men, in whose midst I was, to break into expressions of
triumph. What had occurred was to them merely what
should and must occur. But there was another element.
War is not play. Those who know it, speak of it with restraint.
One does not boast when face to face with its realities. On
the contrary, it inspires a feeling of humility.
Everybody still remained at the observation station or
wandered up and doAvn along the main road. Nachrich-
tenoffiziere, or intelligence officers, were still riding back-
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