but the Germans are slow to respond in sport. Indeed they know little
of sport as the English understand it, of sportsman ethics or the sense
of fair play in either sport or war. They do not comprehend the
English applause for the captain of the "Emden" and stand aghast at the
idea that he would be received as a hero in England. When a daring
aeroplane flier in the performance of his duty has met with mishap and,
landed on German soil, he is not welcomed as a hero. He is struck and
kicked.

The German is not to be blamed. It is the way he has been educated to
"assert himself," as the Germans phrase it. Indeed, when the captain
of the "Emden" was taken prisoner and was congratulated by the
Australian commander for his gallant defense, he was so taken aback
that he had to walk away and think it over. He returned to thank his
adversary for his complimentary remarks. With true German scientific
instinct he had to find his defeat in a physical cause, remarking, "It
was fortunate for you that your first shot took away my speaking tubes."

The English are sports in war,--too sporty in fact. General Joffre
warned General French over and over again, "Your officers are too
audacious; you will soon have none to command," and his words proved
true. The English officers felt that the rules of the game called upon
them to lead their men. They became targets for the guns of the foe,
until one of the present embarrassments in England is the unprecedented
loss of officers.

This has now been changed and Kitchener insists that both officers and
men shall regard themselves as property of the Empire, that the
exposure of a single life to unnecessary hazard is a breach of
discipline. For this reason Victoria Crosses are not numerous, less