They were occasions for the glorification of the German god of war; of greed and conquest; ambition and vanity; without pity, sympathy or honor.
Ruthless, vain, arrogant minds met the same qualities in their leader.
Some knew and welcomed the fact that the devil was their guest of honor; perhaps others did not know it.

Deluded as they all were and blinded by pride and self-seeking, the same handwriting that told Belshazzar of disaster was on the wall, but they could not or would not see it.

There was no Daniel to interpret for them.
German madness for war asserted itself in the ultimatum sent by Austria to Serbia after the assassination at Sarajevo.

Sufficient time had hardly elapsed for an investigation of the crime and the fixing of the responsibility, before Austria made a most insolent demand upon Serbia.
The smaller nation avowed her innocence of any participation in the murder; offered to make amends, and if it were discovered that the conspiracy had been hatched on Serbian soil, to assist in bringing to justice any confederates in the crime the assassin may have had.
[Illustration: NEGRO SOLDIERS ON THE RIFLE RANGE AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.

BEING TAUGHT MARKSMANSHIP.