Excerpt from The Great Battles of the Great War
It is impossible to over-estimate the service rendered to Europe by little Belgium in holding up for several days the head-waters of the vast and menacing tide of the German invasion. "Rapidity of action is the great German asset" said the German Imperial Chancellor to our Ambassador in Berlin. We owe it to Belgian courage and tenacity that that asset was seriously impaired. This small State, which had no quarrel with any one and only desired to live at peace with its neighbours, was suddenly exposed to a cruel ordeal. Two days before the receipt of the German ultimatum, the Belgian Government was informed by the German Minister in Brussels that Germany would respect the neutrality of Belgium. Two hours-before handing in the ultimatum on that memorable Sunday evening, Germany's accredited representative repeated his assurance. Then suddenly Belgium was confronted with a peremptory demand for free passage through her territory for the Kaiser's legions.
If in her weakness she had given permission, who could have blamed her? But with sublime heroism of soul Belgium declined, though well knowing the risk, and then flung herself with splendid intrepidity athwart the path of the Teutonic host. She has suffered terribly by her heroic resistance. Her whole national life has come to a standstill. Her fields, tilled by a frugal, hard-working peasantry, have been laid waste her prosperous industries are stricken with paralysis.
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