“Why must Germany win?” Dan demanded impatiently.
“Because Chermany is Chermany; because she is der ruler of der vorld,” came back the ready answer.
“If Germany is really the ruler of the world, she’ll have to prove it, and take a century of hard fighting to do it,” Dan clicked. “Has it ever struck you, my man, that Germany is the bad-dog nation of the world?”
“Chermany is der fine, der great nation of der vorld,” insisted the prisoner, stubbornly.
“Wouldn’t a fine nation act like a fine nation?” demanded Dalzell. “Wouldn’t it respect the rights of other peoples? Wouldn’t Germany, if a fine nation, fight according to the rules of honor and decency, and not like pirates?”
Again it required repetitions, in other words, to drive the query home.
“Chermany is Chermany,” declared the stolid fellow. “Chermany must vin der var because Chermany must rule. It is right dot der Chermans should tell der rest of der vorld vat is. Vat Chermany must do to vin it is right for her to do, but vat you Amerigans do is wrong. You are only pigs, und you help der pigs of English. You are all pigs, und Chermany shall punish you good for vat you do!”
“When?” asked Dan, derisively.
“Negst year! You vait, you see! Den der var vill over be, und der Amerigans on deir knees shall be!”
“The war end next year?” Dan derided. “Not unless Germany has been whipped soundly by that time.”