New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?Various
History
New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?
Various
World War, 1914-1918
Should we continue to wait with patience until the powers by which
we are surrounded choose the moment for attack? ["No!"] To expose
Germany to this danger would have been criminal! [Stormy,
concerted, prolonged "Very true and bravo!"--also from the Social
Democrats.] Therefore, on July 31 we demanded that Russia
demobilize, this being the only measure which could save the peace
of Europe. [Hearty approval.] The Imperial Ambassador received,
furthermore, the order to declare to the Russian Government that in
case they did not comply with our demands they should consider that
a state of war exists.
The Imperial Ambassador performed this mission. Up till the present
we have not learned Russia's answer to this demand. ["Hear, hear!"]
Telegraphic reports concerning it have not yet reached us, although
the wire still transmits less important messages. ["Hear, hear!"]
Therefore, on Aug. 1, at 5 o'clock, when the appointed period of
grace was long past, the Kaiser considered it necessary to
mobilize.
At the same time we had to make sure of the position France would
take. To our direct question whether in case of a German-Russian
war she would remain neutral, France answered that she would do
what she had to do in her own interests. [Laughter.] That was an
evasive if not a negative answer to our question.
Declares France Began War.
In spite of this the Kaiser gave the order that the French border
should be respected. The command was strictly enforced, with a
single exception. France, which mobilized simultaneously with us,
declared that she would respect a zone of ten kilometers from the
border. ["Hear, hear!"] And what happened in reality? There were
bomb-throwing flyers, cavalry patrols, invading companies in the
Reichsland, Alsace-Lorraine. ["Unheard of!"] Thereby France,
although the condition of war had not yet been declared, had
attacked our territory.
Concerning the French complaints in regard to violations of the
border, I have received from the Chief of the General Staff the
following report: Only one offense has been committed. Contrary to
an emphatic order a patrol of the Fourteenth Army Corps, led by an
officer, crossed the border on Aug. 2. They apparently were killed.
Only one man returned. However, long before the crossing of the
border French flyers were dropping bombs in Southern Germany, and
at Schluchtpass the French troops had attacked our border troops.
Until the present our troops have confined their activity to the
protection of our borders. They are now on the defense, and
necessity recognizes no law. ["Very true!"]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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