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
On the same day there were added to this unfriendly step toward Russia
acts of distinct hostility toward France; rupture of communications by
roads, railways, telegraph, and telephone, seizure of French locomotives
upon arrival at the frontier, placing of rapid-fire guns in the middle
of railway lines which had been torn up, and concentration of troops on
our frontier.
From that moment it was impossible for us to believe any longer in the
sincerity of the pacific protestations which the representative of
Germany continued to lavish upon us.
We were aware that, under the shelter of the declaration of a state of
war which Germany had made, she was mobilizing.
We learned that six classes of reservists had been summoned and that
concentration of army corps was under way, even of those corps stationed
a long distance from the frontier.
In proportion as these events developed, the Government, alert and
vigilant, took day by day, even hour by hour, the precautionary measures
made necessary by the situation; general mobilization of our land and
sea forces was ordered.
The same evening, at 7:30, Germany, ignoring the acceptance by the St.
Petersburg Cabinet of the English proposition to which I have already
referred, declared war upon Russia.
Denies Hostile Acts by French.
The next day, Sunday, Aug. 2, despite the extreme moderation of France
and the pacific statements of the German Ambassador in Paris, and
scorning the rules of international law, German troops crossed our
frontier at three different points.
At the same time, in violation of the Treaty of 1867 guaranteeing the
neutrality of Luxemburg, of which Prussia was a signatory, they invaded
the territory of the Grand Duchy, thus evoking a protest from the
Luxemburg Government.
Finally, even the neutrality of Belgium was menaced. On the evening of
Aug. 2 the German Minister handed to the Belgian Government an ultimatum
demanding that military operations against France be facilitated by
Belgium under the lying pretext that Belgian neutrality was threatened
by us.
The Belgian Government refused, announcing that it had resolved to
defend energetically its neutrality respected by France and guaranteed
by treaties, especially by the King of Prussia.
Since then, gentlemen, acts of aggression have been repeated,
multiplied, and accentuated. Our frontier has been crossed at more than
fifteen places. Rifle shots have been fired at our soldiers and customs
officials. There have been killed and wounded. Yesterday a German
military aviator dropped three bombs on Luneville.
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