By the light of the official documents of Austria, Servia, Germany,
Russia, France and England, now open before us, it is an easy task to
write the history of the beginning of the war in one paragraph. The
most conclusive evidence of Germany's guilt is the official "German
white book," dated "Foreign Office, August, 1914." It has convinced
many a reader.
On July 25, 1914, Servia humbled herself to the dust at the feet of
Austria, to appease her for the murder of her crown prince by a crazy
and criminal fool; and little Servia conceded everything that giant
Austria demanded, save a practical surrender of her national honor.
Austria had fully made up her mind to destroy Servia, anyhow; and in
that connection Germany and her Kaiser decided the event would serve
well for starting the great war of conquest for which the Germans had
long and lovingly been preparing. The Czar begged the Kaiser not to
consent to the slaughter of little Servia by the Austrian big bully.
The Kaiser replied that Austria should have a free hand. The Czar
appealed to England and to France, to help him avert a war; and both
those nations did their level best to avert hostilities. No plea that
could postpone the clash of armies, or promote a peaceful settlement
was omitted. The last telegram of Czar Nicholas to Kaiser Wilhelm
(August 1) was a pathetic appeal for delay, and a chance "to negotiate
for the welfare of our two countries and the universal peace which
is so dear to our hearts. With the aid of God," said the Czar, "it
must be possible to our long-tried friendship to prevent the shedding
of blood." To this the Kaiser icily replied: "Although I asked for
a reply by to-day noon [to his telegraphed ultimatum], no telegram
from my Ambassador has reached me," and "I therefore have been forced
to mobilize my army." Germany's many statements that France began
hostilities with her are one and all totally false.
Now, here is a significant fact:
On July 14, 1917, in a speech before the Austrian Reichsrath former
Minister Praschek (a Czech) cried out:
"=Must we continue to sacrifice our interests for the expansion of
Germany? Must we continue to submit to the German militarism that has
drawn us into this war?="
Alas! At last the truth is out, officially and openly! We thought as
much! Many men have believed that Germany shoved Austria into the
war, because Germany was all ready for her great offense, and the
murder at Sarajevo served as a convenient excuse. If Germany had not
backed up Austria, and Russia had forbidden Austria to attack Servia,
=there would have been no war=! But Germany hailed that murder as her
heaven-sent opportunity to begin. It was to her "Der Tag"!
All the world knows that if the Kaiser had sent a nine-word telegram
to Austria, at a cost of one mark, saying: "Do not begin war on Servia
until further notice," Austria would not have dared go on! But no!
William and his Germans refused to admonish Austria, or to delay
hostilities by Germany. "We can not interfere with the plans of our
Ally;" said William, "and we have mobilized."
=And thus did the German people and their Kaiser begin the war to which
they had so long and so eagerly looked forward.=