Kaiser Wilhelm wept when he signed Germany’s declaration of war against
Russia, according to Liston Lewis, a lawyer of New York. Mr. Lewis said
his information came from one of the highest officials in Germany.
“We reached Berlin on July 29,” he said. “There were stirring scenes
there then. The enthusiasm of the people was deep. They were firm in the
conviction that England, France and Russia were determined to make an
aggressive war on Germany.
“An intimate friend of the Kaiser told me that Wilhelm did not believe
such a thing as a general European war possible. He had been told by the
German Ambassador in Petrograd that the Russian army was not mobilizing
in the West, and had no intention of mobilizing.
“Not until the members of the General Staff put proof of the aggressive
movements of the Russian army before him and insisted that he would be
responsible for what might follow unless he declared war would the
Kaiser believe Russia’s perfidy. Then he asked to be left alone for an
hour.
“At the expiration of that time he was found in tears. ‘I can’t do
otherwise,’ he remarked as he signed the declaration of war.”