Various - New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2

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[Transcriber's Note:
Table of Contents and List of Illustrations
have been compiled by the transcriber.]

CURRENT HISTORY: THE EUROPEAN WAR

FROM THE BEGINNING TO MARCH 1915

"WHO BEGAN THE WAR, AND WHY?"

* * * * *

Published by the _New York Times_

* * * * *

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

* * * * *

WHO BEGAN THE WAR, AND WHY?
THE CASE FOR GERMANY

* * * * *

SPEECHES BY KAISER WILHELM II.
FORGIVES ENEMIES.
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.
TO THE GERMAN ARMY AND NAVY.
"TO THE LAST BREATH OF MAN AND HORSE."
TO GERMAN WOMEN.
JOY IN GLORIOUS VICTORY.
FIRST SUCCESSFUL BATTLE.
A PRAYER FOR VICTORY.
"UP AND AT THE FOES."
ON VICTORY NEAR METZ.
THE SPIRIT OF THE MEN.
HIS INDISCRETION WAS "CALCULATED."
WILHELM II.'S LETTER TO LORD TWEEDMOUTH.

The Mighty Fate of Europe
"YOUR HEARTS FOR GOD, YOUR FISTS ON THE ENEMY."
AS ONE MAN FOR THE KAISER.
DECLARES FOR WAR.
STATEMENT TO AMERICA.
GERMANY'S ARMAMENTS.

Austria-Hungary's Version of the War
MANIFESTO.
DECLARATION OF WAR.
"DAYS OF WORLD'S HISTORY."
WILL OF WILHELM II. THAT SWUNG THE SWORD.
A PURELY DEFENSIVE WAR.
A DISCORDANT NOTE.

A German Review of the Evidence
I. THE RUSSIAN MOBILIZATION
II. GREY'S OMISSIONS AND ERRORS
III. THE AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE
IV. BELGIAN NEUTRALITY

"Truth About Germany"
HOW THE WAR CAME ABOUT.
REICHSTAG AND EMPEROR.
THE GERMAN MOBILIZATION.
ARMY AND NAVY.
THE ATTITUDES OF GERMANY'S ENEMIES.
LIES ABOUT GERMANY.
GERMANY AND THE FOREIGNER.
COMMERCE AND TRADE RELATIONS
WHO IS TO BE VICTORIOUS?

Speculations About Peace, September, 1914

* * * * *

WHO BEGAN THE WAR, AND WHY?
CASE FOR THE TRIPLE ENTENTE

* * * * *

FIRST WARNINGS OF EUROPE'S PERIL
Speeches by British Ministers
"A CLOUD OVER EUROPE."
AUSTRO-SERVIAN CRISIS.
A GRAVE SITUATION.
RISK OF A CATASTROPHE.
OPPOSITION CONCURS.
PEACE THE GREAT OBJECT.
RUSSIA'S MOBILIZATION.
THE GERMAN INVASION.
PEACE OF EUROPE CANNOT BE PRESERVED.
Sir Edward Grey - House of Commons - Aug. 3.
GERMANY AND BELGIUM.
UNHESITATING SUPPORT.
CHANGED IRISH FEELING.
GREAT BRITAIN'S ULTIMATUM TO GERMANY.
PENETRATION OF BELGIAN TERRITORY.

Great Britain's Mobilization
KING TO BRITAIN'S FLEET.
NAPOLEONISM ONCE AGAIN.
PACT OF TRIPLE ENTENTE.
A COUNTERSTROKE.
IMPERIAL MESSAGE TO THE BRITISH DOMINIONS.
438,000 MEN RECRUITED.
EARL KITCHENER'S SPEECH ON RECRUITS
PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.

Summons of the Nation to Arms
PRIME MINISTER'S LETTER.
MR. ASQUITH IN LONDON.
GERMANY SPEAKS.
GREAT BRITAIN REPLIES.
MR. ASQUITH AT EDINBURGH.
MR. ASQUITH AT DUBLIN.
MR. ASQUITH AT CARDIFF.
LORD CURZON'S EXPERIENCE.
NOW THE WAR HAS COME.
THE GREAT WAR.

Teachings of Gen. von Bernhardi

Entrance of France Into War
NEUTRALIZED STATE RESPECTED.
THE NATION IN ARMS.
POSITION OF THE REPUBLIC.
BEFORE THE MARNE BATTLE.

Russia to Her Enemy
Slav Emperor Announces New Policies.
A MANIFESTO.
CZAR AT THE KREMLIN.
APPEAL TO THE POLES.
THE POLISH RESPONSE.
NO ALLIANCE WITH GERMANY
POLISH AMERICAN OPINION.
RUSSIA AGAINST GERMANY.
DUMA'S MESSAGE TO BRITAIN.
NEW POLICY AND THE JEWS.
WAR ON GERMAN TRADE.
FOE TO GERMAN MILITARISM.
NOT A QUESTION OF SLAV PREDOMINANCE.
RUSSIA'S "LITTLE BROTHER."

"The Facts About Belgium"

Belgo-British Plot Alleged by Germany
GREAT BRITAIN'S DENIAL.
REPLY TO GREAT BRITAIN.
GRAY BOOK'S TESTIMONY.
BELGIUM'S ANSWER.

* * * * *

WHO BEGAN THE WAR, AND WHY?
ATROCITIES OF THE WAR

* * * * *

THE POPE'S DYING WORDS.
GERMAN KAISER'S PROTEST.
REPLY TO THE KAISER.
CHARGE AGAINST GERMANY.
M. DELCASSE'S NOTE.
THE BELGIAN MISSION.
M. DE WIART'S ADDRESS.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S REPLY.
OFFICIAL SUMMARY.
I. Acts at Linsmeau and Orsmael.
II. Report on Aerschot.
III. Destruction of Louvain.
FURTHER REPORTS.
A SUPPLEMENT.
"NOT A WORD OF TRUTH."
GERMANY'S VERSIONS.
LOUVAIN'S ART TREASURES.

Bombardment of Rheims Cathedral
POPE BENEDICT SILENT.
ATTACK NOT WILLFUL.
"SPARE THE CATHEDRAL."
THE FRENCH ARE BLAMED
THE DAMAGE DONE.

* * * * *

WHO BEGAN THE WAR, AND WHY?
THE SOCIALISTS' PART

* * * * *

HOW INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISTS ARMED AGAINST EACH OTHER.
"ENVOY OF MY PARTY."
MINISTER JULES GUESDE.
"REVOLUTION!"
COMPOSURE IS NECESSARY.
PRESSURE FOR PEACE.
HUGO HAASE AT BRUSSELS.
HAASE IN THE REICHSTAG.
GERMAN SOCIALISTS DIVIDED.
SOCIALISTS STILL GERMANS.
"CRITIQUE OF WEAPONS."
SOCIALISTS OF ITALY FIRM.
BRITISH MANIFESTO.
KEIR HARDIE'S QUESTIONS.
REPLY TO MINISTER GREY.
MR. MACDONALD REPENTS.

* * * * *

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

WILHELM II.

AUGUSTA VICTORIA

T. VON BETHMANN-HOLLWEG

COUNT LEOPOLD BERCHTOLD.

SIR EDWARD GREY

W.L. SPENCER CHURCHILL

RENE VIVIANI

STATE COUNCILLOR SAZONOF

HIS HOLINESS THE LATE POPE PIUS X.

WOODROW WILSON

ALBERT KING OF THE BELGIANS

CARTON DE WIART

PHILIPP SCHEIDEMANN

JULES GUESDE

EMIL VAN DER VELDE

KEIR HARDIE M.P.

* * * * *

WHO BEGAN THE WAR, AND WHY?

THE CASE FOR GERMANY

* * * * *

SPEECHES BY KAISER WILHELM II.

* * * * *

From the Balcony of the Palace, Berlin, July 31, 1914.

A fateful hour has fallen for Germany.

Envious peoples everywhere are compelling us to our just defense.

The sword is being forced into our hand. I hope that if my efforts
at the last hour do not succeed in bringing our opponents to see
eye to eye with us and in maintaining peace we shall with God's
help so wield the sword that we shall restore it to its sheath
again with honor.

War would demand enormous sacrifices of blood and property from the
German people, but we should show our enemies what it means to
provoke Germany.

And now I commend you to God. Go to church. Kneel down before God
and pray for His help for our gallant Army.

* * * * *

* * * * *

FORGIVES ENEMIES.

Kaiser Wilhelm's Speech from the Balcony of the Palace, Berlin, Aug. 2.

I thank you for the love and loyalty shown me. When I enter upon a
fight let all party strife cease. We are German brothers and
nothing else. All parties have attacked me in times of peace. I
forgive them with all my heart. I hope and wish that the good
German sword will emerge victorious in the right.

* * * * *

[Illustration: WILHELM II.,
German Emperor.
(_Photo from Charles E. Ritzmann._)]

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.

Kaiser Wilhelm II., Opening Special Session of the Reichstag in White
Room of the Royal Palace, Berlin, Aug. 4.

Honored Sirs: It is in an hour fraught with fate that I have
assembled about me all the representatives of the German people.
For almost half a century we have been able to keep to the path of
peace. The attempts to attribute a warlike temperament to Germany
and to circumscribe its position in the world have often put to
severe tests the patience of our people. With unswerving honesty,
my Government, even in provoking circumstances, has pursued as its
highest aim the development of all moral, spiritual, and economic
powers. The world has been witness how tirelessly we strove in the
first rank during the pressure and confusion of the last few years
to spare the nations of Europe a war between the great powers.

The very grave dangers which had arisen owing to the events in the
Balkans appeared to have been overcome, but then the murder of my
friend, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, opened up a great abyss. My
high ally, the Emperor and King Francis Joseph, was compelled to
take up arms to defend the security of his empire against dangerous
intrigues from a neighboring State. In the pursuit of her proper
interests the Dual Monarchy has found her path obstructed by the
Russian Empire. Not only our duty as an ally calls us to the side
of Austria-Hungary, but on us falls also the mighty task of
defending the ancient community of culture of the two kingdoms and
our own position in the world against the attack of hostile powers.
With a heavy heart I have been compelled to mobilize my army
against a neighbor with whom it has fought side by side on so many
fields of battle. With sincere sorrow I saw a friendship broken of
which Germany had given faithful proofs. The Imperial Russian
Government, yielding to the pressure of an insatiable nationalism,
has taken sides with a State which by encouraging criminal attacks
has brought on the evil of this war. That France, also, placed
herself on the side of our enemies could not surprise us. Too often
have our efforts to arrive at friendlier relations with the French
Republic come in collision with old hopes and ancient malice.

Honored Sirs: What human insight and power could do to arm a people
against the last extremities has been done with your patriotic
help. The hostility which has been smouldering for a long time in
the East and in the West has now burst into bright flames. The
present situation did not proceed from transient conflicts of
interest or diplomatic entanglements, it is the result of an ill
will which has for many years been active against the strength and
the prosperity of the German Empire. We are not incited by lust for
conquest, we are inspired by the unyielding determination to keep
for ourselves and all future generations the place which God has
given us.

From the proofs which have been given you, you will see how my
Government, and especially my Chancellor, strove up to the last
moment to avert the worst. We grasp the sword in compulsory
self-defense, with clean hands and a clean conscience.

To the peoples and races of the German Empire my call goes forth to
defend with all their strength and in brotherly co-operation with
our ally that which we have created by peaceful labor. After the
example of our fathers, firmly and faithfully, sincerely and with
chivalry, humbly before God and battling joyfully before the enemy,
let us place our trust in the eternal Omnipotence, and may He
strengthen our defense and bring it to a good end!

To you, honored sirs, the whole German people, assembled about its
Princes and its leaders, look this day. Make your decision
unanimously and quickly. That is my heartfelt wish.

Gentlemen (addressing the Deputies directly): You have read what I
said to my people the other day from the balcony of my castle. I
repeat now that I no longer know any parties. I know only Germans.
And in order to testify that you are firmly resolved without
distinction of party to stand by my side through danger and death,
I call upon the leaders of the different parties in this House to
come forward and lay their hands in mine as a pledge.

* * * * *

TO THE GERMAN ARMY AND NAVY.

Proclamation by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

After three and forty years of peace I call the men of Germany to
arms.

It has become necessary to protect our most sacred possessions, the
Fatherland, our very hearths against ruthless destruction.

Enemies on every hand! That is the situation. A mighty struggle, a
great sacrifice confronts us.

I trust that the old spirit of battle still lives on in the German
people, that powerful spirit of battle which grapples with the foe
wherever it meets it, be the cost what it may, which has ever been
the terror and fear of our enemies.

Soldiers of Germany, in you I place my trust! In each one of you
lives the passionate will to conquer, which nothing can subdue.
Each one of you knows, if need be, how to die a hero's death.

Remember our great and glorious past!

Remember that you are Germans!

God help us!

WILHELM.

Berlin, Schloss, Aug. 6, 1914.

* * * * *

[Illustration: AUGUSTA VICTORIA,
German Empress.
(_Photo from M.E. Burner._)]

TO GERMAN WOMEN.

An Appeal from the Kaiserin.

On the summons of the Emperor our people are preparing for an
unprecedented struggle, which it did not invoke and which it is
only carrying on in its defense. Whoever can bear arms will
joyfully hasten to the colors to defend the Fatherland with his
blood. The struggle will be gigantic and the wounds to be healed
innumerable, therefore I call upon you women and girls of Germany,
and all to whom it is not given to fight for our beloved home, for
help. Let every one now do what lies in her power to lighten the
struggle for our husbands, sons, and brothers. I know that in all
ranks of our people, without exception, the will exists to fulfill
this high ideal, but may the Lord God strengthen us in our holy
work of love, which summons us women to devote all our strength to
the Fatherland in its decisive struggle.

The organizations primarily concerned who should be supported first
have already sent out notices regarding the mustering of volunteers
and the collection of gifts of all kinds.

AUGUSTE VICTORIA.

Berlin, Aug. 6.

* * * * *

"TO THE LAST BREATH OF MAN AND HORSE."

Proclamation by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Since the foundation of the empire it has been for forty-three
years the object of the efforts of myself and my ancestors to
preserve the peace of the world and to advance by peaceful means
our vigorous development. But our adversaries were jealous of the
successes of our work. There has been latent hostility on the east
and on the west and beyond the sea. It was borne by us till now, as
we were aware of our responsibility and power. Now, however, these
adversaries wish to humiliate us, asking that we should look on
with crossed arms and watch our enemies preparing themselves for a
coming attack. They will not suffer that we maintain resolute
fidelity to our ally who is fighting for its position as a great
power and with whose humiliation our power and honor would equally
be lost. So the sword must decide.

In the midst of perfect peace the enemy surprises us. Therefore to
arms! Any dallying, any temporizing would be which our fathers
founded; to be or not to be, is the question for the empire which
our fathers founded. To be or not to be German power and German
existence. We shall resist to the last breath of man and horse, and
shall fight out the struggle even against a world of enemies. Never
has Germany been subdued when it was united. Forward with God, who
will be with us as He was with our ancestors!

Berlin, Aug. 6. WILHELM.

* * * * *

JOY IN GLORIOUS VICTORY.

Speech of Kaiser at a Parade During Swift German Advance Toward Paris.

Comrades: I have gathered you around me here in order to take joy
with you in the glorious victory which our comrades have in several
days of hot battle won with their swords. Troops out of every nook
and cranny of the empire helped one another in invincible bravery
and unshakable loyalty to win great results. There stood together
under the leadership of the son of the Bavarian King and fought,
with equal blades, troops of all ages, active, reservists, and
landwehr.

For our victory we are thankful, in the first place, to our God,
(unserem alten Gott.) He will not desert us, since we stand for a
holy cause. Many of our comrades have already fallen in battle.
They died as heroes for the Fatherland. We will think of them with
honor here, and shout to the honor of those still in the field.
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

We still have many a bloody battle before us. Let us hope for
further successes like this. We shall not relent, and we shall get
to the enemy's hide. We shall not lose our faith and trust in our
good old God up there, (unserem guten alten Gott dort oben.) We are
determined to win, and we must win.

* * * * *

FIRST SUCCESSFUL BATTLE.

Telegram from Kaiser Wilhelm II. to Chief of Troops in Upper Alsace,
Aug. 15.

Grateful to God, Who was with us. I thank you and your troops for
the first victory. Please convey to all the troops which took part
in the fight my imperial thanks in the name of the Fatherland.

YOUR CHIEF WAR CAPTAIN.

* * * * *

A PRAYER FOR VICTORY.

By the Kaiser's Order to Supreme Council of the Evangelical Church--To
Be Included in the Liturgy Throughout the War.

Almighty and merciful God! God of the armies! We beseech Thee in
humility for Thy almighty aid for our German Fatherland. Bless the
entire German war force, lead us to victory, and give us grace that
we may show ourselves to be Christians toward our enemies as well.
Let us soon arrive at the peace which will everlastingly safeguard
our free and independent Germany.

* * * * *

"UP AND AT THE FOES."

Kaiser's Farewell Speech to First Regiment of Foot Guards at Potsdam.

I draw the sword that with God's help I have kept all these years
in the scabbard. I have drawn the sword, which without victory and
without honor I cannot sheath again. All of you will see to it that
only in honor is it returned to the scabbard. You are my guarantee
that I can dictate peace to my enemies. Up and at the foes, and
down with the enemies of Brandenburg!

* * * * *

ON VICTORY NEAR METZ.

From Cabinet Order of Kaiser Wilhelm II., Published in Berlin Aug. 23.

The mobilization and concentration of the army is now complete, the
German railways having carried out the enormous transport movements
with unparalleled certainty and punctuality. With a heart filled
with gratitude my first thoughts turn to those who since 1870-71
have worked quietly upon the development of an organization which
has emerged from its first serious test with such glorious success.
To all who have co-operated with them I wish to express my imperial
thanks for their loyal devotion to duty in making possible in
obedience to my call the transportation of armed masses of German
troops against my enemies. The present achievement [near Metz]
convinces me that the railways of the country will be equal to the
heaviest demands that might be made upon them during the course of
the gigantic struggle in which we are engaged for the future of the
German Nation.

* * * * *

THE SPIRIT OF THE MEN.

Kaiser's Telegram from Dresden to the King of Saxony, Oct. 2.

I am very glad to be able to send you the best reports of the
Nineteenth Army Corps and the Twelfth Reserve Corps. I visited
yesterday the Third Army and greeted especially the brave 181st
Regiment, to which I expressed my recognition. I found your third
son and your brother Max as well as Laffert and Kirchbach in the
best of health. The spirit among the men is splendid. With such an
army we shall be able to complete victoriously the rest of our
difficult task. To this end may the Almighty stand by us.

WILHELM.

* * * * *

HIS INDISCRETION WAS "CALCULATED."

Interview With Kaiser Wilhelm II., Oct. 28, 1908, and Its
Consequences.

_An interview between the German Emperor and "a representative
Englishman, who long since passed from public to private life,"
appeared in The London Telegraph on Oct. 28, 1908, and was the next day
authenticated by the German Foreign Office in Berlin with the comment
that it was "intended as a message to the English people." This last
expression of the Kaiser toward Great Britain--until his declarations on
the eve of the present war--deeply stirred the German people in protest
and resulted in the Kaiser's pledge to Chancellor von Buelow that
henceforth the imperial views would be subject to the bridle of the
Ministry and the Council of the Empire. The interview as recorded by the
"representative Englishman" was as follows:_

Moments sometimes occur in the history of nations when a calculated
indiscretion proves of the highest public service. It is for this
reason that I have decided to make known the substance of a lengthy
conversation which it was my recent privilege to have with the
Emperor.

I do so in the hope that it will help to remove that obstinate
misconception of the character of the Emperor's feelings toward
England, which I fear is deeply rooted in the ordinary Englishman's
breast. It is the Emperor's sincere wish that it should be
eradicated. He has given repeated proofs of his desire by word and
deed. But, to speak frankly, his patience is sorely tried now; he
finds himself so continually misrepresented and has so often
experienced the mortification of finding that any momentary
improvement in relations is followed by renewed outbursts of
prejudice and a prompt return to the old attitude of suspicion.

His Majesty spoke with impulsive and unusual frankness, saying:
"You English are as mad, mad, mad as March hares. What has come
over you that you are completely given over to suspicions that are
quite unworthy of a great nation? What more can I do than I have
done? I declared with all the emphasis at my command in my speech
at the Guildhall that my heart was set upon peace and that it was
one of my dearest wishes to live on the best terms with England.
Have I ever been false to my word? Falsehood and prevarication are
alien to my nature. My actions ought to speak for themselves, but
you will not listen to them, but to those who misinterpret and
distort them."

Resents a Personal Insult.

"This is a personal insult which I resent; to be forever misjudged,
to have my repeated offers of friendship weighed and scrutinized
with jealous, mistrustful eyes taxes my patience severely. I have
said time after time that I am a friend of England, and your press,
or at least a considerable section of it, bids the people of
England to refuse my proffered hand and insinuates that the other
hand holds a dagger. How can I convince a nation against its will?"

Complaining again of the difficulty imposed on him by English
distrust, his Majesty said: "The prevailing sentiment of large
sections of the middle and lower classes of my own people is not
friendly to England. I am, therefore, so to speak, in the minority
in my own land, but it is a minority of the best element, just as
it is in England respecting Germany."

The Englishman reminded the Kaiser that not only England but the
whole of Europe viewed with disapproval the recent sending of the
German Consul at Algiers to Fez and forestalling France and Spain
by suggesting the recognition of Sultan Mulai Hafid. The Kaiser
made an impatient gesture and exclaimed: "Yes? that is an excellent
example of the way German actions are misrepresented," and with
vivid directness he defended the aforesaid incident, as the German
Government has already done.

The interviewer reminded the Kaiser that an important and
influential section of the German newspapers interpreted these acts
very differently, and effusively approved of them because they
indicated that Germany was bent upon shaping events in Morocco.

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