The citizen., 1914-08-14
OFFICIAL DEFENSE
OF KA|SER'S ACTION
German Viewpoint of The Great
War Now Raging.
OTHER POWERS ACCUSED
The German Charge Maintains To Sec
retsry Byan That England and
France Have Been MisrePre-
senting His Government.

Washington, D. C.-The Germs1.
viewpoint on the struggle now going
On in Europe was given By the Ger
man charge d'afaires, Haniel von
Haimhausen, who returned from New
port TO assume personal direction Of the
German Embassy in the absence in
Europe of the German Ambassador,
Count Won Bernstorff Mr.. Won Hahn
hausen held a lengthy conference with
Secretary Bryan on the general situa-
ton and also saw Chancellor lansing,
Of the State Department, concerning
several acute phases relating TO the
detention of Americans in Germany,
the sailing Of German reservists an0
the operations OF German merchant
ships.
Concerning the political aspect Of
the conflict. the German charge main
tains that the reports from London
seek to give the erroneous impression
that Germany precipitated the war
wholly because German troops had ad-
vanced into. Belgium, whereas he de
clares the British foreign Office had
previously laid down terms TO Ger
many which would have had the effec.
Of restraining the German navy from
operating against Russia-the most
natural waterway leading TO the Rus
sian possessions-or from operating
against France along the north coast
Of that country, which was the most
natural and proximate point for the
German naval forces 10 operate.
Thus before the Belgian issue arose,
Mr. Van Haimhausen contends. Eng.
and had sought to compel Germany to
hold its navy inactive at the very
points where il could be most ef
fective: to reduce it to state Of COM
Darative inaction in upholding such
position as the German nation might
determine upon.
AS to Belgium, also, Mr.. Won Hahn
hausen declares, the British govern
ment sought to tie the hands Of Ger
many by a permanent agreement not
to cross Belgian territory, when at the
5ame time Germany was aware that
French forces had already entered Bel
gium and were operating there in
defiance of all neutrality; also that
Belgian coast points were ready TO re
ceive the British land and sea forces
1t was this menace of humiliating the
German navy by reducing it to con,
dition of passive inaction, except at
points far removed from its base. while
British and other fleets were free TO
operate at will, and the added re-
straint of Germany in Belgium, while
France remained unrestrained, that
compelled Germany to reject the Brit
ish conditions and adopt measures
compatible with her national dignity
and defense.
AS to the military operations around
Liege. Mr. Won Haimhausen points out
that English and French reports seek
to give them the aspect of great en-
gagement, whereas he says they are
merely the work of an advance guard,
small in number, with the vast Ger
man forces now advancing, which
made a bold but unsuccessful attempt
to take a modern fortress. He con-
siders the English reports of losses as
greatly exaggerated, and says that not
withstanding the English reports the
advance guard was not equipped with
the heavy siege guns capable of re-
ducing fortress. Mr.. Won Hahn
hausen looks upon this as merely a
prelude to the advance of the highly
organized main corps of the German
Army.
The German charge explained 60 Off
cials that the interruption of Ameri-
can travel and exit in Germany was
the result of military necessity in TAX
ing all available train and transporta-
ton service, and that it would be ac-
complished with the least possible in
convenience to individuals and would
soon be over.