New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-05

procedure of Germany in an endeaVor
TO maintain peace, saying:
"From the very outbreak OF the Aus
trian- Servian conflict we worked 10
confne the hostiities to Austria and
Servia. All the Cabinets, particularly
that Of Great Britain, used the same
endeavor. Russia alone declared that
she must have something TO say as to
the solution of the conflict, and there
by raised the danger Of European COM
plications.
CAS- soon as the first definite news
was received regarding the Russian
military preparations, we directed
friendly but strong communication 10
st. Petersburg, pointing out that war
like measures against Austrla-H hungary
would find us on the side OF our ally;
that military preparations against US
would force us to corresponding coun-
ter measures, and that mobilization
would not be far removed from war.
Russia assured US in solemn fashion OF
her wish for peace, and declared that
she would not enter into any sort OF
military preparations against US.
an the meantime England sought to
mediate between Vienna and ST. Peters
burg. We warmly supported her. On
July % the Emperor of Germany re-
quested the Emperor of Russia by tele-
graph TO consider that Austria Hungary
had the right and duty to protect her
self against the great Servian plots and
intrigues which were undermining her
existence.
about the same time and prior 70
the receipt of this telegram the Rus
sian Emperor urgently asked the Ger
man Emperor for his aid, and request
ed the German Emperor to counsel mod
Grafton in Vienna. The German En-
peror undertook this role of mediator,
but he had scarcely set in motion his
Offices to this end when Russia mo-
bilzed all her forces against Austria
Hungary. The Dual Monarchy itself
had only modified against Servia. 1t
had modified two army corps IN the
north, far from the Russian frontier
Accuses Car of Treachery.
"The Russian mobilization was de-
cided in principle before the Russian
Emperor addressed himself to the Ger
man Emperor. The latter notified the
Russian Emperor forthwith that his
good Offices as mediator would be made
more difficult by this general mobili-
zation against Austria Hungary, II they
were not wholly frustrated. Never
theless we continued our mediation in
Vienna and exercised it in forms which
went almost to the extreme limit COM
pstible with our relation as ally.
During this time Russia renewed
spontaneously its assurances that 1t
was making no military preparations
against us. July 81 came. A decision
was TO have been made in Vienna. Our
mediation already had been successful
to the extent that Vienna, under press
ure from us, again had entered into
direct "conversatians" with st. Peters
burg. But before the decision could be
given in Vienna the news reached us
that Russia was modifying its entire
forces, and against us also. The Rus
sian government, which knew from our
repeated representations what moblllza-
ton against US would mean, announced
that it-was modelling, but did not give
any explanation concerning its action
Later in the afternoon a telegram
arrived from the Russian Emperor to
the German Emperor. In il the Rus
sian Emperor declared that his army
would not take any provocative action
toward us. but the Russian mobiliZa-
ton on our frontier had been in full
progress since the night of July 20.
"While we, at Russia's request, me-
dated in Vienna, the Russian forces
we're raised on our almost open from
tier. and France, though she did not
mobilize, admits that she took some
military measures.
ave mad deliberately abstained up
TO that time for the sake Of the peace
of Europe fro calling a single reserv-
list to the colors. Should we have wait
ed patiently longer until the powers
between which we are wedged in were
in a position TO choose the time when
TO deliver their blow? To have ex-
posed Germany TO this danger would
have been criminal. Therefore, on July
81. we demanded of Russia the demo-
Obligation of her troops as the only
measure which could preserve the peace
Of Europe. The imperial German AM
bassador in st. Petersburg was given
the commission to declare to the Rus
sian government that in case Of rejec-
ton of our demand we should be
obliged 20 declare state of war.
Says French Bombs Started II.
"When the allotted time expired the
German Emperor was compelled at D
p. m. on August 20 order the mobil-
izaton of our forces. We were COM
PEELED at the same time to make sure
what attitude France would assume in
the situation. To our definite ques-
tion whether she would remain neu-
trail in a German Russian war she an
swered that she would do what her in
terests bsde her
Nevertheless, the German Emperor
gave orders that the French frontier
should be respected absolutely. These
orders were strictly followed without
exception. France, which modified at
the same hour that we did, told US
that she would maintain zone ten
kilometres back from the German
frontier, but what took place in re-
atty was that French aviators cast
bombs upon and cavalry patrols
entered the imperial lands (Alsace-
Lorraine). France thereby broke the
peace and actually attacked us, though
state of war had not yet been pro-
claimed
even prior TO this time small de.
tachments of French troops had
crossed the German frontier, French
aviators had thrown bombs on our rail.
ways and French troops had attacked
our frontier guards at Schluchpass
Our troops, in pursuance Of their or
ders, remained wholly on the defen.
sive. These arc the actual facts.
I'VE arc acting in self-defence, and
necessity knows no law. Our troops
have occupied Luxembourg and perhaps
already have advanced into Belgian
territory. This is against the law OF
nations. The French government had
declared in Brussels that il would re-