Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-09-03
NOT TRULY NEUTRAL
Military Expert Says Belgium
Deserves No Sympathy.
Declares 1t Had Secret Agreement
With France and England Which
Germany Knew About
kaiser's Only Course.

CThe appended inside story of Belgium
neutrality was prepared by the military
expert of the chamber of German-Amert-
can Commerce, Inc, of New York;
Sympathy for Belgium, whose neu-
trality was supposed to have been SO
brutally violated by Germany, created
by French and English reports an
tagon1zing the American readers
against the position taken by Ger
many In the present crisis and against
Its military tactics, will crumple to
pieces and England's mission as the
protector in arms Of sacred treaty"
will be clearly understood If few
indisputable facts not brought out be-
fore are taken into consideration.
Belgium Is fortified on It's German
boundary whereas 1t has neglected
during the last thirty years to take
similar precautions to protect itself
against Its French and English neigh
bors. There Is severe Anglo-French-
Belgian agreement, the real existence
Of which was established at the be-
ginning Of the Morocco struggle.
Germany for long time had knowl.
edge Of this agreement and acted &C.
cordingly.
England decreed the mobilization Of
It's army on August 2, started The
transportation of its troops to the
continent In the night between the Sd
and 4th, sent its ultimatum regarding
the neutrality of Belgium on August 4,
declaring war on Germany In the
night between the 4th and 9TH
The only course left open for Ger.
many's self-preservation was to an.
tlcipate the passage Of troops through
the neutral territory" of Belgium and
to take possession Of its fortresses.
The quick and precise strategic move,
ments of It's armies assured their sue.
cess and checkmated French English
actions in Belgium.
Belgium has never even tried to
rely upon herself. Wooed for de-
cades by French and English politics,
she always confided the maintenance
OF her neutrality to these powers.
This even went so far that French
engineers, under the supervision Of
General Brialmont, constructed the
Belgian fortresses.
A glance at the map IS sufficient to
realize :. that the fortifcations along
the Mas at Liege, Huy and Namur
would be Of Importance only In case
of German attack There Is not tho
c1i 1f O., ~
site the French boundary, or all the
seaports of Belgium only Antwerp Is
fortifieu against possible attack by
Holland. Hence 1t can clearly be de-
duced that Belgium has not for de-
cades counted on the necessity Of
protecting herself against France and
England, but rather on the assistance
OF these two governments in case Of
hostilities
The German government Is in pos
session OF documents that were ex-
changed between the present COM
mander and the French secretary of
war, In which all the details Of
landing Of an English army expedition
on French and Belgian territory were
discussed and settled.
English transport ships were ready
to sail.
A secret Anglo-French-B Belgian mili-
tary agreement would have been
called into action instantly (as hap
pened In the present war; just as soon
as Germany and France started hos
tilties.
France, according to secret agree
ment, dispatched officers and troops to
Liege before the declaration Of war.
In order to maintain the forts until the
French army of the north succeeded
In its formation south of Brussels.
Doesn't the statement Of these facts
successfully replace miles of French
and English newspaper talk and corre-
spondence?
Germany's boundary on the Belgian
side is unprotected and not fortified.
Should Germany wait until England
and France, after free passage
through Belgium, attack her unpro-
tected right wing?
Germany had knowledge of the
Franco Belgian military agreement.
She knew Frances plans.
The only successful defense Ger
many could offer was to answer at
tock with attack