TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-12-21

with Antwerp as its object and under
tho hypothesis Of the German troops
marching through our country in order
to reach the French Ardennes.
In this question, the colonel said, he
quite agreed with the plan which ] had
submitted to him, and he assured me
also Of the approval Of General Grier-
soil, chief Of the English general staff.
Other secondary questions, which
were likewise settled, had particular
reference to intermediary officers, in
terpreters, gendarmes, maps, photo
graphs Of the uniforms, special copies
translated into English of some Belgian
regulations, the regulations concerning
the import duties on English provisions,
to the accommodations of the wounded
Of the allied armies, etc. Nothing was
resolved on as regards the activity
which the government or the military
authorities might exert on the press.
During the final meetings which ] had
with the British attache he informed me
about the number of troops which
would be daily disembarked at Bou-
logne, Calais and Cherbourg.
The distance Of the last place which
is necessary for technical considerations
viii involve. certain delay. The First
amy corps would be disembarked on
the tenth day and the Second on the
fifteenth. Our railways would carry
out the transportation SO that the ar.
rival Of the First corps, either in the
direction Of Brussels-Louvain or OF Ma.
mrr- -Dinant, would be assured on the
eleventh day aud that OF the Second on
the sixteenth day. III
] have again, for q last time and as
cmphatically as l could, insisted on the
necessity to hasten the sea transports
so that the English troops could be
with us between the eleventh and
twelfth day. The happiest and most
favorable results can be reached by q
ccnvergent and simultaneous action OF
tho allied forces. But If that co-opera-
tion should not take place the failure
would be most serious. Colonel Bar.
nardiston assured me that everything
serving this end would be done.
In the course Of our conversations
had occasion to convince the British
military attache that we were willing.
50 far as possible, to thwart the move
ments of the enemy and not to take
refuge in Antwerp from the beginning.
Lieutenant Colonel Barnardiston on
his part told me that at the time he
had little hope for any support or in
tervention on the part Of Holland. At
the same time he informed me that his
government intended to transfer the
basis Of the British eommissariat from
the French coast to Antwerp as soon
as oil German ships were swept off the
North sea.
In all our conversations the colonel
regularly informed me about the secret
news which he had concerning the
military circumstances and the situa
tion Of our eastern neighbors, etc. At
the same time he emphasized that Bel
gum was under the imperative neces.
sity 70 keep hersslf constantly informed
OF tho happenings in the adjoining
Rhinsiands- had to admit that with
us the surveillance service abroad was,
In times Of peace. not directly in the
hands OF tho general staff, our legations
had no military attaches. But ] was
careful not TO admit that did not
know whether the espionage service
which Is prescribed in our regulations
was In working order or not. But /
consider il my duty to point out this
position, which places us in state of
evident inferiority to our neighbors,
our Presiimable enemies.
Major General, Chief Of the General
Staff.
initials Of General Dunarne.)
r. se-When ! mat Csnersl Grisrson
q c0mpisgns during The passuysrs of|