The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-28

1 ofD Thereby France, although the con dition of war had not yet been declared l had attacked our territory.
 | Concerning the French complaints ir
 regard to.violations of the border, l have received from the chief of the general l staff the following report. Only one of | fense has been committed. Contrary to
 an emphatic order, patrol of the Four | teenth army corps led by an officer 1 crossed the border on August ?. They | apparently were killed Only one man returned. However long before the cross 1 ing of the border French flyers were dropping bombs in southern Germany and at Schluchtpass the French troops | had attacked our border troops.
 Until the present our troops have con fined their activity to the protection of our borders They are now on the de- fense and necessity recognizes no law. (Very trueD
 Our troops have occupied Iuxemburg. and perhaps have also found it necessary to enter Belgian territory. 01eartv ap- plause) This is contrary to international law. The French government has de- clared in Brussels they will respect the neutrality of Belgium as long as she re- spects the opponent. We knew, h pwever, that France was ready to invade Bel gium. fIear hearD France could wait: we, however. could not. because French invasion in our lower Rhein flank would have proved fatal.
 Will Try to Rccompense Belgium So we were forced to disregard the pro- tests of the Luxemburg aAd Belgian gov ernments. We shall try to make good the injustice we have committed as soon as our military goal has been reached. (Ap- 1 plause) Who like we are fighting for the highest. must only consider how vic- | tory can be gained. Enthusiastic ap- plsiuse in entire house.)
 1 Gentlemen. we are standing shoulde, to shoulder with Austria Hungary. With l reference to England. the declaration l which Sir Edward Grey made in the House of Commons yesterday plainly l shows our attitude. We have assured l England that as long as she remains neutral our fleet will not attack ths l northern coast of France and that ths 1 territorial Integrity and independence o'
 l Belgium will not be violated. This dec
 1 I4ration repeat before the whole wsrld
 ! and l can add that so long as England
 remains neutral we are prepared in case
 of reciprocity to refrain from all hostile
 I operations against French merchant yes
 sells (Applause)
 Gentlemen, so much for the events
 l repeat the words of the Kaiser "N itr a clear conscience Germany goes 70 the
 battlefield. Enthusiastic approval ) 1 We are fighting for the fruits of ou, 1 peaceful industry. for the inheritance oI a great past and for our future.
 Face the Trial With Confidence
 l The 50 years of which Moltke spoke \ and in which we should stand armed anc | ready to protect our inheritance and ths l acquisitions of 1870. have not vet passed l The hour of trial for the German nation has struck. but we are facing 1t with con hdencc. tStormy approval.)
 l Our army is fin the field. our fleet ts ready for battle. and behind it stands tn, 1 entire German nation. Enthusiastic ap. l plause from the entire houseD The en- l tire nation! with gesture particu l larly directed toward the social demo crats. Renewed applause. in which the social democrats also joinedD You. gen l tlemen, realize your duty in it's entirety
 The question needs no further considera.
 ton. and request speedy action. (En- thusiastic applause.)