The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-08-20
DECLARES KAISER
WAS UNPREPARED
FOR HOSTILITIES

London, Aug. 1S.-That Germany did
not want war and was not prepared for
1T, and that Kaiser William was forced
into it by the blunders of Austria be-
fore he really knew what was going on,
Is the explicit and definite story
brought here today by Robert Crozicr
Long, newspaper correspondent and
military expert, who has just returned
from Berlin.
Mr.. Long says he speaks from first
hand information and that Kaiser
William even went SO far as to threat
en- Austria that he would tear up the
agreement OF the triple alliance and
leave her alone to fight Russia, Servia
and the whole Slavic people. Mr..
Longs statement is:
During the war crisis I was received
by Foreign Minister Jagow, by Assist
ant Minister Zimmerman, by Baron
Stumm, chief Of the English depart
ment Of the foreign office in Berlin.
ALSO had long talks with Russian
Ambassador Swerbenmeff. 1 was
shown by Bethmann-Hollweg a copy
of Germany's threat to Austria to tear
up the triple alliance, during the ne
gotiations with Russia after Russia's
partial mobilization.
Kaiser William did everything he
could for peace despite protests. Cen
eral Moltke, the chief of staff, delayed
the mobilization decree.
The causes of the war, apart from
lfdulllOLdl race hatred ana remote Ills
torical grounds, were two, for neither
of which was Kaiser William guilty.
1.-THE first cause was the incredible
folly of Austrian Foreign Minister
Count Berchtold in refusing to nego-
tate with Russia direct after July 20.
After Russia had modified the dis
tricts of Kieff, Odessa, Moscow and
Kazan. all four districts modified
against Austria.
Warning to Austria.
"Bethmann-Hollweg, in his zeal for
peace, practically issued an ultimatum
to Austria. He ordered her, in imper-
ative language. to resume negotiations,
declaring that otherwise Germany
would desert her. Berchtold climbed
down and started direct negotiations
was done. Russia had then modified
all her army, ignored the kaiser's
warning, and compelled Germany and
Austria to mobilize also.
Germany claims hat Russia and
France began the actual fighting. Rus
Postken, August /, and France by
dropping bombs from aeroplanes near
Nuremburg. August 2.
TN this war, beyond doubt, all
bloodguiltiness lies on two powers. On
Austria for her undue harshness TO
Servia, also for Berchtold's p~igheaded
obstinacy and pedantry on the Russian
side for dishonesty in secretly mobil-
iZing her full army at the moment
when Car Nicholas was imploring the
kaiser to intervene for peace, and
when the kaiser was working with
good prospects of success.
Germany Not Ready for War.
81 was told that the kaiser was even
more angry with Austria than with
Russia. I see proof of Germany's pa
cifc intentions in the fact that the war
finds Germany in a difficult military
position. her fleet dispersed, her allies
troops caught in the Servia mousse
"This alone proves that Kaiser Will
liam and the German military party did
not want war.
81 must say a word regarding Am
bassador Gerard, who has won the adj
miration of all English speaking people
in Berlin. The United States embassy,
nearly opposite Bethmann-Hollweg's
palace, is thronged with hunoseds or
American and English refugees, to
whom Gerard was a providence. Tues
day, the day Of the declaration of war,
more thar 1900 went to him for advice.
He personally saw most everyone. He
quickly organized a plan to help;
Particularly has he gained the
gratitude of the helpless British.
Wednesday nearly 200 Englishmen
were arrested as being of military
service age and potential enemies.
High Praise for Gerard.
Gerard obtained the release of all
as well as the English cor
~sponden The last / saw of him
was when he was starting for the for
eign office to secure the release of 40
young English1nen taken to Standau
fortress. He said to me:
"aTell everyone there's no need to
worry about the security of Americans
in Berlin. Many will suffer discomfort
and maybe p%rivation unless financial
aid is sent Immediately. | call on a
generous American public to respond.
Just before leaving Beriln l talked
to a prominent German diplomatic Of
fetal. who said:
"tGerard is splendid. The only thing
wrong with him is he isn't a German '