The Washington times., 1914-09-27
THE GERMAN PLANNING.

Discussion of the responsibility
for the war is at this time fruitless,
but it will be highly important fac
tor in determining the terms of
Ipeace. There has been a good deal
of blood-to-the, bride talking on both
sides; of protestations that the last
man and last gun must be. reached
before either side will make terms.
But whether peace comes early or
late-and there is present indication
only of long war-the question Of
responsibility at the beginning will
have to he tkreshed out before the
world as preliminary to settlement.
Each side he's accused the other of
deliberately forcing the war. Ger
many has protested that she was
forced into it. in order to end the
menace of "French militarisn." That
explanation can weigh only with peo-
pie utterly ignorant of the initiative
which German militarism has taken
and held for 9rany years in making
the Continent a fortified camp of
armed millions.
Sooner or later, the facts will get
to the public in pretty complete
form, on which judgment of respon-
sibilities can be formed. That iuJg-
ment will be based largely on such
facts as these:
That German literature, apparent
ly inspired and semi-official, has for
years educated the German people to
expect a world-war in which Ger
many would make its bid for doini-
nation of the world. Philosophers,
economists, and soldiers have all dis
cussed the varying phases in which
they were fairly to be regarded as
experts, preparing the public mind
for the time when the war should de-
nland support.
That German preparation was de-
liberately based on the plan of vio-
lating Belgian neutrality. which
Germany was pledged to sustain.
That ir advance of the war Ger
many confidently expected to be able
to keep Great Britain neutral. This
is indicated by the fact that great
chain of wireless telegraph stations
was established in many quarters of
the world, mcst of which could not
possibly be projected against the at
tacks of the British fleet, and most
Of which, because that fleet unex-
pectedly proved a factor in the war,
have already been wrested from Ger
man control. Germany expected TO
blockade the frontiers of the en-
emics, cut cables, and isolate them
from communication with the world. |
Then, her own splendid wireless
equipment would give her the vast
advantage, il naval, military, and
commercial matters, Of being as
sured of outside communication
while her adversaries were cut off.
Instead, the advent of Britain as a
warning factor has exactly reversed
this situation.
That the German chancellor and
foreign minister were taken COM
pletely by surprise and supremely
chagrincd when their project was
wrecked by the ul5imaturn from
Great Britain, which compelled Brit |
ain to be numbered among the ma
tions against whom Germany was |
fighting.
Finally, one big piecc of new evil
dcnce against Germany, indicative Of |
the deliberations and the di2ingnru-
BUSINESS Of that nations prepara-
tons, has just come to light. n is
stated from moro than ono authority.
that around Maubeuge, the great
French fortress in the north, tho
Germans bad laid down foundations,
IH Ii'ii'h '''il' ~ great siege gums.
The Germans. in time of peace. en-
tered French territory in the rrise
of industrial enterprise. In come
cases the enterprise took the form of
for deep wells; in others, of
building factories; in both cases the
procedure was to lay great concrete
foundations, which pretended to 3e
the floors IF prospective factories, or
the support for drilling machinery.
But when the war opened and Ger
man strategy required 4 quick move
against Maubeugc. the Germans ar-
peared with their huge siege guns
the secret of which had been 50
strictly puarded-and mounted them
on these f2UEdrrion#, The emplace-
meItS had b"2n pla"ai with "Icn fine
precision that they wrrc o;Is of ran-,c
Ct the offending gun; Of the fortress.
hut we'll within the longer range III
the monster German pieces! There