Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-09-08
Won Bernstorff Discusses
War From German Viewpoint
Noted Diplomat Gives Comprehensive Answers to Many Much Dis
cuwed Questions, Defending His Country's
POLICY.

"In order that the American
people may have an opportunity
OF hearing the German side OF
the ase from an official source,
The Independent has asked Count
j. II. o Bernstorff to reply to
certain questions which have
been much discussed in the press,
and he has kindly consented to
do so. The public will appre.
ciate the frankness and definite
ness with which he answers our
queries.-The Editor
Did Germany approve in advance
the Austrian ultimatum to Servia?
Yes. Germany's reason for doing so
are the following. For six years Ser
via has been the outpost Of Pan-Slav-
ism against Austria. The principle
Of Pan|Slavism is the assumption that
Russia Is the protector of the Slav
nations. This makes it clear to
everybody who looks into the ques-.
ton that Pan-Slavism means the des-
truction of Austria, which is half
Slav. Austria bore patiently for
years the. undermining campaign OF
the Pan-Slavic party, which was car.
ried on in Austria. But the assassi-
nation Of the Crown Prince brought
her patience to a sudden end. 1t is
believed by many people in the Unit
ed States that Servia accepted all,
or nearly all, of Austria's demands.
In reality She did not accept the most
important one, namely, that of issu.
ing to the officers of the Servian ar
my an official condemnation of Pan
Slavic propaganda and of the assas-
%sination of the Crown lPhince. Now
it has been proved that the assassi-
nation of the Grown Prince was pre-
pared and arranged by Servian Off.
GERS. He was shot with a Servian
army revolver.
Could not Germany after the Aus
TRAN ultimatum was delivered have
prevented Austria from precipitating
the war!
II the Servian war is meant, the an
swer is that Austria could not posi-
bly, be kept from going TO a with
Servia after her patience had been so
overtaxed. ] ask any American
whether he thinks the American peo-
pie would not have started war with
Mexico Immediately If during the
Mexican troubles Huerta had hired
assassins to Xii! the Vice-President
of the United States? How would
the reader answer this question?All
European governments, with the ex-
ception of Russia, tried to localize
the wal between Seryia and Austria.
But then Russia, on lPan-Slavic prin-
ciples, said that she had to defend
Servia. Germany did it's utmost to
prevent a universal war. When ask
ed by Russia to induce Austria to
make concessions, she prest Austria
as far as she possibly could within
the bounds Of her friendship and alli-
ance. Thereupon Austria made the
greatest possible concessions and
promised absolutely to regard and up
hold the integrity of the SerVian
kingdom. This concession was trans.
mitted by the German government to
the Russian Government. No other
answer was sent except the mobiliza-
ton of the whole Russian army
against Germany and Austria. There
upon the German Government asked
the Russian Government why they
were mobilizing their whole army
against Germany and Austria. Ger
many has not received the answer to
this question to this day. Instead Of
answer Russian troops crost the Ger
man frontier. The first Russian
prisoners Of war were taken before
any declaration of war was made.
After this act the German overnment
informed the Russian Government
that they considered themselves in
a state of war with Russia, and the
rest followed as a consequence of the
existing alliances in Europe.
What is the justification for the
violation of the Belgian neutrality to
which Germany was a party?
The violation of Belgian neutrality
is an action which is universally re-
GREETED in Germany. But it was con-
sidered an absolute military strate.
gical necessity. If Germany had en-
tered France by the routes Of Metz
and Strassbourg, the French army
would have entered Belgium ana
fallen on our right flank. We had alb
solutely reliable information that this
intention existed in the French army.
We were absolutely III that Bel
GUM would not be able to defend her
neutrality against France, and would
probably not even be willing to do so,
as her fortresses had all been built
against Germany and not against
France. Furthermore, On the first
day Of the war French motor cars
with French officers past through
Belgium to reconnoiter in Germany
without being stopped by Belgian auth
critics. Equally French aeroplanes
flew yer Belgium without being
stopped and lhombarded German
cities. Our information about the
French army was furthermore cor
roborated by the fact that English
generals visited Brussels in the
spring at the time when the coalition
was preparing for war against us.
The governments of the coalition
cannot suppose that we do not know
that during the visit of King George
to PAWS the military negotiations
were going on between England,
France and Russia for the purpose Of
a joint attack against Germany.
Is not the dropping Of shells with
out warning from an airship upon
cities like Antwerp and Paris a vio-
lation of civilized warfare?
l am rather surprised at the words
without warning" in this question,