The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-17

us absolutely no explanation. Not until
the afternoon Of July s. did the Kaiser
receive n message from the Car IN
which he assured him that the attitude
of his army was not hostile toward us.
However. the mobilization against us
on tho Russian border was on the night
Of July II already In full progress.
While We. at the request Of Russia.
were mcdintinS in Vienna. the Russian
army appeared on our long. almost en-
tirely open burdrr. France, although
not yet modifying. was making prepara-
tions for war. And we, up to this
point. had Intentionally not then called
a single soldier OF the reserve for the
sake OF European peace.
Should we continue to walt with Pm
tienCc until the Powers by which We arc
surrounded chose the moment for at
tack" To expose Germany 10 this dan
ger would have been criminal! Therefore.
on July 81. we demanded that Russia
demobIlizc. this being the only measure
which could save the peace Of Europe.
The Imperial Ambassador received. fur
thcrnurc. the order To declare tn tho
Russian Government that in case they
did not comply with our demands they
should consider that a stute Of war ex-
lists.
'"rhe Imperial ambassador performed
this mission. tp till the present we
have not learned Russians answer TT
this demand. TClcErnphic reports con.
corning it have not Yet reached US. al.
though the wire still transmits less i'm
portRnt messages. Therefore. on Aug
ust l. at o'clock when the appointed
period OF grace was long past. the kaiser
considered II necessary to mobilize.
at the same time we had to mako
sure OF the position Franco would take.
TO OH: direct question whether in case
OF n German Russian war she would re-
main neutral. France answered that she
would do what she had to do In her
own interests. Thut was an cvilsive il
not L negative answer To our question.
I'm spite or this the kaiser gave the
order that the French border should b.
respected. The command was strictly
enforced. with single exception
France. which modified Simultaneous
!y with us declared that she would re-
spect q zone Of ten kilometers from the
border And what happened IN reality"
There were bonn o-throwing fliers. cav
airy patrols. invading companies in the
Reichsland (Alsace- Lorraine). Thereby
France. although the condition Of war
had not yet been declared. had attacked
our territory
Concerning the French complaints in
regard to violations Of the border.
have received from the chief or the
general staff the following report: Only
one orfense has been committed. Con-
trary 10 an emphatic order. Il patrol Of
tho Fourteenth army corps, led by An
officer, crossed the border on August ?.
They apparently were killed. Only ono
man returned. However. long before
tho crossing OF the border French fliers
were dropping bombs In southern Ger
many. and Mt Scnluchtpass tho French
troops had attacked our border troops.
Until tho present our troops have
confined their activity to the protection
Of our borders. They are now on the
defense. and necessity recognizes no
law.
Our troops have occupied Luxem-
burg. and perhaps have also found 1t
necessary to enter Belgian territory.
This Is contrary to international law.