The Washington times., 1917-10-06


Prince Lichnowsky, the German
ambassador in London, certainly re-
ported to his government that Eng
land did not wish to enter the war.
He claims now that he did not mean
that England would not fight at all
events; but, undoubtedly, the Ger
man foreign Office believed that Eng
land would remain out of the war.
The raising of the Ulster army by
Sir Edward Carson, one of the most
gigantic political bluffs in all his
tory, which had no more revolution
&ry or military significance than a
torchlight parade during one of our
Presidential campaigns, was report
ed by the German spies as a real and
serious revolutionary movement. Of
course, it was believed by the Ger
mans that ireland would rise in gen.
er1l rebellion the moment that war
was declared. In the summer of 1914
Russia was believed to be on the
edge Of revolution.
Government Warned.
As have said in a previous chapter,
the movement against militarism, cyl-
minating in the extraordinary vote in
the Reichstag against the govern
msnt at the time of the Zahern affair,
warned the government and military
people that the mass of Germans
were coming to their senses and were
preparing to shake or the bogey of
militArism and fear, which had roost-
ed 50 long on their shoulders like q
Prussian Old Man Of the Sea.
The Pan-Germans and the AnneXa-
tionists were hot for war. The people
alive could recall only three wars,
the war against Denmark in 1864.
which was settled In a few days and
added the duchies of Schleswig and
Holstein to the Prussian crown, and
the war of 1866, in which Bavaria,
Baden, Wurttemberg, HesseDarm-
stadt, and Saxony were defeated, when
the Austrian kingdom Of Hanover dis
appeared and the terSjtory of Hesse-
CaSsel, Nassau, and the free city of
Frankfort were added to Prussia This
war, from its declaration to the bat
tle OF Koniggratz, in which the Aus
trians were completely defeated, last
ed only two weeks.
In 1870 France was defeated within
q month and q half after the opening
OF hostilities, so that the Kaiser was
implicitly believed when, on the FIRST
day OF the war, he appeared on the
balcony of the palace and told the
crowds, who were keen for war, that
before the leaves have fallen from
the trees you will be back in your
homes."
Believed the Kaiser.
The army and all Germany believed
the Kaiser, and believed, too, that a
few short weeks would see the de-
struction Of France and the conse-
quent seizure OF her rich colonies;
that Russia could then be struck a
good blow before she could concen-
trate her army and resources; that
England would remain neutral, and
that Germany would consequently be-
come, II not the actual owner of the
world, at least its dictator. Some one
has since said that the Emperor must
have meant pine trees!
Working ever in the dark, either
owning or influencing newspapers,
the great munition and arms factory
of the Krupps InsidIously poisoned
the minds Of the people with the mi |
crobe OF war.
Prince Lichnowsky, the German
ambassador TO London. called upon me
often after the outbreak of the war
and insisted that he had correctly re-
ported the sentiments of England in |
saying that England did not want
war.
After Prince Lichnowsky's return |
to Germany the Germans quite un-
fairly treated him as a man who had |
failed, and seemed to blame him be- !
cause England had taken the only |
possible course open to her and |
ranged herself on the side of France |
and Russia
The dedication at Leipzig, In the |
year 1913, Of the great monument to
celebrate what is called the war of |
liberation" and the victory at Leip- |
zig in the war OF the nations, 1913. |
had undoubtedly kindled a martial |
spirit in Germany.
Read Omin0ua Signs.
To my mind, the course which real
ly determined the Emperor and the |
ruling class for war was the attitude
of the whole people in the Zabern