The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-06
SAYS TRIAL IS PROOF
RUSSIA STARTED WAR
Chancellor Michaelis Dis.
cusses Soukhomlinoff
Treason Hearing.
VINDICATES GERMANY
Declares European Nations
Must Revise Their Judg-
ment Of Kaiser.

Amsterdam, Holland. Sept I'm an
interview with a representative Of the
press. the German chancellor Dr.
George Mchaelis. has made a state
ment in regard to disclosures at the
trial in Pctrograd for high treason of
General Soukhomlinoff, former minis
ter of war.
Great prominence has been given in
the German press recently to tcsi-
mony said to have been taken at the
Soukhomlinoff trial tending to show
Russias responsibility for the begin
ming of the war. Accounts of the trial
reaching this country have not con
tanned such testimony.
Chancellor Michacis said
The statements of the foimer Rus
sian war minister and the former chief
of the general staff General Janusch-
kevitch) arc of the greatest impor-
lance. They are calculated completely
to destroy the legend Of Germany's
guilt in starting the war and they will
force European nations. If the reports
are allowed to he published abroad, to
revise its judgment on Germany.
The moment at which these dis
closures We're made is the most favor
able as we have Just had knowledge Of
the American reply to the pope's note
urging peace. In Secretary Lansing's
answer the German government is de
seribed an Irresponsible government
which secretly planned to dominate the
world which chose its own time for
the war and cruelty and suddenly cX-
ecuted its plan: which did not heed
legal barriers or truthfulncss. which
flooded great continent with blood.
not only of soldiers, but of innocent
women and children. the helpless and
the poor When adopting these accl-
sations from the entire factory Of
calumnies, the American government
obviously has no knowledge of the
course of the proceedings against Cen
eral Sou>homlnoT otherwise its
judgment certainly would have been
quite different"
He Accuses Russia.
at certainly is now established ir-
refutably," DR. Michaelis said further,
that it was not Germany which chose
The time for the war but the military
party surrounding the czar who was
under the Influence Of France and
England. 1t is we'll known that the
German emperor who. before the war
clearly and ON every occasion on
pressed his own desire and that of the
German people for peace, especially
regarding Russia, which surprises by
the events which occurred during his
pleasure trip in scandinavian waters
Up to the last moment, in the cX-
change of kilograms with the emperor
of Russia and the king of England, he
made the most earnest and ferNent at
tempts in the interest of peace.
The Importance of the new disclos
| nres is that the ear, who had to de
| eide AS to war or peace, in fact cam
te the conNietioN from the German
| cmperor's eftorts,0 that Germany die
| not desire waf The consequence ot
| this conviction MAS his positive or
| der to cancel the Russian mobiliza
ton, but II couple of criminals who
| belicd the ear. disregarded the ordcl
and thWart"d its execution.
Il need not remind you of the re-
| lations between General Soukhomli.
loft and the French group of chau.
sinists, NJ. Poincarc and his assist
|
ton of NJ. Poinearc to the presidenc,
was Il Sign of an aggressive Franco
| Russian alliance against Germany ant
| that General Soukhomlinoff was or,
| dered to Paris to play the presdencN
| of the French republic into NJ. Poin
| cares hands. At that time in Paris
! General SoukhomlnoIf made a state
! mont about the Russian army and Tho
alterations Of Russian plans for mobi
! lization. While shortly before the wal
he provokihgly repeated we'll knowt
! articles in the, Bourzc Gazette Petro
! graU about Russha's preparedness. 4
| long time previously aggressive plan,
against Germany We're prepared by ~
influential political group in France
| England and Russia
|