Evening journal., 1918-08-14
when The KAISER
DECIDED ON WAR
Letter from German Tells
the Story of World
Murder Plot
WAS WRITTEN
TO A HOTEL MAN

PARIS. Aug i4.-At this seasons first
open session Of Part OF the Paris
Court OF Appeals, which was presided
over by the First Appellate Court
President Justice Paul Andre, a me
markable document was read, which
created a sensation and furnished
proof positive that on July p, 1914,
Germany had already irrevokably and
peremptorily decided upon war. The
case which was before the Court OF
Appeals for revision OF the lower court
was that Of the Society Of the Hotels
de TEtolle, adjudged a bankrupt, and
whose chairman Of the board OF dl-
rectors is the notorious Geissler' a
South German, who, however. had been
in the hotel business in Paris for some
90 years. and who had enjoyed the pa
tronage and friendship Of a number OF
highly distinguished Germans, who
when Temporarily in the French capl-
tai. had been his guests.
The question to be decided was
whether the Commercial Tribune or
the Seine had been justified in IT'S
Judgment against the well-known hotel
concern. The matter itself would be
Of no particular interest 10 anyone
were il not for the fact that during the
plea of counsel for the appointment
OF a trustee the following letter was
read 10 the court, which OF once placed
this lawsuit in an important historic
light
Among the papers and documents be-
longing to Geissler. seized by request
Of the Court Of Commerce, there was
found a letter which the expert ac-
counfants working on the bankruptcy
case deemed Of such high value that
thew added Il to the official report
which they submitted to the court
This letter was written by Baron de
Boddien. aid-de-camp Of the Princess
Of Saxe-NIeiningen 10 was addressed
N Geissler. Il was dated July 2. l5i4'
These were It's contents:
Dear Monsieur Geissler;
Things are getting pretty hot. j
Is the opinion Of these experts. Wng
are Of the inner circle at court aho
who ought 10 know. that GerihahS
and Austria have arrived at the conciu-
sion that never before has a pettei
chance presented itself for an lmmedi-
ate attack as has been presented
through the Serbian embrOglio caused
nv the assassination OF the Archduke
and that IL would he unwise 10 let u
20 nv and wait until perhaps too late
for the ambitious aims Of the two en-
nires. Mobilization Is In the air. 10 %
followed by quick and aggressive mill
tarv operations This. be 70 understood
INV dear sir. is absolutely between US
The starting OF a European war WI
not come as a surprise to or be forced
upon the Teutonic empires. u may a.
well admit this in cOntldence) I'M
stsfs Of the army and navy have DeeI
In readiness all along.
should hardly undertake 10 lei
Won this were ] not convinced ina
YOU are not depending upon What I'M
newspapers now publish. 10 form you
own oplnion. 70 would be well II IN
society OF the Hotels de / Etoile am
yourself would be preparing for al
events without any delay. As for my
self. I readily confess that ! never di'
helieve that there would be war. whici
have always been convinced wouh
mean a terrible catastrophe and becom
world struggle Now. however, ar
ter what I have heard. ] have beer
C0n1ueIIeQ 10 tudlAf Iis tliiti' t-A'--
do believe It Is coming and ineVltaDie
II after the crushing of serbia all IN
demands and conditions imposed ar
not acceptable to Russia. At any rate
n we advance TO the attack. there vii
he some surprises in store for France
on the part Of our navy. I assure you
NJ need OF telling YOU any more Jus
now. Il is absolutely terrible 10 thn.
~ what may happen In Europe II al
that I now fear shall come 30 pass
through the Kaiser's insistence upo'
war. In haste and with many greet
ings 10 yourself and yours.
lSigned) BODDlhN.
As far as concerns the Society o
the Hotels T. Etoile. after arguments b.
counsel. pro and con, the Paris Ap
meals Tribunal affirmed the decision q
the Commerce Court Of the Seine, de
claring the concern banrupt.