The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-14

that the Emperor was not in possession of information in the hands of his war minister and chief of staff. The evidence establishes that the Russian mobilization was caused by war threats made by Count Pourtales, the German ambassa- dor in Petrograd, that the Russian min isters knew all about it and went ahead with their plans, and that when the war came Emperor Nicholas realized they were right and he was wrong.
 Regarding the so-called Russian mobil- izatio Sir George Buchanan, the British ambassador in Petrograd, in secret document says
 The military authorities without the knowledge of the Czar did make secret preparations for a general mobilization though, on being questioned by the Elm peror, General Coukhomlinoff Cthe Rus sian minister of war) denied this.
 RUSSIANS JUSTIFIED
 It is shown, however that this did not alter the general situation. It is also shown that when the Russian military chiefs ignored the midnight waverings of the Emperor and his order to suspend the mobilization they were justified be- cause few hours later it became clear that Germany was bent on war.
 It is shown that Baron Won Schoen, German ambas ssador to France, had in his | it impossible for France to remain neu- tral-a demand for the surrender of the fortresses of Foul and Nerdun.
 One chapter of the book is devoted to an illustration of former Emperor Will liam's personal treachery and his elastic memory, enabling him conveniently to forget unpleasant things. Other chapters point out the clumsy German attempt 1 to lay thes blame for the war on France.
 The British foreign office sanctions the publication of the book at this time, hop 1 ing to clear up some obscure points and aiming to influence public opinion fla vorably during the peace conference. 1 Professor Oman, in a footnote, calls l attention to the difference between the l German and the allied conception oi i mobilization He says that Germany ! holds that mobilization means that the whole war machine shall be ready for i action. The definition of the allies is merely getting ready.
 KAISER PLANNED MEDIATION
 One chapter of Professor Oman's
 work is devoted to telegrams ex- ! changed between King George, the i German Emperor and the Emperor of
 Russia which for the first time are giV- en in chronological order One teie-
 gram from Emperor William to King
 George, dated July 3l, 1914, saying the i Emperor was engaged Tn neuldtioh
 was sent at midday and subsequent tc 1 the council held in the morning al which war had been decided upon.
 In connection with the allegations oi
 a French invasion of LuXemburg, Pro ! lessor Oman publishes an interestins 1 statement made by the Luxemburg min
 ister of state, saying there had been | no encroachment by the French or l Luxemburg soil Professor Oman in tt,; Anp nf Nf1t
 part of Luxemburg authorities.
 Professor Oman analyses at lengtl l charges of French fnVasions of th frontier Germany alleged that Frencl
 aviators dropped bombs at Nuremburi l August ?, which statement was denied ! the next day by the Bavarian minister
 of war. Nevertheless, on August 1 ! says Professor Oman. the German chan cellor eliberately used this charge il
 an attempt to bolster up the conten- l ton that France started the hostilities
 It is stated by Professor Oman tha the Germans manufactured, but did no
 make muse use of, story that ban' of French officers, disguised as Dutch l violated Hollands neutrality in cross 1 ing Holland on military mission Tn Cologne Gazette, he says, printed thu
 story crediting it to the "relSbl 1 Wolff bureau" but coupled with it
 statement that 1t was not likely true. Professor Oman says nothing wa charged of a Belgian neutrality viola
 tion on the part of the French to shov
 that the French tock any steps outsid the bounds of legitimate precautions. fcf oh N-in have a sale