Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-12-11
MOLTKE MEMOIRS
: CONFESS WAR PLANS
Belgium Invasion Long Planned;
Fear Of EnIarging War
Saved Holland.


memoirs of Count Won Moltke, Ger
Of the war. are now being published
by his widow.
"On the day OF mobilization" says
the memoirw, "a dispatch arrived from
London I'm which IL was stated that
England had obligated herself to as
sumo the defence Of the French coast
against possible German naval attack.
Tho Kaiser asked my opinion. where
upon / replied that I could have no
scruples against guaranteeing that no
such attack WAS contemplated, N
England pledged herself TO remain
neutral.
1T was my opinion that the war
against France would be decided on
land, and that we could well dispense
with naval operations II that was TO
he the price OF English neutrality.
Obviously, this dispatch represents
EnEland's first attempt TO dupe MS. Mt
least to the extent OF prompting us TO
delay our mobilization.
] Won Moltke charged Russia with
having kindled the war inasmuch as
she we'll knew that Germany could not
permit the destruction of her Austro-
Hungarian ally. The German General
stan. he asserts, had long since taken
war on two fronts into it's calculations.
Plans evolved by Field Marshal Won
Schlieffen. chief Of the General STAFF,
provided for the invasion Of Belgium.
as 1t was commonly agreed that &C.
cision in open battle could not be
forced without violating Belgian neu-
trality.
! Our information indicated" con-
tinued Won Mol,ke. that France was
determining TO entrench herself in "A
strong defensive position, which would
force US 20 conduct long and weari-
some trench and position campaign
against a strong frontal defense. Won
Schlieffen even proposed TO march the
German right wing through Southern
Holland. but, rather than drive the
= Netherlands into the camp Of our enc
mics, I decided TO accept the greater
: technical difficulties involved in fore.
ing our right wing through the narrow
, section between Aix-Ia- Chapelle and
(, the southern boundary Of the PROVING,
of Limbourg.
, In order to accomplish this with The
least possible loss OF time il was nee
: essary 10 seize Liese Immediately"
a Admitting that there was much q
4 be said in opposition TO an invasion o
- Belgium, Won Moltke cites the earl!
6 progress Of the war in support Of tn
= German contention that France there
e by was compelled to meet the German
3 In open battle. although he admit
e that the inability of the Germans q
r conquer the French quickly was solel.
e due 10 English intervention. II the AT
). tack on Liege failed, the moral sethacl
:, would have been a severe blow. As j
n would have deprived the Germans o
important railway connections at AK
;. la-Chapelie and Liege and thence 81
u 10 BRUSSELS.
"All seemed elated over the prospect
: OF a war along the eastern front only.
saws Won Moitke. Now we have sim
J. ply TO mobilize our whole army alon
= the eastern front. the Kaiser stated. {
which | replied that such a procedur
:, was not quite so simple. IL might in
J. volve a year Of preparations, and. ono
n accomplished. could not he altered
= None of those present seemed 10 con
- template the eventually that Franc
" which was then already mobilizinl
le would attack US on the west-a pos
p sibility with which We were bound I
reckon. for. despite her alleged good
IN will. how could England have prevent
N ed France from undertaking such a
10 attack?
l. The feeling among those preser
NJ constantly became more agitated. an
a I seemed 20 stand wholly alone in m
" views. ] finally succeeded in persuac
VI ing his Majesty as TO the imperatiN
need OF carrying out our original pls
OF mobilization, which provided for u
advance OF strong forces again
=, France and the dispatching OF a wea
- defensive army against Russia. Ar
-, other procedure AT that moment wou
a. produce disastrous confusion in o,
~ military dispositions.
II declared that II the mobilizat!C
I, plans which had then been drafted we
~ subjected 20 alteration I would be for
ed TO decline TO assume further r
sponeiblity. There upon a reply
C;rey's message was drafted. in whi'
IL was stated that technical reasol
Z made Il impossible 20 halt the Germs
operations along the French frcntie
k but that no attack on France Won
n, be undertaken provided France all
~ remained inactive under direction
from England"
Won Moltke does not conceal his d.
gust with the English proposal al
declares that he was convinced lol
n before the outbreak OF the war IN
10. France would never remain neutT
nd in the event Of hOsalities betwe
on Germany and Russia and that the m
r. ment war between Germany and Ru
all s!a broke out Il was imperative tn
he Germany. so soon as the French at
X tude became suspicious, Immediate
Ie- declare war on France.
nj II now demanded of the Kaiser al
his immediate advisers as a guaran
- Of French goodwill. temporary posse
sion OF the fortresses OF Verdun al
Toul." continues the General. ''ri
proposal was rejected on the groul
q that 10 indicated lack Of confidence
G England. The outcome OF these pOu
parlers plunged me in utmost despa
q for / fully realized that these dipl
matte actions were working serious !
p reference with our military plans al
q that they were likely 10 result in {
gravest disaster 10 us nationally"
p Recording his feelings when order
z TO recall the army corps which was
q occupy Luxembourg, an invasion viii
was 10 DC avoided. according 10 V
& Bethmann- Hollweg as representing
3 attack on France and which might vi
q ate the English guaranty, Ven Mott
says: Il cannot possibly describe I
u a.. \ Z