BOMBASTIC MANIFESTO FROM THE KAISER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2530, 3 August 1915, Page 5

BOMBASTIC MANIFESTO FROM THE KAISER

MORE .BLASPHEMOUS HEROICS BY THE WAR LORD.

Lorjdon, 'August 1. Tlio Kaiser, in a, manifesto to tlie German people, says: "A year has olapsed sinco I was obliged to call tlip German people to arms, and'an unprecedented time of bloodshed has befallen Europe and the world. Beforo God and history my conscience is clear. I did jiot will the war. After preparations over !i wliolo decade, the Coalition rowers, for whom Germany was becoming too sreat, believed tlio moment had come to 'liumiliato an Empire. which had stood loyally beside its ally in «■ just causo, or crush it by overwhelming encircliiiu forces. "Fight Forced 1 on Us." "No lust of conquest. drove us to war. When all the able-bodied men rushed to tho colours in August, and our troops marched to a defensive war, every German on earth felt. that, ho was fighting for the highest good of the nation, for ,its lifo, and its freedom. What awuite us if tlio enemy succeeds iu (Inter, mining the fjito nf our penpla uml JMiropn has be;» .showii by the hardships endured bj as jfcar p.reyla«i Eajt Prussia, Tb# softssio.usa«jH that .thg flj&t

— —: ■ ■ ■ - ■ ■ — 1 ' \'j j was forced upon us has accomplished miracles. Political conflicts were silenc- j ed. old opponents began to understand and esteem each other, tlio spirit of true ] comradeship governed the entire people. j "In full gratitude, I can say that God was with us. Our enemies' armies, i who boasted Uiey would enter Berlin in a few months, have l)een driven back ! by heavy blows far "east and west. Tlio numberless battlcfiolds in the various I parts of Europe, the naval battles on near and distant coasts, testify to what j German anger in self-defence and German strategy can do. j "Our Conduct of the War." "No violation of international law by our enemies is able to shake tlio ' e.conomic foundation of our conduct of tlio war. The communities of agrioulture, industry, commerce, science, and technical art have endeavoured to soften tlio stress of war, appreciating the necessity of'measures for free intercourse .in goods, and are. wholly devoted to tlio care of their brethren in tlio field. Tlio population lias exerted its utmost strength to parry a common danger. "With deep gratitude the Fatherland to-day remembers, and will ever .'remember, its warriors—tho9» who in defying death show a bold front to tlio enemy; those who are wounded, who have come back ill: those, above all, who rest from the battlo on foreign soil or at the bottom of tile sea. * "I grieve with the mothers, tlio widows, and the orphans, for tlio beloved who havo died for tlie Fatherland. TJio interna) strength and unammous national will, in the spirit of the founders of the Empiro, guarantee victory. Tlio dykea which they erected 111 anticipation that we would once more liavo.to defend what they gained in 1870 'have defied,the liigbest tide in the'world's history. ''Worthy of Victory Before Cod." After such unexampled proofs of personal ability and national energy, I cherish with bright confidence tlio belief that the German people, faithfully preserving tlio purification 'which tliey liavo acquired tihvough war, will vigorously proceed along the' old, 'tried paths, and confidently enter new ones. TIIO great trials have mado the .nation firm at heart. "In lieroic action we suffer and work without wavering until i>eace comes—' peace whicli offers tlie necessary military, pplitical, and economic guarantees, for tlie future, conditions necessary for tlie unhindered development of our producing energy at home and on' tho free seas. Thus shall we onierge with' honour from the war for Germany's right and .freedom, however long tlie war may last, and bo worthy of victory before God, who wo pray may henceforward bless our arms."