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Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1926, Page 4

TRUTH ABOUT AVAR- GUILT. LONDON, June 1. A masterly book, of , the utmost political importance, -written with all ‘ Dr Seton-AVatson’s moderation of statement and wide knowledge of facts. Tho question, with which it deals—the responsibility for the Great AYar-—is, as lie says. “ of burning importance in the Europe of to-day." He meets and answers recent German propaganda, tho object of which is to' plate on other shoulders than German ones the guilt of causing the war. If that were successfully done, then Europe would promptly he confronted with a. demand for the. cancellation of the Treaty of Atorsailles and for the repudiation of tlie Dawes Scheme for reparation payments. Alucli of the book is interesting as a detective novel—for example, -the accounts of the. exact circumstances, in which the Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated at Serajevo and of the strange, character of that Archduke. The Archduke’s wifo was shot hv accident.

Princip (tho assassin) fired first at the Archduke and then, seeing that shot- had gone home, turned liis revolver upon Potiorek (the Austrian commander in Bosnia, who was in the royal in'otor-enr with the Archducal party). At this moment tho Duchess, realising that something had happened, rose in her seat to shelter her husband, while- simultaneously someone in the crowd tried to seize the assassin’s arm, with the result that his aim was spoilt and tlio next shot fatally wounded the Duchess.

The author makes it quite clear that the Serbian Government, despite the discreditable fashion in which it has neglected to answer and confute the attacks upon its conduct, had no partin the plot. A careful and minute examination of the Austrian anil German documents further establishes the fact that Austria and Germany defeated every effort- by other Powers to avert war. and from the first intended to destroy Serbia at whatever cost.