Germany

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 79, 2 August 1915, Page 5

Germany

WILHELM’S MANIFESTO.

MORE CALLING UPON THE DEITY

“I DID NOT WILL THE WAR." SUPREME EFFORT FOR THE FATHERLAND.

[United Press Ass km vtion.]

Received !b‘J5 a.m.)

I Berlin. August 1. The Kaiser, in a manifesto to the German people, says : "A year has elapsed since I was obliged to call the German people to arms. An unprecedented time ol bloodshed has belallen Europe and the world, but before God and history rnv conscience is clear. I did not will the war. After the preparations of a whole decade, the Coalition Bowers. for whom Germany was becoming too great, believed the moment had come either to humiliate the Empire which stood loyally beside her Ally

jin a, just cause, or to crush it by overw-helming and encircling forces. (Xo lust of conquest drove us to war. I When all our able-bodied men rushed to the Colours in August and our troops had. marched to a defensive war, every (Herman on the earth felt, that he was fighting for the highest good, and the nation for its life and its freedom. What awaits us if the enemy succeed in determining the fate of our people and Europe has been shown by the hardships endured. My dear province. East Prussia, in its consciousness that the fight was forced upon us, has accomplished miracles. Political conflicts wtfre silenced and old opponents began to understand and esteem each other, and a spirit of true comradeship governed the entire people, and in full gratitude we can say that Cod was with ns. Our enemies’ armies, who boasted they would enter Berlin in a few months, have been driven hack with heavy blows far east and west on numberless battVelds in various parts of Europe. The naval battles on the near distant coasts testily what ! Cerman anger in self-defence and (Herman strategy can do. Xo violation of the international laws by our enemies lias been able to shake the economic foundation of our conduct in comjinunities of agriculture, industry and commerce. Science and technical art have endeavoured to gotten the stress of war. appreciating the necessity <»t measures for the free intercourse of goods, and they are wholly devoted to the on re of their brethren in the field. The population have exerted the utmost strength to parry the common danger. M ith deep gratitude, the Fatherland to-day remembers, and will ever remember, its warriors those who are defying death and show a. bold front to the enemy; those 'Who are wounded and have come hack ill; land those, above all. who rest iroiu I the battle on foreign soil or at the bottom of the sea. 1 grieve with the mothers, widows, and orphans for the beloved who died fol the Fatherland. Internal strength ami unanimous national will, in the spirit ol (be founders of the Empire, guarantee victory. The dykes which they erected in anticipation that we would once more ha\c to defend what we gained in 1870, have defied the highest tide in the world’s history. After the unexampled proofs of personal ability and national energy. I cherish the bright confidence that the (Herman people are daithhilly preserving the purification which they acquired through the war, "and will vigorously proceed along the old and tried paths and confidently enter new ones. The great trials have made the nation. With a firm heart in heroic action we suffer, and will work without wavering until peace comes—a ' peace which offers the necessary milijtary, political, and economic guaraii- ' tees for the future Conditions neces- • sary for the unhindered development !of our producing energy at home and 'on free seas. Thus shall we emerge

'vitli honor from the war lor Germany's right and freedom. However loiijj;' the war may last, there will lie a worthy victory before God. who, we pray, may henceforth bless our arms.”