The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1917. THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1917. THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR.

Thanks to the presence in Berlin of Mr. Gerrard, the United States Ambassador to Germany, at the time of the outbreak of the war, the world has been placed in pop <-sion of some of the true circumstances which brought about the titanic struggle that is still proceeding. We advfsedly say ''some of the circumstances," for there has been revelations from other sources, notably from the Russian archives where the "Willy-Nilly" telegrams were found. Our immediate purpose, however, is to present to our readers what will certainly be considered as the most mendacious telegram that has ever been dispatched by a crowned monarch on an historical occasion—that sent by the Kaiser to President Wilson —in which the Kaiser attempted to demonstrate German innocence, while fully cognisant of the deliberate measures lie had so cunningly and treacherously taken to force the outbreak of hostilities. The day for which he had plotted and planned had arrived, German agents in all parts of the world, especially in Bulgaria, had done their master's work with amazing fidelity and thoroughness, the army and navy were ready and eager and the Kaiser's hour of world triumph seemed to him to have dawned. With characteristic effrontery he committed what, no doubt, he considered a some consummately finishing masterstrokes of policy, first by sending Prince Henry of Prussia to England for the purpose of beguiling King George into committing Britain to neutrality by means of false representations, and secondly by placing on record through a telegram to President Wilson that Germany was forced into the war and that Germany had to violate Belgian neutrality because France was preparing to enter Belgium. In Mr. Gerrard'B book, "My Four Years in Germany," the Kaiser's telegram is disclosed, and the text will be found published elsewhere in this issue. It will well repay perusal, as will also the references to Prince Henry's part in this infamous business. Possibly the first thought of those who read this historical document penned by the Kaiser himself and sent forward for no other purpose than to deceive the world as to Germany's real part in the dreadful calamity which has deluged Europe with blood and devastated some of its fairest and best areas, will be that it is remarkable for its omissions. For instance, not a word is said of that foul conspiracy hatched on July 5, 1914, whereby Russia and France were to be dragged into the war. There is no allusion to the complicity of Germany in the Austrain ultimatum to Serbia; no mention of the secret order 9 to German vessels; not a word about Germany's scheme of world

domination, the whole object of the telegram being to show how Clermany had striven to keep the peace, but ha # d been forced into war. hi commenting on the various points in this remarkable telegram the London Times deals with them seriatim thus:—

His first point is a garbled version of a message- sent to him hy King George through Prince Henry of Prussia, a ver■sion which has been authoritatively and emphatically denied. Quite apart" from the denial, the. version has no important bearing on the issue, especially as Germany liail already resolved to commit the crime of plunging Europe into war with the object of extending Deutschtum. The second point attributes to Viscount Grey the statement that England would only •interfere "in ease France was likely to be crushed." What Viscount Grey said on July 2!) to Prince Lichnowsky' was that if Germany became involved, and then France, '-the issue might be so great that it would involve all European interests," and Prince .Lichnowsky must not be misled into thinking that, we should stand .aside in al! ciiViii.tstanccs. The third point is that Viscount Grey said that '-if 'the conflict remained localised between (Russia—not Serbia—and Austria, England would not move." There is no dispute on this point. The fourth and ■tfftk points relate to the British propos. ,al, stated in telegrams from King George and Viscount Grey that Austria should he satisfied with the occupation of Belgrade and the neighboring Serbian territory as a pledge for the settlement of her demands, and should then await mediation. The Kaiser says he transmitted the proposal to Vienna with apjproval. What he does not disclose is the damning fact that Austria-Hungary accepted the proposal, and duly notified Berlin whereupon Herr Hoihveg put the acceptance in his pocket and did not forward it to London or to Petrograd. In 'liis sixth point the Kaiser acknowledges that Austria-Hungary accepted the proposal, and proceeds to try to explain why the acceptance was not transmitted. He says he was just about to prepare a Note to the Tsar telling him that Aus-tria-Hungary would accept mediation, when he heard that Russia had ordered a general mobilisation. Why had Biwsia done so? As the outcome of a trick more dastardly than Bismarck's alteration of the Ems telegram. At the instance of the German authorities, a sham edition of the Berlin semi-official Lokalanzeiger was issued declaring that Germany had ordered a ■■general mobilisation. The Russian Ambassador instantly telegraphed the news to Petrograd. The edition of the newspaper was then withdrawn and a contradiction was published. The -Russian Ambassador at once telegraphed the contradiction, but his second telegram was intentionally held up for twelve hours in Berlin, until after the Tsar had decreed what was believed to be a counter-mobilisation. Germany meant to force Russia to mobilise, she achieved her foul purpose, and she pretends to rest her whole ease upon it The Kaiser's last point was amply answered by Viscount Grey on August -28, 1914. It relates to the "misunderstanding" which has figured in various documents. Prince Lichnowsky wanted Viscount Grey to endeavor to secure the neutrality of Prance while German attacked Russia in conjunction with Austria. Viscount Grey at first supposed neutrality of France while Germany atwould also remain neutral while Austria and Russia fought. When he discovered that the idea was that the two Germanic Powers should fail on Russia, he naturally replied that such- a suggestion was doubtless incompatible with the FrancoRussian Alliance.

Tlie new lights that are being shed on German diplomacy expose Teutonic methods in all their ghastly infamy. It is, however, a decided advantage to know exactly the sort of enemy against whom we are fighting, for when it comes to a question of discussing peace terms all these iniquities will have to be remembered, but above all it is borne home to civilised nations tl'iat Germany must; be decisively beaten before any peace worth having can be obtained.