Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/107

Rh However delightful this pleasure-cruise before the opening of the great slaughter might have been, it finally got on Wilhelm's nerves as the decision drew near. The Imperial Chancellor wanted to keep him away as long as possible, so that Europe might remain quiet and not get wind of what was afoot. William, however, began to fear that the burning fuse might cause a premature explosion, leaving him and his Fleet a prey to the English on the Norwegian coast or giving Russia a free hand in the Baltic. He urged that they should return.

On July 18th, Jagow asked Count Wedel for an exact statement of the Hohenzollern's course, adding:

{{quote|"As we wish to localize eventual conflict between Austria and Serbia, we must not alarm people by premature return of H.M.; on the other hand, the All Highest must be within reach should unforeseen events necessitate important decisions (mobilization) for us also. Cruising in the Baltic might, perhaps, be contemplated for last days of trip."

On July 19th, William orders the Fleet to keep together until the 25th, so that it "may be able to carry out quickly the command to cut short the journey."

Bethmann, who at this critical juncture was at Hohenfinow instead of in Berlin (also to calm Europe's nerves ?), thereupon telegraphed to the Foreign Office on the 21st:

{{quote|"H.M.'s Order for the Fleet to keep together until 25th makes me fear that as soon as Ultimatum is rejected remarkable Fleet movements might be ordered from Balmholm (where the Kaiser then was). On the other hand, in the event of a crisis, wrong station of the Fleet might prove disastrous!"}} {{nop}}