Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/120

116 {{center|

THE LOCALIZATION OF THE WAR
}} The German Government had very good reasons for not letting it transpire that it had known of the Austrian Ultimatum, or, indeed, that it was conspiring with Austria.

It had, as we have seen, given its blessing to the war against Serbia on July 5th. It was also prepared to "risk" the war against Russia and France but wanted no more than that. It counted upon Italy's co-operation and England's neutrality. To be able to enter the war, it needed also the enthusiasm of its own people. Now it knew perfectly well that the great majority of this people was peace-loving to the highest degree, and that the sharpest opposition would spring up when it learned that the Austrian démarche against Serbia was not only known by the Kaiser and his Ministers, but also approved and encouraged. This would most seriously have jeopardized the whole scheme from the outset.

Immediately after the publication of the Austrian Ultimatum to Serbia, the Committee of the German Social Democracy issued an appeal (July 25th), which ran:

"The dogs of war let loose by Austrian Imperialism are preparing to bring death and destruction upon all Europe. Although we condemn the doings of the Great Serbian Nationalists, the wanton war provocation of the Austro-Hungarian Government calls for the sharpest protest. Such brutal demands have never yet in the history