Page:The guilt of William Hohenzollern.djvu/230

226 One may take the view of those German politicians who assumed that France took these measures not in the interests of peace, but only because she was not yet ready, that is to say, out of treachery, in order to gain time and afterwards to "fall upon the rear" of the enemy. But whoever adopts this attitude will have to grant that the French Government would have failed in their own object if they began hostilities prematurely.

For this very reason the statements in the declaration of war must be regarded with the greatest mistrust. On what information is it based ?

On August 2nd at midnight the Imperial Chancellor telegraphed to London:

"According to absolutely reliable reports France has to-day permitted the following act of aggression on us:

"1. French cavalry patrols early this afternoon crossed the frontier at Altmünsterol, in Alsace.

"2. A French aviator has been shot down near Wesel.

"3. Two Frenchmen tried to blow up the Aachen tunnel on the Wesel railway and were shot in the act.

"4. French infantry crossed the frontier in Alsace and fired shots.

"Please communicate with the English Government to the above effect and earnestly point out to Sir Edward Grey into what a dangerous situation Germany is brought by these provocations, which are a breach of good faith, and that she is being driven to the most grave decisions. Your Excellency will, I hope, succeed in convincing England that Germany, after clinging to the idea of peace