BERNHARDI REFUTED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 126, 29 May 1915, Page 11

BERNHARDI REFUTED

TRUTH ABOUT BELGIUM AN OFFICIAL REPLY. The French Government has issued a reply to the series of articles written for American "consumption' 1 by General Bernhardi, the German war expert, in which he seeks to justify Germany's action in the war. Tho official note says : — General Rernhardi claims to prove that the concentration of our principal forces on our left wing demonstrated the fixed resolution of tho French Government to violate Belgian neutrality in concert with Great Britain. To this allegation of General , Bernhardi the French plan of concentration is a conclusive reply. All the French armies were confronting Germany, and nothing but Germany. This is so true that when tho violation of Belgian neutrality by the German troops became known tho French General Staff was obliged to vary the plan of concentration. The eventuality of .these variations had naturally been studied, for numerous indications had made us fear the violation of Belgian neutrality by Germany. Thanks to this variation the French General Staff was able to meet tho German shock west of the Meuse by bringing up our principal forces to that point. If there had been any premeditation on its part this sudden movement of our troops would not have been necessary, "and we should have been able to arrive in' time to prevent the enemy in Belgium from crossing the Meuse. As for the British Army, its support was only assured us on sth August — that is, after the violation of the Belgian frontier by the Germans on 3rd August. The concentration of the British Army was carried out behind the fortress of Maubeuge between 14th and 24th August. On 30th July the French Government, notwithstanding Germany's military measures, ordered our frontier troops to keep at a distance of six miles from the frontier. On 2nd August A second order commanded our troops to leave the entire responsibility for hostilities to the Germans and to confine themselves to repulsing any assailing troops penetrating French 'territory. Only on sth August, at the request of the Belgian Government, formulated on 4th August, were the French aeroplanes and airships authorised to fly over Belgian territory and our reconnoitring detachments to enter it.