THIRD EDITION

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 38, 15 February 1919, Page 5

THIRD EDITION

HOW THE WAR BEGAN

THE ENEMY'S TRICKS

(UNITBn PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTMOHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLB ASSOCIATION.)

(Received February 15, 2.30 p.m.)

LONDON, 13th February. A White Paper has been published giving a survey by Professor Oman (Oxford) of all- the Allied documents leading to the declaration of war. He says the Central Powers did not inspire the Serajevo murder, but made it the excuse for war. Serbia was innocent of the Serajevo affair. Professor Oman shows that there was no British Minister in Belgrade at the time of the Austrian ultimatum, so that Britain was in ignorance of many essential points. Austria deliberately postponed the ultimatum until President Poincare and M. Viviani were on the high seas after their .visit to Petrograd, in order to make it difficult for France to exert diplomatic pressure.

Professor Oman publishes Prince Lichnowsky's private letters to Viscount Grey to prove that Lichnowsky's Government shamelessly betrayed him. A deeply interesting analysis is given of the circumstances of the Russian mobilisation by General Sukhomlinoff (Minister of War) and General Januschkevitch, Chief of Staff, in despite of the Tsar's countermanding order. The generals were aware of the definite threat of war by Austria and Germany, and were therefore justified in mobilising. The Tsar admitted that the generals were justified in disregarding his orders. Sukhomlinoff escaped to Finland after his trial, and the Bolsheviks recently murdered Januschkevitch.

Professor Oman deals with the "fake" edition of the Lokalanzeiger of 30th June (? July), which announced the mobilisation as a fact. This was cabled to. Petrograd, and precipitated the war. (The order was actually issued, according to British authorities, on the night of the 30-h.^ , .

Professor Oman acquits Yon Bethmann Hollwe?, 'and places the blame on the General } Staff. The ■■ Russian Ambassador's telegram to Petrograd denying the truth of the Lokalanzeiger's statements was deliberately delayed. » A chapter is devoted to personal telegrams exchanged between the King, the Kaiser, Prince Henry of Prussia, and the Tsar. It establishes the fact that the Kaiser played a treacherous game. His memory was most elastic and convenient.