Twenty-Five Years Ago

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1939, Page 4

Twenty-Five Years Ago

A Yellow Book published in France revealed the German Military Party’s aggressive resolve on the formation and methodical development throughout Germany of public opinion in favour of war. A conversation between the Kaiser and the King of the Belgians. in the presence of Count von Molt he, in November, 1913, was recorded. King Albert was astonished to find that the Kaiser regarded war vjith France as inevitable. He believed in the overwhelming superiority of the German Army and its certain success.

The booklet also contained a secret official report, dated May, 1913, stating that small States like Belgium and Holland must be constrained to follow Germany or be broken. An army messenger reported that Germans west of Lowicz were abandoning their wounded, rifles, ammunition and transport in their retreat. The rearguard, however, was fighting stubbornly and defendnig prepared positions. Two British airmen dropped bombs on the military \grounds at Ghent and wounded seven German soldiers. A Danish steamer was mined in the North Sea. Seven of the crew were missing. King George was greatly acclaimed on landing in France.