HOW BERLIN PLANNED WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1919, Page 1

HOW BERLIN PLANNED WAR.

“HOLIDAY” FOR KAISER AND “LEAVE” JOR GENERALS TO DISARM SUSPICION “FRANCE IN FOUR WEEKS” ; - BOAST An official report regarding the or'fen".. of the war published in the Munich Korrespondenz Hoffmann, contains dramatic disclosures. ‘ c . In his report of July 18, 1914, dihe Bavarian Minister in Berlin, Count,- ,• Lerchenfeld, mentioned the connection between the Berlin -Government and Austria’s fateful ultimatum r to Serbm, says Reuter. “The steo which the Cabinet- in

IX IUJ isbcp WIIIV.II IMir i . Vienna has resolved* to take in Belgrade —namely, the delivery of the -Notewill take place on Julv 20. ■. .... “SHOW OF PEACEFULNESS. ’ ’ . “Action has been postponed until this juncture because of the deshe tq await M. Poincare’s and M. Viviani’s departure from St. Petersburg in order to., make it difficult for the EntePtfeJtP.ti arrive at an understanding and- ~ to counteract, “In Viepna until then a show ‘or peaceful disposition is to be made, and the Minister of War and the Chief" of the General Staff are to have furloughs for some time.” ... * • . “It is obvious that Serbia ciiittot accept euch conditions, which are inconsistent * with her dignity as an independent State. The consequence must, therefore, be war.” 1 With reference to the Kaiser iravelling in a foreign country and the Chief of the Great General Staff and the Prussian War Minister being, on furlough,, the Imperial Go vernment ! will declare that it was as much surprised ae the other Powers by Austria’s action. In a telegraphic communication fjrdm the Bavarian Legation in Berlin on the morning of July 31, 1914> the Cquut says two ultimatums have been sent; one to St. Petersburg, the other,* to Paris. • REFUSAL EXPECTED. ~ “Both will, of .course, be answered! 1 by a refusal. " , . ii‘. X “The Prussian General Staff war against France full of and reckons to be able to ove®£hww». France in the course of four weeks.' , “The moral of the French,Artny : is , good. It has only a few and?. bad rifles.” In a report dated August .4, 293,#. 'Lift. ■Minister said regarding. “Germany cannot respect Belgium’s neutrality. The Chief *'f the General Staff has declared that even British ; t>ei'tra’itv would be paid lor too dearly - if the price was the respect of Belgium'* i because an attack on France,is only | possible through Belgium,”