1914 RECALLED

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14768, 6 October 1921, Page 5

1914 RECALLED

HOW THE WAS STARTED GERMAN DISCLOSURES. THE KAISER AND GENERAL MOLTKE (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 6, 8.55 a_m. PARIS, October 5. The Matin piiblifeh.es an interview with Herr St cine r, the Austrian socialogist, sn intimate friend of General von MoltkeReferring to General von Moltke's memoirs of the origin of the war, Herr Bleiner said that General von Moltke. on returning' to Berlin after the ultimatum was presented to Serbia, found the plans of the German general staff practically unchanged since they were dvawn up by Generals von Schieffen and von Moltke, on July 30. He asked the Kaiser to sign the mobilisation cider, and William satisfied himself, announcing the threat of war. General von Moltke returned to the pala-,e the following afternoon, when the Kaiser was denouncing the Chief-of-Staff's plan, and said he had received, better news from England. England would not only remain neutral, but would prevent France from participating in the war. In these circumstance the logical plan was to throw all '. : '- forces against Russia. General Moltke had no faith in the news from England, and, as he held the mobilisation order signed by the Kaiser, he withdrew at the first opportunity, but was overtaken and asked to return to the palace, lie handed the order, however, to his aide-de-camp and told him to order the advance of the troops. William showed (iencral Moltke- tho telegram from England, from which ; t appeared certain that England and France would be neutral, and the Kaiser remarked: "We must countermand your order to advance." General Moltke refused, and then the Kaiser sent an order to headquarters for the army to stop an hour's march' from the Franco-Belgian frontier. The' Kaiser summoned General Moltke at' 10 in the evening and said he had re j: reived fresh news, and added, "Now do as you wish." The war started thq following morning.