The Russian
Government even attempted to disseminate through a foreign news agency
the report that Germany had declared war on Russia, and it refused,
contrary to the usage among civilized nations, to permit to be
telegraphed the report of the German Ambassador that Russia had rejected
the final German note concerning war and peace.
Germany for its part, in the hope that peace might yet be maintained,
subjected itself to the great disadvantage of delaying its mobilization
in the first decisive days in the face of the measures of its probable
enemy. When, however, the German Emperor realized that peace was no
longer possible, he declared war against France and Russia honorably,
before the beginning of hostilities, thus bringing into contrast the
moral courage to assume the responsibility for the beginning of the
conflict as against the moral cowardice of both opponents, whose fear of
public opinion was such that they did not dare openly to admit their
intentions to attack Germany.
Germany, moreover, cared in a humane and proper manner at the outbreak
of the war for those non-combatant subjects of hostile States--traveling
salesmen, travelers for pleasure, patients in health resorts, &c.--who
happened to be in the country at the time.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179