Identifier: literarydigesthi01hals (find matches)
Title: The Literary digest history of the world war, compiled from original and contemporary sources: American, British, French, German, and others
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors: Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting), 1851-1919, comp
Subjects: World War, 1914-1918
Publisher: New York, London, Funk & Wagnalls Company
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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en obliged totake this step—namely, that they had to advance into France bythe quickest and easiest way, so as to be able to get well aheadwith their operations and endeavour to strike some decisive blowas early as possible. *It was a matter of life and death for them, as if they hadgone by the more southern route^ they could not have hoped, inview of the paucity of roads and the strength of the fortresses,to have got through without formidable opposition, entailinggreat loss of time. This loss of time would have meant timegained for the Russians for bringing up their troops to the Ger-man frontier. Rapidity of action was the great German asset,while that of Russia was an inexhaustible supply of troops. Ipointed out to Herr von Jagow that this fait accompli of theviolation of the Belgian frontier rendered, as he would readilyunderstand, the situation ex-ceedingly grave, and I asked himwhether there was not still time to draw back and avoid possible «That is, by Alsace-Lorraine. 176
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ALBERT, KING OF THE BELGIANS DECLARATIONS OF WAR consequences which both he and I would deplore. He repliedthat for the reasons he had given me it was now impossible forthem to draw back.* Sir Edward Goschen next related how he presented theBritish ultimatum, to which. Herr von Jagow replied thathe could give no other answer than that which he hadgiven earlier in the day—namely, that the safety of theGerman Empire rendered it absolutely necessary that theImperial troops should advance through Belgium. SirEdwards report continues: *In a short conversation which ensued Herr von Jagow ex-pressed his poignant regret at the crumbling of his entire policyand that of the Chancellor, which had been to make friends withGreat Britain, and then through Great Britain to get closer toFrance. I said that this sudden end to my work in Berlin wasto me also a matter of deep regret and disappointment, but thathe muct understand that under the circumstances and in view ofour engagements his Majestys G

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