Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1919. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXI WHY AND HOW GERMANY BROUGHT ABOUT THE GREAT WAR 1 During the first half of 1914 peace in Europe seemed firmly and permanently established. Although the situation in Ireland was causing much anxiety, the people thought of their holidays, and as foreign affairs were quite uneventful and uninteresting the newspapers and periodicals filled the space usually devoted to foreign politics with the discussion of schemes for abolishing war and restricting national armaments. In August five of the six European Great Powers, with more than 400,000,000 people, were at war. More than 20,000,000 soldiers had been mobilised and were dealing out death and destruction. The greatest war the world has seen, and perhaps the greatest the world will ever see, had begun. People were asking: Why did the German Emperor make war? What was its real cause? What will be its issue and its consequences? Many people in England were surprised and amazed that the German Emperor, who was considered to be the strongest defender of the world's peace, should recklessly have plunged all Europe into war; that he should rashly have jeopardised the existence of his country and of his dynasty on account of Austria's quarrel with Serbia; that the Triple Alliance, which only recently had been renewed, and which was proclaimed to be an absolutely reliable partnership, should have broken down before the first shot was fired; that Germany, which was supposed to be the best governed and administered country in the world, and which under Bismarck had always known how to isolate 1 Prom the Si;iewnth Century and After, September 1914. her enemies and secure for herself the support of the leading Powers, should, in company with Austria-Hungary and Turkey, have gone to war with six powerful nati...
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