# 48

The Kaiser Learns About The Hate Literature

Spread By The Triple Entente.

The Baron Dichtener house resounded with laughter as the guests regaled their hosts by
tall tales subtly sprinkled with sexual innuendos. Even Johanna gave as good as she got.

Later, the visitors strolled into a spacious library, the walls on which samples of

preserved fish dangled. Dozens of colorful shellfish filled nearby tables.

Wandering about the room, the Kaiser and Tirpitz checked out the knick-knacks. On
a mahogany corner table, they discovered embedded in the corners several oyster shells,
each containing a white pearl set in mother-of-pearl. Lighted wall sconces caused the art
form to gleam brightly.

Tirpitz, wiggling his hand, showed the Kaiser a ring on his right pinky finger.
“This is a black pearl,” he said, as Wilhelm examined the ring. “I purchased it from a

dealer when our squadron visited Tahiti. The man showed me a black pearl the size of my
thumb. I asked him if he would sell it to me. The dealer’s body shook as he laughed
loudly. He said that he would not take less than ten thousand marks!”

“Gott im Himmel!” exclaimed the Kaiser. “Unmöglich!”

No, Willie, not impossible. But black pearls, especially that size, are as rare as hen’s
teeth.”

All the men sat in red leather-bound chairs near a highly polished mahogany table.
Clamshells served as ashtrays. The warmth from a blazing fire in the fieldstone fireplace
felt good to the visitors for the weather had turned cool and damp.

Speaking softly, Theobald called the meeting to order. He fixed his monocle in place

and assumed the posture of a college professor by taking hold of his lapels with both
hands.

Your Majesty and my esteemed colleagues, we meet today as brothers-in-arms. We
are faced with a grave situation and we must face it with intelligence and determination!”
The Chancellor looked Wilhelm directly in his face. “Your Majesty, we have
uncovered the “Mother of All Plots! God protect Germany!”

Shaking his head, Wilhelm said, “I thought you were going to say ‘mother of pearl.’

"Nevertheless, seriously, how is it possible that our beautiful land lives among nations that

express their hatred for us? I find it to be comparable to a disease whose microbes are

eating away at our national fabric.”

Theobald continued, “This attitude should explain why Germany, whose economy is
quite sound and growing more each year, may have to go to war to save the Fatherland.

We are feared by the Triple Entente, especially Great Britain!”

The Kaiser chuckled, “I love it when the British fear Germany’s supposed world

domination. This from the nation that boasts, “The sun never sets on the British Empire!

What remains? Oh yes, there is an iceberg or two in Antarctica!”

The Chancellor stared at his liege.

“Thank you, Willie! First of all, let me emphasize that for the past decade Great
Britain has supported a nefarious plan to stir up anti-German feelings not only in the

British Isles, but also throughout the world.”
 

Theobald opened a brief case and emptied its contents on the table.
 

“Here are examples of potboiler literature that is found in many English homes. The
books put the fear of God in people of all ages.”

He read aloud the titles of each one: Spies of Wight, A New Trafalgar, Riddle of the

Sands, The Boy Galloper Cadet, The Invasion, When the Eagle Flies Seaward, Death

Trap, The Message, The Enemy in our Midst, Spies of the Kaiser, When England Slept,
and When Kaiser William Came.


“Foreign magazines are filled with articles denigrating the Fatherland. One English

industrialist paid more than three hundred thousand francs to place hate ads in French

newspapers. Large headlines shout vulgar things about Germany and its government.

Caricatures denigrate our Kaiser and nearly everyone in the government. No one is safe
from their barbs! I am embarrassed to show you these caricatures.”
He placed a thick folder in front of the Wilhelm.

The Kaiser thumbed through the cartoons and then he passed them along to the other group members.
Most of them represented the Kaiser as a megalomaniac grasping a globe of the world. Several
expressed double-entendres that underlined the sexual escapades of German government
officials. When Philipp Eulenburg’s caricature came up, Wilhelm let out an eerie howl.

Everyone looked at the Emperor with great perturbation. However, Wilhelm quickly

regained his composure.

“Fortunately,” he said, “we, Germans, have thick skins and can disallow such

ignorance by people who should know better! It’s a ‘sticks and stones’ thing. Theo, let us

get down to more important matters that Germany faces!”

Caressing his closely cropped beard, Theobald waited for a moment to collect his
thoughts.

“Back in 1903, our agents learned that Colonel William Robertson, of the British War
Office’s Intelligence Section, told his prime minister that the British navy must be

prepared to exert its full strength on a moment’s notice and remain on the offensive.

He recommended blockading German ports, thus destroying Germany’s foreign trade and

eventually rendering our army useless.”

“We heard from our naval delegate to London that England was firmly resolved

according to the principle that ‘might makes right,’ to employ, with all cunning and

ruthlessness, the power which she possesses in her fleet!”

“Of course, no one in England favors an all-out war, but to survive economically they

have decided to fight, since increasing her cutthroat competition doesn’t seem to work
very well. Her economy is in shambles. Mines, manufacturers and businesses of all types

have closed down. Guess whom they blame for their difficulties? Deutschland!”


The members pounded their fists on the tabletop causing the clamshell ashtrays to

wobble back and forth. Wilhelm laughed and said, “Please continue, Theo.”

“There is much more to the Triple Entente’s scheme to put Germany under their
thumb. Our agents in London report daily they have proof that Britain, France and Russia
actually plan the destruction of the German Empire.”

The Kaiser paled. “I can understand France’s hatred of us. I cannot understand why

the Tsar allows Russia to build up a similar hatred. Moreover, I cannot understand why

England has developed such an anti-Germany attitude! For God’s sake, our two nations
are genetically a family. English history is like one horse pulling two wagons. Our
histories head in the same direction. Outside of honestly competing with the English, they

have no quarrel with Germany!”

“That may very well be, Willie,” continued Theobald, “but the principal objective of

the three allies is to break German power and its military domination, by reducing its area

to its pre-1860 borders! For example, and not surprisingly, France will take back Alsace

Lorraine. However, she will not stop there! She plans to take parts of Rhenish Prussia and

the Palatinate.”
“Belgium will obtain an important part of Germany bordering her. Denmark will

regain Schleswig-Holstein. The kingdom of Hanover goes to guess whom?”
 

“England!” everyone shouted.

“Our Russian neighbors will annex the lower course of the River Nieman and most of

Galacia. She will annex eastern Posnania and Silesia, which have been German territory

for hundreds of years. Of course, Russia will demand that the Dardenelles offer free

passage to them forever. To insure this aim, Russia will occupy Constantinople an be

free to sail uninhibited from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.”

“As to Austria-Hungary, the Allies will create a triple monarchy which will consist of
Austria, the Kingdom of Bohemia and all of the Kingdom of Hungary!”
“Servia will annex Bosnia, Herzegovina, Dalmatia and northern Albania while Greece
will annex southern Albania.”
“Britain, France and Japan will divide amongst themselves all German colonies in
Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

A groan from the mouth of Wilhelm stopped Leopold’s comments.
 

“What is it, Willie?” asked Moltke.

The Kaiser picked up one of the anti-German books from the table and hurled it
against the wall. Luckily, he missed hitting any of the Baron’s knickknacks.

“What kind of fucking stupidity does the Triple Entente possess that makes them think

that Germany will just roll over and give up? The fucking French will roll over! The

fucking Russians will roll over! When that’s accomplished, England will feel the wrath of
an angry Teuton! I read the crap of the econimists that we stole. The lousy liars.

Everyone remained quiet while the Kaiser wiped tears of anger from his eyes.
 

“Are you all right?” asked Tirpitz.

Wilhelm simply nodded his head and waved his hand signaling Leopald to continue
his discussion.

Bethmann emitted a long sigh and patted his Willie upon the shoulder.

With a modicum of order achieved, the Chancellor looked over his notes. “Just a few
years ago, the British War Office began surveying the area in Belgium near Charleroi

where a BEF might have to fight in the event of war with Germany. They have mapped

every inch of the roads leading from Belgium to the French border. Here is a copy of a

surveyor’s notebook that one of our agents found near the town of Mons, Belgium."

Theobald gave the notebook to the Kaiser who did not give it a glance, but passed it
around to the other men. “I read it last evening.”

Without waiting for the group to peruse the notebook, Theobald said, “Edward Grey

plans to deliberately use Belgium as an excuse to involve us in a war. Obviously, the

Allies believe that if Germany goes through Belgium, the world will abhor such an

action. What they don’t know is that our General Moltke has made important changes in

the plan that will throw the French strategy into a cocked hat.”
 

“That is what I want to hear, Theo!” cried the Kaiser.

“France,” said Theo “boasts to the world about its peaceful intentions. Yet, we fully
know that since Joffre the Fat became chief of staff, the French law extended periods of
military service from two to three years. Joffre may be fat, but he is smarter than a fox.

She openly demands revanche with an eye on regaining Alsace-Lorraine.”

Everyone laughed at the thought of a “fat” General Joffre.

“Just before I was appointed to my office, our Chancellor Bernhard von Bulow, had
effectively postponed the idea of a preventative war until a cause arose which would

inspire the German people.

 

“Yes, Theo,” interrupted Wilhelm, “Von Bulow once told me that ‘nowadays no war

can be declared unless a whole people are convinced that the war is necessary and just. A
war, lightly provoked, even if it were fought successfully, would have a bad effect on the

country, and if it ended in defeat, it might entail the fall of the dynasty!’ We need to make

plans that give the world the impression that Germany is a victim and not an aggressor.”
 

Falkenhayn pounded the table with his fist. “I say amen to that. We must begin a
powerful public relations program that will make German patriotism soar to the high
heavens!”

The Kaiser blew a kiss to his War Minister.

Bethmann coughed lightly in order to bring the meeting back to order. “May I remind

everyone that all delays are now dangerous for us.”

“Then, let’s saddle up and get the show on the road,” said Wilhelm.

A church bell slowly began to chime the time.

#  47

Kaiser Wilhelm And Staff Prepare to Discuss

Secret Matters Of War and Peace.

 

In spite of the dense fog, the Borkum fishermen diligently worked, preparing their netsfor the days catch.
The half-dozen or more men joked as they loaded their boat with nets outlined with
orange floats.
Speaking in quaint Frisian, speckled with Dutch, German and Danish idioms, the
atmosphere was alive with jocularity.
Suddenly, the fishermen stopped their chores and looked out towards the North Sea.
From out of the fog emerged a large white yacht slowly heading for the nearby wharf.
Bells rang out, engines roared and anchors splashed heavily into the sea.
“Can thee see the name of yonder yacht?” asked a fisherman.
"It’s the Hohenzollern!”

A dozen or more passengers disembarked from the yacht and walked along the strand
and onto a gravel path curved up toward a large gated-estate. Several servants greeted

them and led the way up a pathway to the front entrance.

“Then we best get a move on!” said the boat owner watching the visitors. “The

haddock are biting, as are the herring! I smell fish and money!”

His mate asked, “How long do thee think they will stay on our little island?”

“Hopefully, long enough to eat at least three square meals!” laughed the headman.

The estate, a simple affair, suited to its littoral surroundings, belonged to Baron
Johann von Dichtener. His was an old German family that settled in Lower Saxony

before the Crusades. The stuccoed home was a two-storied building with narrow

hallways. On the lower floor were rooms filled with animal and fish trophies. Floor-to-ceiling

windows allowed sufficient daylight to enter otherwise dark rooms and gave the

place a pleasant aura. Floors lacked rugs so that people walking on the wide wooden

planks created a clackety-clack that echoed along the hallways, making conversanearly impossible.

Johann and his wife Johanna greeted the Kaiser and his entourage with great
cordiality. The hosts were middle-aged folks who gave the impression of a warmhearted
couple, still in love after decades of marriage. The Baron was bald, with a clean-shaven,

jovial face, so that in any light his head literally gleamed. Petite Frau Dichtener, dressed

in a bright blue dress set off by a golden pendant, held her husband’s hand, kept standing

on her toes in order to see each visitor’s countenance. Her tightly woven blond hair ended
in a bun at the back of her head.

There were yellow roses in a vase in the vestibule, which each visitor took a moment

to smell. The aroma provided a relief from the fishy smell of the sea air. Every nook and

cranny was home to various potted flowers.

Wilhelm, dressed in civilian attire, removed his straw hat and shook his host’s hand

vigorously. Then with a gallant flourish, he kissed Frau Dichtener’s small, white hand.
“Thank you both so very much for allowing us to visit with you on such short notice.

Your home seems to be the most appropriate place for us to meet and to discuss matter
of national importance. I am certain that you both understand that our presence be

attended by as much secrecy as possible. Your beautiful Borkum Island is perfect for the

privacy that we desperately require.”
The Baron raised his right hand as though taking an oath and said, “You have my
word of honor, Willy that this meeting will be kept from the local people and th
newspapers. My wife, I call her Jo to distinguish her from me while amongst company,

will have the servants show to your rooms. After that, with your permission, we will
prepare a lunch to share with you and your colleagues. It is a simple Frisian meal, but a
very hardy and tasteful one. When you have an interlude in your discussion, please send
us word and we will meet you in the dining room.”

“Danke schön, mein Freund!” said the Kaiser, smiling broadly.

Von Moltke, who stood behind the Emperor, waited for a few moments and then
walked up to Frau Dichtener and to the surprise of everyone grabbed her around the

waste and lifted her easily into the air.

“Meine liebschen! It is so good to see you again. I hope that you and Johann have

missed me as much as I have missed you.”

Then he turned to the group. “This lovely lady is my wife’s sister! She and Johann are

my favorite kind of people!

“Oh, stop it, Helmuth!” said Jo sweetly. “You are too kind!”
Wilhelm laughed at the antics of his Chief of the General Staff. He then introduced the
remaining members of his entourage.

“Of course, you know our Chancellor Herr Doktor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg.
As you can easily observe, the Herr Doktor is an intellectual, a genuine scholar, a
philosopher and a lover of peace.”

Bethmann greeted the Baron and his wife by bowing low. The Dichteners also bowed

low. When the host offered his hand to Theobald, the chancellor absent-mindedly shook
Johanna’s hand first. When he turned to shake the Baron’s hand, a book he was carrying

beneath his armpit slipped to the floor. Johann bent down and retrieved the volume. He

read its title and said, “I see that you like Friedrich Schiller’s poetry. I also happen to

admire him as one of Germany’s greatest poets.”
Theobald’s kindly gray eyes and mild, cordial manner gave his hosts little to fear from
the six and-one-half foot giant. In fact, his height and deeply lined face gave him a rather
Lincolnesque appearance.
As he stepped back, Bethmann attempted to click his heels, but could not affect a

sound for he wore soft oxford shoes. In addition, as he snapped his head, his monocle fe
from his eye saved only by its thin gold safety chain.
 

The Kaiser laughing at his Chancellor’s antics then placed his hand on the shoulder of
General Eric von Falkenhayn.

“General Eric von Falkenhayn is my new War Minister and, like all the rest of these
guys, has given me an honest appraisal of where Deutschland stands in the midst of its
hostile neighbors.”

Eric said, “Thank you, Your Majesty! Herr und Frau Dichtener, it is a pleasure to

meet you. Your beautiful Frisian estate reminds me of a seascape, only I feel that today I

am a part of the painting.

He then bowed to Johann and softly kissed Johanna’s hand.

Tall, bald and overweight, Admiral Alfred Tirpitz stepped forward. His white,

inverted v-shaped beard bobbed up and down as he bowed, shook one hand and kissed
another. In a quiet voice, he chivalrously thanked his hosts. “You folks are most gracious
to allow this rough crowd to visit your beautiful home. I assure you that we will be most
careful with your china, but do count your silverware!”

A broad smile lit up Johanna’s face. “Oh, Admiral, you jest of course! My husband
and I are thrilled that you honor our home by your visit. We trust that we can make your

stay here a pleasant one.”

“Not to fear, dear madam!” laughed Moltke, “we are les miserables, not miserable.”
 

The last two persons introduced were Dick Hentsch and Herbie Schornstein who, up

to now, prudently remained in the background.

“The other fellows,” quickly explained Wilhelm, “are my Chief of Intelligence,
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hentsch and my A.D.C., Captain Schornstein. However, dear

friends, you need not worry,” he chuckled, “They don’t eat much.”
Both men bowed without saying a word.

The Baron put his arm around his wife and suggested that his guests retire to their
bedrooms and refresh themselves.
Stopping before the door of his bedroom, Wilhelm motioned for Hentsch and

Schornstein to enter with him.
“Our meeting is top secret and is limited to the General Staff members. You two men

disappear for several hours, verstehen Sie?”

 

# 46

The Kaiser Meets with his General Staff.

 

Reading between the Lines from Donald Britton Conrad's book: 

Kaiser Wilhelm: In the Service of  God and Evil.

Part I

 

Two guards met at their assigned intersection and rested their rifles on the corner wall of Wilhelmstrasse 81, the German war office.

“Well, Hans, how’s the family? How is thine dear wife’s pregnancy going?”

Both men lit cigarettes and hid the lighted ends behind their backs. Smoking on duty was a court marshal offense.

 

“The family is good. My oldest son goes to the gymnasium this year. Martha claims that the baby kicks like a mule and she can’t get any sleep because of sharp tummy pains. I felt her stomach. I tell thee Siegfried, the kid is a lively one!”

 

“How goes it by thine gang?”

 

“Just fine! My little Albert has the measles which for some reason he does not find difficult.”

 

They heard the jangle of a sword scraping on cobblestones. “Quick! It’s the Sergeant of the Guard approaching.” They extinguished their cigarettes by grinding them beneath their boot soles. The guards shouldered their rifles just at the sergeant arrived on the scene.

 

“Halt!” said Hans. “Wer gehts da!”

 

“It’s me stupid! Sergeant Klaus.”

“Es tut mir leid!” said Siegfried. “It is very dark at this corner.”

 

 

“Yeah! Enough bullshit! I smell cigarette smoke. At any rate, keep alert. We were told that the Kaiser and the General Staff will meet tonight at about nine o’clock.”

“I wondered why the lights were on all over the third floor.”

 

“Get on the stick and continue your rounds.”

 

“Ja wohl Herr Sergeant!”

 

“Ach du lieber! Here they come!”

 

Four touring cars pulled up in front of the War Office. Officers climbed the front steps in order of rank. In silence, they arrived at the third floor boardroom. Each officer found his usual chair situated along the oblong table. Whiskey and crystal glasses were set before the staff. Each man filled his glass to the rim. Cigar smoke soon filled the air.

 

The Kaiser entered the room and the officers stood up like twenty fence posts. “Heil unserm Kaiser!” shouted an officer of the lowest grade. “Zum Ruhme Vaterlands!”

“Hoch! Hoch! Hoch!”

The Kaiser motioned for the group to be seated which they obeyed as though robots.

“Please forgive me gentlemen, but tonight I again suffer from inflammation of my ear. I have it stuffed with cotton, so please talk directly and loudly to me.”

 

“You men have put on your grave looking faces. Therefore, I assume that this meeting is a serious one and we are here for serious business. What’s up Julius?”

 

“Yes indeed, Wilhelm,” said General Helmuth Moltke whom the Kaiser nicknamed Julius, “We got some details of the Devonshire meeting of economists that met recently.”

 

“What did the bad boys decide?”

 

“So far we learned, from decoding secret telegraphs, that the English, French and Russian economists are in agreement that the Triple Entente should make every effort  to break the German economic power as well as its military and political domination in Europe. The economists say it is essential to act in such a way, that separate and independent German states should reappear as of old.”

Wilhelm rubbed his chin and said, “We now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the policy of the Triple Entente to encircle Germany is undeniable. I long believed that they planned to strangle our nation either by economic means or by war.”

 

 

Admiral Tirpitz said, “At first, I inferred that the cause of the next war would be the long existing rivalry between Britain and Germany. I foresee a grand sea battle that would settle the problem once and for all. I gather that the damned French crave to regain Alsace and Lorraine. The Russian Bear gets into the act by demanding an unrestrictive outlet to the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a damned hodgepodge I tell you!”

 

 

“Oh, it’s beginning to steamroll,” said Moltke. “The Triple Entente is meeting at this very moment to plan, what I consider will be the greatest attack Europe has ever seen! We obtained proof of this,” said Moltke, “from secret messages between French Ambassador Paleologue and Russian Foreign Minister Sukhomlinoff. Fortunately, our Intelligence organization easily decoded the messages!”

 

 

“Oh God in Heaven!” moaned Wilhelm. “What do they think will come of their stupidity?”

 

 

There was no reply from his Generals.

 

 

The Kaiser stood up and paced the floor. The Staff remained silent watching the All Highest meditate.

 

 

“I think it is vital for us to meet at a location away from Berlin in order to discuss our plans for a military response to those bastards!”

 

 

General Moltke said, “That is a great idea, Your Majesty! Where do you suggest we meet? It must be a very secret.”

 

 

Wilhelm stopped his pacing. “I have just the right place in mind!”

 

 

“Where might that be?” said Moltke.

 

 

I have a trusted relative who resides on Borkum, one of the Frisian Islands off the coast of Denmark. It is an isolated place free from prying eyes.”

# 45

 

JOFFRE DISCUSSES THE FRENCH PLAN TO DEFEAT THE GERMAN ARMY

 

        Reading between the Lines from Donald Britton Conrad's book: 

Kaiser Wilhelm: In the Service of  God and Evil.

Part IV

 

 

Back in the Red Lion meeting room, Secretary Grey tapped his water glass to gain the group’s attention. “I trust that you have had an enjoyable lunch. Now, it is time to go back to work.”

“In view of the possibility of a European conflagration, the policy of Great Britain is to maintain a balance between the Powers, but under no circumstances will she allow France to be crushed.”

“Speaking for myself, we English cannot and will not find ourselves facing a unitary continental group under the leadership of a single power such as Germany.”

“As English and German merchants compete in every corner of the world, my view is that England’s prosperity could only be saved if Germany’s growing power is placed under severe limitations!”

There was an exchange of glances among his audience.

“Believe me colleagues when I say that countries will fight for millions of pounds sterling from commerce!”

“Thus, the economic conflict between England and Germany suggests that England is the only great power that could make war on Germany without running an enormous risk and have a better than even chance of success. A naval blockade could bring Germany to the brink of starvation.”

“I say,” interjected Joffre, “that other countries possess an army, but in Germany the army possesses the country!”

“Here! Here!” agreed the group.

“As Mirabeau once said,” continued the French general, “ ‘War is a national industry of Prussia.’ Also, if memory serves me right, Napoleon Bonaparte declared that ‘Prussia was hatched from a cannon ball!’ ”

Everyone again laughed. “Here! Here!”

Edward tapped his glass. “Let us begin our discussion with General Joffre.”

“The floor is yours, Joseph.”

“Merci, Edward, mon ami!

“Mon President has ordered that stockpiles of food and arms be immediately located in major cities. Paris has already done so. We do not want to be caught with our pants down as in 1870, when food was scarce and our people reached the level of starvation. Gentlemen, I mean to deliver the battle in the most favorable conditions, at my own time, and on the ground, I have chosen.”

“According to our Plan Seventeen, in the advent of war, French armies will strike Germany on her western border and take the Rhine River valley. Then, we will move north and capture the coal and iron fields and the manufacturers of armaments.”

 

“Our military situation is much improved since 1871. Then we had about thirteen thousand miles of railroads. Today, we have double that. We have increased our national roads from fifty thousand miles to more than hundred thousand miles.”

 

Joffre walked over to a wall on which hung a large map of Belgium, France and the western part of Germany. “First, allow me to explain France’s updated Plan Seventeen. We will concentrate four armies between Mulhouse in the south and Metz in the north with a fifth army in reserve. The entire fortified line makes any attack by the Germans is a death trap for them. Plan Seventeen calls for French arms to attack, attack, and attack!”

 

“The key is to send overwhelming forces to Alsace-Lorraine. The Germans would have to meet force with force. We will overwhelm them and chase the German invaders back to Berlin. Ergo, we avoid a Belgium Campaign.”

 

“Just one moment, my friend,” interrupted Kitchner, “ you say that Plan Seventeen concentrates its strategy in Alsace-Lorraine. Yet, we all know that the Germans will probably rely on their von Schliessen plan! If you follow your strategy, the German armies could very well overwhelm you!”

 

Joffre folded his arms in the manner of a winning gladiator. “Thank you, General for reminding me of this possible flaw in French military thinking. However, permit me to introduce to you, for the first time, to France’s alternate plan. As you can well imagine, the plan is top secret and must not reach the ears of Kaiser Wilhelm!”

 

With typical French dramatic flair, Joffre ripped his map from its position on the wall.

 

Behind it was a duplicate map except that it contained six arching red arrows extending from the German-Belgian border south and east deep into French territory the right end encircling Paris. Regardez Plan Eighteen!”

 

“The von Schliessen plan will be upset in three ways. First, we will place strong resistance on the enemy’s right wing. Second, we believe that the Germans, immediately after its invasion, will need to send one or more corps to eastern Prussia to meet the overwhelming Russian threat from there. This will mean a definite weakening of their Western Front armies. Third, if the von Schliessen plan goes into effect, their right wing armies will be delayed by the presence of the Belgian army, the French Fifth Army, the British Expeditionary Force, plus six of our Reserve divisions. We are aware that Liege would be the first target for the German First and Second armies. Fortunately, that city is surrounded by a dozen, nearly impenetrable forts.”

 

“Here! Here!” exclaimed several members.

 

“Because of the suitability of our fine railway system and national roads, French armies will be able to quickly reform to meet any alternate Germany strategy.”

 

“Our Allied armies will be able to retard the movement especially that of the German First and Second armies. If it is to meet its strategic timetable, the First army, for example, must travel nearly two hundred and fifty miles without rest in order to reach Paris. This would require marches of twenty to twenty five miles a day plus intermittent battles along the way. By the time, they reach the vicinity of Paris, the German First and Second armies will have reached the point of exhaustion!”

 

“What about the German left wing? Is it going to be playing Skat whilst you are occupied around Paris?” inquired Kitchener.

 

“Oh, how insightful you are!” said Joffre brusquely. “We believe that our forces are strong enough to withstand enemy attacks in that sector. We calculate that, as the German right wing approaches Paris, its commanding General will believe that it would be foolish to waste his army going there. The Germans are fully aware that Paris has a ring of forty forts that will resist a siege for months. Instead, the commander of the German First Army will see the logic, which we will conveniently provide for him, that his right wing should turn southeast to allegedly attack the weak French left wing.”

 

“Oh ho!” exclaimed his audience.

 

Field Marshal John French quipped, “It seems that all roads lead away from Paris, n’est-ce pas?"

“Permettez moi d’expliquer,” said Joffre ignoring the interruption.

 

 

“All armies are limited in their movements by terrain. Mountains, rivers, wet and dry land, all lend themselves to impeding movement. Weather can aid or deter the best of tactics. Napoleon was defeated by the Russian winter. Caesar used intemperate weather to overwhelm his Gallic foes attacking as he did in the midst of a snowstorm.”

 

“The German military theorists, we know, maintain that with their organization and particular type of discipline, attacks must be delivered in much closer formation than either the French or English believe possible.”

 

“Taking a page from history, the German General Staff settled upon the concept of the ancient Greek hoplite phalanx. The generals have concluded that German armies need to overcome with the greatest rapidity enemy forces, because delay will soon wear out the fighting effectiveness of their own troops.”

 

“You see, mes amis, if the German armies are to defeat the combined French and English armies, the capture of Paris within thirty or so days is no longer a fundamental necessity.”

“Now, you ask, what place does the hoplite phalanx play in German strategy? The Greek Phalanx consisted of a column of heavy infantry carrying long spears as well as swords. The fearsome spears were about twelve feet long! Men in the phalanx carried a round shield called a hoplon, from which the infantry took their name, hoplites.”

 

“A typical phalanx was ten men across the front rank and ten men deep, but many such units were combined into one larger unit.”

 

“The phalanx was an infantry formation designed for hand-to-hand combat. The heavily armed infantry on each side in battle would close with each other at a deliberate pace, maintaining a strict formation. As front line troops fell, their rear members replace them. Thus, the formidable line shocked its enemy, who preferred to retreat rather than stand and face slaughter. Yes, the phalanxes are shock troops, or as the Germans call them Stosstruppen. The Germans believe that a solid, continuous line of screeching attackers will frighten the wits out of the defenders.”

General French stood up, stamped his foot, and shouted, “Bang! Bang! Bang! Any Germans that survive our fierce rifle and cannon fire will be needed to bury their dead!”

 

Joffre, rather startled by the General’s outburst, threw up his hand for silence. “It is in today’s circumstances that terrain determines the German strategy. The geography of Belgium and France from Brussels to Paris is flat or possesses some rolling hills. There the phalanx attack is well suited for the German army because its commanders easily see their attack forces in motion.”

 

“The German theory maintains that with the organization and strong discipline of its armies, attacks can be delivered in much closer formation than either the French or English believe possible.”

 

“Now don’t get upset! The German tactics, though advantageous to them in the initial stage of invasion, will collapse from the loss of troops in close formation. A massed group is a better target for French guns than a number of dispersed, scattered troops.”

 

“The Germans also maintain that the great rapidity of their attacks would make the total wastage less than one would expect. However, heavy wastage to the German command is worthwhile if it will lead to a speedy decision of the war. Actually, the Germans believe that a rapid victory will save lives.”

 

“Thus, the Germans assume that an invasion of northern France in order to reach Paris and to encircle retreating French armies would take about a fortnight!”

 

 “But, General, how will the Allies stop such an onslaught?” asked Russian General Rennenkampf.

 

“That is an excellent question, Pavel,” replied Joffre, rubbing his hands. “We, French, teach our officers that, all things being equal, numbers are the decisive factor in war. That does, not mean, however, that absolute superiority in numbers decides a campaign necessarily in favor of the superior power.”

 

“Let me provide you with a simple example. More detailed information will probably put my Russian friend to sleep!”

 

Pavel responded by laughing lustily.

 

Joffre smiled and continued his explanation. “Suppose five men, Group A, attack three men, Group B. If the forces bear upon each equally, the five will defeat the three, N’est-ce pas? But, if the five men in Group A are arranged in groups of two, two and one, and if the three men in Group B strike the first isolated two and defeat them, thus bringing up the next isolated two, who are in their turn defeated, the three will have only to deal with one. Ergo, if the army with inferior numbers attempts to compel his larger opponent to fight in separated portions, the inferior can then defeat the superior in detail!”

 

Joffre waited for everyone to light their cigars and pour more coffee.

 

“Without going into specifics, let me say that if the Germans attack through Belgium, they will probably experience great success for a couple of weeks. Daily, their lines of supply will lengthen making it more difficult to reach the mobile front lines. After a few weeks, we expect the German initiative will slowly run out of steam and face the reality of facing the possibility of retreat.”

 

“If the Germans decide to follow the von Schlieffen plan, or a modification of it, we are prepared to suck them into our little trap. As they approach, what they believe is a defenseless Paris; they will decide to avoid besieging it. Instead, they will turn east to attack the left flank of the retreating French Fifth Army.”

 

“However, we have an ace-in-the hole. Our plan calls for the creation of a French 6th Army with 16,000 effectives, which will storm out of Paris and strike the right wing of the German army! Once we threaten the German right wing with our newly formed army, we force the invaders to turn to its right flank to confront the unexpected French attack. The adjoining German Second Army cannot change its direction so that a gap will form, wide enough to admit the British Expeditionary Forces. I can hear the Kaiser now: ‘Dummkopf! There is no BEF. It is kaput!’ Do not forget that First Army is mainly interested in destroying the French left wing, held by the French 5th army. Supported by the BEF, it will strike through the gap between the German First and Second armies. If I have counted correctly, three French and English armies will surround the German First Army on the right flank.”

 

“But, you understand, gentlemen, this is not enough. By this time, we French will have moved troops to the center of the battle line in order to attack the German armies at that point. The result will be that the German armies, whose supply line is long and the French supply line short, will be required to retreat posthaste!”

 

Joffre did a little jig showing his enthusiasm for his cunning plan.

 

“Come on now, old man,” pressed Kitchener. “How the hell will you be certain that the German right wing will turn east as you expect?”

 

“Oh, man of little faith,” replied Joffre. “We have our trusted people in high places that cleverly influence the Kaiser and his German generals. For another thing, the German high command, from habit, will remain far away from the battlefield. You see the Kaiser will certainly demand to be in the midst of the incoming and outgoing news. The German General Staff cannot afford to have Wilhelm killed. Surely, they remember how France’s foolish Emperor Napoleon III went to command his troops in 1871 and the Prussians captured him. The German field commanders have almost full control of their movements. Our spies will influence the German right flank to face the attack of our Sixth army. As I predict, a gap will open between the two adjacent German armies!”

 

“Then, as I have suggested, we will do three things simultaneously. First, we will send another newly formed army, the Ninth, staffed from part of our troops in the eastern sector and place it at the center of the German front line. Second, the English, though exhausted from a planned retreat from Belgium, will slip in between the German gap. That gap, gentlemen, is the clue to the Allied success! Third, the French 6th Army will slip alongside the German First Army’s flank. Then, I will call for the attack! The invaders will feel the wrath of the Allied armies. With luck, we should send them running back to Germany and their foolish Kaiser!”

 

The members stood up and shouted “Tres bien! Here! Here! Dah!” They crowded around the beaming Frenchman and each shook his hand and patted him on his back.

 

# 44

 

 Enemy Alliances Plot.

Reading between the Lines from Donald Britton Conrad's book: 

Kaiser Wilhelm: In the Service of  God and Evil.

Part III

 

Secretary Grey waited until the group sat down and quiet settled in.

 

“We are interested in hearing from our Russian friend and ally, General Pavel Rennenkampf. Good morning to you dear friend. General Rennenkampf, please give us the benefit of your advice on our hypothetical war.”

 

“Spahsseebah, Secretary Grey.”

 

 

“You are welcome, General.”

“Dobrahyee ootrah, gentlemen! I bring you greetings from his Majesty Tsar Nicholas!”

In unison, the group responded, “Good Morning, General!”

With a deep voice, that was powerful enough to be heard across a parade field, the Russian commenced, “Gentlemen, please observe my map of East Prussia. Notice that it juts out from the River Vistula, almost to the River Nieman, and is penned in between the Baltic Sea and the northern frontier of Russian Poland. It can be easily attacked from the east and the south.”

Rennenkampf spoke somewhat sadly, “Since our disaster against the Japanese in Manchuria in 1904, we are much better organized than ever before. We are ready to set up a battlefront not only to whip the Huns, but also to support our Western Front allies while they combat the German invasion.”

“Now, Gentlemen, think of a half-million men striking the poorly defended East Prussian border! Facing the Germans is the Russian First Army. It is four corps strong consisting of approximately a quarter-million men.” Rennenkampf pointed to the location of his troops on the map.

“The whole plan of mobilization was worked out ahead of time in all its details. When the moment arrives, one only has to push a button, and the whole state begins to function automatically with the precision of a clock’s mechanism. However, once the moment is settled there is no going back. It’s on to Berlin!”

“From Warsaw, General Alexsandr Samsonov’s Second Army will advance to join my First Army. His forces consist of about a quarter-million men. It creates a vice grip that will crack the nuts of the German defenders!”

“What will the Germans oppose you with in East Prussia?” asked Grey.

“Our spies tell us that General Prittwitz’s Eighth Army consists of three corps and one reserve corps.”

“My Russian First Army has four corps and General Samsonov’s has four and possibly five corps. Thus, we will offer a front of eight or more corps compared to the German three. Not bad odds, comrades, eh?”

“We Russians will strike from the northeast on a direct route to Berlin. That massive pressure will pull at least one German corps from the western front. Is that not a good thing, General Joffre? It should make your life easier during the first few days of combat.”

“Merveilleux!” remarked Joffre.

 

“My First Army will invade the north through Konigsberg and move toward Danzig. The Second army under General Samsonov will move from Warsaw to join me at Danzig and clear the way to Berlin. We expect our two armies to envelop East Prussia in just a few weeks time. Hence, dear friends, I expect to dance the Mazurka in the Kaiser’s Palace within three weeks of the invasion! Even better, let Russian and French troops clasp hands at the River Elbe! Wouldn’t that be a grand thing?”

Joffre interjected, “We are concerned that your transportation system is, how shall I say, not first class. How will you transport a half-million troops and supplies?”

The Russian responded, “We have purposely left our railroads in this sector undeveloped near the Prussian Border to handicap the invader. However, once inside East Prussia, we will confiscate their excellent engines and trains and fill them with our troops and military material.”

“My First Army does not expect much opposition until we reach major rivers. We are prepared to cross them with pontoon bridges wherever necessary. As my Army moves westward, it will entice the German forces towards us. Just as they believe they are facing but one army, the Second Army commanded by General Alexandre Samsonov, moving north from Warsaw will swoop down and strike the Germans in their rear! It will become an unfair battle; trust me, but one that will shorten the war by weeks.”

“While our First and Second Armies make soopoo, or as you say, soup, out of the Prussian defenders, Russia will send another one-half million troops against the Austro-Hungarian border!”

“Oui, monsieur General!” shouted Joffre. “It will be the proverbial ‘one-two punch!’”

Rennenkampf looked bewildered. “What does ‘one-two punch’ mean?”

 

Joffre demonstrated the meaning by gently tapping Rennenkampf’s chin and then his stomach.

“Oh, I see. You call it the knockout punch, n’est-ce pas?”

 

With deep concern Grey queried, “How soon can one expect the Russian war machine to reach its level of top effectiveness?”

“Our plan is to attack Germany,” explained Rennenkampf, “fifteen days after mobilization. Thus, it is vital that the Allied Armies maintain a strict schedule for our agreed upon strategy.”

“Thank you, General.” said Edward Grey. “I feel more confident now about our success against German arms.”

The group rose to congratulate the Russian General. His plucky attitude seemed to inspire everyone.

“I think,” said Edward Grey looking brighter, “it would be a good idea for us to take, what the American’s say at their baseball games ‘a seventh inning stretch!’”

Lighted cigars and cigarettes brought on coughing and hacking. Several farts filled the air. A couple of men practiced exercises to relieve sore muscles. Others went to the lavatory whence loud laughter emerged.

As Edward Grey and his group returned to the conference room, they found that the Maitre D’ had urns of coffee and tea brought in as well as bottles of spirits. The Secretary waited until the table was set and the doors closed to restart the session.

“As far back as 1902, I believed that Britain should align itself against Germany. Germany is our worst enemy! I told our Prime Ministers that nothing we do, in our relations with Germany, is in anyway to impair our existing good relations with France. I also maintained detente with Russia for she was hurting from defeat by Japan in 1905.”

“Russia will not have any trouble with us about an entrance to the Black Sea. The old policy of closing the Straits against them fades away. I say this in the strictest confidence. It is top secret, so forget you ever heard it! I include you General Rennenkampf. Also, let it be known that Britain favors Russia’s traditional ambitions in the Balkans. I feel strongly that bloodshed between Austria and Servia will certainly rise to fever pitch due to Russian sympathy for the Slavs. However, if our plans are to succeed, Servia must not jump the gun, but must restrain herself until all is in readiness with the Triple Entente.”

“Gentlemen, do you have any further questions of the General Rennenkampf? If not, let us hear from representatives of the British army, Generals Horatio Kitchner and John French. Lord Kitchener, please share your thoughts with us.”

While considering the topic at hand for a moment, Kitchner then spoke his thoughts aloud, arguing first the pros and then the cons, finally summing up and coming to a decision. At first, he did not look at his audience, but shuffled several sheets of notepaper.

Horatio looked up at his audience and spoke with firmness in his voice. “Gentlemen, first, I do not fear winning a war. Second, I fear very much we may not make a good peace. Third, any European war of the immensity we speak, will not be a brief one, but could last years. Finally, have we exhausted every effort to avoid a major conflict?”

Grey prodded the General. “Horatio, we are waiting for your discussion!”

Kitchener responded jovially, “As you gentlemen know, I have been appointed Secretary of State for War. But, don’t let my rank influence you. Just damn well do what I tell you!”

Everyone laughed.

On Horatio’s handsome, tanned face was a walleye that made it difficult to know to whom he spoke.

“When I was first appointed, I found the army in unsatisfactory condition. A simple example occurred when I first arrived at my office and was required to provide a specimen of my signature. A fountain pen and a single sheet of paper torn from a notebook lay before me, but the pen refused to work. With a show of my usual impatience, I flung the pen from me and said, ‘What a fucking war office! Not a scrap of decent paper and a pen that will not write!’”

Rennenkampf chuckled. “Russian generals carry pencils with them and a pocket knife with which to sharpen them!”

Horatio said jovially, “Pavel! Do you mind?”

Everyone laughed at the brief repartee…

“It is important to choose the right man for a given task. I select my own aides and trust them implicitly and they must trust and obey me in return. Failure to do so, for any reason whatsoever, is a thing I never excuse. A colonel of engineers told me that it would take three weeks to build a bridge over the Moda River. I said to him, “Colonel, if that bridge is not finished in seven days, we shall have to send you home! The job was done in six days!”

“One thing I did while in the Orient was to disguise myself in a flowing Burnoose and Turban and enter the Bazaars to get news of the Mahdi’s troops. You see, I speak fluent Arabic. Intelligence is vital, but it has to come from first hand experience.”

 

 

“Upon my appointment, I pledged to my King and my country that the military situation was going to change … for the better!”

“First, let me give credit to my friend and colleague, Henry Wilson, whom I chose as Director of Military Operations at the War Office. His belief of a coming war is a passionate conviction that nothing can shake. The future, as he sees it, is a matter of fact. Germany is going to war with France and we are going to fight side by side with the French.”

“Here! Here!” responded his friends.

“I recall Wilson saying to an audience, ‘In case you should walk away with any false ideas from what I say, it will be as well to explain that I am a lunatic! Several people in Whitehall intimate that I am a lunatic. Ergo, I must be.’ Whitehall has offices in which many wise men of England sit at desks and write papers to each other. Of course, they don’t read each other’s papers. They are carefully docketed by a large staff of clerks and then go into pigeonholes and remain there.’”

“Let me be frank. What keeps nagging me about this business of an imminent war is the question ‘Why?’”

“Yesterday, I was shopping in London and the merchant who knew me asked for a word with me. He said in his cockney accent, ‘Aye know nothin aboot the German nation, but aye know one German who don’t want war. I just paid him nearly fifty thousand pounds for goods supplied, and next year aye shall probably pay twice that amount. Though he may very well hate Jolly ol’ England, he ain’t such a fool as to quarrel with his best customer!"

“At any rate, as Lord Baden-Powell, the founder the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, recently stressed, ‘Be prepared!’ It too, is my motto and I trust it is yours, gentlemen.”

“For just about the same reason, Wilson, when faced with much opposition from Parliament for an increase in the regular forces, magically made six Divisions ready for combat! With the help of the British railway companies, schedules meet the needs for movements to ports of embarkation. Our army will not face delay for the lack of transport. Thank the good Lord for men like Henry Wilson!”

“Here! Here!”

“Over the past several years our engineers have made detailed military maps of Belgium, from top to bottom. Our General Staff has carefully prepared plans for sending an expeditionary force to the continent in the event of a Franco-German war. They estimate that two army corps can make it to Belgium within three weeks. Thereafter, we British can cross the Channel with about one hundred and fifty thousand trained troops and take up position in western Belgium. We British may currently have a small army, but we have one hell of a navy! France and Russia have huge armies. The three of us can whack the Germans and Austrians anytime. It is my firm hope to raise seventy more Divisions. This will mean about one million troops in the fighting line with reserves ready to replace casualties and the sick.”

“How long Horatio will it take to raise such an army?” asked General Rennenkampf, puffing noisily on his meerschaum pipe.

“About one year!”

“Permit me also to interrupt, monsieur General,” said Joffre, “It matters little what you send; we ask only for one corporal and four men; but they must arrive at the beginning. You will give them to me, I promise to do my best to get them killed; from that moment on I shall be happy, for I know that after that the whole of England will come as one man!”

“Thank you, mon ami!” said Kitchener, smiling.

 

“A million plus men! How do you propose to do that neat trick?” inquired French Admiral Augustin de Lapeyrere, dusting tobacco ashes from his chest.

“History tells us,” continued Horatio, “that the first battle always excites in the heart of the people a fierce desire for victory—and after that, the brave young flock to the enlistment centers!

“The German army is at least equal in quality to the French and can mobilize a little more than two million against the French million and one-half. As I see it, the French must therefore seek a situation of more equality. I believe this is possible either before the full strength of the Germans occurs or after the German lines extend deep into French territory. The latter might be reached in about a fortnight or two.”

“That is absolutely correct!” exclaimed Joffre.

“At any rate,” continued Kitchener, “Britain can send two complete corps to France on the outbreak of war. Also, keep in mind that one hundred thousand troops of the British army in India could move at once and ship out to France. I would expect them to reach Marseilles by the fortieth day. These could be assembled en masse in the rear of the French left flank, but, in no way allowed to fritter away piecemeal!

“Also, we can expect troops from Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I estimate that from them, two complete divisions each could prepare to embark to England at a moment’s notice. Garrisons from Malta and elsewhere could form an extra division of the Regular Army. Anything that would assist us in opposing this new and most formidable danger would be of value to us.”

“Merveilleux!” exclaimed Joffre, vigorously brushing his mustache back and forth.

 

Kitchener appeared very serious. Contemplating his fingers, he said, “As Secretary of State for War, I must warn you and warn you again that having any thoughts of a short war, a ‘home-before-Christmas’ war, might very well be an illusion. Facing the greatest army in Europe suggests to me that the war could last two or three years!”

“So, gentlemen, I ask, what good is our small force going to do at the outset of the battle? If the von Schliessen’s plan goes into effect, our little band of soldiers on the French left flank can expect to face two complete German armies! Thus, in order to cooperate with General Joffre’s plan, the English will have to eat crow and retreat almost from the start of the conflict.”

“Such a sacrifice to make!” cried Edward Grey.

“Yes, Sir Edward, it amounts to a sacrifice. However, what I propose is to bluff the Germans here at home.”

“Here at home! Whatever do you mean, General?”

“We shall send out the word that Britain plans to raise one million men. Actually, I really plan to raise four million men under the very noses of the ubiquitous German spies. The feat of clothing, arming and training this mighty host, and then smuggling it out to France is difficult, but doable. I want to deceive the German General Staff as to England’s military strength, and confound Teutonic theorists who had always maintained that it is impossible to make a soldier in less than three years.”

I am interested in how your magic wand will accomplish this Machiavellian ruse, General?” asked French Admiral Lapeyrere who up to this point had remained silent.

“I plan, with the government’s support, to commandeer the services of the press to help carry out this great bluff.”

“Go on Horatio, even I am fascinated by your hocus-pocus!” declared Grey.

“I believe that it would be a grave strategic blunder to allow the enemy to know what is really afoot. Rather, the game should be to call for one million men but give press agents around the world stories lamenting the fact that, at last, the British Empire was about to crumble because the men of England had not the pluck to defend it! The Kaiser will brag that all those German reports, that the modern Englishman has become effete and anemic, are, indeed, true!”

“I don’t know, my friend. It sounds like a horse race to me. What makes you think it will work?” pressed Grey.

“Listen Edward, it could be easier than catching one of those elusive trout you are always bragging about! This is the twentieth century. We must be aware of how potent propaganda is in shaping popular opinion. The Germans have become masters of it. Now, we must become masters of our propaganda from the word go! I plan a full propaganda program to gain America’s support.”

“But, first, I will warn the newspaper editors that any indiscretion would mean a court-marshal, under the Defence of the Realm Act, on charges of spreading reports likely to interfere with the success of his Majesty’s forces.”

“Sounds like a bully idea!” said Admiral Fisher, his face gleaming with anticipation.

“You are quite insightful, Jackie,” laughed Kitchener.

Quickly changing to another topic, Horatio pointed to his Russian colleague, General Rennenkampf.

“For the sake of good relations with Russia, I suggest that any Allied resistance to Russian expansion toward the Black Sea and the Dardanelles be dropped.”

However, Secretary Grey, placing his fingertips to his lips, coughed several times. He had to avoid encouraging Horatio’s thrust into such a sensitive area at this time. Instead, he thanked the Secretary of War for his comments and turned to another topic.

Edward looked directly at King Albert, who throughout the discussion sat silently, his hands clasped in prayerful attitude.

“The British government is adamant,” declared the Secretary, “that if Belgium neutrality is violated, we are prepared to come to her aid. The Belgian army must take the field in concert with the French and British. Since the port of Antwerp is a major supply route for British and French armies, we are prepared to garrison troops there immediately after war is declared.”

“As I have often said, and still have no doubt, France fighting Germany without Britain faces certain defeat. On the other hand, the combination of naval dominance and the speedy dispatch of our forces could turn the tables in the beginning.”

“The man that we will place, as commander of The British Expeditionary Force, is well known to you, especially from his extraordinary successes during the recent Boer War. I have known Johnny French intimately for many years and I respect him and have total faith in his ability to lead our army.”

Without being invited to speak, Field Marshal John French rose ready to describe his strategy for a hypothetical war with Germany. His white mustache and long jowls gave him the appearance of a doddering old soldier. However, when he spoke his colleagues heard a tough, intelligent-minded, and very knowledgeable general. His steel-blue eyes shot daggers of fear into the hearts of his listeners: This man has a killer’s instinct!

 

 

# 43

 

Must Reads for World War One Buffs:

 

 

 From Google: George Sylvester Viereck: "THE KAISER ON TRIAL." 

 

From Amazon: Christian Gauss: "THE GERMAN EMPEROR AS SHOWN BY HIS PUBLIC UTTERANCES."

 

Karl Kautsky: "THE OUTBREAK OF THE WORLD WAR."