In the World War

In the World War

The Project Gutenberg EBook of In the World War, by Count Ottokar
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Title: In the World War
Author: Count Ottokar Czernin
Release Date: April 12, 2006 [EBook #18160]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: COUNT CZERNIN]
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IN THE WORLD WAR
BY COUNT OTTOKAR CZERNIN

WITH FOUR PLATES

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto and
Melbourne
Copyright in Great Britain.

PREFACE
It is impossible in a small volume to write the history of the World War
in even a partially exhaustive manner. Nor is that the object of this
book.
Rather than to deal with generalities, its purpose is to describe separate
events of which I had intimate knowledge, and individuals with whom I
came into close contact and could, therefore, observe closely; in fact, to
furnish a series of snapshots of the great drama.
By this means the following pages may possibly present a conception

of the war as a whole, which may, nevertheless, differ in many respects
from the hitherto recorded, and possibly faulty, history of the war.
Everyone regards people and events from his own point of view; it is
inevitable. In my book, I speak of men with whom I was in close touch;
of others who crossed my path without leaving any personal impression
on me; and finally, of men with whom I was often in grave dispute. I
endeavour to judge of them all in objective fashion, but I have to
describe people and things as I saw them. Wherever the description
appears to be at fault, the reason will not be due to a prematurely
formed opinion, but rather, probably, to a prevailing lack of the
capacity for judging.
Not everything could be revealed. Much was not explained, although it
could have been. Too short a period still separates us from those events
to justify the lifting of the veil from all that happened.
But what remains unspoken can in no way change the whole picture,
which I describe exactly as imprinted on my mind.
OTTOKAR CZERNIN.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
1. INTRODUCTORY REFLECTIONS 1
2. KONOPISCHT 34
3. WILLIAM II 52
4. ROUMANIA 77
5. THE U-BOAT WARFARE 114
6. ATTEMPTS AT PEACE 134

7. WILSON 188
8. IMPRESSIONS AND REFLECTIONS 195
9. POLAND 200
10. BREST-LITOVSK 211
11. THE PEACE OF BUCHAREST 258
12. FINAL REFLECTIONS 271
APPENDIX 275

LIST OF PLATES
COUNT CZERNIN Frontispiece
FACING PAGE
THE ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND 48
COUNT TISZA 128
GENERAL HOFFMANN 240

IN THE WORLD WAR
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY REFLECTIONS
1
The bursting of a thunderstorm is preceded by certain definite
phenomena in the atmosphere. The electric currents separate, and the

storm is the result of atmospheric tension which can no longer be
repressed. Whether or no we become aware of these happenings
through outward signs, whether the clouds appear to us more or less
threatening, nothing can alter the fact that the electric tension is bound
to make itself felt before the storm bursts.
For years the political barometer of the European Ministries of Foreign
Affairs had stood at "storm." It rose periodically, to fall again; it
varied--naturally; but for years everything had pointed to the fact that
the peace of the world was in danger.
The obvious beginnings of this European tension date back several
years: to the time of Edward VII. On the one hand England's dread of
the gigantic growth of Germany; on the other hand Berlin's politics,
which had become a terror to the dwellers by the Thames; the belief
that the idea of acquiring the dominion of the world had taken root in
Berlin. These fears, partly due merely to envy and jealousy, but partly
due also to a positive anxiety concerning existence; these fears led to
the encircling policy of Edward VII., and thus was started the great
drive against Germany. It is well known that Edward VII. made an
attempt to exercise a direct influence on