Kelly Millers History of the World War for Human Rights | Page 8

council adjourned. The
emperor, to divert suspicion, hurried off on a yachting trip while the
financiers immediately commenced disposing of their foreign securities.
The stock markets of London, Paris, and New York during that interval
of time bear eloquent testimony to the truth of these assertions. Two
weeks and three days after the council adjourned, Austria sent her
ultimatum to Serbia. The truth of these statements is vouched for by
Henry Morgenthau, American ambassador to Turkey.
Thus were unleashed the dogs of war. For four long years they rioted in
blood. To advance dynastic ambitions and national greed, millions of
Armenian Christians were tortured, outraged and murdered; hapless
Belgians were ravished and put to the sword, their cities made charnal
heaps; millions of men--the fairest sons of many lands--gave up their
lives, and anguished hearts sobbed out their grief in desolated homes,

while generations to come will feel the crushing financial burdens this
struggle has entailed with its heritage of woe.
We must now gain a general view of the events of the war. Every
well-informed man or woman feels the necessity of such outline
knowledge. It was not only the greatest war in history, but it was our
war. Our liberties were threatened. Rivers and hamlets of France are
invested with new interest. There, our American boys are sleeping; they
died that our Republic might live. We may regard the annals of other
wars with languid interest; those of this war grip our hearts, our breath
comes quicker as we read; we experience a glow of patriotic pride. We
shall let each year of the war tell its story. Of necessity we can only
record the main events, the peaks of each year's achievements.
EVENTS OF 1914.
A state of war was declared to exist in Germany, July 31, 1914. Four
days later Germany had mobilized five large armies with full supplies
on the extended line from Metz northward along the eastern boundary
of France--a distance of about 130 miles. That mobilization was a
wonderful exhibition of military efficiency. From Verdun to Paris,
slightly southwest, is also about 130 miles.
The German plan of campaign may be crudely stated as follows:
Regard that extended line as a flail ready to fall, hinged near Verdun,
moved in a circle until the northern tip, under command of Von Kluck,
should fall with all the energy Germany could put into the blow on
Paris. In the meantime, the other armies would crush back, outflank,
defeat, and capture the small British and hastily mobilized French
armies that confronted them along the entire line. It was believed that a
short campaign would crush France, over-awe Great Britain, and end
the war in the West. It was thought that six weeks would be ample to
accomplish this result.
BELGIAN RESISTANCE.
Germany expected that at the most a day or so would see Belgian
resistance broken and the dash on Paris begun. It was not safe to start

such a forward rush with Belgium unconquered. This was the first of
many, many mistakes made by Germany. It required two weeks to
break down this resistance. Thus the northern end of the flail was held
and movement along the entire line was slowed down or suspended.
The unexpected delay saved France. Let us remember this when we
read the story of Belgium's martyrdom, a story written in blood. Then
began the fulfillment of the threat of William II to the Prince of
Monaco "the world will see what it never dreamed of." And truly the
world never dreamed of the terrible scenes that attended the sack of
Louvain (August 26). Not until after the situation in Belgium had been
given a bloody setting did the first dash on Paris begin (August 23).
RETREAT TO THE MARNE.
We are now approaching the "Miracle of the Marne." The line of
German armies along the eastern frontier of France were confronted by
the forces of France, hastily mobilized during the delay occasioned by
the heroic but pathetically futile resistance of Belgium. The first
English army had also assumed a position before the menacing rush of
the German forces. The only thing the Allies could do was to retreat.
This movement, directed by General Joffre, was a remarkably able one.
His plan was to give ground before the advance without risking a
decisive battle until he could rearrange his forces and gain a favorable
position. Only with difficulty was the retreat saved from becoming a
great disaster when the British army was defeated at Mons-Charleroi
(August 21-3). Apparently, the German forces were carrying
everything before them as the retreat continued. The flail, swinging
from Metz to Belgium, was falling with crushing effect along the entire
front, the movement being very rapid at the western but slow at the
eastern end. It was centered