What Germany Thinks | Page 6

as the leader of the Slavonic peoples, Russia
chose the latter course, the only honourable one open to her. German
papers and public speakers retorted that Russia is the patron and
protector of assassins--a calculated distortion of the facts intended to
have due effect on public opinion. On all sides it was said that Russia
had given Serbia secret assurances of help which caused her to become
stiff-backed and unrepentant. Fortunately, it is possible to refute the
accusation through the pen of a German journalist, who described
Belgrade's desperate position on July 25th, the day when the ultimatum
expired.
[Footnote 2: "The interests of Russian and German imperialism have
continually clashed during the last ten years, and more than once
Russia has had to beat a retreat before Germany's threats." Dr. Paul
Lensch, member of the Reichstag, in his "German Social Democracy
and the World War," p. 35. Published by "Vorwärts Co." Berlin, 1915.]
"At last the inhabitants of Belgrade have become aware of their serious
situation. 'We are lost! Russia has left us in the lurch!' is being shouted
in the streets. Journalists, who at 2.30 p.m. had assured me that Russia
had intervened in Vienna with success, succumbed now to the general
depression. The people believe that they have been betrayed and sold;
rumours of assassination pass from mouth to mouth. The ministerial
council has been characterized by violent recriminations, ending in
blows. Others asserted that the Crown Prince Alexander had been
stabbed by a leader of the war-party. Another whispers that King Peter
is dying from an apoplectic fit or as the result of an attentat. The
reports become wilder, and each increases the dread of some
unutterable, imminent catastrophe.
"The streets are crowded with terror-stricken citizens. Curses resound
on all sides. Certainly a most unusual struggle is going on between the
two parties for peace and war. Shortly after three o'clock it seems to be
settled that Austria's demands will be fulfilled. It is true the
mobilization decree has been posted up on all public buildings, but that
means nothing. We still have nearly three hours in which all can be

righted. How will this gallows-respite be employed?
"It is four o'clock. Messengers rush from one Embassy to the other. In
the coffee-houses the rumour goes round: 'Italy is our saviour in
distress.' Cries of 'shame!' against Russia are raised, while the 'vivas!'
for Italy sound louder and louder. The crowd marches to the Italian
Embassy, but are received with long and astonished faces. No! there is
nothing to hope for from Italy. Next they go to the French Embassy;
now there are about two thousand of us. Another disappointment! A
young diplomat receives the thronging masses and talks empty
nothings, including a great deal about France's sympathy for Serbia.
But in this dark hour sympathy is of no avail. Downcast and silent, the
people go next to the representative of Albion--who declines to appear.
"The confusion in the minds of the masses caused by the Government's
indecision increases from minute to minute; indescribable scenes are
witnessed before the General Post Office. It is alleged that thousands
and thousands of telegrams have arrived from Russia, begging the
members of Serbia's royal family not to give way to Austria. It may
easily be possible that the Russian telegrams all emanate from one
person and have been forged, in order to counteract the disposition to
yield on the part of the royal family. Without doubt both the King and
Crown Prince have lost all personal influence on the final decision.
They are being slowly carried along by the conflagration-party which
obtained the upper hand soon after four o'clock."[3]
[Footnote 3: _München-Augsburger Abendzeitung_, July 28th.]
This picture gives no support to Germany's accusation that Russia had
stiffened Serbia into resisting Austria's unacceptable demands. It rather
leads one to consider that an action which drives a weak nation to
arrive at a decision on so awful an issue in so short a time, is an action
discreditable to a stronger, and impossible on the part of a morally
great, power. If Serbia chose wrongly in refusing to bite the dust, then
the guilt is still chargeable to Austria for forcing her little neighbour to
take a choice in haste. Sir Edward Grey emphasized in his speech of
July 27th the shortness of the time which all the Powers had had at their
disposal to formulate a plan, by which the conflict could be restricted to

the East, or amicably settled.
The leaders of the Germanic States had purposely willed it so. Several
unsuccessful attempts had been made to break up the Triple Entente,
the only barrier to the Germanization, _i.e._, Prussianization, of Europe,
and in the tragedy of Serajewo the Central Powers (or, at least, the
dominating factor of the two) believed