The statements of three French soldiers, prisoners of war in Germany, are also cited; these men maintain that they entered Belgium on the 31st of July and the 2nd of August.

With regard to this “evidence,” we must note that Grasshoff is a German official, the corporal a German spy, and that the Frenchmen have made these statements in a prisoners’ camp, a place where they were exposed to the temptation of German gold and the influence of Teutonic bullying.  Lastly, the Berlin General Staff has recorded that the German armies first came in touch with French troops on August 19th, near Namur.]

Moreover Germany’s excuse for invading Belgium is given in the title of this chapter.  Had Germany possessed any proof that French officers in disguise were organizing preparations in Belgium, or that French airmen had crossed the latter’s territories in order to drop bombs by Wesel, etc., then Bethmann-Hollweg would have had no reason to admit in the Reichstag that his country was committing a breach of international law.  Under such circumstances Belgian neutrality would no longer have existed; the Chancellor, instead of “necessity,” could have pleaded justification and the world could scarcely have withheld its approval.

In the early hours of August 4th the Germans crossed the Belgian frontier, although the Cologne Gazette had published a notice three days before announcing that Germany had no intention whatever of taking the step, and that no German troops were near the frontier.

General von Emmich immediately issued this proclamation in French:  “To my great regret German troops have been compelled to enter Belgian territory.  They are acting under the compulsion of unavoidable necessity, for French officers in disguise have already violated Belgian neutrality by trying to reach Germany, via Belgium, in motor-cars.[94]

[Footnote 94:  One wonders what military purpose these officers had in view.  They would have been inevitably arrested at the German frontier.  The fable was made public by Wolff’s Agency, and has been ridiculed even by the German Press, vide pp. 96-7.]

“Belgians! it is my most ardent desire that it may yet be possible to avoid a struggle between two peoples which up till now, have been friends, formerly even allies.  Remember the glorious days of La Belle Alliance, when German arms helped to found the independence and future of your Fatherland.

“Now we must have a free way.  The destruction of tunnels, bridges and railways will be considered hostile actions.  Belgians! you have to choose.  The German army does not intend to fight against you, but seeks a free path against the enemy who wishes to attack us.  That is all we desire.

“Herewith I give the Belgian people an official pledge that they will not have to suffer under the terrors of war; that we will pay ready money for all necessaries which we may have to requisition; that our soldiers will show themselves the best friends of a nation for which we have the highest esteem and ardent affection.  It depends upon your prudence and your patriotism whether your land shall be spared the horrors of war.” (Appeared in the Cologne Gazette, August 6th.)