A Dresden paper of the same date contains an illuminating statement.  “We have just received official information that the German General Staff had been informed by an absolutely reliable source that the French intended to march through the valley of the Meuse into Belgium.  The execution of this plan had already commenced, therefore France was by no means prepared to respect Belgian neutrality.”

“For years past the King of Belgium has conspired with England behind the backs of his ministers, to damage German interests.  His telegram to the King of England was a trick planned long ago.  These facts will soon be supplemented by a large number of documentary proofs; from this the necessity has arisen to direct Germany’s advance through Belgium irrespective of neutrality considerations."[95]

[Footnote 95:  Leipziger Neueste Nachrichten, August 9th.]

Here we have the first clumsy attempts to prove that Belgian neutrality did not exist.  These after-thoughts have grown during the past year into no inconsiderable literature.  Probably the two motives which have inspired Germany—­official and unofficial—­to print many volumes on Belgian neutrality have been the indignation aroused in neutral countries and the fact that a complete German victory was not obtained in three months of war.

German newspapers again betray the plot against Belgium, and a search through their files reveals in the clearest manner possible how Wolff’s Bureau was again the source of a widespread campaign to prove that Germany was right, and simultaneously to lash public opinion into hatred for the Belgian “barbarians and beasts.”

In the first few days of August the Press was filled with reports concerning the murder and ill treatment of Germans in Belgium, before any act of war had taken place.  No doubt a justified fear for the mighty, brutal neighbour existed in the popular imagination, and fear may be the father of ill-considered deeds.  Nevertheless, there is no proof that mob law prevailed in Belgium, as it did in Germany.  Moreover, the latter country outlawed herself when she proclaimed the law of necessity.  In the light of this consideration the German outcry that the Belgians were breaking both the laws of humanity and international jurisprudence lacks sincerity and remains unconvincing.

A country which announces her intention to ignore existing laws and “hack a way through at all costs,” should surely be the last to declaim on the alleged offences against the laws of war by a small, weak, unprepared neighbour.  If these considerations are insufficient, there remains the fact that Germany herself began war against unarmed Belgian civilians.

During the night following the unsuccessful coup de main against Liege, a Zeppelin attacked the town and dropped bombs.  “On Thursday, August 6th, at 3.30 a.m.  Z6 returned from an air-cruise over Belgium.  The airship took a conspicuous part in the attack on Liege, and was able to intervene in a markedly successful manner.  Our first bomb was dropped from a height of 1,800 feet, but failed to explode.  The ship then sank to 900 feet above the city, and a non-commissioned officer dropped twelve more bombs, all of which exploded, setting the city ablaze in several places."[96]