The Germans had counted on Italy to join in the attack on Russia and France, but the Italian statesmen knew the feelings of their people too well to attempt this.  Of late years, there had been growing up a friendship between the people of Italy and those of France, and the Italian generals knew that it would be a difficult task to induce their men to fire upon their kinsmen from across the Alps.  Therefore, when Austria and Germany demanded their support in the war, they replied by pointing out that the terms of the Triple Alliance bound Italy to go to their help only if they were attacked.  “In this case,” said the Italians, “you are the attacking party.  The treaty does not bind us to support you in any war conquest.  What is more, we were not consulted before Austria sent to Serbia her impossible demands.  Expect no help from us.”

Now the great question arose as to England.  The English statesmen were not blind to the German plan.  They saw that Germany intended to crush France first, capturing Paris and dealing the French army such an overwhelming blow that it would take it a long time to recover.  Then the German armies were to be rushed back over their marvelous system of government-owned railroads to meet the on-coming German tide of Russians.

The Germans knew that they were well provided with ammunition and all war supplies.  They knew that they had invented some wonderful guns which were large enough to batter down the strongest forts in the world.  They did not have very much respect for the ability of the Russian generals.  They had watched them bungle badly in the Japanese war, ten years before.  If once France were brought to her knees, they did not fear Russia.  Then after France and Russia had been beaten, there would be plenty of time, later on, to settle with Great Britain.

The English statesmen, as we have said, were aware of this plan.  They saw that if they were to fight Germany, this was the ideal time.  However, Great Britain, having a government which is more in the hands of the people than even that of republican France, did not have the system of forcing her young men to do military service.  Her little army in England was made up entirely of men who enlisted in it because they wished to, and because they received fair pay.  If England were to enter a great war with Germany, there must be some very good reason for her doing so.  Otherwise, her people, who really did not hate the Germans, would never enlist to fight against them.  The question was, would anything happen to make the English people feel that they were justified in entering the war on the side of France and Russia.