Summary

Chapter 4: A Single British Soldier

Europe was shaken by the Japanese defeat of Russia in 1905. It led to the development of joint military plans between Britain and France. Three weeks after the Russian defeat, the German Kaiser flung a challenge at France with his appearance at Tangier. Was it the “again” moment that France so feared? England reacted to the Kaiser’s Tangier appearance. The British army was in the process of reorganization. They engaged in a theoretical war game in which the Germans attacked through Belgium. They concluded that if such an attack took place, all would be lost without British intervention.

Nerves were frazzled in the fear that Germany would take advantage of the Russian defeat and start a conflict. The French approached the English to begin negotiations for joint military operations. The British warned the French not to violate Belgium...