cify her southern frontier? It was inconceivable that
Austria should calmly see her heir apparent murdered. How could she? All
the nationalities under her rule realized the impossibility of tamely
allowing Servia's only too evident and successful intrigues to be
carried on under her very eyes. The Austrians could not allow their
venerable and sorely stricken monarch to be wounded and insulted any
longer. This reasonable and honorable sentiment on the part of Austria
has caused Russia to put itself forward as the patron of Servia, as the
enemy of European thought and civilization.

Russia has an important mission to fulfill in its own country and in
Asia. It would do better in its own interest to leave the rest of the
world in peace. But the die is cast, and all nations must decide whether
they wish to further us by sentiments and by deeds, or the government of
the Czar. This is the real significance of this appalling struggle, all
the rest is immaterial. Russia's attitude alone has forced us to go to
war with France and with their great ally.

The German Nation is serious and conscientious. Never would a German
Government dare to contemplate a war for the sake of dynastic interest,
or for the sake of glory. This would be against the entire bent of our
character. Firmly believing in the justice of our cause, all parties,
the Conservatives and the Clericals, the Liberals and the Socialists,
have joined hands. All disputes are forgotten, one duty exists for all,
the duty of defending our country and vanquishing the enemy.

Will not this calm, self-reliant and unanimous readiness to sacrifice
all, to die or to win, appeal to other nations and force them to
understand our real character and the situation in which we are placed?

The war has severed us from the rest of the world, all our cable
communications are destroyed. But the winds will carry the mighty voice
of justice even across the ocean. We trust in God, we have confidence in
the judgment of right-minded men. And through the roar of battle, we
call to you all. Do not believe the mischievous lies that our enemies
are spreading about! We do not know if victory will be ours, the Lord
alone knows. We have not chosen our path, we must continue doing our
duty, even to the very end. We bear the misery of war, the death of our
sons, believing in Germany, believing in duty.

And we know that Germany cannot be wiped from the face of the earth.

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