peeches of the British
Foreign Minister, how carefully he had to reckon with public feeling
among his countrymen in general and among the majority in Parliament. A
war in the Balkans did not concern the British nation, and the strife
between Teuton and Slav left it cold. It did not begin to be properly
roused until it grasped the reality of the danger to France's very
existence, and it did not respond warmly to the eloquent appeals of Mr.
Asquith and Sir Edward Grey until the day when it knew that the Germans
were at the gates of Liege, where they threatened both Paris and
Antwerp--Antwerp, "that pistol pointed at the heart of England."

* * * * *

With the failure of diplomatic efforts to prevent war as a result of the
deliberate intention of Germany to bring about the conflict, the great
German war machine was put in motion. It was anticipated by the General
Staff that the passage across Belgium would be effected without
difficulty and with the acquiescence of King and people.

How wrong was this judgment is one of the curious facts of history. The
Germans discovered this error when their armies presented themselves
before the strong fortress of Liege, the first fortified place in their
path. Its capture was necessary for the successful passage of the German
troops.

[Sidenote: Importance of the delay.]

It was captured, but at a cost in time and in their arrangement of plans
which were a great element in the great thrust--back at the Marne.

THE DEFENCE OF LIEGE

CHARLES BRONNE

English Review, April, 1915.

[Sidenote: Germany invades Belgium.]

On Sunday, August 2nd, while the news was going round that a train had
entered Luxembourg with German forces, the German Minister at Brussels
delivered an ultimatum to Belgium demanding the free passage through our
territory of the German armies. The following day, Monday, the Belgian
Government replied that the nation was determined to defend its
neutrality. The same night the German advanced posts entered our
territory. Tuesday morning they were before Vise, at Warsage, at
Dolhain, and at Stavelot. The bridges of Vise and Argenteau and the
tunnels of Troisponts and Nas-Proue were blown up.

[Sidenote: Atrocities begin.]

From this day the atrocities committed by the pioneers of German
"Kultur" began at Vise with fire and the massacre of inhabitants. On
Thursday, they were to continue at Warsage and Berneau. On Wednesday,