h Great Britain," said the
bitter Treitschke. Sooner or later the shock was to come. Germany sat
brooding over the chessboard of the world waiting for the opening which
should assure a winning game.

* * * * *

It was clear that she should take her enemies separately rather than
together. If Britain were attacked it was almost certain that France and
Russia would stand by her side. But if, on the contrary, the quarrel
could be made with these two powers, and especially with Russia, in the
first instance, then it was by no means so certain that Great Britain
would be drawn into the struggle. Public opinion has to be strongly
moved before our country can fight, and public opinion under a Liberal
Government might well be divided upon the subject of Russia. Therefore,
if the quarrel could be so arranged as to seem to be entirely one
between Teuton and Slav there was a good chance that Britain would
remain undecided until the swift German sword had done its work. Then,
with the grim acquiescence of our deserted allies, the still bloody
sword would be turned upon ourselves, and that great final reckoning
would have come.

* * * * *

Such was the plan, and fortune favored it. A brutal murder had, not for
the first time, put Servia into a position where a State may be blamed
for the sins of individuals. An ultimatum was launched so phrased that
it was impossible for any State to accept it as it stood and yet remain
an independent State. At the first sign of argument or remonstrance the
Austrian Army marched upon Belgrade. Russia, which had been already
humiliated in 1908 by the forcible annexation of Bosnia, could not
possibly submit a second time to the Caudine Forks. She laid her hand
upon her sword hilt. Germany sprang to the side of her ally. France
ranged herself with Russia. Like a thunderclap the war of the nations
had begun.

* * * * *

So far all had worked well for German plans. Those of the British public
who were familiar with the past and could look into the future might be
well aware that our interests were firmly bound with those of France,
and that if our faggots were not tied together they would assuredly be
snapped each in its turn. But the unsavory assassination which had been
so cleverly chosen as the starting point of the war bulked large in the
eyes of our people, and, setting self-interest to one side, the