An American historian discussing causes in the early stages of the war, said: 

“The German Imperial Chancellor pays no high compliment to the intelligence of the American people when he asks them to believe that ’the war is a life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite races of Russia’, and was due to the royal murders at Sarajevo.

“To say that all Europe had to be plunged into the most devastating war of human history because an Austrian subject murdered the heir to the Austrian throne on Austrian soil in a conspiracy in which Serbians were implicated, is too absurd to be treated seriously.  Great wars do not follow from such causes, although any pretext, however trivial, may be regarded as sufficient when war is deliberately sought.

“Nor is the Imperial Chancellor’s declaration that ’the war is a life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite races of Russia’ convincing in the slightest degree.  So far as the Russian menace to Germany is concerned, the Staats-Zeitung is much nearer the truth when its editor, Mr. Ridder, boasts that ’no Russian army ever waged a successful war against a first-class power.’

“The life-and-death struggle between Germany and the Muscovite races of Russia is a diplomatic fiction invented after German Autocracy, taking advantage of the Serbian incident, set forth to destroy France.  It was through no fear of Russia that Germany violated her solemn treaty obligations by invading the neutrality of Belgium and Luxemburg.  It was through no fear of Russia that Germany had massed most of her army near the frontiers of France, leaving only six army corps to hold Russia in check.  Germany’s policy as it stands revealed by her military operations was to crush France and then make terms with Russia.  The policy has failed because of the unexpected resistance of the Belgians and the refusal of Great Britain to buy peace at the expense of her honor.”

A nearer and equally clear view is expressed for the French by M. Clemenceau, who early in the war said: 

“For twenty-five years William II has made Europe live under the weight of a horrible nightmare.  He has found sheer delight in keeping it in a state of perpetual anxiety over his boastful utterances of power and the sharpened sword.

“Five threats of war have been launched against us since 1875.  At the sixth he finds himself caught in the toils he had laid for us.  He threatened the very springs of England’s power, though she was more than pacific in her attitude toward him.

“For many years, thanks to him, the Continent has had to join in a giddy race of armaments, drying up the sources of economic development and exposing our finances to a crisis which we shrank from discussing.  We must have done with this crowned comedian, poet, musician, sailor, warrior, pastor; this commentator absorbed in reconciling