30 NOVEMBER 1918, Page 3

Count von Lerohenfeld next describes how the Kaiser was to

be got out of the way in order that Germany, in accordance with her traditional custom, might appear to be quite innocent when she was most guilty. " The Imperial Government will declare that it was as much surprised as the other Powers by Austria's action." Finally, Count von Lerchenfeld describes the nature of the ultimatums to St. Petersburg and Paris, and adds : " Both will of course be answered by a refusal. The Prussian General Staff awaits war against France full of confidence, and reckons to be able to overthrow France in the course of four weeks." These revelations, if we may believe the German papers, have caused a profound sensation throughout Germany. Englishmen will be puzzled to understand why. To all of us the perusal of such documents as these seems like the reading of very stale news indeed, and of course even the German people have had many opportunities of learning the truth. The lies of the German rulers were never consistent for two days together ; in spite of the Censorship, any German with the least faculty for piecing evidence together must have been able to read Germany's guilt long ago.