The sword is being forced into our hand. I hope that if my efforts
at the last hour do not succeed in bringing our opponents to see
eye to eye with us and in maintaining peace we shall with God's
help so wield the sword that we shall restore it to its sheath
again with honor.

War would demand enormous sacrifices of blood and property from the
German people, but we should show our enemies what it means to
provoke Germany.

And now I commend you to God. Go to church. Kneel down before God
and pray for His help for our gallant Army.

* * * * *

* * * * *

FORGIVES ENEMIES.

Kaiser Wilhelm's Speech from the Balcony of the Palace, Berlin, Aug. 2.

I thank you for the love and loyalty shown me. When I enter upon a
fight let all party strife cease. We are German brothers and
nothing else. All parties have attacked me in times of peace. I
forgive them with all my heart. I hope and wish that the good
German sword will emerge victorious in the right.

* * * * *

[Illustration: WILHELM II.,
German Emperor.
(_Photo from Charles E. Ritzmann._)]

SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.

Kaiser Wilhelm II., Opening Special Session of the Reichstag in White
Room of the Royal Palace, Berlin, Aug. 4.

Honored Sirs: It is in an hour fraught with fate that I have
assembled about me all the representatives of the German people.
For almost half a century we have been able to keep to the path of
peace. The attempts to attribute a warlike temperament to Germany
and to circumscribe its position in the world have often put to
severe tests the patience of our people. With unswerving honesty,
my Government, even in provoking circumstances, has pursued as its
highest aim the development of all moral, spiritual, and economic
powers. The world has been witness how tirelessly we strove in the
first rank during the pressure and confusion of the last few years
to spare the nations of Europe a war between the great powers.

The very grave dangers which had arisen owing to the events in the
Balkans appeared to have been overcome, but then the murder of my
friend, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, opened up a great abyss. My
high ally, the Emperor and King Francis Joseph, was compelled t