[Img] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Prussia_1892-1918.svg/1024px-Flag_of_Prussia_1892-1918.svg.png [/Img]

"The War is viewed too tragically, and presented too tragically in the press; the government did not seek war. If this crisis can be ended with honor, the government will gladly do so. However, we will not accede to Constantinople again nor compel our allies withdraw from Vlaanderen. The great independence of the Prussian makes it difficult in Prussia to rule under treaty. In France it is otherwise; there, individual independence is lacking. The surrendering of sovereignty and land, however, is no shame, but rather an honor. We were perhaps too educated to put up with the treaty - we are too critical. We knew there were too many Catilines, who would wrest its words to Prussia's destruction, as we have seen. Our blood is too hot, we prefer armor too great for our small body to carry, but we should put it to service the same.

In every way, this war summarizes in blood the question the world faces in general. The past, or the future? In Britain, Austria, France and Turkey, we see four empires. Four empires who have already seen their best days go by. Gone are the days when all from Morocco to Mosul answered to the Sultan. Bonaparte is dead, and only a shadow of his glory sits on the throne in France. The British Empire is in turmoil. Austria no longer commands the Holy Roman Empire and is daily facing increasing demands from the constituent peoples of its empire. These empires still exist only because greater men have given them the tallest height to fall from.

These forces are as the armies of the night, each desperately trying to prevent the sun from rising. But brothers, as we all know, light always casts out the darkness. These empires of their own shadows are doomed to fail. The moon would have a better chance of extinguishing the sun.

Thus we see, not by speeches nor treaties will the greatest problems of our time be decided - that was the mistake of Constantinople - but by iron and blood. This olive branch I picked up in Avignon, to offer, as a symbol of peace, to the Constantinopolitans: I see, however, that it is still not the time for it.

This war, to continue the analogy, is an eclipse. For a brief moment in time, the moon can triumphantly cover the earth in darkness once more. Indeed, if our enemies succeed, I expect there will be much self congratulating over the bodies of their dead young men, who died for no better purpose than to keep traitors and tyrants in power and brothers separated. Yet this triumph shall be most ephemeral. To the west, the Americans rise, having defeated the British attempt to divide them as we were. To the east, the Chinese Dragon licks its wounds and gains strength. That these empires of shadows will fall is fact. The only question is if we will fall with them.

But to the British, I must pointedly ask, Why have you betrayed us? You whom we called brother! We stood against Napoleon with you! Von Blucher saved Wellington! We stood against Maria Theresa and the Russians with you! We stood against Carolus in Sweden with you! When your colonies rebelled, who armed them? Us, or France? Who threatened an invasion upon your shores? Us, or France? How could you have come to hate us so? Who from your very inception as a state with the invasion of William of Normandy has opposed and battled you at every turn but the French? By whose hand have more of your sons been slain? Is this how an Englishman repays a friend? Do you forget all your forefathers?

I suspect that there is a place in Judecca being carved for Albert Edward right now; it is my most sincere hope it is a Prussian bullet that sends him there."

~Jnkr. Georg von Vincke