BRIEF NOTES ON THE PITY OF WAR

I scribbled some brief notes about who said what on Ferguson's disappointing The Pity of War. It was edited and filmed while there was some potential for war between Japan and China a few months ago.

So taking this into account, here are a few notes that I made in addition to noting Ferguson's banal and incorrect statement that nobody set out to destroy the Austro-Hungarian Empire:
1. As stated last night, the experts that Ferguson spoke to all seemed to support Great Britain joining the war; but was this an editorial decision?
2. A map was shown detailing trade routes; 99% were over sea, while a handful were over land (this will be significant shortly);
3. Of the experts, only one German, Dr Jungclaussen of Die Zeit, was asked a question by Ferguson, and his answer was very revealing, which was that since 1871 Germany had experienced rapid economic development;
4. One expert, Hew Strachan at Oxford University, quoted Kaiser Wilhelm stating that Great Britain should lose India, but Strachan did not quote Kaiser Wilhelm stating that Freemasonry engineered the whole bloodbath;
5. According to Ferguson, it was France who was the most militaristic nation;

So returning to points 2. and 3. After the US Civil War the United States began to collaborate with significant powers, significantly Russia and Germany. And trains were of great interest. Trains enabled efficient land trade routes to be developed. In fact a whole network of train lines was being developed all across Europe, Russia and the Middle East to enable trade...beyond the control and reach of the superior British Royal Navy. So the basis of the LPAC thesis was there in the programme, but not highlighted enough. But again, was this an editorial decision?