August 1914--a different opening move

Suppose that, as the German army prepared to move on Belgium, a Belgian colonel recieved reports of a weakness in the German positions. Knowing that Germany would attack in just a few hours, and not having time to refer to higher authority, he launches a pre-emptive strike at the Imperial German Army.
Note that Britain is no longer required to come to Belgium's aid, as Belgium attacked first.
I'd assume that the attack would only slightly delay the German war machine unless it was a spectacular success, but it would also delay the British declaration of war.
Goeben and Breslau now have a precious few more days to go somewhere. Suppose they tried to get home--and were in the Atlantic with a full load of coal and ammunition when Britian does declare war. Alternatively, they are safe in Austria-Hungary when the British finally enter.
 
Once the Belgian government received word that the Germans wanted to pass through, and refused then whatever the Belgians do is in the realm of self defence. The British would have declared war upon Germany in order to uphold their end of the Entente, the violation of Belgian neutrality was a convenient cover. The Belgians had also already declared that they would fight anybody that attempted to occupy Belgian territory, French or German, so the Belgians were set to militarially uphold their neutrality. I don't see why the British wouldn't still come to their aid. However, the Belgians would probably find themselves on the short end of the stick if it had been the French demanding passage through. The British probably would have leaned on them pretty hard.

I have to agree with a recent assessment by Avalanche Press, the Goeben was never 'the warship that changed history' or whatever, the Young Turks were set on siding with the Central Powers.
 
David S Poepoe said:
The British would have declared war upon Germany in order to uphold their end of the Entente, the violation of Belgian neutrality was a convenient cover.

very true, the whole noble quest to deliver this poor tiny defenceless victim of German agression from occupation was a way to get the canonfodder to sign up.

David S Poepoe said:
However, the Belgians would probably find themselves on the short end of the stick if it had been the French demanding passage through. The British probably would have leaned on them pretty hard.

and the Belgians still would have fought the French ... Leopold II would have folded to the first one to make a move against Belgium ... Albert was a different matter all together.
IIRC, the French were making and updating plans for the invasion of Belgium as late as july 15, 1914.

Now, that would have been quite a fight, the Belgians could have slowed the French to a veritable crawl, meanwhile doing whatever they could to get the Germans to the front ASAP.

anyway, back to the original post ... Nothing much changes, the political side of things is still the same. Brittain still wants to kick Germany's teeth in and any excuse will do.
The PR may or may not be changed. Either the Belgian attack is called a valiant and desperate attempt to saveguard the national security or the Brittish simply ignore the attack ... how is the regular Tommy in the streets going to find out the truth anyway?
 
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