guzz, France almost fell to the German invaders on several occasions. It is a highly eccentric opinion to believe that British support during the Battle of the Marne and other battles was trivial. Your position is as indefensible as Paris would have been without British help.
The BEF in 1914 was tiny compared to the French or German armies. It consisted of 4 divisions some 70,000 men. It is little known that the bulk of that force wasn't even full time army. Some 70 battallions were in fact a part time militia, called the "territorial Army" they volunteered to serve in France because they could not legally be compelled to. They were intended for home defence alone.
It did have an influence during the Battle of the Marne, but not because of it's numbers or ability, but because of postition and circumstances. A gap developed between two German armies, due mainly to logistics. The BEF happened to be positioned in that gap and advanced. The halting of the German advance had little to do with the BEF apart from it's fortutitous position, it was mainly a matter of logictics. It is a crucial factor in any attack that as the attack is forced to operate on extended lines of supply and the defender operates on far shorter internal lines, the advance always slows and determined resistance can always regain some territory, untill supply lines are balanced again. That was the main cause of the German failure to take Paris not your contention that it was entirely due to the BEF, that is in pure military terms unsuportable. I have read no account of that battle that didn't stress the logistics as a main factor.
Your remark that France almost fell to Germany on several occasions is also untrue unless you mean Prussia, not the same thing. The last time before 1914 that France lost was in 1870 against Prussia before the German State existed.
I am still waiting for you to explain your pereception that it was the BEF stopping the German attack made Britain responsible for WW1.
You also say that Britain was preserving the balance of power. Surely a strong Germany was necessary for the balance of power. Russia was just as much a power to be feared, with much greater potential power than Germany, though less actual power in 1914. And Britain's empire was threatened by Russia (You're familiar with the "Great Game" in Central Asia) more than Germany.
You are ignoring the Austro Hungarian Empire.
It was also clear at the time that Russia despite a large army, was politcally and militarily weak. Russian revolutionaries were resident in London, Paris and other European Cities. The conclusion at the time that war could easily lead to domestic unrest was obvious.
I am aware of the "Great Game" , but it seems you aren't clear about it. It virtually ended with the Anglo-Russian Conference in 1907 some 7 years before WW1. Germany's territorial ambitions in Africa were more of a threat in 1914.
It must surely be clear that the British policy of a balance power in Europe could never ignore an attempt by Germany to occupy France, allied to the defeat of Russia. Certainly Germany from the start expected that Britain would take part, they didn't gamble they wouldn't, they discounted the influence of Britains small home army and it's ability to influence a fast conclusion.
You seem to be ignoring the fact that in previous wars Brtitain had sided with Prussia against France. It's policy was entirely according to it's own interests, not some beauty contest.
In short your claim that the Brits were responsible for starting WW1 doesn't seem to be based on more than conjecture and anti-Brit prejudice. Cetainly the claim that they halted a German attack on Paris after it started as evidence that they should be blamed for that war is at best illogical. Even if I accepted the basic premise which I don't, How the hell can something that happened after the start be evidence of who is to blame for it begining.
None of the replies you posted address that, even if I were to grant all what you say it still doesn't ammount to any evidence whatsover that Britain started WW1.
Incidently I don't blame Germany for WW1 either, but that's another story.
senile delinquent.