Dave, I wrote (several times) that I do not think that the relevant facts are under dispute at all, so I just want to remind the others of them when needed for my arguments about evaluations from the present-day view. Details about military strategy are not my cup of tea at all, and they are not relevant for the point I want to make.

Teribus: Sir Edward would, wouldn't he, stick to the propaganda story, and the theatrical style of the time.

The Germans were fully aware of the risk involved in invading Belgian territory but they thought that they could advance swiftly enough and deliver a decisive blow against France before Britain could intervene in any significant way.

That is more like the truth; you write it yourself. Hawkish or not, British involvement was clearly seen as imminent.