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Old 07-28-14, 10:04 AM   #46
Sailor Steve
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Not for the war itself, but for coming up with an actual newspaper clipping.

One of the first things to happen was the British government ordered all warships to assemble at their home ports. The Home Fleet moved to Scapa Flow and the Orkneys to prepare for a blockade of Germany if it came to that. This was done on the sole order of First Sea Lord Prince Louis Battenberg, as First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill was on vacation at the time.

"I wondered whether those stupid Kings and Emperors could not assemble together and revivify kinship by saving the nations from hell but we all drift on in a kind of dull cataleptic trance. As if it was somebody else's operation."
-Winston Churchill in a letter to his wife upon hearing of the Declaration of War

Marting Gilbert, The First World War, Henry Holt, 1994
Richard Hough, The Great War at Sea, Oxford University Press, 1983
Ian Westwell, World War 1 Day by Day, The Brown Reference Group, 1999
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Old 07-29-14, 12:34 AM   #47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Steve View Post


Not for the war itself, but for coming up with an actual newspaper clipping.
I just come across this as well which you might find interesting, hopefully you can view it alright outside of the UK:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-...y-29-1914.html
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Old 07-29-14, 02:43 AM   #48
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Yeah, I managed to download it. Thanks!
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Old 07-29-14, 07:24 AM   #49
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Cool link Jamie
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Old 07-29-14, 12:00 PM   #50
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29th July 1914.

A series of telegrams (later known as the 'Willy-Nicky conference') are dispatched between Berlin and St Petersburg, as Berlin seeks to prevent the Austria/Serbian war from spreading into a larger conflict.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsar Nicolas II
29 July 1914, 1 a.m. Peter's Court Palais, 29 July 1914
Sa Majesté l'Empereur
Neues Palais
Am glad you are back. In this serious moment, I appeal to you to help me. An ignoble war has been declared to a weak country. The indignation in Russia shared fully by me is enormous. I foresee that very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war. To try and avoid such a calamity as a European war I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going too far.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaiser Wilhelm II
29 July 1914, 1.45 a.m. (this and the previous telegraph crossed) 28 July 1914
It is with the gravest concern that I hear of the impression which the action of Austria against Serbia is creating in your country.
The unscrupulous agitation that has been going on in Serbia for years has resulted in the outrageous crime, to which Archduke Francis Ferdinand fell a victim. The spirit that led Serbians to murder their own king and his wife still dominates the country.
You will doubtless agree with me that we both, you and me, have a common interest as well as all Sovereigns to insist that all the persons morally responsible for the dastardly murder should receive their deserved punishment. In this case politics plays no part at all.
On the other hand, I fully understand how difficult it is for you and your Government to face the drift of your public opinion. Therefore, with regard to the hearty and tender friendship which binds us both from long ago with firm ties, I am exerting my utmost influence to induce the Austrians to deal straightly to arrive to a satisfactory understanding with you. I confidently hope that you will help me in my efforts to smooth over difficulties that may still arise.
Your very sincere and devoted friend and cousin
Willy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaiser Wilhelm II
29 July 1914, 6.30 p.m. Berlin, 29 July 1914


I received your telegram and share your wish that peace should be maintained. But as I told you in my first telegram, I cannot consider Austria's action against Servia an "ignoble" war. Austria knows by experience that Servian promises ono paper are wholly unreliable. I understand its action must be judged as trending to get full guarantee that the Servian promises shall become real facts. This my reasoning is borne out by the statement of the Austrian cabinet that Austria does not want to make any territorial conquests at the expense of Servia.
I therefore suggest that it would be quite possible for Russia to remain a spectator of the austro-servian conflict without involving Europe in the most horrible war she ever witnessed. I think a direct understanding between your Government and Vienna possible and desirable, and as I already telegraphed to you, my Government is continuing its exercises to promote it.
Of course military measures on the part of Russia would be looked upon by Austria as a calamity we both wish to avoid and jeopardize my position as mediator which I readily accepted on your appeal to my friendship and my help.
Willy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsar Nicolas II
29 July 1914, 8.20 p.m. Peter's Court Palace, 29 July 1914
Thanks for your telegram conciliatory and friendly. Whereas official message presented today by your ambassador to my minister was conveyed in a very different tone. Beg you to explain this divergency! It would be right to give over the Austro-servian problem to the Hague conference. Trust in your wisdom and friendship.
Your loving Nicky
http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/...914,%201%20a.m.

Russia commences partial troop mobilization, Germany cautions against this and begins mobilization herself. Austria-Hungarian monitor warships begin shelling Belgrade.
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Old 07-29-14, 12:32 PM   #51
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July 29:

Bulgaria declares neutrality.

The German Navy begins to mobilize. Prince Heinrich tells his brother the Kaiser that King George V had said "We shall try all we can to keep out of this and shall remain neutral." Admiral von Tirpitz expresses doubts about Britain's neutrality, and Wilhelm replies "I have the word of a king, and that is good enough for me." Alan Palmer, in his book The Kaiser, Warlord of the Second Reich, calls Heinrich's reporting "innacurate".

Tsar Nicholas II signs a partial mobilization order, to go into effect August 4.

Austro-Hungarian warships begin to attack Belgrade.

The British First Fleet (later renamed the Grand Fleet) completes its move to Scapa Flow.
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Old 07-29-14, 02:17 PM   #52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Steve View Post
Austro-Hungarian warships begin to attack Belgrade.
Seems like a strange carry-over from the last major conflict on the planet, that the first shots of anger are fired by Austrian river monitors little different from those employed in the American Civil War.

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Old 07-29-14, 02:36 PM   #53
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Nice newspaper Oberon.
But this comment in the article suggests the journalist doesn't know much about the period.
- As well as the dispositions noted above, page 6 also contains a “Special Daily Telegraph War Map” although what exactly it is meant to illustrate is a tad unclear – it seems to be more about the main rail routes in Eastern Europe than anything
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Old 07-30-14, 11:59 AM   #54
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July 30: After much deliberation, Tsar Nicholas II signs an order for full Russian mobilization.

The Netherlands declares neutrality.
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Old 07-30-14, 01:12 PM   #55
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http://www.fold3.com/image/53862790/
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Old 07-31-14, 02:31 PM   #56
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July 31

Berlin: German Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg sends a telegram to Austrian Foreign Minister, Count Leopold Berhtold, asking Austria not to mobilise against Russia. At the same time General Helmuth von Moltke advises Austrian General Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf to mobilise immediately.

Germany gives Russia an ultimatum to halt all war mobilisation. Russia refuses.

Germany asks France for a guarantee of neutrality. France refuses.

French Ambassador to Germany Jules Cambon and Belgian Minister Baron Beyens write to the American Ambassador, James W. Gerard, asking him to intervene. Gerard writes to Bethmann-Hollweg, asking "Is there nothing my country can do? Nothing that I can do towards stopping this dreadful war?" He recieves no reply.

Industrialist Walther Rathenau publishes an article in the Berliner Tageblat saying that without Germany's blind loyalty to Austria, that nation would not have been so bold in her war policy.

Paris: Socialist leader Jean Jaurès, who has been trying to organize a peace movement, is assassinated. Most of France fully supports a war with Germany.

The London Stock Exchange closes. Stock Markets in Berlin, Rome and Vienna have already closed. To prevent massive selling and a possible crash, the New York Stock Exchange also closes.
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Old 07-31-14, 05:31 PM   #57
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http://m.theaustralian.com.au/nation...9278333ae6e3e0

On the evening of July 31, Australian prime minister, Joseph Cook told an audience at Victoria’s Horsham Town Hall that “when the Empire is at war, so is Australia at war”

Opposition leader, Andrew Fisher speaking at a separate event in Colac on the same evening, used a more memorable turn of phrase:
“But should the worst happen after everything has been done that honour will permit, Australians will stand beside our own, to help and defend her, to our last man and our last shilling.”
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Old 08-01-14, 12:05 AM   #58
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Thanks, Grant, for more insight and yet another viewpoint. The more information the better.
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Old 08-01-14, 06:04 AM   #59
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1st August

The Netherlands orders general mobilization of the Dutch Army.

Germany cancels the sailing of steamships from its ports, trapping many tourists and expatriates in the country.

Germany gives Russia a time limit of 12 hours to reverse mobilization and France 18 hours for it to declare neutrality.
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Old 08-01-14, 09:23 AM   #60
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August 1

Belgium proclaims armed neutrality. Britain and France both agree. Germany says nothing.

France begins to mobilize its army. Huge cheering crowds greet the men, and flowers decorate the cannon as they roll on their way.

When it is reported that the French Ministry of War feels that Russia should invade Germany, General Nikolai Golovin says this "was the equivalent of asking Russia to commit suicide." Tsar Nicholas sends one last telegram to the Kaiser: "Our long proved friendship must succeed, with God's help, in avoiding bloodshed."

At 1700 hours Kaiser Wilhelm orders mobilization of all German forces, and declares war on Russia at 1910 hours. He is still hoping that Britain might remain neutral and convince France to do so as well, if he guarantees that he will not attack France. Von Moltke points out that the Schlieffen plan is already in effect, German troops are about to sieze railways in Luxembourg, and there is no way to stop it now. At 2300 hours Wilhelm gives the order for the German army to begin its march westward.

In Britain, King George V is still hoping that war might be averted. He sends a telegram to his cousin the Tsar: "I cannot help thinking that some misunderstanding has produced this deadlock. I am most anxious not to miss any possibility of avoiding the terrible calamity which at present threatens the whole world."

When the German ambassador to Russia handed the war declation to Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Sazonoff, the minister said "This is a criminal act of yours. The curses of all nations will be upon you." The ambassador, Friedrich Pourtalès, replied "We are defending our honor." Sazonoff said "Your honor is not involved. You could have prevented war with one word; you didn't want to."

Deciding that "St. Petersburg" is too German-sounding, the move is immediately begun to change that city's name to Petrograd.
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