Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-07-31
LONDON SEES LITTLE
PROSPECT Of PEACE
READY FOR WORST
Military Experts Say Borders
Of Germany Brisle
With Troops
FRANCE and RUSSIA
ARE SECRETLY BUSY
Possession Of Denmark May
Become Absolutely Neces-
sary to the Germans


London, July 3l.--A declaration Of
martial law throughout the chief mill
tary districts and in the frontier prov
inces of Germany was reported in
news agency dispatch received here at
3 p. m. today.
1t was stated that this declaration
started rumor that war had been de.
clared.
Reports that Germany had mobilized
its army or declared war were con.
firmed. Neither were credited off.
eially.
Cables from Berlin to London were
subjected to the most rigid censorship,
and few details Of the German situa-
tion were obtainable.
Diplomatic intercourse seemed at a
standstill. All embassies here were un-
communicative.
Military experts here expressed the
opinion that, If and when, Germany ac-
tually declares war against Russia, as
tonishing progress win be found to
have been made with the concentration
of troops on both the Russian and
French frontiers.
The Vienna censorship was as tight
as that at Berlin.
Rushing Preparations.
The British were rushing their own
war preparations. Dover harbor, a
strategic point, was cleared of all but
war craft, and the channel shipping
was going by way of Folkestone in,
stead.
Portsmouth harbor, great naval
base, was also closed to merchant ship.
ping.
Though its destination was not an.
nOunced, it was considered certain that
the first British war fleet was on its
way to deal with the German navy if
England and the fatherland were
drawn into the European struggle.
The assumption was that the German
ships, instead of trying to meet the SUI
perior British sea forces, would with
draw into the Baltic. 1t was agreed
here that it would be suicidal for the
English vessels to attempt to force the
Kiel canal, and experts admitted the
sounds and belts leading from the
North sea into the Baltic could be 80
effectively mined as to prevent the
British fleet following the German
ships.
Would Bottle German Fleet.
The latter would be hopelessly bot
tied up, however, it was pointed out,
though it was conceded it might create
havoc by bombarding Russian Baltic
ports.
Some authorities called attention to
the fact that possession of Denmark q
defenses might become important iu
connection with the retention of the
Baltic and German occupation of the
country was deemed a strong possibility
if the kaiser's forces found themselves
hard pressed.
The admiralty was making heavy
purchases of coal.
The eastern and southern coast pa
trolls were strengthened The Falmouth
garrison was increased. Part of the
troops in Ireland were recalled to AL
dershot.
"Naval and military measures of
defensive character" said the Times,
care being carried out quietly and
calmly throughout the empire. 1t would
be unpatriotic to mention the actual
steps taken"
The declaration Of state Of war, or
martial law, however, placed the Ger
man railroads, telegraphs, telephones
and other means of transportation and
communication under the military au-
thOrities supervision.
Americans Stranded.
The war department had superseded
civil authority. 1t was believed mo-
bilization was progressing secretly.
American tourists in Europe were in
serious situation.
Under the most favorable conditions
west-bound ships would have been
crowded from about this season until
late in the fall, and the German order
OBTAINING in port all naval reserve ves-
sells stranded large numbers of pros
pective voyagers even among those
who had already engaged passage.
This condition promised to become
worse if, as expected, similar orders
were issued by the English and French
and perhaps by the Italian govern
mania