Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-03
City Maintains Calm

London maintained her calm to the
last moment tonight. A great crowd
assembled around the government Of
fees at Whitehall awaiting the decis-
ion of the cabinet as to whether Great
Britain would take part in the war.
No statement of the decision taken
by the cabinet will be made tonight.
Premier Asquith will announce Great
Britain's position in the House of Com
mons tomorrow. Prior to this an
nouncement the cabinet meeting will
be held.
War Party Gaining
The general impression is that the
war party in the cabinet is in the as
cendancy. 1t was said that Viscount
Morley, lord president of the coun-
Gil, and Viscount Haldane. lord high
chancellor, led the peace party and
that Winston Spencer Churchill, first
lord of the admiralty, threatened to
resign if the government did not stand
by its unwritten agreement to support
France against Germany attack. 1t is
thought that the Lancashire Liberals
are putting strong pressure on the
government to keep out of the con-
Premier Asquith is somewhat in
fiuenced by this. But the average Eng
lishman is saying tonight that the
government has no alternative, after
the neutrality of Luxembourg has been
disregarded by Germany and after
Germany's refusal to say what her at
titude would be in regard to Belgium.
Socialist Protest
The Socialists held big meeting
in Traffagal square tonight to protest
against war. James Kerr Hardis, in
dependent leader and Socialist mem
Der Of Parliament who was the chief
speaker declared that Italy, although
bound by treaty remained neutral and
there was no reason why Great Brit
ain should not do likewise. He an
noupced his intention of calling ma
tional strike against the war.
Reservists Returning
The railway stations are crowded
with German, French and other re-
servists returning to their respective
countries. The board of agriculture
has issued a statement that thsfe is
sufficient wheat in the country to sup
ply the whole population for four
months, allowing for normal con-
sumption, irrespective of imports.
The government has assumed con-
troll of all wireless transmission. A
special gazette announcing this fact
says the government has taken over
control of wireless telegraphy and
that the use of wireless for foreign
vessels while in British territorial wa
tiers will be subject to such rules as
may be made by the admiralty. The
Times in a special war edition today
says 1t is plain and acknowledged that
the duty and interest Of Great Bri-
tain which consist in the support of
France against attack by Germany
and the preservation of the neutrality
Of Belgium, Holland against invasion
must be upheld.
Americans at London
Not even at the height of the tour-
list season are there more Americans
in London than tonight in addition
to those who are spending a holi-
day here and the crowds coming
from the continent to get away from
the Inconvenience of war, there is
another contingent which arrived to-
day, consisting of tourists who, arm
ed with passports from the American
embassy started for the Continent in
the last few days, but found it i'm
possible to get further than Calais,
D1eppe and other coast towns. AS
consequence. the steamers from
France and Belgium are crowded
with what might be termed refugees.
Although the pockets of many of
them are full of American and Eng
l1sh bank notes, and American ex-
press companies bills they might just
as we'll have empty pockets. for moth.
ing except gold and silver is taken
anywhere
Panic Stricken Flight
The fight from Paris has become
almost a panic. Americans who ar
rived from the French capital today
said that the train that left Paris at
o'clock last night was jammed with
Americans The heat was intense and
there was much suffering among the
women and children.
When the train was drawn up there
| was frantic rush for the cars and