New Britain herald., 1914-07-30
Japan Ready to Enter Clash As Ally of United King dom - Servians Re- pulse Austrians At-
 tempting to Cross
 Danube River.


 Berlin, July 3O.-A note despatched by the German government to St Petersburg this morning gives Russis twenty-four hours to explain her in. tentions with regard to mobilization
 In diplomatic quarters here it was ]. stated that the note to Russia asked z three questions-the object of the mo Utilization, whether it was directed against Austria-Hungary and whether Russia was willing to order a stop page of the mobilization.
 Preparatory Orders Issued. orders for mobilization of the Ger , man army were issued. All the of tcers were recalled and no leave is to be granted.
 The railroad battalions have been given special orders.
 Grand Duke Ernst of Hesse, brother of Empress Eliza beth Feodorovna of Russia was sent by Emperor William to St. Petersburg today in a last en : deaXaS to arrange for peace.
 AE6ered to Mobilize.
 The reserve officers of the Guards Army corps whose headquarters are in Merlin today received orders to n obilize
 Major-General Erich Von Falken- fhayn, German minister of war, and fLieutenant- General Count Helmuth 1 Von Moltke, chief of the German general staff, had a. long conference today with pr. von -Holl- veg, the imperial chancellor, Prince Henry of Prussia, the emperors brother, and several of the imperial ministers who assembled at the chan cellor's palace.
 Rumors were current afterward that the First German Army Corps with headquarters at Koenigsberg, had been mobi1ized and that 8 call had been issued for section of the fed- eral council which Is composed of representatives of the state of Ger many.
 Proceedings Kept Secret.
 The proceedings at the imperial con- ference at Potsdan yesterday under the presidency of Emperor William have been kept a close secret. Cues tions addressed to officials evoked the reply:
 We regret we are unable to fur nish the slightest information on the subject
 Some officers in close touch with the situation guardedly expressed the opinion today that the next twenty four hours would see a decision of the question of peace of war. They said indications of the imminence of crisis were seen in the orders sent to the reserve officers to hold them selves in readiness for service and in other preliminary precautionary measures.
 Greatest Agitation Exists.
 Dispatches from the provinces show that the greatest agitation exists in many places. The residents of the fortified town of Strassburg on the French frontier, have started lay- ing in provisions to be prepared for siege, while the common council of the town has taken measures to check the enormous increases Tn the prices of food. 4
 The council of Breslau was called into secret session today to vote an appropriation of $1,25O,0O0 for "ex- traordinary purposes" and it is as- sumed that this also was for the purpose of laying in provisions for q possible siege.
 Holding Mass Meetings.
 The socialists everywhere are hold ing mass meetings to protest against war, but the non socialist working mems organizations have made count CT demonstrations and have issued n1pifeStn dac1arin the 1ovq1fy of the great majority of workingmen to the emperor.
 Representative officials at the foreign office declared that the situa- tion had grown worse today instead of better They pointed out that the mobilization of the Russian army at a time when Austria-Hungary had not moved a man toward the Russian frontier could only be interpreted as evidence that Russia was determined to support Servia.
 Making Secret Preparations.
 It was added that France also was known to be making secret military preparations and that although Ger many had not yet mobilized it was questionable whether she could re- main inactive much longer in face of the military preparations on her bor- ders.
 Preliminary instructions were sent today by the German war department to all officers and soldiers of the re- serve to hold themselves in readiness eyto join the colors.
 The officers of the regular army rave received instructions, issued yes-