The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-26
BERLIN FILLED WITH
 CHEERING CROWDS

Berlin, July 25.-The center of Berlin is filled tonight with cheering tumultuous crowds, indulging in continuous enthusi- astic demonstrations over the expected outbreak of Austro-Servian hostilities. The strains of the German and Austrian national anthems are heard from time to time above the cheers of the crowd News paper extras sent out in rapid succession are torn from the hands of the distribu- tors and the streets are carpeted with discarded sheets
 The enthusiasm could scarcely be great CT if it were Germanys own war which was about to begin
 In the past two days the newspapers have been preparing the public for this contingency and most of the demonstra- tors apparently realize that hosti1ities , along the Danube might be preliminary to Russian and German mobilizations in a few days.
 About 2000 persons gathered before the Austrian embassy when news of Servia S refusal to accept the terms laid down by Austria became known. They cheered Austria Hungary and sang patriotic songs. The Austrian ambassador ap- peared on the balcony and warmly thanked those gathered below.
 Another spontaneous demonstration oc- cured in Wilhelmstrasse, through which some thousand men marched singing Die Wacht am Rhne."
 The streets of Berlin are filled with excited crowds and everywhere is heard talk of Germany's chances of becom- ing involved.
 The crowds in the center of the city steadily increased as the news penetrated the residential districts and suburos
 Parades were constantly organized and proceeded to the Austrian embassy the foreign office and other points of in- terest.
 About 10 o'clock at night the various de- tachments converged in Unter Den Lin den, near the palace. and great pro- cession half mile long and 15 or IS abreast, marched through that avenue across the Tyregarten to the Austrian embassy. The marchers stopped a mo- ment for ironcal cheers before the Run sian and French embassies in front of which bodies of police had gathered, gave lusty hurrahs while passing the statues of Bismarck, Motke and Roon in front of the Reichstag and assembled around the Austrian embassy, cheering for Em- peror Francis Joseph and Emperor Will liam and singing the German and Aus trian anthems.
 Later an angry crowd assembled out side the Russian embassy, with con,.nu- ous shouts of down with Russia. down with Servia, hurrah for war"
 Imperial Chancellor Returns
 The imperial chancellor, Dr. Won Beth- mann-HolWeg, returned 10 bernh tonlsht The lighted windows of the chancellors s palace, the foreign minister and the of- fees of the general staff showed that preparations were going on for all even tualities.
 The impression in diplomatic circles here is that the European situation is the gravest since 1870. All eyes are turned to St. Petersburg and even among the most optimistic there is no confidence that war will be averted. French resi- dents who are in close touch with the embassy, are making preparations to re- turn to France for possible service.
 Reports from Hamburg tell the same story of patriotic demonstrations.
 Information received late tonight from a quarter in the confidence of the. Ger man embassy at St. Petersburg, declares that the first desires to settle the con- troversy through diplomatic means is gtv-