The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-08-06
Sword FORCED
into OUR HANDS,
SAYS KAISER
Germany in State of War; Brit
ish Warships off for North
Sea; Russia Calls Out Re-
servists; New York Stool Ex-
change Closes
BATTLES RAGE ALONG The
AUSTRO-SERVIAN BOUNDRY

RerIin.-Five thousand persons as
sembed in front Of the Palace and
cheered the Emperor and the empire.
During the demonstration Emperor
William appeared in window and
addressed his subjects as follows:
"A fatefuI hour has fallen for Ger
many. Envous peoples everywhere
are compelling US to our just defence.
The sword has been forced into our
hands"
London.-The first move in a gen.
eral European war was made when
Russian troops blew up the railroad
bridge on the WarsaW-Vienna line be-
tween Granica, Russian Poland and
Sxcakova, Galicia.
A despatch from Nish, the head
quarters of the Servian Government,
to the Secolo, says the battle at Los
nitza, near the Bosnian frontier be-
tween the Austrians and Servians,
was the most important that has yet
taken place. A few hundred Servians
held several thousand Austrians in
check for more than five hours and
retired at nightfall after having Sc
verely harassed the enemy.
The Austrians did not advance.
They evidently were afraid of a trap.
Referring to the attack on Semen
dria, the correspondent expresses the
opinion that it is the purpose of the
Austrian force there to reach Nish at
the earliest possible moment, but
thinks it will take a week to over
come Servan resistance at the we'll
defended positions at Palanka, Jago-
dina and Portotlu.
Kaiser Wilhelm issued decree pro-
claiming martial law throughout
Germany, save in Bavaria.
The proclamation practically par
alyzes transmission of news, tele-
graphic, postal and railroad service
so far as the public is concerned.
| The railroad station and the tracks
| at Koenigsberg, Germany, are lined
with soldiers, who will not permit any
one to approach the railroad nearer
than 100 yards.
The kaiser's decree forbids the
passage of uncensored news concern
ing the movement Of German troops
and Of war material. 1t announces
military movements on the frontiers
and the armed protection of the rail
roads.
The Car has openly defed Ger
many and continues to rush troops
toward the Austrian border.
Premier Asquith, in announcing the
Russian mobilization, told the House
of Commons he would answer no
questions. Meanwhile the British
Government is preparing for any
emergency.
In Vienna the tension is great; nc
extra editions of the newspapers are
anOwed and no reference to the seiz
ure of Belgrade is permitted.
An alleged Russian spy was arrest
ed by the Germans at Allenstein.
Jean Jaures, the French Socialist
leader and active anti-war agitator
was killed in Paris by a war-crazet
youth. The man who shot him il
Raoul Villain, 20 years old, a student
at the Archaeological School. He II
the son of a clerk in the civil cour1
at Reims. His mother has been {
lunatic for twenty years and he him
self is known as crank.
British warships left Plymouth os
tensib1y for the North Sea. They hat
all the coal they could carry in thei
bunkers and more was stacked OF
their decks. The battleship Goliath
presented a queer appearance will
coal stacked on her deck so that thu
fore turret was hidden The wive:
and children Of the troops have re
moved from the Plymouth fortified
tons.
Stock Exchanges Close.
New York.-On the news of the de
claration of martial law in Germany
which was taken to presage a genera
European war, all stock markets il
the world were closed.
The governors Of the New Yorl
J Stock Exchange ordered the institu
ton closed 10 minutes before the on
ening hour after conference of bank
ers in ]. P. Morgan's Office decide'
that to keep the Exchange open as tn
only market in the world was unsafe
The managers of the New York Col
; ton Exchange closed that institution
for the first time in it's history al
2 hour and a quarter after the opening
: Panic set in at tl.s opening and price
broke $3.50 20 IS a bale
The break in the cotton marke
forced the suspension of three firms
S. H. P. PeH e Co., Homer, Howe
! Co., and F. J. Frederickson & Co.
The suspension Of Flower & Co
: bankers, was also announced.
i The New Orleans Cotton Exchans
Y closed after an hour and a quarter
wild trading.
e All Hamburg American and Mort
e German Lloyd steamships were OF
q dered to cancel sailings Indefinitely i
$ both this country and Germany. Thi
order came from the German Cover
e ment, which fears ships flying its fla
will be seized as prizes.
}. WAR NEWS IN BRIEF.
Cable communication between IIo1
F. don and Berlin is badly interrupte,
messages bear the siens of havin
oh rir II