The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-30
PREP ARE FOR
GENERAL WAR
Feverish Excitement Pervades
All the Capitals of Europe.
Even Japan Is Expected to Get
Into the Game.
ENGLAND, GERMANY, RUSSIA
Are Putting Their Forces on a
War Footing.
Actual Fighting Is Already In
Progress in Servia.
NHAkP ktSINIAuUL mhUI
To the Austrian Advance INTO
Balkan Territory.
Battle Fought at Semendria
With Heavy Casualties.
Are Putting Their Forces on q
War Footing.
Actual Fighting Is Already In
Progress in Servia.
SHARP RESISTANCE MADE
To the Austrian Advance INTO
Balkan Territory.
Battle Fought at Semendria
With Heavy Casualties.


The gravity of the international sit
nation was recognized in all European
capitals today.
Premier Asquith and Sir Edward
Crey called on all parties in the Brit
ish Isles to join in an effort 10 aver.
the immeasurable calamity of an ex-
tension of hostilities to other countries.
The German emperor conferred H
length with the imperial chancellor
and the ministers of war and MARINE
and later reserve officers received or
ders to mobilize. Russia proceeoeo
with her mobilization of large num-
Der of troops.
President Poincare and the French
cahinat decided to meet daily. The
French defensive forces took extensive
precautionary measures. Austrian IN
yaoers and Servian troops came 1hlo
contact on Servian territory and nun
dreds of casualties were SAID 10 haVe
resulted. The whereabouts OF the
main British fleet is unknown since
it's departure yesterday from fortiahu
under sealed orders.
The German battle squadrons are
concentrated at Kiel and Wilhelms-
haven. The French fleet has taken
steps to prepare for eventual1ties.
Japan is said to have declared its
readiness to Join its ally, Great Brit
ain. In outlying British colonies tne
troops have prepared Tor inssans .sdiv AL
quit Ea,sesasxn today and Went 1o
sea sffie -Gerfnan Ahd Brfrish fieees
in the far east have been concentrated
at their chief stations. Z.
All foreign students were oroereu ~
leave German schools. =.
Stock markets everywhere III
Europe have virtually ceased opera
tions and the leading banking lnstitu-
tions have taken measures to preserve
their stocks Of gold-
All Preparing for War.
London. July 30.-Preparations Tor
possible general European war went on
steadily today in every country nkely
to be involved and the complications OF
the situation were augmented Dy
rumor that Japan also might join IN
the conflict. -
the Russian army, a step, which tnat
country officially announced to Ger
many and Austria Hungary, an oroeI
was issued by Germany today to all
the officers and men OF her reserve
forces TO hold themselves in readiness
for a call to arms and a report reach
ing here by the way of Paris says that
the Berlin war office already has or
iiered partial mobilization in the east
provinces.
England mas StdTlcU ldhli6 "a SS"~
tions to prevent being surprised.
Her fleet has been ordered on war
footing and the scattered vessels OF
the navy are being brought back to
their bases. The Mediterranean fleet
which reached Malta today found hgnt-
ers waiting with coal; whicn was a. az
once taken on board the warships, sc
that they could be moved to any quar-
ter without delay.
All the members of the metropolitan
police, which is a government force
have been recalled from leave and Or
dered to return to duty at once as the
men will be required to guard the gov
ernment dock yards and magazines II
case the regular guards should have tt
Join their regiments.
The stock markets throughout Eu.
rope. which are not closed, showed ut
ter stagnation.
In the Fighting Zone.
AS to what Is going on in the fight
ing zone the strict censorship preventl
any details coming through. All kinds
of reports were in circulation. one o
them stating that a battle had takel
place in Bosnia on Austrian territor!
between the Austrian troops and tn
Servians, and had resulted in grea
slaughter and another reported the fal
and burning of the Servian capital
still another told Of an Austrian at
tack on the Montenegrins at Noun
Iovcher, overlooking CattarO.
A newspaper dispatch from Rome say
sharp resistance is being offered to tn
Austrian advance from the northwes
by small detachmcnts OF Servian troop
left to impede their progress. New
comes from Nish, Servia, by way Q
Salonika.
Battle Of Semendria.
The Austro-Hungarian invaders FOL
lowed the valley of the River Morav
and first encountered a body OF Sci
Wan troops at Semendria. on the Sci
Wan side of the Danube. The Sci
yians held their ground until nightfa
and then retired. Both Austrians an
Servians sustained heavy losses, Sc,
eral hundred soldiers being killed i
the engagement.
On the western side Of Servia, a
Austrian column came into contas
with a Servian force at Losnitza, whic
nut up a stubborn defense and hel
the force there until dark, inflictin
heavy losses on the Austrians
5 The southern Austrian column !
T2osnia remained stationary toda
awaiting the movement Of the Monte
negrin troops.
The ancient fortress of Belgrade wa
reduced by the Austrian artiller
which. however, caused only sligi
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