Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-07-28

Vienna, July 27.-The sending Of
his passports to the Servian minis
ter, M. Jovanovitch, by the Austrian
foreign office yesterday is deemed
equivalent to a declaration of war.
This action was taken yesterday,
the report that the Servian minis
ter left Vienna Saturday having
been incorrect. He will depart i'm
mediately. The Russian ambassador
will take charge of the Servian in
terests.
1t is believed that there will be
no formal declaration of war, as Ser
via never subscribed to The Hague
convention.
There were patriotic demonstra-
tions throughout the day, although
heavy rain was falling. Great
crowds gathered in front of the war
Office and cheered the officers who
appeared. Professions with flags fly
ing filled the streets.
A general mobilization in Mon
tenegro is reported.
Italy has informed Austria that
in event of armed conflict with Ser
via she will adopt friendly atti-
tude in accordance with her rela-
lions with the triple alliance.
Proclamations have been posted
ordering partial mobilization.
The Austro-Hungarian bank has
raised the bank rate from to per
cent and the committee of the house
has decided to close the bourse Mon
day, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The committee explains that its
decision was actuated by regard for
the public interests, to prevent an
unwarranted disturbance of indus
trial interests and to counterfeit dis
quieting reports.
The Neue Freie Presse says the
minister of finance will raise $685.
100000 for the governments imme-
date requirements, and adds that
negotiations between the powers for
the localizing of the conflict will
continue.
In diplomatic circles there is a
feeling of optimism that these nego-
tiations will be successful, and it is
said by one diplomat yesterday that
France has no intention to expose
herself too much on Servia's behalf"
Baron Giesl Won Gieslingen, the
Austro-Hungarian minister to Ser
via, who left Belgrade Saturday
night on the breaking off of diplo-
matte relations, arrived here yester-
day.
The imperial decree Saturday
gives the government enormous pow
ers to insure the secrecy of its meas
ures. The authorities are entitled
to open all letters. Only kilograms
approved by the censor can be dis
patched to any point. Newspapers
publishing details of military prep
arations or movements can be sup
pressed.
All the railways are guarded by
sentries with orders to use their
arms on any persons who fail to
stop when commanded.
The prospect of war is not regard
ed here as child's play. The Ser
VANS put 100000 into the field dur
ing the Balkan wars. Both officers
and men are passionately patriotic.
1t is expected that Servia will at
tempt to hold the front along the
Danube and the Drina with only a
weak force while the greater part of
the army will be concentrated in the
central district, probably near Nish
or Kraguyevatz, and another strong
force in Novipazar, which will be
destined for offensive operations
against Bosnia.
According to Semlin rumor the
first encounter between Austria and
Servia has occurred near Semendria,
on the Danube, twenty-four miles
southeast of Belgrade. Some vessels
conveying Austrian infantry were
said to have been fired on from the
Sefyian side of the Danube and to
have returned the fire.