The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-12-31

II does not fall into the procession OF the
years with the accustomed swing. That
which has transformed II into a horror
without precedent in breath and maliE-
nifty is war-war which is devastating the
old world and fixing its sinister impress
on the new.
1t came swiftly and with terrific
clash On July 23 the Austro- Hungarian
government sent an ultimatum to Servia
demanding the punishment of the per
sons concerned in the assassination Of
the Archduke FraN Ferdinand and In
slant suppression of all anti-Austrian
propaganda in that country and giving
q hours for consideration. The Belgrade
government agreed to the Austrian de
mand with a single exception-that which
would have empowered Austrian officials
TO take leading part in the punishment
or the murdcrers. and asked for further
Information on this point.
The reply was not satisfactory to Aus
'ria. She promptly declared war on Ser
Via and began to move troops toward
the border The Serbs began active mob
NiZation and removed their capital from
Belgrade 10 Nish. In the interior. IN
stantly the ayes Of all the civilized world
were turned toward Russia.
The day after Austria declared war
on Serva, the Russian minister OF for
eIcn affairs warned the German amhas-
Fadpr that If SerVia were invaded Rus
sia would not be able to remain neutral.
Great Britain proposed to Germany,
France and Italy that a council should
ne arranged TO mediate between the two
disputants. Germany declined to become
party to such an arrangement The ear
urged the kaiser to use his influence with
the Austrian emperor. According TO the
German account the kaiser complied
with this request to the best OF his abil-
ity. When he discovered. however. that
mobilization was going on actively in
Russia. he wired the czar that his course
was making mediation impossible.
TWO days later the kaiser proclaimed
martial law throughout the country and
sent a twenty-four hour ultimatum to
the Muscovite government demanding an
instant abandonment of all war prep
traton. At the expiration OF this ulti-
natum August l. the kaiser gave the
order for mobilization TO begin and on
the same day Count Won Pourtales. the
German ambassador at ST. Petersburg.
started homcward.
Meanwhile the mobilization Of the en-
tire French army was begun Martial
Jaw was declared and. August 4, the Ger
man ambassador announced that the war
between his country and France was on.
England had asked both France and
Germany. if they would respect the neu-
traty Of Belgium in case Of war. The
former had answered In the Affirmative.
The latter made no direct reply. and Bel
Gian mobilization began a. once.
On August a German army marched
into the Grand Duchy Of Luxembourg,
whose neutrality had been guaranteed
ty the powers in 1861 A day later the
German government sent g note 10 the
Belgian government demanding passage
tor German troops through the country
and promising ample compensation for
al damage at the close of the war. This
was in the form Of an ultimatum and
specified twelve hours AS a time limit.
The reply was that Belgium would de-
fcnd her neutrality by force of arms II
IT were necessary
Great Britain Declares War.
At this move of Germany. Great Brit
Elm began active mobilization of her
forces and all the naval reserves We're
called out at once. War against Germany
was declared on August a. war budget
Cf $500 FN coo was voted. and within few
days a British force of 10000 men had
been landed in France. On August Aus
1ria-TIungary declared war on Russia
and her troops crossed the Russian bOr-
DER The Montenegrins Joined the Serbs
against Austria and Bosnia was invaded
On August 70 the French goVernment nj
proclaimed war against Austria and two
days later England followed her exam
pie. Japan announced her intention to
side with her British ally.
Scandinavia and Holland asserted their
neutrality, but at once put all their mill
tarv resources into requistion for de-
fense. Portugal announced her inten-
tion 10 fulfill her treaty obligations with
Great Britain, but she did not become q
heIlgercnt at once. Spain professed alb
solute neutrality, but began immediate
mobilization of all her forces. Turkey de-
clared for neutrality, but mobilized her
army and began to advance toward Bull
garia. II was not until the last of Octo-
Der that she made her initial demonstra-
ton in the Black sea against Russia.
Greece, as well as the minor Balkan
states was I'm a condition Of armed eX-
pectancy. AS for Italy. sworn ally of
Germany and Austria in the so-called
Dreibund. she took advantage of the fact
that her partners We're not engaged in a
defensive war to remain neutral despite
strong pressure from Berlin and Vienna.
AT the outbreak OF hostilities a censor
ship which is the most effective ever
known was established in all the warning
countries. About all that was actually
revealed that the kaiser's forces
made their way through Belgium with a
tremendous loss of men and property.
TIE Belgian defenders OF the little king
dom exhibiting a power of resistance and
stubbornness which amazed the world.
The forts at I.iege halted the German
legions for week. But the odds were
TOO great BY the end of August the ter
rible German war machine had literally
moved its way through Belgium ana by
September had reached a point within
twenty miles of Paris. which was in ac-
tive preparation for a siege The seat of
government was removed to Bordeaux.
Suddenly. on September 4. the German
army of the right turned eastward. Since
that time. the kaisers forces have been
retiring slowly, fighting with persis-
tency never before recorded in the his
tory of modern war.
Russian mobilization by the middle Of
August was practically completed and
the czars armies were in rapid advance
toward the German and Austrian from
:iers Great forces opposed the Slavic
advance and many bloody contests fol-
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