The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-27
ENGLAND ASKS
FOR MEDIATION
Effort Made to Prevent Euro
pean War by Means of -
a Board of ~
Umpires.
SAYS IT IS NOT TOO LATE
Kaiser wilhelm Of Germany Appears
to be the Central Figure If
There 10 to be
Peace.
SAYS IT IS NOT TOO LATE
[By Ed L. Keen, United Press Staff
Correspondent

| [By Ed L. Keen, United Press Staff
Correspondent
LONDON, July 27-England today
took the initiatiYe in an effort to
avert war involving all Europe. Al
though upon Kaiser Wilhelm Of Ger.
many rests the greatest responsibility
for peace, diplomats here today re-
garded the situation as more hopeful
| because Of the action of Sir Edward
Grey, British foreign minister, in sug-
gesting mediation to France, Ger
many and Italy.
The gravity with which the pros
poets of war are viewed was indicated
when King George cancelled his en-.
gagement to attend the Goodwood
races this week. He will remain at
Buckingham palace until the crisis
| is passed
Sir Edward Grey has communicated
with the British ambassadors in Paris
and Berlin and Rome urging that they
tappea1 to these governments to aid
in preserving the peace of the cont
nent. With the consent of Germany
4 it is believed Austria will be forced tc
accept mediation which diplomats be
! lieve is still possible despite the
steps that have been taken toward
the invasion of Servia.
While massing troops, conceslins
all military movements behind the
curtain Of military censorship, and
making all preparations for war
U,,,ropo <odoy disc,esod tho nocsihi1f
ties for peace. Despite the evident
determination of Austria to force waI
/ upon Servia, which would mean en-
/ broiling other nations in the conflict
no step has yet been taken which
closes the door toward arbitration OF
/ mediation in the opinion of diplomats
| All Germany is stirred by the wal
spirit, but reports today declare
Kaiser Wilhelm is ready to bring al
possible pressure to bear in the in
terests OF peace. 1t is upon the kaiser
that the situation rests today. Rus
sia is adamant in the position of the
invasion of Servia and the forces OF
Emperor Franz Joseph will not be
permitted without interference by
| the czar.
f! Despite reports received by the
Weekly Dispatch yesterday from
; Vienna that war had been declared
by Austria-Hungary, it was insisted
today that no formal declaration had
been promulgated. The Servian min
lister in Vienna was given his pass
ports, however, and this is looked up
on as indicating that Austria expects
1 to invade Servia as soon as heI
troops have been concentrated along
the Danube. Belgrade is now at the
mercy of the Austrian troops. With
King Peter, the crown prince and all
government officers having fled to
Nish and the garrison withdrawn tc
the south, the city is practically un
protected. Widest scenes were en-
acted in the city as the people fled
during yesterday. Later, bandits
swarmed in from the territory about
the town and started looting. The
small force of soldiers left behind tc
cover the movements of the retreat
ing garrison drove them from the
city. In every capital, strict mill
tary censorship has been established
Russia, Germany, Austria, Servis
and even Belgium are concentrating
troops and preparing for any eventu
ality. In London, there was more
hopeful feeling today as the result ot
the invitation of Sir Edward Grey t
France, Germany and Italy to medi
ate the difference between the dua
monarchy and Servia
Diplomats pointed out that there
would be good prospects Of peace
should this invitation be accepted a:
Servia had acceded to all but one O
the demands of Austria's ultimatum
The Belgrade government was asked
to dissolve the pan-Servian societies
to publish in the official journal ar
i apology and an army order condemn