The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1914-08-05
ENGLAND HOLDS
BACK DECISION
ON WAR POLICY
Disagreement In Cabinet Said
To Cause Hesitation
RESERVATIONS ARE REPORTED

Until Members of Government Can
Agree Among Themselves Official
and Definhe Announcement Will Be
Withheld-public Opinion, In Favor
of War, May Force Hand of the Gov.
ernment-BeIgium Reassured.
The hour of suspense for England is
prolonged indefinitely by the state.
ment of Foreign Minister Sir Edward
Grey in the house of commons that
the government was not yet prepared
to announce its decision as to partic-
ipation in the European war. 1t is
understood there is division of sen.
timent in the cabinet and the resiG.
nation of two members who favor a
peace policy is reported Until the
government is able to unite upon Il
definite policy there will be no official
announcement, unless public opinion,
which is warlike in tone, should force
action sooner.
Great Britain has moblized her for.
ces and awaits eventualities.
Today she is not belligerent pow
er nor is she a neutral one.
The government has given France
assurance that the British fleet will
not permit the German fleet to attack
the French coast.
England has not yet pledged itself
to contribute an army TO the CONT
mental war.
The British government regards with
the deepest distrust Germanys viola
tion of Belgium's neutrality, but makes
no declaration as to whether it consid
ers that measure provocation for war.
A German fleet met a Russian squad
ron off the Aland islands in the North
sea and is reported to have driven
them back to refuge in the Gulf of
Finland. Three German armies are in.
vading France, one from Basle, Switz-
erland, on the north; second from
Metz and the grand duchy of Luxem
burg, and the third by way of the Bel
gian town of Arlon. Altogether the
three armies comprise about 100000
men. In each case they are crossing
neutral territory in their advance upon
France. Three German army corps are
moving against Russia. Their advance
guards are said to have driven back
the Russian advance guards.
Eronob troOnc vuitb ,nocbipa uupS
succeeded in repulsing a large force
of German Uhlans at Petit CroiX, on
the Lorraine frontier, inhicting heavy
losses on the Germans. Reports in
Berlin say that $4,000 French troops
have invaded Germany on the Alsatian
frontier, meeting with some resist
ance. President Poincare has pro
claimed martial law in France and
Algiers.
II was officially announced that the
British army will be mobilized today
Sir Edward Grey, the British foreign
secretary, tod the house of commons
that England could not stand aside
and see the French coast attacked nor
could she disregard with honor her
obligations to uphold the neutrality of
Belgium. The question whether Eng
land shall enter the war was left with
the house.
The leaders of the opposition as
sured the government of their support
and a coalition ministry is expected
with Lord Kitchener as war minister.
The British fleet is still in the North
sea, where also are the German and
Russian fleets.
Three Russian army corps are CT the
German border ready for an invasion
of Germany. A Russian column at
tackled Johannesburg and were driven
back, according to German reports.
The Russian naval port of Libau has
been bombarded by a German cruiser,
which reports that the city is in
flames. One of the Russian columns is
said to be marching on Lemberg.
Austrian troops which had begun an
invasion of Servia have been with
drawn and are now marching toward
the Russian border.
Italy formally notified the powers of
her neutrality.