Gilpin observer., 1914-12-31

The year of our Lord. 1914. Is unique.
1t does not fall into the procession of the
years with the accustomed swing. That
which has transformed 1t into a horror
without precedent in breath and malig-
nifty is war-war which is devastating the
old world and fixing its sinister impress
on the new.
1t came swiftly and with a terrific
clash. On July %. the Austro-Hungarian
government sent an ultimatum to Servia
demanding the punishment of the per-
sons concerned in the assassination of
the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and in
stant suppression of all anti-Austrian
propaganda in that country and giving
As hours for consideration. The Belgrade
government agreed to the Austrian de-
mand with single exception-that which
would have empowered Austrian officials
to take leading part in the punishment
of the murderers, and asked for further
information on this point.
The reply was not satisfactory to AUS
tria She promptly declared war on Ser
via and began to move troops toward
the border. The Serbs began active mob
Belgrade to Nish, in the interior. In
stantly the eyes of all the civilized world
were turned toward Russia.
The day after Austria declared war
on Servia. the Russian minister of for
eign affairs warned the German ambas-
sia would not be able to remain neutral.
Great Britain proposed to Germany.
France and Italy that a council should
be arranged to mediate between the two
disputants. Germany declined to become
party to such an arrangement The czar
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 twenty-four hour ultimatum to
the Muscovite government demanding an
instant abandonment of all war prep
aration. At the expiration of this ulti-
matum. August /, the kaiser gave the
order for mobilization to begin and on
the same day Count Won Pourtales. the
German ambassador at st. Petersburg
started homeward.
Meanwhile the mobilization of the en-
tire French army was begun. Martial
law 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. II they would respect the neu-
trality of Belgium in case of war. The
former had answered In the affirmative.
gian mobilization began at once.
On August 2 a German army marched
into the Grand Duchy. of Luxembourg,
whose neutrality had been guaranteed
by the powers in 1867. A day later, the
German government sent note to the
Belgian government demanding passage
for German troops through the country
and promising ample compensation for
all damage at the close of the war. This
Was in the form of an ultimatum and
specified twelve hours as time limit.
The reply was that Belgium would de-
fend her neutrality by force of arms II
1t were necessary.
Great Britain Declares War.
At this move of Germany, Great Brit
ain began active mobilization of her
forces and all the naval reserves were
called out at once. War against Germany
was declared on August 4, war budget
Of 350o0oo.o00 was voted. and within few
days a British force of 10000 men had
been landed in France. On August Aus
tria-Hungary 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 10 the French government
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
tary resources into requisition for de-
fense. Portugal announced her inten-
tion to fulfill her treaty obligations with
Great Britain. but she did not become q
belligerent at once. Spain proeessed abb
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-
her that she made her initial demonstra-
tion In the Black sea against Russin.
Greece. as well as the minor Balkan
states. was in a condition OF armed ex-
pectancy. As for Italy, sworn ally of
Germany and Austria In the so-calied
Dreibund. she took advantage of the fact
that her partners We're not engaged in q
defensive war to remain neutral despite
strong pressure from Berlin and Vienna.
At the outbreak of hostilities, n censor
ship which is the most effective ever
known was established In all the warning
countries. About all that was actually
revealed was that the kaiser's forces
made their way through Belgium with n
tremendous loss OF men and property,
the Belgian defenders OF the little king
dom exhibiting n power of resistance and
n stubbornness which amazed the world.
The forts at Iiege halted the German
1eRionB 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. and by
September 4 had reached IA 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 T. the German
army Of the right turned eastward. Since
that time. the knlser's forces have been
retiring slowly. fighting with a persis-
,ency never before recorded In the his
tory OF modern war.
Russian mobilization by the middle of
August was practically completed and
the cznrs armies were IN rapid advance
toward the German and Austrian from
tiers. Grent forces opposed the Slavic
advance and many bloody contests fol-
lowed In rapid succession. until late in
the autumn. the greatly outnumbered
Tcutonic allies began to show signs OF
declining Offensive ability.
The japanese confined their military
operations entirely to Asia. They i'm