The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-01-22
OF YEAR MARKED
BY SENSATIONAL EVENTS
Most Momentous Twelve Months of Modern Times
Reviewed Great European War, Mexican
Troubles and Other World Happenings.

80 JNNA .otNB I-p
It does not fall into the procession of the
years with the accustomed swing. That
which has transformed it 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-H 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
slant suppression Of all anti-Austrian
in that country and giving
Is 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 a 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
ilization and removed their capital from
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
IN Servia, the Russian minister Of for
eign affairs warned the German ambas-
sador that II Seryia were invaded Rus
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 car
JIP0ad tho kafoar ~ IIGa hic inAIlanan 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 car that his course
making mediation impossible.
Two days later the kaiser proclaimed
martial law throughout the country and
sent a t~wenty-four hour ultimatum to
the Muscovite government demanding an
instant abandonment Of all war prep
aration. At the expiration of this ulti-
matum, 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 homeward.
Meanwhile the mobilization of the en-
tire French army was begun. Martial
law was declared and, August 4, the Ger
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-
trality of Belgium in case of war. The
former had answered in the Affirmative
The latter made no direct reply, and Bel
gian mobilization began at once.
On August Q 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 a 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
twelve hours as a time limit.
reply was that Belgium would de-
fend her neutrality by force of arms II
It 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
declared on August 4, a wal budget
Of $500. 0O0,00 was voted, and within a few,
days a British force of 12O, 1000 men had
been landed in France. On August 6 Aus
tria-Hungary declared war on Russia
her troops crossed the Russian bor-
der. The M~ontenegrins joined the Serbs
Austria and Bosnia, was invaded.
On August 10 the French government
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.
Portugal announced her inten-
lion to fulfill her treaty obligations with
Great Britain. but she did not become a
at once. Spain professed alb
solute neutrality, but began immediate
mobilization of all her forces. Turkey de-
clared for neutrality, but modified her
army and began to advance toward Bull
1t was not until the last of Octo-
Der that she made her initial demonstra-
ton in the Black sea against Russia
Greece, as we'll 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-called
Dreibund, she took advantage of the fact
that her partners were 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
About all that was actually
revealed was that the kaiser's forces
their way through Belgium with a
loss Of men and property,
the Belgian defenders Of the little king
1om exhibiting a power of resistance and
\ stubbornness which amazed the world.
The forts at Liege halted the German
for a 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
4 had reached a point within
miles Of Paris, which was in &C.
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 kaiser's forces have been
slowly, fighting with a persis-
never before recorded in the his
tory of modern war. .
Russian mobilization by the middle of
August was practically completed and
The czar's armies were in rapid advance
toward the German and Austrian from
tiers. Great forces opposed the Slavic
advance and many bloody contests fol-
in rapid succession, until late In
The autumn, the greatly outnumbered
r~eutonic allies began to show signs of
declining offensive ability.
The japanese confined their military
operations entirely to Asia. They i'm
nediately proceeded against the German
at Kiauchau, China, which were