Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-01-07
EUROPEAN CONFLICT
Synopsis of the Great Euro
pean Struggle
HISTORY OF WARRING NATIONS
From June 2S, 1914, Up to the Pres
ent Date

The European war has waged for
about six months and the probability
is that it will continue six more if
not longer. Page after page has been
devoted to this great conflict for the
few months and it is almost impossible
for the erstwhile reader to get any
idea or conception Of it. The writer
endeavors in about two columns to
give the more important details of
the struggle from the start up to the
present date.
On June 2Sth the Archduke Francis
Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian
throne and his wife the Duchess of
Hohenberg were shot by Servian stu
dent at Bosnia and died very soon af-
terward. An attempt on the life of
the Archduke had been formerly made
but had failed. The Austrian govern
ment Immediately made careful in
quiries in regard to the murder and
arrived at the decision that there were
bands of anarchists in Servia who had
designs on the Austrian government.
Austria Immediately demanded that
those implicated in the killing of Fer
dinand be severely punished and the
suppression of all similar societies in
Servia. This decree was issued on
July %. As Servia did not sympa-
thize with Austria they Immediately
commenced to mobilize troops. Rus
sia and Montenegro followed suit on
the 26th of July. The Servians moved
their capital to Nish.
July 28th, just one month after the
death of Ferdiand, Austria declared
war on Servia and on the following
day invaded the country and shelled
Belgrade. Germany objected to the
mobilization of troops by Russia, the
Kaiser demanding that the Gar cease
Immediately and martial law was pro-
claimed throughout Germany. On the
31st of July. The same date the stock
exchanges fearing a financial panic
closed throughout the world.
The first day of August Germany
declared war on Russia, the Gar en-
forcing martial law and France order
ed the mobilization of troops, Italy de-
claring her neutrality. August 2nd the
Germans advanced on France through
the neutral country of Luxembourg,
Russia invading East Prussia. Ger
many on the Bird started three more
armies toward France, invading the
Belgium SOIL this country being neu-
trail and thus breaking the neutrality
laws between the two countries.
Great Britain next appears on the
field on the 9Th day of August, de-
manding that Germany Immediately
withdraw her troops from Belgium. The
Kaiser refused and the countries de-
clared war, Germany then declaring
war on Belgium. The United States
proclaimed their neutrality. The
German attack was successfully met
by the Belgians at Liege and they
were repulsed. On August 9th Aus
tria- Hungary boldly declared war on
Russia and on the same day the first
ship owned by England was sunk
probably by a German mine. On the
7th the Germans succeeded in enter
ing Liege. The following day twenty
thousand English troops landed on the
French coast and France invaded AL
sace-Loraine, capturing two cities.
The 10th of August France broke off
all diplomatic relations with Austria,
Hungary. By the 18th of the month
the Germans had succeeded in captur-
ing three more Belgian towns, the
same day France and England declar-
ing war on Austria Hungary.
1t can easily be seen that by the
middle of AuguA the countries of Eu-
rope were all pitted against each 9TH
er. the allies controlling more men,
money and materials than Germany
and Austria Hungary. The general
opinion throughout the country world
was that the allies would soon quiet
their opponents.
Japan seemed to feel that they
might be interested in the struggle
and issued an ultimatum to Germany
demanding the complete withdrawal
of German warships from the Orient.
IN the 18th of the month Belgium re-
moved their capital from Brussels to
Antwerp; meanwhile the battle be-
tween France and the Kaiser was
wagins. with great fierceness and the
French losses were very severe. Ser
via had succeeded in putting the Aus
tr;ans TO route. On the 10Th the Ger
mans occupied Brussels, the former
canital of Belgium, and on the 2lst
ley;ed a tax on the city of Brussels
for $40. 600, 900; also tax of 10000
600 on the city of Liege. August 2Srd
Janan declared war on Germany, the
Germans securing a victory in France
ord were very badly defeated in Rus
Continued on PAGE 6