The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1915-01-02

which has transformed II into 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.
It came swiftly and with q terrific
clash On July 23 the Austro- Hungarian
government sent an ultimatum to SerVia
demanding the punishment of the per-
sons concerned in the assassination or
the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and In
stant suppression of all anti-Austrian
propaganda 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 omcials
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
ilization and removed their capital from
Belgrade 90 Nish. in the interior. In
etantly 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-
sador that II Servia were invaded Rus
.sia would not be able 10 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 tie
German account, the kaiser compiled
with this request 10 the best of his abil-
.ty. When he discovered, however, that
mobilization was going on actively In
Russia, he wired the cZar that his course
waa making mediation imDOssIble
Two days later the kaiser proclaimed
martial law throughout the country and
sent a 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-
tralty 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 a German army marched
into the Grand Duchy OF Luxembourg
whose neutrality had been guaranteed
by the powers In 1867 day later. the
German government sent n note to the
Belgian government demanding passage
for German troops through the country
and promising ample compensation foI
all damage at the close of the war. This
was in the form of an ultimatum and
specified twelve hours as a time limit
The reply was that Belgium would de.
fend her neutrality by force OF arms II
II were necessary.
Great Britain Declares War.
At this move of Germany. Great Brit.
ain began active mobilization of hei
forces and all the naval reserves were
called out at once. War against Germany
was declared on August 4. a war budget
of 100000 was voted. and within a few
days 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 Dor,
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 Il
side with her British ally.
Scandinavia and Holland asserted thei
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 will
Great Britain, but she did not become
belllgerent at once. Spain professed alb
solute neutrality, but began immediate
mobilization of all her forces. Turkey de
clared for neutrality. but mobilized he
army and began to advance toward Bul
garia. 1t was not until the last OF Octo
ber that she made her initial demonstra
tion in tive Black sea against Russia
Greece, as well as the minor Balkan
states. was In a condition of armed ex
pectancy As for Italy, sworn ally o
Germany and Austria in tho so-calleS
Dreibund. she took advantage OF the fac
that her partners were not engaged I'm
defensive war to remain neutral despit,
strong pressure from Berlin and Vienna
At the outbreak of hostilities, a censor
ship which is the most effective eve
known was established in all the warrinl
revealed was that the kaiser's force
made their way through Belgium with
tremendous loss Of men and property
the Belgian defenders of the little king
dom exhibiting power of resistance an
stubbornness which amazed the world
The forts at Iiege halted the Germal
legions for a week. But the odds wer
too great. BY the end of August the ter
rible German war machine had literall.
moved Its way through Belgium, and b.
September had reached point withi
twenty miles of Paris. which was in &C
tive preparation for siege. The seat o
government was removed to Bordeaux
Suddenly, on September 4. the Germai
army OF the right turned eastward Sine
that time, the kaiser's forces have bee
retiring slowly, fighting with a perss
tency never before recorded in the his
tory of modern war
Russian mobilization by the middle o
August was practically completed an
e. ir, mid M q