Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1915-01-01

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 mallg-
nifty IS war-war which is devastating the
old W0r1d and fixing its sinister impress
on the new.
1t came swiftly and with a terrific
clash. On July g. the Acknowledgements
government sent an ultimatum to Servia
demanding the punishment of the per-
sons concerned In the assassination OF
che Archduke Franz Ferdinand and IN
slant suppression of all anti-Austrian
propaganda In that country and giving
s8 hours for consideration. The Belgrade
government agreed to the Austrian de-
Tnand with single eXception-that which
would have empowered Austrian sfficials
TO take leading part in the punishment
or the murderers, and asked for further
information on this point.
The reply was not satisfactory to Aus
sr.a. She promptly declared war on Ser
via and began to move troops toward
the border The Serbs began active mob
Hization and removed their capital from
Belgrade to 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
sador that if Servia 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
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 abii-
ity. When he discovered however, that
mobilization was going on actively in
Russia, he wired the car that his course
was making mediation impossible
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 ali war prep
Rration. At the expiration Of this ulti-
nRtum. 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 horneWard.
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. 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
CLAN 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 note to the
Belgian government demanding passage
for German troops through the country
and promising ample compensation for
ell damage at the close of the war. This
was In the form of an ultimatum and
specified twelve hours as q time limit.
Tho 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
e1s 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
or $500, 100000 was voted, and within a 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
2-.i.rISity, but at once put all their mill
tary resources into requisition for de-
Tense. Portugal announced her inten-
zion to fulfil her treaty obligations with
Great Britain, but she did not become a
beiiigerent at once. Spain professed abb
solute neutrality, but began immediate
mobilization of all her forces. Turkey de-
ciared FOR neutrality, but modified her
army and began to advance toward Bull
garia. Ii was not until the last of Octo-
Der that she made her initial demonstra-
tien in the Black sea against Russia
Greece, as well as the minor Balkan
states, was In a condition of armed ex-
pectancy. As for lilly, sworn ally of
Germany and Austria in the so-called
DreibunG, she took advantage of the fact
chat her partners were not engaged in a
defensive war 10 remain neutral despite
strong pressure from Berlin and viepna.
At the outbreak of hostillties, a censor
ship which Is the most effective ever
Known was established In all the warning
countries. About all that was actually
FeveataS was that the kaiser's forces
aaade their way through Belgium with a
tremendous loss OF men and property,
tne Belgian defenders of the little king
som exhibiting a power OF resistance and
stubbOrnness which amazed the world.
The forts at Liege halted the German
Iegions for q week But the odds were
soO great. BY the end of August the ter
Ffble German war machine had literally
nowed its way through Belgium, ard by
5epternber had reached a point within
twenty miles Of Paris which was in ac-
ttVe preparation for a siege The seat of
government was removed to Bordeaux
SHddenly, on September 4. the German
army of the right turned eastward. Since
shat time, the kaiser's forces have been
retiring slowly fighting with a persis-
sency never before recorded in the his
aory Of modern war.
Russian mobilization by the middle of
August was practically completed and
the CZar's armies were in rapid advance
howard the German and Austrian from
siers. Great forces opposed the Slavic
sdvance and many bloody contests fol-
bowed in rapid succession, until late in
eHe autumn, the greatly outnumbered
Teutonic allies began to show signs of
seclining offensive ability.
The Japanese confined their military
operations entirely to Asia. They i'm
sedlately, proceeded against the German
forts at Kiauchau China which were
eaken by assault after ten weeks attack.
h.. ~ HI. q