The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-28
TWO YEARS OF WAR

This is the second anniversary of the first of the many declarations of war which have Involved Europe and to lesser extent, all the other con- tinents, in the most titanic conflict of the ages It was on July 28, 1914 that Austria declared war on Serbia, thus applying the torch to the Euro pean powder magazines and starting a conflagration which has ragged with increasing fury ever since, and the end of which is not yet in sight. When Francis Joseph mobilized his legions to attack the neighboring Balkan state, a. large part of Europe sprang to arms. For four days the world hoped against hope that the threaten ed general hostilities might be avert ed, but on the first of August Ger many declared war against Russia and marched on Belgium. The latter country, undaunted by the u1timatum of her powerful neighbor, bravely pre- pared to dispute the passage, of the Kaiser's hosts. and at Liege held for a heroic moment the onrushing tide.
 Germany, which had asked, the in tenti6ns of France and received the reply that the republic would respect the neutrality of Belgium, declared war on France on the third of Au- gust, and on the following day Great Britain formally announced her inten- ton to defend Belgium's neutrality and entered the war against Germany On the tenth of that fatefui August France declared war on Austria, troops of the latter nation having joined the Germans in the attack on France, and on the twelfth Great Bri- tain declared war against the Dual Monarchy
 Respecting. her treaty with Britain, Japan on August 9th sent an ultima tum to Germany. and on the ,23rd the Oriental empire declared war on the Kaiser's government. After that there was a. lull in such, pronounce meRts, but late in October Turkey de- cided to enter the arena, and -com- menced hostilities against Russia. This was followed early in November by a British declaration of war against the Ottoman, government.
 Italy, an ally of Germany and Aus tria at the outbreak of the war, re- mained aloof until May of last year, when she definitely Joined the Allies and declared war on her ancient ,en- emy, Austria This was followed in October by an Italian declaratioi, against Turkey After a long period Ebf bartering with both sides, Bulgaria decided last October to. join the Gen. tral Powers, and on the 14th deciar- ed war on Serbia, at the same time commencing an invasion of that coun- try inp cooperation with an Austro- German force. .<
 Portugal which had announced her self Jan ally of Great Britain early in the conflict but had taken no &C., tive part, was involved in the strug- gle last March. when Germany issued a declaration of war against the young republic. Montenegro Joined forces with Serbia immediately after the Austrian declaration, and San>Ma- rino. the tiny mountain republic in Italy, also drew the sword soon af- ter; Italy's entrance into the war.
 At various times other nations, in- cluding Greece, Roumasnia, Sweden and Holland, as well as the United States, have seemed on the verge of joining in the world fwar. Persia, while nominally at peace. has become q bone of contention for the armies of the warning powers, and has been the scene of several battles. While actual strife has been confined to Eu- rope, Asia and Africa, naval battles have been fought in American, waters, and thousands of the flower of Ameri- can and Australian youth have given up their lives on the bloody battle F3oIt7S of fhe Old World