100 years ago today: Great Britain has declared war on
Germany following the sinking of a British mine-layer by the German fleet. The Germans are reported to be advancing on Liège
and Germany has declared war on France although Austria-Hungary has not yet
declared war on either Russia or France.
Britain’s railways have been placed under military control. The fleet is already on a war footing with
the army likely to be so within a few days and the call to arms has been met
with a “rapid and enthusiastic response”.
Australia has offered all her ships and 20,000 men.
1598 days
Looking back on the events of WW1 100 years on, day by day following the reports in the Telegraph archive in 100 word posts.
Tuesday 5 August 2014
5 August 1914
4 August 1914
100 years ago today: The German government has demanded free
passage of its troops through Belgium and this demand has been rejected. Sir Edward Grey has declared that Britain
will stand by its pledges and defend Belgium’s neutrality. It is now clear that
“Great Britain is poised upon the very edge of war with Germany”. A proclamation will be issued for the
mobilisation of Britain’s army; the navy already being placed on a war
footing. German troops have entered
Poland and occupied several towns. It is
looking highly likely that Earl Kitchener will be appointed Secretary of State
for War.
Sunday 3 August 2014
3 August 1914
100 years ago today: Luxemburg, a neutral state, has been
invaded by Germany and its railways have been seized. France has also been invaded at two points by
Germany without any formal declaration of war having been made and the French
army is now being mobilised. The Germans
have also taken possession of Arlon in Belgium, thus also violating Belgian
neutrality, and have seized two British steamers in the Kiel canal. The British navy has been mobilised and
placed on a war footing with reserves having been called up and this news has
resulted in cheering crowds at Buckingham Palace.
2 August 1914
100 years ago today: a special Sunday edition of the
Telegraph due to escalating crisis in Europe.
Germany has declared war on Russia.
Both Germany and France have ordered the mobilisation of all their
forces. Italy has declared her intention
to remain neutral. At present the
Government has not decided whether to interfere or not with the war in Europe
but “it may be taken for granted that [England] will be absolutely loyal to her
friends”. There is very little hope that
war between France and Germany will be averted.
The bank rate has increased from eight to ten percent.
1 August 1914
100 years ago today: Russia has declared a general
mobilisation of her army and navy and as a result martial law has been declared
in Germany. Whilst there has been no
official announcement of mobilisation in Germany, it is believed that Germany
and France are preparing to mobilise, and a general mobilisation has been
ordered in Belgium, Switzerland and Holland.
There is a report that the Russians have blown up a railway bridge in
Austria although this is unconfirmed and German troops have been observed on French
border. The London Stock Exchange has
closed and the bank rate has doubled.
Saturday 2 August 2014
31 July 1914
100 years ago today: Germany has demanded an explanation regarding
the mobilisation of Russia’s troops. Both France and Germany are believed to be
ready to mobilise but have not yet mobilised. Whilst no definite warlike
movement has been made in Britain “the nation stands united and ready to face any
emergency.” The second reading of the
Amending Bill has been postponed due to the desire of all political parties to
present a united front. The bombardment
of Belgrade continues and “has resulted in the destruction of the fortress but
the town is undamaged, and the white flag has been hoisted.”
30 July 1914
100 years ago today: Belgrade has been bombarded overnight
and shelling has caused great damage in several quarters of the city. Russia
has partially mobilised her armies and it seems likely that Germany and France
will follow suit. At present no
mobilisation of British forces has taken place according to a statement from
the War Office. The Government is
reported to be using its “last ounce of weight in the European political scales”
to try to “localise the conflict and restrict its results”. It seems that each
nation is preparing for arms and waiting to see what the others do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)