week which was to bring general mobilization they said to each other
joyfully: Next week our vacation time begins. But they were fearfully
disappointed. Russia's unexpected, treacherous mobilization compelled
Germany to draw the sword also. On the evening of the first day of
August the one word, Mobilization! was flashed by the electric spark all
over the country. There was no more anxiety and uncertainty. Cool, firm
resolution at once permeated the entire German folk. The Reichstag was
called together for an extra session.

Three days later, on the anniversary of the battles of Weissenburg and
Spichern, the representatives of the German people met. This session,
which lasted only a few hours, proved worthy of the great historical
moment marking the beginning of such a conflagration as the world had
never seen before. The railroad lines were under military control and
used almost exclusively for purposes of mobilization. In spite of all
such difficulties, more than 300 of the 397 Deputies managed to get to
Berlin in time. The rest sent word that they were unable to come. On the
evening of Aug. 3 the Imperial Chancellor called the leaders of all
parties, including the Socialists, to his house and explained to them in
a concise and impressive statement how frivolously Germany had been
driven to war. At the time of this meeting the unanimous acceptance of
all war measures by the Reichstag was already assured. In numerous
conferences the heads of the several departments explained the content
and meaning of the bills to be submitted to the Reichstag. The
participants of the conferences showed already what spirit would
characterize the next day. The session of the Reichstag filled the
entire German nation with pride and enthusiasm; the Reichstag maintained
the dignity of the German Empire and the German people.

In greater numbers than ever before the Deputies, high officers of the
army and navy and the Civil Government assembled on Aug. 4, first in
houses of worship to pray to God, and then in the Royal Castle of
Berlin. The military character of the ceremony at the opening of the
session showed under what auspices this memorable act took place. The
Kaiser entered the hall in the simple gray field uniform, without the
usual pomp, unaccompanied by chamberlains and court officials and pages
in glittering court dresses. Only State Ministers, Generals, and
Admirals followed him to the throne, from where he read his speech,
afte