rave and devoted
forces, and I trust in the Almighty to give the victory to my arms.

FRANZ JOSEF.

* * * * *

DECLARATION OF WAR.

Published in Special Edition of Official Gazette, Vienna, July 28.

The Royal Government of Servia not having given a satisfactory
reply to the note presented to it by the Austro-Hungarian Minister
in Belgrade on July 23, 1914, the Imperial and Royal Government of
Austria-Hungary finds it necessary itself to safeguard its rights
and interests and to have recourse for this purpose to force of
arms. Austria-Hungary, therefore, considers itself from this moment
in a state of war with Servia.

* * * * *

"DAYS OF WORLD'S HISTORY."

Congratulatory Telegram to Kaiser Wilhelm II., Aug. 27.

Victory after victory. God is with you. He will be with us also. I
most sincerely congratulate you, dear friend, also the young hero,
your dear son, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince Rupprecht, as
well as the incomparably brave German Army. Words fail to express
what moves me and, with me, my army, in these days of world's
history.

"FRANZ JOSEPH."

* * * * *

WILL OF WILHELM II. THAT SWUNG THE SWORD.

Kaiser Franz Josef's Address in Bestowing the Great Cross on the German
Kaiser, September, 1914.

The glorious victories, so crushing to the foe, which the German
Army has won in battle under your chief command owe their begetting
and their success to your iron will, which sharpened and swung the
heavy sword.

To the laurel that crowns you as victor I wish to add, if I may,
the highest military honor which we possess, in begging you to take
in true brotherhood of arms and as a token of my appreciation the
Great Cross of my military Order of Marie Theresa. The decoration
itself, dear friend, shall be handed to you by a special envoy as
soon as it is convenient for you.

* * * * *

[Illustration: COUNT LEOPOLD BERCHTOLD.
Austro-Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
(_Photo from Underwood & Underwood._)]

A PURELY DEFENSIVE WAR.

By Count Berchtold, Foreign Minister for Austria-Hungary.

(Copyright, Evening News Publishing Company of Newark, N.J., 1914.)

Austria-Hungary looks upon