his object, to have recourse to force of arms.

"Austria-Hungary, who has just addressed to Serbia a formal
declaration, in conformity with Article I of the convention of
October 18, 1907, relative to the opening of hostilities, considers
itself in a state of war with Serbia.

"In bringing the above notice to the powers, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs has the honor to declare that Austria-Hungary will act
during the hostilities in conformity with the terms of the
Conventions of the Hague of October 18, 1907, as also with those of
the Declaration of London of February 28, 1909, provided an
analogous procedure is adopted by Serbia."

The great question as to what Russia would do was answered by a note
issued at St. Petersburg, July 28, 1914, which stated that Russia
wished, above all, to maintain peace. But the moments during which
words alone would be availing were fast passing. Austria-Hungary was
mobilizing her armies, and not all of the mobilization was on her
southern frontier; some corps were gathered at points from which a
blow from Russia might be warded off, or offensive move against
Russia made.

On July 30, 1914, the German Government sent a short note to St.
Petersburg, in which three questions were asked. These were: the
reason for the Russian mobilization, which Berlin knew to be in
progress; whether it was directed against Austria; and on what terms
Russia might be induced to demobilize.

The Czar, on July 31, 1914, sent a note to the German Emperor in
which he said in part: "... It is technically impossible to
discontinue our military operations, which have been rendered
necessary by Austrian mobilization. We are far from wishing for war,
and so long as negotiations with Austria regarding Serbia continue,
my troops will not undertake any provocative actions." This was an
admission that Russian general mobilization was in progress.

CHAPTER XXIII

PREPARATION FOR WAR

As a matter of fact, during the last days of July, 1914, all the
Governments in Europe had their military departments busy on the
problem of preparing for the first blows in war; these included not
only the six leading powers, but also the Scandinavian countries,
Spain, Portugal, all the Balkan kingdoms, and Belgium and Holland.
The diplomatic exchanges that were meanwhile taking place were known
to all experienced statesmen to be hardly more than masks.

On August 1, 1914, the kaiser declared Germany to be "in a state of