Illustration: AMERICA'S WAR TIME PRESIDENT. THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF WOODROW
WILSON WAS ESPECIALLY POSED DURING THE WAR. IN HIS STUDY AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.]

[Illustration: DR. J.E. MOORLAND, SENIOR SECRETARY OF COLORED MEN'S
DEPT., INTERNATIONAL Y.M.C.A. THE MAN LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCCESS OF
HIS RACE IN "Y" WORK.]

[Illustration: A TYPICAL GROUP OF "Y" WORKERS, SECRETARY SNYDER AND
STAFF. Y.M.C.A. NO.7, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.]

[Illustration: PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON (AT HEAD OF TABLE) AND HIS WAR
CABINET. LEFT--W.G. MCADOO SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY; THOMAS W. GREGORY,
ATTY. GENL.; JOSEPHUS DANIELS, SEC. OF NAVY; D.F. HOUSTON, SEC. OF
AGRICULTURE; WILLIAM B. WILSON, SEC. OF LABOR. RIGHT--ROBERT LANSING,
SEC. OF STATE; NEWTON D. BAKER, SEC. OF WAR; A.S. BURLESON,
POSTMASTER-GENERAL; FRANKLIN K. LANE, SEC. OF INTERIOR; WILLIAM C.
REDFIELD, SEC. OF COMMERCE.]

With a war likely to involve the greater part of Europe hanging on the
issue, it was a time for cool judgment, sober statesmanship and careful
action on all sides. Months should have been devoted to an
investigation.

But Germany and Austria did not want a sober investigation. They were
afraid that while it was proceeding the pretext for war might vanish. As
surmised above, they also may have feared that the responsibility for
the act would be placed in quarters that would be embarrassing to them.

On July 23, 1914, just twenty-five days after the murder, Austria
delivered her demands upon Serbia and placed a time limit of forty-eight
hours for their acceptance. With the fate of a nation and the probable
embroiling of all Europe hanging on the outcome, forty-eight hours was a
time too brief for proper consideration. Serbia could hardly summon her
statesmen in that time. Nevertheless the little country, realizing the
awful peril that impended, and that she alone would not be the sufferer,
bravely put aside all selfish considerations and practically all
considerations of national pride and honor.

The records show that every demand which Austria made on Serbia was
granted except one, which was only conditionally refused. Although this
demand involved the very sovereignty of Serbia--her existence as a
nation--the government offered to submit the matter to mediation or
arbitration. But Austria, cats-pawing for Germany, did not want her
demands accepted. The one clause was inserted purposely, because they
knew it could not be accepted. With Serbia meeting the situati