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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

27th July 1914


Guest AmericanDoughboy

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Guest AmericanDoughboy

Ninety years ago, Sir Edward Grey wrote:

"I am afraid that the real difficulty to be overcome will be found in the question of mobilization. Austria is already mobilizing. This, if the war does come, is a serious menace to Russia, who cannot be expected to delay her own mobilization which, as it is, can only become effective in something like double the time required by Austria and Germany. If Russia mobilizes, we have been warned that Germany will do the same, and as German mobilization is directed almost entirely against France, the latter cannot possibly delay her own mobilization even for the fraction of a day. This however means that within 24 hours His Majesty's Government will be faced with the question whether, in a quarrel so imposed by Austria on an unwilling France, Great Britain will stand idly aside, or take sides."

The clock of pre-war is at its last hours...

-Doughboy

(Below) Sir Edward Grey

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These are extracts taken from a newspaper of 28 July here in Luxembourg. They show how the waves were rising in the move to war.

'Yesterday we made a personal investigation along the German frontier. We were thus able to gather very interesting indications. It is naturally to be understood that nothing is further from our minds than the desire to give the public exaggerated and demoralising fears. A desire for accurate reporting is our only guide.

It is very possible even at the present moment, despite certain despatches which one will find elsewhere and which can be denied later, that Austria will not put the match to the powder keg of Europe. But the desire not to frighten the public is not a reason not to try to be informed.

As a result of the investigation which we undertook, it seems that Germany has recalled two classes of reservists, the two classes released over the last two years.

The men of these classes began rejoining their units yesterday morning.

Elsewhere, in the churches, sermons were in a pathetic mood. The priests had to expound that Germany did not want a war, but whether it broke out or not depended on the attitude of Russia and France. They asked the faithful to do their duty if war did break out.

Also on Sunday, the young women were called to meetings where they were asked to sign on in the Red Cross.

An inventory of horses has been made and the owners have been absolutely forbidden to dispose of them.

At Metz, the Thilemont mills have received orders to start milling war supplies.

This is therefore the beginning of partial mobilisation and of measures taken to prepare for full mobilisation.

On the other hand, at Longwy and Longuyon, nothing out of the ordinary is to be seen. Soldiers on leave have been recalled. The senior officers are at their posts, but there is absolutely nothing else to be reported'.

On another level, Luxembourg still slumbered on. The City Council meeting on 25 July (admittedly a little early for real worry), was reported and no mention was made of the international situation. Instead, there was a long discussion on the organisation of the schools and the granting of two burial plots in perpetuity. Other routine matters concerned complaints by a building contractor about material delivered to the municipal swimming baths, agreement that the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi could refuse a legacy to set up a convent at Useldange and return the money to the heirs, the question of repairing the presbytery of St. Michel church. All mundane matters which could hardly be classed as being of overriding importance.

Berlin 27 July: According to information come from Vienna, Austrian troops have not yet crossed the Serb frontier. This period of expectation will last for another two or three days.

It is said in Vienna that they have accepted in principle the possibility of an Anglo-Italian intervention. There will be no refusal of this chance.

T

he Emperor arrived at 3 a.m. at Potsdam. He disembarked at Kiel where he was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd.

Berlin 27 July: The Prince Imperial will return this evening from Zoppot to Berlin.

Further reports were a little more worrying. It reports from Berlin in a despatch dated 27 July: 18 rifle shots were fired yesterday at the frontier at Eydkuhnen, by the Cossacks of the guard.

On the German side, it is said that the Cossacks used their weapons against Russian officers who were trying to desert. The Russians say that the shots were fired at Germans who were trying to cross the frontier without passports.

'Berlin 27 July: If we are to believe a despatch received from Berlin by the Gazette Von Koln, the arrest of general Putkin - since released - did not take place without incident. The General was accompanied by his daughter when he arrived at the station at Gratz. Officers, some in uniform, some in plain clothes, recognised him. His arrest took place immediately. Putkin put up a desperate resistance. A real fight started. The Serb General took a pistol from his pocket, but he was disarmed. Putkin was then taken to the prison whilst his daughter was taken to a hotel in the town'.

The "Gazette Von Koln" published this despatch in its Saturday evening (25 July) edition and accompanied it with some comments. It said that this was a "good snatch" given the value of the officer and that it signified that war had been declared. "There is nothing new in the fact that a war has started without a declaration and that it started with vigorous action".

The 'Arbeiter Zeitung' admits the great military value of General Putkin and attributes to him most of the great victories against Bulgaria in the second Balkan war.

The "Zeit" said that it was on the personal intervention of the Austrian Chief of Staff, General Conrad Von Hoetzendorf, that General Putkin had been released'.

'The law of exception which suppresses the constitutional principle of civil rights and which is foreseen for the cases of extreme necessity and extraordinary circumstances, is now in operation throughout the kingdom.

Under the terms of this law, a civilian who makes himself guilty of acts directed against the security of the State can be tried by military justice.

On the other hand, all civilians up to the age of 50 years, can be compelled to take part in works to establish military works.

Finally, the military authority is taking over the operation of the telegraph and is censoring the Press. All this indicates that a major war is foreseen.

Almost all the Hungarian and Austrian newspapers speak with enthusiasm of the decision of the government. Throughout the Press there is a cry in favour of a war'.

Demonstrations were renewed during Sunday (Budapest). A crowd estimated at 10,000 marched through the streets shouting slogans in honour of Franz-Joseph, of the Emperor of Germany and of the army and against the Serbs and singing patriotic hymns. Officers and soldiers have been the subject of enthusiastic acclamation.

Telephone communications between Bavaria and Austria have been suspended, except on the direct line from Munich to Vienna. Communications Lindau-St. Gall have also been interrupted on Austrian territory. Communications with Milan have also been interrupted until further notice, again on Austrian territory.

Vienna 27 July: Political demonstrations were renewed yesterday evening. A large cortege of tramway employees in uniform went along Ringstrasse and took part in demonstrations before the monument of Schwarzenberg, then in front of the Town Hall.

The Mayor harangued the crowd, insisting on the faithfulness of Germany and Italy. The words of the mayor were the signal for endless ovations in favour of the Emperor Wilhelm and the King of Italy.

The demonstrations which have taken place in the principal streets went on late into the night.

Berlin 27 July: The Berliner Tageblatt published a despatch from Semlin which announced that fugitives are arriving from Belgrade in excessive numbers, saying that they were fired upon by the Serbs as they crossed the Danube.

From London 'The first fleet which is concentrated at Portland, has received the order not to disperse. All leave has been suspended. The ships of the second fleet are remaining in their ports'.

'GENEVA July 27: All Russian officers on leave in Switzerland have been recalled'.

'PARIS July 27: Russian officers in France have left to rejoin their units'.

"The following despatch, which arrived from Vienna during the night, should be read with reservations. If it is true, all the hopes of a peaceful solution will have been brought to nought. But we can doubt its truth as up until now there has been no confirmation.

VIENNA 27 July: Important acts of preparation for a military action against Serbia tomorrow morning, are at present being completed".

Perhaps the most surprising thing about this despatch is that it was sent at all. It is difficult to imagine that today, a correspondent would be allowed to send a despatch or even telephone a report saying that one country in which he was standing was to launch an attack on a neighbour tomorrow morning. Ideas of security were evidently non-existent in 1914.

Vienna 27 July: According to the morning newspapers, Have demanded that the Austrian government suspend all action against Turkey, in return for which France and Russia have pledged to act on Serbia to make a complete acceptance of the ultimatum.

Count Berchtold replied that he could not accept the friendly mediation of the two Powers unless they guaranteed that Serbia would accept the entire ultimatum within a very short period. In addition, Serbia would have to pay the costs of the mobilisation, estimated at 200 million crowns.

Berlin 27 July: The German government would like the French government to intervene in St. Petersburg to prevent Russia from mobilising. And the French government would like the German to intervene in Vienna to prevent Austria marching on Belgrade.

London 26 July: England seems to want to find a way out. The best efforts of Sir Edward Grey tend to put the emphasis on the idea of submitting the dispute to a meeting of ambassadors.

BELGIUM: Although the situation might be considered as extremely grave, no class has yet been recalled, but all troop movements have been stopped.

The exercise of the NCO's of the 5th Division has been postponed as has the departure of the 6th division for Arlon.

“Many Serbs living in Belgium have gone to the consulate asking to be repatriated. For the most part they are former soldiers who have already taken part in the Balkan war. The question of their repatriation is rather delicate because the route via Austria is obviously closed. They have no other way to go other than via Marseilles or Brindisi to arrive in Salonika and from there to get to their country by rail. If Italy mobilises, the Brindisi route will be closed in its turn.

“Yesterday, during the night, a Serb officer attached to the War College in Brussels, left for Marseilles to embark. His is the only departure known officially.

“It is probable that no official announcement of the recall of Serb soldiers will be made as this country, we are told, considers its men to have been officially recalled once general mobilisation has been announced.

“The Minister of War had a long meeting with the King yesterday. A Council of Ministers took place at the Royal Palace at 8.45 to talk about the international situation.

The Hague 27 July: The Queen of Holland has interrupted her stay at Het-Loo; she has had a meeting with the Prime Minister and has sent a despatch to the sovereigns of Austria and Serbia in which she recalls the resolution of the Second Peace Conference concerning differences between the Powers.

The editorial today shows just how the probability, to put it mildly, of war had now permeated into the general consciousness.

No outrage having been committed on the first day, every hour which passes without a change in the situation brings a hope of a peaceful solution. In truth, it is virtually the only reason why one might have been reassured, but it has its value because the wait has at least the advantage of giving conciliatory interventions the time to show themselves.

This conciliation is brought by Britain, France and Russia. We can be certain that, for its part, Italy will do everything possible to avoid a war where its interests would be the opposite to its alliances.

But all these interventions will hardly have any effect on Austria if Germany persists in backing up their exorbitant claims. She is the only one who can make Austria hear the voice of reason, who can show the impasse into which she is walking and can tell her that any country which wants to merit the titles of a civilised nation should not lend their hand to a crime against international law.

You will read below, classified as well as we are able, the most interesting of the flood of despatches from agencies or newspapers which give an indication of the truth.

This article was reprinted from Temps:

'We wrote yesterday, "Does Germany Want War"? We repeat the same question today with more force; because events force us to.

The German ambassador yesterday came twice to the Quai d' Orsay to bring a negative reply to this question. The Baron Von Schoen is the most gallant man in the world. The sincerity of his peaceful feelings are doubted by no-one. But beside the declarations of the ambassadors, and whatever value one attaches to them, there are the facts. And it is the imperious facts which force us to repeat yesterday's question.

All the European newspapers have, at this moment, published the Serb reply - this reply which Baron Giesl, in less than five minutes, judged and declared to be unacceptable. Even though this reply was an acceptance without reservation of the Austro-Hungarian pretension. To speak frankly, we do not suppose that Serbia could push the spirit of conciliation that far. A general adhesion to such excessive demands in the details as in the form, that is the Serb reply and the explanations asked for on the participation of Austro-Hungarian agents provocateurs in any enquiry does not change that.

In spite of this, Baron Giesl has left. This departure is not even the policy of everything or nothing; because Austria obtained everything that she was asking for. It is the gesture of provocation and excess of zeal of a nervous civil servant or of an impassioned government - the clumsy gesture also, which is one blow, changes a success into a check.

A moral check is heard - the check for those who, wanting too much, expose themselves to the risk of getting nothing. Austria has nothing more to demand, as all its demands were satisfied from Saturday evening. What remains for them? Military action, the occupation of Belgrade. And with what result? We cannot see it. Because we do not suppose that Count Berchthold, transformed into a sovereign judge, flatters himself that he thinks that he can erase Serbia from the map of Europe.

In the presence of this situation, Germany alone can usefully act in Vienna. Baron Von Schoen, if our information is correct, yesterday asked France to intervene. Where? When? How? The intervention of the Triple Alliance is worn out and judges itself by its results; the complete acceptance by Serbia of all the Austrian conditions. What more is wanted?

What Germany ought to be trying to obtain is, in truth, very little. She should and it would suffice, obtain from Austria, the declaration that her minister in Belgrade made a mistake in breaking off diplomatic relations on receipt of a document which would have given her full satisfaction. It must be, and it is sufficient, that in spite of this rupture of relations, Austria, instead of acting militarily, should act diplomatically.

That is the effort, that is the small effort which Germany ought to try, because her turn has come to prove by her acts the truth of her declaration; because the Triple Alliance has done for peace all that it can do; because what it has done has been crowned by complete success, and even, to give our complete thought, an excessive success. Does Germany want to make this effort? That is the entire question.

Doubtless, she has been able, like Austria, to believe that one more threat would be one more victory; the lamentable diplomacy of the Triple Alliance for so many months would only authorise that too much. But she ought to realise today that it is precisely the weaknesses of yesterday which make of today's energy a strict duty, accepted by all and which everyone fulfils. If as she says she wants peace, it will be easy for her to convince Austria to declare herself satisfied, seeing that Serbia has bowed. This situation is perfectly clear'.

There is also a long report taken again from Le Temps which examines the attitude of the French Press as the possibility of an armed conflict comes nearer.

The amazing events - the word is that of M. Sazonov's and is correct - which have been taking place for the last three days have found the French Press taking up positions which are a comfort to the patriotic; no provocation; no nervousness; no panic, the sentiments which grave perils can bring out and which must be faced.

You will not be astonished that in laying out these opinions we give first place to those of our colleagues who support, often in the normal course of events, another point of view to ours. Their attitude proves that the call to a national duty in the presence of a situation which only M. Jaures finds incomprehensible. The heart of France is unanimous in its response writes M. du Mesnil, director of Rappel who adds, "a durable peace cannot be established on the basis of abdications and misunderstandings. Without provocation and without weakness France must speak loud and clear. The hesitations, the indecision, the different capitulations bring on the peril. They do not take us from it. There is only one way to avoid war; to be ready to engage in it.

Le Radical, in its editorial is no less firm and no less dignified, 'it suffices for us to pay careful attention to the European pressure gauge, our hands on the command levers of our excellent military machine. The elements have been let loose, but our boat is solid and, despite the absence of our President everyone is at his post on board, we are therefore ready. Raise the colours'.

In the same sense, La Lanterne wrote yesterday, "as firmly attached as one can be to the thought of peace, there are times when you have to be resigned to using violence to respond to violence. War is, therefore, the most sacred of duties.

M. Clemenceau, in the excellent articles - and which would be perfect in all respects if their eminent author replied to the wish of everyone in not allowing some echoes of his usual arguments to slip in - show that the form and the content of the Austrian ultimatum aggravated by the actions of M. de Schoen allows us to doubt "a word of restraint from Berlin". What is this word of restraint? This is the question which Temps poses above in its foreign bulletin.

M. Henry Bérenger notes in L'Action: as we said yesterday, that thanks to the effort of 1913, France armed, can and must fulfil the duties which the circumstances will, perhaps, dictate. "At least we have been able to exercise three called up classes simultaneously, our coverage of the north east frontiers were put into a state to resist until the call up of reserves, that 700,000 active armed French soldiers will permit the Russian army to complete its mobilisation in a timely fashion. The "three year Law" will then appear to the be to the French people what it really always was; a law of public reaction in the face of foreign necessities.

In Figaro, M Alfred Capus with the generosity of a good Frenchman forgets the sadnesses and passions which the present time can bring to mind, to call the French to unity, "Such are the sentiments and hopes which ought to guide us in the heavy days which are coming. From one moment to another, news is going to arrive, sometimes reassuring, sometimes tragic. It will find us confident and strong, the heart prepared to defend our mother country, if it is necessary and if efforts to preserve peace fail".

Le Matin, which as one knows, normally avoids engaging in discussion sums up in an amazing way the state of our spirit, writing, " France has pledged that Serbia will give to Austria all the satisfaction compatible with its dignity as a civilised nation. She wants peace. She consents to follow with anyone a work of justice. She cannot be associated with an attempt against the independence of a weak people".

L'Echo de Paris is drawing the lessons , saying, "Let us be ready".

Le Gaulois under the signature of its director expresses itself thus, "On the banks of the Seine and in the whole of France, there is only one sentiment, that of national responsibility, which we know will be equal to events whatever they might be".

This is the sentiment which we will find in all the Paris newspapers, in all the great provincial newspapers. France at this grave hour is so unified that we have the conviction that this wonderful unity will not be destroyed. Whoever raised his voice in disagreement would carry on his shoulders a very heavy responsibility.

Can we add a single word? The absence of the head of State and the Head of the government proves with overabundance to whoever doubts, that no second thought, no fear even existed in Paris. This absence was justified by international duties which the country thought it necessary to fulfil with its highest ranking representatives. But if events begin to accelerate, can France wait for a week for the return of those who are in charge of its affairs?

Emperor Wilhelm has just interrupted his cruise in Norway. Doubtless that of M. Poincaré and M. Viviani is of another character, seeing that they are officially awaited at Copenhagen and at Christiansen. We believe, however, that the sovereigns who are preparing to receive them will understand that in the present circumstances they must adjourn a pleasant encounter and retake the direction for France - that is to say, the path of duty.

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