Volume 16 , Issue 24

100 Years Ago - 27 July 1914, War On Servia

One hundred years ago, Monday, 27 July 1914, The Seattle Stars big front page headlines were: Two Nations Grapple In War. Servians open fire on enemy.

Berlin, July 27 (1914) -- In spite of Great Britain's attempts to bring about mediation, it appears today that nothing can avert an armed conflict between Servia and Austria-Hungary. Austria made what was practically a declaration of war Sunday, when it severed all diplomatic connections with its smaller neighbor.

The first gun of the war was fired Sunday, when Servians fired upon a boatload of Austrian troops on the Danube.

The situation was largely in the hands of the kaiser, who was in a conference at Potsdam, upon which may depend the peace of all Europe.

They were also reporting that if Russia made her expected stand with Servia, Germany would go to the assistance of Austria, her natural ally. France, Great Britain, Italy and practically every nation in Europe would be drawn into the struggle.

The State of war existed back in 1914 between Austria and Servia, even though there had been a formal declaration of war. It was due to Servia's refuel to take a servile attitude in Austria's demand for apologies for the recent assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, presumably through a Servian plot.

Messages from every old world capital indicate a belief that the kaiser alone, if any one, could avert the bloodiest struggle in the world's history.

The majesty arrived by special train, traveling at terrific speed, from Kiel, where he landed, following the abrupt termination of his cruise in Norwegian waters.

At the station he was met by the crown prince and three members of his cabinet. A throng of his subjects had also gathered to greet him. As he appeared the crowd burst into "Die Wacht am Rhein." The kaiser drove to the palace through packed streets, receiving a tremendous ovation.

The war spirit was rampant in Berlin.

The streets were thronged. There were the wildest "hoches" for the kaiser, the crown prince, Austria and the fatherland.

Gen. Von Moltke, the chief of the army staff, who was visiting in Carlsbad, had returned in hot haste. It was reported an army mobilization order would be issued.

The statement was made on semi-official authority that the foreign office had notified Russia that Austria's and Servia's troubles were between those two countries alone, and that there must be no interference between them.

Servians of Seattle To Go To War

The United Servian Society of Liberty, which had been meeting in Seattle once a month, in 1914, would be called together within a day or two, according to Eli Bielich, secretary, for the purpose of mobilizing a volunteer regiment if war was actually declared between Servia and Austria.

Bielich estimated there would be 2,000 Slavonians here who would offer their services to Servia. Already they were coming in from the logging and railroad camps. The local Servians were intensely enthusiastic and hoped for war. Most of them came from Bosnia Herzegovina, the provinces seized by Austria.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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