by Richard van Pelt, WWI Correspondent

The front page headlines grow ominous:

Austria Demands The Punishment of Prince’s Assassins
Takes Advantage of Russia’s Labor Troubles to Formulate Demand
ALL EUROPE MAY BE DRAWN INTO WAR
Servia Given Until Saturday Night to Answer and Answer Right

Here are excerpts from the telegram to the Russian Czar by the Serbian government in response to Austria’s ultimatum:

The Austro-Hungarian Government yesterday evening handed to the Serbian Government a note concerning the “attentat” (assassination) of Sarajevo.

Conscious of its international duties, Serbia from the first days of the horrible crime declared that she condemned it, and that she was ready to open an inquiry on her territory if the complicity of certain of her subjects were proved in the investigation begun by the Austro-Hungarian authorities.

However, the demands contained in the Austro-Hungarian note are unnecessarily humiliating for Serbia and incompatible with her dignity as an independent State.

**

[Under the terms of the ultimatum] we have to admit Austro-Hungarian functionaries into Serbia to participate with our own in the investigation and to superintend the execution of the other conditions indicated in the note.

We have received a time-limit of forty-eight hours to accept everything, in default of which the legation of Austria-Hungary will leave Belgrade. We are ready to accept the Austro-Hungarian conditions which are compatible with the position of an independent State as well as those whose acceptance shall be advised us by your Majesty.

***

. . . Certain of these demands cannot be carried out without changes in our legislation, which require time. We have been given too short a limit. We can be attacked after the expiration of the time-limit by the Austro-Hungarian Army which is concentrating on our frontier.

It is impossible for us to defend ourselves, and we supplicate your Majesty to give us your aid as soon as possible. The highly prized good will of your Majesty, which has so often shown itself toward us, makes us hope firmly that this time again our appeal will be heard by his generous Slav heart.

In these difficult moments I voice the sentiments of the Serbian people, who supplicate your Majesty to interest himself in the lot of the Kingdom of Serbia.

ALEXANDER, Prince Regent of Serbia

RUSSIAN SITUATION IS GRAVE INDEED – ALL NEWS CENSORED
Movement Not Likely to Overthrow the Government But Is Dangerous
THE CZAR SITS ON POWDER MAGAZINE
Starvation Wages and Shocking Conditions Started Oil District Troubles

The Capital Journal, publishing reports from London, stated: “Russia has been in the throes of a genuine revolutionary uprising for five days past, according to reliable advices, smuggled across the frontier and received here today by wire.”

St. Petersburg, the Russian capitol, was in the midst of a general strike:

At the beginning of July 1914, as the European powers prepared for war, the workers of St. Petersburg organized a massive general strike that involved the active participation of more than half the factory labor force, brought the city’s tram and trolley lines to a halt, and closed most of the manufacturing and commercial establishments in the capital.[108] The strike captured the attention of the highest authorities and was widely reported in the press. From the outset it was remarkable for the violence workers employed to express their hostility to authority and to resist official attempts to terminate the strike.

From: The St. Petersburg General Strike of July 1914

Nationally, the weather was in the news:

HOT WAVE SEEEPS THE MIDDLE STATES
Middle West Wester and Many Prostrations Are Reported
Philadelphia Breaks Its Record

A wave of intense heat that set new records for the year in some paces spread over the United States yesterday.

In Chicago the mercury climbed to 100 and it was the hottest day of the year here.

In St. Louis street kiosks registered 110 degrees and many prostrations were reported there.

Oklahoma and Missouri also reported many prostrations. Guthrie, Okla., for the sixth consecutive day, showed the mercury reaching 102 degrees.

Philadelphia reported the warmest July 23 in the history of the local weather bureau when the thermometer registered more than 96 degrees. As a note, sixteen of the record setting temperatures for the month of July for Philadelphia have occurred since 1988.

The editor commented on a number of subjects:

Russia is having troubles of her own. While wrestling with a serious strike situation, the Fims are repairing to strike for liberty, and Sweden, Norway and Denmark are making eyes at each other with the object of uniting to curb the aggressiveness of the big bear.

The city of Detroit is not only the greatest of automobile manufacturing centres, but it must also be the automobilists’s paradise. Owing to a war between rival oil companies, gasoline sells there for 11 cents a gallon.

In Europe the belligerents are maneuvering in preparation for a war they are at this point unable to stop.

In France, French President Poincaréurges Austria to be moderate in its demands. France is unaware that the Austrian ultimatum has already been sent.

Austria-Hungary notifies the European powers of its ultimatum to Serbia.

Serbia’s Council of Ministers meets and decides to comply with most Austria’s demands. Serbia asks Russia for support. Learning of the Austrian ultimatum, the Russian Foreign Minister Sazonov acknowledges that this will lead to an all-European war. Russia seeks to implement a partial mobilization against Austria alone. Russian military planners, though, never developed a war plan that did not require going to war against Germany. Russia’s mobilization plans were all or nothing. The Russian Council of Ministers decides to back Serbia to the extent of war, if necessary. Russia informs the Austrian ambassador that war with Serbia will involve Russia.

Also in Russia, the French Ambassador, Paléologue, without the approval of his government, pledges complete French support.

In Britain, the text of the Austrian ultimatum arrives in London during a Cabinet meeting. The Foreign Secretary, Grey, calls it “the most formidable document that was ever addressed from one State to another,”but reacts mildly, urging Austria to extend the deadline and suggesting mediation by Britain, Germany, France, and Italy – Prime Minister Asquith writes “We are within measurable… distance of a real Armageddon. Happily, there seems to be no reason why we should be more than spectators.”

Russia & Austria-Hungary:   Sazonov advises Serbia not to resist an attack by Austria.

The German chancellor sends a note supporting the Austrian ultimatum, warning that intervention will “bring about inestimable consequences.”The German War Ministry meets on how to handle national minorities and socialists upon the outbreak of war – The Interior Minister squashes plans for mass arrests. From Berlin, French Ambassador Jules Cambon warns that Germany is committed to fully supporting Austria.

Belgium pledges to uphold its neutrality “whatever the consequences.”