n doubt as to Germany's intentions after her taking
all these measures with relentless thoroughness?

France Forced to Act.

This, then, was the situation when, on July 31, in the evening, the
German Government, which had not taken any positive part since the 24th
in the conciliatory efforts of the Triple Entente, sent to the Russian
Government an ultimatum alleging that Russia had ordered the general
mobilization of her armies, and demanding the cessation of this
mobilization within twelve hours.

This demand, all the more offensive as to form when it is borne in mind
that a few hours earlier Emperor Nicholas, actuated by a spontaneous
feeling of confidence, had asked the German Emperor to mediate, was made
at the moment when, at the request of England and with the knowledge of
Germany, the Russian Government was accepting a proposition of a kind
calculated to bring about an amicable arrangement of the Austro-Servian
conflict and of the Austro-Russian difficulties by means of the
simultaneous cessation of military operations and preparations.

On the same day there were added to this unfriendly step toward Russia
acts of distinct hostility toward France; rupture of communications by
roads, railways, telegraph, and telephone, seizure of French locomotives
upon arrival at the frontier, placing of rapid-fire guns in the middle
of railway lines which had been torn up, and concentration of troops on
our frontier.

From that moment it was impossible for us to believe any longer in the
sincerity of the pacific protestations which the representative of
Germany continued to lavish upon us.

We were aware that, under the shelter of the declaration of a state of
war which Germany had made, she was mobilizing.

We learned that six classes of reservists had been summoned and that
concentration of army corps was under way, even of those corps stationed
a long distance from the frontier.

In proportion as these events developed, the Government, alert and
vigilant, took day by day, even hour by hour, the precautionary measures
made necessary by the situation; general mobilization of our land and
sea forces was ordered.

The same evening, at 7:30, Germany, ignoring the acceptance by the St.
Petersburg Cabinet of the English proposition to which I have already
referred, declared war upon Russia.

Denies Hostile Acts by French.

The next day, Sunday, Aug. 2, despite the extreme moderation of France
and the pacific statement