enter the conflict at this time
if a new element had not been introduced into the question by Germany's
invasion of Belgium. Of this invasion more will be said in the following
chapter. All that need be mentioned here is that Germany, in spite of a
long-standing treaty to observe Belgium's neutrality, had decided on
marching through that country as the best route to Paris. Great Britain,
as one of the nations which had promised to protect the neutrality of
Belgium, immediately demanded of the German government that it withdraw
its plan of invasion. Germany refused, and on August 4 Great Britain
declared war. So one week after Austria's declaration of war against
Serbia all the powers of the Triple Entente--commonly called the
Allies--were in arms against Germany and Austria. Italy, the third
member of the Triple Alliance, on August 1 declared herself neutral,
much to the disappointment and anger of the Central Powers, her former
allies. Her treaty with them provided that she should come to their aid
only in case they were attacked, and so did not apply to the present
war, in which Germany and Austria were the aggressors.

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY.--1. Locate the Kiel Canal. What is
its other name? When and why was it constructed? 2. Locate
Potsdam, Belgrade, Serajevo. 3. Define ultimatum;
mobilization; "Der Tag"; Jugo-Slavs. 4. What is the meaning
of the prefix "pan" in Pan-Slavism, Pan-Germanism,
Pan-Serbism? What do you know about each of these movements?
5. What is a declaration of war? Who has the power to declare
war in the United States? In Germany? 6. Where are the
provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina? How were they governed
before 1878? Between 1878 and 1908? Since 1908? 7. Review the
efforts for peace made by the British government between the
Austrian ultimatum and Germany's final declarations of war.
Explain the attitude of Austria, Russia, France, and Germany
during these days.

REFERENCES.--_War Cyclopedia_ (C.P.I.); _Study of the Great
War_ (C.P.I.); _The Government of Germany_ (C.P.I.); Davis,
_The Roots of the War_.

CHAPTER VIII

THE WAR IN 1914

GERMAN PLAN OF ATTACK.--As soon as the German leaders had determined
upon war, their military machine was set in motion. The plan was first
to attack France and crush her armies before the slow-moving Russians
could get a force together; and then, after the defeat of France, to
tur