Twenty-Five Years Ago

Northern Advocate, 5 September 1939, Page 4

Twenty-Five Years Ago

Starting from today, the “Northern Advocate” will present in each issue a summary of the day’s happenings during the Great War of 1914-1918.

Genesis of that great conflict was the shooting of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria at Serajevo on June 28, 1914. On July 28, Austria declared war on Servia, and on Aug%ist 1 Germany took similar action agai7ist Russia. The Kaiser's Government forwarded an ultimatum to Belgium on August 2. and violated the neutrality of that country the following day, declaring war on France simultaneously. On August 4, Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, announced to the House of Commons that hostilities had begun between Britain and Germany.

British troops landed in France five days later. The fortified city of Liege, in Belgium, fell on Aug. 15, and Russian armies advanced into East Prussia. The thin British, line held -up the advancing grey horde at Mans on August 23. The orderly retreat of the Allies to the Marne commenced from that date.

i On August 20, the Germans oc- i [ cupied Brussels and a week later | [ swept back the Riissian “steam | [ roller” at Tannenbera. I \ The New Zealand Samoan Ex- | [ peditionary Force seized Samoa on | I August 30. | \ September 5 was a glorioxis day $ ? for the Allied armies on the West- | ! ern Front. Within twelve miles * r of Paris the German cavalry pat- | [ rols were halted and the retreat | • Jfrom Mons ended. I I The British, French and Russian I | Governments mutually agreed not | | to conclude peace separately, an I t agreement which was to be brok- f ? en by Russia three years later. *