First World War centenary: how the events

of August 4 1914 unfolded

Britain went to war on August 4 1914. In the final part of
a four-day series, we document the dramatic events
leading up to the declaration of war as they happened,
hour-by-hour
The outbreak of war in 1914 is not an Agatha Christie drama at the end of which we
will discover the culprit standing over a corpse in the conservatory with a smoking pistol.
There is no smoking gun in this story; or rather there is one in the hands of every major
character.
Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers
11am In Britain, the Stock Exchange is closed as the country rapidly moves to a war footing.
But a full programme of first-class cricket matches continues.
Yorkshire are getting the upper hand over Lancashire in the Roses match at Old Trafford. At
Lord's, the second day of a two-day match between Lord's Schools (public schools that
played at the ground) and the Rest is beginning. At least five of the young men playing would
be dead by the end of the war.

J ack Hobbs: a double century at the Oval

Back in London, J ack Hobbs has scored 226 for Surrey at the Oval, with Nottinghamshire
about to begin their reply.




10.45am Grey sends a message to Sir Francis Villiers, Britain's minister in Brussels. Belgium
must remain stout in defence of its neutrality. Britain will support her and is prepared to join
France and Russia in an alliance to resist German force.
10.25am The previous day, four members of the Cabinet had warned of their resignations
over the possibility of war. Now, on hearing of the German invasion of Belgium, J ohn
Simon, the Attorney-General, and Earl Beauchamp, Commissioner of Works (later said to be
the inspiration for Lord Marchmain in Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited) announce they
will attend the morning Cabinet meeting.
10am (CET) Von J agow, the German foreign minister, sends a telegram to Prince
Lichnowsky, German ambassador in London, who is agonising over the prospect of going to
war against his British friends. Lichnowsky is authorised to assure Britain that Germany will
not annex Belgian territory. The reason for entering Belgium, it is claimed, is that Germany
has reliable information that France is planning to attack Germany through Belgium.

Germany's ambassador to Britain, Prince Lichnowsky

9.30am Sir Edward Grey sends a message to Sir Edward Goschen, Britain's ambassador in
Berlin, where he has served for six years. Britain asks Germany for an assurance that the
demand made upon Belgium will not be proceeded with, and that her neutrality will be
respected by Germany.
Britain is 'bound to protest against this violation of a treaty [the Treaty of London of 1839] to
which Germany is a party in common with themselves, and must request an assurance that
the demand made upon Belgium will not be proceeded with, and that her neutrality will be
respected by Germany'. At this stage it is a request rather than an ultimatum.
9.20am (CET) Gottlieb von J agow, Germany's foreign minister, sends a telegram to von
Below at the German legation in Brussels. He is still offering peace if Belgium allows
German troops to pass through Lige and if the Belgians do not destroy their railway lines
and bridges.
9.10am (CET) Belgian King Albert I rides on horseback to the parliament in Brussels,
accompanied by his family in a horse-drawn carriage. Cheering crowds line the route. The
monarch asks the deputies if they are resolved to defend Belgium: Are they unalterably
decided to maintain intact the sacred gift of our forefathers? 'Yes!' is the answer roared back
at him.
9am (CET) Antoine Adolphe Fonck, aged 21, a lancer in the 2nd Lancers, becomes the first
Belgian to fall in combat. He dies close to Battice as the Germans advance from the border
towards Lige.
8.45am Front page of Brussels newspaper Le Soir reports the violation of Belgium's
neutrality on the morning of August 4 1914.







8.20am (CET) General Otto von Emmich leads the assault on Lige via Gemmerich with six
infantry brigades and three cavalry divisions.

General Otto von Emmich

8am (CET) It is confirmed in Brussels that German troops have entered Belgian territory.
Germans have crossed the Belgian frontier at Gemmerich, 30 miles from the fortress of
Lige.
7.30am The morning papers are enthusiastic about Greys speech the day before.
Britain will not allow Germanys fleet to batter Frances undefended coast ... The thoughts
of all Britishers went out to sea yesterday, for with the statement of Sir Edward Grey in
Parliament, the safety and sanctity of the Empire may easily again depend upon the Navy
which has given us such heroic a history, says theDaily Mirror
The Daily Mail declares that Proceedings in the House of Commons yesterday were worthy
of a tremendous occasion. They will fill the nation with fresh courage and confidence.
The Manchester Guardian takes a different line, still hoping for British neutrality: Europe
in arms watches Great Britain. Italy has asserted her freedom to keep the peace, will England
follow the good example?

Foreign secretary, Sir Edward Grey

The leader column in The Daily Telegraph shows no such hesitation:
Today we say with calm conviction, and with as full a consciousness as one can have of
what this conflict must involve, that anything would be better for this country anything!
than to slink away like a frightened cur from the menace of the Prussian jackboot, and risk
the imposition upon Europe, of which we are a part, of the absolute dominance of a Power
which can act as Germany has acted in this crisis.
7am In London, The Daily Telegraph carries several pages
about the crisis and a full transcript of Sir Edward Greys
speech. But elsewhere the impression is given of a normal
day in London.
The Commons and the Lords will sit as normal; a number
of companies are meeting; and the National Union of
Womens Suffrage Societies is to convene at Kingsway
Hall, Holborn, 8pm.
The theatres, concert halls and cinemas are open as normal.
Kismet had originally opened at the Garrick in 1911, to
great acclaim. After a run on Broadway and in Australia, it
is now back at the Globe.
6am (CET) Germany informs the Belgian government that
its troops will be entering Belgian territory. Walter von
Below-Saleske, of the German Legation, makes his last
visit to the Foreign Office in Brussels. Because Belgium
has rejected its well intentioned proposals, he says,
Germany must now attend to its own security, if necessary
by force of arms.

At dawn on Tuesday August 4 1914, Austria-Hungary was at war with Serbia, and Germany
had declared war on Russia and France.
Belgium had been given an ultimatum by the Germans, who demanded they be allowed to
enter Belgian territory to defend themselves against France; Belgium had rejected this.
Britain was a signatory to the 1839 Treaty of London, guaranteeing to protect Belgian
neutrality. The previous day, Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary, had told the House of
Commons that the country could not run away from its obligations of honour and interest.