An ultimatum was despatched to St. Petersburg and presented at midnight to the Russian Government.  The latter was requested to cancel all mobilization orders within twelve hours, or war would ensue.  Simultaneously the French Government was asked what its attitude would be in case of a Russo-German war.  In these measures it is safe to conclude that the German nation was heart and soul behind the Government, otherwise the tremendous outbreak of national enthusiasm throughout the length and breadth of the land would be entirely inexplicable.

Throughout the day the nation awaited, under tense strain, an answer from Russia.  “At five o’clock the excitement of the masses in Unter den Linden had increased to a degree almost beyond endurance.  The crowd surged from side to side when a court carriage or an officer drove by in a motor-car.  Everyone felt that the fateful decision might fall at any minute, when the German nation would know its fate.

“Suddenly motor-cars full of officers appeared from the gates of the royal residence.  They shouted to the excited crowd that the general mobilization had been ordered.  One officer waved his drawn sword, another his handkerchief, while others stood up and waved their caps.  Then an indescribable scene of jubilation followed; the parole ‘mobilization’ was passed on by the police, and in less time than it takes to write, the hundreds of thousands of human beings surging to and fro between the monument to ‘Old Fritz’ and the Lustgarten, knew that Germany would now speak with her sword."[16]

[Footnote 16:  Berliner Tageblatt, August 2nd.]

“Our hour of destiny has struck!  Germany, the strongest and most peaceful nation on earth, appeals to the sword.  The last call which we sent across the Eastern frontier has remained unanswered.  The enemy is mute.  Now Germany speaks!

“The Kaiser calls the Empire to arms!  Our King will lead Bavaria’s armies to him.  The nation is ready, armed to the teeth.  Challenged by a dishonest opponent who envies us the fruit of our peaceful toil, the hands of German men leave their work and grasp the sword.  Our enemy shall learn to his terrible cost, what it means to summon a nation in arms to the battlefield.  The German army goes out to fight for our country, in a cause which is more stainless and pure than the light of the sun.  The disgraceful Muscovite conspiracy, creeping in the footsteps of Serbian murderers, believes the moment has arrived in which they will be able to fall upon, overthrow and plunder us; Russia desires to kindle a world war.

“We believe that he will not succeed; but should it thus fall out, we Germans will defend not only our land and ourselves; but, in this war which has been forced upon us in the basest manner possible, we shall defend the civilization of the world, the culture of the earth, against debased ‘unculture’ and the spreading roots of decay.  This is a lofty and tremendous task.  If we are victorious, as we confidently trust, then the ever-increasing number of civilized peoples honestly toiling in the blessings of peace, will thank us for centuries to come.