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DECLARATION OF WAR.

Published in Special Edition of Official Gazette, Vienna, July 28.

The Royal Government of Servia not having given a satisfactory reply to the note presented to it by the Austro-Hungarian Minister in Belgrade on July 23, 1914, the Imperial and Royal Government of Austria-Hungary finds it necessary itself to safeguard its rights and interests and to have recourse for this purpose to force of arms.  Austria-Hungary, therefore, considers itself from this moment in a state of war with Servia.

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“Days of world’s history.”

Congratulatory Telegram to Kaiser Wilhelm II., Aug. 27.

Victory after victory.  God is with you.  He will be with us also.  I most sincerely congratulate you, dear friend, also the young hero, your dear son, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince Rupprecht, as well as the incomparably brave German Army.  Words fail to express what moves me and, with me, my army, in these days of world’s history.

     “Franz Joseph.”

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WILL OF WILHELM II.  THAT SWUNG THE SWORD.

Kaiser Franz Josef’s Address in Bestowing the Great Cross on the German Kaiser, September, 1914.

The glorious victories, so crushing to the foe, which the German Army has won in battle under your chief command owe their begetting and their success to your iron will, which sharpened and swung the heavy sword.

To the laurel that crowns you as victor I wish to add, if I may, the highest military honor which we possess, in begging you to take in true brotherhood of arms and as a token of my appreciation the Great Cross of my military Order of Marie Theresa.  The decoration itself, dear friend, shall be handed to you by a special envoy as soon as it is convenient for you.

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[Illustration:  Count Leopold Berchtold.  Austro-Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs. (Photo from Underwood & Underwood.)]

A PURELY DEFENSIVE WAR.

By Count Berchtold, Foreign Minister for Austria-Hungary.

(Copyright, Evening News Publishing Company of Newark, N.J., 1914.)

Austria-Hungary looks upon this war as a purely defensive one, which has been forced on her by the agitation directed by Russia against her very existence.  Austria-Hungary has given many proofs in late years of her peaceful intention.  She refrained from any interference with arms in the Balkan war, though her interests were at stake.  Subsequent events have proved what a serious danger the increase in territory and prestige which it brought Servia were for Austria-Hungary.