The Royal Navy has scored its first victory of the war: Mere hours after Britain entered the war, HMS Amphion intercepted and sank the SS Königin Luise; the latter had just finished a mine-laying patrol off the English coast. Amphion picked up 46 survivors out of a crew of 100.

With no sign that Germany will abandon their push into Belgium, the British colonies in Africa receive a coded message: "Tipsified Pumgirdles Germany Novel." Decoded, the message becomes clear: A state of war now exists between Great Britain and Germany.

More Belgian civilians have been killed by German soldiers, this time in Visé. Others are being rounded up for deportation to Germany. The invaders, carrying the scars of the irregular fighting of 1870, see francs-tireurs everywhere.

The Germans, who thought and hoped that the Belgians would simply let them march through, have been severely disappointed: the Barchon fortress, east of Liège, has repulsed a German assault, causing heavy losses on the invaders.

Defending the fortress city of Liege is some 30,000 Belgian infantry led by General Gérard Leman, who has received his orders from King Albert I himself: "I charge you to hold to the end with your division the position which you have been entrusted to defend."

As the British threaten to join the fight, German forces push onwards into Belgium, and in particular, one of its first major obstacles: Liège and its ring of forts stands in the way of the German First Army and must be captured with haste. The Schlieffen Plan demands it!

The British Cabinet has finally decided on its course, and makes it known: unless Germany has begun evacuating Belgian territory by 11 PM (GMT), Britain and all her dominions will join the war against Germany.

The war is expanding at such a pace that even this information is missing important developments, i.e. the German invasion of Belgium.

World War I As It Happened (1914)@warhappened.bsky.social · yesterday

For those who find it difficult to keep up with just who is involved in the war so far, The Daily Mirror provides a handy information box, which also highlights Britain's current stance.

For those who find it difficult to keep up with just who is involved in the war so far, The Daily Mirror provides a handy information box, which also highlights Britain's current stance.

The German invasion of Belgium has quickly altered the likelihood of Britain joining the war: the British Cabinet was up until now largely against an intervention; but fear of Germany annexing the Belgian coastline, so close to Britain proper, might just force the issue.

Grey's speech is well received, to the point where Prime Minister Asquith notes: "...our extreme peace lovers were for the moment reduced to silence, though they will soon find their tongues again."

Grey argues that abandoning the French and Belgians, "and to say we would stand aside, we should, I believe, sacrifice our respect and good name and reputation before the world, and should not escape the most serious and grave economic consequences."

"The French coasts are absolutely undefended. The French fleet is in the Mediterranean, and has for some years been concentrated there because of the feeling of confidence and friendship which has existed between the two countries" (meaning Britain and France).

Sir Edward Grey held a speech to the House of Commons today, making his case for British intervention in the emerging world war: Amongst other things, there has long been an understanding between France and Britain that the latter would defend the former's northern coastlines.

At the village of Battice, not far from Liège, the German cavalry is suddenly shot upon by unseen adversaries. Thinking they're under attack by "francs-tireurs", the furious Germans kill several villagers, drive the rest away, and set the hamlet on fire.

German cavalry has quickly penetrated Belgian territory to scout out the paths for the following troops. Encountering no resistance, they quickly assume the Belgians will leave them alone after all.

With Belgium defiant, Germany declares war on them and France, and the German armies are set to start their big western push: The Schlieffen Plan is now officially underway.

12 hours after receiving the ultimatum, Belgium respond: "The Belgian government, were they to accept the proposal submitted to them, would sacrifice the honour of the nation and betray at the same time their duties towards Europe." Belgium, hopelessly outgunned, will resist.

The Belgian army is understaffed, underfunded and hopelessly outmatched by Germany's military might. The Germans hope that the Belgian government will determine that resistance is futile and allow them to march through the country unopposed.

If the Belgians decide to oppose the German entry, "Germany would, to her regret, be compelled to consider Belgium an enemy." The ultimatum demands a Belgian answer within 12 hours.

Julien Davignon, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has received a startling document from the German ambassador in Brussels: The Germans claim a French attack into Belgium is imminent, and demand that the Germans, "for their own protection", are allowed entry unopposed.

Albert Mayer is not the only casualty of the skirmish at Joncherey: Jules-André Peugeot, corporal in the French Army, is mortally wounded by Mayer before the latter is killed; Peugeot dies from his wound shortly after the Germans leave.

At the village of Joncherey, a German cavalry troop is challenged by a local French militia: a firefight ensues, during which German officer Albert Mayer is killed; the rest of his squad disperses into the nearby woods.

France and Germany are not at war yet, but that hasn’t stopped German cavalry from crossing the border into France; they are conducting patrols ahead of an impending invasion.

The French are right to worry, since entering the war is highly controversial in London, both on the streets (where socialists protesting the war are currently fighting with mounted police) and within the British Cabinet itself. Britain may still decide to stay out.

The French are anxious to get Britain on their side, since they need the might of the Royal Navy to protect the French Channel ports; they know Britain is sceptical of intervening in a war to begin with, and they would almost certainly not if France were seen as the aggressor.

France has begun mobilising its army; anxious not to appear as an aggressor, the French government has waited until the last moment to do so, and (to the angst of the military leadership) the armed forces have not been allowed within 10km of the German border.

The German occupation of Luxembourg is now underway: the tiny country has an army of roughly 300 infantry, mostly used in assisting the post office; resistance is practically non-existent.

German Minister of War, Erich von Falkenhayn, sums up his feelings of this momentous day in his diary: "Even if we go under as a result of this, still it was beautiful."

Moments after the despairing Moltke has returned home, he is summoned back to the Kaiser's residence: It turns out, the British promise of Anglo-French neutrality was a mishmash of wishful thinking and unofficial speculation. "Now you can do what you wish", Moltke is told.