It will make a peace that will put an end to Krupp, and the spirit of Krupp and Kruppism and the private armament firms behind Krupp for evermore." Austria formally declared war against Serbia, July 28, 1914.

During the few days intervening between the dispatch of the ultimatum to Serbia and the formal declaration of war, Serbia and Russia, seeing the inevitable, had commenced to mobilize their armies.

On the last day of July, Germany as Austria's ally, issued an ultimatum with a twelve hour limit demanding that Russia cease mobilization.

They were fond of short term ultimatums.

They did not permit more than enough time for the dispatch to be transmitted and received, much less considered, before the terms of it had expired.