1914 29 July – Churchill persuades Asquith to authorize “Warning Telegram” to fleet

1914 29 July – Tsar Nicholas II of Russia telegrams his cousin Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, start of “Willy-Nicky” telegrams in English over next three days

“In this serious moment, I appeal to you to help me,” Czar Nicholas wrote to the Kaiser in a telegram sent at one o’clock on the morning of July 29. “An ignoble war has been declared to a weak country. The indignation in Russia shared fully by me is enormous. I foresee that very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war.” This message crossed with one from Wilhelm to Nicholas expressing concern about the effect of Austria’s declaration in Russia and urging calm and consideration as a response.

After receiving the Czar’s telegram, Wilhelm cabled back: “I…share your wish that peace should be maintained. But…I cannot consider Austria’s action against Serbia an ‘ignoble’ war. Austria knows by experience that Serbian promises on paper are wholly unreliable…

1914 29 July – Vienna refuses to negotiate with Serbia, Belgrade shelled by Austrian gunboats o the Danube — the first shots of the war.

1914 29 July – Emperor Franz Josef of Austria sends letter to Tsar Nicholas

1914 29 July – Austrian forces repulsed at Losnitza

1914 29 July – Montenegrins occupy Cattaro

1914 29 July – Serbs blow up bridges at Semlin

1914 29 July – Belgian army reserves called up

1914 29 July – Trade in Antwerp “paralyzed”

1914 29 July – German Ambassador in Vienna, Heinrich von Tschirischky, transmits Kaiser Wilhelm’s ‘Halt-in-Belgrade” proposal to Austria, apparently a real effort to stop the unfolding war.  He proposes that the Austrians ‘halt in Belgrade,’ go no further, and hold Belgrade until the Serbs show they will, in fact, carry out the demands in the ultimatum.

1914 29 July – Poincaré and Vivianni return to Paris and hold Cabinet council meeting

1914 29 July – Business in Paris almost at standstill

1914 29 July – Kaiser holds military councils and issues German warnings to Russia

1914 29 July – Prussian Army Chief of Staff, General Helmuth von Moltke, sends a memorandum to the Chancellor and demands general mobilization of German Armed forces; Moltke also send telegram to Austrian Army Chief of Staff, Conrad von Hotzendorf, suggesting Austria begin full mobilization and Germany would follow.

1914 29 July – German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg, makes moves to keep Britain neutral; final draft of ultimatum to Belgian Government sent to German ambassador in Brussels

1914 29 July – British Foreign Minister (Secretary of State) Sir Edward Grey informs Lichnowsky (German Ambassador) that Britain could not remain neutral in the event of a continental war; proposes mediation

1914 29 July – Grey and Cabinet begin meeting daily, sometimes twice or more a day over next several days; following this meeting “Warning Telegram” sent to all British naval, military and colonial stations warning that war was possible

1914 29 July – (and 30th) R.N. leaves Portsmouth

1914 29 July – British and German fleets in Far East begin mobilizing

1914 29 July – King of Montenegro’s yacht evades capture by Austrian destroyers

1914 29 July – Russian general mobilization ordered, but revoked by Tsar later that same evening; Russian hopes for Serb victory; Russians black-out Baltic coastline.  News of Russian mobilization (even if only partial) injects a note of panic into German diplomacy [Clark, Sleepwalkers]

1914 29 July – Kaiser holds Crown Council at Potsdam over possibility of British involvement over France