Free Brave Battalion by Mark Zuehlke Page B

was allied with Serbia. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy were bound together by the Triple Alliance to stand as one. Russia was linked to France in a defensive pact intended to bookend Germany and frustrate its imperial ambitions. When Russia began general mobilization on July 30, Germany responded by declaring war on her two days later and against France the day following. Austria weighed in against Russia and France on August 7, while Italy demurred and abandoned its former allies by claiming neutrality.
    During the days between Princip’s shots and these declarations, Great Britain—which had no alliances with any of these European powers—had vainly tried to broker a peace deal. But on July 30, a German diplomat warned a British counterpart that his country best remain neutral if Germany opted to invade France by a route that took its armies through Belgium. Britain was now snared by a point of honour, for in 1839 the British, French, and German governments had mutually pledged not to violate Belgium’s neutrality in the event of a war. When Germany formally demanded on August 2 the right of unopposed passage through the lowland country to France, Britain supported Belgian King Albert’s refusal and demanded the old pledge be respected. Two days later, the Germans having offered no response, Britain declared war on Germany.
    That was Tuesday. The Bank Holiday in Canada had ended by then. In fact, the festivities had simply fizzled out with each passing hour as the attention of most Canadians turned to watching the advance to war. On Friday, the Winnipeg Free Press had thought peace would prevail. “Great Britain, it is to be confidently expected as certain, will do anything to avert the danger of a general European war, and unless her commitments are very definite will consider herself an outsider, unless and until she is compelled by the necessities of the situation, to take a different view.” By Monday, the Winnipeg editor had undergone a sea change. “Here in Canada, we must wait upon events. The need of the moment is for Canadians to keep their heads cool … If Great Britain is involved in war, either by her own decision … or through the aggression of an outside party, it is quite certain that Canada will come to her assistance with all the fervour at her disposal.”
    Vancouver’s Daily Province added its affirmation of Canadian support: “It is said that the British Cabinet at its meeting yesterday was divided on the question of War or Peace … It is a relief to turn to Canada at such an hour and find the whole nation speaking with one voice. All Canada in the past may not have believed in the emergency which has become a catastrophe, but now when we are dealing with realities, Canada offers 50,000 men for service. There is no talk of neutrality any more. Canada speaks with no uncertain voice—‘We are united, we are ready, strike before it is too late.’”
    On the Tuesday, anticipating the inevitability of war, Montreal’s Daily Star proclaimed: “If we are beaten in this struggle against two of the greatest armies ever seen in the world we will pass finally from the roster of great Nations, and our Empire will become one of the defaced mileposts which mark the tragic road by which the human race has journeyed.” 1 The paper’s editor was not speaking here as a citizen of Canada, but as a British subject, and in this he mirrored the feelings of most Canadians.
    At eleven that evening a cable from London was delivered to Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert, 1 st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Canada’s Governor General at Rideau Hall (the newly renovated mansion that had been formally declared his official residence only the previous year). It was by this cable, delivered to the King’s representative who quickly passed its contents on to Prime Minister Robert Borden, that the Canadian government learned it was at