4 August

Lonsdale Battalion events that took place on 4 August.
For events that took place elsewhere, see 4 August on The Great War wiki.

1914

Great Britain protests in Berlin against German violation of Belgian treaty.
Germany says French meant to invade Belgian territory, and she must take measures of defence. Violates Belgium at Gemmenich, early morning; burns Visé and attacks Liège.
Germany declares war on Belgium.
Bona and Philippeville (Algeria) bombarded by German cruisers Goeben and Breslau.
Trieux, near Briey (France). Taken by Germans. Speech by French PM René Viviani.
Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg's speech in Reichstag, acknowledging they are doing wrong.^[1]
Sir Edward Grey wires to Sir Edward Goschen telling him that unless satisfactory German assurances re Belgian neutrality are forthcoming, he is to ask for his passports.
British mobilisation orders issued.
Sir John Jellicoe takes command of British Fleet.
Sir Edward Goschen's interview ("scrap of paper") with Chancellor in evening:^[2] British ultimatum^[3] and state of war at 11 p.m.

Lord Edward Gleichen (1918–1920). Chronology of the War. Volumes I, II & III. Constable & Company, London. (Copyright expired)

↑ From the Chancellor's speech: "...A French inroad on our flank on the Lower Rhine would have been fatal to us. So we were forced to set aside the just protests of the Luxemburg and Belgian Governments. The wrong – I speak openly – the wrong that we now do we will try to make good again as soon as our military ends have been reached. When one is threatened as we are, and all is at stake, one can only think of how one can hack one's way out..."
↑ Sir Edward Goschen's final interview with the German Chancellor, Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, after the British ultimatum with regard to Belgium had been rejected. Chancellor deprecated going to war for the sake of "neutrality," for "a scrap of paper." Had the British Government considered the price at which compact would have been kept?
↑ Great Britain presents ultimatum to Germany. Ultimatum required that Germany should give unequivocal assurances that she would respect the neutral territory of Belgium guaranteed by her in 1839 and endorsed by her (in writing) in 1870. Failing this assurance, Great Britain would "take all steps" to uphold the neutrality of Belgium and the observance of the treaty.