Editing Battle of Liège (section)

====Declarations of war====
At midnight on {{nowrap|31 July/1 August,}} the German government sent an ultimatum to Russia and announced a state of {{lang|de|Kriegsgefahr}} during the day; the Ottoman government ordered mobilisation and the [[London Stock Exchange]] closed. On 1 August the British government ordered the mobilisation of the navy, the German government ordered general mobilisation and declared war on Russia. Hostilities commenced on the Polish frontier, the French government ordered general mobilisation and next day the German government sent an ultimatum to Belgium, demanding passage through Belgian territory, as German troops crossed the frontier of Luxembourg. Military operations began on the French frontier, [[Liepāja|Libau]] was bombarded by a German [[light cruiser]] {{SMS|Augsburg}} and the British government guaranteed naval protection for French coasts. On 3 August the Belgian Government refused German demands and the British Government guaranteed military support to Belgium, should Germany invade. Germany declared war on France, the British government ordered general mobilisation and Italy declared neutrality. On 4 August the British government sent an ultimatum to Germany and declared war on Germany at midnight on {{nowrap|4/5 August,}} [[Central European Time]]. Belgium severed diplomatic relations with Germany and Germany declared war on Belgium. German troops crossed the Belgian frontier and attacked Liège.{{sfn|Skinner|Stacke|1922|p=6}}