Austria has not responded to the proposal to have direct talks with Russia

Russian Foreign Minister tells German ambassador he thinks Germany is in a plot with Austria to provoke war

Foreign Minister tells British ambassador the only way to avert war is for Britain to say it will side with Russia and France. This would have the necessary deterrent effect.

Russians hear of Austria’s declaration of war on Serbia.

They decide to prepare orders for partial and general mobilisation and to announce immediately that Russia will proclaim partial mobilisation the next day, 29 July. This is mobilisation on the border with Austria only. It does not directly threaten Germany.