Afternoon: Austrian leaders discuss the military situation following the declaration of war on Serbia. Berchtold asks whether war with Russia can be carried on if the army is attacking Serbia.
That Berchtold asks this shows for him the declaration of war is a diplomatic move designed to increase the pressure on Serbia and has no military implications.
This is a disastrous miscalculation and ignores the impact the declaration of war will have in St Petersburg. Conrad tells the meeting with partial mobilisation starting that day he needs to know by 1 August whether there is going to be a war with Russia so he can decide where to send his reserves. [More]