North Sea, early in the day: The Kaiser receives a telegram from Bethmann. It implies the Kaiser has ordered the Fleet to prepare to return home on the basis of a news agency report. Bethmann begs him to hold back on ordering the Fleet to return. As had been hoped the Royal Navy had not taken any unexpected measures.
The Kaiser is furious. He thinks Bethmann’s telegram is “unheard of” and “incredibly impertinent”. He has given his orders on the basis of the mobilisation in Belgrade.
“My Fleet has been ordered to sail to Kiel, and that is where it will go!”