2 August

Great War events that took place on 2 August.

1914 (Sunday)

Events preceding British Declaration of War

German troops invade Luxemburg very early. France entered at four points.^[a] Patrol kill French soldiers 10 km over frontier near Belfort.
Poland invaded by Germans, who occupy Kalish, Chenstokhov and Bendzin.
East Prussia entered by Russian raiders near Schwidden.
Libau bombarded by German light cruiser Augsburg.
German Note to Belgium, 7 p.m. alleging that Germany must violate her soil in order to "anticipate" the French attack in Belgium; demands that latter should remain passive; answer required in 12 hours.
England assures France that British fleet will stop German fleet if latter attacks French shipping in Channel.
Moratorium proclaimed in England.^[b]

1915 (Monday)

Western front	▶ Fighting in the St. Hubert region (Argonne).	▶ Les Éparges (Verdun) bombarded.	▶ Enemy attacks position on the Linge and Barrenkopf ridge (Vosges).	▶ German success at Hill 213 (Argonne).
Eastern Front	▶ Russians retreat east of Ponevyej (Dvinsk).	▶ Germans claim 9,000 prisoners taken near Lomja (east bank of Vistula), and at Ivangorod.	▶ On the Leczna-Kholm line (C) Russians lose 2,000 prisoners and evacuate their positions.
Southern Front	Italian offensive near Mt. Sei Busi (Carso) progresses: beaten back on Polazzo plateau.
Naval and Overseas Operations	British submarine sinks German transport in Baltic with troops of von Below's army.
Political	▶ £200,000 subscribed in Canada for machine guns.	▶ Full correspondence concerning Prize Courts, between Sir Edward Grey and the American Ambassador, published by Foreign Office.^[c]	▶ German Note regarding the William P. Frye received by USA.^[d]	▶ Third report of French Commission on atrocities published.

Notes

↑ French frontier crossed by German troops at four points (Cirey, Longlaville, Petite-Croix etc.), regardless of fact that war had not been declared nor had the German Ambassador left Paris. French orders given not to fire on German scouting parties, unless they attacked.
↑ Proclamation in the London Gazette of partial moratorium (postponement for one month of payment on bills of exchange, other than cheques).
↑ The American Ambassador opens with statement that the USA Government insist on rights of their citizens under rules governing neutrals' trades in time of war. Sir Edward Grey quotes in reply attitude of US in Civil War, when these rules were modified to meet the circumstances, and points out that there are many ports which cannot be regarded as offering facilities only for the commerce of neutral country where they are situated.
↑ The Note reiterates the previous justification, agrees to pay damages or abide by arbitration. It asserts that, as the wheat on board the William P. Frye was intended for England, and it was impossible to take the ship to Germany, her destruction was justified on general principles.

Sources: Various material contemporary with the war have been used to compile The Great War On This Day and its associated Index.

Text has been transcribed from two out-of-copyright sources: Chronology of the War (1918-1920), and History of the Great War – Principle Events 1914-1918 (1922). Spelling of place names are original to British use at the time. Some typos have been altered or corrected for consistency. Duplicate or identical events between these sources have been amalgamated; as a result the date and wording may differ to the original texts.
Images come from scans or photographs of original sources, Wikimedia Commons, and the Imperial War Museum's online collections under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Attribution is given separately to the latter and do not come under the general licence of this site.
Advisory note: The information in these sources may not accurately represent up-to-date histories, present-day spelling of place names, or geographical boundaries. In some instances the language used may appear sexist or derogatory to the modern reader, and in rare cases, images may depict distressing scenes.
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[1] French frontier crossed by German troops at four points (Cirey, Longlaville, Petite-Croix etc.), regardless of fact that war had not been declared nor had the German Ambassador left Paris. French orders given not to fire on German scouting parties, unless they attacked.

[2] Proclamation in the London Gazette of partial moratorium (postponement for one month of payment on bills of exchange, other than cheques).

[3] The American Ambassador opens with statement that the USA Government insist on rights of their citizens under rules governing neutrals' trades in time of war. Sir Edward Grey quotes in reply attitude of US in Civil War, when these rules were modified to meet the circumstances, and points out that there are many ports which cannot be regarded as offering facilities only for the commerce of neutral country where they are situated.

[4] The Note reiterates the previous justification, agrees to pay damages or abide by arbitration. It asserts that, as the wheat on board the William P. Frye was intended for England, and it was impossible to take the ship to Germany, her destruction was justified on general principles.

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]