01 August 1914 – Germany declared war on Russia on this date and five days later Austria followed suit. The Anglo-French Convention of 1904, and a similar agreement with Russia in 1907 was to set the stage for close political cooperation between England, France and Russia .
At this time the authorized establishment of the Canadian Militia (as distinct from actual strength) was 77,323 all ranks. Of these men, 3,110 were Permanent Active Militia, and the remainder were Non-Permanent Active Militia.[1]
[1] Nicholson, Col. G.W.L., CD., Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919, Duhamel, Queens Printer, Ottawa, pg.12.