▁ 3 ▁August , ▁the ▁Belg ian ▁government ▁refused ▁German ▁dem ands ▁and ▁guaranteed ▁military ▁support ▁to ▁Belg ium ▁if ▁Germany ▁inv aded . ▁Germany ▁declared ▁war ▁on ▁France , ▁the ▁British ▁government ▁ordered ▁general ▁mobil isation ▁and ▁Italy ▁declared ▁neutral ity . ▁On ▁ 4 ▁August , ▁the ▁British ▁government ▁sent ▁an ▁ult imat um ▁to ▁Germany ▁and ▁declared ▁war ▁on ▁Germany ▁at ▁mid night ▁on ▁ ▁Central ▁European ▁Time . ▁Belg ium ▁sever ed ▁diplom atic ▁relations ▁with ▁Germany , ▁and ▁Germany ▁declared ▁war ▁on ▁Belg ium . ▁German ▁troops ▁crossed ▁the ▁Belg ian ▁front ier ▁and ▁attacked ▁Li ège . ▁ ▁P rel ude ▁ ▁German ▁prepar ations ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 0 8 , ▁Mol t ke ▁began ▁to ▁alter ▁plans ▁for ▁operations ▁on ▁the ▁left ▁wing ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁arm ies ▁against ▁France ▁and ▁chose ▁XIV ▁Corps ▁to ▁protect ▁Upper ▁Als ace ▁and ▁several ▁ ▁brig ades ▁to ▁secure ▁the ▁Upper ▁Rh ine . ▁Later ▁plans ▁added ▁forces ▁to ▁the ▁region ▁and ▁by ▁ 1 9 0 9 , ▁the ▁ 7 th ▁Army ▁had ▁three ▁corps ▁and ▁a ▁reserve ▁corps , ▁with ▁two ▁corps ▁from ▁W iss emb ourg ▁to ▁Sa ver ne ▁and ▁Str as bourg , ▁one ▁corps ▁on ▁the ▁left ▁of ▁the ▁Rh ine ▁from ▁Col mar ▁to ▁Mul house ▁and ▁the ▁reserve ▁corps ▁on ▁the ▁right ▁bank ▁of ▁the ▁Rh ine . ▁The ▁ 6 th ▁Army ▁was ▁to ▁assemble ▁between ▁Met z ▁and ▁Sar re bourg ▁in ▁Lor raine , ▁which