. ▁ ▁July ▁ 1 8 ▁– ▁The ▁Sign al ▁Corps ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁is ▁formed , ▁giving ▁definite ▁status ▁to ▁its ▁air ▁service ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time . ▁ ▁August ▁ 1 ▁– ▁New ▁York ▁Stock ▁Exchange ▁closed ▁due ▁to ▁war ▁in ▁Europe , ▁where ▁nearly ▁all ▁stock ▁ex changes ▁are ▁already ▁closed . ▁ ▁August ▁ 4 ▁– ▁German ▁troops ▁in va de ▁neutral ▁Belg ium ▁at ▁ 8 : 0 2 ▁AM ▁( local ▁time ). ▁Britain ▁decl ares ▁war ▁on ▁Germany ▁for ▁this ▁viol ation ▁of ▁Belg ian ▁neutral ity . ▁This ▁move ▁effectively ▁means ▁a ▁declaration ▁of ▁war ▁by ▁the ▁whole ▁British ▁Commonwealth ▁and ▁Empire ▁against ▁Germany . ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁decl ares ▁neutral ity . ▁ ▁August ▁ 1 5 ▁ ▁The ▁Pan ama ▁Canal ▁is ▁inaugur ated ▁with ▁the ▁passage ▁of ▁the ▁steam ship ▁U . S . S . ▁An con . ▁ ▁A ▁dismiss ed ▁servant ▁k ills ▁seven ▁people ▁at ▁architect ▁Frank ▁Lloyd ▁Wright ' s ▁studio ▁and ▁home , ▁Tal ies in ▁in ▁Wisconsin ▁( including ▁Wright ' s ▁mist ress , ▁Mam ah ▁B orth wick ), ▁and ▁sets ▁it ▁on ▁fire . ▁ ▁September ▁ 1 ▁– ▁The ▁last ▁known ▁passenger ▁p ige on ▁" Mar tha " ▁dies ▁in ▁the ▁C inc inn ati ▁Z oo . ▁ ▁September ▁ 2 6 ▁– ▁The ▁U . S . ▁Federal ▁Trade ▁Commission ▁( FT C ) ▁is ▁established ▁by ▁the ▁Federal ▁Trade ▁Commission ▁Act . ▁ ▁September ▁