In 1904 anyone with half a Brain knew something big was on the horizon! What with all the treaties involving Europes major powers(Britain and France signed the entente cordiale that year for instance in anticipation of German aggression),rumblings in the Balkans,the build up of Germanys imperial fleet,the er,build down of Britains army it was clear a major apocraphylic event(apologies for any crap spelling) was round the corner...ok he (Russell)got 1914 right ,great coincidence of course...though of course war kicked off in August....
When WW1 started He must have partied like it was 1899!!