Crawford avalanche., 1899-11-09
AIf EUROPE 6ombiRes*
.A8ai2st
England


reached an agreement which to-day is
the most mysterious diplomatic secret in
all Europe. The mysterious agreement
between Great Britain and Germany,
which is exciting 50 much concern in
Europe, is variously interpreted, the most
probable explanation of it's tenor being
hazarded by an English statesman, who
believes it gives Germany free hand in
the Kaiser's pet project of establishing
great German colonial empire in Asia
Minor. +flt t5H. t
Ii Germany unites it's feet with Great
Britain and holds its army ready to
march against France and Russia the
proposed European coalition will end in
buster. If, on the other hand, Germany
shall finally decide to make terms with
France and Russia, trusting to an agree
ment with those powers to give it what
il wants in Asia Minor or any other
quarter OF the globe, the coalition Is as
good as formed.
The Smaller Powers.
The attitude of the smaller powers Is
worthy Of consideration, for they could
hardly escape being drawn into any con-
troversy which involves Great Britain,
Russia, France and Germany.
Take Italy first. Italy is almost the
only exclusively Mediterranean power,
and must, for it's own protection, exercise
considerable voice in the control of
that great inland ocean. 1t Is a mem
ber of the dreibund that offensive and
defensive alliance which calls Italy's
army into the field whenever Germany
or Austria, or both, are attacked. If
Germany involves itself in war either for
or against Great Britain, Italy, by the
terms of the dreibund, is bound to assist.
But aside from the dreibund, Italy has
interests. mostly in the Mediterranean.
and mythical one in China, which al
most compel il to attach itself to the for
tunes of Great Britain in the present
crisis. Italy long has asserted its claim
to Tripoli, and by allying itself with
Great Britain Italy would be able to
claim Tripoli when peace was once more
restored.
1t may be set down as practically GER
tain that Austria, il it takes any hand
at all in the international quarrel will
do so most unwilhngly, and on the side
with which Germany allies itself.
To many it might seem almost ridicu-
lous even for a moment to consider Spain
in connection with the word war" But
at the same time it must be remember
ed that Spain easily can put from 10O,-
600 to 10000 men in the field, providing
the funds were forthcoming. A loan from
France in the emergency, together with
the hope OF securing the retrocession of
Gibraltar from England, might induce
Spain to forget the trouncing it received
from the United States year ago, and
once more try its fortune at the game of
war;
The position of Turkey might bother
the diplomats on both sides of the con-
troversy. 1t is difficult to see how the
Sultan could be drawn into the war; and
equally difficult to understand how he
could keep out of it. Abdul Hamid is in
the unfortunate position of being COM
PEELED to choose sides in a possible con-
fiict with the certain knowledge that he
will lose with either.
He is bound by the treaty of Berlin
to guard the Dardanelles against the pas
sage Of the Russian Black Sea squadron.
from England to fortify the Dardanelles
so strongly with modern Krupp guns
that he can, if he chooses, batter the Rus
sian warships to pieces when they try to
force their way through into the Medit-
erraneaR.
If he uses his Krupp guns against
Russia he will have the Cars armies
knocking at his door to the north. and
Bulgaria. Servia and Roumania ready
to unite>to liberate Macedonia, with Ans
tria waiting for convenient opportunity
to seize Salonica Bay.
If. on the other hand. the Sultan, even
tacitly allies himself with Russia by
permitting the Black Sea squadron to
pass unscathed, he will have Germany
and Great Britain yon his back. with the
certainty of losing Asia Minor. in addi-
tion to the Bulgarian uprising and the
loss of Salonica Bay.
As TO the little Kingdoms OF Europe,
they undoubtedly will he permitted to
remain passive spectators of the great
international tragcdy-to preserve
stolid neutrality in the midst OF the vor-
tex of war about them.
War Around the Globe.
1t is almost impossible to appreciate the
magnitude and the horror which must
characterize war involving Great Brit
ain. Russia, Germany. Austria. Italy.
France and Spain in one general, wide
spread conflict. 1t would mean a war
around the globe. All Europe, all Africa.
ihosI VI ASA tue iSidhuS VI tne SOutn
Pacific, the West Indies, and the north
ern part of North America would be the
scenes OF conflict.
The greatest horrors of such a war
would only be realized IL Germany and
its allies in the dreibund should decide
to enter the field. Then France and
Russia would be assailed from each side
10y the armies of Germany, Austria and
Italy. With the greater powers engross-
ed in war. 1t is almost certain the conflict
would involve the Balkan States with
Turkey, and the Sultan would be compell-