Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-11-15
Alf Europe 6ombines1&


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 it 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 1t 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 1t might seem almost ridicu-
lous even for moment to consider Spain
in connection with the word "war." But
ut the same time it must be remember
ed that Spain easily can put from 1OO.-
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 is4dificult 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 possible con-
flict 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.
He has been enabled by judicious loans
from England to fortify the Dardanelles
so strongly with modern Krupp guns
that he can, IL he chooses, batter the Rus
sian warships to pieces when they try to
force their way through into the Medit-
erranean.
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 llberate Macedonia, with Aus
tria waiting for convenient opportunity
to seize Salonica Bay.
IT, 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 on his back, with the
certainty of losing Asia Minor, in addi-
ton to the Bulgarian uprising and the
loss of Salonica Bay.
AS to the little Kingdoms of Europe.
they undoubtedly will be permitted to
remain passive spectators of the great
international tragedy-to preserve--a
stolid neutrality in the midst of the vor-
tex of war about them.
War Around the Globe.
It 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, vide.
spread conflict. 1t would mean a war
around the globe. All Europe, all Africa.
most of Asia, the islands Of the South
Pacific, the West Indies, and the north
ern part of North America would be the
scenes of conflict.
The greatest horrors of such 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
by the armies of Germany, Austria md
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-
ed to make his last stand to retain his
place on the map of Europe.
The enormous sacrifice of life and pa
ralysis of all commerce would be be-
yond computation. Hardly nation en-
gagged in the contest but would emerge
from it as hopelessly bankrupt and pow
erty stricken us is Spain to-day, and 1t
is this aspect Of the situation that fur
nishes the surest guarantee for peace.
Great Britain's Eefense.
1t is upon its navy that Great Britain
would depend largely for the defense Of
its seagirt empire. In India and Egypt,
1t is. true, Great Britain's soldiers would
engage in land campaigns which would
tax their courage and endurance to the
utmost. But in all other respects the
great battles of an international war
would be fought upon the sea. But pow
erful as Great Britain's navy is, it must
be conceded at the outset that France
and Russia united can put navy to sea
that would be terribly effective.
The British navy has been built up to
its present mammoth proportions on the
theory that some day it will have to de-
fend the empire against q possible coali-
tion of the European powers. The fleets
in active service are distributed in quar-
tiers of the globe best situated to fight
such war. Naval bases have been To-
Gated in view Of such a contingency.
In all the discussions leading up to a
possible coalition against Great Britain
the probable position to be assumed by
Japan must not be lost sight of. II nee
essary Japan's new and powerful navy
would unquestionably be thrown into the
scales on the British side, and IL SO the
issue would be quickly decided in favor
of the alliance between Great Britain
and the Oriental power.
Where Will America stand7
There can be no doubt that in such a
combination Of circumstances the sympa-
thy of the great masses of the people Of
the United States would go out to Great
Britain. But when one goes beyond SYM
pathy he will reach domain of discus
sion in which it would be not only diff
cult but dangerous to enter.
Unforeseen contingencies might arise
which would make it difficult for the
'FlCERS in FIELD UNIF