The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-14
Scrvia's Defeat and Germany's VIC

oCTSid . DclctsI anu OernanyS VIC
tory.
Servia comes out Of her venture
badly enough, getting no addition to
her present ill-governed area and
having a lot of humble-pie to eat be-
sides; but she Jared better than did
Greece when the latter. in 1897, tried
to snatch Macedonia from Turkey,
with the result of a good thrashing
and virtual loss of her financial inde-
pendence. Service does indeed gain
market in Bosnia and Herzegovina
IL not in Austria, for her products.
Her debt, however, has been in
creased in mobilizing her trops and
her future political role is bound to
be unimportant.
The great sufferers from Austria's Is
diplomatic triumph are Russia. Eng
land and France, who find an impor-
tant change made in the map of Eu-
rope without their consent. Ger
many's favor was sufficient to enable
Austria to carry II through, against
the wishes of Russia, England, France
and Italy just as her opposition suf-
feed to block Frances effort to retint
the map Of Morocco recently, though
these same four powers stood by the
French policy in Morocco. The Ser
Wan incident is really a diplomatic
triumph for Germany, since Ger
many's support alone saved Austria
from defeat. 1t hows what power
today exercises the dominating in
fiuence IN the sphere Of Continental
politics. Germany does this in virtue
Of her possession OF the largest and
most efficient army in Europe. while
her navy is inferior. But she is am
bitio8 to increase. her navy also till
it SHAH have no superior. When her
present building programme is COM
plete, she will have 80 new battle
ships and will be able. If the English
do not hurry construction, to beat the
English in their own element. By
sea as well as on land Germay would
have the mastery. 1t is an Ineligible
ambition for the Fatherland, but its
realization would compel other pow
ers to 'sit up and take notice"
II in virtue Of her superiority on
land she enables Austria to seize two
provinces in violation Of the Treaty Of
Berlin. what seizures will be made on
her own account in various parts Of
the world when she is master over
all oceans? No objection can be made
reasonably to her taking the mastery
Of the sea. which England has held
for hundred years. If she beats the
British fleet and takes over her en-
pire, it will profoundly affect the in
dustry, commerce and finance of the
world. But in world-politics might is
right. The United States, or France.
or Germany would inevitably control
everywhere should they ever become
the strongest at sea. That is all right.
1t concerns other powers only to con-
slider, of course, in what spirit the
mastery will be exercised. England
has stocd for free trade, and every
power has been at liberty to extend
its comnrce the world over. Ger
many's commerce has grown from
nothing to it's present vast volume
under British mastery of the sea. Pos
sibly like libetry would continue If all
power over sea and land should be
centered at Berlin. But tits intelli-
gible that the British must take an
unfavorable view OF such a prospect,
and will not without fighting acquiece
in Servian incidents on sea as we'll as
on land. Baltimore Sun.