The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-06
BRITAIN s BIG FLEET
IS GUARANT TEE
Of PEACE
WIN. T. STEAD DECLARES THERE
WILL BE NO BALKAN WAR iF
ENGLAND BACKS *tEa ALLIES
BIG FLEET FOR PEACE.
BY WILLIAM T. STEAD.

LONDON. March 5--The old world
is in the midst OF rumors Of war. The
situation changes from day 10 day,
but the fundamental features are un.
altered
Servia and Montenegro, sulky and
snarling. irritaIe Austria. Five of the
Powers propose TO make representa-
tions at Belgrade. but Russia abstains,
so nothing is done. Four of the pow
ers propose to make representations
at Vienna, but Germany abstains and
nothing is done.
Austrian journalists threaten an ulti-
matum 10 Servia.
Who are you bullying" cries Ser
via II amt done nothing
'ris an odd situation. Servia is not
making military preparations to at
tack. but TO repel attack, and now she
is summoned TO abandon preparations
on penalty OF being attacked.
Nobody would mind much what hap
pened TO Servia II Russia could be
! depended upon not to interfere, but
thai nobody can guarantee. Official
Russia may be overborne by popular
enthusiasm, and, like the nursery tale,
the sequence follows: II Austria at.
tacks Servia. Russia attacks Austria.
German attacks Russia, France at
tacks Germany and England-what
vii! England do? That is the question
OF questions.
If England saws she will throw in
her lot with her allies. Austria wont
attack Servia, Russia won't attack
Austria. and there will be no war
Hence the strength OF the British fleet
Is the ultimate guarantee OF European
peace
No Importance is attached here To
War Minister Haldane's grandiose
project of AN Imperial British army
with Canadian and Australian diyis-
toas. It Is regarded as theatricaliy
Produced Ia meet domestic political
eXigepcies Any attempt to materials.
ize the scheme will meet with the
strongest opposition from he English
people. who dislike inoculating the
new world with the virus Of the old
world miitarism
Little or nothing is said Ia the well
disciplined British press about the
kings health But il is doubtful
whether Edward vi will again open
parliament.
II is an open secret tnat his medl
cal advisers depreciate his eXposins
himself TO the Indictment and ever
changing weather OF an English Febru
aty. Last year the dread OF facns
The northeast wind kept the king in
the south Of France, even when Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman was dy
ing. His absence from London 90
such a time of crisis was only eNcus
ed because the condition of the king 5
throat and chest was alleged TO be
such that his life would have been eli
dangercd had ne come home
This year he decided 10 risk Feb
ruary in Berlin. and he paid the price
As If to punish his temerity. the TEN
perature fell below zero. and IL was
officially admitted that the king hat
got cold As he Is now quite WEI
again. there l. NO harm in admittins
HAT this cold was serious enough to
create much ala'm Il was one OF
those attacks OF violent coughing III
which a smokers sore throat combines
with the inflammation of the brou-
chial tubes to produce a paroXysm not
unlike whoopiug cOu.,h. II is because
the king is Increasingly subject Ia
these attacks hal DO would excite No
surprise II next year parliament was
opened by commission
Better an absentee monarch than
ROYAL funeral