New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-28
ARCHDUKE MAY QUIT
Differences of Emperor Francis
JoSeph and His Next Heir.


Copyright 1911 by the Brentwood Compsnyp
Emperor Francis Joseph. In his Sis"N-
first year, is. like all old soldiers, disposed
TO be conservative IN military matters an"
TO hesitate about the introduction 81 ihh'-
vations as regards armament drill. STRAIT
egy, equipment etc In this ne IS sup
ported by the Minister Of War, Baron Won
Schonaich. who having recently celeeratS0
the fiftieth anniversary Of the receipt or
his first commission as an officer naturally
is a soldier Of the same stripe and imoued
With much the same prejudices as his SOY
eregn.
| Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir 20
the throne, belongs TO another generation
is abreast Of all that is newest In every
thing that regards the army and navy and
IS bent on keeping the Dual Empire quite as
closely up TO the mark in these respects as
Germany and France. This. Of course.
leads to constant differences OF opinion be
tween the coming Emperor and the present
occupant Of the throne. on several occa-
sions the aged monarch has given way,
because he felt that 1t was best for the
future welfare Of Austria that he should
allow some voice TO the prince who will
AT no very distant udtt Oe Cdiltu uIpl u
assume the burdens and the obligations OF
rulership as well as the supreme command
Of the army. Consequently he sacrificed,
| though with reluctance. a former Minister
! of War and also a chief Of the General
staff, who enjoyed his full confidence and
shared his views, but who had excited the
animosity OF the archduke by opposing his
projected reforms.
| Now General Baron Schonaich, the pres
ent Minister OF War. is in turn being COM
PEELED TO retire owing TO the opposition OF
the archduke. That is to say. his position
has been rendered more or less intolera-
bic, and he IS naturally unwilling 70
incur the further hostility of the archduke
by remaining. despite pressing requests TO
do so by the Emperor. The latter. who
has given evidence of late OF an altogether
wonderful revival of physical and mental
vigor. seems to have been thoroughly
aroused by the treatment of Schonaich. and
while conserving to his retirement has
insisted upon the removal of General Baron
Won Holzendorff from the office Of chief
Of the General Stan Holzendorff being one
of the srchduke's men.
Nay, more; ii is reported at Vienna that
the Emperor is resembling the appointment
which he made some years ago when he
decreed that Archduke Francis Ferdinand
should be regarded as his alter ego and
locum tenens in all affairs relating to both
the army and the navy. The archduke
has until now been a sort OF Vice-generails-
simo and deputy admiralissimo and 10
him must be ascribed the fact that the
Dual Empire Is now being rapidly en-
dowed with an up-to-date feet Of nat
ure to place her in the front rank Of the
great naval powers OF the world and to
enable her to play a most important role
at sea. at any rate in the Mediterranean.
According 10 some, II is the Emperor who
is relieving the archduke Of the authority
which he has of late years enjoyed In
military and naval matters, In token OF
his disapproval Of his nephew's course.
Others again, insist that II is the arch
duke who finds II impossible TO accomplish
things that he considers imperative, owing
to the support which his opponents find In
the Emperor, and that in consequence
thereof he is determined TO withdraw from
all further participation in the direction
of naval and military matters until his own
succession TO the throne places him in SUI
preme command and wholly free TO carry
through his reforms.
That these reports are no mere gossip is
best shown by the fact that even the most
cautious of the organs Of the Viennese
press. those which avowedly derive their
inspiration from the government and are
regarded as semi-official newspapers init
mate the imminence of the removal Of the
archduke from the place which ne has
Cd
alter ego of the sovereign in military and
naval matters, and the resignation not
only Of the Minister OF War but also Of
| the chief Of the General Staff.
OF course, all this has served TO revive
stories of the feud between Archduke Fran
els Ferdinand and the other members of
| the imperial family or the subject Of his
morganatic wife. the Duchess Of Hohen-
berg. Certain IL is that by far the greater
part OF the imperial house is not imbued
with very friendly or kindly sentiments
toward Archduke Francis Ferdinand and
his consort and that any step taken by
the Emperor toward diminishing the power
and prerogatives Of his successor will have
received plenty of ENCOURAGEMENT from all
his kinsfolk male and female, young and
old. Archduke Francis Ferdinand who,
though credited with being reactionary in
notifies, is a reformer of the most radical
nature in matters pertaining TO the army
and TO the navy, has encountered opposi-
ton all along the line in the imperial
family. and also on the part of most OF
the oldest generals. Now that mis- differ
ences of opinion with the Emperor have
reached an acute form, IL is quite natural
~. ba should have become discouraged
and should prefer to go into retirement
rather than 10 have not only all As plans
thwarted but 10 be placed In position OF
open hostility to his venerable uncle ana
sovereign