Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-03-17
CRITICAL POINT
IN HISTORY OF
EUROPE REACHED
Uneasy Rest the Heads
= That Wear the 4
lse Crowns. xag


the pessimists who believe that the
powers of Europe have reached the
breaking up point-the place where
alliances are dissolved, groupings
fade into the background, and that
dreaded general war" becomes q
danger which it is impossible to
avert.
All countries are beginning 1911
in the belief that the year will be
the most critical that Europe has
known for a generation.
For all the old combinations and
the friendships which resulted in the
balance of power" are breaking up.
Their day has gone. And what will
be substituted in their place no one
can yet tell.
During the last ten years there
have been two groups of Powers op.
posed in Europe:-the Triple En-
tente, created by King Edward, and
consisting of England, France and
Russia; and the Triple Alliance
Germany, Austria-Hungary and TIA
ly.
1t did not necessarily follow that
any two of the countries on one side
or the other worked hand in hand or
were even bn terms of friendship.
Italy and Austria, for instance
have long been at daggers points.
But they did band together to pre-
vent the nations on the opposite side
obtaining any preponderance of pow
er either in Europe or the world
at large.
Practically speaking, England rul
ed the Entente" Germany, the
alliance" Each has for years been
manoeuvering against the other to
attach its two allies more firmly to
itself, or to detach those of its op-
ponents.
England's task has been harder
than Germany's because the Entente
has been more or less an informal
affair, while the Alliance has been
a formal treaty, signed and sealed.
But now Germany has come out on
top. She has detached Russia from
the Entente, and the entire balance
of power is removed.
In a sense this result is not to be
wondered at. Germany has always
had before her a strong progressive
policy.
England, on the other hand, has
followed out a policy which has beer
mainly defensive. While Germany
has worked hard to break up the
Triple Entente, Britain has merely
done her best to maintain it intact
And, as happens nine times out Of
ten, the attack has prevailed ove1
the defense,
Germany's first attempt was al
the time of Algeciras conference
called to discuss the Moroccan ques
.tion. Everyone knew that Germany
had no real interests in Morocco
and that her Intervention was solely
made to test the strength of the
friendship between England and
France.
that, in the event of Germany going
to war with France on the Moroccan
pretense, the British fleet would al
once blockade the German ports ani
cover the landing of large French
force, while 10000 English troops
would also assist, proved that the
friendship was too strong to be uasi
ly broken.
Recently the Liberal newspaper.
in Great Britain, anxious to come t.
an understanding with Germany IL
regard to the question of limitation
OF ornaments. have been maintain
| ing that the Triple Entente was new
or meant to have any effective use
but was just q name given to The
friendly feelings existing between
the three powers-that, in fact thu
Triple Entente meant nothing j,
practice.
Although this was not the view O.
the Liberal cabinet yet both France
and Russia have taken it as sigI
of the times and their feelings to
ward England have cooled of &C
cordingly.
Germany was quick to seize the
opportunity. She saw the chance O.
a deal which would both effectuall.
break up the Entente, once and fol
all, and at the same time, Target!
disarm Russia of her hatred towar;
the Teutonic people.
Her proposition was to give VI
northern Persia to Russia in return
for the latter yielding up her oppo
| sition to the Bagdad railroad.
This railroad, which is being bull
entirely of German money, is des
| tined to extend from ConstantinopI
to the Persian gulf. At the preseD
time it is about half finished.