Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-15

plan was one of the causes of his fall
But before it was ready, Hoetzendorff
began a great system of fortification
in South Tyrol, the main principle Of
which was to block the valleys lead
ing from Italy except two or three, and
to leave these ostentatiously open for
the Austrian march into Lombardy.
In particular was fortified the pro-
jecting tongue of South Tyrol, thus pre-
venting Italian flank attacks between
the BergamaSker and Venetian Alps
These works are the last word Of mill
'tary science. Every valley is complete
ly closed; and on the slopes are forts
with steel-armored batteries. The VAL
leys themselves are SWeepable with
machine guns. For long distance fight
ing are powerful guns which can fire
at abnormally high angles, and thus
drive the Italians from the high.passeS.
Many forts have revolving armored
towers rising and sinking searchlight
apparatus, underground telegraph COM
munications and optical and acoustic
signal stations. Altogether there are
six groups of Notifications, the first be-
ginning between Tagliamento and the
Adriatic, and the last or sixth group
ending west of the Adige. In addition,
Hoetzendorf has strongly fortified the
heights behind Riva on the Lake OF
Garda, which is the main objective of
Italian rendentistzsentiment
Now, though Hoctzendorff has fallen,
his chief accomplishment remains. He
put a new spirit into Austria's army.
Ever since the defeat by Prussians at
SadoWa, the Austrian military spirit
has been depressed. When Hoetzen-
dorff came on the scene his infectious
temerity inspired all.
1T IS useless" SAYS HoetZendorff in
one Of his books, Ito spend great sums
on organization, training and equip
ment unless at the same time YOU can
produce a warlikc spirit. Victories are
gained by belief in victory; and an
army which does not believe in victory
might as well fight with bows and ar
rows.
This is the way of General Conrad
Won Hoetzendorff. The army adores
him Sill and is waiting impatiently for
old Franz Josef to die. For after Franz
Josef will come Franz Ferdinand. who
first discovered the kindly hangman
and will certainly bring him back.
The Archduke Franz Ferdinand is the
son of his late imperial and royal high
ness. the Archduke Charles Louis,
youngest brother of the emperor OF
Austria and the il-starred Emperor
Maximilan of Mexico. His mother is a
Braganza princess and an infanta of
Portugal She is cousin of the
blonde Braganza, who married Miss
Anita Stewart, daughter of Mrs. James
Henry Smith and of Rhnelander
Stewart of Philadelphia.
Forty-eight years old, of a strong
military and militant type, with hair
standing straight and heavy mustache,
| though not quite so fierce as that OF
| Emperor William the archduke is a
| general Of the imperial army, good
| cavalry officer and is owner of n regi-
ment of uhlans. His model as cav
airy officer is the late General Phil
| Sheridan He is quite scientific.
| member of the Academy of Science OF
| Vienna and patron of the academies OF
| science of Prague and Graeew.
| Presently the archduke will be en-
| peror of Austria, king OF Hungary,
/ king of Dalmatia, king of Croatia, king
| of E,sclavonia king of Galicia, king OF
| I4odomeria and king of lllyria. When
/ he starts on the realization of his glory
| dreams his foreign secretary, the sue
i cessor of the clear-headed, far sighted
| Van Aethrenthal, will have hard row
| to hoe. The very nature of that office
| is a challenge to the boldness of any
/ ambitious statesman.
In theory he serves but one sover-
| eign; in fact, he is much at the mercy
of conflicting jurisdictions. for although
/ the empire Of Austria and the Kingdom
/ of Hungary possess separate parlia-
ments and even separate cabinets.
1 there exist three servants of the crown
| who are responsible to Austria Hun
| gary considered as a whole. These are
| the ministers of war, of foreign affalrs,
| and of finance, the latter having con-
troll of only that limited fund to which
both partners in the dual monarchy
subscribe for the maintenance of the
royal dignities and for the necessities
of a common defense.
| Yearly do these three ministers sub
| nit themselves to the criticism of dele
| gates separately appointed by the
houses of parliament in Austria ana IN
| Hungary. And when 1T is remembered
| that in these committees of delegates
as in the parlaments from which they
issue are represented numerous ma
ltions-some small. but as elf-consclous
today as at the end of the sixties-with
as many religious prejudices upon
| which the forces of intrigue may at
any moment draw for support, states
man must bring to his task not mere
~ tact, forethought, and the appear
ance of sympathy, but natural un-
Outstanding of no mean order II ne IL
to found or maintain foreign poiicy
at once popular and successful.
How will this delicate adjustment OF
internal politics stand the strain OF the
next rulers spread eagle enterprises
That is the central question in the TAN
gle of guesswork that surrounds Tic
future OF the dual monarchy.-Housto
Post.