The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-08-20
Cause Of European War.

human slaughter has been appa.
rent. History reveals that wars
seldom begin solely on account OF
one event, but one little occur.
renee invariably furnishes the
spark to fire an accumulation of
causes. If we will remember
that the part Of Europe that lies
IN the temperate zone is made up
of many nationalities of ancient
descent, that feudal systems of
government still prevail, and that
over-populated conditions of these
countries is a constant source of
friction between citizens of the
respective districts, we may gain
some idea of the jealousies that
occasionally lead to complications
requiring diplomacy on the part
of rulers, and which sometimes
result in wars such as the recent
Balken war. But history does
not record a war of such magni-
tude as the one being waged.
The arousing of Servian indig-
nation by Austria's annexation
of Bosnia and Herzegovina may
be regarded as the direct cause,
but the event which undoubtedly
precipitated the war at this time
was the assassination on June 2S
last of Archduke Francis Ferdi-
nand of Austria and his wife, the
Duches of Hohenburg, at Sara
jevo, the capital of Bosnia. 1t
was the deed of two Servian
youths who had been active in
tn e anti-Austrian propaganda.
Responsibility for their act was
disavowed by the Servian govern
ment. On July % Austria sent
an ultimatum to Servia, sharply
denouncing the anti-Austrian pro
paganda and demanding t h e
prompt punishment of the assas-
sins and the suppression of hos
tile organizations. The next day |
Russia joined Servia in request |
that Austria grant an extension
Of the time for replying to the
lltlmatum. Servia on July %
gave in to Austria on most of the
points at issue, but Austria was
lot satisfied. Sir Edward Grey
he British foreign minister, pro-
posed an international conference
o bring about peace. Austria
md Germany refused the propo-
al and on July 2S Austria declar-
ID war on Servia, Russia, Ger
many and France thereupon be-
,an active preparations for war.
Germany demanded that Russia
ease her mobilization and on Au-
.ust | declared war against that
ountry. Germany declared war
n France, and Germany. and Eng
and have mutually declared war.
While the immediate cause of the
yar is as stated, the real issues
S between Austria and Servia
nd between Germany and the
ations she is fighting are the re- !
alt of years of animosities and
lcial differences. In 9th er ,
'ords, Pan-Germanic, and Pan
lavic clash of arms was unavoid-
bic. 1t would have come sooner
later. Austria has regarded !
lie Servian propaganda as a con-
ant menace to her country.
ervia asserts that her big neigh l
Or continually threatened her
ational integrity. !
AS to the reasons for the pres
1T lineup of the powers many
olumes have been written of
lie international groupings for .
fensive and defensive and de- \
,nsive purpose and yet tn e '
hole story has not been told. The :,
vo ancient groups are the Trip :
Alliance, consisting of Ger
any, Austria-Hungary and Italy
nd the Dual Alliance of France :
nd Russia. The latter is sup n
orted by more recent entente" S
Great Britain, France and Rus v
a. 1t does not bind Great Bri- a
lin to go to the help of either in G
lse of war, but the understand f,
g is that she will do so should G
ther be attacked. Great Bri- +
in has declared war on Ger a
any because of the latter's in 81